FBI Cautions About Threats to Election Workers Ahead of the November 2022 Midterm Elections

Threats to Election Workers

Threats to election workers not only threaten the safety of the individuals concerned, but also jeopardize the stability of the US electoral process. The FBI defines election workers broadly as individuals who have responsibility over one or more aspects of election administration in the U.S., including elected officials, appointed officials, staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors and liaisons. Specific examples of election workers include, but are not limited to:

A Secretary of State or someone in their staff

An employee of a state or countys board of elections

An individual volunteering at polling stations

Clerks handling and counting casted ballots

There are various means in which threats can be communicated to election workers, such as telephone communications, social media posts, e-mail communications, as well as in-person. Regardless of the manner in which the threat or harassment is conveyed, the FBI takes all threats of violence targeting election workers seriously.

This story has been published on: 2022-10-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Xi extends congratulations to new Iraqi president

Xinhua) 08:31, October 16, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message on Saturday to Abdul Latif Rashid on his election as the Iraqi president.

Xi pointed out that China and Iraq share a tradition of friendship, and that in recent years, the political mutual trust between the two countries has been increasingly consolidated and practical cooperation in various fields has made steady progress.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Iraq relations and stands ready to work with President Rashid to promote new progress in the China-Iraq strategic partnership, so as to benefit the two countries and their people.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Du Mingming)
BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping said on Sunday that the Communist Party of China (CPC) members must bear in mind that full and rigorous self-governance is an unceasing endeavor and that self-reform is a journey to which there is no end.

"We must never slacken our efforts and never allow ourselves to become weary or beaten," said Xi at the opening session of the 20th CPC National Congress. 
A recent survey of Idaho sportsmen and women found that nearly 80% of participants who had observed or knew about a wildlife crime opted to report the offense to a conservation officer or other law enforcement. Its great to see that the bulk of Idaho citizens recognize the importance of assisting conservation officers by reporting wildlife crimes!

However, of those that elected not to report violations they observed, the main reason for not reporting was because they felt the violation was not significant enough to reportthey didnt think the violation was that big of a deal.

While its true that at face value some wildlife crimes may be more serious or egregious than others, its extremely important that even seemingly minor violations are reported to conservation officers.

Why is it so important, you may be asking? Below, are three reasons to keep in mind next time you observe a wildlife crime that appears to be not that big of a deal.

Educational opportunities

Sometimes minor wildlife crimes occur by accident, without bad intention or from a misunderstanding of regulations. Ultimately, the goal of every conservation officer is to educate and assist hunters, anglers and trappers in their compliance with laws and regulations.

If you observe and report a minor offense, it may be a valuable opportunity for conservation officers to connect with and educate the offending individual. Engagement with conservation officers often provides a valuable and memorable educational opportunity that hopefully reduces the likelihood of future violations.

Small crimes can lead to big ones

When conservation officers investigate wildlife crimes, cases often evolve and expand beyond what was originally known or reportedreferred to as the snowball effect.

There are many times when seemingly minor violations may be related to more serious or complex wildlife crimes. For example, if you observe an individual shoot at a big game animal from the edge of a roadway, the violation you observed (shooting from a roadway) may be related to other unknown and more serious wildlife crimes, such as over-limiting or hunting without a tag.

By reporting every wildlife violation you observe, officers can do their jobs, investigate each fully and sometimes uncover previously unknown and egregious wildlife crimes.

Relationship building

When reporting a wildlife crime, youll often be connected with a local conservation officer for the area. Reporting observed violations, even minor ones, provides you with an opportunity to get to know the local conservation officer, which can be helpful for a number of reasons.

Building a relationship with your local conservation officer is valuable when you have questions of your own or need information about the local fishing hole. Plus, the next time you observe a more egregious wildlife crime, youll be prepared and already have a relationship with the officerincreasing the likelihood that violators are held accountable.

The next time you observe or know about a wildlife crime, even one that you think is minor or not that big of a deal, please consider reporting the violation to our Citizens Against Poaching at hotline.

The CAP hotline is staffed and available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Reports of wildlife crimes can be made anonymously at 1-800-632-5999 or online.
A Michigan judge on Tuesday dropped felony criminal charges against seven former officials in connection to the 2014 Flint water crisis that poisoned thousands of people and killed dozens.

Genesee County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Kelly's decision stems from a Michigan Supreme Court ruling in June that deemed state prosecutors' use of a one-man grand jury to issue indictments legally improper, throwing into doubt efforts to hold ex-officials accountable for a water disaster that has had lasting impacts on Flint residents.

"The threat of lead contamination is not over, as we've seen from recent monitoring showing rising lead levels in the city's drinking water."

"Because the one-person grand jury does not have the power to issue indictments, the indictments issued in the felony Flint water cases were void ab initio," Kelly wrote. "Therefore, anything arising out of the invalid indictments [is] irreconcilably tainted from inception."

In the eight years since the start of the crisis, which was sparked by a cost-cutting decision to switch the city's water supply to the Flint River without adequate testing and treatment, a number of Michigan officialsincluding the state's former Republican governorhave been charged with crimes, but none of the charges have held.

Among the officials who had charges dropped Tuesday were former Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Nick Lyon and former MDHHS medical executive Eden Wells, both of whom faced nine counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, has been accused of botching efforts to punish officials responsible for the mass lead poisoning and Legionnaires' epidemic in Flint. Charlie LeDuff, a columnist for The Detroit News, explained last month that "instead of holding preliminary examinations, Nessel's office used a one-man grand jury to charge former Gov. Rick Snyder with willful neglecta misdemeanoras well as recharging several others with a new round of indictments of manslaughter and misconduct."

"Nessel's team argues that while the Supreme Court ruled a one-man grand jury may not issue indictments, his findings can still be used to seek a warrant," LeDuff continued. "Despite assurances from Nessel's office claiming things are moving forward, people in the legal world know time is running out... Evidence has grown cold and memories have grown dark. The statute of limitations is creeping up, depending on the person and the charges. So it's worth saying again. It's doubtful anyone goes to prison."

In a statement responding to Kelly's decision, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud, and the Flint Water Prosecution Team vowed to "review" the ruling and "continue its pursuit of justice for Flint."

"Though it may be of little comfort," the officials said, "the people of Flint have always had on their side a dedicated team of lawyers and advocates committed to justice and with the sincere belief that what happened to the people of Flint is a crime."

The latest indication that justice for Flint residents won't be forthcoming any time soon was met with outrage. Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator, called the decision to drop charges against the seven ex-officials "unjust" and "absolutely shameful."

Journalist Jordan Chariton, who has covered the Flint case closely, also expressed dismay on social media:

#BREAKING: Criminal charges against 7 more state & Flint officials dropped due to MI Supreme Court's June decision that AG Dana Nessel's prosecutors wrongly used a one-man grand jury. This means there are CURRENTLY NO CRIMINAL CHARGES OVER 8 YEARS LATERhttps://t.co/yeeFhFz8bm  Jordan (@JordanChariton) October 4, 2022

As prosecutors fail to punish officials involved in the 2014 crisis and the high-level attempts to cover it up, Flint is struggling to replace its remaining lead pipes.

"The city of Flint has conducted lead service line replacement work at only about a dozen homes in 2022. It is an unacceptable performance by our elected officials," Melissa Mays, operations manager of the advocacy coalition Flint Rising, said in a statement late last month.

"The threat of lead contamination is not over, as we've seen from recent monitoring showing rising lead levels in the city's drinking water," Mays added. "As the state of Michigan approaches the milestone of removing all of [Benton Harbor's] lead pipes, a move supported by advocates and concerned citizens in Flint, we ask: Why not Flint?"
Last year, the Boston City Council unanimously approved an ordinance giving the council control over how the Boston Police Department acquires and uses surveillance technology. Now, for the first time, the public can see a full list of all the surveillance technologies and databases used by the Boston Police Department and other city entities subject to the ordinance.

In compliance with the ordinance, the Wu administration sent the following documents to the City Council:

The ACLU of Massachusetts, Muslim Justice League, and Digital Fourth reviewed these materials and sent a letter to the Wu administration seeking further details. We are awaiting a response.

The next step in the process will likely be a series of City Council hearings to discuss the surveillance technologies currently used by the Boston Police Department. City Councilor Michael Flaherty is responsible for leading this process, from his position as Chair of the Councils Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.

The ACLU and our partners have been in communication with Councilor Flaherty about this process and we understand the Chair plans to hold a hearing November 4, 2022 at 10am to receive public comment on the Citys surveillance disclosures and discuss the submissions with the Police Department and other agencies. As soon as that hearing is noticed, the ACLU will post information about how to sign up to testify. We encourage Boston residents and other concerned parties to read through the documents linked above and to come to that hearing prepared to share your views and questions for the administration and the council. Ensuring Bostons surveillance practices are aligned with community needs is a process that will require input from all of us. Get involved!
BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- As the world embraces the 42nd World Food Day, China, the world's most populous country, is making every effort to ensure grain supply amid growing uncertainties in global food security.

Food security is among the country's most fundamental interests, said Chinese President Xi Jinping. To ensure food security, he has on different occasions stressed farmland protection and improvement, development of seed industry, collection and protection of germplasm resources, as well as supporting farmers and agriculture in all ways possible.

PROTECTING, IMPROVING QUALITY OF FARMLAND

China needs to feed nearly one-fifth of the global population with only 9 percent of the world's arable land. To the president, protecting and improving the quality of farmland means a lot, in order to fill Chinese people's rice bowls, mainly with Chinese grain.

Xi has said that farmland is the lifeline of grain production and the foundation of the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, and urged the implementation of the strictest possible system for farmland protection.

To ensure the country's farmland area remains above the red line of 1.8 billion mu (about 120 million hectares), China has basically formed a legal system for farmland protection, including related provisions in its civil code and criminal law.

At the annual central rural work conference in 2020, Xi stressed the importance of developing high-standard farmland to secure high and stable yields despite droughts and floods.

Through a decade-long endeavor, the country's high-quality farmland will have reached 1 billion mu by the end of 2022, with a stable grain production capacity of over 500 billion kilograms.

INCREASING GRAIN PRODUCTION WITH TECHNOLOGY

To ensure food security from the source, Xi has made special emphasis on the seed industry. During an April visit to a seed laboratory in Sanya, Hainan Province, he said seed resources must be "firmly held in our own hands" to ensure food security.

He stressed efforts to achieve self-reliance in seed technology and ensure that China's seed resources are self-supporting and under better control.

Under his leadership, the country has made progress in collecting and protecting germplasm resources and building seed banks, while making breakthroughs in seed breeding and selection as well as in the research and development of cutting-edge breeding technology.

So far, the number of national seed breeding and production bases in China has increased to 216, official data showed. These hubs breed or produce seeds for grain, cotton, oil and sugar, among others.

With the help of technology, China's grain production has undergone structural upgrade. Over the past decade, the comprehensive mechanization rates of wheat, corn and rice production have exceeded 97 percent, 90 percent and 85 percent, respectively.

Supported by technological innovations, Chinese farmers can now install small weather stations and soil moisture meters in their fields, supervise crops through mobile applications, and use intelligent tractors and agricultural drones in farming.

SUPPORTING FARMERS IN MULTIPLE WAYS

To ensure food security, Xi has also urged efforts to implement all supportive policies, protect farmers' enthusiasm for their work, and improve incomes from food production.

Over the past decade, a string of policies have been introduced to bring more benefits to grain planters. China has steadily raised the minimum purchase prices for rice and wheat, provided subsidies for grain planters, and introduced cost and income insurances for major grain producers in main production areas.

The country has encouraged the development of family farms and farming cooperatives. In recent years, over 78 million farming households have received support from more than 950,000 socialized agricultural services organizations.

This year, 40 billion yuan (about 5.63 billion U.S. dollars) has been allocated from the central government budget to ease the impact of agricultural material price rises, agricultural specialists have been sent to fields to assist farms, and various government agencies have strengthened consultations, early warning and disaster relief for floods and droughts.

As an epitome of China's agricultural infrastructure construction, water conservancy projects have seen rapid development. In the past decade, over 7,000 large and medium-sized irrigation areas were built in China, with an effective irrigated farmland area of 69.13 million hectares, accounting for 54 percent of the country's arable land and producing 75 percent of the country's grain.

With hardwork on all fronts, China's grain output had topped 650 billion kilograms for seven consecutive years by 2021, with the per capita grain supply remaining higher than the internationally recognized security line.

This year, China has seen output increases in summer grain and early rice and is expecting another bumper harvest. Such achievement didn't come easily as the country has overcome the impact of last year's rare autumn floods in the north, the late sowing of winter wheat in large areas and sporadic resurgences of COVID-19 cases, and coped with severe heat and droughts in some southern regions. 
So, why does Elon Musk want Twitter so badly? Is it because he is such a big free speech advocate, that he wants to save the world,  save us all from BIG TECH?

Why does Elon Musk care so much about the number of bot accounts? Is it because he truly wants to ferret out foreign influences?

Why does Elon Musk want to reverse the bans on peoples accounts? Is it because he really cares about scientists, and conservatives ability to interact on the social media app?

The answer of course, is no to all these questions.

We are being manipulated into the vision of Elon being the free speech shield-bearer - but what has Musk revealed recently as to his true motivations for wanting Twitter.

Musks vision for Twitter is one stop shopping. E-commerce. He intends to bring social media, banking, auto loans, Amazon type buying, insurance, paying loans and utility bills, medical insurance, service estimates, you name it- under the umbrella of Twitter. Everything you do, buy, need - could be bought on the Twitter website. This is about power and money.

Why does he care about bot accounts? Because what he is buying is access to you, to me, to each and everyone of us on Twitter now or on Twitter in the future. He wants to know the exact number of warm bodies to sell to his investors. Remember - with the purchase of Twitter, he will have a client base maybe in the billions - before he even launches a single product! That client base includes some of the most influential, wealthy and educated people on the planet.

So, why is this such a bad thing?

Lets go back to free speech.

What happens if you are rude, share porn, use inappropriate language or only use binary gender descriptors? What happens if you believe that Russia should take over Ukraine? What happens if you are just a contrarian or a science denier. What if you dont believe in gay marriage or do believe in gay marriage? Who knows what the societal drivers in the future will be? Who knows what the next thing will be.

Because it is all good now to think that Twitter wont change, evolve into something new and unknown. But the truth is that social media platforms morph into new identities as soon as new apps, technologies and even cultural political ideologies change.

Musks bigger plan for Twitter is to turn it into a super app that acts as an operating system for peoples digital lives.

Musk recently stated at Teslas annual shareholder meeting

Its a pretty grand vision. And obviously that could be started from scratch, But I think Twitter would help accelerate that by three to five years.

(A little history - When Elon Musk first created Paypal, he called it X. Musk recently bought back the rights to use the name X from Paypal and has openly discussed the e-commerce/Twitter site using that name. )

Having a super app for commerce and social media means that the risk of getting kicked off Twitter becomes not just a question of free speech and censorship, but of financial risk to each and every person who relies of Twitter as a complete, one-stop e-commerce app.

All it would take is the tiniest pressure or threat of removing someones ability to pay a bill or collect a debt and the need to censor would go away as self- censorship would become de-rigueur. The amount of power such a corporation would hold over individuals, industries, even whole nations would be enormous.

Full stop - integrating a huge social media platform - in this case the most influential social media company in the world, with a complete e-commerce and financial services app is a very bad idea.

Just because a corporation can create such an entity, doesnt necessarily mean it should. Once upon a time, long long ago, we had anti-trust legislation and a justice department that would enforce it. That now seems so anachronistic. Our federal government and Justice department seems to have become just another tool, a plaything, of large transnational corporate interests.
Thomas Sankara. Photo: Book cover--"Voices of Liberation: Thomas Sankara."

Thirty five years ago Africa's struggle for true independence suffered a severe blow when Thomas Sankara president of Burkina Faso was brutally murdered by his number two man Blaise Compaore who went on to reverse all the revolutionary programs.

Compaore was working on behalf of French imperialism and the region's neocolonial enforcer Felix Houphet-Boigny president of the Ivory Coast.

Sankara fundamentally transformed his country in the short four years he held power. Sankara showed his compatriots and all of power that Africa was not as impotent as the West--the former colonial powers--would like the world to believe. He showed that political power could be used for national transformation.

Sankara started by changing the name of the country to Burkina Faso, the "Land of the Upright People" from the meaningless Upper Volta. He knew that in order to mobilize his people and to get them to take control of their destiny he first had to decolonize their minds. He said the best evidence of imperial domination of Burkina Faso was the country's food dependency on the outside world. He launched agrarian reform and food production tripled in the first three years; Burkina Faso became food self-sufficient.

He launched a national campaign to build clinics and schools throughout the country. He took government to the grassroots with the councils for the defense of the revolution so that ordinary Burkinabe, as the citizens became known, could play a role in government. He fought corruption and the scandalous privileges enjoyed by government officials by reducing salaries, starting with his own. There was to be no more driving around in Mercedes-Benz cars and they were replaced by modest vehicles.

Sankara was the first African president to seriously empower women--not through public relations tokenism--by appointing them to powerful positions in government and signing them up into the armed forces. He abolished feudalistic abuses that harmed women physically and banned forced marriages. Sankara wanted to break Burkina Faso's economic dependence to the industrialized countries whereby African countries serve as plantations for the economically developed countries--providing them Africa's valuable natural resources, minerals, and labor for cheap; and offering captives consumer markets for the outside world. "Let's consume what we produce and consume what we produce," Sankara declared.

He was years ahead of leaders in Africa, Europe, the United States and elsewhere when it came to fighting environmental degradation in the 1980s and promoted a campaign that led to the planting of millions of trees.

By promoting wearing of domestically manufactured clothes, Sankara spurred increased production of cotton, weaving, and tailoring--creating a multi-million dollar industry. He wanted Africa to take control of its resources and its production.

Word spread about the work Sankara was doing in Burkina Faso and caught the imagination of millions of young Africans who were disgusted and frustrated by their own inept, corrupt, and tyrannical rulers.

At the Organization of African Unity (OAU) meeting in July 1987, Sankara dared to touch the Third Rail of Western imperialism. He told his fellow African leaders that in order to free up resources to develop their economies the oppressive and debilitating debt burden crushing Africa had to be eliminated.

Sankara urged for a collective statement by all the presidents at the end of the summit, renouncing the foreign debt. He assured the other leaders that the powerful lenders couldn't assassinate 54 African presidents. However, Sankara stressed, if Burkina Faso renounced the foreign debt alone, he wouldn't be alive to attend the following year's OAU summit. Sankara was prescient. Three months after he made that prediction, on October 15, 1987, he and about a dozen compatriots were shot in cold blood during a meeting. They were buried in a mass grave.

Even though Compaore and his men pulled the trigger, it was neocolonial puppet master France that didn't want Sankara's lessons to consolidate in Burkina Faso and to spread allover Africa. Compaore was in power for 27 years before he was deposed in a revolutionary uprising. However Burkina Faso has remained unstable. Nearly half of the country has been seized by armed militants and there have been two military coups this year alone.

Still, even members of the Burkina Faso military continue to invoke Sankara's name because they are aware the people want his revolutionary programs restored.

Similarly, he's a hero to millions of Africans who weren't yet born when he was murdered. Sankara lives through the memory of his legacy.

The objective conditions in Africa--the continued exploitation by the industrialized countries--have created the demand for more Sankaras throughout Africa.
Photos: YouTube

Shortly before he died, Congressmember and human rights activist John Lewis wrote a farewell to his fellow citizens, declaring: Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself.

Mr. Lewiss insight about democracy, profound as it is, raises some basic questions: what exactly does it mean to consider democracy as an act? What is the nature of this act? What are the implications of viewing democracy in this way?

One possible approach to such questions is to consider democracy as an act of moral imagination. Though the term moral imagination has elicited many meanings over the ages, I offer it here in two senses: as the ability to see in another individual a shared humanity, no matter what the differences in status or background might be  and as a capacity to recognize the interconnections, however subtle, that bind us all.

These meanings take on substance when you look closely at any number of current issues, but recent events affecting the fate of over 600,000 DACA recipients carry particular force when you think of democracy and the moral imagination. Perhaps youve read about some of these DACA recipients, or have seen them interviewed on TV or in social media: young people brought to this country as children, and shielded by a decade-old program that has given them temporary protection from deportation while allowing them to work, apply for drivers licenses, obtain scholarships for college, and secure other benefits. Though their status has remained precarious, they have accomplished a great deal by way of educational and professional attainments, and by virtue of their many and significant contributions to their communities. Unequivocally, their home is America.

Yet despite their achievements, a profound hostility to DACA, and thereby to DACA recipients, has persisted for years, manifesting in attempts to declare it illegal, or to shut it down by fiat, as President Trump attempted to do in 2017. One lawsuit, initiated that same year by the Texas attorney general and joined by several other states, has wound its way through federal courts, and in a ruling earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a lower courts decision that the program is illegal. In writing their decision, the Fifth Circuits three-judge panel acknowledged that DACA has had profound significance to recipients and many others in the 10 years since its adoption. Yet the judges still went ahead, largely on technical grounds, to back up the lower courts decision and declare the program illegal.

Does this behavior represent a constriction, an impoverishment, of the moral imagination? Do these judges (and the other parties hostile to DACA), see, but not really see, the faces of the young beneficiaries of the program? Do they fail to take in the humanity of young people who differ from themselves only by virtue of the lack of a piece of paper: an American birth certificate, a green card, a naturalization certificate? Do they view human rights as a zero-sum game: full rights for you somehow entailing a diminishment of rights for me?

Or is a more fundamental blindness at stake  the inability to apprehend creative possibilities for an entire democracy? Do powerful individuals like these fail to see what even American corporations and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce can easily recognize: the vital importance of these young people to the vibrancy of the American economy, to the flourishing of the society at large? The Chamber issued a statement calling for congressional action on behalf of DACA recipients, and corporations like Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft joined with the Justice Department in defending DACA against the Texas suit.

For the time being, as this case continues to wend through the courts (it will go back to the lower court for further consideration), current beneficiaries can renew their status, but no new applications will be approved. And unless Congress authorizes a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and other young people brought here as children, the program will likely be ended, probably by the Supreme Court sometime in the future. Thus the main battle is shifting to Congress  and to the contest for public understanding and support.

What John Lewis did by describing democracy as an act was to expand the discussion of democracy from issues concerning governmental institutions and political norms to questions of individual ethical choice. Democracy, he helped us understand, is choosing to see truthfully and humanely. It is choosing to act responsibly on the basis of that vision. And sometimes acting in this way will take great courage: to endure the blows of state troopers, as Lewis did in a 1965 march for voting rights; or, years later, to risk deportation and speak out as undocumented (or temporarily documented) individuals in order to claim full rights as human beings  and as fellow Americans.

Andrew Moss, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is an emeritus professor (English, Nonviolence Studies) at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Many of Australias largest employers expect workers to stay home if they test positive for COVID or are experiencing any illness symptoms, despite the national cabinets decision to loosen mandatory isolation restrictions.

The mandatory five-day COVID-19 isolation period lifted on Friday, meaning the end to pandemic restrictions. However, big banks, supermarkets and retail giants are holding fast to current workplace policies that direct workers not to enter the workplace if they are unwell.

Major employers are insisting workers stay home despite the governments repeal of the mandatory isolation period. Credit:SMH/Kate Geraghty

All team members are advised to carefully monitor for symptoms and never attend work if they have any COVID or flu-like symptoms, a Coles spokesperson said. Coles retail workers are still expected to inform managers if they test positive for COVID and stay away from the workplace for at least three days.

Similarly, Woolworths team members and office employees who feel unwell are expected to stay away from the workplace until they are asymptomatic.
BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) outlined China's overall development objectives for the year 2035, according to a report submitted to the 20th CPC National Congress, which opened Sunday.

The report said China's overall development objectives for the year 2035 are as follows:

-- Significantly increase economic strength, scientific and technological capabilities, and composite national strength; substantially grow the per capita GDP to be on par with that of a mid-level developed country;

-- Join the ranks of the world's most innovative countries, with great self-reliance and strength in science and technology;

-- Build a modernized economy; form a new pattern of development; basically achieve new industrialization, informatization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization;

-- Basically modernize the system and capacity for governance; improve the system for whole-process people's democracy; build a law-based country, government, and society;

-- Become a leading country in education, science and technology, talent, culture, sports, and health; significantly enhance national soft power;

-- Ensure that the people are leading better and happier lives; bring per capita disposable income to new heights; substantially grow the middle-income group as a share of the total population; guarantee equitable access to basic public services; ensure modern standards of living in rural areas; achieve long-term social stability; make more notable and substantive progress in promoting the people's well-rounded development and prosperity for all;

-- Broadly establish eco-friendly ways of work and life; steadily lower carbon emissions after reaching a peak; fundamentally improve the environment; largely accomplish the goal of building a Beautiful China;

-- Comprehensively strengthen the national security system and national security capabilities; achieve basic modernization of national defense and the armed forces.

After basically realizing modernization, the CPC will continue to work hard and build China into a great modern socialist country that leads the world in terms of composite national strength and international influence by the middle of the century, the report said. 
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size No one who saw Korean director Park Chan-wooks 2003 film Oldboy will forget the scene in which actor Choi Min-sik eats a live octopus. Even more shudderingly horrible was the story, soon circulating at the Cannes Film Festival, where it made a considerable splash, that Park had insisted on shooting it four times. Oldboy was a revenge drama, full of scorching violence of both a physical and emotional kind. Among other distinctions, it established him as a director of graphic, taboo-busting extremes. In more recent years, Park has gradually turned his attention to drama that is more tightly wired, suspenseful and female-focused. Sex and gore were still running hot among the sinister family dynamics in the English-language Stoker (2013), but his next feature, three years later, was an adaptation of Sarah Waters Victorian chiller, Fingersmith, renamed The Handmaiden and set in 1930s Korea. It was notorious not for violence, but for its vivid lesbian sex scenes. With his new film, Decision to Leave, Park shows a restraint that would almost have passed muster under the Hays Code. This is a love story, he says, for and about adults. Nudity was not necessary. I started the movie thinking I would like to tell a story that only experienced people will understand, he told the Korean press later. But when I told people I would make a love story about adults, they immediately responded by saying, it will be a movie with provocative sex scenes. That was when I decided to do exactly the opposite. Park has always cited Hitchcocks 1958 classic, Vertigo, as a reference point. Decision to Leave concerns a conscientious male detective who becomes entranced by a beautiful female suspect; it often feels like a deliberate callback, although he says he never connected the two until critics in Cannes pointed out a few parallels. Both are melancholic stories of obsession, guilt and deception. Both also feature a detective with a greater or lesser fear of heights. Detective Hae-jun (Park Hae-il) and widower Song Seo-rae (Tang Wei) act out a delicate dance in Decision to Leave. Credit:Madman Films Hae-jun (Park Hae-il) is introduced as Busans most accomplished detective. A very different customer from the hard-boiled cops who kickbox their way through most Korean thrillers, he is disciplined, courteous, cultivated and happily married to a witty, pretty and equally high-achieving nuclear scientist working at a power station in Ipo, a few hours drive away. They see each other only at weekends, which gives Hae-jun leeway to work nights at stake-outs. That suits him: he is a habitual insomniac. The only decent sleep he ever gets is in the front seat of a car, huddled under his coat. When an experienced climber is found at the bottom of a rock column, possibly murdered, Hae-jun takes it upon himself to watch the mans widow. She seems an unlikely wife for the deceased, a much older man given to making brash, boastful vlogs about his outdoor adventures. A Chinese immigrant who came to Korea illegally, Song Seo-rae (Tang Wei) is young, beautiful, dignified but girlish, dressed in a succession of colourful fluffy jumpers and swishing skirts. She is suspiciously unmoved by her husbands death, but she could not have pushed him off that rock. Seo-rae works as a visiting carer with the very elderly. On the day her husband died, she was with her favourite old lady.

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Hae-jun interrogates her by day  a process that becomes a kind of courtship  and watches her through binoculars by night. She knows he is watching; he knows she knows. As their intimacy thickens, she will tell him she finds it comforting to know he is out there, guarding her. She is nothing like a femme fatale, an expression Park says he deliberately avoided using. On the contrary, she is warm, charming and flirts with him so openly that it doesnt feel like manipulation  not to him, anyway. Meanwhile, he unpacks the case, one detail at a time. When her alibi crumbles, so does Hae-juns professional certainty, confidence and moral compass. No matter what he discovers, he knows now he will never arrest her. That is his undoing and the romantic clincher. I wanted to make something classically refined where the characters emotions are swirling internally, but on the outside they are quiet. Park Chan-wook, director From the point of view of Seo-rae, knowing what kind of man he is, what kind of detective he is, that kind of choice is stronger than saying I love you a hundred times, says Park. That is the moment when her love towards him starts. You could say she used the detective with her own agenda but, by the second act, this changes completely  to the point where she gives him evidence against her. Of course, she gives him her phone. One of the films many incidental strengths is that mobile phones  so central to everyday life, so resented by scriptwriters trying to concoct mysteries  are pivotal to every plot twist. There may be a nod to Vertigo, but Park certainly isnt stuck in its world. Except, perhaps, by its voluntary restraints. Most of the drama is contained in looks. The most we see the couple do is sniff each other  they are both fond of toiletries  or rifle through each others pockets for a chapstick. Their desire is set to a perpetual simmer.

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I wanted to make something classically refined, says Park, where the characters emotions are swirling internally, but on the outside they are quiet. That turmoil is expressed through scenes of nature, which is also unusual for Park, with a culminating scene on a wild beach. The ocean is dynamic, at one moment calm and then in the next moment there are these huge waves you feel could consume you, he says. That was a good analogy for the emotions of my characters. Tang Wei and Park Hae-il in Decision to Leave. Credit:Madman Pictures He made the detectives quarry Chinese because he wanted to work with Tang Wei, who is mesmerising in the role; the important thing was that she was an outsider with only basic, hesitant Korean. It would make her feel lonely and there would be many inconveniences she would have to go through, he says. And I wanted to set it up so that there would be a distance between them when they first meet and a sense of curiosity about each other. Seo-raes Korean sounds different. Her accent, her pronunciation and word choice are unique. All of that creates a tension. Loading When a conversation heats up, she turns to her phone, speaking in Chinese and using a translation app to communicate. Then Hae-jun  along with the audience  has to wait for the translation machine to work, says Park. What is she saying? We are so curious, because clearly it is something important: she is so emotionally aroused, so excited. But we have to wait. That waiting time is crucial. And when the machine does translate what she said, it comes out as so flat, so dry  and in a mans voice. That irony was very important to me. Park writes his scripts with a female writer, Seo-kyeong Jeong, whom he also describes as his best friend. Many of his films are concerned with giving space to women to speak, be heard and act on their own behalf, even if they do abominable things. Here, we meet a woman who needs a machine to speak for her, which could be taken as a pointed metaphor. Park has never been a polemicist. Not that he is one now, but Decision to Leave certainly does show him in a new light. Decision to Leave opens in cinemas on October 20.

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This story is part of an in-depth series investigating the Barangaroo precinct, one of Sydneys largest urban renewal projects. See all 19 stories .

Former prime minister Paul Keating has called on the state government to return to the original height limits at Central Barangaroo and compensate developer Aqualand as the Chinese-backed company warns the viability of the venture is on the line.

It follows a stunning intervention by Planning Minister Anthony Roberts nine days ago, revealed by the Herald, to effectively kill a proposed modification that would have allowed buildings taller than 35 metres, including a controversial 73-metre luxury residential tower.

The planned 20-storey residential tower, on the right in this artists impression, has been a lightning rod for community opposition. Credit:Department of Planning portal

Roberts said few Sydneysiders could afford to live in such a tower and he saw no public benefit in the proposal, which was lodged by Infrastructure NSW and has not yet been formally rejected or withdrawn.

In comments made before Roberts intervention, Keating told the Herald it was in the governments interest to reject the modification, return to the original RL35 height limit and kick more money into the scheme to keep the developer in the tent and avoid years of delays.
Brown water lapped at Damen Boots shins as he stood in his front garden, shaking with shock.

I dont know what to do, he said. What can you do? I dont think theres anything you can do. Its just overwhelming.

Damen Boot outside his inundated home in Echuca. Credit:Bianca Hall

Boot, 24, left his home of five years  on the bank of the Campaspe River in Echuca  on Saturday. When he returned on Sunday afternoon, the home was inundated.

Up to 1000 properties in Echuca were expected to be flooded on Sunday, as the Campaspe River broke its banks and steadily rose above 96 metres.
Floodwater was expected to surround or inundate more than 7000 homes and businesses in the Shepparton area when the Goulburn River peaks early Monday morning, as thousands more properties across the state remained at risk overnight.

One-hundred Australian Defence Force personnel were deployed to the state on Sunday to help with evacuations and sandbagging, thousands of Victorians had already fled their homes and the premier warned they may not be able to return home for an extended period of time.

The flood has devastated the town of Rochester. Here, Mick Hassell cleans up his home, which was inundated. Credit:Justin McManus

Floodwaters receded in Rochester, which was swamped on Friday, but were still rising in Echuca and Shepparton late on Sunday. The Bureau of Meteorology predicted 20 to 50 millimetres of rain would fall later this week in Victoria including on the north-east catchments.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew over the flood zones on Sunday with Premier Daniel Andrews, before visiting Victorias State Control Centre, where he announced the deployment of the ADF and additional financial assistance for flood-affected communities in Victoria and Tasmania.
Melbourne Water will review whether the controversial construction of a wall around Flemington Racecourse contributed to flooding that led to the evacuation of people from their homes in Maribyrnong on Friday.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the review would focus on the flood wall and not other concerns about the timing of evacuation warnings.

I can confirm that Melbourne Water will conduct a thorough review of that flood event, and any impact that had. It will do that work at arms length from the government and will report on its progress, he said.

Maribyrnong residents had campaigned against the wall, which was built in 2007, arguing it would direct muddy floodwater away from the natural floodplain and into their homes.
Read more on the cost of living. See all 18 stories .

More than half a million Victorian households have gone hungry in the last year as the rising costs of energy, fuel, groceries, rent and mortgages have smashed household budgets.

Foodbanks annual Hunger Report, released on Monday, reveals more than 2 million households across the country (21 per cent) experienced severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, which means they ran out of food due to limited finances and at worst went entire days without eating.

Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara Credit:Paul Rovere

And interest rate rises are hitting hard; 32 per cent of Victorian households with mortgages struggled to put food on the table in the last year.

The figures are based on the Foodbank Hunger Survey, which was conducted between

July 11-18 this year through an online questionnaire of 4024 Australians, 853 of whom were from Victoria. It is not possible to accurately compare this years survey, which focused on households with last years, which focused on individuals.
That brings our live flood coverage to an end for today - thanks for reading along.

Heres the current situation as it stands:

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More rain is threatening to exacerbate Victorias flood crisis as thousands of people in the states north are told they could be isolated by rising water for up to a week.

On Monday, residents of Echuca, Charlton and Bunbartha were being told to evacuate their homes immediately. A flood peak in Kerang later in the week is expected to leave the town isolated for up to seven days.

In Shepparton, just 15 centimetres less floodwater than feared made a crucial difference between heartbreak and relief for many, although thousands of homes remained inundated.

Premier Daniel Andrews warned further rain would hit the already sodden ground and swollen rivers in coming days, with parts of the state facing a second flood peak later this week.

A truck pulling a semi-trailer through floodwaters outside Rochester on Monday. Credit:Narelle Fraser

A quick shout out to one of our blog readers Narelle Fraser who sent in this extraordinary photo this evening.

Im just out of Rochester [and] caught this semi driving thru what I could have sworn were floodwaters!! Unbelievable, she wrote. It was driving through the floodwaters, albiet slowly!

On that note, please be safe out there - and do not drive through floodwaters.

My colleagues will be online again early on Tuesday morning for another day of live coverage. Keep abreast of emergency alerts overnight at https://emergency.vic.gov.au/

Goodnight.
This story is part of a series examining how billions of dollars are being rorted from Medicare each year. See all 24 stories .

Rorting Medicare has become so lucrative that courses teach doctors and health professionals how to milk the $28 billion taxpayer-funded billing system and cover their tracks.

Offering carefully worded courses and conferences, some operators market themselves as experts in educating health professionals on how to get the most out of the 5800 services eligible for a Medicare rebate.

Rorting Medicare has become so lucrative, there are courses that teach medical professionals how to milk the system. Credit:iStock

A joint investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and ABCs 7.30 has uncovered flaws in Medicares systems that make it easy to rort and almost impossible to detect fraud, incorrect payments and errors.

The investigation has also obtained access to teaching materials from an online course that offers doctors step-by-step guides on how to maximise returns and promotes the practices as legal and ethical.
To get parental leave pay, the government applies an income test. But the test applies only to the income of the newborns mother. To get parental leave pay the government applies an income test. Credit:iStock If she earned more than $156,647 in the last financial year, she and her partner get nothing. It doesnt matter how much her husband or partner earns.

They could be literally taking home millions, but as long as the mothers income is less than $156,647, the family can get the governments money. In his speech on Saturday, the prime minister said he wanted a modern policy, for modern families which will support dads who want to take time off work to be more involved in those early months. Anthony Albanese says he wants a modern policy, for modern families. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Amen to that, but if hes serious about, it he needs to do something about a scheme that gives families with female breadwinners and stay-at-home dads nothing. To be fair, mothers can currently transfer parental leave payments to their husbands or partners if they are the primary carer.

But again  only if her income is less than $156,647 a year. Loading We all know (or are) a woman who goes out to work to pay the mortgage while her husband works on his many unproduced screenplays and collects rejection slips from The Monthly. Parts of Australian society still arent comfortable with the female partner earning more than her other half, but the government should not be designing policy based on that prejudice. Because surely thats discrimination? You cant treat someone less favourably because of their sex in Australia!

Well in this case you can and the Human Rights Commission and Administrative Appeals Tribunal have agreed its lawful. The inequality has been there since the scheme was birthed by Julia Gillard in 2011 and during their nine years in government the Coalition frustrated attempts by Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff to correct the anomaly. Former prime minister Julia Gillard. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Perhaps if the Coalition had been prepared to stand up for professional women when they wanted to start or grow their families, fewer of them would have turned against the government at the last election. Albaneses decision to extend parental leave payments to 26 weeks isnt surprising.

He copped an earful about it at last months jobs summit where it was argued the current entitlements hold women back. The unions were particularly scathing with the ACTUs Michelle ONeil complaining we have the second worst paid parental leave scheme in the developed world. Adding to that pressure was a push from the Greens and teal MPs including Zali Steggall and Zoe Daniel to increase it to six months. Independent MPs Zali Steggall and Zoe Daniel pushed for an increase in paid parental leave. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The government will no doubt reap the electoral reward for this extension while hoping voters forget the role it played in scuppering Tony Abbotts plans to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks.

Abbotts proposals  there were a few iterations  would have tied the rate of payments to womens actual wages with a maximum payment of $50,000. Loading Labor opposed Abbotts plan with then shadow treasurer Chris Bowen describing it as extravagant, unaffordable and a frolic. But it also stuck rigidly to Julia Gillards policy, in December 2014 describing the 18 weeks she had legislated as a perfectly good, rational, sensible paid parental leave scheme. The press release spruiking Albaneses expanded scheme states Equality for women is at the heart of our vision for a fair go at work  Because the full and equal and respectful participation of women in our economy is our nations greatest untapped resource.
NSW Labor leader Chris Minns will ban pork-barrelling if he wins the March state election in a bid to rebuild trust with voters who have increasingly turned their backs on the major parties.

Minns used his first speech as party leader to the NSW Labor state conference on Sunday to outline his election priorities, which include more permanent teachers, local manufacturing of trains and hundreds more paramedics for the regions.

NSW Labor Chris Minns and wife Anna and family at the NSW Labor state conference in Sydney. Credit:Dean Sewell

However, Minns was dealt a significant blow on the floor of conference when one of his frontbenchers, Mick Veitch, lost his preselection amid bitter internal brawling between left-wing party members.

Two-time lower house candidate for East Hills, barrister Cameron Murphy, secured the third spot on the upper house ticket after initially losing a preselection ballot in August.
WAKISO, Uganda, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday officially completed the installation of the satellite television project in 900 Ugandan villages that face connectivity challenges.

Chris Baryomunsi, Ugandan minister of Information, Communication, Technology and National Guidance, officiated at the handover ceremony held in Katabi village in the central Ugandan district of Wakiso. He praised China for its technical support to Uganda, noting that the support will drive development in communities.

Aoge Mengdai, chief executive officer of StarTimes Uganda, the project contractor, said 900 villages have been connected to satellite television service since 2018 when the project was executed. And more than 100,000 people in 18,000 households, 2,700 schools and health centers have access to satellite television.

StarTimes is a Chinese pay-TV company.

"The benefits are beyond simply accessing TV. These children can now access television learning and video demonstrations which are very useful in practical learning. They can also compare with other schools outside their community," Mengdai said.

He added that adults can now access key health and commercial information, as well as benchmark their dreams against other developing communities.

At the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in South Africa in 2015, the Chinese government pledged to provide satellite television for 10,000 African villages. 
The NSW casino regulator will fine Sydneys The Star a record $100 million for its failure to stem criminal activity and money laundering within its casinos.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have confirmed with multiple sources that the Independent Casino Commission will hand down the decision on Monday, which is also the first day on the job for The Stars new chief executive Robbie Cooke.

The sources were not permitted to disclose the decision publicly but confirmed the announcement would be made.

Sydneys scandal-plagued Star Casino. Credit:Oscar Colman

Last month the commission published the report by Adam Bell, SC, which found The Star was unfit to hold a casino licence, with chief commissioner Philip Crawford accusing the company of breathtaking institutional arrogance.
Its no coincidence that Queensland and Victoria  both Labor states  are getting so much more funding than the only mainland Liberal state, he said.

NSW treasurer Matt Kean said the state had been dudded by the Commonwealth in its $9.6 billion infrastructure announcement on Sunday. Credit:Peter Rae

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King on Sunday confirmed the split of the federal governments $9.6 billion infrastructure spend , which will be a centrepiece of the October 25 budget, Labors first since coming to power.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has accused the federal government of playing politics and favouring Labor states after it received only $1 billion in infrastructure funding while Victoria scored $2.5 billion and Queensland $1.47 billion.

It was NSW that carried the nation during COVID, it was NSW that took the lions share of overseas arrivals, and yet again were getting dudded by the Commonwealth just like we do with GST revenue.

NSW Minister for Transport and Western Sydney David Elliott said the state government had given the Albanese government a long list of infrastructure projects that desperately need funding in western Sydney, around the aerotropolis and in regional NSW.

Its time for the federal government to stop playing favourites when it comes to allocating taxpayers money and prioritise the spending where its needed most, he said.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King told the ABCs Insiders program on Sunday that Labor had not seen many projects proposed by the NSW Coalition government, partly due to a contentious relationship between the two.

We had a slightly different relationship in opposition with the Victorians as we did with NSW, so we didnt really have a lot of projects on the table from opposition with them, she said. But well talk to the NSW government in the lead-up to the May budget as to where their priorities are.
London: Sir Michael Hintze, the former Australian army captain who has become one of Britains most successful and best-known hedge fund managers, will take a seat in Britains House of Lords.

The billionaire, who has donated more than 4.7 million ($8.4 million) to the ruling Conservative Party over a decade, was among the latest set of political peerages announced by the UK government.

Michael Hintze, pictured in front of Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. Credit:Ian Tuttle

The list was among the last acts signed off from former prime minister Boris Johnson and approved by King Charles III.

The Truss government statement announcing the peerage cited the Australian as a businessman, founder of the Hintze Family Charitable Foundation and trustee of the National Gallery.
WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGE

Istanbul: Turkish officials have hit back at Greek allegations that Turkey forced 92 naked migrants into Greece, calling it fake news and accusing Greece of the mistreatment.

Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi was sharing false information after the official tweeted a photo of the naked migrants on Saturday and blamed Turkey, said Fahrettin Altun, the communications director of Turkeys president.

Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi. Credit:AP

Altun tweeted in Turkish, Greek and English that this was to cast suspicion on our country, while calling on Athens to abandon its harsh treatment of refugees.
London: More than a thousand Paddington Bears which were left throughout Britains royal parks and residences in moving tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II last month will be donated to charity.

The beloved fictional bear, created by Michael Bond in 1958, became a symbol during the national period of mourning, with one little girl gifting Prince William a Paddington teddy outside Windsor Castle.

Camilla, Queen Consort, poses with a collection of Paddington cuddly toys at Clarence House. Credit:Getty Images

The Prince of Wales accepted the toy and said: I might give it to George. Thank you very much.

Thousands of the furry figures and marmalade sandwiches were laid in honour of Elizabeth II at sites including Green Park and Hyde Park in such numbers that the charity in charge of overseeing royal parks in London had to discourage people from leaving them for reasons of sustainability.
The dramatic race against time began yesterday morning when the fourth-year medical student at Otago University, Colin B. Fitzpatrick, 21, of Auckland, was accidentally splashed with vaccinius virus, the vaccination strain of the deadly smallpox, in his left eye.

A representative of the John Curtin School of Medicine hands the package of drugs to pilot J. Perret. At left is the planes navigator, Flight-Lieutenant C. Whitely. Credit:The Age Archives

A rare serum, flown across the Tasman Sea yesterday in an emergency flight to try to save the sight of one eye of a New Zealand medical student, reached Dunedin Hospital last night  right on time.

Serum Flown Over Tasman to Save Sight of Student

First published in The Age on October 18, 1962

As the virus multiplies itself 500 times every 10 hours this meant the antidote had to reach the student within 10 hours if the eye were to be saved.

First Use

The antidote, interferon, and two rare chemicals never used before on humans left Canberra in an R.A.A.F. Canberra bomber at 4.12 pm.

The bomber reached Christchurch soon after 7 pm, where a Royal New Zealand Air Force Devon aircraft sped the parcel 160 miles to the smaller airport at Oamaru.

A car then rushed the serum to Dunedin Hospital.
Latest News Mortgage brokers hit more than 70% market share Highest percentage recorded for residential home loans

RBA governor apologises to mortgage holders Lowe sorry interest rates comment was misconstrued

The mortgage and finance industries have celebrated this years top performers at the Australian Mortgage Awards 2022.

For the first time in three years, more than 700 brokers, lenders, aggregators and BDMs gathered in person and were dressed to impress at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney on October 14 to celebrate the 2022 AMA champions.

This year the AMAs were hosted by Australian comedian, radio and television presenter Ed Kavalee, regular panellist on Have You Been Paying Attention? and guests danced the night away to Furnace & the Fundamentals once the award ceremony wrapped up.

The industrys most prestigious awards event is run by Key Media and supported by Australian Broker and Mortgage Professional Australia. Westpac was the event partner for the 13th consecutive year for the mortgage industrys night of nights.

Read more: Australian Mortgage Awards 2022 Excellence Awardees Revealed

The 2022 awards featured 25 categories plus the two major awards  Westpac Australian Broker of the Year and Liberty Australian Brokerage of the Year.

Daniel Green (pictured above left) from Brisbane's Green Finance Group won Westpac Australian Broker of The Year and Melbournes Entourage Finance was named the Liberty Australian Brokerage of the Year.

Green also took home the La Trobe Financial Broker of the Year  Commercial award. The FBAA Broker of the Year  Independent & Franchise winner was Josh Egan from Astute Melbourne City South and Gippsland.

The Pepper Money Broker of the Year  Specialist Lending winner was Mhairi MacLeod (pictured above right) from Astute Ability Finance Group on NSWs Central Coast. Christian Stevens from Shore Financial in North Sydney won Equity-One Broker of the Year  Productivity.

Read more: Sky's the limit for 2021 regional broker of year

The high level of entries for the NextGen Broker of the Year  Regional category meant that the judges were unable to split the competition when it came to the top spot. Brenden Lowbridge from Money Links in Newcastle and Jason Cuerel from Mortgage Innovations on the Gold Coast were named as joint winners.

Nick Atanasovksi of Cronulla-based Turnkey Finance won Adelaide Bank Young Gun of the Year.

For the brokerage of the year awards, The Trilogy Funds Brokerage of the Year  Diversification award went to Bell Partners Finance in Sydney.

St Kilda brokerage Everlend, run by director Evelyn Clark, won MFAA Brokerage of the Year (1-5 Staff), as well as BOQ Broker Best Customer Service from an Individual Office. Entourage Finance took home the Resimac Brokerage of the Year (6-20 Staff) section and Melbournes Inovayt won the Commonwealth Bank Brokerage of the Year (>20 Staff).

Gold Coast company Go Mortgage was named Brokerage of the Year  Regional while the Bankwest New Brokerage of the Year award went to Sydneys MortgageWorks.

In the industry categories, Bankwest won MSA National Bank of the Year, while Pepper Money was named Non-Bank of the Year and the PropTrack Fintech Lender of the Year award went to ubank.

Australian Broker is thankful to all the AMAs sponsors: Westpac (event partner), Adelaide Bank, Bankwest, BOQ, Commonwealth Bank, Dye & Durham, Equity-One, FBAA, Firstmac, La Trobe Financial, Liberty, MFAA, Mortgage Choice, MSA National, NextGen, OnDeck, Pepper Money, PropTrack, Prime Capital, Resimac and Trilogy Funds.

All the Australian Mortgage Award winners are listed below and you can also see them at the AMAs official website: https://www.australianmortgageawards.com.au/winners/2022

LA TROBE FINANCIAL BROKER OF THE YEAR  COMMERCIAL

Winner: Daniel Green, Green Finance Group

FBAA BROKER OF THE YEAR  INDEPENDENT & FRANCHISE

Winner: Josh Egan, Astute Melbourne City South and Gippsland

PEPPER MONEY BROKER OF THE YEAR  SPECIALIST LENDING

Winner: Mhairi MacLeod, Astute Ability Finance Group

EQUITY-ONE BROKER OF THE YEAR  PRODUCTIVITY

Winner: Christian Stevens, Shore Financial

NEXTGEN BROKER OF THE YEAR  REGIONAL

Winners:

Brenden Lowbridge, Money Links and Jason Cuerel, Mortgage Innovations

ADELAIDE BANK YOUNG GUN OF THE YEAR

Winner: Nick Atanasovski, Turnkey Finance

TRILOGY FUNDS BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR  DIVERSIFICATION

Winner: Bell Partners Finance

MFAA BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR (1-5 STAFF)

Winner: Everlend

RESIMAC BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR (6-20 STAFF)

Winner: Entourage Finance

COMMONWEALTH BANK BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR (>20 STAFF)

Winner: Inovayt

BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR  REGIONAL

Winner: Go Mortgage

BANKWEST NEW BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR

Winner: MortgageWorks

BOQ BROKER BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL OFFICE

Winner: Everlend

BEST INDUSTRY MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Winner: Bankwest

DYE & DURHAM BEST INDUSTRY SERVICE

Winner: Broker Essentials

PRIME CAPITAL AGGREGATOR OF THE YEAR (UP TO 500 BROKERS)

Winner: Money Quest Group

ONDECK AGGREGATOR OF THE YEAR (OVER 500 BROKERS)

Winner: Loan Market

FIRSTMAC BEST AGGREGATOR BDM

Winner: Haley Bellamy, AFG

BEST MAJOR BANK BDM

Winner: Murray Smith, Commonwealth Bank

BEST NON-MAJOR BANK BDM

Winner: Roohi Kumar, St George

MORTGAGE CHOICE BEST NON-BANK BDM

Winner: Maddie Matthews, Plenti

MSA NATIONAL BANK OF THE YEAR

Winner: Bankwest

NON-BANK OF THE YEAR

Winner: Pepper Money

PROPTRACK FINTECH LENDER OF THE YEAR

Winner: ubank

MORTGAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Mortgage Ezy

WESTPAC AUSTRALIAN BROKER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Daniel Green, Green Finance Group

LIBERTY AUSTRALIAN BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR

Winner: Entourage Finance
The divestment of Concor was cleared in November 2019, through which 30.8 per cent stake in the firm was to be put up for sale to a private firm
The between and may be completed a few months or a quarter before the previously indicated deadline, said Srinivasan Vaidyanathan, chief financial officer, .

Maybe there is (scope of the being completed) a quarter or a few months early. We had previously indicated September -- call it a Q2-Q3 (FY24) kind of timeframe. The way it is going, it may be Q1-Q2. Thats the way that I would put it. Maybe there is a few monthsit is running ahead, he said at a post-earnings analyst call on Saturday.

HDFC Bank, the countrys largest private lender, detailed its earnings for July-September on Saturday. On Friday, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) gave its nod for holding a shareholders' meeting on November 25 for obtaining approval for the proposed of HDFC with .

On April 4 this year, HDFC Bank said it would take over HDFC, the countrys largest mortgage lender, in a deal valued at $40 billion. The merger was initially to be completed by the second or third quarter of the next financial year.

Speaking about the requests for regulatory dispensations that had been made by HDFC Bank to the Reserve Bank of India, Vaidyanathan said the private lender continued to hold talks with the central bank. The bank had requested the RBI for permission to adopt a phased approach to comply with regulatory requirements, such as cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio, as well as norms on priority sector lending.

I think we are going to do 142,000 villages. We were less than 100,000 villages if you go back 12-15 months ago. From here, well be on track to go to 200,000 villages. We are on track to organically build this, he said.

According to RBI norms, 40 per cent of banks adjusted net credit must be extended to the priority sector, which includes agriculture and micro, small and medium enterprises.

On a query about the slow pace of transmission of the RBIs rate hikes to deposit rates, Vaidyanathan said HDFC Bank did not have any formula based on the repo rate or government security yields to set deposit rates. The bank has raised deposit rates by 50-60 bps in the 1-2-year category, against 190 bps of rate hikes by the RBI since May, analysts pointed out.

We monitor that and see at which price point we need the money and thereby, the pricing is done in such a way. It is about demand, it is about the positioning in the market in terms of what price point we are looking to get, he said.





Pointing out the bank has typically operated with a margin of 3.94-4.45 per cent, Vaidyanathan said the RBIs policy tightening cycle could give a boost to its margin. In July-September, HDFC Banks core net interest margin was at 4.1 per cent on total assets, and 4.3 per cent based on interest-earning assets. He pointed out that over the past couple of years, the mix between retail and wholesale loans had switched.

Retail is now at 45 per cent, wholesale is at 55 per cent. Its switched, we are at the lower end of that range and now the rate cycle is going up. So youre seeing some slight pick-up in the margin, he said.

HDFC Bank reported a 20.1 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit to Rs 10,605.8 crore in July-September.

Vaidyanathan attributed HDFC Bank marked-to-market loss of Rs 253 crore in July-September to a sharp rise in short-term benchmark government bond yields, even as the yield on the 10-year benchmark paper fell 5 basis points during the quarter.

During July-September, the cut-off yield on one-year government treasury bills rose 51 basis points. Bond prices fall when yields rise.

The losses were mainly incurred on corporate bond investments and those on pass-through certificates, including priority sector loan certificates.

These bonds and PTCs that we have are more on the front-end side. So, if you look at the dispersion of the bond book, its like a pretty good normal distribution around that 1.5-2-year type of range bucket, he said.

If you look at the rate, the base rate that determines the valuation of the bonds or PTCs...the base rate is the g-sec rate. The six-month rate is up 77 basis points in the quarter, one-year 67 basis points, two-year is 42 basis points and so on.
Women display handmade craft products in Omuthiya of Oshikoto region, northern Namibia, on Oct. 15, 2022. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/ Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- "I have been weaving baskets since my 20s. Talent alone could not translate into business success due to a lack of knowledge on accessing other markets," said Johanna Ndjodhi from Akoonde village in the Oshikoto region in the northern part of Namibia.

Ndjodhi, now in her 40s, until recently had struggled to commercialize her handmade craft products beyond her village borders.

In August this year, things have started to change when she joined five other women at a newly formed women empowerment initiative run by ShaNangolo Arts Academy, an art project based in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

Through the project, rural women who do not have access to opportunities are trained and helped to improve their skills in handmade crafts, including basket-weaving, jewellery, marketing, and how to modernize traditional items.

The academy has also exposed the women to exhibitions and local retailers such as the Local Merchant Shop, a one-stop shop for local products and has als.

With the increased exposure, Ndjodhi becomes one of the rural women in the northern part of Namibia who has transformed indigenous knowledge of handmade crafts into entrepreneurship to help improve livelihoods.

Thanks to the training and links to other markets, Ndjodhi has been able to sell her products on the mainstream market.

"It felt like a dream," she told Xinhua on Saturday. "Since then, the initiative has redefined a new meaning to my life. I would spend many days wandering at home, looking at how to keep active."

"In less than two months, I found a vocation," she said.

Josefina Awala, the founder of ShaNangolo Art Academy, said the aim of the initiative is to bridge gaps that impede women in remote areas.

"We aim to build capacity by introducing them to new ways of weaving, exploring unconventional tools such as old newspapers in making art products. But most importantly, link them to mainstream markets," Awala said.

Awala hopes to scale up the initiative to reach and empower more than 100 women in the next five years."The power is in working together and tapping on the diverse skills to uplift their livelihoods," said Awala.

Ndjodhi is not the only one benefiting from the initiative. Rural women have hailed the project for forging a sustainable path forward.

Memory Mubita from Omayinda village said that the project rescued her from unemployment. "I was struggling not only to find a vocation but also income. This is my lifeline now," said 24-year-old Mubita.

Rauna Lazarus, another beneficiary from Okashanakiiyenda village, learned to communicate better with clients and general customer service etiquette.

"I was happy to represent the project at my first-ever exhibition during heritage week, something I never imagined I would do. I also made a sale, and it was an ecstatic moment," Lazarus said.

Meanwhile, the project marked a milestone for many women, with a ripple effect on households and social progression.

"We are still learning more, and I am optimistic that with the skills gained and income, I will be able to support my family better and realize my goal to take my children through school. The future is bright," Ndjodhi said. 
Flagging-off of the Agartala-Khongsang Jan Shatabdi Express by President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday is a tribute to the 30-odd Indian Army Terriers killed in a landslide in Manipur's Tupul in June this year, the Army believes. The Agartala-Khongsang stretch may be a mere 54-km stretch but it is a huge step towards connecting India's northeastern states with the rest of the country. This line will extend till Imphal, the capital of . It took India 75 years after Independence to get into the country's railway map.

Tupul, where troops of the Territorial Army (Terriers) laid down their lives in June, is about 50 km from Imphal. Their job was to protect railway engineers, contractors and labourers from militants who delayed this project through wanton killings and extortion attempts. These are the same outfits that claim they are fighting for development of the region. Indian Army Terriers were also deployed while work was on between Agartala and Khongsang. It was only after the state police and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel were unable to curb the militancy that the Indian Railways sought help from the Army.

"Thanks to the brave Terriers, the stretch between Agartala and Khongsang has been completed and people from villages like Oinamlong, Kambiron and Thingou are looking forward to cover the 300 km (between Agartala and Khongsang) in relative comfort in barely seven hours. The road distance is 600 km and it takes nearly 19 hours to cover. Khongsang is about 56 km from Imphal and the entire stretch is expected to be commissioned in December 2023," an Indian Army official said.

Till now, the stretch has 19 tunnels and 9 major bridges. It passes through the picturesque valleys of Barak and Makru. It will certainly attract tourists and tourism can do wonders for states where other industries can't be set up due to various reasons such as ecological concerns.

"Tupul is barely 6 km from Khongsang. Terriers of the 107 Territorial Army Battalion, attached to the 11 Gorkha Rifles were deployed to provide security to railway personnel, contractors and their workers. In the past, there have been killings, kidnappings and extortion attempts by militants. Contractors and workmen fled the area in fear till our Terriers came in. Since their induction, no militant has dared to attack the railway project. The June 30 incident was unfortunate. Apart from our jawans, several civilians also lost their lives in the landslide. The only way to pay tribute to them is to complete the project on time. This will be egg on the face of organisations inimical to development of the region," another officer said.

--IANS

jayanta/pgh

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The West Bengal government on Saturday asked to compensate families whose houses in the Bowbazar area have developed cracks due to construction work of the East-West Corridor with Rs 5 lakh each within a month, mayor Firhad Hakim said.

The affected shop owners of the area will also be compensated for the loss of livelihood based on a formula derived by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) -- Rs 1.5 lakh for up to 100 sq ft, and Rs 5 lakh if more than 100 sq ft, he said.

The decision was taken in a meeting at state secretariat Nabanna, chaired virtually by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Besides Hakim, Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi, Home Secretary GP Gopalika, Kolkata Police commissioner Vineet Goyal, KMC commissioner Binod Kumar and senior officers of Rail Corporation Ltd (KMRCL) and experts from Jadavpur University were present in the meeting.

At least 12 houses in Madan Dutta Lane developed cracks since Friday morning, following water seepage during work for a metro tunnel, the third such incident in the area in three years.

Camps would be organised in the area from Sunday for the purpose of providing compensation to the affected families, Hakim said after visiting the spot along with Dwivedi and other senior officials.

"These cracks are the result of soil settlement," he said, adding that experts were asked for tests so that the KMRCL can repair or rebuild the affected buildings.

"Immediate arrangements should be made for shifting the affected families to safer locations. In case of students, patients and vulnerable persons, special care will be taken," he said.

KMRCL was asked to give prior intimation to the police and civic authorities before restarting the works, the mayor said.

Total 180 people of 28 families have been affected by the disaster, an official of the state government said.

Madan Dutta Lane, which was hit by the disaster this time, is a few metres away from Durga Pituri Lane, where several buildings developed cracks and some collapsed due to ground subsidence in August 2019 and May this year.

The incidents have delayed the East-West Metro project, which will connect Salt Lake to Howrah via Kolkata.

On August 31, 2019, a tunnel boring machine (TBM) had hit an aquifer leading to severe ground subsidence and the collapse of several buildings. At least three houses were damaged again in May this year owing to ground subsidence caused by water seepage.

The East-West Metro, which is operated by the Indian Railway, is at present operational between Sector V in Salt Lake and Sealdah in Kolkata.

Out of the 16.6 km length of the line, the underground corridor is 10.8 km between Howrah Maidan and Phoolbagan with the tunnel passing below the Hooghly river, while the rest is elevated.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government's Covid vaccination programme is in its final leg with the deciding against procuring more vaccines as of now and surrendering Rs 4,237 crore, or nearly 85 per cent of the 2022-23 budget allocation for inoculation purposes, to the .

Official sources told PTI that more than 1.8 crore doses are still available with the governments at the Centre and in states and the stock is sufficient to continue the vaccination drive for around six months, given the low uptake of vaccines among people due to declining Covid case burden.

Even if the government's stock gets exhausted, Covid vaccines will be available in the market.

"Any decision on whether to procure Covid vaccine doses through the government channel or get (fresh) budget allocations for the purpose after six months will depend on the situation prevailing in the country at that time," an official source told PTI.

As part of the nationwide vaccination drive which began on January 16 last year, the Government of India has been supporting states and Union territories by providing them COVID-19 vaccines free of cost.

Since the Covid cases have been low, a sense of complacency has grown among people and there has not been much demand of vaccines even though the government conducted a 75-day drive -- 'Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava' -- to administer booster doses to all adults free of cost.

"Considering this and the vaccines in the stockpile nearing their expiry date, the decision has been taken not to procure any more vaccines for now. Also, the Union has surrendered to the the balance of Rs 4,237.14 crore from its 2022-23 budget allocation of Rs 5,000 crore for inoculation purposes," the source said.

The cumulative Covid vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 219.32 crore, according to provisional reports till 7 am on Sunday.

Official sources said 98 per cent of India's adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 92 per cent have been fully vaccinated.

Besides, 83.7 per cent of adolescents aged 15 to 18 years have been vaccinated with the first dose since the vaccination for this age group began on January 3, while 72 per cent have got both the first and second doses.

In the age-group of 12-14 years, 87.3 per cent have been administered the first dose while 68.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Of the total eligible target population of 18 years and above, a little over 27 per cent have been administered precaution doses so far.

The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last year with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. Vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2 last year.

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 last year for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified comorbid conditions.

Vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years began on April 1 last year. The government then decided to expand the ambit of the vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 years to be inoculated against Covid from May 1 last year.

Inoculation of adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years commenced on January 3.

India began administering precaution doses of vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10.

The country began inoculating children aged 12-14 from March 16 and also removed the comorbidity clause making all people aged above 60 eligible for the precaution dose of Covid vaccine.

India on April 10 began administering precaution doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all aged above 18 years.

The cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country crossed the 100-crore mark on October 21 last year and 150 crore on January 7 this year. The total doses administered in the country surpassed the 200-crore mark on July 17.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government's Excise department on Saturday destroyed more than 10,000 bottles containing 5,516 litres of smuggled liquor seized by its enforcement teams in the recent months, officials said.

According to the Excise department, 3,267 litres of illicit liquor was destroyed in Mayur Vihar, 1,285 litres in Sarita Vihar and 964 litres in Tilak Nagar.

A large number of liquor bottles were spread on concrete stretches and a road roller was used to crush them, they said.

"Seizure of liquor smuggled into and its destruction is a routine exercise," said a senior Excise department official.

The enforcement activity by the department will pick up further once Police personnel are deputed at its Excise Intelligence Bureau (EIB), the officials said.

Thirty nine police personnel deployed at EIB were repatriated to Delhi Police in August. The move came on the heels of a CBI probe recommended by the LG VK Saxena into alleged irregularities in implementation of now scrapped Excise Policy 2021-22.

Among the repatriated officials were seven sub-inspectors, 16 head constables and remaining were constables.

These police personnel were working at EIB even after completing their deputation period. It is hoped that the Delhi Police will send fresh personnel in coming days so that enforcement activity picks up, they said.

Delhi shares a highly porous border with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana with multiple entry points.

The Excise department has suggested that Delhiites should purchase liquor from the national capital and avoid buying in large quantities from NCR cities like Ghaziabad, Noida and Gurugram as it will be considered illicit liquor if they carry more than one bottle.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nearly a year after one of the biggest agitations by growers at Delhis borders ended with the repeal of the three farm Acts, farmers are once again planning to regroup in the Capital.
The government appeared to be on a collision course with the medical fraternity on Sunday over the recent suspension of a doctor upon the order of Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who holds the health portfolio.

Yadav had, on Friday night, carried out surprise inspections of a number of government hospitals to take stock of preparedness for the outbreak of dengue.

He seemed displeased at the state of affairs at NMCH, the second largest public health care facility in the city and issued the order for suspension of its superintendent Dr Vinod Kumar Singh, who cried foul.

"I will have to rethink whether to continue working with the state's health department which does not treat a senior professor like me with respect. I have discharged my duties with dedication during the COVID surge. Even now, NMCH has the highest number of patients admitted to various wards, for any government hospital in Bihar, Singh told reporters.

He also alleged that Yadav was holding him responsible for poor upkeep of hospital lavatories, "which is not my job but that of the Patna Municipal Corporation that has turned a deaf ear to our repeated complaints".

He expressed bewilderment over the deputy CM's displeasure at dengue patients being kept in the same ward as those suffering from other ailments.

"Dengue is a vector-borne viral infection which cannot get directly transmitted from one person to another. So this is a non-issue, the aggrieved doctor said.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also come out in his support, shooting off missives to Governor Phagu Chauhan and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and vowing to fight it out in court.

"I can vouch for the dedication of Dr Singh whom I know personally. The suspension was an impulsive decision which the government must revoke, IMA President Dr Sahajanand Prasad Singh told PTI over phone.

"I sent emails yesterday conveying the association's disapproval of the suspension. We will provide all support in case the aggrieved party moves the court. We have, however, advised to refrain from going on a strike since it would hit the patients, Singh said.

The IMA president, who is based in Patna, also said he looks forward to meeting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

It will be good for the government, too, to withdraw the suspension order which suffers from legal infirmities and is unlikely to withstand legal scrutiny, he added.

Meanwhile, the young deputy CM seemed unfazed while interacting with the media at Gandhi Maidan, where he flagged off 100 four-wheelers and 380 motorcycles, pressed into service for intensive anti-larval spray in the city.

"The IMA is free to take up the matter in whichever way it pleases. They are supposed to take the side of those in the medical profession. But, we are representatives of the people and must act in public interest, said Yadav.

"I am in possession of a list of 705 government who have been absent from duty for long, in some cases as long as 10 to 12 years. Will the IMA show the spine to back the government in taking action against them? he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister on Sunday staunchly opposed what he called a Parliamentary panel's "recommendation" that for specific jobs, aspirants should have learnt the language.

Writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin referred to media reportage on a report of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Languages.

Stalin said: "It has been reported that the Committee, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, submitted its report to the President of India, wherein inter-alia, has recommended that should be the compulsory medium of instruction in educational institutions of the Union government such as IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and central universities and should replace English."



It also includes a recommendation that Hindi shall be made as the medium of instruction in all technical, non-technical institutions and all the Union government institutions including Kendriya Vidyalayas.

The Chief Minister, who is also the president of the ruling DMK said that it has been recommended by the panel that, "youth would be eligible for certain jobs only if they had studied Hindi, and removal of English (is proposed) as one of the compulsory papers in recruitment exams." Such proposals went against the federal principles of Constitution and would only harm the nation's multi-lingual fabric, he said.

Efforts to "impose" Hindi in various ways as recommended in that report should not be taken forward and the "glorious flame of unity of India may be held high forever," the Chief Minister requested. Stalin demanded that all languages should be accorded the status of official language of the Union government.

All the regional languages, including Tamil, should be treated equally and that is the way to ensure the principle of unity in diversity. There are 22 languages including Tamil in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. All such languages have equal rights and there are several demands that some more languages should also be included under the schedule.

"I would like to point out that the number of people speaking languages other than Hindi is numerically more than Hindi-speaking people in the Indian Union. I am sure you would appreciate that every language has its own specialty with its uniqueness and linguistic culture."



He recalled Tamil Nadu's consistent opposition to Hindi "imposition," the massive agitations in 1965 in the state and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's assurance that English would continue to be one of the official languages as long as the non-Hindi speaking people wanted.

"Subsequently, the resolutions passed in 1968 and 1976 on official language, and according to the rules laid down thereunder, ensured the use of both English and Hindi in union government services. This position must continue to remain as the corner stone of all discussions on official language."



The Centre's recent attempts to "impose Hindi" are impractical and divisive in character puts non-Hindi speaking people in a very disadvantageous position in many respects. "This will not be acceptable not only to but also to any state that respects and values their mother tongue."



On October 10, Stalin appealed to Modi to give up attempts to "make Hindi mandatory" and uphold the nation's unity. "Do not force another language war by imposing Hindi," the DMK chief had said. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also had taken exception to the panel's recommendation. DMK and CPI(M) are allies in .

On Saturday, the ruling DMK's youth wing secretary and Stalin's son, Udayanidhi Stalin warned the Centre that his party would stage a protest against it in Delhi if Hindi was thrust upon Tamil Nadu.

A parliamentary panel has recently recommended that the medium of instruction in technical and non-technical higher education institutes such as the IITs in Hindi-speaking states should be Hindi and in other parts of the country, the respective regional languages.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eleven people have been arrested by the Police for allegedly using unfair means in the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) 2022 conducted by the Subordinate Service Commission (UPSSSC).

While nine people have been arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of Police, two other have been arrested by the local police in Bijnor, according to a statement from the STF headquarters on Saturday.

According to the police, the STF team has arrested three accused from Unnao, one from Amethi, two from Jaunpur, one from Meerut and two from Kanpur.

An FIR has been registered against the accused under relevant sections in the respective police stations.

According to the statement, the team of STF Lucknow had arrested Pushpendra Yadav and Ankit Kumar Maurya, residents of Prayagraj district, and Satyam Kumar Pandey, resident of West Champaran, Bihar, on the information that they appeared for the examination in place of the original candidate in Unnao.

On the information given by the STF Headquarters, Amethi Police arrested another solver Kumar Kamat, resident of Madhubani, Bihar, while the STF Prayagraj unit arrested solver Siddharth Shankar Dubey, resident of Bhojpur in Bihar and an agent Anil Kumar Malhotra, resident of Prayagraj in Jaunpur.

While solvers sat in exam in place of the candidate, agents made arrangements for them.

Apart from this, another team of STF Lucknow arrested Raghuveer, a resident of Hardoi and Saif Ahmed Khan, a resident of Maharajganj, from Kanpur.

Police have recovered many items including ATM card, mobile, fake Aadhaar card and identity card from the possession of these accused.

The STF also arrested a candidate from Meerut who was found with the answer key of the exam.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Emphasizing India's strides towards financial inclusion and digital economy, Prime Minister on Sunday said the sector has become a vehicle for good governance and better service delivery in the country.

With an aim to promote financial inclusion, Prime Minister on Sunday dedicated 75 Digital Units (DBUs) to the nation.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das also attended the launching ceremony via virtual mode.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said the 75 Digital Units will further financial inclusion and significantly improve the banking experience for the citizens.

DBUs are a step towards making the life of the common man simple. He said DBU is a system ensuring maximum services with minimum digital infrastructure.

"Digital Banking Units are significant in the ongoing campaign to simplify the lives of common people. It is a special banking facility that will provide maximum services through minimum digital infrastructure. These services will be free of paperwork and other hassles. These will have facilities as well as strong digital banking security," he said.

He said the central government has worked on two fronts simultaneously - first, improving the banking system, strengthening it and bringing transparency; and secondly, financial inclusion.

Prime Minister said banking today surpassed financial transactions and has established itself as an example of good governance and better service delivery medium. Today this system has become an engine for growth for MSMEs and private institutions.

"Banking sector has become a medium of good governance and better service delivery. JAM trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhar and Mobile) has significantly helped curb corruption. UPI has opened up new possibilities for India," he said.

Prime Minister said the central government has given top priority to ensuring that banking services reach the last mile.

He said, "We decided that banks themselves will go to the doorsteps of the poor. For this, we had to first reduce the distance between the poor and banks. We reduced the physical distance as well as the psychological distance. We gave the highest priority to taking banks to remote areas."

"Today, more than 99 per cent of villages in India have either a bank branch, banking outlet or Banking Mitra within 5 km. Today, the number of bank branches for every one lakh adult population in the country is more than countries like Germany, China and South Africa," PM added.

PM Modi said International Monetary Fund (IMF) appreciated India's digital banking infrastructure.

"The credit goes to India's poor, farmers and workers who accepted new techniques bravely and made it a part of their lives. When financial participation connects to digital participation, a new world of possibilities opens," he said.

Prime Minister said India has achieved sustained growth by replacing 'phone banking' with 'digital banking.

The setting up of 75 DBUs in 75 districts of the country was done to commemorate the 75 years of independence of the country.

According to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), DBUs will be brick-and-mortar outlets which will provide a variety of digital banking facilities to people such as the opening of savings accounts, balance-check, printing passbooks, transfer of funds, investment in fixed deposits, loan applications, stop-payment instructions for cheques issued, applications for credit and debit cards, tax and bill payment and nominations.

The PMO statement said DBUs will enable customers to have cost-effective, convenient access and enhanced digital experience of banking products and services all through the year.

The DBUs are being set up to ensure that the benefits of digital banking reach every nook and corner of the country and cover all states and union territories. Eleven public sector banks, 12 private sector banks and one small finance bank are participating in the endeavour.

It said they will spread digital financial literacy and special emphasis will be given to customer education on cyber security awareness and safeguards.

Also, there shall be adequate digital mechanisms to offer real-time assistance and redress customer grievances arising from business and services offered by the DBUs directly or through business facilitators and correspondents.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a big win for small traders, the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act (MPID) court has directed the Competent Authority to make a graded distribution only to about 2,040 individual who have outstanding amount between Rs 10 lakhs and Rs 20 lakhs.

However, on Thursday last, the MPID court excluded corporates and partnerships from getting preferential payment in the Rs 5,600 payment default crisis.

Now by this order, out of the total unverified 12,735 traders, as many as 72 per cent or 9,193 will be paid fully, said in a statement on Saturday.

NSEL, which has been fighting for the cause of genuine traders, supported this petition, while it was vehemently opposed by the Investors Action Group (NIAG) of Ketan Shah and argued by counsel Chirag Shah of the NSEL Aggrieved and Recovery Association (NAARA).

Earlier, NIAG had opposed and lost in the Supreme Court when it tried to sabotage the balance 50 per cent disbursal to 6,400 falling between Rs 2 lakhs and Rs 10 lakhs.

To give immediate relief to small traders in 2013, NSEL had paid 50 per cent to the same 6,400 traders and 100 per cent to 708 traders having outstanding below Rs 2 lakhs, it noted.

"Ketan Shah and Chirag Shah, who have been masquerading as messiahs, rank among 781 crorepatis with unverified claims of over Rs. 1 crore and have been fighting against the release of this available money to small traders. The only reason for opposing such payments could be that this would greatly undercut their power as champions of small traders," the NSEL added.

Instead of fighting for the recovery of the default amount from the defaulters, Chirag Shah and Ketan Shah have been fighting in favour of brokers and opposing payments to small traders, NSEL said, adding: "This order has unmasked their real face to people."

NSEL noted that all traders have signed a client-broker agreement with their brokers and are registered clients of the brokers.

No trader has privity with NSEL. The brokers had lured their clients with forward contract of one-day duration and by offering 80:20 and then 90:10 schemes.

"Brokers have indulged in irregularities such as largescale client code modification, false promises, KYC manipulation, and infusion of black money through benami transactions. Except for three brokers, even the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has neither acted against nor filed any charge-sheet against brokers," it added.

Despite this fact, NSEL alleged, no action was taken by then Forward Market Commission Chairman Ramesh Abhishek against brokers and defaulters. Ramesh Abhishek only focused his targeted actions against NSEL and 63 moons, thereby, allowing the defaulters and brokers to go scot-free.

NSEL pointed out that all investigating agencies have confirmed the liability of the defaulters with the money trail up to the last paise traced to the defaulters. "No money trail is established to NSEL, its directors, or promoters. Despite continued attacks, NSEL is singlehandedly fighting for the recovery against the defaulters so that the genuine traders can be repaid at the earliest."

NSEL has solely extended support to investigative agencies and gone after defaulters, obtained decrees and awards worth Rs 4,300 crore. Against the unverified claims of Rs 4,800 crore, NSEL has actively worked and supported in getting over Rs 6,000 crore worth of defaulters' assets already attached by the EOW and ED, which is sufficient to cover genuine claims of the balance traders.

NSEL urged the EOW to support its genuine mission of recovery, instead of supporting NIAG and NAARA in their petition for opposing reliefs to small traders. "It is time for authorities to investigate and unmask real faces of such vested interests, blackmailer associations who trade pain for personal gains."

NSEL stated that it has full faith in the country's judicial system that the truth will get established. "With this MPID court order, justice and truth have prevailed again."

NSEL reiterated that the payment crisis was triggered by the abrupt halting of a running exchange by Ramesh Abhishek, the then FMC chairman on the instruction of then Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, through his close aide and then Additional Secretary of Commodities and Capital Markets, KP Krishnan.

In an Rs 10,000 crore damage suit filed by 63 moons against the three individually, the Bombay High Court has already issued a notice.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The number of dengue fever cases keeps on growing in Pakistan as one death was reported in the South Asian country.

The death was reported from the southern Sindh province, the provincial health department said on Saturday evening.

In the last 24 hours, Sindh reported 325 new infections. The worst-hit area was Karachi, the provincial capital, which reported 222 new cases. With the newly-reported dengue cases, the October figure to date for the province has risen to 4,918, bringing the total local tally to 15,072 this year.

The eastern Punjab province reported 496 new cases in the last 24 hours, the provincial health authorities said on Saturday. Punjab's capital Lahore reported 222 new cases, followed by Rawalpindi city with 96 cases. The total number of dengue cases in Punjab this year has now gone up to 10,915.

In the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 380 more people were diagnosed with the disease, the provincial health department said on Saturday night.

The number of active cases in the province currently stands at 1,993 and the total number of cases this year has reached 13,983.

The national capital Islamabad reported 103 new dengue cases in the last 24 hours, the health authorities said on Saturday night. The city's total tally has risen to 3,724 this year. 
As much as Rs 25 lakh crore has been distributed so far to beneficiaries under various welfare schemes and subsidies through



Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana bank accounts, Union Minister of Tourism G Kishan Reddy said on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters at Jangaon, about 90 km from here, after the inauguration and dedication of 75 digital banking units to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Reddy said half of the 50 crore belong to women.

You all know when the were opened there was question whether it was required in our country. Today, we have distributed Rs 25 lakh



crore on welfare schemes to poor people through . This is an achievement, he said.

Reddy further said today there is Rs 1.75 lakh crore in the Jan Dhan bank accounts deposited by the poor.

He further said there were several instances in some States where the subsidies, pensions and welfare schemes of poor people are being looted by fraudsters using fake identities.

As many as four-crore fake ration cards were cancelled after the implementation of direct benefit transfer (DBT) and the same number of false LPG cylinder accounts, Reddy said.

Claiming that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had earlier said only Rs 15 is reaching people as against the Centre's disbursal of Rs 100 as the middlemen



were pocketing Rs 85, the Union Minister said,Today we can proudly say if the Centre sends Rs 100 to a poor man, even as single paise is not diverted.

Stating that the Centre is ready to deposit scholarships to SC and ST students directly into their bank accounts, Kishan Reddy said he is requesting the



Telangana government to provide the bank details of those students so that Rs 300 crore towards that can be transferred.

Reddy, also Minister for Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), said for the past several years, works used to be done only papers in the north-east and after the implemention of digitalisation system works are monitored through that and payments released.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister on Sunday said the 75 units (DBUs) in 75 districts is a big step towards ease of living for common citizens and will open up a whole new world of possibilities by combining financial partnerships with digital partnerships.

Inaugurating the 75 DBUs virtually, Modi said the special banking system shall work to provide maximum services from minimum digital infrastructure. It will also simplify the banking procedure while providing a robust and secure banking system. In a village, in a small town, when a person takes the services of a unit, everything from sending money to taking loans will become easy, online, he added.

In her FY23 Budget speech, Minister announced that 75 DBUs would be set up to ensure that the benefits of reach every nook and corner of the country in the 75th year of Independence.

As many as 11 public sector banks, 12 private sector banks, and one small bank have established brick-and-mortar DBU outlets across the country that will operate round the clock. DBUs will provide a variety of digital banking facilities to people, such as opening savings accounts through eKYC/video KYC, balance-check, printing passbooks, transfer of funds, investment in fixed deposits, loan applications, stop-payment instructions for cheques issued, applying for credit/debit cards, viewing statement of account, paying taxes, paying bills, and making nominations.

The DBUs will help that are now looking to reduce their physical footprint with fewer brick-and-mortar branches, with a light banking approach. The move may open up the rural market for service providers, besides providing a boost to credit flow.

Participating in the event from the US, Sitharaman said DBUs will go a long way in giving further impetus to digital banking in India and help the economy to move towards a cashless and inclusive economy. DBUs will enable people who dont have a personal computer, laptop, or even a smartphone to be able to access banking services.

The governments credit-linked schemes through the Jan Samarth portal will also be available for ordinary users, she added.

State Bank of India, the countrys largest lender, has opened 12 of the 75 DBUs, in places like Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Balod in Chhattisgarh, and East, North and West Sikkim, among others. Bank of Baroda has opened 8 DBUs, which are in Varanasi, Kota, Vadodara, among others.

HDFC Bank  the countrys largest private sector bank -- has opened 4 DBUs in Haridwar, Chandigarh, Faridabad (Haryana), and South 24 Parganas (WB). ICICI Bank  the second largest private sector bank has also opened 4 DBUs, in Dehradun, Karur (TN), Kohima, and Puducherry.

that have opened maximum DBUs State Bank of India- 12

Bank of Baroda- 8

Union Bank of India- 6

Canara Bank- 5

Punjab National Bank- 4

HDFC Bank- 4

ICICI Bank- 4

Axis Bank- 3

Indian Bank- 3

DBUs: Taking the lead

4 DBUs in each of these states

Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh

3 DBUs in each of these states

Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Sikkim, Telangana

Services offered

Financial services to be provided by the DBUs include savings, credit, investment and insurance. On the credit delivery front, the DBUs will provide end-to-end digital processing of small ticket retail, and MSME loans, starting from online applications to disbursals. They will also provide services related to certain government-sponsored schemes.

Two modes of services
An excited crowd was milling around outside Indian Bank, a public-sector bank, in the upscale Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow on Sunday morning.

Shunning the goggle-box in the cozy confines of their homes, the people, braving a strong autumn sun, were eagerly watching Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a makeshift giant screen, dedicating 75 units (DBUs) across the country via video conference.

With this initiative, and other states were ushered into an era of an accelerated template. Among the 75 DBUs, four are located in UP  Lucknow, Kanpur Dehat, Varanasi, and Jhansi districts  and will be facilitated by different public-sector commercial . The Lucknow DBU is hosted by in the upmarket Vijay Khand block of Gomti Nagar.

The brick-and-mortar DBU will provide facilities such as opening savings bank accounts, balance checking, passbook printing, funds transfer, term deposits, loan applications, stop-payment instructions, credit/debit card applications, and paying taxes/bills. Abhishek Singh, a college student, said the DBU, which will always be in operation, would provide a seamless banking experience. Similarly, Seema, a homemaker, sounded enthusiastic about the concept. Meanwhile, Executive Director Imran Amin Siddiqui said the bank had deployed the best of the staff members to offer assistance to the people taking DBU service.

The Lucknow DBU inauguration ceremony was attended by UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and UP Minister of State for Pankaj Choudhary.

 has been investing liberally in upgrading operations. The DBU will further this objective and go a long way in achieving the digital banking vision of the prime minister, he added. Siddiqui further said the DBU template would also supplement the Yogi Adityanath governments goals in social and socio-economic sectors, including the one-district-one-product (ODOP) scheme.

In his virtual address, Modi said DBUs would provide maximum services through minimum digital infrastructure. In Union Budget 2022-23, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced setting up 75 DBUs in 75 districts to commemorate 75 years of Indias independence.

The DBU are being set up to ensure the benefits of digital banking reach the remotest of places. About 11 public-sector banks, 12 private and a small bank are participating in the DBU model.

There will be adequate digital mechanisms to offer real-time assistance and redress customer grievances arising from business and services offered by the DBUs directly or through business facilitators/correspondents.
A huge fire blazed at a notorious prison where political prisoners and anti-government activists are kept in the Iranian capital. Online videos and local media reported gunshots, as nationwide protests entered a fifth week.

Iran's state-run IRNA reported that there were clashes between prisoners in one ward and prison personnel, citing a senior security official. The official said prisoners had set fire to a warehouse full of prison uniforms, which caused the blaze. He said the "rioters" were separated from the other prisoners to de-escalate the conflict.

The official said the "situation is completely under control" and that firemen were extinguishing the flames. But footage of the blaze continued to circulate online. Videos showed shots ringing out as plumes of smoke engulfed the sky in amid the sound of an alarm.

The US-based Centre for Human Rights in reported that an "armed conflict" broke out within the prison walls. It said shots were first heard in Ward 7 of the prison. This account could not immediately be verified.

The prison fire occurred as protesters intensified anti-government demonstrations along main streets and at universities in some cities across on Saturday. Human rights monitors reported hundreds dead, including children, as the movement concluded its fourth week.

Demonstrators chanted "Down with the Dictator" on the streets of Ardabil in the country's northwest. Outside of universities in Kermanshah, Rasht and Tehran, students rallied, according to videos on social media. In the city of Sanandaj, a hotspot for demonstrations in the northern Kurdish region, school girls chanted, "Woman, life, freedom," down a central street.

The protests erupted after public outrage over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. She was arrested by Iran's morality police in for violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code. Iran's government insists Amini was not mistreated in police custody, but her family says her body showed bruises and other signs of beating after she was detained.

At least 233 protesters have been killed since demonstrations swept on September 17, according to US-based rights monitor HRANA. The group said 32 among the dead were below the age of 18. Earlier, Oslo-based Iran Human Rights estimated 201 people have been killed.

Iranian authorities have dismissed the unrest as a purported Western plot, without providing evidence.

Public anger in Iran has coalesced around Amini's death, prompting girls and women to remove their mandatory headscarves on the street in a show of solidarity. Other segments of society, including oil workers, have also joined the movement, which has spread to at least 19 cities, becoming one of the greatest challenges to Iran's theocracy since the country's 2009 Green Movement.

Riots have also broken out in prisons, with clashes reported between inmates and guards in Lakan prison in the northern province of Gilan recently.

Commercial strikes resumed Saturday in key cities across the Kurdish region, including Saqqez, Amini's hometown and the birthplace of the protests, Bukan and Sanandaj.

The government has responded with a brutal crackdown, arresting activists and protest organisers, reprimanding Iranian celebrities for voicing support, even confiscating their passports, and using live ammunition, tear gas and sound bombs to disperse crowds, leading to deaths.

In a video widely distributed Saturday, plainclothes Basij, a paramilitary volunteer group, are seen forcing a woman into a car and firing bullets into the air amid a protest in Gohardasht, in northern Iran.

Widespread internet outages have also made it difficult for protesters to communicate with the outside world, while Iranian authorities have detained at least 40 journalists since the unrest began, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese President called for accelerating the building of a world-class military while touting the fight against Covid-19 as he kicked off a Communist Party Congress by focussing heavily on security and reiterating policy priorities.



Xi, 69, is widely expected to win a third leadership term at the conclusion of the week-long congress that began on Sunday morning, cementing his place as Chinas most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong.



Roughly 2,300 delegates from around the country gathered in the vast Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square amid tight security and under blue skies after several smoggy days in the Chinese capital.



Xi described the five years since the last party congress as extremely uncommon and abnormal, during a speech that lasted less than two hours  far shorter than his nearly three-and-a-half-hour address at the 2017 congress. However, he did not read out the entire work report, as he did five years ago.



We must strengthen our sense of hardship, adhere to the bottom-line thinking, be prepared for danger in times of peace, prepare for a rainy day, and be ready to withstand major tests of high winds and high waves, he said.



Xi called for strengthening the ability to maintain national security, ensuring food and energy supplies, securing supply chains, improving the ability to deal with disasters and protecting personal information. The biggest applause came when Xi restated opposition to independence.



Goldman Sachs analysts wrote that Xi appeared to use the terms security, people, socialism, modernisation and military more frequently than he did five years ago. They said the frequency of growth and law-based governance remained largely stable, while that of economy, market and reform declined somewhat.



In his decade in power, Xi has set on an increasingly authoritarian path that has prioritised security, state control of the economy in the name of common prosperity, a more assertive diplomacy, a stronger military and intensifying pressure to seize democratically governed .



Alfred Wu, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said that as Chinas economy has slowed, Xi is attempting to shift the basis of legitimacy from economic growth to security.



His narrative is  faces many dangers, the country is in a war-like state, figuratively, and he is the saviour. With this narrative, he can get people to unite around him, he said.



Meanwhile, Chinese President also said that must ensure is ruled by patriots and China will support in integrating with the mainland, on Sunday.



One country, two systems" is the best system for and must be adhered to in the long run, Xi said in his speech.



Xi said little about Covid-19 other than to reiterate the validity of a policy that has made China a global outlier as much of the world tries to coexist with the coronavirus, which emerged in central China in late 2019.

"We have adhered to the supremacy of the people and the supremacy of life, adhered to dynamic zero-COVID ... and achieved major positive results in the overall prevention and control of the epidemic, and economic and social development," Xi said.

On the economy, he restated support for the private sector and allowing markets to play a key role, even as China fine-tunes a "socialist economic system" and promotes "common prosperity".



"We must build a high-level socialist market economic system ... unswervingly consolidate and develop the public ownership system, unswervingly encourage and support the development of the private economy, give full play to the decisive role of the market in the allocation of resources, and give better play to the role of the government," he said.



PARTY POWER



Xi's power appears undiminished by the tumult of a year that has seen China's economy slow dramatically, dragged down by the COVID policy's frequent lockdowns, a crisis in the property sector and the impact of his 2021 crackdown on the once-freewheeling "platform economy", as well as global headwinds.



China's relations with the West have deteriorated sharply, worsened by Xi's support of Russia's Vladimir Putin.



The son of a Communist Party revolutionary, Xi has reinvigorated a party that had grown deeply corrupt and increasingly irrelevant, expanding its presence across all aspects of China, with Xi officially its "core".



Xi did away with presidential term limits in 2018, clearing the way for him to break with the precedent of recent decades and rule for a third five-year term, or longer.



"I support the re-election of to a third term with both hands," Li Yinjiang, a delegate from Jiangsu province, told Reuters. "He can make our country strong and our people happy."



The congress is expected to reconfirm Xi as party general secretary, China's most powerful post, as well as chairman of the Central Military Commission. Xi's presidency is up for renewal in March at the annual session of China's parliament.



In the run-up to the congress, the Chinese capital stepped up security and COVID curbs, while steel mills in nearby Hebei province were instructed to cut back on operations to improve air quality, an industry source said.



The day after the congress ends on Saturday, Xi is expected to introduce his new Politburo Standing Committee, a seven-person leadership team. It will include the person who will replace Li Keqiang as premier when Li steps down from that post in March after serving the maximum two terms.





We will not back down: Taiwan



will not back down on its sovereignty or compromise on freedom and democracy, and its people clearly oppose Beijing's idea of "one country, two systems" management for Taiwan, the self-ruled island's presidential office said on Sunday.

The statement came shortly after President Xi Jinping said in a speech at the opening of the Communist Party Congress in Beijing that it is up to the Chinese people to resolve the Taiwan issue. Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region is the common responsibility of both sides and meeting on the battlefield is not an option, Taiwan's presidential office said in the statement. Reuters

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As he is all set for a record 3rd five-year term in power and perhaps for life, President on Sunday warned that will not renounce the use of force to unify with the mainland and vowed to advance the modernisation of the country's military to world-class standards to protect national sovereignty, security and developmental interests.

considers itself a sovereign state but views the self-ruled island as a breakaway province. Beijing has not ruled out the possible use of force to achieve unification.

We will not renounce the use of force and will take all necessary measures to stop all separatist movements in Taiwan, Xi said on the opening day of the week-long key once-in-a-five-year Congress of the ruling Communist Party of (CPC), which is widely expected to confer an unprecedented 3rd five-year term on him.

Except for Xi, all the top leaders of the party, including the number two leader Premier Li Keqiang, would be replaced or reshuffled during the Congress as the administration headed by 69-year-old Xi is completing a 10-year tenure.

However, the Congress is expected to endorse Xi's continuation as he has already been declared a core leader of the party on par with its founder Mao Zedong. Xi's continuation in power will formally end the over three decade practice of its top leaders retiring after completing two-five-year tenures.

In a show of unity, almost all retired former leaders of the party -- including Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao, former president Jiang Zemin and former premier Wen Jiabao along with a host of former leaders -- attended Sunday's opening ceremony at the ornate Great Hall of the People and were seen cheering key aspects of his speech spanning one hour 45 minutes.

Xi's pledge to complete the reunification of China, which means the merger of with the Chinese mainland, received a prolonged round of applause from over 2,300 elected delegates attending the Congress.

Xi, also the General Secretary of the CPC, said the party must stand firm on its strategy to resolve the Taiwan issue and be determined to reunify the nation.

"Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, a matter that must be resolved by the Chinese," he said.

China has conducted intense military drills and fired missiles over the self-governing island following the high-profile visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August, the highest American official visit to Taiwan, sparking concerns that Beijing may be preparing the ground for invasion.

"We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary. This is directed solely at interference by outside forces and the few separatists seeking 'Taiwan independence' and their separatist activities; it is by no means targeted at our Taiwan compatriots," Xi said.

The president said the wheels of history are rolling on toward China's reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

"Complete reunification of our country must be realised, and it can, without doubt, be realised! We have always shown respect and care for our Taiwan compatriots and worked to deliver benefits to them. We will continue to promote economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Strait.

"We will encourage people on both sides of the Strait to work together to promote Chinese culture and forge closer bonds," he said.

Xi also stressed on further modernising national defence and military.

Achieving the goals for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027 and more quickly elevating the people's armed forces to world-class standards are strategic tasks for building a modern socialist country in all respects, he said.

The CPC will intensify troop training and enhance combat preparedness across the board, strengthen all-around military governance, and consolidate and enhance integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities, Xi said.

He also said that the CPC will strengthen its control of the military to obey its directives.

"We will strengthen party building across the board in the people's armed forces to ensure that they always obey the party's command," he said.

The party will improve the institutions and mechanisms for implementing the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

CMC is the overall high command of China's two million-strong military. Xi is also the chairman of the CMC, besides being the General Secretary of the party and President, making him the most powerful leader of the country in modern China.

During his ten-year tenure, Xi has carried out extensive reforms re-orienting the military, retrenching three lakh troops from the army and strengthening navy and air force as China expanded its influence globally with initiatives like the multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Xi said the CPC will strengthen party organisations in the people's armed forces, carry out regular activities and put in place institutions to improve the military's political work, and make unremitting efforts to improve conduct, enforce discipline, and combat corruption in the military.

In his address, Xi mostly focused on domestic issues and the development of the party under his leadership. He also said China must modernise its national security system and safeguard social stability.

National security is the foundation of national rejuvenation, and social stability is a prerequisite of national strength. We must unswervingly implement the comprehensive national security concept, maintain national security throughout all aspects of the work of the party and the state to ensure national security and social stability, he said.

Xi also said China will have to come up with capacity and institutes to ensure food, energy, key industrial and supply chains, and the lawful rights of Chinese citizens overseas.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese-run companies in have been dogged by controversy with gross human rights violations and safety norms for mining workers.

The recent incident of ill-treating by the Chinese mine owner has once again exposed the exploitation of locals and unethical practices adopted by Chinese employers in the African nation, reported Africa Daily.

It is not only ill-treatment but the Chinese investors usually accuse local workers of stealing and verbally and physically abusing them and blatantly violating laws.

The Centre for Research and Development (CRD), a Manicaland-based natural resources governance organisation stated that Chinese mining operations in Odzi were blatantly violating laws that regulate health and safety issues.

Recently a Chinese-run gold mining company operating in the Odzi peri-urban area of Mutare district, has been accused of ill-treating workers and flouting the country's labour laws and regulations, reported Africa Daily.

Notably, the Chinese company registered as Odzi Resources Private Limited runs a number of gold mines across the country, including in Mashava, Mbalabala, Bulawayo, Kwekwe and Mazowe.

In another incident, the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) appealed (September 19) to the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe to intervene and ensure Chinese investors comply with the laws of the country.

has funded and provided loans for many infrastructure projects across Africa in recent years, including the new parliament in Zimbabwe.

Chinese investments have increased over time in African countries mainly to exploit their natural resources to cater to the raw material requirements of their industries. But it pays little attention to social and environmental impacts in the host countries, reported Africa Daily.

Tatenda Chikwanha, a former worker claimed ill-treatment of workers at the Odzi mine by the Chinese employer, who was recently fired after speaking out against the rampant abuse.

He added that workers were not provided with protective wear, decent meals and accommodation while on duty. Fearing victimisation many workers also could not spell the problems of poor working conditions to the authorities, reported Africa Daily.

According to the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA), wages are often very low and in many cases are not paid on time. If someone tries to exercise their right as a worker and demand what is due to them getting assaulted or shot.

Nearly 40 workers employed at a Chinese-controlled mine near Doneni, Muzvezve area in Kadoma who have gone for months without salaries, said that they are being treated like slaves by the owners. They also alleged that they are forced to work in the mine shaft without any protective clothing, exposing them to injuries and other health hazards, reported Africa Daily.

As per a 2016 report by the Brookings Institution, there are at least 10,000 Chinese nationals in Zimbabwe, many of whom work in the mining, telecommunications, and construction sectors. Chinese-owned companies, however, have become notorious for their mistreatment of workers.

In April 2019, workers at a mining company went on strike over lower wages than legally stipulated and demand for the provision of PPE which went unanswered. Workers complained that this has exposed them to hazardous fumes and increased the risk of losing limbs or being burnt, reported Africa Daily.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
During the just concluded annual meetings of the Monetary Fund and the World Bank, several countries including India expressed concern over the spillover effects of political and economic decisions of developed nations, Union Finance Minister said.

The minister said she raised the issue prominently during her meetings here.

Earlier this week, Sitharaman had said that in the near-term, advanced nations must take responsibility for the global spillover of their political and economic decisions and put in place safety nets rather than impose sanctions on nations who are merely fulfilling their moral and democratic obligations for their people.

Her remarks came in the wake of the push by the US-led western countries to reduce their oil purchase from Russia and warning to other nations that they would face sanctions if they continued to do so.

In an interaction with a group of Indian reporters here on Saturday, she said she raised the issue during her bilateral and multilateral meetings as well.

"I repeated it in some of the meetings inside as well," she said in response to a question.

"I didn't particularly notice any one minister and their reaction but I did say this. And incidentally, at a different meeting, Sri Mulyani (Indrawati, Finance Minister of Indonesia) also voiced it. Maybe one or two of the countries also voiced it. If I'm not mistaken, maybe the finance minister from Nigeria also voiced it," she said.

"There are several others who said it as well... that the unintended consequences of certain action taken, or the spillover (effects) of policies is definitely hurting our countries," she added.

Sitharaman is on a six-day visit to the US, which began on October 11. Besides attending the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, she held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from several countries during the visit.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
has started debt restructuring talks with the IMF, India and China, President said on Sunday, exuding confidence that if the discussions move forward in a systematic way, the country would tide over its worst economic crisis.

Addressing a gathering in the Siyambalanduwa district, Wickremesinghe said talks have also started with private creditors on debt restructuring.

For the first time yesterday, we began talks with the IMF, China, Japan and India on lessening our debt burden, he said.

It will be difficult for us to pay back debt, still we have to find ways to lessen our debt burden. We are faced with a situation where we are unable to meet interest payments. But I'm hopeful that if our talks could be carried forward in a systematic way, we would be able to solve our problems, he said.

The president said he spoke to the Chinese finance minister while Sri Lanka's finance minister Shehan Semasinghe on Saturday started talks with India on debt restructuring in Washington.

He said the funds from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the US and the EU were being used to pay for the island's medicine and fertiliser imports.

reached a staff-level agreement with the in late August for a USD 2.9 billion rescue package over 4 years. Its completion hinges on assurances from Sri Lanka's creditors on debt restructuring.

The government in May appointed legal and debt advisors for debt restructuring after the country for the first time in history declared its debt default.

is nearly bankrupt and has suspended repaying its USD 51 billion foreign debt, of which it must repay USD 28 billion by 2027.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said nothing is off the table when asked if he will abandon more of Prime Minister Liz Trusss tax-cut plans, confirming that his is now the leading government voice on UK fiscal policy.



Hunt declined to rule out delaying by a year the prime ministers plan to cut the basic rate of income tax, a move that would amount to another U-turn on a key plank of Trusss mini-budget. A delay could save 5 billion ($6 billion), according to a report in the Sunday Times.



On Friday, having already reversed two planned tax cuts, Truss requested that the newly appointed Hunt stick to the remaining measures in her fiscal plan. By Saturday, Hunt made clear that calming the markets is his priority; on Sunday he refused to rule out abandoning another of Trusss key policies. Truss and Hunt meet on Sunday at Chequers, the prime ministers country residence in Buckinghamshire.



Im not taking anything off the table, Hunt told the BBC on Sunday. There is one thing we can do and that is what I am going to do, which is to show the markets, the world, indeed people watching at home, that we can properly account for every penny of our tax and spending plans.



The government will not return to the kind of austerity policies seen in the early 2010s, but departments will need to find efficiencies, Hunt said.
Greek authorities accused of forcing 92 migrants to cross into and stripping them naked before doing so.

Greek police on Saturday said that police officers found the migrants stark naked on Friday, "some with bodily injuries" who had entered the country using plastic boats to cross the Evros River, which forms a border between the two countries.

The migrants told police and officers of Frontex, the European Union's border agency, that they had been forced by Turkish authorities to board three vehicles that took them to the border. The migrants testified that they had been forced to strip naked before boarding the boats.

Police said it had provided clothing and food for the migrants.

"Turkey's provocative behaviour exceeded all limits," Greece's Ministry of Asylum and Migration said Saturday.

Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi posted a photo of the naked migrants on his Twitter account Saturday, commenting, in Greek and English: "Trkiye's behaviour towards 92 migrants whom we rescued at the borders (yesterday), is a shame for civilisation. We expect Ankara to investigate the incident and protect at last its borders with the EU."



regularly accuses of violently pushing back migrants entering the country through land and sea, while accuses of "pushing forward" migrants to put pressure on the EU.

The migrants are mostly from Afghanistan and Syria, with a few from other countries, such as Pakistan.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister on Sunday held discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and highlighted India's commitment to the success of COP27 under the Egyptian presidency.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar underscored that India values the participation of in the G20 during its chairship. He further underlined that India is fully committed to the success of COP27 under the Egyptian presidency.

"Honoured to call on President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt," Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to Egypt, tweeted. Jaishankar conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Egyptian President and handed him a personal message.

The EAM deeply appreciated President Sisi's guidance in further developing various dimensions of the relationship. Minister Jaishankar briefed the President on his discussions with finance minister Sameh Shoukry.

"As independent-minded nations, India and contribute to global discourse. And promote the cause of peace, progress and development," Jaishankar added in his tweet.

Jaishankar on Saturday said that he will talk to the Union Minister for Education, Skill and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan on collaborating with Egypt on premier higher educational institutes, like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

In an interaction with the Indian community in Cairo, he said, "There was a particular interest in Egypt about getting one of our IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) to set up a collaborative enterprise here. I will discuss this with our Education Minister in India."

Notably, premier higher educational institutions in the country are looking to expand their campuses abroad. A government-constituted committee has recommended and pitched for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to take the lead on this front.

Tasked to prepare a framework for Indian universities to set up campuses abroad, the 16-member committee -- headed by the chairman of the standing committee of IIT council, K Radhakrishnan -- was constituted by the Union Education Ministry after IIT-Delhi submitted a proposal last year for opening centres in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Jaishankar further stated that the relationship between India and Egypt is good. "The possibilities are greater, there is enthusiasm in India to explore it. Tomorrow I will meet the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and reiterate the strong personal commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to growing this relationship," he said.

Talking about trade relations, he said, "One of the interesting development in our trade relations is that Egypt has started importing wheat from India. The good thing about Egypt is that the trade has been reasonably balanced from both sides."

Speaking about the Covid pandemic, Jaishankar shared the success story of India - lessons learnt from covid, bringing back Indians during the time of the pandemic and how India became the pharmacy of the world.

"We are carrying on extrapolating our lessons during covid... health system moving to cover 100s of millions of people, programs for home ownership- almost 25 million houses given in the past few years. It's a society where remarkable changes are happening on the ground," said EAM in Egypt.

"We made an unprecedented effort to bring back Indians home during covid. This is an India today, capable of doing big things. It has proven that it can rise to challenges," added Jaishankar.

Talking about India's reputation as the pharmacy of the world, he said that people would be surprised at the number of foreigners visiting India for medical purposes.

"Our reputation as the pharmacy of the world has grown. We are a health hub for many countries. People would be surprised at the number of foreigners visiting India for medical purposes, not just in our immediate neighbourhood but Gulf, east-Africa, and central Asia... I now see the prospect of Indian hospitals going out of India," said EAM in Egypt.

He said that his objective differs from 15 years ago when he visited the nation as a tourist. "I am here on my first visit as the Minister of External Affairs, it's not my first visit to Egypt though, I was first here roughly about 15 years ago as a tourist. Today, my objective is different - it is really to further our relationship and meet my counterparts, the Egyptian government's leaders."

Sharing his assessment of the relationship between the two countries, he told the Indian community that as stakeholders, I think its progress and betterment is something which is natural interest to them.

"In terms of where our relationship is I would like you all to appreciate that there is today a very very serious effort at upgrading our ties and this is the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations and my presence here, preceded a few weeks ago by our Defence Minister Rajnath Singh - I think is a very strong political signal to Egypt that India definitely would like to raise the quality of the relationship," said the EAM.

"As political partners, we have a long history with this country, going back to the 1950s, we have been among the more independent members of the community, by and large, we have kept the independent course and today at a time when the world is quite polarized when we see in many ways, there are compulsions, it is important for us to reiterate the bonds of friendship between us and to work together on big issues," added Jaishankar.

He reiterated the importance of independent-minded countries speaking their mind as the world is getting very polarized.

"Necessary for independent-minded countries to speak their mind as the world is getting very polarized... Richer countries not fully grasping how poorer countries are being hurt by what's happening in the world. It's a very stressful, unhappy world today. Countries struggling," said Jaishankar.

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External Affairs Minister met his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry here on Saturday and the two leaders discussed a range of issues including the Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific and exchanged views on boosting bilateral ties and how to create a more resilient global economy.

Jaishankar is in on a two-day visit at the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart Shoukry.

A warm and productive meeting with FM Sameh Shoukry of . Reflected our deep-rooted ties as we mark 75 years of diplomatic relations this year, he said in a tweet.

As states active in shaping global debates, discussed developments in our regions and exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict and Indo-Pacific. A polarised world needs independent thinking and voices of reason, he said in another tweet.

Jaishankar said India and Egypt's cooperation in multilateral forums remains robust and welcomed Egyptian participation in G20 next year and in BRICS New Development Bank and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Our political cooperation has historically been strong. We have a number of institutions. Some of them have been meeting regularly, and some of them are due to meet. We hope to do a meeting of our counterterrorism working group as well. But overall, we've always had good political understanding and certainly today's meeting and discussions I think have enhanced it, Jaishankar said in his opening remarks at the press conference with his Egyptian counterpart.

He said the two countries in recent times have stepped up their defence and security cooperation and there have been discussions on how to collaborate more closely on the defence side, especially in defence production.

Trade and commerce have again seen a very big increase. Last year was our highest-ever trade - in excess of 7.2 billion dollars. It was a big jump. Today, we reviewed that. We agreed that there were possibilities for still further growth. That both of us must work to address Market Access issues that we might have respectively, Jaishankar said.

Investment has also been very positive. Indian companies today have a recorded investment of more than 3 billion dollars and we have again close to about a billion dollars in the pipeline. And we see a lot of new possibilities. I shared with the Minister some of what we are picking up from industry, new possibilities here, particularly in renewable energy. So, we are again very optimistic on that score, he said.

The two ministers also discussed ways to increase air connectivity and tourism.

Jaishankar said India and are both civilisation states and share a tradition of thinking beyond their narrow national interests.

We've always been interested in the world, involved with the world, and we have again, a history of working together. We obviously spent some time discussing the Ukraine conflict and its repercussions for fertilizers, food and energy security. I shared with the Minister my perspectives on the Indo-Pacific. He spoke about his views. We discussed how to create a more resilient global economy, he said.

Jaishankar also backed Egypt's chairing of the COP 27 next month. "It is the struggle for climate action, and to ensure climate justice is something which all Global South countries feel strongly about. So, I assured the minister of our fullest support," he said.

So, overall, it's been a good day for our bilateral relationship. We will be able to give stronger guidance to our systems, how to go forward. I think it's been a good meeting of minds with the Minister, on issues, Jaishankar added.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the famous Al Horreya Park in the Egyptian capital. Gandhi's bust was unveiled at the park in 2019 to mark his 150th birth anniversary.

India and Egypt share close political understanding based on a long history of contact and cooperation in bilateral, regional and global issues. Both countries have cooperated closely in multilateral fora and were the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement. The year 2022 is of particular significance since it marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.

Egypt has traditionally been one of India's most important trading partners in the African continent. Bilateral trade has expanded rapidly in 2021-22, amounting to 7.26 billion registering a 75 per cent increase compared to FY 2020-21, according to the Indian embassy in Egypt.

India's exports to Egypt during this period amounted to USD 3.74 billion, registering a 65 per cent increase over the same period in FY 2020-21. At the same time, Egypt's exports to India reached USD 3.52 billion registering an 86 per cent increase, the embassy said on its website.

At present, the Indian community in Egypt numbers at around 3200, most of whom are concentrated in Cairo. There are also a small number of families in Alexandria, Port Said and Ismailia.

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Two years ago, candidate loudly denounced President for policies that inflicted cruelty and exclusion at every turn, including toward those fleeing the "brutal" government of socialist Nicolas Maduro in .

Now, with increasing numbers of Venezuelans arriving at the US-Mexico border as the Nov 8 election nears, Biden has turned to an unlikely source for a solution: his predecessor's playbook.

Biden last week invoked a Trump-era rule known as Title 42 -- which Biden's own Justice Department is fighting in court to deny Venezuelans fleeing their crisis-torn country the chance to request asylum at the border.

The rule, first invoked by Trump in 2020, uses emergency public health authority to allow the United States to keep migrants from seeking asylum at the border, based on the need to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Under the new Biden administration policy, Venezuelans who walk or swim across America's southern border will be expelled and any Venezuelan who illegally enters Mexico or Panama will be ineligible to come to the United States. But as many as 24,000 Venezuelans will be accepted at U.S. airports, similar to how Ukrainians have been admitted since Russia's invasion in February.

Mexico has insisted that the U.S. admit one Venezuelan on humanitarian parole for each Venezuelan it expels to Mexico, according to a Mexican official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke condition of anonymity. So if the Biden administration paroles 24,000 Venezuelans to the U.S., Mexico would take no more than 24,000 Venezuelans expelled from the U.S.

The Biden policy marks an abrupt turn for the White House, which just weeks ago was lambasting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, both Republicans, for putting Venezuelan migrants fleeing political persecution on buses and planes to Democratic strongholds.

These were children, they were moms, they were fleeing communism, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at the time.

Biden's new policy has drawn swift criticism from immigrant advocates, many of them quick to point out the Trump parallels.

Rather than restore the right to asylum decimated by the Trump administration ... the Biden administration has dangerously embraced the failures of the past and expanded upon them by explicitly enabling expulsions of Venezuelan migrants, said Jennifer Nagda, policy director of the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights.

The administration says the policy is aimed at ensuring a lawful and orderly way for Venezuelans to enter the U.S.

Why the turnaround?



For more than a year after taking office in January 2021, Biden deferred to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which used its authority to keep in place the Trump-era declaration that a public health risk existed that warranted expedited expulsion of asylum-seekers.

Members of Biden's own party and activist groups had expressed skepticism about the public health underpinnings for allowing Title 42 to remain in effect, especially when COVID-19 was spreading more widely within the U.S. than elsewhere.

After months of internal deliberations and preparations, the CDC on April 1 said it would end the public health order and return to normal border processing of migrants, giving them a chance to request asylum in the U.S.

Homeland Security officials braced for a resulting increase in border crossings.

But officials inside and outside the White House were conflicted over ending the authority, believing it effectively kept down the number of people crossing the border illegally, according to senior administration officials.

A court order in May that kept Title 42 in place due to a challenge from Republican state officials was greeted with quiet relief by some in the administration, according to officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions.

The recent increase in migration from Venezuela, sparked by political, social and economic instability in the country, dashed officials' hopes that they were finally seeing a lull in the chaos that had defined the border region for the past year.

By August, Venezuelans were the second-largest nationality arriving at the U.S. border after Mexicans. Given that U.S. tensions with meant migrants from the country could not be sent back easily, the situation became increasingly difficult to manage.

So an administration that had rejected many Trump-era policies aimed at keeping out migrants, that had worked to make the asylum process easier and that had increased the number of refugees allowed into the U.S. now turned to Title 42.

It brokered a deal to send the Venezuelans to Mexico, which already had agreed to accept migrants expelled under Title 42 if they are from Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador.

All the while, Justice Department lawyers continue to appeal a court decision that has kept Title 42 in place. They are opposing Republican attorneys general from more than 20 states who have argued that Title 42 is the only safety valve preventing this Administration's already disastrous border control policies from descending into an unmitigated catastrophe.

Under Title 42, migrants have been expelled more than 2.3 million times from the U.S. after crossing the country's land borders illegally from Canada or Mexico, though most try to come through Mexico.

The administration had announced it would stop expelling migrants under Title 42 starting May 23 and go back to detaining and deporting migrants who did not qualify to enter and remain in the U.S. a longer process that allows migrants to request asylum in the U.S.

We are extremely disturbed by the apparent acceptance, codification, and expansion of the use of Title 42, an irrelevant health order, as a cornerstone of border policy, said Thomas Cartwright of Witness at the Border. One that expunges the legal right to asylum.

A separate lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union also is trying to end Title 42, an effort that could render the administration's proposal useless.

People have a right to seek asylum regardless of where they came from, how they arrive in the United States, and whether or not they have family here," said ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt.

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French President has promised to follow-up French energy giant Total's oil and gas exploration in Lebanon to ensure its continuous work, a statement by Lebanon's Presidency reported.

"You can count on Total's commitments; I will follow up on the matter," Macron said on Saturday in a phone call with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun.

The leaders of Lebanon and Israel announced on Tuesday that the two countries had agreed to resolve a decades-long dispute over their maritime boundary in the eastern Mediterranean, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Thursday, Aoun announced Lebanon's approval of the final version of the agreement proposed by the US energy envoy Amos Hochstein to demarcate maritime borders with Israel.

The agreement, a copy of which was seen by Xinhua, grants exploration rights at the Qana gas field.

According to the agreement, Qana would be located mostly inside Lebanon, although will share some profits with Israel.

For his part, President Aoun emphasised the importance of signing the border demarcation agreement in order to begin drilling operations and then the extraction of oil and gas.

"This will have a positive impact on Lebanon's stability and the revival of the economy amid the current tough circumstances," he said.

--IANS

int/khz/

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The Russian Defense Ministry said that two volunteer soldiers fired at other troops at a Russian military firing range near Ukraine, killing 11 and wounding 15 others, before getting killed.

The ministry said in a statement that the shooting took place in the Belgorod region in southwestern that borders Ukraine. It said that the two volunteers from an unnamed ex-Soviet nation fired on other soldiers during target practice and were killed by return fire.

The ministry called the incident a terrorist attack.

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Chinese President reiterated that economic development is the Communist Partys top priority, a signal that Beijing will continue to emphasize growth despite some analysts expecting a shift toward greater focus on national security.

At the opening of the 20th party congress in Beijing, in which Xi is likely to secure a third term in power, he echoed development-first phrasing used in congress addresses by every party leader since Jiang Zemin in 2002. Development is the partys top priority in governance, he said.

Xi has increasingly been highlighting the need to balance security concerns with economic growth since 2020, prompting some analysts to suggest Xi would drop the development-first slogan. That would have been a major departure signaling Beijing would be willing to push other policy goals at the expense of economic growth.

By sticking to the partys stance and reasserting a goal for per-capita GDP to reach the level of a moderately developed country by 2035, Xi allayed concerns about policy shifting away from growth. At the same time, the president warned of the security risks faces when pursing its ambitions, and twice mentioned in his speech the need to balance development with security."



I was encouraged that still emphasized development as Chinas top priority, though national security also played a more prominent part than five years ago, which is of course understandable in light of developments, said Bert Hofman of the East Asian Institute at National University of Singapore.

Xi hinted at those geopolitical tensions, saying the party should prepare for major tests of strong winds and high waves.

Its reassuring that the leaders say that growth still comes first and foremost in the current stage of development, especially as we are faced with economic difficulties from virus curbs and as we are in for challenges from the US over the long term, said Wu Xianfeng, fund manager at Shenzhen Longteng Assets Management Co. If we were to go back on our target for development it would be very damaging for confidence.

The president repeated the partys key economic policies, including dual circulation -- driving growth through domestic demand, a nod to concerns about decoupling from the West. The resilience and security of supply chains should be improved, he added.
Stock will be guided by the ongoing quarterly earnings season and global factors, analysts said, adding that foreign fund movement would also play a crucial role in dictating the terms.

Besides, movement of the rupee and trend in international oil benchmark Brent crude will also influence trading, they added.

"Market will look for direction from Q2 earnings and global cues. This week many financial and cement companies will come out with their . Global are quite volatile, which may lead to volatility in our market as well," said Santosh Meena, Head of Research, Swastika Investmart Ltd.

In terms of global factors, macro numbers from the United States and China will be important, Meena said.

Movement of the US bond yields, dollar index and crude oil will be other global factors to watch out for, Meena added. It will be important to see institutional flows from here on.

"Earnings and global cues will dictate the trend this week. First, participants will react to HDFC Bank's number in early trade on Monday.

"Going ahead, we have some prominent names like ACC, Ultratech Cement, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finance, ITC and Hindustan Unilever who will announce their numbers along with several others," said Ajit Mishra, VP - Research, Religare Broking Ltd.

HDFC Bank on Saturday reported a 22.30 per cent jump in its consolidated net profit for the September quarter at Rs 11,125.21 crore, helped by a reduction in money set aside for bad loans.

Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives, Samco Securities said, "Quarterly results of companies will occupy the centre stage. D-street will be interested to hear the management commentary about future earnings growth trajectory."



According to Meena of Swastika Investmart, the Indian equity have been in a range for the last three weeks.

Last week, the Sensex shed 271.32 points or 0.46 per cent, while the Nifty fell 128.95 points or 0.74 per cent.

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The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) criticised the decision of three capitals in the state at a round table meeting of state leaders on Saturday.

state president Achchennaidu said during the meeting that the announcement of three capitals in the state is being made to create "enmity" between the people.

"Three capitals have been announced only to create enmity between the people. If Jagan had accepted Amaravati as capital earlier then why is he opposing it now, that too when Amaravati is equidistant from all the regions?" he asked.

He further said that will be winning the assembly polls in 2024.

"Chandrababu Naidu had brought governance to the people. As per the surveys, TDP will be winning the Assembly polls in 2024," he added.

Former Andhra Minister Ayyannapatra attacked CM Jagan for doing "perverted" .

"TDP wants to make Visakhapatnam as capital even after initially agreeing to make Amaravati as capital. Jagan always does perverted . Rs 25,000 crores worth of assets has already been pledged in Visakhapatnam. What will be protected in the name of Visakha Conservative Committee Chairman?" he asked.

TDP MP Rammohan Naidu raised the issue of Uttarandhra fishermen and the Visakha Railway zone.

"Why the Uttarandhra YCP leaders are not talking about the Visakha Railway zone anymore now, the YCP leaders are talking about resigning. I will tell you how to resign. Why did they not resign from the steel plant? Uttarandhra has now been handed over to Vijayasai Reddy. How will justice will be given to the Uttarndhra fishermen?" he asked.

Former Andhra Home Minister Chinarajappa also alleged the Andhra CM of changing his word on Visakhapatnam.

"Jagan's lands were identified during the padayatra. He started looting the state in two and a half years. Now, he is provoking the people of Uttarandhra and is creating chaos," he asked.

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Nihar Thackeray, the grandson of founder late Bal Thackeray, has said that he supports the Eknath Shinde faction of the party and is ready to campaign for the upcoming Andheri East Assembly byelection as well as the Mumbai civic body polls.

He also did not rule out joining electoral .

The BJP, supported by the Shinde-led faction, has fielded Murji Patel against the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party's Rutuja Latke in the November 3 byelection.

It will be the first major electoral contest in the state after Shinde's rebellion brought down the previous government led by Uddhav Thackeray in June this year.

Nihar, the son of Bindumadhav Thackeray, Bal Thackeray's eldest son, is a lawyer by profession. He is also part of Chief Minister Shinde's legal team in the battle in the Supreme Court over which is the 'real' Shiv Sena.

Shinde was taking forward the legacy of his late grandfather and hence he supported the chief minister, Nihar told PTI in an interview.

On Dussehra, when his uncle Uddhav Thackeray and cousin Aaditya addressed a rally at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai, Nihar Thackeray was on stage with Shinde, who addressed a separate rally at MMRDA ground in the state capital.

Uddhav's elder brother Jaidev and Jaidev's former wife Smita too shared the stage with Shinde, in an apparent attempt to send out a message that barring Uddhav and his son, the rest of the family supported Shinde.

Nihar declined to comment on the fissures in the family, but said was the glue that kept it together.

If required, I will keep myself available for the bypoll and BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) polls. I will continue to extend support to Shinde ji, he added.

Bindumadhav Thackeray, producer of the 1996 hit Hindi film "Agni Sakshi" among others, died in a road accident in the same year.

Nihar is married to Ankita Patil, the daughter of former minister Harshvardhan Patil who is now with the BJP.

Asked whether he would participate in electoral politics, Nihar said, I have not really given it a serious thought...I am a lawyer by profession. But not taking that decision does not mean I will never do it.

I am not saying it's a complete no. I have just not given it a complete thought yet, he said.

His cousin Aaditya became only the second member of the Thackeray family to contest an election when he won from Worli Assembly constituency in 2019.

Before that, Shalini Thackeray, another member of the extended family, had contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election unsuccessfully on the Navnirman Sena (MNS) ticket.

Ever since Balasaheb passed away, I have not been an active part of the Shiv Sena or for whatever reasons. It did not happen, Nihar Thackeray said.

Had there been an option, I would have definitely liked to be a part of it. It (the party) is something which my grandfather started. For whatever reasons, I was not part of it, he added without elaborating on why he did not find any role in the Sena after Uddhav Thackeray took over.

Asked about his association with Shinde, he said he met the chief minister for the first time in July this year.

Balasaheb had clearly said that he will never join hands with the Congress under any circumstances. For whatever reasons, things happened and Maha Vikas Aghadi government (of the Sena, Congress and NCP) came to power, and thenShinde saheb decided to walk away, Nihar Thackeray said.

The government which had been given the mandate to rule (in 2019) is now in power, he added.

The Shiv Sena and the BJP had contested the 2019 Assembly elections together but fell out after the results.

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Senior JD (U) leader Upendra Kushwaha alleged that the was against reservation for backward classes and the people of Bihar are aware of the saffron party's stance.

He also claimed that fresh guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for creating a new teaching position are opposed to quotas.

"The UGC guidelines under which higher education institutes can create a new teaching position called 'Professor of Practice' to hire experts from various sectors are against reservations for backward classes. They (BJP) have already recruited 40 people under this new category but not even a single person has been appointed as 'Professor of Practice' from the backward classes," Kushwaha told reporters here on Saturday.

"It's a conspiracy of the to recruit RSS sympathisers from the backdoor and deprive backward classes of their rights," said Kushwaha, the JD(U) parliamentary board chief.

On BJP's allegation that the Bihar government failing to comply with a Supreme Court order led to deferment of urban local body polls in the state, he said people know that the saffron party is "anti-reservation and anti-backward classes".

"Our Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has already made it clear that fresh municipal polls will now be held in the state only after reservations for Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes, set aside by the Patna High Court, are restored," he added.

The state election commission deferred the polls, scheduled in two phases on October 10 and October 20, saying that fresh dates will be announced in due course.

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Contrary to the political call for 'unified Opposition' to fight against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) announced to contest alone in the elections slated to be held in 2024.

The party announced to contest for some of the 14 seats in Assam alone, stating that Congress is "no longer a reliable" party.

AIUDF MLA and party General Secretary Rafiqul Islam told ANI that the party's final decision is yet to be made, but it has been discussed in the party platform to contest for at least seven to eight seats in the 2024 election in the state.

"Now we are preparing for the general election alone. Earlier, except one election, we had fought all the elections alone. We fought the previous Assam assembly election by joining hands with Congress and a few other opposition parties," Rafiqul Islam said.

"Since 2006, we are fighting the elections alone. In the 2014 general election, we won three seats-- Karimganj, Barpeta, and Dhubri, and in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, our party supremo Badruddin Ajmal won the Dhubri seat. This time, we are trying to register a victory at atleast three seats and we have targeted five-six more," Rafiqul Islam said.

He further said that the party is preparing to fight in these seats and the final decision will be taken in the party's core committee meeting.

Rafiqul Islam also mentioned that despite the parties' call for unity to fight against BJP, they are not united.

"If the Congress party will fight against AIUDF in Assam, Mamata in West Bengal, Kejriwal in Delhi, and KCR in Telanga, then will be benefitted. Congress should change its character. To fight against BJP, it should sacrifice this and go with the opposition parties," he said.

Hitting out at Congress, the AIUDF MLA also said that Assam Congress has repeatedly betrayed AIUDF and is therefore no longer a reliable party.

"In the last assembly election in Assam, Congress' seats went up only because of AIUDF. Soon after the elections, it ended the alliance with AIUDF and even in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Congress was benefitted with two seats of Kaliabor and Nagaon only because of the AIUDF," he added.

He said since the Congress is no longer a reliable party, it is preparing to contest upcoming general elections alone.

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The DMK's first goal is to emerge victorious in all the 39 seats in and the lone Puducherry segment as well in the 2024 Parliamentary election, party President and Chief Minister said here on Sunday.

The next goal is to facilitate formation of a new government at the Centre that is committed to the principles of social justice and federalism, he said.

"During the run-up to the (Lok Sabha) election (in 2024), we will take political steps aimed at it," he said in a video-message. It is the first edition of DMK's public outreach initiative through a video-message series titled, "Answers of one among you." (Ungalil Oruvanin Pathilgal in Tamil).

The DMK has come with a Tamil political slogan, "Narpathum Namathe, Nadum Namathe." It could be roughly translated as, "All the 40 Parliamentary constituencies are ours, the country is ours as well."



The outreach programme's objective is to respond to queries raised in social media platforms by the people on matters like Dravidian ideology, Dravidian model regime, administration and so on, the DMK said. Party president and Chief Minister Stalin would answer questions.

To a question on NEET, Stalin said he is confident that could get an exemption from the test. "Do not come to a conclusion that it will not happen simply because there is a delay." The DMK top leader slammed the BJP-led Centre for the "NEET-injustice," and said people would teach a fitting lesson to the Saffron party in the Parliamentary election.

Answering a question in connection with a remark that the is trying to run a "parallel government" through its governors, he said: "We are running the government by facing this issue. Our Constitution has clearly laid out the responsibilities for the governor and to the chief minister who has been elected by the people. If one follows it, there is no problem for anyone. It could avoid unnecessary issues."



The DMK regime has fulfilled more than 70 per cent of the electoral promises it made ahead of the 2021 Assembly election. Had the state government's financial position been better and if the Centre had extended proper support, the DMK regime would have devised more welfare schemes, he said.

The Chief Minister, soon after he was elected as party chief at the general council meeting held recently, he asked office-bearers to take a vow to work towards securing a landslide victory for the party in the 2024 polls and emerge in national as an unassailable force.

Asked on remarks that DMK has struck a compromise with the BJP, he shot back saying, "the itself will not accept such a comment.

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The will release on Sunday the first list of 57 candidates for the Assembly polls slated for November 12.

The remaining 11 candidates will be announced soon, AICC Himachal media in-charge Alka Lama in a statement.

The voting for the 68 assembly seats in the hill state is scheduled to take place on November 12 while the counting will take place on December 8.

In the Assembly, the BJP currently has 43 members followed by 22 of the . There are two Independents and one CPM MLA in the Assembly.

A direct contest between the BJP and the is likely in the state, where the Aam Aadmi Party will also be trying its luck.

A notification for the state elections will be issued on October 17 and the last date for the filing of nominations is October 25.

Scrutiny of papers will be held on October 27 and the last date for the withdrawal of papers will be October 29.

As many as 55,74,793 people are eligible to vote in the polls.

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The chief of Jana Sena Party and Telugu superstar condemned the police action against members of his party on Saturday, after leaders of the ruling YSRCP alleged that JSP workers attacked their convoy near the airport.

The chief of the Jana Sena Party told ANI, "Police personnel had turned up at the hotel in large numbers in the early hours of Sunday morning after midnight of Saturday. Police came and banged on my door early hours, and later picked up the party equipment".

"More than 100 supporters were arrested and 14 to 16 people were booked under IPC 307 cases, who were asked police permission for the "Jana Vani" program on Sunday. The police came here to give notice that they wanted me to go to the programme without being seen by people, but I postponed the program until my party supporters came out from the station," said .

said that there is no strength in the argument of decentralisation, "How come the entire resource management is confined by only one individual or a family? They are talking about centralization. It's nonsense and a joke," he claimed.

Pawan Kalyan said that purposefully they (YSRCP) wanted to create an issue yesterday. They did not want me not to be present. He further accused the YSRCP saying, "They do not want our party not to grow here and did not give me police protection".

Pawan Kalyan questioned, "how cabinet ministers came to the airport without any police security?"

On Saturday, tension prevailed near the airport as some people surrounded and attacked the convoys of YSRCP ministers Jogi Ramesh and RK Roja, former minister Perni Nani and TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devsthanams) board chairman YV Subba Reddy.

They were alleged to be JSP supporters. The incident occurred when JSP workers had gathered in large numbers outside the airport to welcome Pawan Kalyan, and at the same time, some ministers and leaders of YSRCP reached the airport to leave for Vijayawada, after attending the 'Visakha Garjana' rally.

On Saturday, following a rally called 'Visakha Garjana' organised by the YSR Congress Party in support of three capitals for Andhra Pradesh, a few ministers were going to the airport when their convoys were surrounded and attacked by a group of persons. YSRCP leaders have alleged that the attacks were carried out by Jana Sena workers.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NCP chief on Sunday sought the unopposed election of Rutuja Latke, the candidate of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, in the November 3 Assembly bypoll while MNS president appealed to Deputy Chief Minister not to field BJP's nominee to show reverence to the late MLA Ramesh Latke.

The MNS' appeal to Fadnavis and its decision to not contest the bypoll has generated intense political discussion given Raj Thackeray's political rivalry with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray. The late Latke belonged to Shiv Sena.

Notably, the last date for withdrawal of the nominations for the bypoll is October 17.

Fadnavis said the proposition of will be discussed seriously with leaders and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the final decision will be taken only after a discussion with senior leaders in .

He also said whenever there was a proper communication or appeal made to BJP, it was responded to properly.

Rutuja Latke, the wife of the late Latke, is 'Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Party's nominee for the bypoll and enjoys the support of the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress. She is up against Bharatiya Janata Party's Murji Patel, backed by 'Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena' led by Shinde.

In a letter addressed to Fadnavis and posted on social media, said the MNS will not be contesting the byelection to show its reverence for the deceased legislator.

Pawar said the term for the new member (MLA) will be just one-and-half years. The bypoll is being held because of the unfortunate death of Ramesh Latke. His wife is contesting the seat. Latke was a corporator and an MLA. His contribution must be taken into consideration.

"Huge efforts go into fighting bypolls, which is not required when the term is just for around one year," he said, adding that five to six months are spent with the election code of conduct in place.

Uddhav Thackeray appreciated Pawar's statement and said it showed the culture of Maharashtra, adding the death of a dedicated party worker causes tremendous pain to the outfit as well as to the family.

He recalled that Shiv Sena did not field candidates in bypolls necessitated by the deaths of the BJP's Gopinath Munde and NCP's RR Patil.

Appealing to Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray said, I sincerely request you not to enter the byelection and field a candidate against Rutuja Latke. I have witnessed late Ramesh Latke's journey and growth in the political arena."



Ramesh Latke was an old colleague and I have personally seen his political growth from a humble party worker to an MLA. I felt there is no need to contest against his wife, as there is not much time left for the next Assembly elections, he said.

The MNS chief said if does not contest this bypoll, it will send a good message to society. "There is a difference between and other states when such situations arise, he stated.

Shiv Sena chief spokesperson and MP Arvind Sawant welcomed Raj Thackeray's appeal but said it is too late.

"The nominations have already been filed and the election is forced on us because of the BJP. The BJP has contested similar bypolls in the past when the election was necessitated due to a sitting MLA's death.

BJP MLC Prasad Lad said, Neither Uddhav Thackeray nor any of his colleagues contacted the BJP requesting or appealing to its leaders to not contest the bypolls. They were sitting in their ivory tower.

Speaking to reporters, Rutuja Latke said, I had earlier thought that this will be a unanimous election, but I am ready to fight the bypoll.

Fadnavis said, In earlier instances when there was proper communication, we had decided not to contest bypolls. For instance, when NCP leader and former home minister R R Patil died. It is not like we (BJP) never considered opting out of a byelection. Whenever there is a proper communication or an appeal made to us, we have responded properly".

He stated that BJP leader Ashish Shelar had met Raj Thackeray at the latter's residence during the day with a request to support the BJP's candidate in the bypoll.

Meanwhile, BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule exuded confidence that his party will win the bypoll and claimed every vote to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction means supporting the NCP and Congress.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The situation in the port city of remained tense for a second day on Sunday as the police barred Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader and actor from holding meetings or rallies.

The JSP leader, who was issued notice by the police, remained in Novotel hotel near the beach while a large number of his followers gathered outside the hotel to catch a glimpse of the star.

waved at the crowd from the sixth floor of the hotel where he is staying.

"Hope, AP police won't tell me not to greet from my room's window," tweeted Pawan, who posted a video of the view from his room.

"Our beloved AP police under the Eminent Leadership of CM Sri Thanos barred me not to hold Jana Sena programs, no rallies, no meetings. Left me with this option only... from my room window," read another tweet by the actor.

"A thought just crossed my mind... am I allowed to go for an evening walk on RK beach to take some fresh air," he wrote.

Tension gripped the city since Saturday evening when convoys of state minister R.K. Roja and some other leaders of ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) were attacked by a mob at airport. The incident occurred when a large number of Jana Sena supporters gathered to welcome who was landing in the city while YSRCP leaders were leaving after attending a rally organised by the ruling party in support of three state capitals.

Pawan Kalyan, who is for development of Amaravati as the only state capital, arrived in on a three-day visit for a 'Janavani' programme aimed at receiving grievances from people of north Andhra region.

After landing at the airport, Pawan Kalyan left for the hotel in a rally attended by hundreds of his party workers and fans. The police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the participants and allegedly forced Pawan Kalyan not to stand on his vehicle to wave at the crowd.

Since Saturday evening, Pawan Kalyan remained confined to the hotel. Large number of policemen were deployed outside the hotel to control JSP workers and the actor's fans who had reached there.

The actor-politician was served a notice by the police on Sunday directing him not to address any meeting or rally in view of the prohibitory orders. The police also blamed him for the incident that occurred at the airport.

Pawan Kalyan, however, denied this and slammed the police for their high-handed behaviour.

The police have booked 28 leaders and workers of Jana Sena in connection with the attack on the minister and YSRCP leaders. On a complaint by minister Roja's assistant, the police registered a case. He alleged that 300 workers of Jana Sena resorted to the attack.

The police registered another case for the damage caused to government vehicles and property.

Tata Rao, Shiva Prasad Reddy and other leaders have been arrested. S. Vijay Kumar and P.V.S.S. Raju, who were staying in Novotel hotel, were also arrested. The police also searched the sixth floor of the hotel where Pawan is staying.

--IANS

ms/arm

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Home Minister and BJP leader on Sunday termed the beginning of imparting medical in Hindi in Madhya Pradesh as "historic", which will enhance the abilities of students and also allow them to overcome the "inferiority complex" of not knowing English.

Shah released textbooks in Hindi of three subjects for the first year students of course as part of the ambitious project of the Madhya Pradesh government to impart medical in the Hindi language, a first in the country.

Shah also said the work is underway to start technical and medical in eight other languages in the country.

Studying in one's own language will enhance the abilities of students. Students across the country should come out of their linguistic inferiority complex as today there is a government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they can showcase their abilities in their language, Shah said on the occasion.

He released Hindi textbooks on Medical Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Medical Physiology.

Shah hailed PM Modi for speaking in Hindi on international platforms to send across a message to the world, which he said boosts the confidence of the young people in India.

He said in the 21st century, some forces adopted the "brain drain" theory (migration of skilled professionals), but PM Modi has changed it to the "brain gain" theory.

Shah predicted an "educational revolution" due to the restoration of pride in our languages through the New Education Policy of the Modi government which is planning to impart technical, medical, and legal studies in the country (in regional languages).

He said some people associate the usage of the English language with intellectual ability, but there is no relation between them.

Language is only a medium of expression whereas intellectual ability is a natural gift which can be improved through education, and if education is given in the mother tongue, it proves very beneficial in improving the intellectual ability, Shah said.

He said after today's launch, India will go a long way in global research and the world will come to know about the intellectual potential of Indian students.

Appealing to students, Shah said they should overcome the "linguistic inferiority complex.

Terming it an important day in history, Shah said Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to start the (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) course in Hindi.

"This day will be written in history in golden letters,'' Shah said.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is behind the Hindi initiative, and Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang were also present.

Shah said he feels proud that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh has fulfilled the dream of PM Modi by launching medical studies in Hindi.

"This moment marks the revival of the education sector in the country and I thank the prime minister for it," he added.

Shah said the work is underway to start technical and medical education in eight other languages in the country.

The course in Hindi was launched as part of the NEP and soon it will be started in other languages also, he said.

Now, students of the country will not have any inferiority complex about not knowing the English language and they can study with pride in their language, the union home minister said.

"Modiji has called for imparting medical and engineering education in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bengali and other languages. I feel proud that Madhya Pradesh, led by Chouhan, has become the first state to start medical education in Hindi," he said.

Shah said earlier there were 387 medical colleges in the country having a total of 51,000 seats. Now, the nation under the leadership of the prime minister has 596 medical colleges with an additional 89,000 seats.

The country earlier had 16 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the number has now gone up to 23, the number of Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) has increased from 13 to 20, the number of universities from 723 to 1,043 and of the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT) from nine to 25, he said.

Similarly, the number of other national-level institutes has also increased substantially, he said.

Shah praised CM Chouhan and minister Sarang for taking the lead in the country in starting the MBBS course in Hindi.

Sarang, the driving force behind the move, said a team of 97 doctors prepared these textbooks in a mission mode.

Chouhan said these textbooks have technical terms written in Hindi the way they are pronounced in English. For example, 'kidney' is written as kidney only.

The chief minister said students from rural areas who were unable to get medical education because of the lack of knowledge of English will not lag and will be able to pursue the MBBS course in Hindi.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tech giant has announced that Meet calls can now be transcribed into text, and users can further save them in a Doc format.

According to Android Central, the saved file can be accessed from Drive.

is one of the most popular apps, especially after replacing the Google Duo app for iOS and Android devices. However, Google has stated the new feature that can be accessed in for desktop or laptop clients and is available only for the English language.

Google said the transcribed file can be stored in the same "Meeting Recordings" folder of the app from the accompanying Google Drive storage.

Before joining the Google Meet call, attendees will be notified that the call is transcribed.

These transcripts are intended to capture the meeting's discussion, serves as a record, and is helpful as a follow-up to attendees or host if they want to recall a particular segment or point in the whole discussion.

Another nifty feature is that the "transcript will automatically be attached to the associated calendar invite for the meeting".

And for meetings involving more than 200 attendees, the transcribed file will be shared with meeting organisers, hosts, co-hosts, and individual users who initiated a transcription.

The new feature is expected to roll out starting October 24. It will be available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers.

--IANS

vc/shs

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tech giant has announced that its 'Pixel Tablet' and the awaited 'Pixel foldable phones' will use side-mounted traditional sensors from next year.

Recently, Google, in its Pixel 6 series, moved the fingerprint sensor from the back of the phone to the front (in the display), which caused users to complain about it.

With the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, has improved the reading experience and added face-unlocking support.

Even with those improvements, Google's upcoming Pixel devices, the 2023 Pixel Tablet, and the foldable Pixel 'Notepad' seem to be returning to traditional fingerprint sensors.

As reported by 9to5Google, the reason for switching from an under-display sensor to a traditional one on the foldable Pixel is to ensure that unlocking the phone works regardless of whether it's folded or unfolded.

Next, there's a test for an "X-aligned" device - meaning the fingerprint sensor would be along the top or bottom edge. We believe this code is intended to cover the upcoming Pixel Tablet, presumably placing its sensor on the upper power/lock button, similar to the Pixel Slate, 9to5Google added.

However, Samsung's foldable phones have seen decent success with under-display fingerprint sensors, and Google's hardware ecosystem may begin to rival that of Samsung with the introduction of foldable phones and tablets.

--IANS

shs/vc/uk

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pro-Baloch groups have voiced serious concern over the recovery of the dead bodies on the roof of Nishtar hospital in Pakistan's Punjab province.

Several media reports said that hundreds of dead bodies were recovered in dubious circumstances, indicating that those people are forcibly Baloch disappeared persons. In a statement, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) spokesperson said that the dead bodies discovered on the roof of Multan hospital and the condition of the dead bodies concern them.

The spokesperson said that the news went viral on social media with gruesome videos and pictures that around five hundred unidentified mutilated bodies were found.

"Those who were thrown on the roof inhumanely, whose flesh was being eaten by vultures and crows. These bodies were identified by Tariq Gujjar, adviser to the Chief Minister of Punjab. Despite this, the Pakistani media has suppressed this news. It also shows this reality is against Pakistani institutions that is why this news is being hidden in media," the BNM spokesperson said.

"In this month, the bodies of 168 unidentified people were found in Punjab. Those who were declared unknown persons and buried unanimously," the spokesperson added. Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) chief Allah Nazar Baloch described the recovery of hundreds of dead bodies as a huge tragedy and urged the UN and the human rights agencies to take urgent notice of the gruesome incident.

He demanded that a fact-finding mission must be sent to Multan. He alleged that earlier, Pak security forces used to throw the dead bodies of Baloch people in various cities of Balochistan after abducting them. The BLF chief alleged that Pakistan has crossed all limits of ruthlessness and barbarity and it is high time that the international community breaks its silence and takes practical measures.

He added that the recovery of hundreds of human corpses from a single site is a big slap on the face of the people who considered the parliamentary politics of Pakistan as a guarantee of Baloch people's rights.

"No one can even imagine that in this modern era, human bodies are abandoned in such large numbers and the state remains free of its responsibilities," he added. However, all this is happening in Pakistan in broad daylight. He stressed that political struggle is the only option to get rid of ongoing repression and brutalities being perpetrated by Pakistan.
I am very distraught with the firing of County Attorney, Rheubin Taylor, by the new inexperienced County Mayor Weston Wamp on yesterday afternoon.

County Attorney Rheubin Taylor has served faithfully for the past 28 years and doesn't deserve to end his distinguished career this way.

I am asking all concern citizens from Hamilton County to contact County Mayor Wamp's office and register your displeasure with this firing. There will be a mass protest demonstration later this week, I will let you know the time and place.

If we allow this injustice to take place without any consequences than we deserve the likes of politicians like Wamp.

Gerald A. Mason, Sr.
A man at Motel 6 at 7707 Lee Hwy. told police there was a woman on the back side of the building yelling. He said the woman was yelling at everyone and he would like her to go back to room 220, which is where she is residing. Police found the woman in her room (220). She appeared to be upset. Police explained that she needed to calm down. She agreed and said she was okay and would stay in her room for the remainder of the night.

* * *

Police saw a man and woman sitting on lot of private land on E. 46th Street and 10th Avenue that has had issues with homeless people trespassing. The officer spoke with the man and woman who said they didnt own the property and that they saw the couch on the property and wanted to sit on it. When asked, they told the officer they didnt notice the two large signs posted at each entrance onto the property that say "Private Property No Trespassing". Both were told to gather their items and leave. They understand not to come back on this property and were verbally trespassed.

* * *

While on patrol on Shallowford Road and Amin Drive, an officer saw a man who matched the description of a man who had caused issues with staff and customers at Texas Roadhouse. Management wanted the man to be trespassed. The officer identified the man, having seen him before and known he is homeless and is typically shirtless and has a long beard, matching the description from the previous complaint. The officer trespassed the man from Texas Roadhouse.

* * *



Police were called to Patten Towers at 1 E. 11th St. where the security guard at the front desk said there was a black male, possibly early 30's, that wasn't supposed to be there, however he was not told directly by management staff. The officer went to floor 10 and didn't find anyone up there. The officer returned to the lobby to talk with the security guard and the man came into the lobby. The security guard pointed the man out as the person that wasn't supposed be there. The officer talked with the man and he said he stays with his mom every now and then, and he is there nearly every day. The officer told the man to stay with his mom for the night and contact the front office in the morning regarding his access to the apartments.

* * *

Police were called to Mapco at 2727 Rossville Blvd. to settle a dispute between two men. The first man gave police his info and said he was on the interstate when a white pickup truck flagged him down, saying he had hit his truck. Both pulled over at the Mapco. The driver of the white pickup truck didnt want to give police his information. There was tire rub on the second man's truck and a small white spot on the first man's truck. When asking for the other mans information, he became very uncooperative and no longer wanted to make a report. The first man also didnt want to make a report, and both went their separate ways.

* * *

An officer responded to a report of a homeless person sleeping behind the building at 9219 Lee Hwy. The officer found a tent in the trees. It didnt appear the tent was on the property of the reporting person, but on the property of the Bojangles restaurant next door. While in Bojangles, the officer met a man, the owner of the tent. The manager of Bojangles said they had no problem with the man being on their property. He was a customer and they were working toward making him an employee. Neither Bojangles nor the original reporting person could say for sure whose property he was on. The officer said until a determination could be made, it appeared to be Bojangles property and he could stay until they wanted him to leave or a determination of ownership of the property could be made.

* * *

A man told police he discovered a bank account opened at Bank of America at 1945 Northpoint Blvd. that was in his name that he didnt open. The man said the bank's fraud department didnt know who opened the account or when or where the account was opened. No loss was reported and Bank of America had already closed the account.

* * *

A woman told police she has been trying to sell a bicycle for $700 on Facebook and she received a message through Facebook Messenger from a person saying that they wanted to purchase it. The profile name of the person messaging her is Genowefa. She told them to send the money through Venmo and she later received an email, supposedly from Venmo, saying that the money had been sent through. Later, she received another email saying that her Venmo account wont accept that much money and she needed to send $200 back to unblock her account. Another email said that they were still a little short and she needed to send $500 more and she sent that money through Zelle. She then realized this was a scam when she received another email demanding $1,000 more and she then told them "This is a scam and I'm calling the police." At one point she spoke to a person over the phone. The person was a man that sounded Indian and he claimed to be a Venmo agent and is possibly the same person scamming her. This incident started around 7:37 a.m. and the last time she messaged them was 11:13 a.m.

* * *

An employee of HK Architects at 1216 E. Main St. told police she was driving home from work on the interstate and noticed the passenger side mirror on her vehicle had been shattered and bent in towards the car. She last saw the vehicle at work earlier around 12:15 p.m. and she had left it parked in the lot there all day before going home at 8 p.m. No estimates yet. There is no proof of how the damage was done.

* * *



A man told police the manager of a car wash on Highway 58 was being very rude to him. The man said the verbal alteration began when the manager became irate about the sticker not being placed in his window the correct way. The man said he proceeded to go into the car wash and left the scene.

* * *

An officer responded to a vehicle recovered stolen outside of Chattanooga on Calhoun Avenue. The motorcycle was recovered during a search warrant. It was towed to Mostellers on Rossville Boulevard.

* * *

A woman at the Courts at Waterford Place Apartments at 6220 Shallowford Road told police her ex-boyfriend was refusing to leave. She asked him to leave several times and he just continues to refuse. She said he doesnt live there. The ex-boyfriend told police he was just trying to wash his clothes. He was trying to wait on his clothes but he would leave. The officer explained to both that if the man needed to come back to get his things, they could call in and request disorder prevention. Both agreed to call back in if needed. The man then left the residence in his vehicle.
Paul McCartney said one song from The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) was inspired by an American phrase. Paul subsequently said he used the phrase because he thought American phrases were funny. The tune impacted the English language.

The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band | SSPL/Getty Images

Paul McCartney thought there was something sexual about a phrase used in The Beatles Sgt. Pepper

In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed one of the songs from Sgt. Pepper. Lovely Rita was occasioned by me reading that in America they call traffic wardens meter maids, and I thought, God, thats so American!

Also to me maid had sexual connotations, like a French maid or a milkmaid, theres something good about maid, and meter made it a bit more official, like the meter in a cab; the meter is running, meter maid, he continued. Hearing that amused me.

RELATED: The Monkees Used a Copy of Sgt. Pepper to Show They Liked The Beatles

Paul McCartney said antagonistic feelings toward meter maids inspired The Beatles Lovely Rita

Paul discussed British and American English. In England you hear those American phrases and they enter our vocabulary, he said. We let them in because were amused, its not because we love them or want to use them, its just because its funny.

Paul discussed the publics attitude towards meter maids. I remember one night just going for a walk and working on the words as I walked, he said. This was about the time that parking meters were coming in; before that wed been able to park freely, so people had quite an antagonistic feeling towards these people. According to the 1998 Smithsonian book Drive, the phrase meter maid existed since the late 1950s, but The Beatles popularized it in Lovely Rita.

RELATED: David Bowie Copied Part of a Ziggy Stardust Song From The Beatles Sgt. Pepper

How Lovely Rita and Sgt. Pepper performed on the pop charts in the United States and the United Kingdom

Lovely Rita was never a single, so it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The tune appeared on Sgt. Pepper. The album was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for 15 weeks, staying on the chart for a total of 233 weeks.

Lovely Rita was not a single in the United Kingdom either; therefore, The Official Charts Company reports it did not chart there. Meanwhile, Sgt. Pepper topped the U.K chart for 28 weeks, staying on the chart for a total of 277 weeks.

Like most other Beatles songs, Lovely Rita inspired covers. One of them was for the Fab Four tribute album With a Little Help From My Fwends. The cover was a collaboration between The Flaming Lips, Tegan and Sara, and Stardeath and White Dwarfs. Fats Domino, Roy Wood of the Electric Light Orchestra, and Cheap Trick also recorded versions of Lovely Rita.

Lovely Rita wasnt one of The Beatles many hits; however, it had an impact.

RELATED: The Beatles Sgt. Pepper: Paul McCartney Gave Different Stories About Who Wrote This Song
All the Songs BTS Performed During Their Yet to Come Busan Concert

On Oct. 15, the members of BTS held a concert called WORLD EXPO 2030 BUSAN KOREA CONCERT BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN. The concert was free to attend and was also streamed online for fans around the world. Here are the songs BTS performed during their BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN concert.

BTS | Big Hit Music

BTS performed 19 songs during their Busan concert

A great deal of the setlist at BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN revolved around BTS 2022 anthology album Proof. The anthology album includes three new tracks called Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment), For Youth, and Run BTS.

Proof is also comprised of some of BTS greatest hits and solo and sub-unit songs selected by the members.

Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook opened BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN with one of their concert staples MIC Drop, and proceeded to perform a number of songs that are special to the band and ARMY.

BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN setlist:

MIC Drop

Run BTS

Run

Save Me

00:00 (Zero OClock)

Butterfly

UGH!

BTS Cypher PT.3: KILLER

Dynamite

Boy With Luv

Butter

Ma City

Dope

FIRE

IDOL

EPILOGUE: Young Forever

For Youth

Spring Day

Yet To Come

RELATED: BTS Permission to Dance On Stage  LA Concert Is Available on Disney+

The band debuted choreography for Run BTS at the concert

While BTS had performed Yet to Come and For Youth before, BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN marked the first time Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook performed Run BTS.

The debut of the dynamic choreography for Run BTS proved to be a highlight of the concert, especially paired with the concerts opener MIC Drop.

Another highlight of BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN was the live band that accompanied the tracks throughout the setlist.

RELATED: Album Review: J-Hope of BTS Embraces and Defies Expectations With Jack in the Box

BTS put on BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN as part of their roles as ambassadors for World Expo 2030 Busan, Korea.

Before performing Yet to Come as the concerts last song, the band closed the concert with, As the title BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN suggests, we have no doubt that tonight was the best moment for everyone here and the seven of us. With our hopes to spend another brightest moment together again, we present to you our last song of the night.

A look at BTS concert by the numbers

BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN consisted of an in-person concert at Busan Asiad Main Stadium, in-person broadcasts at the Busan Port and in Haeundae, an online live stream, and a TV broadcast.

According to a press release, the concert was viewed from 229 countries/regions through all of the in-person events, broadcasts, and live streams.

A total of 50,000 people attended the concert at Busan Asiad Main Stadium, 10,000 people attended the LIVE PLAY at the Busan Port, and 2,000 people attended the LIVE PLAY in Haeundae.

The press release states that the live stream of BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN on Weverse received 49 million views alone, and a TV broadcast on South Koreas JTBC reached an exceptionally high rating of 3.3%.

RELATED: BTS: Why Jimin Went to See J-Hope Perform Lollapalooza 2022 in Person
The Monkees Mike Nesmith said his band appealed to 1960s audiences. Despite this, he didnt think the Prefab Four were sex objects like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. Notably, the three bands performed very differently on the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Monkees Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Micky Dolenz | James Jackson/Evening Standard/Getty Images

How The Beatles and The Rolling Stones inspired The Monkees

Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart co-wrote several Monkees songs under the name Boyce & Hart. They were not afraid to draw influence from other bands.

In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart discussed their vision for the group. On our blank canvas (the top page of the yellow pad) we painted sample colors of the pop acts who we thought could be possible influences for our new group: The Beatles, [The Rolling] Stones, [Hermans] Hermits, [The] Rascals, [The] Turtles, [The Lovin] Spoonful, [Tommy James and the] Shondells, [Paul Revere & the] Raiders, [The] Hollies, [The] Kinks, he recalled. Then we narrowed the hues down to what we thought were the most complimentary shades.

RELATED: The Monkees Micky Dolenz Wanted to Cry While Singing This Beatles Song from The White Album

The Monkees Mike Nesmith said the bands appeal was related to the Vietnam War

During a 2016 interview with Vice, Nesmith discussed the appeal of The Monkees. While we mightve been romantic or love objects, we werent sex objects in the same way The Beatles or the Stones were, Nesmith said. It had to do with innocence.

Nesmith put his band in the context of its peak era. While these kids were in the yard playing with their Tonka toys, Vietnam and all this other stuff was happening all around them, Nesmith said. It creates a very odd tension during a time [period] that children are being protected from. The Monkees were part of that bubble that people could crawl into.

RELATED: The Monkees: A Record Producer Told Mike Nesmith Hed Never Buy This Monkees Song on Principle

How the Prefab Four, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones performed in the United States and the United Kingdom

While The Monkees were inspired by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, the American public reacted to the three bands differently. Three of The Monkees singles topped the Billboard Hot 100. The Beatles were far more successful on the Billboard Hot 100, as 20 of their singles reached No. 1 on the chart. The Rolling Stones were somewhere in the middle with eight Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 songs.

The United Kingdom was a different story. The Official Charts Company says only one Prefab Four song  Im a Believer  was a No. 1 hit there. According to The Official Charts Company, the Fab Four had 17 No. 1 songs in their native U.K. Finally, The Official Charts Company says The Rolling Stones released eight U.K. chart-toppers.

The Monkees, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones were all popular but Nesmith felt the Prefab Four had a different appeal.

RELATED: The Beatles A Day in the Life: The Monkees Mike Nesmith on Watching the Fab Four Record the Song
Ringo Starr saw his fortunes change when he made it big with The Beatles. After growing up in a working-class section of Liverpool, missing years of school due to illness, and playing in a handful of middling bands, he became a celebrity overnight. The Beatles eventually inspired at least one cover so good Ringo once kissed a musician who played one for him. Before that happened, Ringos Beatles fame led to a $7 million windfall for people who werent even in the band.

Ringo Starr (right) | David Redfern/Redferns

The Beatles made it big in the United States thanks to Ed Sullivan

The Fab Four conquered England in short order after Ringo joined in August 1962. They had a top-20 single on the charts two months later (Love Me Do), put Please Please Me in the top-5 on the singles chart, and saw their debut Please Please Me album hit No. 1 in the United Kingdom.

The Beatles took over the U.K., but they were virtually unknown in the United States at the time. That changed when they crossed paths with Ed Sullivan.

When he saw the raucous reception the band received upon returning to Londons Heathrow Airport from a short tour, he booked them on his show. That lucky break changed The Beatles career and opened up America for Liverpools finest foursome. They werent the only ones who benefited. Ringos Beatles fame was worth $7 million to one very lucky group of people.

Ringo Starrs Beatles fame was worth $7 million to Ludwig Drums

RELATED: Why Ringo Starr Couldnt Teach George Harrisons Son, Dhani, How to Play the Drums

Ringo eventually became rich enough to afford any drum kit he wanted and famous enough to have nearly everyone except George Harrison join his All-Starr Band. Yet in 1963, Beatles manager Brian Epstein bought the drummer a new kit.

An oyster pearl black kit caught Ringos eye, writes Michael Seth Starr (no relation) in the biography With a Little Help. The kit, unknown to Ringo at the time, was a Ludwig. It soon became his brand of choice. The drummer made the unconventional move of keeping the brands name on his bass drum head, which meant the whole world saw the name Ludwig on his bass drum when The Beatles played in front of 73 million Americans on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.

Ludwig had annual sales of around $6 million before The Beatles played Sullivan. CBC Radio reports the Ludwig factory started producing drums 24 hours a day and saw sales double to $13 million after the Fab Fours appearance. Put simply, Ringos Beatles fame was worth $7 million in sales for the Ludwig company.

Ringo put Ludwig drums on the map, drummer Max Weinberg said, per With a Little Help. Before Ringo, to play a Ludwig drum set in England was very unusual. They didnt have a distributor over there  Ludwig was kind of the also-ran. And before Ringo, drummers didnt typically have the name of the band on the bass drum. The name was usually shielded with the drummers initials. Suddenly Ludwig had space for advertising.

Ringos Ludwig kit sold for $2.2 million when it went up for auction

RELATED: George Harrison Praised Ringo Starr Before He Even Knew His Name, and Georges Words Were 100% Right

Ringo eventually traded his oyster black pearl Ludwig set for a mahogany set. The upgrade gave him a self-centered reason for loving the Abbey Road sessions. Still, his first Ludwig kit produced some of the most iconic beats of the 1960s, including Ringos self-professed weird drum work on the B-side Rain.

Reuters reports that it hit the auction block in December 2015 and fetched $2.2 million. Jim Irsay, an avid music fan and the owner of the NFLs Indianapolis Colts, placed the winning bid. It was by far the big-ticket item in an auction or Ringo memorabilia that netted close to $10 million.

One drum kit the helped produce a slew of hit songs and records plus international exposure ensured Ringo Starrs Beatles fame led to a $7 million windfall for Ludwig Drums. And a $2.2 million price tag for what might be the most iconic drum set in history.

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RELATED: Ringo Starr Is in 1 Hall of Fame the Other Beatles Will Never Join
The Tinder Swindler: Simon Leviev Is Still So Desperate for Fame That He Got Scammed Out of $7K Via Instagram

In February 2022, Netflix dropped its true-crime documentary, The Tinder Swindler. It has since become wildly popular thanks to its story of intrigue full of lavish living, beautiful women, and extensive fraud. The story may be told thanks to Netflix, but it is far from over for The Tinder Swindler.

Netflix tells the true-crime story of Simon Leviev, The Tinder Swindler

WHY IS THE TINDER SWINDLER ON MY FYP?!?? That man should be in JAIL pic.twitter.com/5wkDgVQ9TH  jack rem x (@jackremmington) May 1, 2022

According to People, The Tinder Swindler chronicles the real-life events of a serial fraudster who conned an estimated $10 million dollars out of women he attracted on Tinders popular dating app.

The real Tinder Swindler is better known as Simon Leviev. He was born Shimon Hayut. But he changed his name after fleeing to Europe to avoid fraud charges in Israel and Finland. Hayut claimed to be the son of a billionaire Israeli diamond oligarch, Lev Leviev, who worked in that dangerous business. They are not related in any way.

The Tinder Swindler is told through the stories of three of his victims: Cecilie Fjellhoy, Pernilla Sjoholm, and Ayleen Charlotte.

MVP of THE TINDER SWINDLER pic.twitter.com/NeFvDfGL1x  NetflixFilm (@NetflixFilm) February 13, 2022

The Tinder Swindler explained that Hayut would use Tinder to attract women using his alleged affluent lifestyle thanks to the lucrative diamond industry. Once the long-distance relationship was established, Hayut would ask for thousands of dollars to help him escape the dangers of his world. Unbeknownst to his current victim, he was living lavishly off the money he swindled from his previous victim.

Hayut did serve two years in a Finnish jail. When he was released in 2015, he was a wanted man in multiple countries. He got caught in Greece in 2019 thanks to attempting to use a fraudulent passport and was deported back to Israel.

Hayut was sentenced to 15 months in jail for fraud, theft, and forgery. He was released on good behavior after 5 months. Leviev is now banned on Tinder.

The Tinder Swindler, Simon Hayut, is arrested in Greece in 2019 | TORE KRISTIANSEN/AFP via Getty Images

Simon Hayut continues to seek fame

Now that Hayut is out of prison he remains active on social media. He continues to live his lavish lifestyle of designer clothes, private jets, and expensive cars thanks to the millions of dollars he defrauded from his victims.

Hayut once had a website where he offered business advice for over $300. But, that website is currently out of commission.

According to Complex, Hayut is charged $20K to make an appearance at clubs. Establishments in Philadelphia, Germany, and Mexico have requested his presence at their clubs. Hayut is happy to oblige with a few stipulations: bottle service, a private jet, a suite at a five-star hotel, a black SUV car service, and two security guards.

'Tinder Swindler' signs with Hollywood agent, wants his own dating show https://t.co/DskyeHO4wH pic.twitter.com/rZUa4Rt2a7  New York Post (@nypost) February 16, 2022

Hayuts efforts to become even more famous got him in trouble and scammed. According to NewstalkZB, he lost $7K to an Instagram influencer.

Hayut received a message from an influencer posing as a woman whose boyfriend works for Meta, Instagrams parent company. She said she could get his account verified for the much sought-after blue check mark. Hayut sent the money and then quickly realized hed been scammed.

The real Leviev family is suing The Tinder Swindler

Hayut may be living the high life, but his troubles are not over. The real Leviev diamond mogul family is suing him.

Chagit Leviev, daughter of Lev Leviev told Page Six, We have suffered from the Tinder Swindler for years. We knew he was defrauding companies and other women that reached out. We tried so hard to make him stop and fight him and report him to police.

For those of you who have already binged Tinder Swindler, like us. Youll be happy to know that Simon Leviev is finally being sued by the *real* Leviev family for pretending to be an heir to their diamond fortune to con women (?: @simonleviev) pic.twitter.com/v1bNtrnIba  What's Trending (@WhatsTrending) March 1, 2022

Chagit continued, Once I saw the show coming out, I saw its game over for himYou can no longer pretend who you are, you can no longer manipulate and lie to women. Youre busted, Everyone saw youIn his head, he owned this company which is very sick and very crazy.

The lawsuit states that Hayut defrauded, cheated, conned, falsified, and hurt women, men, and businesses all while impersonating a member of the Leviev family.

According to NBC News, this lawsuit is only the beginning of a long line of lawsuits. The next step is to sue Leviev and anyone else profiting from the scheme.

RELATED: The Tinder Swindlers Victims Have a GoFundMe Page
Camilla Parker Bowles was announced as the new queen consort in King Charles IIIs first speech as sovereign. She received her new title and dropped her previous one  the Duchess of Cornwall  and is officially the most-senior female member of the royal family. But why is she the queen consort instead of simply queen?

Camilla Parker Bowles | Eddie Mulholland  WPA Pool/Getty Images

Charles and Camilla first met back in the early 1970s, not long after he had his investiture as Prince of Wales. The pair briefly dated, but he left the United Kingdom to serve in the Royal Navy. And while he was away she married Andrew Parker Bowles.

In 1981, Charles married Lady Diana Spencer and she became the Princess of Wales. They quickly welcomed two children, William and Harry. But by the late 1980s, their marriage was essentially over, and Charles was having an affair with Camilla.

As Diana famously said in her 1995 interview with Panorama, there were three people in her marriage  Charles, Diana, and Camilla  and it was a bit crowded.

Charles and Diana split in 1992 and divorced in 1996. After Diana was tragically killed in a Paris car crash in August 1997  and Camilla divorced Parker Bowles  Charles and Camilla went public with their relationship.

Their relationship was non-negotiable

Charles and Camillas public image in the 1990s and early 2000s was not a good one. Many simply saw her as the other woman in Charles marriage to Diana. But once they were both divorced, Charles and Camilla were determined to be together no matter what anyone thought.

There are some people who are going to consider Camilla the other woman forever, Cele Otnes, author of Royal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture, told NBC.

She started accompanying Charles on a number of official engagements, and by 2002 she was starting to gain acceptance from the royal family. The late Queen Elizabeth II invited Camilla to her Golden Jubilee celebration.

According to a Time article from that same year, Charles declared that his relationship with Camilla was non-negotiable. The world had changed since King Edward VIII had abdicated in 1936 because he wanted to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson. And, the Church of England had relaxed their position on remarriage when the ex-spouse is still alive.

Camilla Parker Bowles chose not to use the Princess of Wales title

Charles and Camilla announced their engagement in February 2005. They married on April 9, 2005, in a civil ceremony at the town hall at Windsor Guildhall.

When she became the wife of the heir, Camilla received the titles of Princess of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. However, because of Dianas lingering popularity and out of respect for the late princess, Camilla chose not to use the title.

As the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla slowly rehabilitated her image and became increasingly popular, thanks to her discretion, down-to-earth personality and loyalty to her husband, per the AP News.

Queen Elizabeth had an opinion about the title

For years, palace officials said that when Charles acceded to the throne, Camilla intended to be known as the princess consort instead of the traditional queen consort. However, there was no precedent for that title and it was only a suggestion from royal officials. A similar title of Prince Consort was used once, by Queen Victorias husband Prince Albert from 1837 to 1901.

In 2010, NBC asked Charles about Camillas title when he became the monarch. They asked him if Camilla would become the Queen of England, and he hesitated when he replied.

Thats, wellWell see, wont we? That could be, Charles said.

The answer to that question was finally revealed in February of this year, when Queen Elizabeth issued a statement noting it was her most sincere wish that, when the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort.

That endorsement was proof that the royal family accepted Camilla and she was a respected senior member of The Firm.

Why is Camilla Parker Bowles the queen consort instead of simply queen?

It was Queen Elizabeth who declared Camillas queen consort title when Charles became sovereign. But why is her title not simply Queen Camilla? The answer is that she married into the royal family.

As the wife of the sovereign, she is styled as Queen Camilla and can be addressed that way. But, her title is officially Camilla, Queen Consort, and she has no sovereign powers. The title of queen is reserved for the actual sovereign, like the late Queen Elizabeth.

The last queen consort in the United Kingdom was the Queen Mother, who held the title when her husband, King George VI, was sovereign.

What are her duties as Queen Consort?

In his first public address, King Charles officially bestowed the title of queen consort to Camilla. And he said that he had complete faith in her ability to fulfill her duties.

I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much, Charles said of his wife.

In her new role, Camilla will accompany the king to official engagements and she will be addressed as Her Royal Highness. According to NBC, the queen consort also serves as a counselor of state along with four other royals in the line of succession: Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice.

As a counselor of state, Camilla can temporarily carry out some duties on behalf of the monarch if he is ill or traveling abroad. According to the royal familys official website, those responsibilities can include signing routine documents, attending Privy Council meetings, and receiving the credentials of new ambassadors to the United Kingdom.

Nobody could do it better than Camilla Parker Bowles, says a longtime friend

Queen Camillas friend of more than 40 years  the High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Lady Lansdowne  told the BBC that Camilla was born to be the queen consort. Thats because Camilla will be a huge support to her husband and she completely understands her role.

She will take advice very well but I think she will naturally know the right thing to do, Lady Lansdowne said. I dont think anyone could do it [Queen Consort] better than she is.

The queen consorts longtime friend also noted that Charles and Camilla are a good team, and they work very well together.

RELATED: Camilla Parker Bowles Was Reportedly Left Fuming at the Thought She Would Never Be Queen
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Ex-satanist warns against 'one-night stands' with the devil; recounts 30 days of torment after finding Christ John Ramirez likens celebrating Halloween to cheating on Jesus: Christians don't see satanists going to church

Evangelist and author John Ramirez was once entrenched in the occult and satanism. He's now warning Christians not to get entangled in practices that might seem innocent or alluring, especially during Halloween, but only serve to open the door to dark forces.

From the time he was 8 years old, Ramirez, who's of Puerto Rican descent, was caught up in a satanic cult (Santeria and Espiritismo/spiritualist). Introduced to the occult by his father's family, he delved deeper into these practices. Eventually, he became a high-ranking priest in New York City, specializing in witchcraft, spells, curses and astral projection.

Ramirez, who says he was demon-possessed for 20 years, takes the work of exposing the darkness seriously. Consumed by this dark underworld, Ramirez said he specifically targeted Jesus Christ and Christianity, not other religions. No one targets Buddha or Muhammad, he said, because those religions  Islam and Buddhism  are not seen as a threat to the occult or New Age practices.

"The devil is not chasing those things because they're in his backyard anyway, Ramirez said in a video interview with The Christian Post.

"There's a quote by Anton Lavey, founder of the Church of Satan, where he says in his own words, 'I want to thank every Christian parent,' not Buddha, not Muhammad, none of that. ... 'Every Christian parent, I want to thank them that [they] allow [their] children to celebrate the devil one night out of the year,' which is Halloween, Ramirez said warningly, "He's intentionally thanking Christian parents. Thank you for dressing up your kids, changing their identity, sacrificing spiritually.

For the past 20 years, this born-again Christian has been persistently working to expose the enemys schemes. The devil is at work and lurking in the shadows targeting Christians, he adds. There's spiritual warfare ... and spiritual atmosphere and opportunity that the devil gives you. ... We need to be precise, we need to be persistent, and we need to know how to conquer those opportunities.

Christians must practice discernment and equip themselves with biblical knowledge to understand that the devil is real, he said.

Many people who follow Christ don't seem to take spiritual warfare seriously, which Ramirez finds concerning. Jesus never took the devil lightly in the Scriptures. Jesus confronted the devil. He didnt talk about him, He confronted him.

"Jesus, every time He confronted the devil, whether in the wilderness, through Peter when He told Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan,' or through Judas. So why can't we follow in the footsteps of Jesus? Who cast out more devils than Jesus? he said.

When Ramirez was active in the witchcraft world years ago, he said he knew Christians were spiritually anemic.

I knew Christians had the anointing, the authority, and the power to destroy the kingdom of darkness, but they didn't know how to use it, he said. They didn't know how to execute, ... They can win a fight but not conquer anything.

"That's the sad thing about Christians at large. There's nothing wrong with Jesus because Jesus is all powerful, don't mistake that. Were talking about the vessels in the church, the people in the church. People love God, and they want to be free, but all we are doing is teaching a Jesus that the devil has separated from the cross. In the church today, there is a New Age Jesus. You ain't gonna win no battle with a New Age Jesus.

The Bronx native told CP that he works hard to share his insights and strategies, and this includes writing books about spiritual warfare. Ramirez also created an eight-week course titled Unmaking the Devil, which goes along with his book of the same name.

We need to put the devil in his place. We need to expose the devil. We need to take care of generational curses. We need to take care of infirmity devils. We need to take care of stronghold bondages of every kind in our house, in our home, in our family, he continued, lamenting the statistics that show the high divorce rate among Christian couples.

Ramirez also admonished Christians for celebrating Halloween, likening it to cheating on Jesus by having a one-night stand.

"Then we have one-night stands with the devil. We go celebrate Halloween; we in bed with the devil for one night. To me, it's like, why would you want to cheat on Jesus? Jesus don't cheat on you. I don't see the satanists coming to church on Good Friday. No way!

For 25 years, Ramirez served in the occult, appointed to be the gatekeeper of darkness by other high-ranking satanists. However, in 1999, he had a brush with death, and while he was in a "deep sleep" Ramirez says he went to Hell. He described the fear he felt but said God met him there and when he came back to life, he committed to give his life to Jesus.

When he began the transition to leave the occult, Ramirez said the experience was horrific. He threw away $100,000 worth of idols in his home, all things from the occult, but he was still being tormented.

"I had all these things in my house; these things are despicable, demonic and an abomination in the eyes of God. But they had that fear of the devil on you that if you leave [the occult], something's going to happen to you. They engraft that in you. If you step out of line, punishment is coming, Ramirez recalled of what occultists tell people to keep them in bondage.

"When I left and I came to Jesus, I was tormented for 30 days nonstop, 30 days of torment. I would sleep during the day and the demons would come at night. Espiritistas would do witchcraft to me from New York City, Miami, Haiti and Cuba and back to New York, he recalled.

They would do witchcraft to try to destroy me, to try to rip my soul out of my body. The demons would choke me at night. I couldn't scream Jesus out. I felt like I was paralyzed. They would pull my legs. Jezebel would come into my bedroom, would lay next to my bed. You could feel my bed sink down but no one was there, and you could feel the room turn ice cold.

Ramirez went through 30 days of torment and the Lord allowed it as a test of Ramirezs new faith after years of serving the enemy.

After 30 days, it was gone. I was asking Jesus Christ, 'What happened? Why did this happen to me?' In the end, the Lord responded, 'I wanted to see how much you trust me and how much you love me. They will never touch you ever again,' he recalled Jesus saying.

Sure enough, them devils never showed up and those devils never put their hand on me ever again because Jesus is Lord over my life. He's my Lordship; He's my Savior over my life, Ramirez testified.

His eight-week course teaches Christians how to use the power they have through Christ to defeat these demonic forces. "I teach believers because from October 1 through October 31, that's witchcraft month; it's the high season of witchcraft."

Ramirez revealed that when he was a satanist, the month of October was when he'd perform ceremonies, rituals, and receive recipes from demons in spiritualism. He even described demons and mediums coming down to Earth.

"They are on it, they are consistent. They're not playing, they conquer spiritual territories in your life. How do you stop the devil in his tracks and take back what he's stolen from you? he asked.

Ramirez said that despite the torment, he followed Josephs example of forgiveness, and bestowed that same heart toward those who wronged him. It's an example of how Christians can defeat the enemy, he declared.

"The devil is trying to steal your purpose, trying to steal your identity, because when you get to Heaven, you go crippled without a testimony to bring to the Lord, Ramirez said. We need to fight the good fight because between your purpose to get your destiny (your Promised Land), there's always a battlefield. How do you cross the battlefield to get to victory?

In his course and book, Ramirez teaches believers how to fight that fight, and how to be more than a conqueror and live the life that God called Christians to live.

"Be an overcomer and make Jesus Christ proud that He picked you for the battle, he added.

For more information about Ramirez and his books and eight-week course, click here.
Agricultural reform powers China's rise

By BO LEUNG in London (China Daily) 08:35, October 16, 2022

Villagers stage a performance to welcome tourists at Tongmu village in Tongren, Guizhou province, on Aug 27. HU PANXUE/XINHUA

China's economic transformation from a largely rural society to a predominantly prosperous one has been faster than any other in the world thanks to national efforts to eradicate extreme poverty, according to Rana Mitter, professor of the History and Politics of Modern China at the University of Oxford.

"People who live in cities tend to have higher incomes than people who live in the countryside. Not always though, and it depends on how you define those terms. But overall, the fact remains that because more of China's population now lives in cities, there is the capacity to increase their per capita income," Mitter said.

He noted that better investment in the countryside unleashed major changes, including the move away from small individual plots to larger agribusiness developments.

The contribution of greater agricultural productivity to poverty reduction resulted in increased farmer incomes and freed up surplus labor for other sectors and urban areas, according to a report from the World Bank.

This allowed households to diversify their sources of income and to take advantage of better-paid nonagricultural labor opportunities, both locally and as migrant workers.

China's industrialization played a key role in its growth and poverty reduction.

Figures show that between 1978 and 2020, industrial added value increased at an average annual real rate of 10.3 percent.

New industries such as e-commerce have also helped pull people out of extreme poverty, as China has become the largest e-commerce market in the world by combining technology and consumerism.

"China is one of the most innovative countries in terms of technology, along with the United States, Israel, South Korea and the United Kingdom," Mitter said.

What this transformation has achieved, he noted, is the creation of a variety of opportunities and efficiencies leading to new forms of employment and economic prospects, while also driving up individual incomes.

The Oxford professor pointed to market-oriented reforms as another driver of economic opportunities.

"China has been quite distinctive, but also successful in terms of being able to create markets in a whole variety of areas that have increased the capacity of the economy as a whole to grow," he said. "The last 20 years or so, China's place as a supplier in global supply chains has been a really important part of its overall growth and development. And it's done that because of its placement in the global market as a whole."

Wang Yi, associate professor in Marketing and Tourism at Nottingham University Business School China, said: "Absolute poverty has been eliminated, which has contributed significantly to global poverty reduction. China has been quite successful in the past decade in poverty alleviation. The government is not just tackling the income problem, but is also focused on the well-being and the living environment."

Wang also cited financial subsidies provided by the government for poverty reduction.

"Nearly 20 million poor have received subsidies and special hardship assistance. Other than that, the government has encouraged entrepreneurs to set up in rural areas to various extents, and has supported rural entrepreneurship," she said.

"These efforts worked in China because government policy ensures efficient implementation at the rural level. In the meantime, it creates flexibility at the local level to grab opportunities and develop further."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Du Mingming)
India delays affirmative action case affecting millions of Dalit Christians

Christians in India believe the federal government is attempting to further prolong an important case concerning affirmative action for millions of Christians who converted from Dalit Hindu backgrounds by forming a panel with an initial two-year deadline to review their demands for equal rights.

Considered contagiously impure in Hindu societies for over 2,000 years, Dalits remain the poorest of the poor, are discriminated against and face atrocities at the hands of higher caste Hindus. They account for 16.6% of the countrys population, or 201.4 million.

For their uplift, the Indian Constitution provides for reservation in government jobs, parliament, state assemblies and educational institutions, as well as other benefits.

However, the Presidential Order of 1950 assumes that non-Hindu religions do not have a caste hierarchy, and therefore do not need special protection. The Order was later amended to include Dalit Sikhs and Dalit Buddhists  although neither of the two religions has a caste hierarchy.

An estimated 70% of Indias 32 million Christians are Dalit, and about 20% are tribal, according to estimates.

A petition filed 18 years ago by the Center for Public Interest Litigation seeks to challenge the 1950 Order which grants special rights to Dalit (low caste) Hindus but does not cover the Dalits who converted to Christianity and Islam to escape the age-old caste oppression.

As the case lingers on, the federal government had been asked to respond to the demands of Dalit Christians this week, but the government formed a three-member Commission of Inquiry headed by former Chief Justice of India, Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, to examine the issue, giving it two years, The Hindu newspaper reported.

Franklin Caesar Thomas, coordinator of the National Council of Dalit Christians, and John Dayal, a veteran journalist and activist, believe the government is delaying the case.

Speaking to the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Dayal called it a British-era tactic to defer a decision indefinitely, and said that caste barriers dont break with time, as the killings of Hindu Dalits by upper caste Hindus has shown.

Thomas told Matter India that affidavits of the National Commission for Minorities and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes filed in the Supreme Court had endorsed the socio-educational backwardness arising out of the practice of untouchability concerning the plight of Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin.

Thomas agreed with Dayal that the proposed commission was formed to prolong the issue.

Several commissions and committees set up by previous governments have endorsed the same, added Dayal.

In its report in May 2007, a government-appointed inquiry commission led by Justice Ranganath Misra recommended that the government repeal the 1950 Order and make reservation of Dalits completely neutral with respect to religion. Later, the National Commission for Minorities and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes also backed the demand for Dalit Christian rights.

While Christians comprise only 2.3% of Indias population and Hindus account for about 80%, nearly a dozen states in the country have enacted controversial anti-conversion laws, claiming that Christians force or give money to Hindus to persuade them to convert to Christianity.

Anti-conversion laws typically state that no one can use the threat of divine displeasure, which means Christians cant talk about Heaven or Hell since it would be seen as luring someone to convert.

Some of these laws have been in place for decades in some states. Radical Hindu nationalist groups frequently use these anti-conversion laws to make false accusations against Christians and launch attacks under the pretext of an alleged forced conversion.

The persecution of Christians in India is intensifying as Hindu extremists aim to cleanse the country of their presence and influence, a fact sheet from watchdog group Open Doors USA states. The driving force behind this is Hindutva, an ideology that disregards Indian Christians and other religious minorities as true Indians because they have allegiances that lie outside India, and asserts the country should be purified of their presence.

This is leading to a systemic, and often violent and carefully orchestrated, targeting of Christians and other religious minorities, including use of social media to spread disinformation and stir up hatred.

The United Christian Forum reported at least 486 violent incidents of Christian persecution in 2021, calling it the most violent year in the countrys history.
USCIRF calls for UN inquiry into Irans crackdown on protesters after nearly 200 are killed

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has called for a U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Iran after nearly 200 protesters, including at least 23 minors, have allegedly been killed in the crackdown on anti-government protests. Weeks of unrelenting protests were spurred by the killing of Mahsa Amini, a young woman arrested by the Iranian morality police for not properly wearing a hijab last month.

Since morality police killed 22-year-old Amini on Sept. 16, after detaining her for wearing improper hijab, Iranians have been protesting mandatory religious headscarf (hijab) laws, and Iranian authorities have responded with brutal crackdowns, arrests, and killings of women peacefully protesting, said the commission in a statement Friday.

Irans use of excessive and lethal force against protesters asserting their religious freedom is a deplorable violation of international law for which there must be full accountability, said USCIRF Chair Nury Turkel. Iranian protesters are asking that their voices be heard. We urge the Biden administration to support a U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Iran to ensure that Iranian security forces cannot silence Iranians seeking religious freedom with impunity.

The repression includes the killing of members of religious minorities, including 19 Sunni worshippers leaving the Makki Mosque in Zahedan on Sept. 30, according to the commission, a bipartisan body tasked with advising the U.S. federal government and Congress on religious freedom issues.

The time is long overdue for Iranian security officials who repress those seeking freedom of religion to face accountability, said USCIRF Vice Chair Abraham Cooper.

Iranians risking their lives for greater freedom of religion deserve the unwavering support of the international community. The Biden administration must pursue every available measure to unify a global coalition that will act decisively as Iranian security officials continue to respond with violence to appeals for greater religious freedom.

The Islamic Republics morality police, known as Gasht-e Ershad or Guidance Patrol, is part of the countrys law enforcement and enforces respect for Islamic morals as described by clerical authorities.

Amini was interrogated at the Vozara detention center, where she reportedly sustained blows to the head while under interrogation. Authorities claim she died of natural causes, but critics are skeptical.

Acting U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif earlier called for an impartial investigation by an independent competent authority, that ensures, in particular, that her family has access to justice and truth.

The U.N. said Aminis death came as morality police had expanded street patrols in recent months, subjecting women perceived to be wearing loose hijab to verbal and physical harassment and arrest. The U.N. Human Rights Office has received numerous verified videos of violent treatment of women, including women being beaten with batons and thrown into police vans.

Meanwhile, the protests carry on, according to Reuters, which said the unrest had underlined pent-up frustrations over freedoms and rights in the country.

Irans internet-savvy youth are refusing to be silenced in their fight, said The Telegraph observed.

Nika Shakarami, a 16-year-old girl who was one among thousands of brave schoolgirls who have cast off their headscarves and given portraits of the Supreme Leader the middle finger, was killed during the protests, the newspaper said.

The fear factor in Iran has been shattered by the countrys courageous youth, Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Iran affairs expert and former hostage of the regime, was quoted as saying.

This is a generation who have never known a government other than the Islamic Republic, and have never known a leader other than [Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei. The regime elites are overwhelmingly elderly  yet 60 percent of Irans population is under 30.

The governments crackdown has been particularly intense in Kurdish regions where security forces have put down unrest by the Kurdish minority in the past, said Reuters, noting that Kurds, who form about 10% of the population, are among those who face discrimination under Irans Shiite clerical establishment.

The nationwide protests are the largest in Iran since the 2019 Green Movement, an anti-government uprising in which 1,500 people were reportedly killed in a crackdown, according to Reuters.

Iran is ranked the ninth worst country when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs World Watch List.
Dont forget the North Korean defectors stuck in China: Enduring exploitation, they long for freedom

Dont forget the North Korean defectors stuck in China. This was the plea that one North Korean defector wanted to convey to American Christians. Meeting at the offices of a small nonprofit called North Korean Refugees Human Rights (NKRHR), which operates a shelter in China for North Korean defectors, I sat down in September with founder Kim Yong-hwa and several defectors who volunteer their time to aid others who are traveling the same harrowing path they once did.

For most people trying to flee the worlds most isolated regime, crossing the North Korea-China border is the first step. But entering China doesnt mean freedom. Defectors in China are forced to hide from Chinese police who would forcibly repatriate them back to North Korea. This is an increasingly difficult task as Chinese authorities continue to develop and implement high-tech surveillance tools. Not only does the Chinese government use facial recognition technology, but recent advancements in surveillance technology enables the government to profile North Koreans by the way they walk.

Kim Yong-hwa himself has a harrowing story of escape from North Korea. Kim oversaw Rail Force Two, the second most important mode of transportation in the country  only surpassed by Rail Force One which is used for all of dictator Kim Jong Uns travel. In a cash-strapped communist regime, maintaining the infrastructure for the train was next to impossible. One day, seven train cars overturned. In an irrational totalitarian regime like North Koreas, someone must be to blame. That someone was Kim Yong-hwa and the misdeed he was accused of which supposedly caused the derailment was lack of loyalty to the Party.

A colleague tipped Kim off that the authorities scheduled his execution, but he didnt want to give them the satisfaction of killing him. Beyond desperate, he was determined to kill himself first. Yet, the North Korean regime considered suicide to be treason, in retaliation they would punish his extended family. Kim took his pistol and planned to go to a place that no one would find his body in the hopes that his family would escape punishment.

He made it to the border town of Hyesan where he could see into China. Thinking his death would surely go unnoticed there, he swam across the high waters of the Yalu River. Stepping onto Chinese land, he unlocked his safety and prepared to pull it to his head. But he hesitated. Instead of dying, he thought to himself that he may as well live, even homeless in a hostile country.

It was inside of China that he was exposed to international news sources and realized just how much the North Korean regime had been lying to people, even to him who had been given a high level of responsibility by the regime. This gave Kim a new life purpose. He said he wanted to unveil the truth about North Korea. Because Chinese authorities were cooperating with North Korean counterparts, he saw that his wanted poster was displayed throughout the Chinese border town he was in. He fled by foot from the Northeast of China to the southern border  it took him almost a year before he reached Vietnam, where he was arrested and escaped back into China. By luck, he ran into a South Korean couple who helped him make it to Seoul, where he now lives.

After making the long and harrowing journey to South Korea in the late 1980s, Kim turned his attention to helping others. Now, he runs the NKRHR to help defectors in China at his shelter. There, defectors find a safe place to rest on their journey to freedom in a third country. Kim has helped thousands of North Koreans reach freedom  work that is incredibly challenging but greatly rewarding.

When I sat down with Kim and several volunteers with his organization at their offices in Seoul last week, their message to American Christians was dont forget the North Korean defectors stuck in China. Several of the female defectors made this point with particular passion.

One female defector stated that North Korean women in China are treated worse than dogs. There is ample evidence to support this claim. Most North Korean defectors are women, and a majority of female North Korean defectors are tricked or forced into human trafficking. Many are sold to Chinese men to marry, forced into prostitution, or forced into online sexual exploitation in which people pay to access their live streams.

Lee, a female North Korean defector who is remaining anonymous, was promised a job in a restaurant by the broker who helped her escape North Korea into China. When she arrived at her destination in China, she realized there was no restaurant. She was sold for approximately $4,500 USD to someone who ran a cybersex chatroom. She told CNN, When I found out, I felt so humiliated  I started crying and asked to leave, but the boss said he had paid a lot of money for me, and I now had a debt towards him.

Sadly, women who are trafficked upon arrival in China often have difficulty escaping the country to safety in South Korea or elsewhere. Some North Korean women married off to Chinese men are kept locked in the house or end up having children and dont want to leave them. Many women working in brothels or online chat rooms are forced to use drugs so they cannot escape.

Estimates for how many North Korean defectors are still in China vary, but most are upwards of 50,000. At least 1,170 North Koreans are detained by Chinese authorities and awaiting repatriation back to North Korea. The 2014 United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) report states that when defectors are repatriated, officials from the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea systematically subject them to persecution, torture, prolonged arbitrary detention and, in some cases, sexual violence, including during invasive body searches.

After defectors are repatriated, it means weeks of interrogations and possibly torture by North Korean authorities. They are then sent to labor camps for several months. Defectors have testified that those discovered to be Christians would be killed by North Korean authorities.

North Korean women who are repatriated and found to be pregnant with half-Chinese babies endure devastating forced abortions because mixed-race children are prohibited by the regime. One Christian North Korean defector, Ji Hyeona shared her story at a Family Research Council event in 2019. She said, Every night, I heard the screams of women going through forced abortions in the prison camp. I too could not avoid this fate, as I was three months pregnant with a half-Chinese, half-Korean baby in my womb. Where they placed me was not a hospital bed, but it was a desk. And a fearful-looking doctor forcibly pried open my legs and inserted forceps and started killing my baby in my womb by cutting up and shredding my baby. This was all done without any anesthesia used on me, and the physical pain was so hard to endure.

The fate of repatriated North Korean defectors is dire. North Koreans are rightly considered refugees sur place, because they have valid fears of persecution and harsh punishment upon return. Thus, every time that China repatriates a North Korean, it is violating the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention to which it is a signatory. Instead of repatriation, Chinese authorities should cooperate with South Korean counterparts to provide defectors safe passage to South Korea, which provides citizenship for every North Korean who is able to make it to the South.

By handing defectors over to North Korean authorities, the Chinese government is knowingly participating in torture, arbitrary detention, and execution. The United States should demand that China cease forced repatriation of vulnerable North Koreans and develop safe pathways for them to reach freedom in South Korea or a third country.

When North Koreans beg us to not forget the defectors who are left behind in China, it is a plea we must take seriously.

Originally published at The Washington Stand.
Pastor inviting drag queen to church for childrens sermon is sign of dying United Methodism

Will drag queens in the pulpit become "mainstream" in the United Methodist Church?

That's what one Methodist critic is warning after a UMC pastor in Florida invited a man dressed in womens clothing to preach a sermon with children seated next to him during a recent church service.

Allendale UMC Senior Pastor Andy Oliver said he invited Isaac Simmons, who performs in drag as Ms. Penny Cost, to deliver the sermon on Oct. 2 because he wants all people to see people like themselves called by God to preach the Gospel.

In a Facebook post, Oliver wrote that Simmons  who was seen in a video clip of the service wearing a wig and a sequin dress  was an angel in heels appearing to shepherds in the fields on the night shift, telling them that Good News had arrived on their doorstep.

Oliver compared the decision to have a drag queen teach during Sunday service to other churches putting a flag on your altar, and called Simmons an incredible preacher, grounded as Allendale is, in Wesleyan and liberation theology.

Mark Tooley, the president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, believes drag queens like Simmons are becoming the new public face of United Methodism.

"His children's sermon and role in the Eucharist at a Florida church showcase how drag ministry will now become mainstream in the denomination," Tooley told The Christian Post in an emailed statement. To my knowledge, no United Methodist official, including Simmons bishop, has publicly expressed concern about this United Methodist drag queen."

For Tooley, Simmons and others like him are among the reasons that United Methodism, which, as Tooley put it, has never enjoyed a single year of growth in its 53 years, is imploding.

Traditionalists have been given a one-year window to withdraw from the denomination with church property, he said. Thousands of congregations are doing so.

Dying United Methodism faces only further tragedy ahead.

At one point during the Allendale church service, after a worship band performed a song with the lyrics We are building up a new world/ we seek justice for all people, two young girls wearing face coverings were seated behind Simmons as Oliver asked him about his dress.

Are you always dressed up like this? asked Oliver.

Simmons replied, I wish! adding, No, I only get dressed up like this on special occasions.

I kind of feel powerful when I put on a dress like this and a big wig and lots of makeup. It kind of helps me to say things that I dont have the confidence to say outside of it.

Simmons went on to make an apparent comparison between the final days of the life of Jesus to what he sees as the end of injustice.

We, members of the United Methodist Church, any church, or just the common humanity, we have a privilege and a duty to change the very doctrine and systems of oppression which surround us, said Simmons.

The time of change-making will likely be uncomfortable for you, but just as the liminal last days of Christs life were uncomfortable for him, the liminal days which rest between now and the end of injustice will be uncomfortable for us all.

He went on to warn that those of us with the privilege of whiteness, of cis-ness, and the privilege of the access to power must be willing to get uncomfortable.

Oliver then turned to address the children and referenced Romans 12:2, which reads in part, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

One of the things I think is great about Ms. Penny Cost is that she reminds us that we follow a God who calls us not to conform to things of this world, Oliver is heard telling the children. We are supposed to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. That means what I think today may have to change tomorrow if I continue to renew my mind.

While Oliver declined a request for comment from CP when asked, among other things, whether drag queens are invited to teach childrens studies at Allendale, an image posted on the churchs website shows a man dressed in womens clothing reading to young children.

Its not clear how many children attend Allendale, but the church reportedly has a fellowship size of roughly 100 people every Sunday.

Simmons, an associate pastor at Hope UMC in Bloomington, Illinois, has a video on his website in which he declares the Bible is nothing, adding, God must be nothing / Religion must be nothing / It is all nothing / Until we wield it into something."

The United Methodist News Service, which serves as the official UMC media outlet, has touted Simmons as the first drag queen to become a certified candidate for UMC ordination.
Mary Adelia McLeod, first female Episcopal Church diocesan bishop, dies at 84

Mary Adelia McLeod, the first woman to become a diocesan bishop in The Episcopal Church, has died at her home in Charleston, West Virginia, on Wednesday at the age of 84.

Although McLeod was the third woman to be consecrated a bishop in the mainline Protestant denomination, she was the first female bishop who specifically led a diocese.

The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, the regional body that McLeod was elected in 1993 to lead, announced her death on Wednesday.

Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown, the head of the Vermont Diocese and the first black woman to hold the leadership position, said in the announcement that McLeod was always encouraging to me.

Im trying my best to continue her work of empowering and supporting lay ministry, promoting inclusion, strengthening our stewardship, improving transparency around our financial resources, and encouraging the ministry of women, said MacVean-Brown.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1938, McLeod later graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in history.

Along with her husband, Henry McLeod III, she entered the Episcopal seminary at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, graduating in 1980 and becoming the first woman from Alabama to be ordained in The Episcopal Church.

She would serve at St. Timothys Church in Athens, Alabama, and St. Johns Church, Charleston, West Virginia, and was an archdeacon in the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia.

In 1993, McLeod was elected bishop of the Vermont Diocese, becoming only the second woman in the entire global Anglican Communion to head a diocese as bishop.

The first was the Rt. Rev. Penelope Jamieson, who had been elected bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin, a regional body of the Anglican Church of New Zealand, in 1989.

In an interview with The Associated Press in July 1993, McLeod explained that she did not want to be considered a feminist icon, but rather simply as a servant of God.

The Diocese of Vermont has looked past the gender issue and was looking for the right person for them, and it just happened to be me, said McLeod at the time. But they have been very courageous in following the Spirits guiding.

I think theres been a conscious effort, at least in the election of bishops, to include women in that process. That certainly wasnt true 10 years ago.

McLeod was consecrated on Nov. 1, 1993, in a globally broadcast service that took place during a major snowstorm and served as head of the diocese until 2001.

In 2000, as the state of Vermont first debated legalizing same-sex marriage, McLeod expressed her support for the Church recognizing gay unions in an essay titled, Let the Church be the first to issue an Emancipation Proclamation.

I believe homosexual persons choosing to live together in a life-long union are not committing a sin. I believe some persons are born homosexual and are not made/chosen as a result of trauma, rebellion, psychological difficulties or for any other reason. God creates diversity in human beings, she wrote.

The Anglican tradition understands marriage as the life-long union between a man and a woman. I have no quarrel with that understanding, but suggest the Church might consider expanding what we mean or may want to mean by the union of two human beings committed to each other in a life-long relationship.

McLeod is survived by her husband, three daughters, two sons, and eight grandchildren. A private family ceremony will be held, with her body being donated to the West Virginia Human Gift Registry.
Pastor killed after driver runs red light; leaves behind wife, 2 kids

A Wisconsin pastor was killed while driving to work when a man who was reportedly running late for jury duty ran a red light and crashed into the clergymans car.

Aaron Strong, 40, a pastor at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Milwaukee, was hit by a driver running a stop light on Wednesday morning. The pastor later died at a local hospital.

Grace Evangelical Lutheran announced Strongs death on the church's Facebook page that evening, asking people to keep Abbie Strong and their children, Hannah and Elijah, in your prayers.

Like Job, the question Why? troubles all of us regarding this tragedy. Like Job, we are reminded that our majestic God does not always provide an answer to that question. But what brings us everlasting comfort is that Gods mercy shines as bright as his majesty, stated the church.

It is that mercy of God that filled Pastor Strongs heart and that he so joyfully proclaimed throughout his ministry, including his seven years at Grace. As we process grief, we will cling to the cross of Jesus and the miracle of his empty tomb that assured Pastor Strong and assures us of life forever in perfect joy.

Strong was active in the church, which had a reported 1,100 members, overseeing Bible classes, discipleship ministries, and a ministry centered on college students, reported Fox 6 Milwaukee.

God gives you the strength to push on, said Grace Evangelical Luther Lead Pastor James Huebner to Fox 6. We make our plans, but then theres moments the tears just flow, you know? You cant help it.

He was a great pastor and great partner, but he was equally a great husband and dad.

Strong preached his final sermon last Sunday, titling it The Gift That Keeps on Giving and focused his remarks on 2 Corinthians 9:10-15.

We are less than 80 days away from Christmas, he preached at the time. Thirty percent of Americans will start their Christmas shopping during this month.

Whenever you start, maybe youll want to start thinking about a gift that maybe is long-lasting, something that is a gift that keeps on giving.

The Apostle Paul gives us a far greater gift in our reading today from 2nd Corinthians chapter 9. A gift that truly is one that keeps on giving, he added.

The 22-year-old man accused of speeding through the red light and crashing into Strong was, according to WISN 12 News, running late for jury duty at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

The trial in question was for Lamontrez Haywood, who was facing charges of felony strangulation and suffocation, with WISN reporting that, because of the tragic events and the juror now not being able to appear in trial the courts deemed it a mistrial.
Leading the church when you doubt yourself

When the disciples gathered on the mountain in Galilee right before Jesus ascended, some of them doubted. The source and degree of this doubt are left unknown. Their response in the doubt is critically important. They worshiped. Then Jesus came near. The lesson is simple: Worship through doubt, and Jesus will come near.

The disciples were also called to be leaders in what became the church. The doubters had to lead. Did the doubting worshipers become doubtless leaders? Or did the doubting worshipers learn to lead through the doubt? Ill stake my claim on the latter.

You will doubt yourself as a leader. Doubt is an inescapable reality  a universal experience. Everyone doubts. Leaders doubt. To avoid this reality is to lead from a place of denial. And denial never produces good decisions. Leaders must recognize doubt for what it is. Pastors especially must be open to the fact they will have doubts. The only response is to worship through the doubt.

The problem is you dont get to put leadership decisions on hold while you process doubt. To do so is to place your priorities above those of others, and convenience is not an option with leadership. True servant leaders keep leading even as they doubt. Not only do you worship through doubt, but you must also serve through doubt.

How do you lead others when you doubt yourself?

Seek encouragement from friends and family. Those who have the gift of encouragement are often the ones who help pull others through doubt. When doubting yourself, lean on the gifts of others, especially those who encourage you.

Challenge yourself with something new. A new challenge can give you the confidence to push through the doubt of your current mess. Start a new exercise routine. Read a book in a new field of study. Begin a project youve been meaning to start. The freshness of something new can bring clarity to the doubt that has festered for a while.

Dont make decisions out of fear. Doubt does not always lead to fear, but the two are often found together. Rarely does a decision from fear produce good results. When doubt degrades into fear, put the decisions on hold for a moment.

Rely on prayer warriors. Doubt can become an island. Get off the island by asking others to pray for you. Prayer is the lifeline. Leaders work hard to hide doubt for fear of being perceived as incapable. Uncover your doubt to gifted prayer warriors, and they will cover you with the confidence of prayer.

Trust collective discernment. Ask other trusted leaders to give their insight if you doubt yourself. Self-imposed isolation is never the solution to doubt. Set several intentional meetings with othersone-on-one and in groupsand ask lots of questions. The pattern of answers may reveal the remedy to your doubt.

Serve your way to confidence. Pray for others and let them know. Text encouraging messages. Write hand-written thank you notes. Volunteer for menial tasks. Take out the garbage and unclog toilets. God honors those who seek the last place rather than clawing for the first place. Doubt is resolved in the weeds of service. The solution to doubt is often found on the lowest rung, not the highest.

Every leader will struggle with doubt. However, leadership does not go on hold during this struggle. You can lead others even when you doubt yourself.

Originally published at Church Answers.
Michigans Catholic parishes model faithful witness in face of abortion ballot

For the past few Sundays, churchgoers at every Catholic church in Michigan have heard the same message  and for many, it may have been a surprising one. Bishops across the state have asked priests to educate and inform their parishioners about a specific issue on the ballot for Michiganders on Nov. 8: Proposal 3, a proposed amendment that would enshrine abortion in Michigans constitution, likely invalidate some two dozen Michigan pro-life laws, and crush efforts to promote and protect life and womens health.



Many Christians are perhaps not used to hearing their priests or pastors speak about so-called controversial issues from the pulpit. But Proposal 3 has profound spiritual and practical implications for Christians. And Michigans Catholic priests are modeling a bold approach to pastoring and discipleship, one that encourages Christians to not only worship in their churches but live their faith in the public square. Michigans priests exemplify how to provide pastoral care to prepare their congregants with the information and insight needed to do so.



Proposal 3 is a proposed state constitutional amendment, misleadingly promoted as merely reinstating Roe v. Wade in Michigan. Thats why Catholic priests are taking the opportunity during every Sunday Mass between now and Election Day to tell the truth about the proposal. And Catholic parishes are including information in their bulletins to help parishioners understand how the proposed amendments radical elements violate numerous aspects of Christian teaching.



Lets be perfectly clear: Proposal 3 is one of the most radical pro-abortion proposals in the country. By extending a so-called right to reproductive freedom to every individual, it authorizes minors to obtain abortions without parental consent  or even notice. And because the proposal defines reproductive freedom to include sterilization, a minor could obtain gender transition services, including cross-sex hormones and irreversible, sterilizing surgery without parental consent or notice, too. Any other medical procedure always requires a parents approval, even something as simple as a school nurse dispensing aspirin for a childs headache.



Proposal 3 would also legalize partial-birth abortion, a horrifying procedure where an abortionist partially delivers a baby before dismembering and killing him or her. And by limiting state laws to those protecting the health of the mother seeking the abortion, Michigan could not even prohibit discriminatory abortions that target a baby based on race, sex, or disability.



It gets worse. Proposal 3 elevates abortionists above common-sense medical regulations. Every other medical professional must follow health-and-safety regulations that protect patients. But Proposal 3 only allows health regulations for abortionists consistent with accepted clinical standards of practice. And who decides what health standards are accepted for abortion clinics? Abortionists! So if the abortion industry does not want to comply with standard safety rules for surgical centers, or a requirement to have hospital admitting privileges in case of a medical emergency, they can cavalierly ignore them.



Most shockingly, Proposal 3 plainly states that the government cannot prosecute, or otherwise take adverse action against someone for aiding or assisting an abortion. If a school counselor helps a teenager obtain an abortion and intentionally hides it from her parents? No consequences. If a non-medical professional assists in an abortion? No consequences. If an abortionist commits gross negligence and kills the mother as well as the child? The abortionist will argue that a malpractice action cannot proceed because any legal judgment entered by a Michigan court is an adverse state action.



There are multiple issues at stake here for Christians who rightly recognize that every human is made in the image of God and is worthy of our protection. No person is too small, too young, too disabled, or too inconvenient. Priests and pastors do well when they remind their congregations that these basic truths endure.



The Christian tradition also upholds the right of parents to raise and care for their children. Proposal 3 invades that right by placing abortionists, gender clinics, government officials, and even traffickers between parents and their children. Proposal 3 seeks to shred the fabric of the family.



Finally, Christianity teaches that we advocate for the weak and powerless  something Proposal 3 thwarts. By allowing abortionists to set their own rules, the proposal not only allows the taking of innocent, unborn life but subjects vulnerable women to untold dangers  provided there is voluntary consent, Proposal 3s unconscionable substitute for the medical professions gold standard of informed consent.



In sum, Proposal 3 touches the core of Christian teachings about the sacredness of every human life, about the family and society, and about care for the least among us. That is why Michigans Catholic bishops have chosen to stand against Proposal 3. Spiritual truths such as love of God and love of neighbor cannot be confined to religious buildings or homes. When a misguided culture violates Christians deepest beliefs about the nature of God and humanity, priests, pastors, and ministers have a responsibility to speak and help their congregants discern how to faithfully show others what true love is.
Quebec and British Columbia issue invitations for provincial immigration Two provinces issue ITAs in general draws. Edana Robitaille Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Quebec and British Columbia have issued invitations to apply to candidates through provincial immigration programs this week.

Most Canadian provinces and territories (with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs). Through these programs, interested candidates may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination. Although provincial nomination is not in itself the same as a permanent residence, it can act as the first step towards gaining permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Quebecs immigration programs are administered by the province and are distinct from Canadas immigration programs. Quebec is the only province that has control over all economic class immigrants.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

The PNP accounts for over 80,000 PR admissions per year. It began in 1998 and the steady increase in the number of PNP admissions in Canada each year is because the federal and provincial governments consider it an effective tool to promote the economic development of the country outside of the provinces and urban centres with already high immigrant populations.

Provincial immigration results October 8-October 14

Quebec

Quebec invited 1,195 skilled workers to apply for permanent selection on September 29.

There were no specific NOCs or locations targeted in this draw. Candidates had to have profiles in the Arrima Expression of Interest system with scores of at least 597 points. This is a lower score than the last general draw that took place on September 15, when the score was 620.

This is the twelfth draw Quebec has held in 2022 and the third draw in the month of September. This is unusual as Quebec typically only holds draws once a month. Quebec does not release draw results until one to two weeks after draws occur.

The invitations were issued by the Ministere de lImmigration, de la Francisation et de lIntegration (MIFI) to immigration candidates applying under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

Those who are invited to apply for permanent selection by Quebec have a maximum of 60 days to submit their application and pay processing fees. Quebec aims to process complete applications within six months, starting on the date all the required information has been received. This includes all forms and documents.

British Columbia

More than 364 candidates were invited to apply for provincial nomination in British Columbia on October 12.

The province invited 320 candidates in a general draw. The invitations were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduates categories and included Express Entry candidates.

Candidates in the general draw had minimum SIRS scores of 78 for Entry Level and Semi-Skilled candidates. SIRS acts much like the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) but is only used for British Columbias PNP.

The province also held rounds of invitations for candidates working in the following occupations.

25 early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214) with scores of at least 60 points; and

19 Healthcare workers from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (includes EEBC option) with scores of at least 60 points

Healthcare assistants from the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category with minimum scores of 60 and;

Other priority occupations with minimum scores of 60

This will be the final draw for the BC PNP for a month as British Columbia recently announced that it will be pausing draws between October 12 and November 16 due to the transition from NOC 2016 to NOC 2021, an updated method of assessing a candidates skill level in economic immigration programs.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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Inventec USA Sues Over Unauthorized Use of Amtech Brand Published: 16 October 2022 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

DEEP RIVER, CT -- Inventec Performance Chemicals USA has filed a lawsuit in US District Court here against Optimal Services, Amtech Manufacturing and various other related entities, asserting violation of federal laws governing unfair competition, false designation of origin and false advertising, and violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practice Act, arising from the alleged unauthorized use of Inventec USAs trademarks.

In the complaint, Inventec USA accuses a terminated distributor of the misappropriation of Inventec's Amtech trademarks and tradenames, as well as Inventec's entire product naming system.

Inventec alleges the distributor duplicated more than 50 product names, such as NC-559, RMA-223 and NWS-4200, which have been used by Inventec USA for years. Inventec USA has owned all such trademarks and tradenames since 2014 and has been manufacturing and selling its full AMTECH soldering portfolio from its factory located in Deep River, Connecticut.

According to Inventec, the terminated distributors products are being deceptively passed off as Amtech original products, and the company filed the lawsuit to demonstrate its commitment to safeguard the quality, safety, and authenticity of its product and to protect the integrity of the market.

Inventec USA sells its Amtech products only through authorized representatives and distributors, a list of which is available on the company's website. Authentic Amtech products bear the mention Inventec Performance Chemicals USA, LLC on their upper right side.

The suit also names Amtech LLC, Amtech Distribution LLC and Mark Miller, an individual, and other unnamed defendants.
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British Pound Technical Price Outlook: GBP/USD Weekly Trade Levels

Sterling technical trade level update  Weekly Chart

GBP/USD sets range below key pivot zone- risk for test of yearly downtrend resistance

Weekly resistance 1.1414/80 (key), 1.1650, 1.1843-1.1950  Support 1.0923, 1.0790-1.0840, 1.0520

Recommended by Michael Boutros Get Your Free GBP Forecast Get My Guide

The British Pound rallied more than 0.6% against the US Dollar this week with GBP/USD carving the October opening-range just below a key resistance pivot. The threat of a larger recovery within the broader yearly downtrend remains and the focus is on a breakout of the monthly range for guidance. These are the updated targets and invalidation levels that matter on the GBP/USD weekly chart heading into October. Review my latest Strategy Webinar for an in-depth breakdown of this Sterling technical setup and more.

Recommended by Michael Boutros Short-term Trading Strategy Webinar Register for Webinar Join Now Webinar Has Ended

British Pound Price Chart - GBP/USD Weekly

Chart Prepared by Michael Boutros, Technical Strategist; GBP/USD on Tradingview

Notes: In my last British Pound Weekly Technical Forecast I noted that the GBP/USD, recovery is now approaching the first major test at a key pivot zone- looking for possible price inflection / exhaustion off this mark. From a trading standpoint, risk for some pullback here - losses would need to be limited to 1.0790 to suggest a more significant low was registered last month. The resistance region in focus was defined by the 2020 / 1984 lows at 1.1414/80 and capped the advance last week with the pullback registering a low the monthly range low at 1.0924 this week- was that the extent of the Sterling pullback? The jury is still out.

The focus now shifts to a breakout of the October opening-range with key support steady at the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the September rally / weekly low-close at 1.0790-1.0840- a break / close below this threshold is needed to mark resumption of the broader downtrend towards the 1985 low at 1.0520 and the lower parallels. Broader bearish invalidation now lowered to the 2020 weekly low-close at 1.1650  a breach above this threshold would denote a breakout of he yearly downtrend and suggest a more significant low was registered last month.

For a complete breakdown of Michaels trading strategy, review his Foundations of Technical Analysis series on Building a Trading Strategy

Bottom Line: Looking for more chop / sideways price action in the British Pound with the focus on a breakout of the October opening-range (1.0924-1.1480). From a trading standpoint, losses should still be limited to 1.0790 IF price is heading higher for a test of downtrend resistance. Ill publish an updated Sterling short-term trade outlook once we get further clarity on the near-term GBP/USD technical trade levels.

Recommended by Michael Boutros Improve your trading with IG Client Sentiment Data Get My Guide

British Pound Trader Sentiment - GBP/USD Price Chart

A summary of IG Client Sentiment shows traders are net-long GBP/USD - the ratio stands at +1.08 (51.89% of traders are long)  typically neutral reading

shows traders are net-long GBP/USD - the ratio stands at +1.08 (51.89% of traders are long)  typically reading Long positions are 5.20% lower than yesterday and 13.19% lower from last week

Short positions are 11.45% lower than yesterday and 1.36% higher from last week

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests GBP/USD prices may continue to fall. Traders are more net-long than yesterday but less net-long from last week. The combination of current positioning and recent changes gives us a further mixed GBP/USD trading bias from a sentiment standpoint.

Recommended by Michael Boutros Get Your Free Top Trading Opportunities Forecast Get My Guide

UK / US Economic Calendar

Economic Calendar - latest economic developments and upcoming event risk.

Active Weekly Technical Charts

Recommended by Michael Boutros Forex for Beginners Get My Guide

--- Written by Michael Boutros, Technical Strategist with DailyFX

Follow Michael on Twitter @MBForex
'Clean skin' is a description Ben Wallace, a military man who still wears his old brigade tie, will be very familiar with.

Could he have imagined, though, that such an epithet might one day be applied to him, metaphorically at least?

His supporters might not have used the precise words in question - meaning, literally, a 'person without a criminal record'  but the fact that the Defence Secretary and former Northern Ireland minister has always got on quietly with his day job avoiding the Machiavellian plots and backstabbing which has embroiled his party for many months  is why a growing number of Tory MPs now see him as the so called 'unity candidate' for leader.

That is if, or more likely when, Liz Truss is ousted.

Wallace, to quote one commentator, seems refreshingly 'non-ideological and reassuringly competent' certainly in contrast to Truss.

He is one of the few members of the Cabinet who emerged from the Boris Johnson years with his reputation not just intact, but enhanced, especially over his handling of the Ukraine crisis.

Not everyone outside Westminster will be aware that Wallace, 52, regularly tops the ranking of the ministers most popular among Tory party members.

A growing number of Tory MPs now see Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured in 2021) as the so called 'unity candidate' for leader

When he ruled himself out of running in the leadership contest in July citing the pressures of being prime minister and the impact they would have on his family, he had already attracted the endorsement of more than 25 MPs.

His position appears to have changed amid the chaos of recent weeks and he is understood to be 'rethinking his position' after being approached by colleagues to stand in any possible contest.

Here is a figure from the Right, who, as well as appealing to Johnsonites (he was once campaign manager for Boris Johnson) and Trussites (he endorsed Truss for the Tory leadership), could be palatable to the Rishi camp, once seen as the heir apparent to Boris.

Some in the party, however, have never forgiven Sunak for the part he played in sparking the Cabinet uprising that resulted in Johnson's forced resignation and the former Chancellor struggled to answer questions about his billionaire wife's tax affairs.

Unlike Sunak and other potential contenders, little is known about Ben Wallace's life outside politics.

He is unusual among modern Cabinet ministers because he did not go to university.

On leaving Millfield, a public school in Somerset where he grew up, he spent a brief spell as a ski instructor in Austria before following his father into the army.

Wallace Junior was commissioned into the Scots Guards (motto: 'No one may provoke me with impunity') as a Second Lieutenant after studying at Sandhurst  the prestigious military academy in Surrey  and rose to the rank of Captain. His first operational tour in 1992 as a 21-year-old platoon leader was in Northern Ireland. Shortly afterwards he was mentioned in dispatches following an incident where he found himself staring at an IRA bomb in a glass sweet jar.

Rishi Sunak (pictured) was once seen as the heir apparent to Boris but some in the party have never forgiven him for the part he played in sparking the Cabinet uprising that resulted in Johnson's forced resignation

'It was a filled with Semtex plastic explosives and ball bearings, with wires coming out of it,' he would later recall. 'The brown label on the jar said 'Milk chocolate raisins  but the contents inside were primed and ready to kill.'

The bomb did not detonate and the IRA active service unit which planted it was eventually rounded up.

Five years later, Wallace was on duty the night Princess Diana died, and was a member of the party sent over to Paris to bring home her body after the fatal car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel.

Ironically, he first entered politics as a member of the Scottish Parliament (a nod to his ancestry and time with the Scots Guards) where he served a single term.

It was following a move to Lancashire with wife Liza (who would later became his part-time parliamentary assistant in Westminster) that he was elected Conservative MP for the seat of Lancaster and Wyre in 2005 and since 2010  following a redrawing of constituency boundaries  he has been MP for Wyre and Preston North.

Wallace was rewarded with the post of Defence Secretary during Johnson's second leadership campaign in 2019. Pictured together in March during a visit to the Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside

Among the entries on his CV are: PPS (parliamentary private secretary) to former justice secretary Ken Clarke, followed by a year in the Whips' office, and a year as a junior Northern Ireland minister.

'One of the most privileged parts of my job as a Northern Ireland minister,' he said in an interview at the time, 'is to work alongside members of M15 and the police.

They work everyday to keep us safe. In their world loose talk costs lives.' Wallace, a father of three who split from his wife two years ago, his admirers would argue, has followed their example.

Hence the reason  or one of them perhaps  why his name has not been linked with any plotting or off-the-record 'briefings' against colleagues  the sort of 'dark arts' practised all too often in Westminster.

Wallace was rewarded with the post of Defence Secretary during Johnson's second leadership campaign in 2019.

He might pass in his brigade tie, for a 'quiet clubman', someone once said, 'a bit of an anachronism and most likely a bore'.

Wallace, to quote one commentator, seems refreshingly 'non-ideological and reassuringly competent' certainly in contrast to Truss. Pictured together in April

But his friends insist appearances can be deceptive. 'He's great company,' one said. 'A good mimic. He sends people up. He sends deeply inappropriate memes on WhatsApp.'

But behind the joking is a shrewd head, they claim, and they praise his ability to make 'cold decisions' on complex, difficult issues.

Unlike the Foreign Secretary at the time, Dominic Raab, Wallace had prepared for a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last year by drawing up lists of interpreters who would be eligible for resettlement.

In August last year, Wallace broke down during a radio interview at the height of the crisis, admitting that 'some people won't get back'. He said that he felt it so personally 'because I'm a soldier'.

'After robotic Truss,' one of his supporters is quoted as saying, 'we need someone with more emotional intelligence... no one knows what Ben thinks about anything except on Ukraine.'

Might this now prove to be the ex-soldier's most powerful weapon?
I arrive at the YOU photoshoot to find Susie Dent chatting away to the photographer in German, looking like a glamorous cross between Charlotte Gainsbourg and Alexa Chung, casually dispelling any notion you cant sound sexy auf Deutsch. As well as being the nations favourite etymologist, shes fluent in German and French. Zhoosh the hair! a stylist instructs. How do you spell zhoosh? Dent asks the room, all sexy schoolteacher, dangling her glasses. The dictionary has three spellings because nobody knows.

Given the newly adopted flirty attitude she exudes on television, Dent surprises me by saying, I feel quite asexual at the moment. In fact, she goes further, admitting that as she has got older, she feels invisible. I think that comes with age. Its sort of positive and not so positive. Im not sexualised at all. There is liberty within that. But theres also a slight regret at leaving that behind.

Perhaps some of what were talking about lies between the lines. At 57, Dent is single again, having split last year from schoolteacher Paul Atkins, after 20 years of marriage. She seems somewhat raw and emotionally bruised by the experience, side-stepping direct questions. When I ask enthusiastically if she might have found a new freedom in being single, she answers coolly: I didnt get this whole sense of liberation like, Right, Im going to go out and find someone new. Im not looking for anyone at all. Ive always lived in my head, Ive always liked my own company. So, it kind of feels like a comfortable place to be.

Susie Dent says that at age 57 (pictured) she feels asexual and invisible at the moment. The English author split from her husband, schoolteacher Paul Atkins last year

Dating, she says, is absolutely not on my radar. If I bumped into somebody in ten years time then lovely, but its not something Im looking for. She would never use Tinder: I wouldnt, for a second, think of putting myself on a dating app. Ive never looked at a Tinder page, even when somebody else is doing it. Doesnt she get all sorts of men sending her random online proposals? No, she says, surprised. Friends have tried to set her up, most recently with an Eton housemaster. But none of it interests her. I feel totally invisible, she repeats.

I feel like Im out of that sphere at the moment. I just would not class myself as a datable entity I quite like the fact the pressure is off. I dont need to prove anything. I dont really feel like I need someone. She stops to consider. I just dont feel at all like anyone would even consider it I need to build back my confidence and my sense of me because, right now, I feel that the important thing is my girls. Thats what Im focused on  to make sure that they are all right.

Susie says that dating is not on her radar at the moment and doesn't feel pressure to jump back into that sphere

Shes spoken before about how deeply her own parents divorce, when she was 13, affected her, leading her to find a safe space in words. Her eldest daughter Lucy, 22, is at university; Thea is 14. All three are incredibly close. My daughters are my life, she says. She has spoken about how motherhood was instinctive and spontaneous for her; definitely the best thing Ive ever experienced, and probably the best thing Ive done in my life. Shes not looking to let go of it. When you have kids, you give so much of yourself to them that  rightly, I think  you lose the person you were before. In some ways thats absolutely lovely and in another way, at the end of raising your kids, you need to revisit it and redefine yourself a bit. That time will come. But Im certainly not there yet.

Im not loo king for anyone at all  Ive always liked my own company

Her latest book  An Emotional Dictionary  is why were meeting. Beyond Countdown, Eight Out of Ten Cats, her podcast with Gyles Brandreth (Something Rhymes with Purple) and a secret show shes been filming a pilot for (I cant share the details), shes written 13 books including this latest. I ask her which word in her dictionary best describes how she currently feels and she opts for something German: eilkrankheit, basically hurry sickness  just constantly, frantically chasing your own tail and never quite getting the chance to relax. Im also a bit betwittered  that means sort of overcome with pleasing excitement, because I am excited about the book, and I absolutely love the work I do. I have the best gig in the world. And I know it could disappear tomorrow.

Dent has the classic affliction of all clever people: a brain whirring with ideas that both fuel her and cause her endless anxiety. I have a continuous narrative in my head, she says. What my next project is, how Im going to be received. Its a lovely thing but also a bit of a curse. She says shes had counselling for her worrying, but less so for the pessimism.

Susie with friend and countdown co-star Rachel Riley. For 30 years Dent has been popping up on our screens every weekday afternoon, and its conferred on her a kind of national treasure status

Shes always been massively self-conscious. Even at school I always assumed people were thinking the worst of how I looked. I also have an incredibly beautiful sister and Ive moved from my sister to [Countdown co-host] Rachel!

Attending an all-girls school  The Marist, a Roman Catholic day school in Ascot, Berkshire  was, says Dent, a blessing for a bookish person. It was quiet. I couldnt have coped with the chaos of a really big school. After becoming the sixth-form librarian, she then studied modern languages at Oxford. Her first term was completely miserable because I didnt really know anyone but then she found the drama department and absolutely loved it. And I really let my hair down. It was during her masters  in German at Princeton in the US  that she was scouted for Countdown.

After turning it down several times  Its not like I wanted to be on telly  she found a home there, joining Countdown in 1992 alongside Carol Vorderman and the late Richard Whiteley. He was funny, she says. He wore his heart on his sleeve. He could be really grumpy  as any taxi driver in Leeds [where the show was originally filmed] will tell you  but you knew where you were with that grumpiness. He was just very open.

DENT DEFINED Wordle or Scrabble? Wordle  Im terrible at Scrabble Tea or coffee? Both Podcast or audiobook? Podcast Early riser or night owl? Early riser Reading or writing? Writing Cats or dogs? Dogs. But I do love my cat. But only my cat Night out or night in? Im going to say night out and I hope that actually changes me Fiction or nonfiction? Fiction Advertisement

For 30 years Dent has been popping up on our screens every weekday afternoon, and its conferred on her a kind of national treasure status (although she brushes off the idea when I voice it). She clearly still loves the show, though I also get a sense that she feels pigeonholed by it. People dont think I have legs because Im behind the desk all the time, she grins. I do sometimes wish I could stand up more because youre just sitting with a dictionary in a corner. Ive been sitting in a square box for a very long time.

Shes survived six Countdown hosts  Whiteley, Des Lynam and Des OConnor, Jeff Stelling, Nick Hewer and Anne Robinson (her work ethic was incredible). The latest is Colin Murray. Hes so excited to be in the chair, she says. Hes started a WhatsApp group with her and Riley where he posts memes that say things like: Were the best trio since A-ha!

Despite rumours that things were frosty with Robinson at the helm, Dent hates cliches about women warring at work. Riley is her confidante and friend. They share clothes and go on girlie breaks. Rachel is incredibly loyal and supportive. Shes amazing with words as well as the numbers so she really appreciates that side of me, which is great, but also she looks after me a bit in terms of my worries because shes the least anxious person I know.

Before our time together comes to an end, Dent mentions that she has another favourite word from her book: strikhedonia. Its a blend of strike (to take a new direction) and the Greek for hedonist. Its the pleasure of saying: To hell with it! I can be, for all my worries, quite impulsive.

When I ask about her plans for the future she says its to relax into myself. I just need to get rid of the worries that are omnipresent. I just need to chill, she laughs. Then Dent returns to our earlier discussion. I mentioned that sort of invisibility. In some ways, I feel like Im embracing that. Im just a whole load of contradictions  but I do think thats OK.
His patronage helped the site become a site of international interest

The late Prince Albert visited the caves himself in 1909 and 1914

Albert, 64, visited the site which was of particular interest to his namesake

Prince Albert II of Monaco ventured underground this afternoon as he continued his tour of Spain in honour of his late great-grandfather.

The royal, 64, visited the caves on the outskirts of Puente Viesgo in Northern Spain, which was an area of particular interest to Prince Albert I during his 33-year reign.

The late Prince - who passed away at the age of 73 in 1922 - visited the site in 1909 and 1914 and his patronage contributed to the caves being recognised as as a site of international interest.

Four of the 18 limestone caves have been listed as World Heritage Sites - including El Castillo, which contains the world's oldest cave painting, dating back 40,000 years.

Prince Albert II of Monaco is currently touring Spain and Portugal to mark 100 years since his great-grandfather's passing. Pictured delivering a speech during his visit to the cave areas of Puente Viesgo town

Prince Albert's great-grandfather visited the site in 1909 and 1914 and helped it become an area of international interest. The royal, 64, followed in his namesake's footsteps this afternoon

Following in his great-grandfather's footsteps, Prince Albert ventured down to the site and delivered a speech to mark the 100th anniversary of his namesake's death.

Before inheriting the throne when he was 41, the late royal served in the Spanish Navy as a navigator and was awarded the French Legion Order of Honour for his service in the Franco-Prussian War.

Following his military career, Albert I grew increasingly passionate about oceanography and went on to complete 28 expeditions around the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

In Portugal, the Prince is remembered for discovering a small shelf around the Azores archipelago, which boosted the country's fishing industry.

To this day, it is still known as 'Princess Alices shelf' in honour of the ship Albert was travelling on.

Four of the 18 limestone caves have been listed as World Heritage Sites - including El Castillo, which contains the world's oldest cave painting, dating back 40,000 years. Pictured: Prince Albert before venturing into the cave

The Prince passed away at the age of 73 on June 26, 1922 - leaving his son Louis II, whose son Rainier III went on to marry American actress Grace Kelly, to inherit his position

Thanks to his pioneering oceanography studies, Albert and his team of biologists, zoologists and geographers developed the first maps of the worlds ocean depths.

The Prince passed away at the age of 73 on June 26, 1922- leaving his son Louis II, whose son Rainier III went on to marry American actress Grace Kelly, to inherit his position.

Yesterday, the Prince met with King Felipe of Spain for a private lunch as part of his tour of Spain and Portugal.
Three-day visit is first time she and King Felipe are going to Germany since 2014

Queen Letizia of Spain was chic in a black pinstripe suit as she was snapped travelling to Germany today.

The 49-year-old royal, who was accompanied by her husband King Felipe in his own similar suit, looked businesslike in the stylish ensemble.

They waved at cameras as they were photographed outside the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport en route to Germany.

The Spanish Queen looked characteristically stylish in the two-piece single-breasted suit, which paired a long line blazer with slim fit ankle length trousers.

King Felipe of Spain and Queen Letizia (pictured) were snapped in Madrid today en route to an official visit to Germany

The Spanish royal looked elegant in her businesslike ensemble, pairing her pinstripe suit with a white scoop neck top

Letizia, a mother-of-two, matched the suit with a cream scoop neck top, and stylish flat brogues, made from very deep petrol blue patent leather.

She accessorised her outfit with simple jewellery, including a pair of neat multiple hoop earrings.

Meanwhile, her long dark brown tresses were styled into a sleek, glossy down do.

Her fresh make-up look boasted a dewy, clear base, with a brick-coloured shadow creating a smoky eye, and a nude lip.

The royal couple's visit is set to last three days, during which they will meet an assortment of German dignitaries, and attend a number of engagements.

An official announcement on the website of Germany's federal president Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he and his wife Elke Budenbender were welcoming the Spanish royals.

The mother-of-two paired her businesslike outfit with a fresh make-up look, opting for a brick smoky eye look, and nude lip

Stylish: Queen Letizia of Spain wore her dark brown tresses in a very shiny, sleek down do, with some soft bouncing waves

The minimalist ensemble was completed with a simple make-up look, boasting clear skin, and an elegant nude lip

Elegant: the royal stunned as she made her way towards her plane under the Spanish sun at Madrid airport today

The royal mother-of-two donned a stylish pair of very dark petrol blue brogues, with a small heel

It added: 'The Federal President and Elke Budenbender will welcome King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain with military honours at Schloss Bellevue on the morning of 17 October.

'They will then hold talks together. In the evening, the Federal President and Elke Budenbender will host a state banquet in honour of the Spanish King and Queen.'

In addition, it listed the German-Spanish Forum, an art exhibition to see the collection of the Helga de Alvear Museum at the Palais Populair, and the Frankfurt Book Fair as engagements the royals would undertake separately.

The couple, who last visited Germany in December 2014, are also set to make some joint appearances, including at a reception they are hosting.

Pinstripe was the order of the day for the Spanish royals, who cut stylish figures in their complementary outfits in Madrid today

His and hers: both Queen Letizia and King Felipe opted for pinstripe suits, coordinating their smart outifts

Ahead of their visit, which marks the first time the royal couple has visited Germany since December 2014, the couple greeted crowds

Royal wave: as they boarded the steps to their aircraft, the Queen was snapped waving at assembled crowds

Finally, the couple were snapped shaking hands with airline staff as they boarded their aircraft to kick off their flight

This royal visit follows a busy week for King Felipe and Queen Letizia, following last week's National Day celebrations.

The King was joined by his wife Queen Letizia and their daughter Princess Sofia to watch for the annual military parade in Madrid.

King Felipe, who ascended the throne in 2014, looked dapper in full military uniform as he oversaw a military display.

They were joined by Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Spain's Defense Minister Margarita Roble in the capital.
An Australian mum has caused a stir by giving herself a pampering session, complete with fake tan, a manicure, pedicure and blow dry, hours before she was due to be induced.

Indy Clinton, who lives in Sydney with her husband Ben and young son Navy, gave birth to a girl, Bambi Valentine, on October 14.

In the hours leading up to her induction the 25-year-old decided to drop Navy off at daycare so she could prepare for her oncoming labour and beautify herself in the process.

Indy Clinton, who lives in Sydney with her husband Ben and young son Navy, gave birth to a girl, Bambi Valentine, on October 14

First stop was a mani-pedi with a pale pink tint for her fingernails and orange shade for her toes.

'God that was a waste of $40, it doesn't look like anything has changed. But I did go wild on my toes though and I went orange,' she said in a TikTok video.

She stopped by Woolworths for a selection of snacks before returning home to apply some Bondi Sands fake tan and wash her hair.

'Hair is washed now, I'm just moisturising my face quickly. Then I'll fake tan. My induction is not tonight. Also if someone asks why I'm fake tanning for labour, do I want to look ugly when I'm pushing out a child from my... no,' she said.

Indy asked her social media followers if she should don a bra during her induction because she 'just wore the hospital gown' while giving birth to Navy and felt like her shoulders looked 'really broad'.

Many of her followers were torn over how to receive her pre-labour makeover.

'Hair is washed now, I'm just moisturising my face quickly. Then I'll fake tan. My induction is not tonight. Also if someone asks why I'm fake tanning for labour, do I want to look ugly when I'm pushing out a child from my... no,' she said

'This is the kind of messaging you need to think about before saying when you have such a large platform,' one woman replied to her video

'This is the kind of messaging you need to think about before saying when you have such a large platform,' one woman replied to her video.

'Saying you don't want to look ugly when you're about to push a baby out because you don't have fake tan on, in other words because you'll be pale, is so detrimental.

'This is the kind of sh*t that made me feel addicted to and dependent on fake tan to feel beautiful for 12 years.'

On her way to the hospital to give birth Indy plucked her husband Ben's eyebrows - saying he couldn't have a 'unibrow' while she was in labour - and she re-applied her makeup while having contractions.

On her way to the hospital to give birth Indy plucked her husband Ben's eyebrows - saying he couldn't have a 'unibrow' while she was in labour - and she re-applied her makeup while having contractions

Other women supported Indy's decision to 'feel good' in the hospital and said they'd done a similar routine pre-labour themselves.

'Looking hot in labour gets a huge tick of approval from this doula,' one woman wrote.

Another said: 'I did this exact same thing before my induction! I hope your birth goes well.'

Indy gave birth the following day, announcing 'our daughter is here' on Instagram with a photo of the tiny newborn cradled in her arms.
The easy hack requires three common items - baking soda, dish soap and water

Chantel Mila shared the tip to her delighted followers on TikTok

A mum-of-two has revealed her 'genius' tip for making sneakers look white again

An Aussie mum-of-two has thrilled thousands online after sharing a simple way to clean and brighten white sneakers.

Chantel Mila, better known as Mama Mila, used three household staples - baking soda, dish soap and water - to make her shoes look sparkling new.

The Melbourne mum demonstrated the tactic in a TikTok video, where she often shares her cleaning and styling tips to millions.

Scroll down for video

Chantel Mila shared her 'genius' tip for making sneakers look brighter and whiter again

The mum uses only cheap household items to make her solution, including baking soda, dish soap and water. The ingredients form a paste which can be used to remove water stain and dirt marks from the shoes

To make the solution, mix half a cup of baking soda, one tablespoon of dish soap and water in a bowl to form a paste.

Then use an old toothbrush to apply the solution and scrub the shoes.

Finally, place the sneakers in a delicate mesh bag and put them on a gentle wash cycle, then the sneakers can be left in the sun or put in the dryer to remove any moisture.

The same paste can also be used for removing water stains from your sink.

How to make sneakers white again: * Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dish soap and water * Apply the solution to your shoes using a toothbrush * Wash the trainers on a gentle cycle and dry on a dry rack or in the sun Advertisement

Chantel's followers were delighted with the clever hack and the video has since exceeded more than 17,000 views.

'Oh wow. how handy,' one woman commented.

Others were amazed at the mum's drying rack placed in her dryer.

'Where did you get the drying rack from? Or is that specific to your dryer? I need one!' another woman asked.

One user cautioned fellow fans to 'never ever dry sneakers in the sun,' explaining that this causes them to become yellow.

Many of the mum's followers were amazed at her drying rack in the dryer (pictured), the mum explained that this came with her dryer

What are Mama Mila's best home cleaning hacks? * Put coffee grounds in an area where you want bad smells absorbed * Remove marks from suede using micellar water * Apply clear nail polish to buttons to prevent them from falling off shirts * Soak denture tablets in sinks and toilets to whiten it without scrubbing * Remove limescale from a shower head with a lemon * Soak cotton wool in hydrogen peroxide and place in your washing machine seal to prevent mould * Soak cotton balls with essential oils and place in the bin to prevent bad smells * Sprinkle baking powder in the dishwasher to prevent musty smells * Use a dry mop to dust window sills (source: mama_mila_, TikTok) Advertisement

Previously another savvy mum cleaned her daughter's filthy white sneakers using an affordable product from Amazon.

Sam, who runs the 'Addicted to Bargains' Instagram account, shared a video online demonstrating the process using the $7.50 Eraser Daddy sponge.

'I love white shoes, but they get dirty super-fast. I gave the Eraser Daddy a go and it is super easy to use and does the job so well,' the Aussie mum wrote.

Previously Aussie mum Sam shared a video on Instagram demonstrating how she cleaned her daughter's filthy white sneakers. She opted to use the Eraser Daddy (pictured, right), which lifted the dirt stains in seconds

Within seconds the dirt was lifted and the shoes were left looking good as new (right)

The sneakers were covered in brown dirt, particularly at the front of the shoes, but the product made it easy to remove.

'I've added a paper towel underneath the shoe so any dirty residue can fall onto that. It is super easy to do,' Sam said in the clip.

She first dampened the sponge before cleaning the sneakers and within seconds the dirt was lifted.

The Eraser Daddy features a dual-sided design of 'tri-composite material' and 'backing of FlexTexture' to remove tough stains easily.

Sam said: 'It can also be used on household floors and walls, outdoor furniture and in your bathroom sink or shower.'

In the comments many seemed amazed by the swift transformation and how easy the shoes were to clean using the product.

'Worked a treat!' one person wrote, another added: 'My white shoes need this!'

A third added: 'Wow works like magic.'
She started a new job as a women's health educator and is passionate about it

A 27-year-old midwife is now living the life of her dreams after moving 2,750km away from her city life to work in the Northern Territory.

Sydney native Tylah McConnell found the love of her life, doubled her income and bought a home in the 18 months after moving from Sydney to Alice Springs in April 2021.

Ms McConnell originally planned to visit for six months on a secondment, but says she will now 'never' return to Sydney.

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Tylah McConnell (pictured) found the life of her dreams after leaving Sydney to work in healthcare in the Northern Territory and 'never' intends to return

Ms McConnell originally came to the Northern Territory for six months on a secondment, but 'just couldn't return,' after falling in love with the land and the people

Ms McConnell grew up in Sydney and worked as a midwife there for three years before deciding to move to the Northern Territory, where she now works as a women's health educator.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia she said she simply 'couldn't return' once she moved.

'I fell in love with the land and the people. I'll never live in Sydney again, only ever temporarily. Life is so stressful and hard there. It's just a much easier lifestyle in the Northern Territory,' she said.

The healthcare worker said that the housing crisis in Sydney made it impossible to buy a house alone, and she didn't like that pressure to be in a relationship.

'I started thinking, is this all there is for the rest of my life?'

Ms McConnell is now a women's health educator and works in remote regions such as near Uluru. The healthcare worker says her work-life balance and community is much better in the Northern Territory

Poll Would you give it all up and move to the country? Yes, in a heartbeat! No way! Would you give it all up and move to the country? Yes, in a heartbeat! 487 votes

No way! 156 votes Now share your opinion





Ms McConnell had never thought of moving to the NT before, but something told her to go.

'I got a calling one night to look up Alice Springs. I applied for a job and got it very easily. I didn't even research the town, I just booked the flight. I didn't know anyone, I just came on my own.'

She said she was expecting the town to be small minded but it's very liberal and has an 'amazing' art scene.

'It's fantastic for LGBTQ+ rights. The town I'm in actually has the largest lesbian population per capita in Australia,' she added.

What the healthcare worker loves most about Alice Springs is the sense of community.

'You never have to catch a taxi as someone will always take you. You don't have your family here, so friends become family,' she said.

Her work-life balance has improved. 'When I arrived here work said "why don't you drop to part-time for your work-life balance?"' she laughed.

She now has a buzzing social life as it only takes 15 minutes to get from one side of town to another so it's easy to see friends.

The women's health educator said her social life is amazing in Alice Springs, and friends have become family

Ms McConnell has a good balance between socialising at restaurants and bars, and activities like camping and 4WD driving.

She said there is only one main nightclub in Alice Springs, but the town still has a 'really good' nightlife.

An Abba tribute band recently played, there's an active theatre scene and events such as pool parties.

'It's anything but boring,' the healthcare worker said.

What is day-to-day life like in the outback? Dating scene The dating scene as different, it's not as anonymous and the small population you have to stay on good terms with people you've went out with, as you could run into them in the shop Shopping Alice Springs the main grocers such as Coles, Woolies and Kmart It takes 15 minutes to get to a shop in Alice Springs, but it could take hours from the bush Buying clothes is difficult due to the lack of shops, and ordering online can take two weeks or more Night life Alice Springs has one main nightclub, and one main restaurant, however the restaurant is usually booked up Despite this the nightlife is really good in town thanks to the vibrant art scene, events like concerts, plays and parties are often on Social life Employers have great respect for work-life balance, and if you live in town its really easy to meet friends so social life can be excellent Activities like camping, hiking and forward driving are very popular Advertisement

The dating scene is also different in the Northern Territory as the smaller population means you're likely to run into people you've gone on a date with, so you have to leave things on better terms.

Ms McConnell met her partner, who works as a doctor in the same area, and they bought a house together within six months.

'To buy a three-bed house in Alice Springs, I didn't even have to use a third of the deposit I had been saving in Sydney,' she added.

Ms McConnell met her boyfriend [pictured] and they bought a house together since moving to Alice Springs

The change in lifestyle has resulted in her saving thousands of dollars.

'In Sydney I was always worried about money. I don't even think about it here. I focus on friends and having good experiences,' she said.

Ms McConnell said the day to day life of living so remotely is not as difficult as you'd expect.

'In Sydney I spent so much money and did so much shopping. Here I don't need that,' she said.

The healthcare worker explains that Alice Springs doesn't have a huge variety of shops, however they have the main grocery stores like as Coles, Woolworths and Kmart.

It only takes 15 minutes to get to a shop if you're in Alice Springs, but once you go further out bush it could take hours.

Ms McConnell has saved thousands of dollars from doubling her income and spending less. she also has a much better work-life balance in Alice Springs

Getting clothes can be difficult as there's not a lot of shopping options and ordering online can take over two weeks.

However she admits this stops impulse buying, 'the instant gratification of online shopping is gone when an order takes three weeks to arrive,' she laughs, struggling to believe she was once able to get three hour express delivery in Sydney.

She admits she does miss the ease of access to some services, for example healthcare and doctors.

The women's health educator said she misses the ease of access to services like healthcare and even restaurants, she also explained you have to be more self-sufficient and careful as there's no phone services once you're 15 minutes outside the town

Buying any special items such as specialty food can also be really difficult, but 'you learn to live with a lot less'.

There are no 24/7 restaurants and establishments close early. Ms McConnell explains that UberEats doesn't exist, and although they do have Menulog, delivery could take hours. There is one main restaurant but its 'normally booked out'.

Another challenge is phone signal, once you're 15 minutes outside of Alice Springs there's no service.

Ms McConnell said recently her and her partners car broke down three hours outside the town and they hadn't seen anyone in hours. They had to turn into 'bush mechanics' and use a fabric bag to fix the car until the next town.

For Ms McConnell the biggest challenge of working in the Northern Territory is the lack of resources.

She went from working in one of Sydney's best public hospitals, to somewhere where there isn't as much staff available and agency is impossible, as the closest city is 1,500km away.

'We don't carry blood in the hospitals, so working here means you have to adjust to the fact that someone in a car accident is less likely to survive. 24 week babies have more chance to survive in Sydney than in a rural town,' she said.

'I love working with First Nations people because of how strong the sense of family and community is,' Ms McConnell said about her work in the Northern Territory

Ms McConnell is 'passionate' about her work educating and promoting women's health.

'I think it's so special to empower women and give them the confidence to look after their health,' she said.

She 'fell in love' with indigenous health and caring for First Nations people after making the move to Alice Springs.

'I love working with First Nations people because of how strong the sense of family and community is,' she explained.

Ms McConnell is passionate about her work as a women's health educator. Pictured are a pelvis and breast used to teach women about birth and breastfeeding

'I noticed that individualism was more apparent in Sydney and so working as a midwife you had to take on a lot of different roles compensating for the lack of a wider connection to community.'

Ms McConnell prefers her work in the Northern Territory to her job in Sydney, she feels the work culture and expectations are very different.

'In Sydney you're sold this lie of that's where opportunity is and the countryside is boring. I found the opposite, here there is no job competition, I feel so valued and doubled my income,' she said.

She feels more free working in the Northern Territory, where there's no one 'watching over' you and making sure you 'tick all the boxes'.

'Here it's more important to do one thing and make it good, everyone just tries their best,' she said.

She added that she has had access to job opportunities 'you would never get in Sydney,' she recently helped create an antenatal educational app.

The healthcare worker urges her followers to give living in the countryside a go.

'People, especially those from big cities, should just try it, just try it and say you'll give it that. It opens your life to what could be instead of what's expected of you.'
Criss, now 25, said his 'craving' for alcohol had taken complete control of him

Over four months he gained 50kg and spend thousands of dollars on booze

He never questioned his actions and told himself a number of excuses

The 24-year-old makeup artist would drink 2L of spirits daily out of 'boredom'

'Boredom' drove Criss Scortezz to down two litres of spirits every day during Sydney's strict 100-day Covid lockdown.

By September of 2021, it got to a point where the 25-year-old makeup artist would wake up, roll out of bed and pour himself a glass at 8am.

But he told himself he didn't have a problem because he wasn't hiding his alcohol addiction.

'I never thought anything of it, I never stopped myself or questioned it,' Criss told FEMAIL.

Criss said his 'craving' for alcohol had complete control over him, eventually becoming unable to function day-to-day without having a drink.

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Criss Cortezz (pictured) would tell himself a string of lies and excuses in order to justify his drinking habits during Sydney's 100-day Covid lockdown last year

The 24-year-old makeup artist (pictured left) would drink 2L of spirits daily out of 'boredom' but he never questioned his actions. By September 2021 it got to a point when he would wake up, roll out of bed and pour himself a glass at 8am

When the lockdown began in late June last year, Criss said he quickly became bored being stuck at home with no-one to talk to, as his family members were essential workers and out of the house.

'I just figured [drinking] was a good way to pass the time, then everything became revolved around having a drink,' he said.

'I never used alcohol to try "escape" from something, that's why it took me so long to realise I had a drinking problem.'

Criss only drank spirits, rather than wine, because it did not make him feel as bad the following day.

His crippling habit continued for six months.

Initially he'd consume a 2L bottle of alcohol every five days - but over time the drinking slowly increased to consuming the huge amount daily.

Strangely he never felt sick, hardly had a hangover the following morning and was able to mask his behaviour to others.

'I don't know how I never had to go to the hospital. I don't know how I'm alive,' he recalled.

Criss said he would tell himself 'you're just bored', 'you don't have a problem because you're not trying to hide anything' and 'you're still getting out and doing things' to justify his habits.

'I was having fun and enjoying myself - I was never sad and that was enough to keep drinking,' he said.

'My mind told myself if I'm awake I should be drinking.'

After having lost weight in 2019 he gained 50kg over four months due to his excessive drinking.

Not only did his addiction affect him physically and mentally, it also took a toll on his bank account - he would spend $910 a week, or $3640 a month, on booze.

'A bottle was around $65 and I would buy two at a time; When I was able to I'd go into the bottle shop at different times of day so the staff didn't notice me, otherwise I would have it delivered,' he said.

'It really took a toll on my bank account and savings.'

Criss (pictured left) only drank spirits, rather than wine, because it did not make him feel as bad the following day. His crippling habit continued for six months

Criss only recognised he had a drinking problem when he started looking for alcohol at home, not realising he had already drunk it all.

'It hit me when I realised I was going through 2L of spirits a day and was going to buy more,' he said.

'The feeling of knowing I'm going to get another bottle and was satisfied with that was enough for me to realise and think "okay this is a real problem".'

But it still took time for Criss to change his habits.

'Then I didn't drink as heavily - I was only drinking half the amount I was, which is still a lot,' he said.

Criss (pictured) only recognised he had a drinking problem when he started looking for alcohol at home, not realising he had already drunk it all. In December last year he turned to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for assistance

Criss slowly started drinking less over time. Then in December last year, when he felt incredibly nauseous after having a drink one day, he turned to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

During each one-hour online AA meeting he would have open conversations with others who also had a problem with alcohol, and felt comforted knowing he was surrounded by people who knew exactly how he felt.

Criss said whenever he had a craving to drink, he would join an online meeting to help subside it. He found medical cannabis assisted with the cravings too.

In February 2022 he stopped drinking entirely for three-and-a-half months before 'accidentally' relapsing.

He said he was at an event and mistakenly believed the drinks being served with non-alcoholic.

'My friend came up to me and said "what are you doing drinking?", and I reassured her it's a mocktail. But she said they're not,' Criss said.

Following his relapse he had a period of drinking alcohol again once a week.

But in the last four weeks he has remained completely sober.

Criss urged others who may he struggling with alcohol addiction to seek help.

'It's not embarrassing, it's the best thing you'll ever do,' he said.

Click here to visit Alcoholics Anonymous or call Lifeline on 13 11 14
Blood supplies dropped to record lows last week, prompting the NHS in England to issue its first amber alert. With stocks of the universal blood type O-, which can be given to everyone, down to just two days supply  a third of the required level  health bosses suggested that hospitals postpone some non-urgent operations, such as hip and knee replacements.

Last night, MPs, medics and charity bosses demanded urgent action to tackle the unprecedented crisis in blood supplies  including the return of walk-in appointments for donors.

They fear shortages are set to last into the New Year, meaning thousands of operations may have to be cancelled.

Why are health bosses worried about supplies?

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) likes to have six days of blood supplies on hand. But early last week, Englands stock of O negative (O-) blood fell to less than two days worth. Stocks of O+ blood fell almost as low.

As the supplies, which are perishable, must be split across the country, that raised the risk of some areas running out of O-. Stocks of three other blood types (B-, AB- and A+) are below four days, while stocks of the other three types (A-, B+ and AB+) are good.

Why are the blood types O- and O+ so important?

O- is carried by just seven per cent of Britons, but thanks to unique properties it can be given to anyone, regardless of their blood type, without their immune system rejecting it. As a result it is called universal product.

O+ can also be given to about three-quarters of the population.

So when blood groups that specifically match a patient are not available, doctors resort to these, but that puts extra pressure on supplies  particularly of O- blood.

Blood supplies dropped to record lows last week, prompting the NHS in England to issue its first amber alert

What action has now been taken?

Under NHSBT protocols it must declare an amber alert over blood stocks as a whole when levels of one type  in this case O-  fall below two days worth. It is the first time this has happened.

NHSBT describes an amber alert as reduced availability of blood for a short or prolonged period with impact on clinical activity. It involves asking hospitals to take extra care of blood supplies and to limit use.

What impact does this have on patients?

Some planned operations are likely to be delayed.

In particular, NHSBT has suggested that some non-urgent orthopaedic surgeries  such as hip and knee replacements  be postponed.

Emergency operations are not affected and neither are transfusions for conditions including sickle cell disease, thalassemia and blood cancers.

What has caused the problem?

NHSBT says the main problem is staffing shortages, which are forcing clinics to operate fewer donation chairs than normal.

Hospital demand for blood has also risen post-pandemic, because planned operations have resumed. Coupled with that, fewer people have been travelling to town centre clinics to donate.

Unions also claim cost-cutting measures have undermined staff morale and capacity, and made giving blood more inconvenient for donors.

How long will the shortages last?

NHSBT has said that the amber alert will initially last four weeks.

A lot depends on the ability to rebuild supplies of O- and O+ quickly. Levels of O- have risen in recent days  from 1.92 days worth last Wednesday to 2.36 on Friday  and thousands of new donors have signed up. But levels are still far too low.

What happens if things get worse?

If NHSBT fears a severe, imminent threat to the blood supply or a severe shortage it could move to a red alert. This involves more extreme measures, such as requests for blood being reviewed by consultants. But such a move is considered very unlikely.

Whats the situation in other parts of the UK?

Supplies are lower than they should be in Scotland and Wales, but not critically so.

They have their own donation services, and their stocks are much smaller than Englands.

Northern Ireland is in a similar position to England.
The new boss of historic insurer LV is braced for a grilling from members as he faces them for the first time tomorrow.

David Hynam is set to address LV's customer-owners at the annual general meeting, just weeks after replacing beleaguered chief executive Mark Hartigan.

But Hynam, former UK boss of Bupa, and new chairman Simon Moore are in for a rough ride as members prepare to question them over bonuses awarded to Hartigan, and how they will push LV forward.

Rough ride: David Hynam is set to address LV's customer-owners at the annual general meeting, just weeks after replacing beleaguered chief executive Mark Hartigan

The life insurer, founded in 1843 to help the poor of Liverpool pay for a decent burial, is a mutual  owned by its customers and run for their benefit. Last year, Hartigan and then-chairman Alan Cook announced that they planned to sell the business to private equity shark Bain, claiming the business needed investment to stay afloat.

Members were offered 100 each for giving up their share of the firm. It also emerged Hartigan was likely to pocket a generous pay package if he remained at the helm under Bain's control. Members voted the deal down last December  after LV had spent more than 30m of their money on the preparations.

Trust in Hartigan and Cook had plummeted and both left the business. But despite this, Hartigan was awarded a 511,000 bonus in 2021. Member John Higgins, 86, said: 'It is frustrating that one of the men who took us into this blind alley with Bain has spent all this money belonging to the members.'

More than 1,000 members wrote to the Mail in response to this paper's Save LV campaign over the summer, expressing their lack of confidence in Hartigan.

LV said the meeting, to be held in Bournemouth and online tomorrow, was 'open to members only'.
Organisations and authorities urged to enforce test and not relying on stat decs

Three-part identity to test deter Aussies from falsely identifying as indigenous

Australians who identify as indigenous increased 25 per cent in last five years

Indigenous leaders say employers, schools, universities and housing authorities need to make Australians take a three-part test to prove whether they are Aboriginal or not.

The call comes amid a massive 25 per cent increase in Australians who identify as indigenous over the past five years, and follows the University of Sydney and NSW TAFEs tightening requirements for students who describe themselves as having a First Nations background.

Nathan Moran, the chief executive of the Sydney-based Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council, told Daily Mail Australia that people have been abusing the system for at least 25 years - which he described as open fraud.

Mr Moran called on organisations to adopt the Commonwealth's three-part identity test to deter Australians from falsely identifying as indigenous.

That test involves three steps - proving they are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, identifying as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and are accepted as such by the community in which they live, or formerly lived.

Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council chief executive Nathan Moran (pictured) is leading calls for a crackdown on Australians self-identifying themselves as indigenous

Of the 'frauds' he believes are self-identifying as indigenous, Mr Moran said: 'It makes me sick to my stomach.

'The sad and unfortunate reality is that people have used self-identification to receive jobs, housing and scholarships they're not entitled to which are meant for the indigenous.

'The indigenous birth rates don't match up with the population increase.'

The three-part test for proving Aboriginality An Aboriginal person (includes Torres Strait Islanders) means a person who: 1.Is a member of the Aboriginal race of Australia 2.Identifies as such an Aboriginal person 3. Is accepted by the Aboriginal community as an Aboriginal person Advertisement

Mr Moran called on organisations and government authorities to enforce the three-part test rather than relying on statutory declarations - pieces of paper where they legally swear they are indigenous.

The test requires Australians to identify as an Aboriginal person, be able to prove they are a member of the race, and be accepted by the Aboriginal community.

A person can prove they are accepted by an Aboriginal community by providing a letter from their local Aboriginal Land Council or a registered Aboriginal community organisation.

Mr Moran said it's time to 'end the statutory declaration and apply the laws they're compelled to enforce'.

'They have a right to ask individuals who identify as Aboriginal for confirmation of that claim and who they received that confirmation from,' he said.

The Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council recently complained to the Independent Commission Against Corruption about the number of students at the University of Sydney identifying as indigenous using statutory declarations.

University of Sydney's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research director Professor Jakelin Troy (pictured) argues freedom of self identification and self expression is a basic human right

The university has since announced plans to revamp its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Status Policy by getting rid of stat decs, as Mr Moran said.

Students will have to supply a 'letter of identity' and complete the Commonwealth three-part identity test.

Students will also be asked to confirm their identity either by a letter from their land council or a sealed letter signed by a delegate of the Aboriginal Medical Service or the Aboriginal Legal Service.

TAFE NSW is also now developing a Confirmation of Aboriginality Policy following similar concerns.

Mr Moran isn't the only Aboriginal land council leader raising concerns about the recent Census data.

Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell recently claimed 'poor white people' were falsely identifying as indigenous in a move he called 'identity seeking'.

'The people who are ticking the box to say they are Aboriginal, their demographic is poor white people who pretty much are disenfranchised,' Mr Mansell said.

'They don't attribute any value to their identity as a poor white person in Tasmania, so they are searching to attach themselves to something that has greater value and I think many of those people believe that's in being Aboriginal.'

Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell (pictured) claimed 'poor white people' were falsely identifying as indigenous in a move he described as 'identity seeking'.

However not everyone agrees.

University of Sydney's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research director Professor Jakelin Troy claimed the latest Census data showing increased numbers of indigenous people represents the 'real' demographics of the nation.

'Freedom of self identification and self expression is a basic human right. Interfering in the efforts of invaded & colonised peoples to assert identity is just continuing invasion & colonisation,' she tweeted.

Professor Troy has expressed concerns about the crackdown argued self-identification was accepted at many international research institutions.

'It's a response to a push from some parts of Aboriginal Australia, but not all of us,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'I personally think universities shouldn't really be dictating to Aboriginal people about identity. I don't think anyone should be.'
A woman known as the 'Face of Evil' after she horrifically bound, gagged, murdered and dumped a husband and wife in barrels which she then burnt in a forest on the NSW South Coast is trying to get out of jail early.

In a handwritten appeal against her 32-year sentence for the double kidnap and murders of Kathryn McKay, 44, and Gregory Hosa, 56, Kim Leanne Snibson reveals she has become a kind of 'nun' in jail, has lost all her hair and and her new partner is a female ex-inmate.

Now aged 52, Snibson is arguing her sentence be cut 'to reflect current non-parole periods'. In the extraordinary nine-page letter penned in her jail cell, Snibson claims she is now 'sickened' and 'ashamed' by her crimes.

But she also complains about Covid lockdowns in prison and boasts about her achievements behind bars looking after animals and doing courses.

After 17 years in prison, the killer wants to walk from jail sooner than her January 2030 earliest release date for inflicting what sentencing judge, Justice Terrence Budden, described as the 'slow and painful deaths' of the victims.

Brutal killer Kim Snibson, known as the 'Face of Evil' for her murder of a popular couple who were choked and hogtied and placed in a barrel and burnt, is tying to get out of jail early

The bodies of Kathryn McKay and husband Greg Hosa, parents of a 10-year-old boy, were found burnt in barrels stolen from their own horse stud (above) in the Tomerong State Forest a day after Snibson murdered them

Kathryn McKay , 44, was a popular local woman and with husband Greg Hosa, 56, were successful draught horse breeders and parents of a 10-year-old son

On January 28, 2006, Snibson lured Ms McKay and Mr Hosa to her Nowra Hill house.

The couple, who had a young son, ran the horse stud Champagne Shires where they bred shire horses of such quality that they won prizes at the Royal Easter Show.

Snibson, a dog sled racer and purported animal lover, agisted horses on the couple's 28 ha property a kilometre from the house she had mysteriously inherited from an elderly lady.

Mr Hosa arrived at the house alone and was immediately set upon, struck with a piece of wood, tackled to the ground, hogtied and gagged with a sock.

Snibson then called Ms McKay who was also assaulted on arrival and tied up, taping up her mouth.

Snibson had claimed to the men helping her, Andrew Flentjar and Stacey Lea-Caton, that Mr Hosa was a sex offender and the couple had a video of her in a passionate embrace with him in the stables at Champagne Shires.

She also told them 'we're going to bash them and tie them up' and that she 'was going to get [the people] to sign over things from their property'

A court would later hear that Snibson regularly told stories to men claiming she or a young female relative had been sexually assaulted by a male and that she needed their help to bash or restrain them.

Snibson then drove to the couple's Champagne Shires property and stole two green-painted 44 gallon drums and some bleach, and drove back to the house where the bound victims were still alive, and conscious.

Ms McKay was the first to die, after Snibson wound masking tape over her nose, 'until she turned blue', the offender then using electrical fence wire as a noose around Mr Hosa's neck to strangle him, and forced the victims' bodies inside the barrels.

The bodies were kept inside the house until after dark, 'so the neighbours couldn't see', before Snibson and her two accomplices drove 20km south to the Tomerong State Forest in the hinterland west of Jervis Bay.

On the way, they bought petrol from the South Nowra Caltex Service Station.

In the forest, which Snibson was familiar with from training for dog sled races, she dumped the barrels and set them alight with a petrol-soaked rag.

Snibson lured the couple to her Nowra Hill house where they were strangled and suffocated, hogtied and placed in barrels and taken 20km south (above) to the Tomerong state forest and set alight

Double killer Kim Snibson has written an extraordinary letter from her jail cell pleading to be let out early and claiming she no longer 'doesn't care if anyone else ... lived or died'

After midnight, Snibson returned to the forest with more petrol, opened the barrels and poured it in so 'there would be no DNA left'.

Around 2.30am, Stacey Lea-Caton went to the police, who located Mr Hosa's burnt out 4WD and the smouldering drums with the couple's remains, which were too destroyed for a cause of death to be established.

News of the murders and the discovery of the barrels sent shock waves through the Nowra community where Ms McKay and Mr Hosa had many friends, and colleagues in the Australian Shire Horse Society, where she acted as secretary.

Less than two years before their murders, the couple had won two first and two second prizes at the Easter Show, including a blue ribbon for their three-year-old horse, Champagne Charley.

While later trying to minimise her role in the murders before a judge, Snibson would claim she wasn't inside the house when the couple was killed and she had been shocked to hear the 'gurgling sounds' made by Mr Hosa as he died.

Andrew Flentjar and Stacey Lea-Caton were jailed for their roles in murders.

A 2008 trial heard that Snibson claimed she'd had an affair with Mr Hosa, and had boasted about planning to harm the couple.

It was a common theme in submissions at her sentencing in the NSW Supreme Court, after she unexpectedly pleaded guilty to two aggravated kidnappings and the killings.

One of Snibson's friends gave evidence that in 1997, when Snibson lived in Sydney, she planned to murder her elderly neighbour.

Snibson inherited the house (above) where she murdered the Hosas from an old women who left it to her despite having living relatives after Kim promised to look after her 20 dogs, but had most put down or sold

Snibson, now 52, has found love with a female ex-inmate and on her release and deportation plans to live with the 42-year-old near her mother back in New Zealand

After she moved to Nowra Hill in 2001, crown prosecutors said Snibson offered another friend $30,000 to help her ensure an elderly woman who lived in the same street died.

Judith Palinkas, a dog breeder who died less than two years later of bowel cancer, left her house and animals to Snibson despite her having surviving family members.

Snibson denied the allegations, saying she did not know why Ms Palinkas left the house to her and that 'I didn't ask her to do it'.

Snibson had promised to look after Ms Palinkas' beloved dogs, but later denied that, and of the 20 dogs left in Snibson's care, she kept four, put down two and sold the rest for $4000.

The house Snibson was left by Mrs Palinkas is the house in which she murdered Mr Hosa and Ms McKay.

In sentencing submissions, the court heard Snibson had wanted a person to sign over the deeds to their house during an assault, and on another occasion had offered a friend $50,000 to 'punish' a person she was accusing of sexual assault.

He ex-husband testified that when he drove to Nowra after hearing of her arrest, she had told him she would 'go away for 30 years'.

Snibson denied any of those conversations took place.

She also claimed she did not actually kill Ms McKay and Mr Hosa, and that it was Stacey Lea-Caton, then 27, who killed the couple and threatened her to ensure she did not go to police.

Double killer Kim Snibson (cap and red shirt) in Silverwater prison during a 2009 pastoral visit by Cardinal George Pell, who is pictured standing in front of the cannibal killer, Katherine Knight

Snibson writes in her pleading letter that she tried to meet and apologise to the families of the couple she murdered but that they rejected her request via the Restorative Justice program

The dog kennels on the Nowra Hill property killer Kim Snibson managed to convince an old lady to leave to her in her will, promising to look after the dying woman's 20 canines, but instead having two put down and selling 14 for $4000

Lea-Caton pleaded guilty in 2007 to aiding and abetting in the murders and is serving a 22-year sentence.

Andrew Wayne Flentjar, 33, of East Nowra, pleaded guilty to kidnapping the couple and has served a 10-year sentence.

Snibson claimed it was Lea-Caton who bashed Mr Hosa with a piece of wood and forced her to help him put the bodies into the drums, transport them to Tomerong State Forest and set them alight.

Now, in her lengthy letter to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, Snibson claims she has changed from the person 'who didn't care if she or anyone else lived or died' and had now 'devoted my life to God.

'I'm in jail for an extremely horrific crime on two innocent, good and kind people who didn't deserve for one second what happened to them,' Snibson wrote in the letter dated August 5 this year.

She said she had tried to Corrective Services NSW's Restorative Justice program to meet with the families of Mr Hosa and Ms McKay - whose son was orphaned by the murder at the age of ten.

'I wanted the chance to show... how sorry I really was (to) maybe help them heal a little,' she wrote.

Kathryn McKay was much loved in the Nowra community and the Shire Horse Society where she was secretary, with locals expressing their profound shock that their friends had been murdered

In her prison cell letter, Snibson concedes she not only hurt the victims and their families but 'the whole Nowra community' but then complains jail Covid lockdowns have left her 'mentally struggling'

Less than two years before their murders Ms Mackay and Greg Hosa won two first and two second prizes at the Royal Easter Show, including a blue ribbon for their three-year-old horse, Champagne Charley

'I was sad the family didn't want to be a part of the program. I did ask if down the track they may be open to a letter from me.'

In prison, first at Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre and now at Dillwynia women's prison near Windsor in western Sydney, Snibson befriended a nun and sent her name to the Pope.

She became an 'associate of the order of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart', she said, 'the only prisoner in the World' to be accepted.

Snibson has listed all the programs she's done in prison, and that she's looked after a goat, two peacocks, 16 chickens, greyhounds and a puppy.

While acknowledging what she did 'to my victims' family, and most of all their young son, but also to the whole Nowra community', she then wrote that Covid restrictions have left her 'mentally struggling'.

Snibson has devoted a whole page to her new romantic partner, a 42-year-old woman she met in jail who is now out, phones her every day and who will move with her to New Zealand when she's deported on release.

In an impassioned plea, Snibson ends her letter with 'Your honour, I'm not the same person that came into jail.

'That Kim 17 years ago isn't the Kim I'm going to be when I walk out of jail, she is already gone.

'I have so many beautiful possibilities ahead.'

An affidavit from Snibson's mother says Kim was 'screwed-up' and had lost her hair in jail, but been bought wigs by her and a Catholic nun who visited her in prison

The appeal letter is accompanied by affidavits from Snibson's partner, brother and mother, who says her daughter was 'a screwed-up woman' when she went to jail but now makes 'birthday cakes with so little ingredients' for other inmates.

'The Catholic church has been great help,' Snibson's mother stated, 'as Kim lost most of her hair through all this, Sister Margaret and the church ... paid to get her first wig.

'Greg and I paid for the second one. Kim saved up herself for the third one.'

Justices Robert Beech-Jones, David Davies and Peter Hamill will release their judgment on whether Snibson deserves a sentence cut at a date to be fixed.

Her current release date would mean Snibson would be almost 60 years old before becoming eligible for parole.

In 2007, the Shire Horse Society donated a perpetual trophy in the names of Kathyryn McKay and Greg Hosa to the Sydney Royal Easter Show for each year's Supreme Champion Shire horse.
Ms Higgins told the court she was broaching different issues with police, media

Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent

Brittany Higgins was warned by the Federal Police that speaking to the media could jeopardise the investigation and prosecution of her alleged rapist, a court has heard.

The former Liberal staffer alleges her then-colleague Bruce Lehrmann raped her at Parliament House, Canberra in the early hours of March 23, 2019.

Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent. His trial is being heard by a jury in the ACT Supreme Court.

Under cross-examination last Thursday, Senior Constable Emma Frizzell that Ms Higgins told her in early February 2021 that she was expecting some media coverage about her rape allegations.

Ms Higgins, on the same day, refused to participate in a formal police interview, the court heard.

Federal police warned Brittany Higgins that speaking to the media could jeopardise the trial of her alleged rapist, a court has heard. Ms Higgins is pictured outside the ACT Supreme Court on Friday

Two news stories about Ms Higgins' allegations were published on February 15, 2021. One was a TV interview with The Project host, Lisa Wilkinson. Ms Higgins is pictured with Wilkinson

Senior Constable Frizzell told the court that on February 6, 2021, Ms Higgins 'told me that she had been engaged with a particular journalist'.

Defence lawyer Steven Whybrow asked: 'And you advised her that any media coverage may jeopardise your investigation and a subsequent prosecution?'

Senior Constable Frizzell replied: 'Yes, that conversation took place.'

The defence continued: 'She acknowledged - she indicated that she understood that that might occur?'

Again, Senior Constable Frizzell replied: 'Yes.'

Mr Whybrow asked Senior Constable Frizzell: 'And it is the case, isn't it, that Ms Higgins indicated she did not want to take part in an EICI [evidence-in-chief interview] that day?'

She replied: 'That's correct.'

Ms Higgins, a former Liberal staffer, alleges her then-colleague Bruce Lehrmann (above) raped her inside Parliament House in Canberra in the early hours of March 23, 2019

The court previously heard that two news stories about Ms Higgins' allegations were published on February 15, 2021.

They were an online article by news.com.au journalist Samantha Maiden and a TV interview with The Project host, Lisa Wilkinson.

The court has previously heard Ms Higgins took part in a recorded interview with police on February 24, 2021.

During re-examination in court on Friday, prosecutor Shane Drumgold SC asked Ms Higgins why she chose to speak with the media and the police around the same time period.

Ms Higgins said she wanted to talk to police about 'going through the justice system to see if I could, you know, have this day in court, to be here.'

She told the court she spoke to journalists to talk about 'this culture, the systemic culture in Parliament House that was so rife, is so rife and continues to be rife. There are a dozen stories like mine.'

Ms Higgins explained that she believed she was broaching 'two different issues and two different ways at the same time.'

Lisa Wilkinson was listed as a potential witness in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann but will not be giving evidence. She is pictured at the Logies

Doctor visit under scrutiny

In court last week, Mr Whybrow also asked Senior Constable Frizzell about Ms Higgins' claim that she visited a doctor two weeks after the alleged assault early on March 23, 2019.

He said Senior Constable Frizzell made inquiries at 'various medical centres' to see whether Ms Higgins attended the appointments, and showed her a medical record of attendance dated October 25, 2019.

The federal police officer also confirmed Ms Higgins did not attend another medical centre, despite telling police she made an appointment.

Ms Higgins (centre) told the court she spoke to journalists to talk about 'this culture, the systemic culture in Parliament House that was so rife, is so rife and continues to be rife. There are a dozen stories like mine'

However, she agreed there may not be a record if a patient made an appointment but did not show up.

Upon further questioning, it was revealed police were unable to work out when a photograph of a large bruise on Ms Higgins' thigh was taken.

The court heard Ms Higgins signed a statutory declaration indicating the photo was taken on April 3, 2019 - less than two weeks after the alleged assault.

In court, Ms Frizzell confirmed that Ms Higgins did not hand her phone to police until May 26, 2021, despite being asked for it in early February.

'Was it the case that you were unable to locate any evidence indicating that photograph had been taken in March or April 2019?' Mr Whybrow asked Senior Constable Frizzell.

She replied: 'I did not locate the image of the injury in that time period.'

Senior Constable Frizzell agreed when Mr Whybrow asked whether it 'could have been as late as January 21 when it showed up in that data?'

Defence lawyer Steven Whybrow (above) asked Senior Constable Emma Frizzell if she had advised Ms Higgins that any media coverage might jeopardise the investigation. 'Yes, that conversation took place,' she replied

During re-examination in court on Friday, prosecutor Shane Drumgold SC (above) asked Ms Higgins why she chose to speak with the media and the police around the same time period

Ms Higgins' evidence to the court concluded on Friday.

Further evidence is expected from other witnesses on Monday.
The Comanchero gang boss known as the 'Bathrobe Bikie' after posting Instagram photos of himself in a Versace dressing gown as well as images of designer jewellery, clothing and a custom gold bike has had his bank accounts frozen.

The flamboyant national 'Commander' of the outlaw gang, Allan Meehan, and prominent Comanchero members have been raided in a crackdown by detectives as a direct result of their 'flaunting their wealth and possessions'.

Sources have revealed that Comanchero bikies were warned their accounts would be frozen so that police could search for evidence of proceeds of crime contributing to the purchase of high-end goods.

Meehan and recent Rebels patch-over Jesse Vella have been put on notice by the state's criminal groups squad.

The squad's commander has also issued a warning to young bikie recruits to not be fooled by promises of luxury life, and images on social media by gang bosses of 'prosperity and success' - as it's all a false illusion.

Allan Meehan (second left) dressed in Versace and celebrating with Taren 'hard2kill' Zahed has flaunted his lifestyle on Instagram leading to his bank accounts being frozen

NSW's gangs squad commander Grant Taylor has warned that bikies flaunting material possessions such as Meehan (above in an $867 Versace robe, with his wife Elise) will be looked at closely for any 'unexplained wealth and material assets'

Meehan has attracted more followers on social media with show-off posts such as this TikTok image of a $100,000 gold custom-built imported collector's special Harley Davidson V-Rod motorcycle

The NSW Police Criminal Groups Squad is scouring bikie social media for items such as Meehan's $1,957 Versace necklace (right) and a $2,910 Versace watch (left)

This is after Meehan posted photos of himself and associates decked out in designer clothes and jewellery celebrating at a fancy Melbourne restaurant celebrating the survival of Tarek Zahed.

The so-called 'Balenciaga bikie' had survived an assassination attempt which killed his brother, Omar, but seven days after the party Zahed was in handcuffs on a footpath arrested for murder

Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal that the NSW Police Criminal Groups Squad has forensically examined the recent displays on social media accounts of bikies like Meehan.

'Recent social media posts by senior members of the Comanchero OMCG show them openly flaunting their perceived wealth and possessions,' Commander, Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor told Daily Mail Australia.

Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor, Commander of the NSW Police Criminal Groups Squad has his team scrutinising the posts of bikies and warns young men that promises of luxury and a glamorous lifestyle are a dangerous illusion

'Bathrobe bikie' Allan Meehan in his plush grey robe when police served him with a Serious Crime Prevention Order at his home and have now frozen his bank accounts

'This basically says to law enforcement: "look at me and the money I am making focus your attention on me and catch me if you can".

'As the Commander of the Criminal Groups Squad I take note of this very carefully.

'A cornerstone of organised crime investigation orientates around the scrutiny of unexplained wealth and material assets in possession of OMCGs.

'Any OMCG members that police believe are involving themselves in organised crime will continue to be very closely scrutinised until such time they part ways with that lifestyle.'

Meehan is one of several Comanchero and other senior bikies to have had Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) taken out against them.

The orders restrict ownership of firearms, the cars they drive, who they associate with, and subjects their phones and bank accounts to serious scrutiny.

Meehan had announced his elevation to Comanchero national president in July with an Instagram post showing a patch on his leather vest with his new title and the words: 'U cant see the eyes of the demon, until him come a callin.'

Comanchero boss Allan Meehan (centre) is kissed by Tarek Zahed (kissing him) and celebrating with star patch over Jesse Vella (hand in air) and others at a fancy Melbourne restaurant in August. Zahed was arrested seven days later

a photo of Meehan and wife Elise on a boat near the Sydney Harbour Bridge dressed casually shows them in designer wear and jewellery by Versace, Balenciaga and Armani worth around $12,000

In August, he posted on TikTok a video of a gold custom-built imported collector's special Harley Davidson V-Rod motorcycle in club colours worth up to $100,000.

A shot of himself and wife Elise on a boat near the Sydney Harbour Bridge dressed casually shows them in designer wear and jewellery by Versace, Balenciaga and Armani worth around $12,000.

Criminal Groups Squad Commander Taylor said the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Group (OMCG) 'are believed to be heavily involved in organised crime and as a result they will continue to remain a primary focus of law enforcement across the country and internationally'.

Meehan, who Daily Mail Australia understands went to Queensland after his bank accounts were frozen, is so keen on Versace, he buys his teenage daughter items of clothing from the designer range.

After his ascension to club president, detectives visited him at his Yerrinbool home in the NSW Southern Highlands and in a move captured on police video handed him a notice of intention to file the serious crime prevention order against him in the NSW Supreme Court.

Det Supt Taylor revealed that there are now 'a number of Comanchero before the courts in relation to applications made by NSW Police Force to have SCPOs made against them.'

Allan Meehan, above in Versace and plenty of bling, with his wife Elise (left) and a friend likes to promote a glamorous lifestyle, but the state's top gang squad detective says the reality is more grim

What a difference a week makes: Tarek Zahed (left) on August 21 feted at a fancy eatery with Comanchero boss Allan Meehan and (right) on August 28 cuffed on a Sydney street after his arrest for murder and aggravated kidnap

'A significant number of persons linked or associated with the Comanchero OMCG are currently before the courts for various criminal offences,' he said.

The Criminal Groups Squad continues to investigate and proactively target and dismantle criminal networks  including OMCG  operating across NSW.

'Investigators operate on a prevention, disruption and response model which sees them work closely with partner agencies including the Australian Tax Office (ATO), AUSTRAC, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and New South Wales Crime Commission (NSWCC).

'If, during the course of our investigations, it is identified that bank accounts being used by particular companies or individuals are suspected or confirmed to be linked to organised crime, then they can and will be frozen and proceedings commenced in relation to the operating of these accounts.

Allan Meehan lured his old Rebels mate Jesse Vella to the Comanchero in June and the two bikies posed together, but both have now had their bank accounts frozen as police probe their financial activities

After miraculously surviving the assassination shooting in May which killed his brother Omar at an Auburn gym, Tarek Zahed (right) is now in prison charged with murder

'This has occurred on a number of occasions.'

Meehan's appearance on his home verandah in widely broadcast police vision showed him wearing a shapeless grey bathrobe, with his bare, heavily tattooed legs thrust into brown slippers.

Just a few weeks later, the flamboyant Meehan posted a photo of himself inside his Yerrinbool kitchen wearing a $867 Versace 'I Love Baroque' designer robe, made from fabric patterned in the Comanchero bikie gang colours of red, black and gold.

Meehan's wife was also in club colour nightwear, although it was a much more modest example, a $55 set of Peter Alexander Winnie the Pooh pyjamas.

Meehan's subsequent posts flaunted the gold Harley Davidson and the couple's haul of designer jewellery.

Then on August 21, Meehan posted photos of himself and other senior Comanchero bikies at the Melbourne restaurant party in honour of Tarek 'hard2kill' Zahed, who miraculously survived 20 bullets being fired at him inside Bodyfit Gym, in Auburn in May.

Meehan had his arm around a grinning Zahed who posed with a single finger raised, with others before a table stacked with glasses and a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka visible in the foreground.

One of Meehan's Instagram followers posted that he should 'charge the media they keep using your photos' with the bikie boss replying he'd demand '1MILLION EUROS'.

The Comancheros head honcho has been attracting new social media followers with his flashy posts, including convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby.

The online festivity over Zahed was cut short on August 28, when police fired beanbag rounds on an Edgcliff street, arrested and charged him with the murder and special aggravated kidnap of Youssef Assoum in 2014.

Det Supt Grant Taylor has warned against younger bikies being lured into potential criminal activity by the promise of glamour and a luxury lifestyle.

'When senior members of OMCGs openly flaunt their possessions on social media and in public it gives a perception of prosperity and success, however, this cannot be further from the truth,' he said.

'The majority of ex-members of OMCGs wish they never got themselves involved in club activity, because they never see this perceived wealth realised, yet get much of the focus of law enforcement on a day to day basis.

'My message to those is: "look at your bosses' actions which they display openly and there is the answer to your woes".'
Parents say the Republican party has supported families on issues of inappropriate exposure to sexual subjects in school, while Democrats have not

The first meeting Monday descended into chaos and was rescheduled for Thursday at a location that could accommodate hundreds of attendees

Conservative parents and Arab-Americans formed an unlikely political union to protest the types of reading material being made available to school children

Concerned parents in Dearborn, Michigan came out both Monday and Thursday nights to object to the explicit LGBTQ literate available to their kids

An unexpected alliance has formed between conservative parents and Arab-Americans in Dearborn, Michigan, after a school meeting turned to chaos.

The groups have come together to stand up against the public school boards that are supplying their children with 'explicit' LGBTQ reading material.

A school board meeting was disrupted this week when hundreds of protestors denouncing books with LGBTQ content poured into the Dearborn Public Schools administration building.

Concerned parents from both camps were filmed chanting and holding signs against the decision to keep the books in school libraries.

Some of the titles concerned parents are coming together to object to include Push, The Lovely Bones, This Book Is Gay and Flamer - all titles that confront rape, explicit sex and sexuality.

Parents, many Arab-American, attended a Dearborn, Michigan school board meeting Thursday to voice displeasure with the sexually explicit and LGBTQ reading material their children have access to at the school system's public libraries

A school board meeting was disrupted this week when hundreds of protestors denouncing books with LGBTQ content poured into the Dearborn Public Schools administration building

Hass Cash, a Dearborn resident, talks with a member of the Dearborn Police Department inside the Dearborn Schools Administrative Service Center

The meeting became so unruly that it was rescheduled for later in the week at a space that could accommodate more people

Community members held signs that voiced disapproval with the sorts of texts local children can check out of their schools' libraries

Meeting of Dearborn Schools has descended into chaos and confusion as board members walked out. Mobs opposed to some LGBTQ books took over the meeting as various factions jostled for power. Police themselves were unsure if meeting was still on. Vote them out, crowd chants. pic.twitter.com/YJtLWGsX7k  Niraj Warikoo (@nwarikoo) October 11, 2022

The Republican candidate for Michigan attorney general Matthew Deperno attended the meeting and commented on the surprising united front between conservatives and Arabs.

'I think you'll find these are people with deeply held religious beliefs. We have to stand up for the First Amendment and people's religious beliefs and I think youre probably seeing a shift in the Republican Party,' he said.

Local affiliate Fox 2 said the presence of the two groups 'was a nod to the unexpected alliance of sorts between conservatives and many in the Arab American community as their interests overlap on this issue.'

The majority, according to the outlet, of those who attended the Thursday night school board meeting were Arabic.

Several of the books parents have asked to be banned from the Dearborn, Michigan public school system. Each of them depicts rape, homosexuality and sex and local parents have taken issue with their children's access to the texts

One individual in attendance at the meeting expressed his support for how the GOP has been handling the issue by bolstering the rights of parents.

'What the Republican Party has done, is they stood on this issue firmly and they stood with parents firmly. Were waiting for Democrats counterparts to also stand with us on this issue,' he said.

Another attendee slammed progressive Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, calling her 'the only person that's behind this....Do not vote for Rashida Tlaib!'

The audience reportedly cheered the criticism.

Some counter protestors who support a robust LGBTQ-centric curriculum spoke at the meeting as well. Several of them worked within the school sytem

Dylan Wegela, a teacher at a Dearborn high school, holds the Progress Pride Flag during a Dearborn Public Schools board meeting inside Stout Middle School in Dearborn on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022

Arab Americans, of whom there is a significant population in Dearborn, Michigan, made up the majority of protestors. Some conservative parents joined as well to form an unlikely political union

Hundreds of protestors descended upon the meeting, such that the original Monday location had to be changed when the board reconvened Thursday to accommodate the numbers

Some counter protestors said they were themselves LGBTQ youths at public schools who would have liked to know about the resources (including literature) currently available to students when they were young

David Dulio, a political science professor at Oakland University, said, 'Politics can make strange bedfellows, and this wouldnt be the first time weve seen this.

'I could definitely see this issue and this alliance pushing Arab American turnout up simply because that community is now energized.'

He added that he believes the union will be short lived given the conservative faction's general support for former President Donald Trump's so-called Muslim ban.

At a previous iteration of the school board meeting held earlier in the week, also in Dearborn, a separate batch of protestors carried signs that read, 'Keep your porno books to yourself,' 'If democracy matters, we're the majority,' and 'Protect the children.'

School board members were shouted over and booed when attendees were told their public comments would be limited to three minutes.

According to the Washington Post, local Muslim leaders had encouraged people to attend the meeting to oppose the presence of LGBTQ books in public schools.

'Some of those books promote pornography. Some of them promote homosexuality. We dont need this,' prominent Muslim leader Iman Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini told the Detroit Free Press.

Prior to the school board meeting, the district released a new policy that allows parents to block their school-aged children from checking certain items out of the library or prevent them entirely from using the district's library.
Thousands of properties have been flooded in northern Victoria as authorities fear more lives could be lost as residents remain at the mercy of unpredictable floodwaters.

Victorian SES chief Tim Wiebusch issued a specific warning for locals to be on the lookout for 'blue sky flooding' where clearing clouds lure people into a false sense of security that the risk is over when floodwaters are still rapidly rising.

'One of the challenges is weve not got what we call blue sky flooding,' Mr Wiebusch told ABC News.

Residents of the Victorian regional centre of Shepparton have been ordered to evacuate as floodwaters continue to rise

'The rain has stopped  I think its more obvious to people when there's heavier rain.'

Urgent evacuation orders are still being issued but in some places it is too late to flee as swollen rivers burst their banks inundated properties, swept away highways and cut power off overnight.

More than 7,950 properties have been flooded in the major regional centre of Shepparton.

The Campaspe River already burst its banks in nearby Axedale, with a Twitter video posted by Seven News reporter Paul Dowsley revealing the raging water had almost obliterated the McIvor Highway.

Evacuation alerts have been upgraded for Shepparton, Orrvale, Kialla West, and Mooroopna to reflect it is too late for residents to leave those areas.

The Goulburn River is expected to peak at 12 metres at Shepparton on Tuesday, making the flood the area's worst in decades.

Road damage and flooding is seen on Midland Highway near Elmore in northern Victoria.

Desperate residents in Echuca, on the NSW-Victorian border, constructed a sandbag wall to try and keep the rising floodwaters at bay.

While the wall worked to keep residents safe through Saturday night, the water began to seep through on Sunday morning, inching closer to residents' homes.

More than 1,000 people in Echuca and Echuca Village have been told to evacuate their homes with authorities advising them to expect to be away for seven to 10 days.

There have been more than 450 rescues in Victoria since the flooding began on Wednesday

Echuca Village is expected to be impacted by the middle of next week with flow-on effects from the Goulburn and Murray rivers.

Authorities predicted about 200 homes in Echuca would be impacted by floodwaters.

The Campaspe River was expected to surpass 2011 flood levels at Echuca on Saturday.

Echuca. The sandbag wall between floodwater and homes. @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/1aNNeSYGHX  Adam Hegarty (@ajhegarty9) October 15, 2022

Residents in the northern Victorian town of Echuca have mounted a desperate defence of their properties with sandbags

There have been more than 450 rescues since the flooding began on Wednesday, and 88 rescues in the last 24 hours.

On Saturday, a 71-year-old man was found drowned on his property in the northern Victorian town of Rochester, with police unable to reach him.

The I ncredible force of the floodwater is shown by what it leaves behind. This is whats left of the McIvor Highway at Axedale after the Campaspe River burst its banks. pic.twitter.com/eh4ZprjU8z  Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) October 14, 2022

Waters overcame a flood barrier at an electricity sub-station in Mooroopna, cutting off power to 6,000 properties.

Powercor confirmed 5,954 homes west of Mooroopna, including the town of Tatura, had lost electricity.

The situation is set to continue for days.

The Midland Highway, also known as the Mooroopna Causeway, was expected to be closed on Sunday but authorities announced it would close between Mooroopna and Shepparton from 6.30pm on Saturday.

People clear mud from a property damaged by floods in the Melbourne suburb of Maribyrnong

Loddon Mallee incident controller Mark Cattell said he wanted people to evacuate before things became dangerous.

'What we don't want is the Rochester situation where people were comfortable with what was happening, and they were comfortable to stay there, despite us giving them a pretty bleak picture of where it was going to be,' Mr Cattell said.

'We've spent the last two days evacuating people out of Rochester using boats in some very risky situations.'

Hundreds of homes in Rochester were overwhelmed by the flooded Campaspe River, one of dozens of waterways to burst their banks and send northern Victorian towns underwater. Police confirmed a man was found dead in floodwaters in the backyard of his Rochester home at 9:30am on Saturday

Twitter users shared images of the devastation that floodwaters were leaving in their wake

The Ovens river at Wangaratta has already reached 12.8 metres and could rise further.

At Charlton major flooding of the Avoca River is expected to impact the town for up to five days.

Asphalt highways were no match for the power of floodwaters throughout northern Victoria

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews said more than 340 roads were out of action across the state.

'Major roads are assessed twice per day. There is a number of urgent repair works that have already started,' he said.

The warning for Wangaratta applied to people living around the Parfitt Road levee system because of the major flooding occurring on the Ovens River.

Mr Wiebusch urged people not to drive through floodwaters as rescuers desperately try to reach anyone stranded.

'That just ties up our emergency services that could be supporting more vulnerable communities that are under pressure with these floods,' he said.

'So please turn around, find an alternate way to get there. If you don't need to be travelling in those northern parts of Victoria, don't travel at all.'

Back in Melbourne, Maribyrnong residents are beginning to clean up their homes which were flooded when the Maribyrnong river burst its banks on Thursday.

The major central Victorian city of Bendigo has also been hit with floodwaters

Meanwhile, more rain could hit the NSW coast as people living in already saturated catchment areas prepare for more water to flow to flood-struck communities.

The Bureau of Meteorology said showers and storms could develop on the east coast on Sunday although inland areas that have received the bulk of recent rainfall were expected to be spared a further deluge.

But another storm system was forecast to develop over central Australia on Tuesday, bringing widespread rain and thunderstorms to eastern states by mid-next week.

Heavy downpours in Victoria were also expected to affect towns along the Murray River, including in Moama from Wednesday.

'There is major flooding occurring in multiple catchments right across the state, (and) some communities will move more towards relief and recovery sooner as waters start to recede,' SES spokesman Jamie Devenish said.

'A lot of those northern catchments ultimately flow into the Murray, so (for) the Murray River we're probably looking at a protracted flood event for the next four to six weeks.'

Swollen rivers across Victoria are expected to bring flooding to the state for up to six weeks. Pictured, Beechworth Woolshed Falls near Wangaratta

Major flooding from the Murrumbidgee River wasn't expected to reach the remote town of Hay until late October, the bureau said.

October rainfall records have been set in parts of inland NSW, including at Broken Hill in the state's far west.

The massive clean-up and recovery efforts across the drenched states are set to be put on hold with 100mm of rainfall predicted in coming days.

The weather office said rain and thunderstorms developing in South Australia and inland Queensland would bring 'much more widespread' rainfall and 'renewed flooding' back to the south-east from Wednesday.

Victoria's northern towns were worst hit, but the flooding hit the centre of Melbourne too. Rescue workers use an inflatable dinghy to rescue people from floodwaters in Maribyrnong

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Jonathan How told Daily Mail Australia Tasmania, Victoria and NSW would only get 'a few days of reprieve'.

He said a weather system developing 'will start to produce showers and thunderstorms across South Australia and inland Queensland from Tuesday and then extend to the rest of the east coast from Wednesday to Saturday.'

'This will be much more widespread,' he warned.

'So we will see showers all the way from central northern Queensland, down to Tasmania and particularly with this, we will see thunderstorms as well.

'So expecting widespread falls which could produce renewed flooding for some parts of the south-east and the east.'

Mr How said heaviest rainfall is predicted for south-east Queensland and northern NSW.

He said that region will see between 50 and 100mm of rainfall though further south is still vulnerable to heavy local rainfall likely to come with thunderstorms.
The man cashed in the $9,787 betting slip he found on the floor of a Sydney pub

A man has been charged for a second time after cashing in an almost $10,000 winning betting slip he found on the floor of a pub.

Jake Linardos, 25, from Sydney's south-east, was charged with obtaining a financial advantage by deception after cashing in a ticket he found at the Doncaster Hotel in Kensington in August, 2020.

Mr Linardos found the betting slip, containing a $9,787 winner, and held onto it for a few days before cashing it in at a different pub.

In a bizarre twist, the ticket belonged to former South Sydney Rabbitohs star Beau Champion.

Mr Champion quickly realised he had lost the ticket, asking the staff to help him find it, with the court hearing police managed to track down Mr Linardos through the pub's CCTV.

Mr Linardos was charged shortly after however at his recent jury trial at Sydney District Court, he was found not guilty in a matter of hours - meaning he has no legal obligation to pay the money back.

However, police are continuing to pursue the matter - slapping him with a larceny charge after he was found not guilty of obtaining a financial advantage by deception on September 30, according to the Daily Telegraph.

A man is facing court after turning in a $10,000 betting slip he found on the floor of a pub that belonged to a former footy star

The court heard Mr Linardos was walking through the TAB section of the Doncaster when he saw the betting slip sitting on the ground.

He looked at the ticket and found it had a $9,787 winner on it.

Police used CCTV footage and Mr Linardos' Covid check-in to locate him.

'About two weeks later police called me in and I told them exactly what happened,' Mr Linardos said.

'I gamble a bit and I'd hate to lose that much money so I wanted to give it back.

'I wanted to give it to the police but they said it was a private matter and that I had to meet the owner on the street.

'I didn't even know who the owner was and it could have been dangerous so I said no. So then after that they charged me.'

Mr Linardos found the betting slip, containing a $9,787 winner, that belong to former South Sydney Rabbitohs star Beau Champion (pictured) - and cashed it in

Mr Champion realised he'd lost the ticket, and attempted to relocate it - leading to police finding Mr Linardos through CCTV and his Covid check-in

The 25-year-old said he didn't know the slip belonged to Mr Champion until he saw the former footy star in court.

His lawyers said there was no deception as to the ownership of the bet because it had no identification on it.

'A jury of 12 people considered the facts of the case and found Mr Linardos not guilty,' lawyer Jeannette Fahd said.

'He now wishes to move forward with his life.'

He will now face trial in February over the larceny charge - with Mr Linardos saying he isn't in a financial position to give the cash back.

'The money's all gone now because I had to pay my lawyers,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'I was trying to do the right thing. I didn't rob him or anything. I just found a ticket and was trying to do the right thing but then I got charged instead.'

Mr Champion has still not received the money.
When MPs return to Westminster tomorrow, they will immediately be immersed in what No 10 insists is a vendetta driven by sexism and snobbery.

This is a vendetta driven by former public schoolboys who cant get over the fact that they were beaten by a woman, a senior Government source claimed last night. Downing Street places allies of Rishi Sunak at the heart of the blood feud, naming Gavin Williamson, Julian Smith, Michael Gove, Grants Shapps, Mel Stride and Oliver Dowden as plotters.

Despite No 10s public school barb, only Mr Sunak was exclusively privately educated at secondary level. But whatever their schooling, the plotters are understood to have set themselves a target of 125 MPs who will demand that Ms Truss is automatically replaced by Mr Sunak.

Parallel not dissimilar lobbying is also under way by supporters of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, who was narrowly beaten into third place by Ms Truss in the MPs voting round of last summers leadership contest. In fact, some MPs claim Camp Mordaunt is if anything, more on manoeuvres than Rishi is.

The main tactic being deployed by the PMs enemies is the traditional Tory rebels weapon of choice  no-confidence letters to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the partys 1922 Committee of backbench MPs. Already, more than 100 MPs are thought to have submitted letters  or made clear they want a leadership contest.

No 10 sources are suggesting there is a vendetta driven by sexism and snobbery to oust Liz Truss as PM

Rishi Sunak has been touted as the favourite to take over Liz Truss and has gathered allies

Truss loyalists are clinging to the fact that technically speaking, the 22 rules state that a leadership contest cannot be held until one year has elapsed since the summer race that ended with Ms Truss installed in No 10.

But many Tory MPs say Sir Graham will bow to the sheer weight of pressure and agree to change the 12-month rule.

Even if he doesnt, the anti-Truss coalition has a plan B in which the 22 chairman himself will be ousted and replaced by a rebel such as William Wragg who would rewrite the rule-book. Failing that, a star chamber of Cabinet figures could simply assemble and call for the PM to step down in a coup similar to the toppling of Boris Johnson earlier this year.

The extraordinary collapse of Tory parliamentary discipline  illustrated by the monstering Ms Truss received at the hands of the 22 last week  has sparked a furious round of blame-gaming, with the party whips most in the firing line.

Such was Liz Trusss anger that only the intervention of Deputy PM and close friend Therese Coffey stopped the PM from sacking her Chief Whip, Wendy Morton.

1922 Committee rules state that a leadership contest cannot be held until one year has elapsed since the summer race that ended with Ms Truss installed in No 10. But many Tory MPs say chairman Sir Graham Brady (pictured with PM) will bow to the sheer weight of pressure and agree to change the 12-month rule.

One Truss ally said that the PM was incandescent that she had to face the 22 last week while Sir Graham was away and therefore unable to moderate proceedings and cool the hotheads attacks.

Liz was stitched up at the 22. It was the same public-school boys attacking her at the 22 who then went out to tweet about how good her tax cuts were.

According to one MP, the Chief Whip had been totally unprepared by the anger vented against the PM in one-to-one meetings she has held. Joked one backbencher: Its the only meeting with a Chief Whip Ive ever heard of where she comes out crying, rather than the MP shes carpeting.

The quip is understood to be a cruel reference to the rumour during the last Tory leadership contest but one that Ms Morton had broken down in tears over having to choose between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt for PM.

This time round, however, it is more than just one MP who is tearful with indecision as to just who is the so-called unity candidate to end the partys nightmare.

Gavin Williamson and Grant Shapps, allies of Rishi Sunak, are at the heart of the blood feud

Some are convinced that this time, it has to the man rejected by the partys grassroots members in the summer  Rishi Sunak. One Tory MP who backed Liz Truss before but has now defected to the ex-Chancellors camp said: The only replacement I can see is Rishi.His people have been phoning round asking what people think should happen.

He added that, despite the views of some colleagues, it could not be Ms Mordaunt.

It should not be Penny. She had less support than Liz in the parliamentary party  she finished third in the leadership contest.

Only a third of members backed Liz and look at how thats gone.

No, he insisted  it has to be Rishi who won the MP phase of the leadership contest. Rishi is the only choice who has the backing of MPs. However, one very experienced Tory grimly predicted the party will split if anti-Truss colleagues tried to force Sunak on the party.

He conceded colleagues were bewildered at the mess were in, but insisted that replacing one leader without a mandate with another one without a mandate was not the answer. In a swipe at Messrs Gove and Shapps for agitating for it, the MP said: This could result in an irreversible split that would keep the Tories out of power for a generation.

But what about the so-called Mordaunt-Sunak dream ticket touted by some backbenchers?

No, said one senior MP. Thats not going to work.

Tory MP Mel Stride (pictured) is also believed to be one of Rishi Sunak's close allies

He insisted that Mr Sunak would not play second fiddle to Penny and ambitious Home Secretary Suella Braverman would never let Ms Mordaunt, the one-time swimsuit-wearing participant in the Splash! celebrity TV diving show, go unchallenged. However, even ardent Rishi fans concede that another name was being mentioned as the best next leader  Ben Wallace. The Defence Secretary was the surprise absentee from the race last summer.

But he made clear at the Tory conference in Birmingham that his leadership ambitions were not over. However, while one Tory insider said that Ben could be the answer, another said that after robotic Ms Truss, we need someone with more emotional intelligence. Anyway, no one knows what Ben thinks about anything except on Ukraine.

For some, the lack as yet of a consensus candidate could even leave the field open to the man who received the fewest votes in the first ballot of the summer leadership race  Jeremy Hunt.

As the new Chancellor of a very weak PM, hes in quite a powerful position now, regardless of how hopelessly he did last summer.

Hearing him on the Today programme [yesterday] was like listening to a grown-up politician again, said one Tory.

Improbably, there is even talk of a return to the PM who infamously lost the Tories their Commons majority in 2017  Theresa May  although yesterday, sources close to the ex-PM said she had received no such approaches.

Lobbying is also under way by supporters of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt (pictured), who was narrowly beaten into third place by Ms Truss in the MPs voting round of last summers leadership contest

And haunting all the would-be PMs is the spectre of the most recently-ousted premier. Boris Johnsons name is said to be the one increasingly mentioned to Tory MPs when out canvassing. At an auction for the Conservatives in Yorkshire, a signed bottle of alcohol from Truss went for only about 350  while ping-pong bats signed by Mr Johnson fetched roughly 1,500. Said one former Cabinet Minister: Love him or loathe him, Boris changes the political weather.

Which, sniped many Tory MPs, makes the contrast with his successor so stark  especially after Ms Trusss train wreck press conference on Friday to confirm the sacking of Kwasi Kwarteng.

No matter who they now backed, the politicians were united in their criticism of the PMs performance. One joked that at just over eight minutes long, the press conference was the same length as Bohemian Rhapsody before adding that there was unlikely to be anything rhapsodic about the PMs immediate future. Another compared Ms Trusss faltering delivery with the robot who last week addressed a House of Lords committee, cruelly suggesting the robot had the edge when it came to the human touch.

The PMs loyalists dismiss such talk as cheap insults.

But she will be fortified  for the time being  by dire warnings from long-serving MPs that the party simply cannot change a leader again so soon.

Last night, one MP still loyal to Ms Truss privately urged her to fight on but advised that, unlike her heroine, Margaret Thatcher, she shouldnt use the same words.

After failing to win enough votes to avoid a second round in the 1990 Tory leadership challenge, Lady Thatcher memorably declared: I fight on, I fight to win.

She resigned the next day.
Staffers were told to watch it to gain the 'perspective you don't get in London'

For millions of Brits it's cult viewing on a Friday night.

But now it can be revealed Channel 4 series Gogglebox is also a hit with diplomats at the US embassy - so they can better understand the UK.

Staff at the embassy in Nine Elms, London, have been advised to watch the show in their spare time to get a better understanding of real Brits.

The BAFTA-winning programme, which has won over legions of fans since its launch in 2013, sees regular families and friends from around the country sitting in their living rooms while commenting on the week's TV and news.

And it has caught the attention of diplomats at the US embassy who have used the show, particularly during the covid lockdowns, to keep up to speed with the views and attitudes of real people across the country.

The U.S. Embassy Gogglebox team: Angela Stubblefield, Clay Crawford, Rita Rico, Aaron Snipe and Brenda VanHorn.

US embassy staff in Nine Elms, London, have been advised to watch Gogglebox (Jenny and Lee pictured on the show)

Local British staff at the embassy were the first to advise incoming American diplomats about watching the show.

Now it has caught on among a large group of US staff in the embassy who have also learnt to love the show for its range of characters, accents and 'humorous wit'.

Aaron Snipe, US State Department spokesman at the embassy, was told to watch the show when he arrived amid covid lockdown two years ago to 'get perspectives you don't hear in London'.

The 50-year-old diplomat said his favourite family on the show are the Worthingtons from Manchester, made up of mum Alison, dad George and daughter Helena.

'The Worthingtons are the family I most want to sit down and watch TV with', he explained.

'If I had to sit on any couch it would be theirs - such warmth, and Helena says such irreverent things in front of her parents.

'It's appealing to the American eye because you can see people on this show are very different from one another - geographically, ethnically, religiously.

'But they all seem to see the same thing - like when a baby survives [on a medical show] or Her Majesty the Queen passed, everyone feels the same thing.'

Angela Stubblefield, 51, of the US aviation authorities at the embassy, explained how her favourites are brother and sister Pete and Sophie Sandiford (pictured) from Blackpool

Angela Stubblefield, 51, of the US aviation authorities at the embassy, explained how her favourites are brother and sister Pete and Sophie Sandiford from Blackpool or Jenny Newby and Lee Riley, who watch the show from the latter's caravan in Hull.

'I like Pete and Sophie a lot - they're very witty', said Angela.

'Also Jenny and Lee - his expressions looking at Jenny at times as if to say 'where are you coming from?'

'The show is poignant, charming, hilarious. Also the slangs and idioms are helpful to know - if someone throws something in you don't want to be the dumb American who has to ask what it means.'

Clay Crawford, a 49-year-old doctor at the embassy, said Gogglebox was one of the few places he was able to 'get a better sense of the UK'.

'The two places I was able to get a better sense of the UK was walking the dog and Gogglebox', he said.

'You got a little bit of the sense of wit and humour and accents which is what entertains everyone.'

Brenda VanHorn, who works with business from the embassy, said she felt more at home in the UK after watching the show.

The 61-year-old said: 'I instantly identified with siblings Sophie and Pete, the Siddiquis - it reminded me of sitting watching a show with my sister - that common bond.

'It definitely made me feel more at home here and helped with the accents.'

Gogglebox is into its 20th season while there have been a number of celebrity spin-offs and Gogglesprogs shows with kids.

The Siddiqui family - dad Sid, 75, and his two sons Baasit, 36, and Umar, 43 from Derby - are the only family to have appeared since the first episodes in 2013.

It is one of TV's most popular shows with viewing figures regularly exceeding four and five million people.

Stephen Lambert, the show's founder, said: 'I couldn't think of anything better for them to do if they want to get a flavour and understanding of what Britain is thinking each week - that's what is the magic of the show.

'It's such a diverse cast, amazingly insightful - particularly the news stories when they see through politicians and their prepared PR lines. And you just look at the way they watch the Queen's funeral and her death - it's an amazing way of reflecting what we as a country are thinking and feeling each week.'

But Rita Rico, 42, who works in strategic communications at the embassy, said she occasionally struggles with some of the families' lingo.

The BAFTA-winning programme, which has won over legions of fans since its launch in 2013, sees regular families and friends from around the country sitting in their living rooms while commenting on the week's TV and news

'It's funny with the translation because I meant to ask JP and Katie [local British staff] what a 'right hoo-ha' is', she explained.

'I saw that the other night and have to write down these vocabulary words, and tomorrow I think 'I'm going to ask them what this means'.

'We serve our country by creating bonds across the UK - so Gogglebox gives us a chance to get out of London from our living rooms.'

And embassy staff have even taken to watching soap favourite Coronation Street on the back of Gogglebox.

'We've watched shows or started watching them because we've seen them on Gogglebox, Coronation Street, I had never heard of it, Eastenders,' said Ms Stubblefield.

She added: 'People told us before we came here Brits are a little more stern, they're not as outwardly emotive as Americans are...

'We haven't found that necessarily to be the case but this demonstrates there's a compassion, there's a wit, there's a humanity that's no different to what we all experience - it made us feel warmer about being ourselves as we see these people are just like us.'
He has now been told he can no longer lead prayers at the East London Mosque

It comes after he attended an event where the new National Anthem was sung

OBE awarded Imam Mohammed Mahmoud has been sidelined by his superiors

One of Britain's most prominent Muslim clerics has been sidelined by his superiors after he attended an event where the new National Anthem was sung.

Imam Mohammed Mahmoud has been told he can no longer lead prayers at the East London Mosque after giving a speech in front of a congregation who sang God Save The King and waved Union Jacks.

Mr Mahmoud rose to fame at his previous job, when he was imam at the Finsbury Park Mosque in North London, which was once a hotbed of radicalism but has since become a moderate place of worship.

In 2017 he stopped an angry mob from attacking Darren Osborne  now serving a minimum jail term of 43 years  after he ploughed his van into worshippers outside the mosque, killing one of them.

Imam Mohammed Mahmoud was awarded an OBE for his heroic response calming an angry mob from attacking Darren Osborne  now serving a minimum jail term of 43 years  after he ploughed his van into worshippers outside the mosque, killing one of them

Mr Mahmoud was later awarded an OBE for his heroic response to the attack.

He was appointed senior imam at East London Mosque (ELM) in Tower Hamlets, one of the country's biggest Islamic places of worship, in 2019.

The current dispute arose after he was one of the key speakers at a commemoration event for the Queen at the Regent's Park Mosque on September 15, a week after Her Majesty's death.

The congregation, which included dozens of Muslim schoolchildren, sang God Save The King and the pupils waved Union Jacks.

Video footage of the proceedings went viral on social media and complaints were apparently made by worshippers and members of the wider Muslim community.

Mr Mahmoud was condemned by Islamic hardliners on WhatsApp groups including one called Our Tower Hamlets. The imam was called a 'joke' and a 'sellout', and some demanded his sacking.

Sources close to the ELM said that mosque officials did not officially suspend the imam, but told him not to lead any of the daily five Muslim prayers at the mosque, amid concerns that he may be attacked.

Mr Mahmoud has now been told he can no longer lead prayers at the East London Mosque after giving a speech in front of a congregation who sang God Save The King and waved Union Jacks

Officials at the ELM, which has received hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money over the years through the local council, even brought in a panel of Muslim scholars to make a ruling on the issue.

The scholars ruled that although the event was unfortunate, it did not take place at the ELM, so the imam should be allowed to return to work.

But the decision was followed by a protest inside the mosque by at least 30 worshippers last Saturday, who demanded that the imam not be reinstated.

A petition also went up on the website change.org, entitled 'Remove Mohammed Mahmoud of East London Mosque', which has received 1,300 signatures.

Hardline Muslims say that commemorating a non-Muslim is frowned upon, and add that the National Anthem contains a prayer imploring God to save the ruling monarch.

Extremists say it is forbidden for Muslims to pray for non-Muslims.

Last night, Dilowar Khan, director of finance and engagement at the ELM, said Imam Mahmoud was not actually suspended but has been told not to lead any prayers over fears for his safety.

Mr Khan said: 'He has not been suspended. He is not leading any prayers for now. This is for his own safety. Some people, as you know, are protesting against him.'

When asked when the imam will be fully reinstated, Mr Khan said: 'I can't discuss all of this, as we are still working on it.'

Ironically, the East London Mosque has been visited by King Charles, when he was Prince of Wales, as well as by other members of the Royal Family.

Last night, leading moderate imams dismissed claims that Muslims cannot sing the National Anthem in mosques.

Imam Mahmoud refused to comment when contacted last week, referring The Mail on Sunday to the mosque.
Trainee doctors will be taught to affirm patients who say they are transgender

Trainee doctors are being taught to unquestioningly accept patients are transgender if they self-identify as such, potentially leading to body changes they may regret.

Three-quarters of UK medical schools have signed up to a charter issued by The Association of LGBTQ+ Doctors & Dentists (Gladd) which promotes that trainee medics should be taught to respect and affirm patients who say they are transgender, rather than explore other issues they may have.

An NHS review this year warned youngsters who say they are transgender get puberty blocking drugs or sex-swap hormones when they may benefit from other treatments. Some experts believe that among children who believe they have gender dysphoria are those who may have mental health conditions such as autism.

But the review by Dr Hilary Cass, which led to the closure of the NHS Tavistock trans child clinic in north London, said doctors there felt under pressure to adopt an unquestioning approach to sex-change youngsters.

But the review by Dr Hilary Cass (pictured), which led to the closure of the NHS Tavistock trans child clinic in north London, said doctors there felt under pressure to adopt an unquestioning approach to sex-change youngsters

Thirty-three out of 43 medical schools have signed up to the Gladd charter, which equates questioning someones gender identity with quack conversion therapy which seeks to cure people of homosexuality.

The charter says medical schools should work with LGBTQ+ patients to respect and affirm their gender and/or sexual identity. Gladds trans rep is Dr Katie McDowell, a trustee of charity Mermaids which allegedly sent breast binders to children behind parents backs and promoted puberty blockers to teens as safe and reversible.

Jane Galloway from Transgender Trend accused medical schools of falling into a trap set by Mermaids.

She warned: This means doctors will not be able to properly explore if a child has gender dysphoria, autism or something else.

Figures from Tavistock clinic said 48 per cent of children treated there between 2011 and 2018 displayed autistic behaviour

Figures from Tavistock clinic said 48 per cent of children treated there between 2011 and 2018 displayed autistic behaviour. Other studies found a quarter of youngsters at transgender clinics may be autistic. There are also fears many who say they are trans may be struggling to come out as gay.

Psychotherapist Bob Withers said: The danger of doctors being taught to unquestioningly affirm a patients gender identity is that it encourages those with gender dysphoria down the path to medical treatment, making permanent changes to their body that they may later come to regret.

A spokeswoman for Bayswater, a support group for parents of children wrestling with gender identity, said: It is worrying trainee doctors are being taught this rubbish. It will lead to more children being harmed.
The Stockton Police confirmed to the DailyMail.com that they believe the man they arrested is the same individual in surveillance footage released days ago

Five of the seven victims have been Hispanic, though police say it is unclear if the killer was motivated by race

Wesley Brownlee, 43, was taken into custody at around 2.00am Saturday morning while authorities say he was out looking for his next kill

The California killer has been linked with seven shootings since 2021

Police have announced that they detained a man believed to be a serial killer responsible for a series of murders that have haunted Stockton and Oakland in California.

Wesley Brownlee, 43, was driving when he was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning by authorities - who think he may have been on the prowl for new victims to kill.

Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said on Saturday: 'Early this morning he was on a mission to kill, he was out hunting.

'He was wearing dark clothing and had a mask around his neck. He was also armed with a firearm when he was taken into custody.

'We are sure we stopped another killing.'

He added: 'Our surveillance team followed this person while he was driving. We watched his patterns and determined early this morning, he was on a mission to kill.'

The Police Chief said that Brownlee was detained after engaging in what appeared to be threatening behavior, including going to parks and dark places, stopping and looking around before driving on.

A moment of silence was held at the news conference for the victims of the suspect who has been terrorizing the community for close to two years.

Investigators began watching the suspect after receiving tips and stopped him in a car at about 2 a.m. in the Central Valley city, where five of the shootings took place, said McFadden.

Wesley Brownlee, 43, was arrested early Saturday morning by Stockton law enforcement. He is suspect of shooting at least seven people in the last 18 months

Pictured: the pistol Brownlee was carrying when he was arrested Saturday. Police say Brownlee was out hunting for a new victim when he was apprehended early Saturday. His alleged victims were all shot to death

Stockton Police confirmed to the DailyMail.com that they believe the man in surveillance footage they released earlier this month is the same man who arrested Saturday

The victims of California's 'serial killer' - who has terrorized the city for nearly two years April 2021: Miguel Vasquez Serrano, 39, was killed in East Oakland. He was homeless at the time of his murder Natasha LaTour, 46, was homeless at the time she was shot by the alleged serial killer in Stockton. She survived despite being shot close to a dozen times April 2021: Natasha LaTour , 46, was shot in Stockton but survived. She was shot nearly a dozen times at 3.20am outside a tent she was living in at the time Paul Alexander Yaw, 35, was killed in July 2022 July 2022: Paul Yaw, 35, was killed in Stockton. He was one of only two non-Hispanic victims of the killer Salvador William Dubedy Jr., 43, was killed on August 11, 2022 August 11, 2022: Salvador Debudey Jr., 43, was killed in Stockton. Debudey was a Stockton native and father who died at the scene after police attempted to resuscitate him August 30, 2022: Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21, was killed in Stockton. He was found dead inside a car on East Hammer Lane. It was unclear if he had been sleeping in the vehicle at the time of his murder September 21, 2022: Juan Cruz, 52, was killed in Stockton Lorenzo Lopez Sr., 54, was the killer's final known victim. He was killed on September 27 September 27, 2022: Lorenzo Lopez Sr., 54, was killed in Stockton. He was gunned down shortly before 2am in a residential area in downtown Stockton Advertisement

His first suspected killing occurred last April 21, and his most recent 'hunt' took place less than one month prior to his arrest.

He is now in custody and is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday afternoon. Police say he has a criminal history.

McFadden said his officers were able to make a breakthrough in the case because of 'community tips' and 'good old fashioned police work.'

Authorities said they received hundreds of tips after announcing the manhunt, and investigators located and watched the place where Brownlee was living.

Authorities have so far been able to connect six gun deaths in California cities to a single murderer since the beginning of 2021.

Law enforcement authorities described Brownlee's killing spree as a 'reign of terror.' Just one of his alleged victims survived being shot.

Earlier this month, police released footage of a man they believed to be the Stockton serial killer.

On Saturday, the Stockton police department confirmed to DailyMail.com that they believe the individual in the surveillance footage is the same person who appeared in the video.

The first of his victims was 39-year-old Miguel Vasquez Serrano, who died in East Oakland last April. He was homeless at the time of his murder.

He had been living on the streets of the Seminary district of Oakland for about eight months. One local resident told the Daily Beast Serrano was known around the neighborhood for his skill at fixing cars.

Brownlee allegedly then targeted Natasha LaTour, 46, who was also homeless at the time, living on the streets of Stockton.

She was camped in a tent at the corner of Park and Union streets near train tacks when a man dressed in dark clothing approached her with a gun in his outstretched hand.

He said nothing to her before he began shooting.

She ran directly at him and tried to reach the road. She managed to flag down a passing car and asked the passengers to call 911.

She had been shot nine times, but survived to tell the cops what she had seen. She then remembers waking up four days later in the hospital.

The next victim was not killed until this summer in early July.

Paul Yaw, 35, died on July 8; Salvador Debudey Jr., 43, died on August 11; Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21, died on August 30; and Juan Cruz, 52, died on September 21.

His most recent alleged kill was of Lawrence Lopez Sr., who died on September 27.

Five of the killer's seven victims have been Hispanic, though it remains unclear if they were targeted because of their race. Some of the victims were homeless, while others were not.

None of the victims were robbed or beaten prior to their killings, and none appeared to know one another.

Furthermore, according to police, the killings did not appear to be gang or drug related.

Police do not yet know the motive but say they believe the killer was 'mission oriented.'

It is also unclear to law enforcement, why the killer apparently took a more than 400 day break between his first spree in April 2021 and July of this year when he began slaying again.

Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln said Saturday following the arrest that members of the community should be able to 'rest a little bit easier tonight.'

'I want to make this very very clear, to the people of Stockton, to the United States and around the world. When the people of Stockton come together and we unite we can get things done. Stockton will be a place where people can live, raise a family and grow a business,' he said.

Previously released CCTV footage shows the suspect dressed in all dark attire limping around Stockton in the early morning hours.

Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden speaks during a news conference at the Stockton Police Department headquarters about the arrest of suspect Wesley Brownlee in a series of killings in Stockton, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 15, 202

Police have linked Brownlee to seven shootings in the Oakland and Stockton area inside of the last 18 months
Several of Sydney's most popular swimming spots have 'poor' pollution levels

Authorities have issued a warning to Sydneysiders hoping to take advantage of the sunshine and head to the beach with the city's endless storms polluting popular swimming spots.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment released its latest data for the state's beaches, lakes and lagoons revealing one in five had 'poor' or 'very poor' water quality.

Among the worst affected was Coogee Beach in the city's eastern suburbs, Narrabeen Lagoon on the northern beaches and Rose Bay in the CBD.

Several of Sydney's most popular swimming spots have been deemed 'poor' in the latest pollution rating report - including Coogee Beach in the eastern suburbs

The number of polluted beaches doubled in 2022, up from the 2019-2020 report that found one in 10 beaches had poor or lower ratings.

Several places had ratings fall from 'fair' or 'good' - including the popular Coogee Beach - which was the only surf beach in Sydney with a 'poor' classification.

Rose Bay beach, Bayview Baths and Northbridge Baths were also downgraded.

Environment Minister James Griffin said the decline was the result of La Nina bringing consistent rainfall.

'(The water quality rating) is not surprising, given NSW just experienced the wettest summer in a decade and Sydney is experiencing its wettest month on record,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Narrabeen Lagoon, a body of water that is popular with families, had a 'poor' water quality rating

The data comes from the state government's water testing program Beachwater, which analysed most of the city's swimming spots between May and September.

Ocean beaches are tested all year, on a weekly basis.

Samples were taken from 214 sites across NSW, including 97 in Sydney.

They were tested for enterococci bacteria.

'Poor' ratings dictate faecal pollution being discovered at the locations and are not always suitable for swimming.

'Very poor' ratings mean it is generally unsafe to swim, with rainfall commonly raising contamination levels.

The testing takes 24 to 48 hours, with no real-time indicators available.

Rose Bay beach also produced a 'poor' rating - a spot popular for dogs

Dr Ian Wright from Western Sydney University said residents should monitor the Beachwater ratings before swimming this summer.

'This is really important information, particularly for people who have a weakened immune system or are very young, old or sick,' he said.

'Anyone that swims in an estuary or coastal beach near an urban area should know you just don't swim for a few days, because it's very likely that you're swimming through diluted sewage.'

Swimming in polluted areas carry the risk of contracting gastro, skin infections and even hepatitis A.

Overall, 94 per cent of beaches in NSW scored 'good' or 'very good' ratings.
MPs, medics and charity bosses last night demanded urgent action to tackle the unprecedented crisis in blood supplies  including the return of walk-in appointments for donors.

They fear shortages are set to last into the New Year, meaning thousands of operations may have to be cancelled.

Blood supplies dropped to record lows last week, prompting the NHS in England to issue its first amber alert. With stocks of the 'universal' blood type O-, which can be given to everyone, down to just two days' supply  a third of the required level  health bosses suggested that hospitals postpone some non-urgent operations, such as hip and knee replacements.

But Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said last night: 'The Government must get a grip, secure blood supplies and ensure patients don't see further delays for operations.'

MPs, medics and charity bosses last night demanded urgent action to tackle the unprecedented crisis in blood supplies  including the return of walk-in appointments for donors

Now The Mail on Sunday launches a campaign to tackle the crisis. Health professionals, experts and politicians backed our calls for:

Walk-in services to be reinstated and the process of giving blood made easier for donors

A renewed focus on getting black people to donate, as they are far more likely to have a type of blood that is in particularly high demand

The main NHS app  downloaded by 30 million people  to be used to drive donations

Walk-ins were scrapped in 2016 as part of a cost-cutting drive. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) claimed they were inefficient and expensive, and replaced them with appointments booked via the internet, phone or the NHS Give Blood app.

But last night Caroline Abrahams, the charity director of Age UK who has previously described the walk-in ban as 'crazy', called for a rethink.

She said: 'Processing blood donors online is no doubt cheaper and administratively easier than doing it in the traditional way, but the end result may be that some people who are keen to give blood will no longer be able to do so. At a time when we know the NHS would like more blood to be donated, making the process online-only will hardly help.'

The Mail on Sunday has launched a campaign to end the blood donor crisis and reopen walk-in clinics

Rachael Maskell, a Labour member of the House of Commons health committee, said: 'NHSBT should be doing everything possible to make it easy for people to donate. Walk-in appointments seem to be a very good idea.'

Peter Bowell, a former manager of Oxford Blood Centre, which used to process donations from across southern England, said scrapping walk-ins was 'a mistake' and that 'they should be brought back'. He added: 'The donor is king and we should be doing everything to get as many people as we can through the door.'

NHSBT stressed that walk-ins only ever accounted for one in 12 donors, and that having people book appointments in advance allows the NHS to target those with blood groups most in need at the time.

Targeting has become increasingly important as demand for O- blood has crept up even as overall demand has fallen. One reason for this is the growing prevalence of the blood disorders sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, which are more common in black and South Asian people. Patients with these disorders can require frequent transfusions to keep healthy.

Walk-ins were scrapped in 2016 as part of a cost-cutting drive. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) claimed they were inefficient and expensive, and replaced them with appointments booked via the internet, phone or the NHS Give Blood app

If stocks of a blood group match are not available, the patient is given O- instead. For those with sickle cell, an ideal match is often a sub-type called Ro, carried by about half of black Britons.

Tracy Williams, manager of the Sickle Cell Society's Give Blood, Spread Love campaign, said recruiting more black donors was vital, both so there was more Ro blood available and to take the pressure off O- supplies.

The campaign is supported by NHSBT but she said more could always be done. 'We'd call on as many black heritage donors who are able to give blood, to consider giving blood,' she added.

An NHSBT spokesman said it is bringing in extra staff to man clinics, speeding up recruitment and encouraging the use of town centre donation sites which have more availability.

Wendy Clark, the interim chief executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said last night: 'Patients are our focus. I sincerely apologise to those patients who may see their surgery postponed because of this.

'With the support of hospitals and the measures we are taking to scale up collection capacity, we hope to be able to build stocks back to a more sustainable footing.'

Experts also believe that the main NHS app could help boost blood donation. It is already used to raise awareness of organ donation, with almost half a million people making their wishes clear through it.

Arjun Panesar of DDM Health, who helped develop the Gro Health app which provides NHS-certified health programmes for people with chronic conditions, said the NHS app could 'absolutely' be used to boost blood donation if done carefully.

Tory MP Marco Longhi, a member of the Health Select Committee, said of NHSBT: 'The inability and unwillingness of holding to account failed NHS management is especially visible in this once-respected public service organisation.'
The US has called on an infamous Iranian prison to free its American political prisoners after a huge fire erupted inside following weeks of protests in the country.

Riots broke out at the notorious Evin prison in northern Tehran on Saturday night amid protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, who was detained by police for not wearing her hijab.

Gunshots, explosions and chants of 'death to the dictator' were all heard in the capital, and witnesses told MailOnline they heard automatic guns being fired, thought to be by police.

Amid the chaos, the US State Department demanded Iran secure the safety of two American citizens 'wrongfully detained' in the prison and asked for their swift release.

Iranian-Americans Saimak Namazi, 51, Emad Shargi, 57, are currently in the prison - as well as American resident and green card holder Shahab Dalili, 59.

'We are following reports from Evin Prison with urgency,' State Department spokesperson Ned Price tweeted. 'We are in contact with the Swiss as our protecting power.

'Iran is fully responsible for the safety of our wrongfully detained citizens, who should be released immediately.'

Online videos appear to show smoke rising from Evin prison in Tehran, with gunshots and an alarm being heard on Saturday

Among the Americans known to be in the prison is Saimak Namazi, 51, (above) who the UN said was wrongfully convicted to 10 years in prison on charges of collaborating with a hostile foreign government

Also in prison is Emad Shargi, 57, who was released and cleared of espionage charges in 2018 before the Iranian government locked him up anyway for the charges two years later

Shahab Dalili, 59, had recently moved to Virginia in 2016 before he was arrested in Iran when attending his father's funeral. He is a green card holder, but not an American citizen

The US State Department demanded Iran secure the safety of two Americans 'wrongfully detained' in the prison and asked for their swift release

Images on social media show a huge fire with large plumes of smoke visible in the sky

WHO ARE THE AMERICANS DETAINED IN EVIN PRISON? There are currently two Iranian-American citizens being held in the notorious Evin prison. Saimak Namazi The 51-year-old business man was living in Dubai when he was arrested in 2015 while visiting relatives in Iran. United Nations officials said he was wrongfully convicted to 10 years in prison on charges of collaborating with a hostile foreign government. Namazi became a US citizen in 1993, following his family's exit from Iran during the 1979 revolution. He is a Tufts University graduate who also served as a public scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Namazi's father, Baquer, was shortly held in the Evin prison after visiting his son in 2016. He was released temporarily on medical furlough over a heart condition. Although freed from the prison, Baquer is still under custody in the country. Emad Shargi Shargi, 57, was arrested in 2018 about a year after he and his wife moved from the US back to Iran. Although Shargi was released and cleared of espionage charges, a Tehran court refused to return his passport. In 2020, the court told him he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage, and authorities captured him near the Iraqi border attempting to flee. Shargi was a graduate from the University of Maryland and George Washington University. He lived in Chicago with his wife before deciding to head back to his native Iran after his two daughters left home for college. Shahab Dalili - a US resident with a green card Dalili, 59, was arrested in 2016 after visiting Tehran for his father's funeral. Prior to his arrest, Dalili had recently moved with his wife to the US, where they settled down in Gainesville, Virginia. His wife previously told NBC News that he was charged with ''aiding and abetting' the U.S. She has called on the Biden administration to help her husband after the government said it was working to help release the Namazi's, Shargi and Nizar Zakka, another American who was freed in 2019. Advertisement

State media reported that some inmates set fire to a prison warehouse and that the incident was under control, but gunshots continued to be heard into the early hours of Sunday as protesters gathered outside and internet was cut off.

There are allegations of torture, rape and horrific treatment of prisoners at Evin, which can hold up to 15,000 people.

Namazi, an Iranian American imprisoned for nearly seven years on espionage-related charges rejected by Washington as baseless, returned to Evin on Wednesday after being granted a brief furlough, his lawyer said.

The other U.S. citizen held in Evin was Shargi, according to human rights lawyer Saeid Dehghan.

Shargi, 57, was released and cleared of espionage charges in 2018 before the Iranian government locked him up anyway for the alleged crime two years later.

Also imprisoned was Dalili, a US resident who had recently moved to Virginia in 2016 before he was arrested in Iran when attending his father's funeral.

He added that several other dual nationals are held at Evin, including French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah and Iranian-Swedish Ahmadreza Djalali, a disaster medicine doctor.

The prison is where high-profile British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe was held during her six years of imprisonment in Iran.

Morad Tahbaz, who also has British nationality, was recently in the prison but was released on bail over the summer.

'No security (political) prisoner was involved in today's clash between prisoners, and basically the ward for security prisoners is separate and far from the wards for thieves and those convicted of financial crimes,' an unnamed official told the Tasnim news agency.

The US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran reported that an 'armed conflict' broke out within the prison walls. It said shots were first heard in Ward 7 of the prison, but this has not been confirmed.

Chants of 'Death to Khamenei' - referencing Iran's leader and one of the main slogans of a month-long protest movement that has flared over the death of Amini - could be heard in the background of some videos.

Sources from opposition groups in Iran told MailOnline that they heard multiple explosions, and saw prisoners sitting on top of one of the prison's buildings chanting anti-regime slogans.

There was no immediate comment by officials or reports from state media, but around an hour after the unrest was reported, state media said the incident was 'completely under control'.

Reports from those in Tehran suggest gunshots are continuing to be fired, and protesters gathered outside the jail along with friends and family of those inside.

Witnesses said that police blocked roads Evin Prison and at least three strong explosions were heard coming from the area. Traffic was heavy along major motorways near the prison, which is in the north of the capital, and many people honked their horns to show their solidarity with the protests.

'Roads leading to Evin prison have been closed to traffic. There are lots of ambulances here,' said a witness contacted by Reuters. 'Still, we can hear gunshots.'

Another witness said families of prisoners had gathered in front of the main prison entrance. 'I can see fire and smoke. Lots of special forces,' the witness said.

A security official said calm had been restored at the prison, but the first witness said ambulance sirens could be heard and smoke still rose over the prison.

'People from nearby buildings are chanting 'Death to Khamenei' from their windows,' the witness said.

Mahsa Amini, 22, died in police custody after being detained in Tehran by Iranian morality police who believed she was wearing her hijab too loosely

Amini's death sparked outrage across the world, with a 'March of Solidarity for Iran' in Washington, D.C., held on Saturday

Evin prison has seen multiple accusations of torture, rape and other inhumane treatment of prisoners

Ms Zaghari Ratcliffe - a high-profile British-Iranian who was jailed at the prison - has spoken out about the unrest in Iran on multiple occasions

Riot police were seen riding on motorbikes toward the facility, as were ambulances and fire trucks.

Sources from opposition groups to the regime told MailOnline there was an initial explosion, followed by two more around an hour later.

This was followed by automatic gunfire and possible grenade explosions. They added guards sent 'attack dogs' into the prison and barking would be heard from outside the prison.

'Troubles and clashes took place on Saturday night' in the prison and inmates started a fire, the IRNA news agency said, citing a senior security official. 'The situation is currently completely under control,' the source added.

IRNA went on to report there were clashes between prisoners in one ward and prison personnel, citing a senior security official.

The official said prisoners set fire to a warehouse full of prison uniforms, which caused the blaze. He said the 'rioters' were separated from the other prisoners to de-escalate the conflict.

But there are videos of members of the public continuing to take to the streets in the capital, with reports that internet has been cut off from some areas of the city.

Multiple fire trucks have been pictured rushing to the scene to put out the flames, but have been caught up in heavy traffic as concerned friends, relatives and activists have rushed to the prison.

Hundreds of those detained during the protests over Amini's death last month have reportedly been sent to Evin.

The US-based HRANA human rights group says more than 5,500 people have been arrested in a recent crackdown following widespread protests against the country's leaders.

'Gunshots can be heard from Evin Prison and smoke can be seen,' said the activist website 1500tasvir, which also shared video footage it said showed special forces on motorbikes heading for the prison.

'Families of prisoners have gathered in front of the main door of Evin prison,' said a witness contacted by Reuters. 'I can see fire and smoke. Lots of special forces. Ambulances are here too.'

Separate videos show dozens of police cars heading in the direction of the smoke.

The prison, which mostly holds detainees facing security charges, has long been criticized by Western rights groups and it was blacklisted by the US government in 2018 for 'serious human rights abuses'.

Footage from locals in Tehran show huge plumes of smoke and a considerable blaze

The prison, which mostly holds detainees facing security charges, has long been criticised by Western rights groups and it was blacklisted by the US government in 2018 for 'serious human rights abuses'

Human Rights Watch has accused authorities at the prison of using threats of torture and of indefinite imprisonment, as well as lengthy interrogations and denial of medical care for detainees.

In other footage, shared by local journalists, it is claimed people around the prison can be heard shouting 'death to the dictator'.

It comes amid fierce protests against the country's so-called morality police after a 22-year-old woman died in police custody.

Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman from the country's Kurdish region, died on September 16 while being held for 'inappropriate attire'.

Evin jail is well-known as a prison specifically for political detainees, and was where Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was held after being detained in Iran in 2016.

She has recently spoken out on the unrest in Iran, saying 'the world cannot ignore [it].'

The reports of gunfire within the prison come after a nearly month-long crackdown by government and police.

The prison fire comes as Iranians protest over the death of Amini. Yasmine Pahlavi (center), the wife of the last crown prince of the former Imperial State of Iran, joined demonstrators showing their solidarity in Washington D.C.

They citizens marched for women's rights following a crackdown from the nation's morality police. Many of the victims have been teenage girls

The demonstrators chanted slogans and waved signs in support of a reformed Iran

There have been huge protests, chanting in the streets and in universities against the country's leaders in a sustained wave of anger at the death of Mahsa Amini.

Other segments of society, including oil workers, have also joined the movement, which has spread to at least 19 cities, becoming one of the greatest challenges to Iran's theocracy since the country's 2009 Green Movement.

Riots have also broken out in prisons, with clashes reported between inmates and guards in Lakan prison in the northern province of Gilan recently.

The protests, which have seen violent reactions from police, have widened into strikes that have closed shops and businesses, touched the vital energy sector and inspired brazen acts of dissent against Iran's religious rule.

Crowds of women have been pictured rebelling against the strict law and ripping off their headscarves.

They have also been seen cutting their hair in the streets, a move that has been taken up by women around the world in a sign of solidarity.

An Iranian coroner claimed Amini had died from illness, not police violence, and insisted two girls killed during anti-hijab protests 'fell off roofs' despite claims security forces beat the teenagers to death.

Amini's cousin, Erfan Mortezaei, has said that on the day she was arrested, she was forced into a police van and taken to the station where she was 'tortured'.

'There is a report from Kasra hospital [in Tehran] that says effectively by the time she reached the hospital she was already dead from a medical point of view,' he told Sky News.

'She suffered a concussion from a blow to the head.'

Footage emerged on Saturday which appeared to show a woman being seriously sexually assaulted by an officer during an arrest by police at a protest.

In a surprising move, Iranian officials have said they are looking into the incident.

A video posted by the Norway-based organisation Iran Human Rights purported to show protests in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran's second most populous city, with demonstrators chanting 'Clerics get lost' and drivers honking their horns.

The Iranian activist news agency HRANA said on Saturday that 233 people had been killed in the unrest, including 32 minors and 26 members of the security forces.

More than 7,000 had been arrested in protests in 112 cities and towns and some 70 universities, it said in a posting online.

Among the casualties have been teenage girls whose deaths have become a rallying cry for more demonstrations demanding the downfall of the Islamic Republic.

Protesters called on Saturday for demonstrations in the northwestern city of Ardabil over the death of Asra Panahi, a teenager from the Azeri ethnic minority who activists alleged was beaten to death by security forces.

Officials denied the report and news agencies close to the Revolutionary Guards quoted her uncle as saying the high school student had died of a heart problem.

Videos posted on social media by activist website 1500tasvir purported to show street protests in Ardabil, while another social media video showed riot police retreating from rock-throwing demonstrators.

Iran has blamed the violence on enemies at home and abroad, including armed separatists and Western powers, accusing them of conspiring against the Islamic Republic and denying that security forces have killed protesters.
Police issued a warrant for his arrest and caught Faulkner at Glendalough station

After his release in 2019, he allegedly breached a jail term and supervision order

A serial rapist who was jailed for sexually assaulting three women at train stations has been swarmed by police on the same line he attacked his victims 11 years ago.

Nicholas Rodney Troy Faulkner was arrested at Glendalough train station, just north of Perth's CBD, on Saturday night after failing to appear in court on Tuesday.

Faulkner, 34, was released on parole in 2019 but was ordered to face Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday after he was charged with five counts of breaching a suspended jail term and two counts of breaching a post-sentence supervision order.

Faulkner spent nine-and-a-half years in jail for raping two women and attacking another at train stations on the Joondalup line - the same line that Glendalough station is on - in 2011.

Nicholas Rodney Troy Faulkner (pictured) was jailed for nine-and-a-half years for raping two women and attacking another at West Australian train stations in 2011

Faulkner's release in 2019 was controversial after he was not referred for a dangerous sex offender status.

It was labelled a 'failure' of the system at the time and prompted the government to conduct a review, The West Australian reported.

Tests on Faulkner showed that there was a high chance the convicted rapist would reoffend as well.

After his release in 2019, Faulkner allegedly breached a suspended jail term five times and a post-sentence supervision order twice between June and August this year.

Court documents claimed the breaches allegedly occurred in Mandurah, which is where Faulkner lives.

A warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to show on Tuesday, mounting a wide-scale police search.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch explained, just hours before Faulkner was caught, that detectives had narrowed their search and were zeroing in on the convicted sex offender.

Faulkner was arrested at Glendalough train station (pictured) after he failed to appear at court

The convicted rapist allegedly breached a jail term five times and a post-sentence supervision order twice between June and August in Mandurah

'Metro detectives and regional investigations have been actively searching for him over the last few days,' he said earlier in the week.

Police believed Faulkner did not pose a dangerous threat despite his past crimes.

He was arrested by officers just before 7pm on Saturday at Glendalough train station.

Faulkner will face Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday.
The prime suspect behind the disappearance of 19-year-old Leah Croucher rang a friend while on the run from police and said 'I can't go back to prison', just weeks before the finance worker disappeared.

Neil Maxwell, who had a string of past convictions for sexual offences including rape, was wanted by police when Leah went missing in connection with an attack in Newport, Buckinghamshire.

Police admitted Maxwell, 49, had evaded arrest 18 times while on the run from 2018 to 2019.

Neil Maxwell took his own life two months after Leah's disappearance

He moved around the country and used fake names to avoid detection, and in February 2019, was based in Milton Keynes, working as a handyman in the house in which human remains were found this week.

Police are investigating whether he kept Leah as a prisoner in the house, possibly for weeks, after finding the remains in the loft of the house, along with her backpack and other possessions.

At the time, he was the only person believed to have had a key.

He was on the sex offender's register having been convicted of multiple offences, including a teenager aged 13-15.

A former friend of Maxwell said he had received a call from the convicted sex offender out of the blue just a few weeks before Leah went missing.

The friend said he told them: 'I can't go back to prison.'

They told the Sunday Mirror: 'He insisted he hadn't done what the police were saying.

Leah Croucher, 19, was last seen on CCTV on her walk to work on February 15, 2019

Officers continue to guard the house and its surroundings as forensics teams are expected to continue working on the scene for several weeks

People continued to lay tributes today outside the house where remains were found this week

'He said he was scared. He couldn't face going back inside.'

Maxwell killed himself two months after the 19-year-old's disappearance.

It comes after a former girlfriend of Maxwell revealed he had a 'sinister character' after he was named by police.

She described Maxwell as controlling and said he groomed her and took advantage of her, as she told the Mirror: 'I always knew he was a wrong 'un.

'He was well known in the area for trying to pin down girls and force himself on them... Eventually everyone kept away from him.

'He was a deeply sinister character. It's horrible that he did this to Leah but, to be honest, I'm not surprised in the slightest,' she said.

Matthew Barber, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, has asked the force's chief constable to conduct an investigation into the handling of Leah's disappearance to determine if an inquiry is needed.

'Given the time that has passed questions have inevitably been raised about the earlier investigation and there is an understandable desire for more information,' he said.

'None of the information I have received so far leads me to conclude that there were shortcomings in the earlier missing persons investigation. Nevertheless I have requested that the Chief Constable presents me with a review of the case in order to determine if any further inquiry is required.

Flowers, candles, teddies and heartfelt notes of condolence have been gathering outside the property all week

This was the final image of Leah ever captured before she disappeared and failed to show up to work

A bunch of flowers were left at the scene by Leah's parents, with a heartbreaking note to 'our darling Leah'

Various posters were released to try and find the teenager after she went missing in February 2019

'If mistakes have been made I will ensure a thorough review of the missing persons investigation, but I must stress that this will be evidence-led and so far I have seen nothing to suggest any reasonable lines of enquiry were missed.'

Maxwell had previously been in prison for raping a teenage girl in 2009, for which he was handed a four-and-a-half year sentence.

Maxwell, then aged 48, admitted committing a sexual assault on a woman in Milton Keynes in February 2018 and was sentenced to 200-hours of unpaid work and made to pay 85 court costs and 1,000 compensation. He was also placed on the sex offender's register for five years.

The pervert went on to strike again just nine months later. He was on the run for that offence at the time of Leah's disappearance but had managed to evade arrest on 18 occasions

Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter said yesterday formal identification of the body has not yet taken place, but they do believe it is Leah.

He said police were unaware of any potential links between Maxwell and Leah until a maintenance worker alerted police on Monday to a suspicious object in a loft of the property.

The human remains were found in the loft of the property at Loxbeare Drive in Furzton, Milton Keynes, DCS Hunter, Thames Valley Police's head of crime, said.

A Home Office pathologist is carrying out a post-mortem examination to try and determine a cause of death.

Despite the number of times Maxwell evaded police, Leah's family released a statement at a press conference on Friday saying they believe Thames Valley Police 'could not have done anything differently.'

The statement said: 'We would like to take this opportunity to thank Thames Valley Police for all their efforts over the past three years and eight months.

'We believe that they could not have done anything differently, they have always approached every conversation with dignity and compassion.

'As a family, we ask that everyone respects our privacy as well as our immediate family, at what is one of the most difficult times of our lives.'

On Thursday night Leah's family arrived to tearfully lay tributes to a beloved daughter and sister.

An undertaker carried a bouquet of flowers as he then accompanied the parents to a makeshift memorial at the front of the house which is at the centre of the police investigation.

A note left with the flowers read: 'To our darling Leah. Our darkest fears have come true, we only need to be apart a little longer now.

'We have so missed you for so long already. The future looks so bleak now. We know we will never see your smile or hear your laughter again. We will cherish your memories forever. We love you, Mum and Dad'.

Another note, by Leah's elder sister Jade, read: 'To my beautiful sister Leah, My heart has broken, my mind racing with thoughts and my body numb. How can a life as beautiful as yours come to an end in such a tragic way.

'I have loved you from your very first breath and I will love you until my last. There has never been a moment when you were not in my thoughts and there never will be.

'My only comfort is that you and Hayden are together in heaven. All my love forever your big sister Jade and nephew Reggie.'

Hayden, Leah's brother, tragically took his own life after being so tormented by the loss of his sister. He was discovered by his mother and sister Jade.

Leah was last seen on CCTV on her way to her job on February 15, 2019, but never made it to work.

If you are affected by the issues raised in this article, you can contact the Samaritans for free and completely anonymously on 116 123.
Prince Harry 'tried to circumvent the Royal household by attempting to lobby a No10 adviser over his security concerns', according to legal papers.

The Duke of Sussex made an offer to fund his own security at the 'Sandringham Summit' in January 2020 but was under the impression his worries were 'not given proper consideration'.

His late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's private secretary Sir Edward Young reportedly promised to get back to his queries - as did Sir Michael Stevens, keeper of the privy purse.

But Harry became increasingly impatient at the lack of response, so much so that he 'complained', legal papers claim.

The Telegraph reports that the Prince was not aware that Sir Edward was part of the organisation which decide who gets police protection, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec).

Harry took it upon himself to request a meeting with then cabinet secretary and national security adviser to Boris Johnson, Sir Mark Sedwill.

Prince Harry 'tried to circumvent the Royal household by attempting to lobby a No10 adviser over his security concerns', according to legal papers

Harry took it upon himself to request a meeting with then cabinet secretary and national security adviser to Boris Johnson, Sir Mark Sedwill (pictured)

He reiterated his concerns to Mr Sedwill just one week later.

The Duke's barrister, Justin Rushbrook KC, revealed that although Harry had 'believed and hoped' that Ravec would be informed of is offer to pay for his security, 'it became increasingly clear to him that his concerns, in particular as regards his and his familys security, were not being given proper consideration'.

After his official role ended and he became 'a privately funded member of the Royal Family with permission to earn his own income and pursue his own charitable interests', Ravec withdrew guaranteed police support.

Ravec chairman Sir Richard said in a letter to the Queen's private secretary that while the committee would 'continue to monitor the security of the Sussex family', the 'existing provision by the Metropolitan Police will be withdrawn... there is no basis for publicly funded security support'.

Tensions remain over Prince Harry's legal battle with the Home Office over its refusal to provide a heavy police protection to the Sussexes - despite them offering to pay for it

Harry said he only discovered the extent of the change when he made one of his rare visits to England in June 2021, and was unhappy with arrangements made.

Mr Rushbrook said that the security from the Met was taken away 'at very short notice'.

He claimed that the decision was against Harry's wishes who was just beginning a 'transitional year' of the Sussexes new lives.

The legal papers show that the Sussexes were not expecting to pay for their own security so quickly, but rather thought it would be 'in due course'.

Prince Harry has been embroiled in a lengthy legal battle with the UK Home Office after it previously refused to provide police protection for the couple to return to the country after they stepped back from royal duties and moved to California.

The Duke has been taking legal action against the department after being told he would no longer be given the 'same degree' of personal protective security when visiting from the US.

He was successful in gaining a judicial review after it was found that he was not given a 'clear and full explanation' behind the sudden decision.

The couple were forced to pay for their own security staff at a One Young World event in Manchester last month

But he is also arguing that his offer to pay his own protection should have made the Home Office 'quash and retake' its decision. This application for judicial review is still pending.

The Duke admits that he failed to make his offer directly to Ravec before he launched legal action against the Home Office last September.

He believes it to be 'irrelevant' as his views were made clear through the Royal household at the Sandringham summit.

The couple were forced to pay for their own security staff at a One Young World event in Manchester last month.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the couple's security is being 'privately secured'.

After their Manchester trip, police in Dusseldorf told the pair they must pay for their own security service, and officers will only provide small-scale protective measures, mostly for crowd control purposes.

And last month a bodyguard pictured with Prince Harry and Meghan is a former Met Police officer convicted of strangling his wife leaving her 'seconds away from death', MailOnline revealed.

Pere Daobry, 51, was pictured driving the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in a Range Rover on September 5 as they left Frogmore cottage on their way to Londons Euston station.

Despite his important role protecting the high-profile couple Daobry was convicted at Colchester Magistrates Court in September 2016 of attacking his wife, Sarah Jay, a former Essex Police sergeant, after she declared that she no longer loved him.

The revelation was likely to raise eyebrows as Meghan has long championed women's rights and campaigned against gender-based violence.
In 2020 a report said that there was 'systematic racism' at one NHSBT site

Accusations of racism and in-fighting have rocked the NHS department responsible for blood donations in England.

The ructions exploded in August when Melissa Thermidor, a 40-year-old marketing executive at NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), revealed she was suing the service for constructive dismissal.

She claims she was subjected to racist stereotypes such as being a shouty and aggressive black woman, that she was sidelined and that colleagues coined the disparaging term Tesco donors to refer to black people who donated blood.

But the claims of racist behaviour go back further.

Melissa Thermidor, 40, (pictured) is suing NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) for constructive dismissal

In 2020, an independent report was leaked which claimed there was evidence of systemic racism at an NHSBT site.

Ms Thermidor said soon afterwards that she recorded Betsy Bassis, who was chief executive at the time, having a private conversation with then chairwoman Millie Banerjee, during which the latter seemingly played down the matter.

Ms Banerjee said the situation was high risk for NHSBT but that she could not fix the ravages or consequences of 300 years of slavery and 200 years of empire.

She also talked of there being a nasty dichotomy between different ethnic groups, with Asians considering themselves well above the blacks.

In 2020, an independent report was leaked which claimed there was evidence of systemic racism at an NHSBT site

Ms Banerjee stepped down in August last year. She denies acting or talking in a racist manner.

Ms Bassis resigned this August, ahead of the forthcoming release of a report by the health watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), into NHSBTs leadership. She too denies any racist behaviour.

Ms Thermidor, who is taking her case to an employment tribunal, claims black staff were referred to as you people in meetings, and that one worker said: White donors are more likely to shop at Waitrose and black donors at Tesco.

An external report into grievances raised by Ms Thermidor found she was not treated unfavourably because of her race but that she and others did suffer harassment in NHSBT because of their race.

Ms Thermidor resigned in February last year. Both Ms Bassis and Ms Banerjee have vowed to contest her claims at the tribunal.

NHSBTs new chairman, Peter Wyman, said in August that the service has moved on a lot. He added: There can be no place for discrimination or harassment.
The operator called for energy rationing in several areas between 5pm and 11pm

A Kyiv power installation had to have emergency repairs after a bombing raid

Ukraine was last night warned to prepare for blackouts as Russian missiles strikes continued across the country.

A Kyiv power installation had to have emergency repairs after it was damaged in a bombing raid and officials called for energy rationing.

The capital was plunged into darkness but Governor of Kyiv Oblast, Oleksiy Kuleba, said no one was killed or wounded in the attack.

It came after the Kremlin launched what is believed to be its largest coordinated missile attacks in Ukraine since the initial invasion of the country in late February as revenge for the Kerch Bridge explosion.

Electricity transmission company Ukrenergo said repair crews were working to restore electricity service but warned residents about further possible outages.

As Russian missiles strikes continued across the country, Ukraine were last night warned to prepare for blackouts

A Kyiv power installation had to have emergency repairs after it was the target of a bombing raid and was damaged

The state operator has called for energy rationing for the three million people in Kyiv between 5pm and 11pm, along with Zhytomyr, Cherkasy and Chernihiv, according to The Sun.

Seniro adviser Kyrylo Tymoshenko warned that if the calls for rationing were ignored, candles would be necessary.

This week's wide-ranging retaliatory attacks, which included the use of self-destructing explosive drones from Iran, killed dozens of people.

The strikes hit residential buildings as well as civil infrastructure such as power stations in Kyiv, Lviv in western Ukraine, and other cities that had seen comparatively few strikes in recent months.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow did not see a need for additional massive strikes but his military would continue selective ones. He said that, of 29 targets the Russian military planned to knock out in this week's attacks, seven weren't damaged and would be taken out gradually.

The capital was plunged into darkness but Governor of Kyiv Oblast Oleksiy Kuleba said no one was killed or wounded in the attack

The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank based in Washington, interpreted Putin's remarks as intended to counter criticism from pro-war Russian bloggers who 'largely praised the resumption of strikes against Ukrainian cities but warned that a short campaign would be ineffective.'

'Putin knew he would not be able to sustain high-intensity missiles strikes for a long time due to a dwindling arsenal of high-precision missiles,' the think tank said.

Regions of southern Ukraine that Putin illegally designated as Russian territory last month remained a focus of fighting on Saturday.

Ukrainian forces pressed on with a campaign to recapture the mostly Russian-occupied Kherson region.

Electricity transmission company Ukrenergo said repair crews were working to restore electricity service but warned residents about further possible outages

Kirill Stremousov, a deputy head of the administration Moscow installed in the region, reminded residents they could evacuate to Crimea and cities in southwestern Russia as Ukrainian forces try to advance toward the regional capital.

On Thursday, Kremlin-backed leaders asked civilians to evacuate to ensure their safety and to give Russian troops more manoeuvrability.

Moscow offered free accommodations to residents who agreed to leave.

Ukrainian troops attempted to advance south along the banks of the Dnieper River but did not gain any ground, according to Stremousov.
The move is just the latest in a series of bizarre moves from universities - Tufts University was recently ridiculed for hosting similar events

The move was slammed online by social media users, with one saying 'We are going backwards here in the battle against racism'

The optional event will have the groups meet on different days throughout the 2022-23 school year

The staff were asked to record their race in a database before being separated into groups based on 'racial affinity groups'

Ithaca College has created an Antiracism Institute that will attempt to 'dismantle white supremacy' by segregating white staff from colleagues

Ithaca College in New York has been slammed for segregating white staff from minority colleagues during an 'anti-racism' course where they will attempt to 'dismantle white supremacy.'

The college will separate staff according to 'racial affinity groups' during the 2022-23 school year and have them meet on different days.

The meetings will be geared towards helping attendees 'learn about recognizing, responding to, and redressing racial inequities in the first semester.'

In the second semester, the groups will be multiracial, according to the event's website.

Ithaca College has been slammed online for introducing an Antiracism Institute that will try to 'dismantle white supremacy' by segregating staff

The university first asked employees to record their race in an official school database and called the current data 'incomplete'

They then introduced the Antiracism Institute, which will divide attendees based on race and have them meet in groups on separate days

Many on social media were stunned by the event and called it backwards and antithetical to defeating racism.

'Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr is turning in his grave,' said one user, while another lamented 'Well, I guess we've returned to the 1950's.'

Another tweeted: 'We are going backwards here in the battle against racism.'

To separate faculty members, the school recently requested all staff to record their race in an official school database.

In a letter sent to staff, the school said that in order to be 'a more diverse and inclusive institution,' they 'want to have a more complete understanding of our current demographic profiles.'

The letter also said the current data the school has on employees is 'incomplete, particularly with respect to race and ethnicity.'

The school then asked staff to 'make the entries the most closely reflect your racial and ethnic identity.'

According to the Antiracism Institute website, which is locked to the public aside from those associated with the school, outlines 'the long-term vision' of the program.

They claim it was created 'to prepare communities to dismantle racist systems and white supremacy culture embedded in policy, pedagogy, and person at Ithaca College.'

The Antiracism Institute was implemented by the college's Center for Faculty Excellence, which seeks to 'serve the college community through a commitment to holistic, integrated teaching and learning at every level of community life.'

Ithaca College's plan is just the latest in a series of woke moves by American universities.

Tufts University was recently slammed after launching diversity events that are also set to separate black and ethnic minority staff from their white colleagues.

Despite aiming to understand a 'cross-cultural dialogue,' the Massachusetts university split up the two sessions - set to start on October 17 - based on the race of attendees.

Tufts University have been slammed after launching a diversity event that's set to separate black and ethnic minority staff from white colleagues

One part of the series, named Radical Healing, is meant to 'create an important, safe space for staff and faculty at Tufts whose racial demographics are categorized as 'BIPOC.''

It's a place where black, Indigenous and people of color can come together to discuss how marginalized and oppressed people should live 'free of discrimination, racism, and oppression.'

The decision to split the sessions' participants by race has caused outrage from the school community and beyond.

One furious person wrote online: 'This bull***t has got to stop, we simply have to stop tolerating this nonsense. Every single organization that tries this needs to be sued immediately.'

Another person, who says that they are a former student at Tufts, added: 'As a once proud alumnus of Tufts, I am speechless that they are promoting SEGREGATION and RACE SHAMING.'
The Falwells have denied the claims made by Giancarlo, but Jerry did resign from Liberty University as president in August 2020 amid a number of controversies

Falwell Jr. was at the time, and for many years after, the president of the Evangelical Christian Liberty University

Within hours of meeting, Granda recounts being alone in a hotel room having sex with Becki Falwell as her husband watched on

In a forthcoming book, Giancarlo Granda describes the first time he met Becki and Jerry Falwell Jr at the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami

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A former Miami pool boy has recalled of the first time he met and had sex with the wife of then-Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr., while he watched.

Giancarlo Granda, then 20, was working as a pool boy at the iconic Fontainebleau hotel when he met an attractive woman posed poolside in a bikini, who started making moves on him.

It wasn't long before he'd been invited up to her room for an after-work rendezvous, the catch being that her husband wanted to watch.

In the book, Off the Deep End: Jerry and Becki Falwell and the Collapse of an Evangelical Dynasty, Granda writes with co-author Mark Ebner that he was encouraged by his colleagues to embark upon what would become a years-long entanglement with the Falwells - arguably the most powerful couple in the Evangelical Christian community.

Giancarlo Granda, now 29, pictured, describes meeting Becki Falwell and hours later being in a hotel room with the married Evangelical couple as Jerry Jr. watched him and Becki have sex

Becki (left) and Jerry Falwell Jr. (right) have repeatedly denied certain aspects of Granda's recounting of the years-long affair between the three of them

Granda describes meeting Becki Falwell, then 44, at a nearby Days Inn later in the night and having a drink with her before making their way back to a room where Jerry lay on a bed 'dressed, but with his jeans unbuttoned and fanned open so you could see his underwear.'

In March 2012, Granda, then 20, was a pool boy at the iconic Fontainebleau hotel in Miami, where he met Becki, then 44, poolside one afternoon

Granda writes that he first spotted Becki Falwell lounging on a daybed by the hotel's pool, which at the time went for $150 a day. She had previously identified him and moved to his section of the pool so they could interact

Granda is now releasing a book and a documentary about his more than half-decade entanglement with the Falwells. OFF THE DEEP END: Jerry and Becki Falwell and the Collapse of an Evangelical Dynasty is due out October 25

Falwell (right) and Granda (left) at a beachy location. Granda's relationship with the Falwells took a number of turns between 2012 and 2018 when it finally soured for good

Granda describes meeting Becki Falwell, then 44, at a nearby Days Inn later in the night and having a drink with her before making their way back to a room where Jerry lay on a bed 'dressed, but with his jeans unbuttoned and fanned open so you could see his underwear.'

'It was awkward at first, but he was already drunk, and he greeted me with 'Hey, Gian,' and then let out a giggle. That was a little disconcerting,' reads the excerpt, featured in Rolling Stone.

Granda then told the leader of the famed Evangelical Christian university: 'If you get jealous at any point, just let me know and Ill get the hell out of here. I will not hesitate.'

He writes: 'I was still worried that he might attack me and stove in the back of my head. But he told me, "Dont worry about it. You guys do what you want to do."'

He proceeded to describe kissing Becki and carrying her to the hotel bed.

'She wasnt wearing any panties, which is the kind of thing that makes an impression on you at twenty,' he wrote, continuing to describe the encounter.

The two stopped short of penetrative intercourse and Jerry, according to Giancarlo, watched the whole time.

At one moment, Falwell evidently got too close to Giancarlo and Becki: 'At some point, Jerry got up and walked to the side of the bed to get a better angle. I had a moment of near panic, thinking, what is he doing? and I told him to back off - not in a hostile way, just establishing some boundaries.'

'He apologized and quickly walked back toward the entrance and stood right outside the bathroom. After that I was able to put blinders on and block him out,' he writes.

'Afterward, they were elated that wed managed to pull it off. She was buzzing, electric, and Jerry continued to giggle with excitement. I was happy, but this was enough pathfinding for one day. I told them, 'All right, guys - Im outta here,'' he wrote.

'The next day, my cell phone rang as I was walking across campus. I picked up to hear Beckis voice. 'Hey, whats up?' she said. 'You want to see me again before I leave?''

Pictured in 2018: Granda says his affair with the Falwells would last another half-decade

In a forthcoming Hulu documentary, Granda discusses how he found himself trapped in a seven-year affair with Becki Falwell and how the affair impacted every aspect of his life

Giancarlo spent years in an odd sort of throuple with the Falwells that included numerous trysts with Becki and a South Beach, Miami real estate venture that yielded a lawsuit

Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia is one of the largest Christian universities in the world

The Falwells with their daughter Carolina (right), whose bed Becki and Giancarlo alleged defiled together

Beyond the scandal with Granda, Jerry Falwell Jr. was sued by Liberty University in 2021 for breach of contract and fiduciary duty. The suit also alleged that Falwell failed to disclose is affair to the university's board of trustees

Granda has also sat down for a forthcoming Hulu documentary about his scandal with the Falwells.

In God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty, Granda shares even more details about his initial encounter with the royal evangelical couple.

'As a pool attendant, I would get hit on, but if I would have known that accepting this woman's invitation to go back to her hotel room would have led to a scandal involving the president of the largest Christian university in the world, and the president of the United States, I would have walked away and just enjoyed my private life,' said Granda, now 29.

For their part, the Falwells finally addressed the scandal in a 2022 Vanity Fair interview, in which Jerry Jr. denied having known about the affair at its outset.

Becki also said that despite her unfaithful behavior, the couple remains strong and together.

'We're together more than any couple you will ever meet in your life. He forgave me, and that's what Jesus teaches, forgiveness,' she said.

Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Virginia, was founded in 1971 by Falwell's televangelist father, the Rev. Jerry Falwell.

The younger Falwell took over in 2007 before resigning in August 2020.

Today, the university boasts an online and on-campus enrollment that exceeds 100,000 students and holds those who attend to an exacting honor code.

'Sexual relations outside of a biblically ordained marriage between a natural-born man and a natural-born woman are not permissible at Liberty University,' the code reads.

Students are also banned from engaging with media that contains lewd lyrics, sexual content and nudity. They can also be fined $250 if they're caught drinking alcohol.

Falwell's resignation represented a remarkable fall from grace for a man who had been a potent force in American conservative politics.

His surprise 2016 endorsement of Donald Trump helped the twice-divorced New Yorker win the Republican nomination for president.
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President Xi Jinping on Sunday kicked-off the 20th congress of China's ruling Communist Party with warnings that he may use force to retake Taiwan as he slammed foreign interference in its reunification efforts.

The comments came at the start of a week-long event where Xi is widely expected to win a third leadership term and cement his place as the country's most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong.

The gathering of roughly 2,300 delegates from around the country began in the vast Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square amid tight security and under blue skies after several smoggy days in the Chinese capital.

Xi began a speech that touted the party's safeguarding of national security, maintaining social stability, protecting people's lives and taking control of the situation in Hong Kong, which was rocked by anti-government protests in 2019.

On Taiwan, Xi said, 'We have resolutely waged a major struggle against separatism and interference, demonstrating our strong determination and ability to safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose Taiwan independence.'

The gathered delegates responded with loud applause as their president emphasized that China will 'never commit to abandoning the use of force' in its unification with Taiwan, which he called inevitable.

Xi added that China will accelerate the building of a world-class military and strengthen its ability to build a strategic deterrent capability.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (center) opened the 20th congress of China's ruling Communist Party on Saturday, where he is expected to win a third leadership term and secure his place as the country's most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong

Xi did away with presidential term limits in 2018, clearing the way for him to break with the precedent of recent decades and rule for a third five-year term, or longer

The event brought together roughly 2,300 delegates from around the country in Tiananmen Square

Xi hailed his communist party of 96 members as the victors of 'the largest battle against poverty in human history'

During the weeklong event, the Chinese Communist Party is poised to rename Jinping president of China

Along with the assembly, members of the military band played at the Great Hall of the People

Hostesses prepare drinks for the 2,300 delegates meeting on Saturday to plot out the future for the communist party

Pictured: Students watching a live broadcast of their president's speech from Hong Kong

In his speech, the Chinese president boasted about complete control over Hong Kong, but also warned of looming conflict against Taiwan independence

Xi said the party of 96 million members 'has won the largest battle against poverty in human history.' But rather than promote communism's redistribution of wealth, the Chinese president said he would implement 'common prosperity' policies to lift citizens out of poverty through new jobs.

In his decade in power, Xi, 69 has set China on an increasingly authoritarian path that has prioritized security, state control of the economy in the name of 'common prosperity', a more assertive diplomacy, a stronger military and intensifying pressure to seize democratically governed Taiwan.

Analysts generally do not expect any significant change in policy direction.

Xi reaffirmation of China's power in Asia comes after President Joe Biden vowed the US military will defend Taiwan if China launches an invasion as he ramped up the rhetoric with Beijing over the tiny island nation.

The President suggested he would deploy troops to the region if Xi Jinping's forces initiated an 'unprecedented attack'. But his explosive comments were quickly torpedoed by the White House, which said official policy had not changed.

An official rushed to stress the US remains 'strategic ambiguity' to the threat to Taiwan - as set out in the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also defiantly visited the self-governing democracy, prompting mainland China to launch a show of force that could be a trial run for a future invasion.

Pictured: China's delegates clapping and cheering as Xin Jinping arrived to deliver his speech

Xi (center) was seated beside Premier Li Keqiang (left) who will be replaced after stepping down next March, and Hu Jintao (right), the former president of the Chinese Communist Party

The Chinese president reaffirmed the nation's strict zero-COVID strategy, which has been blamed for the worst economic downturn since Xi took power, leading him to ask citizens to embrace the spirit of frugality

The twice-a-decade congress is expected to reconfirm Xi as party general secretary, China's most powerful post, as well as chairman of the Central Military Commission

Pelosi (pictured in Taiwan) defended the trip that has provoked Chinese ire and a slew of threats and military drills: 'Our purpose in going to Taiwan was to say that we have this strong relationship built on the status quo, which we support'

China has in recent days repeatedly emphasized its commitment to Xi's zero-COVID strategy, dashing hopes among countless Chinese citizens as well as investors that Beijing might begin exiting anytime soon a policy that has caused widespread frustration and economic damage.

According to official records, only about 5,200 people died in China over COVID due to strict lockdown measures, but outbreaks this spring have taken its toll on the economy.

Xi's power appears undiminished by the tumult of a year that has seen China's economy slow dramatically, dragged down by the COVID policy's frequent lockdowns, a crisis in the property sector and the impact of his 2021 crackdown on the once-freewheeling 'platform economy', as well as global headwinds.

As China deals with its worst economic downturn since Xi first came to power, the Chinese leader has now called on his people to promote the spirit of frugality across the entire society.'

It's a stark difference from his 2017 speech where he discussed a culture of excess in China.

Pictured: Residents hearing President Xi Jinping's speech at the Hotel Nikko in Beijing, China

The Chinese president spoke in a more serious fashion compared to his previous speech in 2017 where he described his country as experiencing a culture of excess

Throughout China, stands were selling books on the president, poised to remain in power until 2027

China's relations with the West have deteriorated sharply, worsened by Xi's support of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

The son of a Communist Party revolutionary, Xi has reinvigorated a party that had grown deeply corrupt and increasingly irrelevant, expanding its presence across all aspects of China, with Xi officially its 'core'.

Xi did away with presidential term limits in 2018, clearing the way for him to break with the precedent of recent decades and rule for a third five-year term, or longer.

The twice-a-decade congress is expected to reconfirm Xi as party general secretary, China's most powerful post, as well as chairman of the Central Military Commission. Xi's presidency is up for renewal in March at the annual session of China's parliament.

In the run-up to the congress, the Chinese capital stepped up security and COVID curbs, while steel mills in nearby Hebei province were instructed to cut back on operations to improve air quality, an industry source said.

The day after the congress ends on Saturday, Xi is expected to introduce his new Politburo Standing Committee, a seven-person leadership team.

It will include the person who will replace Li Keqiang as premier when Li steps down from that post in March after serving the maximum two terms.
Transit-related crimes have increased 43 per cent in the last 12 months, while grand larcenies are up a whopping 43 per cent

A woman was trapped in a Queens turnstile by a man who robbed her of her metro card on October 11, but Rene Castellanos was charged on Saturday

The 66-year-old was robbed of $17,000 when a man dragged him down the street for the bag of money, before punching him until he let go

Both incidents were recorded on video and released by police as they attempt to warn residents of the criminals

New York City's out-of-control crime is on full display as videos show a 66-year-old man was robbed in broad daylight and a woman was trapped in a turnstile

A brazen robber was recorded dragging an old man through the streets, while another trapped a lady in a subway turnstile to steal her metro card - in the latest surge of New York City crime.

The 66-year-old man, who was attacked in Queens on Saturday, was robbed of $17,000 when a violent man beat him for the bag of money.

He was dragged kicking and screaming 'help!' down the Middle Village sidewalk as the two struggled over the bag in broad daylight.

The mugger eventually stomped on the man's head and repeatedly punched him in the face, forcing him to let go of his money.

The thief then ran away and hopped into a red Ford Fusion, which police say was driven by an accomplice.

Police released images of the two men who robbed a 66-year-old man of $17,000 in broad daylight by dragging him down the street and beating him for the money

One suspect ran up and hit the man before dragging him down the sidewalk - but the 66-year-old held on tight to his money as long as he could

Seeing that the man was not giving up the money easily, the brazen mugger began punching the man repeatedly in the face until he let go

The thief then fled with the money and jumped into a red Ford Fusion, which was driven by an accomplice

Police also released pictures of the two in an attempt warn other city residents and bring the beaten man justice.

The NYPD also arrested a man on Saturday who was caught on camera trapping a woman in a subway turnstile and forcing her to turn over her metro card.

Rene Castellanos, 61, trapped the 26-year-old woman for several minutes at the Rego Park subway station in Queens on October 11.

Police allege Castellanos first asked the woman to use her metro card, but when she refused, he forced himself inside the turnstile and grabbed her wallet.

He then took the metro card and dropped the wallet. While charges against Castellanos are sealed, he is reportedly facing larceny charges.

This latest subway incident occurs as crime in the city is up over 31 per cent from last year.

Driving the increase is a more than 35 per cent increase in the number of robberies, and a 32.4 percent increase in burglaries.

Rene Castellanos, 61, trapped a woman in a subway turnstile before demanding she turn over her metro card

When the woman refused to turn it over, Castellanos entered the turnstile and grabbed her wallet before taking the metro card and tossing the wallet on the floor

Crime in New York City has been running rampant, up overall by 31.8 per cent on last year, with robbery up a shocking 35.5 per cent

Felony assaults are also up 15 per cent over last year, while grand larcenies are up a whopping 43 per cent.

But Mayor Eric Adams fled the crumbling city at the end of September to visit hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, which he refers to as New York's 'sixth borough.'

Transit-related crimes have increased 43 per cent in the last 12 months in addition to a 16 per cent growth in felony assault charges, according to police records.

There were 1,165 crimes reported in the city transit system for the period last year compared to 1,670 this year.
The co-founder of Trump's Truth Social platform was fired after refusing the former president's demands to give some of his shares to Melania, according to a former executive.

Andy Litinsky believed that he was sacked from the board because he didn't want to give over his equity - and also claimed Trump said 'multiple times' that he will 'blow up the company' if his demands weren't met.

Litinsky, the co-founder of Trump Media & Technology Group, sent an e-mail in March making the accusation, according to whistleblower Will Wilkerson.

Wilkerson was in charge of the company responsible for the Trump-themed social media platform Truth Social.

He was one of the first to go to work for TMTG - but fell out with the company after filing a whistleblower complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission in August, according to the Washington Post.

Andy Litinsky, the co-founder of Trump Media & Technology Group, sent an e-mail in March making the accusation, according to former senior VP of operations Will Wilkerson

His complaint included e-mails from Litinsky - a former competitor on Trump's NBC reality show The Apprentice - saying that Trump spent two months demanding he give the ex-First Lady equity

Litinsky, the co-founder of Trump Media & Technology Group, sent an e-mail in March making the accusation, according to whistleblower Will Wilkerson (pictured)

The co-founder of former President Donald Trump's Truth Social platform said he felt the former commander-in-chief was 'retaliating' against him for not giving shares in the company to Melania, according to a now-fired whistleblower

In the emails shared by Wilkerson, Litinsky wrote: 'As I have informed [President Trump] several times, I have earned that equity, and also 'gifting' equity to Melania Trump would be a taxable event of which I can't afford to pay the taxes'

He shared internal logs, memos, photographs, videos that he'd given the SEC with the paper.

This interaction is allegedly one of many which show bitter infighting among Trump's media company.

Trump Media was originally set to go public after a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp., but the company has been pushing a vote to delay the merger.

The merger is also being investigated by the SEC, something TMTG has alleged is keeping the deal from going forward.

Wilkerson was fired Thursday after being suspended in early October for what TMTG called a 'violation of his non-disclosure agreement' after the SEC investigation of the company went public.

His complaint included e-mails from Litinsky - a former competitor on Trump's NBC reality show The Apprentice - saying that Trump spent two months demanding he give the ex-First Lady equity.

In the emails shared by Wilkerson, Litinsky wrote: 'As I have informed [President Trump] several times, I have earned that equity, and also 'gifting' equity to Melania Trump would be a taxable event of which I can't afford to pay the taxes.'

He added that Trump repeatedly told himself and John Haley, who is representing the Trump Media and Technology Group in the merger, that he would 'blow up the company' and Litinsky said he was seeking counsel.

Litinsky, a former Apprentice contestant, added that Trump repeatedly told himself and John Haley, who is representing the Trump Media and Technology Group in the merger, that he would 'blow up the company' and Litinsky said he was seeking counsel

Litinsky was allegedly removed from the board of Trump Media & Technology Group just five months later

Will Wilkerson was in charge of the company responsible for the Trump-themed social media platform Truth Social. He was fired Thursday

TMTG said in a statement Congressman Devin Nunes had created 'a culture of compliance and built a world-class team to lead Truth Social,' though they did not reference Wilkerson or Litinsky or their claims by name

Wilkerson said: 'Trump didn't care. He said, 'Do whatever you need to do.''

Litinsky was allegedly removed from the board of Trump Media & Technology Group just five months later.

A spokesperson for TMTG said in a statement to the Washington Post: 'The Washington Post sent us an inquiry rife with knowingly false and defamatory statements and other concocted psychodramas.'

They added that President Trump and former Congressman Devin Nunes had created 'a culture of compliance and built a world-class team to lead Truth Social,' though they did not reference Wilkerson or Litinsky or their claims by name.

The Post claims that Wilkerson was fired by Trump's company for making 'unauthorized disclosures' to the paper, according to his attorneys, who argue that this is unfairly retaliating against a whistleblower.

Attorneys for Wilkerson and spokespersons for both Trump Media & Technology Group and Digital World Acquisition Corp., the company seeking to take TMTG public, did not respond to DailyMail.com requests for comment.
Victoria's deserted $580million quarantine centre will soon house victims of the state's ongoing flood crisis, Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed.

In a joint press conference with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Mr Andrews revealed the facility, 40km north of Melbourne at Mickleham and known as the Centre for National Resilience, will instead be used to house people who have been forced to evacuate their homes.

There are 250 available beds, with Australian Defence Force personnel on the ground helping move people into the complex.

'We can be ready to take residents to move into that facility in the next few days and we will provide meals to each and every one of them, three meals a day, they will be able to access healthcare, both mental and physical, healthcare, 24/7,' Mr Andrews said in a press conference in Bendigo.

Victoria deserted $580million quarantine centre will be converted to house victims of the state's ongoing flood crisis, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed

Victoria's quarantine centre, the Centre for National Resilience at Mickleham, will house victims of the state's flood crisis

Mr Andrews confirmed there was additional support being put in place for local government areas impacted by the crisis.

'Systems are working well, people are working together and it is a really positive  although it's a challenging time  there is a positive sense of partnership right across all of our agencies,' he said.

'We have 13 relief services open across the state, doing everything from a damage assessment through to providing supplies and equipment to otherwise isolated communities, and doing rescue work as well.'

The Victorian government was also making disaster payments available of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child.

Anthony Albanese appeared alongside Daniel Andrews at the press conference in Bendigo

The Victorian quarantine facility was funded by the federal government and was open for just eight months at a cost of $580million (pictured, the front of the Mickleham centre)

Mr Albanese praised the work of emergency services and said the federal government would be assisting the state with relief.

'I pay tribute to the volunteers and the people in these communities who are showing such resilience once again in the face of enormous pressure they are under, the prime minister said.

'Australians are coming together and helping each other and once again; we are seeing at the worst of times, the best of the Australian character.'

SES chief officer operations Tim Wiebusch said the situation was 'far from over' and urged people to follow the latest update.

'There are still many communities that are under risk of flood warnings at this time,' he said in the press conference.

Residents of the Victorian regional centre of Shepparton have been ordered to evacuate as floodwaters continue to rise

Thousands of people have seen their homes inundated with rising waters, with fears there could be a number of fatalities.

More than 1,000 people in Echuca and Echuca Village have been told to evacuate their homes with authorities advising them to expect to be away for seven to 10 days.

Echuca Village is expected to be impacted by the middle of next week with flow-on effects from the Goulburn and Murray rivers.

Authorities predicted about 200 homes in Echuca would be impacted by floodwaters.

Residents in the northern Victorian town of Echuca have mounted a desperate defence of their properties with sandbags

The Campaspe River was expected to surpass 2011 flood levels at Echuca on Saturday.

There have been more than 450 rescues since the flooding began on Wednesday, and 88 rescues in the last 24 hours.

On Saturday, a 71-year-old man was found drowned on his property in the northern Victorian town of Rochester, with police unable to reach him.
A regional city in Victoria is bracing for record-breaking floods with water rising quicker than expected and trapping thousands in their homes.

Residents in Shepparton, in northern Victoria, were advised it was 'too late to leave' on Sunday after authorities predicted the Goulburn River would peak at 12.2m at 4am on Monday - a full 24 hours earlier than their previous prediction of Tuesday morning.

The SES estimates more than 7,300 homes in the regional city will be inundated.

If the flood peak rises just 10cm more, to 12.3m, the SES estimates another 600 homes will be impacted by major flooding.

Thousands of homes in Shepparton and the neighbouring towns of Mooroopna and Kialla have already been inundated with reports suggesting about 8,000 are flooded as swollen rivers burst their banks, swept away highways and cut power off overnight.

SES deputy incident controller Ray Jasper said the flood would beat the record set in 1974, describing the situation as 'complex'.

Shepparton residents outside their homes on Sunday, which they are now unable to leave due to floodwater

A Shepparton local kayaks down the flooded street after the city was hit by record flooding

Residents of the Victorian regional centre of Shepparton have been ordered to evacuate as floodwaters continue to rise

Earlier, Victorian SES chief Tim Wiebusch issued a specific warning for locals to be on the lookout for 'blue sky flooding' where clearing clouds lure people into a false sense of security that the risk is over when floodwaters are still rapidly rising.

'One of the challenges is weve not got what we call blue sky flooding,' Mr Wiebusch told ABC News.

'The rain has stopped  I think its more obvious to people when there's heavier rain.'

The Campaspe River already burst its banks in nearby Axedale, with a Twitter video posted by Seven News reporter Paul Dowsley revealing the raging water had almost obliterated the McIvor Highway.

Road damage and flooding is seen on Midland Highway near Elmore in northern Victoria.

Desperate residents in Echuca, on the NSW-Victorian border, constructed a sandbag wall to try and keep the rising floodwaters at bay.

While the wall worked to keep residents safe through Saturday night, the water began to seep through on Sunday morning, inching closer to residents' homes.

More than 1,000 people in Echuca and Echuca Village have been told to evacuate their homes with authorities advising them to expect to be away for seven to 10 days.

There have been more than 450 rescues in Victoria since the flooding began on Wednesday

Echuca Village is expected to be impacted by the middle of next week with flow-on effects from the Goulburn and Murray rivers.

Authorities predicted about 200 homes in Echuca would be impacted by floodwaters.

The Campaspe River was expected to surpass 2011 flood levels at Echuca on Saturday.

Echuca. The sandbag wall between floodwater and homes. @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/1aNNeSYGHX  Adam Hegarty (@ajhegarty9) October 15, 2022

Residents in the northern Victorian town of Echuca have mounted a desperate defence of their properties with sandbags

There have been more than 450 rescues since the flooding began on Wednesday, and 88 rescues in the last 24 hours.

On Saturday, a 71-year-old man was found drowned on his property in the northern Victorian town of Rochester, with police unable to reach him.

The I ncredible force of the floodwater is shown by what it leaves behind. This is whats left of the McIvor Highway at Axedale after the Campaspe River burst its banks. pic.twitter.com/eh4ZprjU8z  Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) October 14, 2022

Waters overcame a flood barrier at an electricity sub-station in Mooroopna, cutting off power to 6,000 properties.

Powercor confirmed 5,954 homes west of Mooroopna, including the town of Tatura, had lost electricity.

The Midland Highway, also known as the Mooroopna Causeway, was expected to be closed on Sunday but authorities announced it would close between Mooroopna and Shepparton from 6.30pm on Saturday.

People clear mud from a property damaged by floods in the Melbourne suburb of Maribyrnong

Loddon Mallee incident controller Mark Cattell said he wanted people to evacuate before things became dangerous.

'What we don't want is the Rochester situation where people were comfortable with what was happening, and they were comfortable to stay there, despite us giving them a pretty bleak picture of where it was going to be,' Mr Cattell said.

'We've spent the last two days evacuating people out of Rochester using boats in some very risky situations.'

Hundreds of homes in Rochester were overwhelmed by the flooded Campaspe River, one of dozens of waterways to burst their banks and send northern Victorian towns underwater. Police confirmed a man was found dead in floodwaters in the backyard of his Rochester home at 9:30am on Saturday

Twitter users shared images of the devastation that floodwaters were leaving in their wake

The Ovens river at Wangaratta has already reached 12.8metres and could rise further.

At Charlton major flooding of the Avoca River is expected to impact the town for up to five days.

Asphalt highways were no match for the power of floodwaters throughout northern Victoria

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews said more than 340 roads were out of action across the state.

'Major roads are assessed twice per day. There is a number of urgent repair works that have already started,' he said.

Mr Wiebusch urged people not to drive through floodwaters as rescuers desperately try to reach anyone stranded.

'That just ties up our emergency services that could be supporting more vulnerable communities that are under pressure with these floods,' he said.

'So please turn around, find an alternate way to get there. If you don't need to be travelling in those northern parts of Victoria, don't travel at all.'

Back in Melbourne, Maribyrnong residents are beginning to clean up their homes which were flooded when the Maribyrnong river burst its banks on Thursday.

The major central Victorian city of Bendigo has also been hit with floodwaters

Meanwhile, more rain could hit the NSW coast as people living in already saturated catchment areas prepare for more water to flow to flood-struck communities.

The Bureau of Meteorology said showers and storms could develop on the east coast on Sunday although inland areas that have received the bulk of recent rainfall were expected to be spared a further deluge.

But another storm system was forecast to develop over central Australia on Tuesday, bringing widespread rain and thunderstorms to eastern states by mid-next week.

Heavy downpours in Victoria were also expected to affect towns along the Murray River, including in Moama from Wednesday.

'There is major flooding occurring in multiple catchments right across the state, (and) some communities will move more towards relief and recovery sooner as waters start to recede,' SES spokesman Jamie Devenish said.

'A lot of those northern catchments ultimately flow into the Murray, so (for) the Murray River we're probably looking at a protracted flood event for the next four to six weeks.'

Swollen rivers across Victoria are expected to bring flooding to the state for up to six weeks. Pictured, Beechworth Woolshed Falls near Wangaratta

Major flooding from the Murrumbidgee River wasn't expected to reach the remote town of Hay until late October, the bureau said.

October rainfall records have been set in parts of inland NSW, including at Broken Hill in the state's far west.

The massive clean-up and recovery efforts across the drenched states are set to be put on hold with 100mm of rainfall predicted in coming days.

The weather office said rain and thunderstorms developing in South Australia and inland Queensland would bring 'much more widespread' rainfall and 'renewed flooding' back to the south-east from Wednesday.

Victoria's northern towns were worst hit, but the flooding hit the centre of Melbourne too. Rescue workers use an inflatable dinghy to rescue people from floodwaters in Maribyrnong

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Jonathan How told Daily Mail Australia Tasmania, Victoria and NSW would only get 'a few days of reprieve'.

He said a weather system developing 'will start to produce showers and thunderstorms across South Australia and inland Queensland from Tuesday and then extend to the rest of the east coast from Wednesday to Saturday.'

'This will be much more widespread,' he warned.

'So we will see showers all the way from central northern Queensland, down to Tasmania and particularly with this, we will see thunderstorms as well.

'So expecting widespread falls which could produce renewed flooding for some parts of the south-east and the east.'

Mr How said heaviest rainfall is predicted for south-east Queensland and northern NSW.

He said that region will see between 50 and 100mm of rainfall though further south is still vulnerable to heavy local rainfall likely to come with thunderstorms.
The mother-of-four pleaded guilty and will spend at least six months in prison

She made fake deposits into seven bank accounts from March 2019 to May 2021

Liebelt, 37, was the franchisee of the Aust Post Tennant Creek branch in the NT

A former Australian Post boss who stole nearly half-a-million dollars from the organisation has been sentenced to six months in prison.

Rebecca Liebelt, 37, pleaded guilty in the Northern Territory Supreme Court earlier this month to stealing cash and obtaining property by deception.

The mother-of-four was the franchisee and manager of Australia Post's Tennant Creek branch, five hours north of Alice Springs.

Liebelt pilfered $425,000 by stealing money from the banking system at Australia Post and making fake deposits into bank accounts from March 2019 to May 2021, the court heard.

Former Australia Post franchisee Rebecca Liebelt (pictured right with her husband Greg Liebelt) has been sentenced to six months jail for stealing $425,000 and laundering it

She spent most of the money she took on family holidays, household goods, investments and bills.

She was charged along with her husband, livestock agent Greg Liebelt.

Mr Liebelt denies having any knowledge of the money being stolen with his charges likely to be heard at a Supreme Court trial.

Liebelt's scheme began in March 2019 when she made a fake $2000 deposit into a joint business account she had with her husband.

A total of 72 fake deposits were made totalling $404,749.95 that the post franchisee moved through seven personal and business accounts across four different banks.

She funnelled some of the money through the post office she worked at to avoid suspicion and unplugged her modem to avoid detection.

The mother-of-four also stole $21,000 from the till at her work.

Australia Post security became aware of the financial irregularities and conducted a surprise audit in January 2021.

NT Police then launched an investigation in March of that year after a complaint was filed.

Liebelt was suspended by Australia Post in May and later terminated from her position before facing court over the charges.

Justice Sonia Brownhill described her operation as 'sophisticated' as she told the court about the lengths Liebelt went to to launder the money, the NT News reported.

'You moved the stolen funds around repeatedly and withdrew cash from ATMs across Tennant Creek, thereby overcoming the $2000 cash withdrawal limits,' Justice Brownhill told the court.

Liebelt was the franchisee and manager of Australia Post's Tennant Creek branch (pictured). She laundered some of the $425,000 she stole here

Justice Brownhill said that 'public confidence' in Australia Post had likely been damaged because of Liebelt's theft and fraudulent activities.

Her former employer was awarded a default judgement, forcing Liebelt to pay back $86,478.32 on top of the money she stole and the costs of the lease.

Liebelt was sentenced to four years and six months behind bars. However, she will be placed on home detention after serving six months jail.

During home detention, she will need to wear a monitoring bracelet and be regularly tested for drugs and alcohol.

If she does not reoffend in the next three years, her sentence will be suspended.
McDonald's has waded into a war of words with a teenager after she claimed she was provoked in a video that showed her yelling, spitting and throwing a drink at the fast food giant's staff.

Mia Miller's furious outburst was filmed at the Hindley St McDonald's, in Adelaide's CBD, late on October 9.

Ms Miller, 18, has since claimed she was refused a free cup of water and when she tried to get one she was 'pushed and hit out' out of the outlet's kitchen.

Mia Miller (above) has apologised for her 'disgusting' behaviour after a clip of a McDonald's tirade went viral

A spokesperson for McDonald's denied to Daily Mail Australia that staff employed emergency response procedures and denied they acted in any inappropriate way.

'The health and safety of our people and customers is our top priority,' the spokesperson said.

'Anti-social behaviour is not tolerated in our restaurants and we expect our people to be treated with respect at all times.

'We will always do our best for our customers, but we won't accept abuse, intimidation, threats or violence towards our employees.

'We will continue to support all employees involved.'

Ms Miller was filmed launching a frenzied attack on staff working behind the counter at an Adelaide McDonald's (above)

Ms Miller has been charged over the incident under new regulations in the state aimed at protecting retail workers.

It is alleged she punched a staff member in the head, spat on workers and threw a drink, among other items, over the counter.

Ms Miller broke her silence about the incident on Friday, revealing she had gone to the store to get a drink of water and was 'really, really drunk'.

When staff wouldn't give her water, she claimed she took matters into her own hands and tried to get one from behind the counter herself.

'I do really want everyone to know that I genuinely am really, really sorry and I feel really bad for my actions that night,' Ms Miller told 7News.

In the viral video, Ms Miller was seen reaching behind the counter to pick up foodstuffs and other items to allegedly hurl at the fast food workers (above)

'I'm disgusted by my behaviour, that is disgusting. Like, that's not ladylike at all, it's feral.'

However, Ms Miller does believe she should have just been given a cup of free water.

'They could've just given me the cup of free water and none of this would've happened, but I should've just accepted it and walked away,' she said.

Ms Miller was charged with two counts of aggravated assault (shop worker), disorderly behaviour and committing a prohibited act with human biological material.

She will face court on November 24.

Under South Australia's tough new laws, those found guilty of assaulting retail workers face a maximum sentence of up to seven years.

'It's just scary, like, I'm worried I might get locked up  I don't think I'm fit for jail, do you know what I mean?' Ms Miller said.

Ms Miller accused a store manager of hitting her in the face after she tried to get into the outlet's kitchen to get a cup of water

In the video, Ms Miller is seen reaching over the counter and grabbing a full drink, which she hurled at startled workers.

Wearing grey tracksuit pants and a beige pullover, Ms Miller appeared to scream: 'You hit me in the face bro' at a staff member, who was on the phone.

The worker replied: 'No, I did not.'

'Yes, you f***ing did, there's a video you stupid f***,' Ms Miller yelled back.

As the staff member walked off to the side of the store, an angry Ms Miller launched herself at the counter and allegedly spat toward him.

McDonald's said that its staff employed 'emergency response procedures' during the incident

Witnesses claim there was no security in store at the time of the incident.

Shopworkers Union secretary Josh Peak called for more security at the McDonald's, despite it being directly opposite a new police station.

'Time after time we are seeing examples of workers being abused and insulted at this shop,' Mr Peak said.

Bring back the security guards so that people don't think they can get can get away with this sort of vile behaviour.'
His lawyers claimed he acted in self-defence during an alleged carjacking

It's alleged he stabbed the boy in the heart during incident in north Perth

His condition has since been upgraded from serious to stable

A teen alleged to have stabbed a boy to death has been rushed to hospital

The teenage son of a former television star remains in hospital days after being brutally bashed in an alleged botched prison drug deal in Western Australia's 'toughest prison'.

Jaden Martinovich, 18, was beaten by an inmate at Perth's maximum security Hakea Prison.

It's understood he was rushed to Perth's Fiona Stanley Hospital in serious condition at 3.30pm on Friday.

His condition has since improved to stable.

Mr Martinovich allegedly stabbed a 17-year-old through the heart during the bungled deal at a car park in north Perth at 9.30pm, August 27.

It's alleged he had pretended a ziplock bag full of salt was methamphetamine during the late night deal.

Jaden Martinovich, 18, has been injured after a prison bashing and hospitalised. It's alleged he fatally stabbed a 17-year-old boy during a drug deal gone wrong

Martinovich was reportedly seriously injured in Western Australia's Hakea maximum security prison (above)

Police allege dashcam footage gathered from Mr Martinovich's own car captured him saying: 'I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight knowing I've plunged a knife into some c***'s vital organs'.

'That's awesome, love doing that.'

Mr Martinovich, whose mother is former Aerobics Oz Style star Kelly Martinovich, was charged with grievous bodily harm two days after the alleged incident, but the charge was upgraded to murder following the death of his alleged victim.

Martinovich (above with his mother, former TV star Kelly Martinovich) claimed he was acting in self-defence during an alleged botched drug deal in which a 17-year-old was killed

Mr Martinovich faced the upgraded charge in Northbridge Magistrates Court during the brief hearing the day after the 17-year-old died, but didn't enter a plea.

Through his lawyer, he instead insisted he had been acting in self-defence during an attempted carjacking.

Mr Martinovich had allegedly arranged a drug deal with the victim on social media before driving to a car park near Bourke St along with two teen associates.

Police prosecutors will allege after a short conversation the 17-year-old got in Mr Martinovich's car and attempted to drive away while his two associates were still inside.

Prosecutors allege that police have dashcam audio from Martinovich's car on the night of the alleged incident were he is accused of buying a bag of sea salt under the pretense it was the drug meth (pictured, left, with his mother Kelly)

Mr Martinovich then allegedly chased down the car, opened the driver's door and told the 17-year-old 'get out, I have a knife'.

He then allegedly stabbed the victim through the heart with a knife.

Parents Mrs Martinovich and Levi Martinovich refused to speak with the press when they left the court to a waiting SUV in September.

Mr Martinovich had been granted bail, before his grievous bodily harm charge was upgraded to murder, after paying a $25,000 bond and his parents paid $100,000 surety.

Mrs Martinovich was in Perth Magistrates Court last month to support her son with the teen's father Levi

Mr Martinovich, 18, had previously been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to the 17-year-old boy after an incident on Bourke St in North Perth about 9.30pm on August 27 but the charge has since been upgraded to murder

Heartbroken family friends of the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, paid tribute to him after his death.

'My little brother you've grown wings today and showed us nothing is forever we will all miss you till the end of time you was and still is such an important person in everyone's life,' one wrote on social media.

'God has chosen you to be (an) angel to look after all your brothers and sisters and I'm sorry it happened this way but you will be missed by everyone you left such (an) impact on everyone you met.'

Mr Martinovich's mother is a 1980s and '90s aerobics star who featured on the popular television show Aerobics Oz Style which ran for more than 6,000 episodes on Channel 10 for 23 years until 2005.

It is not suggested Mrs Martinovich is in any way connected to the alleged crime.
Democrat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez has continued the scathing attacks at his Republican opponent Congresswoman Mayra Flores, as he said that the freshman representative can't 'speak' or 'think for herself.'

Flores, 36, won a special election earlier this year and is the first Mexican-born woman elected to the House of Representatives. Gonzalez, who has served in Congress since 2017, is facing Flores in Texas' newly drawn 34th District as a result of redistricting.

In a video shared by Flores from a Gonzalez rally in Harlingen, Texas earlier this week, the Democrat essentially accuses his opponent of being unable to do anything for herself.

Gonzalez, 55, said: 'Were gonna push back on these outside resources coming here picking a candidate, a hand-picked candidate that cant think for herself, cant speak for herself, cant act for herself, cant vote for herself.'

He specifically targeted Flores' no vote on the bipartisan Keep Communities Safe Act, which included extended background checks for people under 21 buying guns, further criminalized arms trafficking and partially closed the boyfriend loophole. It passed by a vote of 234-193 after an amended bill passed the Senate 65-33.

Republican Congresswoman Mayra Flores continues to face attacks from her Democrat opponent, with Representative Vicente Gonzalez (pictured) saying the freshman representative can't 'speak' or 'think for herself'

Flores, 36, won a special election earlier this year and is the first Mexican-born woman elected to the House of Representatives

Gonzalez, who has served in Congress since 2017, is facing Flores in Texas' newly drawn 34th District as a result of redistricting

In a video shared by Flores from a Gonzalez rally in Harlingen, Texas earlier this week, the Democrat essentially accuses his opponent of being unable to do anything for herself

Flores told the New York Post in a statement: 'Entitled liberals like Vicente Gonzalez simply refuse to accept that not all Hispanics believe like they want us to.'

She added: 'So instead of telling voters what they stand for and letting the best ideas prevails, Gonzalez and his friends resort to these disgusting personal attacks. The people of South Texas deserve better. We are people of strong faith, strong family values and strong work ethic.'

GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel called Gonzalez 'disgusting' and and said he 'has launched one racist and sexist attack after another against' Flores.

McDaniel added: 'But Mayra isnt backing down and wont be intimidated!'

Gonzalez has subjected Flores to several attacks, most recently a campaign ad earlier this week with an edited picture includes an ominous green filter and appears to have been edited to give Flores' eyebrows a tilted, more aggressive look.

Flores said in a statement: 'Entitled liberals like Vicente Gonzalez simply refuse to accept that not all Hispanics believe like they want us to'

The ad, which focused on school safety and gun control, was posted Monday to Gonzalez's Twitter. It targeted Flores for her first congressional vote against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in the weeks following the massacre at an Uvalde, Texas school.

Flores, along with all but 15 House Republicans, voted against the so-called 'Bipartisan Safer Communities Act,' largely due to the red flag laws that the bill implements, which allow state officials to determine if an individual is fit for gun ownership.

The ad uses an edited picture of Flores that was originally posted to her Instagram in early 2022.

The edited picture of Rep. Mayra Flores (R). The color filter on the picture was changed, and Flores' eyebrows appear to have been dragged down to make them look more sinister and aggressive

After the tragic shooting at Uvalde, Mayra Flores' first vote in Congress was AGAINST a bipartisan school safety bill. We need a representative that works to protect our children and families; not someone who puts them in danger. Remember to vote for Vicente Gonzalez. pic.twitter.com/h4liKjAFEp  Vicente Gonzalez (@VoteVicente) October 10, 2022

The ad, which focused on school safety and gun control, was posted Monday to Gonzalez's Twitter

The original picture from Gonzalez's ad was taken from the candidate's Instagram

As the unflattering picture flashed across the screen, the female narrator of the ad states, 'Republican Mayra Flores' first vote in Congress was against the Bipartisan Safe Communities Act.'

'She voted against keeping our children safe in schools, against keeping weapons out of the hands of Mexican cartels, and against keeping guns out of the hands of criminals with a prior history of domestic violence,' it continues.

On his campaign's Twitter account, he wrote, 'After the tragic shooting at Uvalde, Mayra Flores' first vote in Congress was AGAINST a bipartisan school safety bill.

'We need a representative that works to protect our children and families; not someone who puts them in danger.'

Gonzalez did not disclose that the photo he used was doctored.

Gonzalez's campaign previously paid a Texas political blogger to attack Flores online. The blogger used a number of racially disparaging monikers against Flores, including 'Miss Enchiladas'

The ad specifically targets Flores' record voting against the so-called 'Bipartisan Safer Communities Act' in the wake of the tragic Uvalde school shooting

A Texas political blogger paid by the Gonzalez campaign for ad services flung racist attacks at Flores in June, including calling her 'Miss Frijoles' and 'Miss Enchiladas.'

Jerry McHale accused Flores, the first woman born in Mexico to be elected to Congress, of 'playing the race card' and called her a 'cotton pickin' liar' because of her claim that she worked in cotton fields with her immigrant parents as a child.

In September, Flores introduced the Reduce Gun Violence Act, which her campaign touted as a 'comprehensive funding package of more than $11 billion dollars to schools across the country to increase physical security and access mental health resources.'

Flores was elected to her post in a special election held in June of this year to fill the unexpired term of former Rep. Filemon Vela, who departed the House in March to work for the lobbying firm Akin Group.
The mother of a man who was shot in the face outside his home after ducking out to buy cigarettes has begged his shooters to keep 'warfare' off the streets.

Geoffrey Menz, aged in his 30s, was shot in the front yard of his home on Cowper Ave in Eagleby, south Brisbane, at about 9pm on Saturday.

Just 15km away a 58-year-old woman was also shot in the front yard of her home and suffered facial injuries at about 3.30pm.

Mr Menz's mother, Lorraine Castner, said her son had called her half an hour before the shooting to say he was going out to buy some cigarettes.

A man was shot at in the front yard of his home on Cowper Ave (above) in Eagleby, south Brisbane, on Saturday night

She said her son saw a white or silver Mitsubishi Lancer parked outside his home and asked the people inside to move it.

Instead they fired off several shots, most of which wedged themselves in Mr Menz's six-foot wooden fence.

Mr Menz then went to his neighbour to call for help and let his mother know he was shot in the cheek, chin and chest.

His mum doesn't believe her son knew the people in the car.

'I couldn't actually comprehend at that point in time what had happened to him, but he said he'd been shot,' Ms Castner told the Courier Mail.

'It all happened very quickly and the ambulance came and took him to hospital, and I kept getting texts: ''Please mum, get my dog, look after my dog, he's never been alone before'' so it was all about the dog.'

She said the incident was 'unbelievable' and begged the shooters to consider who else could have been hurt.

'It's an extremely dangerous thing and other people could have been injured...This is supposed to be a nice, local street, not a place of warfare,' she said.

Police have urged anyone with relevant information or footage relating to the event to come forward.
Police are investigating the sudden death of a woman who was found unconscious at a home in Brisbane's bayside region.

Emergency services were called to a property on Swan St in Capalaba at about 7.30pm on Saturday to conduct a welfare check.

Police found a woman in her 50s who was unresponsive and she was declared dead at the site.

Police were responding to a welfare check when they found a woman in her 50s unresponsive in her home on Swan St (pictured) in Capalaba, south east of Brisbane

A crime scene was established and detectives launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Police said a 42-year-old man was helping officers with their investigation.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A massive fire has torn through a pharmaceutical factory in Sydney's west, sending plumes of smoke flying into the sky.

About 15 fire trucks carrying more than 70 firefighters were called to the Star Combo Pharma facility on Woodpark Road in Smithfield after the blaze erupted just after 2pm on Sunday.

Solar panels on the roof of the factory caught alight as the fire tore through the facility with plumes of thick black smoke blanketing neighbouring buildings.

Over 70 firefighters worked to extinguish a blaze the Star Combo Pharma facility (pictured) in Smithfield, Sydney

Giant plumes of smoke billowed from the facility as the fire engulfed the pharmaceutical factory (pictured)

Firefighters used a cherry picker to try and contain the blaze from the air, as it was too hot to enter the factory.

'The fire was of such intensity that the firefighters couldn't enter the property  they were fighting the fire from the outside using cherry pickers and water towers,' Fire and Rescue NSW said on Sunday afternoon.

'While the firefighters have done a good job in containing it to the building, the extinguishment is being hampered with troubles getting water onto the fire because there's limited openings in the buildings.'

It's understood the blaze has now been contained but residents in the surrounding suburb of Greystanes are being warned to stay indoors and not use air conditioners to avoid inhaling smoke.

Firefighters used a cherry picker to try and contain the blaze from the air, as it was too hot to enter the factory

There were concerns one person was inside after their car was spotted outside the facility but authorities have since confirmed they are safe and accounted for

There were concerns one person was inside after their car was spotted outside the facility but authorities have since confirmed they are safe and accounted for.

Star Combo Pharma makes pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, vitamins and nutritional supplements which are shipped nationally and internationally.

The facility reportedly just went under a multi-million dollar upgrade.
Three people have died after a two-car crash in the Canberra suburb of Whitlam, marking 17 deaths on ACT roads so far this year.

A red Toyota hatchback and a white Toyota van smashed into each other at the intersection of Coppins Crossing Road and John Gorton Drive on Sunday afternoon.

Three passengers inside the hatchback were killed, with the driver of the hatchback and the driver of the van were both taken to hospital.

The hatchback driver is reported to be in a serious condition in hospital.

The red Toyota was seen completely flattened after the crash, which emergency services were called to just before 3pm.

A red Toyota hatchback is pictured completely flattened after a crash in Canberra on Sunday

Police have asked for anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

'Regrettably, this is the 17 fatality on ACT roads this year,' Detective Superintendent Mick Calatzis said.

'It's an ongoing investigation.'

Police said a report on the incident is being prepared for the coroner, and have urged all road users to slow down and drive to the conditions.

Jim Walsh from ACT Fire and Rescue said all staff who worked at the scene of the crash will be supported to ensure their wellbeing is looked after.

Police and emergency vehicles are seen at the scene of a crash on Sunday in which three people were killed

'All we can do is support ACT Policing's message in slowing down,' he said.

'Take the extra one or two minutes to get to your destination safely, removes all the trauma for families, friends and emergency service workers in these situations.'

Emergency services have asked the community to avoid the area while the road is closed during the initial investigation.
BELAGAVI: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he would visit New Delhi to discuss about the cabinet expansion with the BJP national president and other senior leaders.

Cabinet expansion is being discussed in Karnataka for several months. Many MLAs are waiting to enter the state cabinet. However, the process is getting postponed due to various reasons. The MLAs want the party to give a green signal for the cabinet expansion at the earliest as the Assembly elections are just a few months away.

Speaking to reporters at the Sambra Airport in Belagavi on Saturday, Bommai said during the ongoing Jan Sankalp Yatra he would go to Delhi to discuss with BJP national president J.P. Nadda and other senior leaders about the Cabinet expansion. Everyone will be informed if the high command permits the cabinet expansion, he added.

Asked about the Shiv Sena opposing the construction of the Kannada Bhavan at Kaneri Mutt in Kolhapur, the CM said there are Kannada Bhavans built by various associations and organizations in Maharashtra. "There are also many temples and Yatri Nivas. State or language barriers must not come in these issues," he said.
Alameddine was taken to hospital after the crash during a social drag race

Alleged Alameddine and Comanchero gang associate was in a high-speed crash

Alleged underworld figure Mohamad Alameddine has smashed his $350,000 Lamborghini during a high-speed social drag race.

Alameddine, who police allege is linked to the crime clan and Comanchero bikie gang, crashed the luxury car while travelling at 200km/hour at Sydney's Motorsport Park in Eastern Creek on Friday night.

Footage shows the white Lamborghini Huracan swerve to the right and smash into a wall on the side of the track.

The car then spins around in the opposite direction and hits the wall again.

Mohamad Alameddine (above) crashed his white Lamborghini Huracan during a Sydney drag race on Friday night

Alameddine's Lamborghini (above) spun and hit the wall twice during a friendly drag race at Sydney's Motorsport Park in Eastern Creek

Alameddine was rushed to hospital following the crash but is 'okay, just a bit banged up', a source told The Daily Telegraph.

Alameddine is currently under a Serious Crime Prevention Order.

He is facing charges for directing a criminal group, armed robbery and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

He was earlier this year seen with Comanchero sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed and new president Alex Meehan, after the Zahed was shot ten times at an Auburn gym in May. He survived the attack.

Zahed's brother Omar, 39, was also hit with multiple bullets, that put him into cardiac arrest and died at the scene.
A primary school teacher who lost her job after she refused to address an eight-year-old pupil with male pronouns has launched legal action against the school's governors and the local council.

The anonymous teacher is bringing a judicial review after she was sacked by the school earlier this year, with the case to be heard in the High Court in Birmingham next week.

It is thought to be the first time a teacher has taken action of this kind, The Sunday Times reports.

The year 4 teacher was suspended last autumn after she refused to use male pronouns and a male name for a pupil, arguing that it could cause harm to the child.

A year 4 teacher was suspended last autumn after she refused to use male pronouns and a male name for a pupil, arguing that it could cause harm to the child (stock photo)

She continued to challenge the school's 'transgender affirming' policies, which included allowing the child to wear boys' uniform and use the boys' toilets, before she was sacked earlier this year.

The school's head teacher had told her in September last year that a pupil in her next class would be referred to by a boy's name after the head had agreed to the child's parents' request to do so.

In an email to the head, the teacher wrote that she did not agree with calling the child 'by the requested name and pronouns [because] I think it is harmful'.

She said her email 'flustered' the head and that they responded: 'You have no choice, the family has requested it. You are in loco parentis.'

She could now be banned from teaching for life after the school reported her to the Teaching Regulation Agency.

The anonymous teacher is bringing a judicial review after she was sacked by the school earlier this year, with the case to be heard in the High Court in Birmingham next week

The teacher's case is being backed by the Christian Legal Centre, the legal branch of evangelical campaign group Christian Concern.

It says it it works with clients 'taking a stand for Jesus' and handles cases for Christians 'who have found themselves in court on account of their faith'.

The group lobbies against LGBT rights, such as the government's planned conversion therapy ban, and has previously held events such about 'protecting children against the transgender agenda'.

The school's head teacher had told the teacher in September last year that a pupil in her next class would be known by a boy's name after the head had agreed to the child's parents' request to do so

The school's policy was backed by advice from the local council, the charity Stonewall and the Church of England diocese.

Along with other members of staff, the teacher had attended 'trans-awareness' training, which included materials provided by the local council, including some from LGBT charity Stonewall.

The resources told staff that eight in 10 transgender children realise they are transgender before they leave primary school.

The local council told The Sunday Times: 'We will not comment on a case that is subject to ongoing proceedings. Our priority is the welfare of every child educated in our school.'
Russia has threatened to equip Belarusian warplanes with nuclear missile capability after Russian soldiers came flooding in 'by the trainload' on Saturday.

Although the Kremlin have claimed that the move was part of a defensive operation, some commentators believe that Putin is attempting to draw Belarus - a country bordering both Russia and Ukraine - into his war, the Telegraph has reported.

Russia's defence ministry stated that the decision to send soldiers into Belarus, for the first time since March, was 'dictated by the ongoing activity in the areas bordering us.'

Belarus and Russia reportedly began combining some of their military forces shortly after the explosion on the Kerch Bridge - joining Russian-occupied Crimea to the Russian mainland- according to Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Russia has threatened to equip Belarusian warplanes with nuclear missile capability after Russian soldiers came flooding in 'by the trainload' on Saturday

Dictator Alexander Lukashenko (pictured with Putin on September 26) announced earlier this week that he would deploy a 'joint military task force' with Moscow - a move Minsk also claims is 'purely defensive'

The Belarusian border, which lies 140 miles from Kyiv, was used as a launchpad for Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February.

On Saturday, the Russian foreign ministry said it would equip Belarusian Su-25 warplanes with the capability to carry nuclear-capable missiles but that it was not yet arming Minsk, the Belarusian capital, with the missiles.

With an army size of roughly 50,000, Belarus does not currently have any nuclear missiles of its own, and is not regarded as an effective military force by defence experts.

Latest reports from Moscow and Minsk officials say that Ukraine is now planning to invade Belarus.

This comes as Belarus ordered its troops to be tested for 'combat readiness'.

Dictator Alexander Lukashenko announced earlier this week that he would deploy a 'joint military task force' with Moscow - a move Minsk also claims is 'purely defensive'.

The combat readiness test, ordered by Lukashenko, was announced as the head of his secret service said he expected to see a 'turning point' in Vladimir Putin's invasion in the coming months.

Russia's defence ministry stated that the decision to send soldiers into Belarus, for the first time since March, was 'dictated by the ongoing activity in the areas bordering us.' Pictured: Russian (right) and Belarus soldiers during joint exercises of the armed forces, February 19

Russian and Belarus tanks during joint exercises of the armed forces on February 24, days before Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine on February 24

Belarusian news agency BelTA reported Tuesday that the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus had 'begun a test of the Armed Forces of Belarus in accordance with instructions of the head of state' - echoing Russian rhetoric leading up to the invasion of Ukraine, in which Russia claimed it was carrying out military drills on the border.

'The test is comprehensive and covers the most important matters concerning the readiness of army units for carrying out their missions,' the agency reported, noting that units will practice 'switching to combat-ready state' while undertaking marching drills, deployment drills and combat training missions.

The combat readiness test has included the Belarusian army testing its mobilisations procedures and calling-up reservists.

Up to 60 T-72 tanks had been taken out of storage in Belarus and sent to Belgorod in Russia, near the border with Ukraine, according to reports.

A Belarusian NGO, though, played down concerns of a new Russian ground assault on Kyiv originating in Minsk. It said that the Russian soldiers were newly mobilised men sent to bases across Belarus without tanks or armoured personnel vehicles.

'It can be assumed that the decision to deploy a 'regional grouping of troops' is a cover for training mobilised citizens of the Russian Federation in Belarus,' said the Belarusian Hajun Project which monitors military activity.

This latest alliance has sparked fury in Europe, with the European Commission urging Belarus to refrain from any involvement in Russia's 'brutal illegitimate undertaking' that violated the United Nations Charter and international law.

G7 leaders said today that Lukashenko's plan to deploy joint forces with Russia is a new instance of complicity with Moscow, and warned Minsk to 'stop enabling' Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

'The announcement of a joint military group with Russia constitutes the most recent example of the Belarusian regime's complicity with Russia,' they said in a statement, urging the 'Lukashenko regime to fully abide by its obligations under international law'.

On Saturday, the Russian foreign ministry said it would equip Belarusian Su-25 warplanes with the capability to carry nuclear-capable missiles but that it was not yet arming Minsk, the Belarusian capital, with the missiles. Pictured: A Ukrainian military vehicle in Ukraine

Mr Lukashenko has been a loyal ally of Russia's president - openly supportive of his war in Ukraine.

As well as allowing Russia to invade Ukraine from Belarus at the beginning of the war, he has also allowed the Russian air force to fire missiles at Ukraine from Belarusian air space.

He has, though, gone on record to complain that the war had dragged on for too long and has avoided committing Belarusian forces so far.

The invasion of Ukraine is far less popular in Belarus than Russia. Domestic support for Mr Lukashenko is also fragile.

However, analysts have warned that if Putin ordered Mr Lukansheko to join the war, he would comply.

'Joining the war against Ukraine would generate further outrage against his deeply unpopular government but his most important, and only significant, supporter, Putin, wants him to back this failing invasion,' said Kenneth Roth, the former executive director of New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Speaking on Monday, Lukashenko said Kyiv presents a clear threat to his country.

The remarks from Lukashenko, who has held power in Belarus since 1994, indicate a a combined Russian-Belarus joint force in the north of Ukraine.

Belarus and Russia reportedly began combining some of their military forces shortly after the explosion on the Kerch Bridge (pictured, October 8) joining Russian-occupied Crimea to the Russian mainland, according to Lukashenko

'Strikes on the territory of Belarus are not just being discussed in Ukraine today, but are also being planned,' Lukashenko said at a meeting on security, without providing evidence for the assertion.

'Their owners are pushing them to start a war against Belarus to drag us there.'

'We have been preparing for this for decades. If necessary, we will respond,' Lukashenko said, adding that he had spoken to Putin about the situation while at a meeting in St Petersburg.

Lukashenko said he had agreed with Putin to deploy a regional military group, and had started pulling forces together two days ago, apparently after an attack on Russia's road and rail bridge to Crimea early on Saturday.

He said that a warning was delivered to Belarus through unofficial channels that Ukraine planned 'Crimean Bridge 2', though he did not give details.

'My answer was simple: 'Tell the president of Ukraine and the other lunatics: if they touch one metre of our territory then the Crimean Bridge will seem to them like a walk in the park'.'
The Evin prison blaze left at least four dead and 61 injured, reports revealed

The state claims the fire had 'nothing to do with the recent unrest in the country'

Iran says prisoners set fire to a warehouse full of uniforms, causing the blaze

Video from the jail showed scorched walls and ceilings in the sewing workshop

Video shows the aftermath of a huge fire that erupted at a notorious jail in Iran's capital housing political prisoners and anti-government activists.

State-run IRNA aired footage of the blaze's aftermath on Sunday, showing scorched walls and ceilings in a room it said was the upper floor of a sewing workshop at Evin Prison.

The news agency said on Sunday the situation was now calm and that the clashes at the prison had 'nothing to do with the recent unrest in the country'.

Gunshots and the sound of explosions were heard during Saturday night's blaze from inside the vast complex in northern Tehran which was smothered by smoke and illuminated by flames, according to footage posted on social media channels.

Iran's judiciary said that four prisoners died due to smoke inhalation caused by the fire. According to IRNA, 61 others were injured, with 51 of these treated on an outpatient basis.

The fire came as Iran marked one month of protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, who had been arrested for violating the country's strict dress code for women.

Tehran Gov. Mohsen Mansouri alleged the fire was 'caused by a fight between some prisoners in a sewing workshop'. IRNA had reported Saturday that there were clashes between prisoners in one ward and prison personnel, citing a senior security official.

The security official said prisoners set fire to a warehouse full of uniforms, which caused the blaze. 'Rioters' were separated from the other inmates to de-escalate the conflict, the official alleged.

Meanwhile, rights groups warned on Sunday that the lives of prisoners are at grave risk in Evin prison in Tehran. The activists also reported protests in solidarity with Evin detainees late into the night on Saturday, after angry demonstrators had taken to streets across Iran despite internet cuts.

Video shows the aftermath of a huge fire that erupted at a notorious jail in Iran's capital housing political prisoners and anti-government activists

A photo provided by Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) shows scorched steps following a Saturday night fire on the property of Evin prison in Tehran, Iran

State-run IRNA aired video of the blaze's aftermath on Sunday, showing scorched walls and ceilings in a room it said was the upper floor of a sewing workshop at Evin Prison

Gunshots and the sound of explosions were heard during Saturday night's blaze from inside the vast prison in Tehran which was smothered by smoke and illuminated by flames (pictured)

Gunshots and the sound of explosions were heard during Saturday night's blaze from inside the vast Evin prison complex in northern Tehran which was smothered by smoke and illuminated by flames, according to footage posted on social media.

IRNA later reported that nine people had been injured, without elaborating. It published video showing burnt debris scattered around a building, with firefighters hosing down the embers.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said on Sunday that 'peace' had been restored at the prison and that the unrest was not related to the protests which have been sweeping the country.

But video showed protesters walking amongst traffic along roads leading to the prison, some lighting fires and chanting 'death to Khamenei'.

A witness also said ambulance sirens could be heard and smoke still rose over the prison.

'Roads leading to Evin prison have been closed to traffic. There are lots of ambulances here,' the witness claimed. 'Still, we can hear gunshots.'

Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who was held in Evin for most of her 800-plus days behind bars in Iran, reported Sunday that she had heard that all the women political prisoners were safe.

Evin, located in the foothills at the northern edge of the Iranian capital, is infamous for the ill-treatment of political prisoners and also holds foreign detainees, as well as thousands of people facing criminal charges.

Hundreds of those arrested during the demonstrations over Ms Amini's death have reportedly been sent there.

'Evin Prison in Tehran is on fire and shots can clearly be heard. The life of every political and ordinary crime prisoner is at grave risk', said the Oslo-based non-government group Iran Human Rights (IHR).

'Prisoners, including political prisoners, are completely defenceless inside that prison,' said Hadi Ghaemi, director of the US-based Centre for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), expressing concern that 'prisoners are being killed'.

Freedom of expression group Article 19 said it had heard reports of telephone and Internet connections at Evin being cut and that it was 'extremely worried for the safety of Evin's prisoners'.

IRNA published video showing burnt debris scattered around a building, with firefighters hosing down the embers

Iran's judiciary said that four prisoners died due to smoke inhalation caused by the fire. According to IRNA, 61 others were injured, with 51 of these treated on an outpatient basis. Firefighters are pictured as they battle the blaze at Evin prison

Evin, located in the foothills at the northern edge of the Iranian capital, is infamous for the ill-treatment of political prisoners and also holds foreign detainees, as well as thousands of people facing criminal charges. A IRNA reporter is pictured Sunday examining the debris

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said on Sunday that 'peace' had been restored at the prison and that the unrest was not related to the protests which have been sweeping the country. Pictured: Flames and thick smoke rising from the Evin prison on Saturday night

Video showed protesters walking amongst traffic along roads leading to the prison on Saturday night, some lighting fires and chanting 'death to Khamenei'

Iranian protesters gathered on a road leading to the Evin prison, in the northwest of the Iranian capital Tehran, on Saturday night

Protesters are pictured marching towards Evin prison on Saturday night after the fire broke out

CHRI reported that an 'armed conflict' broke out within the prison walls on Saturday night. It said shots were first heard in Ward 7 of the prison. This account could not immediately be corroborated.

Footage of the fire circulated online. Videos showed shots ringing out as plumes of smoke rose into the sky amid the sound of an alarm.

A protest broke out on the street soon after, with many chanting 'Death to the Dictator!' - a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - and burning tires, the videos showed.

Witnesses said that police blocked roads and highways to Evin and that at least three strong explosions were heard coming from the area.

Traffic was heavy along major freeways near the prison, which is in the north of the capital, and many people honked to show their solidarity with protests.

Riot police were seen riding on motorbikes towards the facility, as were ambulances and fire engines. Witnesses reported that the internet was blocked in the area.

Gunshots and the sound of explosions were heard during Saturday night's blaze from inside the vast Evin prison complex in northern Tehran

Online videos appear to show smoke rising from Evin prison in Tehran, with gunshots and an alarm being heard on Saturday

Images on social media show a huge fire with large plumes of smoke visible in the sky

The prison, which mostly holds detainees facing security charges, has long been criticised by Western rights groups and it was blacklisted by the US government in 2018 for 'serious human rights abuses'

An IRNA photo shows damage caused by a fire inside the building of the Evin prison

The prison fire occurred as protesters intensified anti-government demonstrations along main streets and at universities in some cities across Iran on Saturday.

Human rights monitors reported hundreds dead, including children, as the movement concluded its fourth week.

In the city of Sanandaj, a hotspot for demonstrations in the northern Kurdish region, school girls chanted 'Woman, life, freedom' down a central street.

Students rallied outside universities in Kermanshah, Rasht and Tehran, according to videos on social media.

The protests erupted after public outrage over the death Ms Amini following her arrest by Iran's morality police in Tehran for violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code.

Iran's government insists she was not mistreated in police custody, but her family says her body showed bruises and other signs of beating after she was detained.

The unrest has continued despite what Amnesty International has called an 'unrelenting brutal crackdown' that has included an 'all-out attack on child protesters' - leading to the deaths of at least 23 minors.

At least 233 protesters have been killed since demonstrations swept Iran on September 17, according to US-based rights monitor HRANA. The group said 32 among the dead were below the age of 18.

Earlier, Oslo-based Iran Human Rights estimated 201 people have been killed. Iranian authorities have provided no death toll for weeks.

A Revolutionary Guards commander said Saturday that three members of its Basij militia had been killed and 850 wounded in Tehran since the start of the 'sedition', IRNA said.

The crackdown has drawn international condemnation and sanctions against Iran from Britain, Canada and the US.

European Union countries agreed this week to level new sanctions, and the move is due to be endorsed at the bloc's foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.

Iranian authorities have alleged without providing evidence that the unrest is a Western plot, trying to play down the demonstrations.

Public anger in Iran has coalesced around Ms Amini's death, prompting girls and women to remove their mandatory headscarves on the street in a show of solidarity.

Other segments of society, including oil workers, have also joined the movement, becoming one of the greatest challenges to Iran's theocracy since the country's 2009 Green Movement.

Evin prison has seen multiple accusations of torture, rape and other inhumane treatment of prisoners

IRNA shares footage of a sleeping chamber inside the prison apparently captured before Saturday night's blaze. it is unclear specifically when the interior footage were captured

A fire truck is pictured in front of the Evin prison after a blaze broke out on Saturday night

Damage caused by a fire outside the building of the Evin prison on Saturday night

Debris from the Evin prison fire is pictured outside the facility

A fence-like structure is pictured after having been damaged after a fire broke out inside the building of the Evin prison

Commercial strikes resumed on Saturday in key cities across the Kurdish region, including Saqqez, Ms Amini's hometown, and the birthplace of the protests, Bukan and Sanandaj.

The government has responded with a brutal crackdown, arresting activists and protest organisers, reprimanding Iranian celebrities for voicing support, even confiscating their passports, and using live ammunition, tear gas and sound bombs to disperse crowds, leading to deaths.

An Iranian coroner claimed Ms Amini had died from illness, not police violence, and insisted two girls killed during anti-hijab protests 'fell off roofs' despite claims security forces beat the teenagers to death.

Ms Amini's cousin, Erfan Mortezaei, has said that on the day she was arrested, she was forced into a police van and taken to the station where she was 'tortured'.

'There is a report from Kasra hospital [in Tehran] that says effectively by the time she reached the hospital she was already dead from a medical point of view,' he told Sky News. 'She suffered a concussion from a blow to the head.'

Footage emerged on Saturday which appeared to show a woman being seriously sexually assaulted by an officer during an arrest by police at a protest.

In a surprising move, Iranian officials have said they are looking into the incident.

Widely distributed video also showed plainclothes Basij, a paramilitary volunteer group, forcing a woman into a car and firing bullets into the air amid a protest in Gohardasht, in northern Iran.

Widespread internet outages have also made it difficult for protesters to communicate with the outside world, while Iranian authorities have detained at least 40 journalists since the unrest began, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Mahsa Amini, 22, died in police custody after being detained in Tehran by Iranian morality police who believed she was wearing her hijab too loosely

Students have rallied outside universities, according to videos on social media. Pictured: Iranian students chanting the national anthem during a sit-in at the Art University in the central city of Isfahan on Saturday

Footage emerged on Saturday which appeared to show a woman being seriously sexually assaulted by an officer during an arrest by police at a protest

Evin Prison, which holds detainees facing security-related charges including dual citizens, has been charged by rights groups with abusing inmates. The facility has long been known for holding political prisoners as well as those with ties to the West who have been used by Iran as bargaining chips in international negotiations.

Saturday's scenes come just months after British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe was released from the infamous Evin prison by Iran after being detained on false charges in the capital for six years.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe landed back on British soil in March, along with fellow dual national Anoosheh Ashoori, after the UK finally agreed to settle a long-standing debt to Iran.

The 44-year-old was detained on security charges in 2016 by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at Imam Khomeini airport after a holiday to Iran during which she introduced her daughter to her parents.

She was accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government, and denied spying charges.

Her release came after the UK agreed to settle a historic 400 million debt dating to the 1970s after five years in Iranian jail on propaganda charges.

Both countries have said the fine and the release of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe are issues that should not be linked.

Award-winning dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi and reformist politician Mostafa Tajzadeh are also among those believed to be held at Evin.

The prison has been dubbed 'Evin University' because of the sheer number of intellectuals held there.

Ms Zaghari Ratcliffe has spoken out about the unrest in Iran on multiple occasions

Siamak Namazi, (pictured) an Iranian-American who had been furloughed from prison while serving a 10-year sentence on internationally criticised spying charges, was recently sent back into Evin

Siamak Namazi, an Iranian-American who had been furloughed from prison while serving a 10-year sentence on internationally criticised spying charges, was recently sent back into Evin.

His 85-year-old father, Baquer Namazi, was freed and allowed to leave the country.

A lawyer for Siamak Namazi, Jared Genser, wrote on Twitter early on Sunday that he 'is safe and has been moved to a secure area of Evin Prison'. He did not elaborate.

In 2018, the prison was slapped with US sanctions.

'Prisoners held at Evin Prison are subject to brutal tactics inflicted by prison authorities, including sexual assaults, physical assaults and electric shock,' the US Treasury Department wrote in a statement after announcing the sanctions in 2018.

The US State Department was following the reports 'with urgency' and was in contact with the Swiss as the protecting power for the US, spokesman Ned Price said in a tweet on Saturday.

'Iran is fully responsible for the safety of our wrongfully detained citizens, who should be released immediately.'

US President Joe Biden, on a trip to Oregon, said the Iranian 'government is so oppressive' and that he has an 'enormous amount of respect for people marching in the streets'.
The Conservative Party's bitter civil war showed no signs of cooling today as pro and anti-Truss wings took pot-shots at each other over the economy.

MPs reacted with fury after allies of the Prime Minister launched a foul-mouthed attack on former chancellor Sajid Javid.

Amid rumours he was the PM's first choice to replace Kwasi Kwarteng and return to No11, sources told the Sunday Times she regarded him as 's***' after years working with him in Cabinet.

They also suggested that Ms Truss 'laughed out loud' at the idea of Mr Javid returning to No11, with him having been sacked by Boris Johnson in 2020.

Mr Kwarteng was fired on Friday over the mini-Budget and replaced that day by Jeremy Hunt, the former foreign secretary.

But the attack on Mr Javid prompted criticism from other Tory backbenchers.

Education Committee chairman Robert Halfon today said the attack was 'disgusting'.

He told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'The briefings that have come out using four-letter words to describe Sajid Javid, I've known him since university, he's a really good man, he was respected.

'He didn't tank the economy when he was chancellor and if the Prime Minister wants to unite the party and get people around her, then these kind of negative briefings about colleagues have got to stop.

However, he raised hackles himself by going on to liken the Government to Islamic extremists, saying: 'I worry that over the past few weeks, the Government has looked like libertarian jihadists and treated the whole country as kind of laboratory mice on which to carry out ultra, ultra free market experiments.'

Amid rumours he was the PM's first choice to replace Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor, sources told the Sunday Times she regarded Sajid Javid as 's***' after years working with him in Cabinet

Education Committee chairman Robert Halfon today said the attack was 'disgusting' saying Mr Javid was a 'good and decent man'.

And ex-chief whip Mark Harper said: 'Sajid Javid is a good colleague and, although we backed different candidates in the leadership election, I'm proud to call him a fellow Conservative'

Ex-chief whip Mark Harper had earlier criticised the attack on Mr Javid, saying: 'Sajid Javid is a good colleague and, although we backed different candidates in the leadership election, I'm proud to call him a fellow Conservative.

'No10 briefing nasty insults about *their own* colleagues is not helpful to the Conservative Party when we need to work together.'

It comes amid reports today suggesting Ben Wallace, the respected Defence Secretary, is being lined up as a possible PM, with Rushi Sunak as chancellor.

Questions still hang over the Government about whether it would be able to win enough support from a divided party for a series of painful decisions on tax and spending that have already prompted memories of the austerity era under David Cameron and George Osborne.

In a media blitz over the weekend, both Mr Hunt and Ms Truss tried to win over their own party and voters to the new Downing Street regime.

After completing several interviews on Saturday, the new chancellor will later appear on BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

Ms Truss, who used a piece in The Sun newspaper to admit that sacking her friend and ideological soulmate Mr Kwarteng had been a 'wrench', said: 'We cannot pave the way to a low-tax, high-growth economy without maintaining the confidence of the markets in our commitment to sound money.'

Mr Hunt, writing in the Telegraph, said that the Government was 'changing course'.

So far, his appointment has failed to dampen speculation of an imminent coup against Ms Truss.

Rishi Sunak, the defeated leadership contender and former chancellor, and Wallace have been among the names flagged as potential replacements.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told LBC on Saturday that for Ms Truss it all hinges on how the markets receive the fiscal plan at the end of the month.

While he said he believes Mr Hunt could steady the ship, he warned that if 'it doesn't manage to satisfy the markets and satisfy everybody else and the economy is still in chaos then I think we would be in a very difficult situation'.

Elsewhere, there was speculation that including the Ministry of Defence in any round of spending cuts could spark a clash with Mr Wallace.

A defence source said he will hold Ms Truss to the pledges made.

Ms Truss promised to increase defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030 in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister nonetheless still has her defenders within the party.

Former culture minister Nadine Dorries, a loyal follower of Boris Johnson, wrote in the Daily Express: 'The sad truth is that those scheming to eject the Prime Minister from Downing Street are the same plotters who conspired to get rid of Boris. They will not rest until they have anointed their own chosen leader in power.'
The death toll following a shooting at a Russian military base on the Ukraine border has risen to 22 after two gunmen from Tajikstan opened fire at fellow recruits reportedly in a row over religion.

Initial reports announced that 11 soldiers had been killed and a further 15 injured on a training ground in the Belgorod region on the Ukrainian border, the Russian Defense Ministry revealed yesterday.

But it has now been suggested that double this number were shot dead, with independent news outlet SOTA suggesting that 22 soldiers have died and 16 were wounded.

There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy in the figures after the mass shootings.

The defence ministry, which only revealed the shooting some 12 hours after the incident, said two volunteer soldiers fired at fellow troops before they themselves were shot dead by a sniper.

The incident took place during target practice, with one shooter firing at a target before he suddenly turned his machine gun on a crowd of forces watching.

A second shooter used another weapon to fire at the men, before a 'sniper' then shot dead the gunmen, said reports. They were both nationals from an unspecified former Soviet republic, it is understood.

SOTA is also reporting that a third assailant is currently 'on the run' following the incident.

Ukrainian official Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said a dispute over religion preceded the shooting.

The attack is said to have occurred in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine

The ministry has labelled the incident a terrorist attack. Pictured: Putin speaking at a Summit of leaders on Friday

Russian citizens drafted during the partial mobilization are seen being dispatched to combat

The gunmen were reported to be from ex-Soviet state Tajikistan and were among mobilised 'reservists' at an army base in Belgorod region which borders Ukraine.

Tajikistan is a predominantly Muslim nation, while around half of Russians follow various branches of Christianity.

Governor of Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov today said: 'A terrible event happened on our territory, on the territory of one of the military units.

'Many soldiers were killed and wounded. There are no residents of the Belgorod region among the wounded and killed.

The Russian defence ministry ministry has labelled the incident a terrorist attack. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the incident.

An eyewitness said: 'They just went out and started [to shoot].'

The killings were at a training ground as the soldiers were about to undergo target practice ahead of postings to the frontline.

The military 'volunteers' were mainly from Bryansk region, but at least one was from Moscow region, said SOTA.

The bloodbath was at a military unit near the village of Soloti, where a military camp was built in 2017 along with a training ground for the 752nd motorised rifle regiment of the 3rd motorised rifle division of the Western Military District.

It comes after a recent mutiny at the same base when 100 mobilised servicemen reportedly refused to be moved to the epicentre of intense fighting at Lyman.

An official source said: 'During a firearms training session with individuals who voluntarily expressed a desire to participate in the special military operation (against Ukraine), the terrorists opened fire with small arms on the personnel of the unit.'

Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky said yesterday that Ukrainian troops arere still holding the strategic eastern town of Bakhmut despite repeated Russian attacks - as the situation in the larger Donbas region remains very difficult.

A view shows the city administration building hit by recent shelling in the Donetsk region of Ukraine today

Luba, an 80-year-old Ukraine resident, reacts during shelling in the town of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region yesterday

Russian forces have repeatedly tried to seize Bakhmut, which sits on a main road leading to the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Both are situated in the Donetsk region.

In the past 24 hours, Russian forces targeted more than 30 towns and villages across Ukraine, launching five missile and 23 air strikes and up to 60 rocket attacks, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said today.

In response, Ukraine's air forces have carried out 32 strikes, hitting 24 Russian targets.

Fighting is particularly intense in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, and the strategically important Kherson province in the south, three of the four regions Putin 'annexed' in sham referendums.

The positions of southern forces were attacked several times yesterday and a small 'shooting battle' took place near the village of Tryfonivka, Kherson, Ukraine's Armed Forces southern command said.

It comes as Putin is seeking to reverse his fortunes in the war by mobilising some 300,000 recruits - a move that triggered protests and caused hundreds of thousands to flee Russia.

Putin said on Friday that more than 220,000 reservists already had been called up as part of an effort to recruit 300,000.

Even though the Russian leader declared that only people who had recently served in the military will be subject to the call-up, activists and rights groups reported military conscription offices rounding up people without any army experience - some of whom were also unfit for service for medical reasons.

Some of the freshly called-up reservists posted videos of them being forced to sleep on the floor or even outside and given rusty weapons before being sent to the front lines.

Authorities have acknowledged that the mobilisation was often poorly organised and promised to improve the situation.

A burnt car is seen near an administrative building after shelling in Donetsk, the capital of Donetsk People's Republic, on Sunday

Investigators inspect a site after shelling near an administrative building, where six 155mm munitions were fired

Putin said earlier this week recent military mobilisation he ordered is coming to an end, and he has no plans for further conscriptions once it has finished.

But it was revealed earlier this week Iranian troops have quietly joined the Ukrainian frontline to help train Moscow's forces in how to operate kamikaze drones.

Up to 50 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) specialists have been sent to the southern and eastern front with hundreds of Shahed-136 drones, according to the Mirror.

A strike using the Iranian-made 'suicide drones' hit near Makrariv, a small city located 31 miles west of Kyiv, on Thursday, destroying critical infrastructure.

Despite denials from the Iranian regime that their forces are getting involved in the conflict, IRGC troops have reportedly been based in Dzankoi in Crimea and Kherson in the south, where one team has already been destroyed.

A Ukrainian source told the newspaper: 'At least one of the Iranian training teams has been hit recently and they are actively being hunted down.

'We have been concerned for some time that IRGC specialists are helping Russia in their terrible attacks on civilians and they are of course being targeted.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia earlier this week of using Iranian-made Shahed-136 UAVs - also known as suicide drones - against military and civilian targets.

Tehran has denied selling the drones to Russia, but there is mounting evidence that Moscow is deploying the weapon.

Between September 30 and October 6 alone, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said it had destroyed 24 of the weapons, which are designed to be flown directly into targets - overwhelming and evading air defences along the way.

With a range of more than 600 miles, the explosive-laden drones can 'loiter' above potential targets for hours before being slammed directly into enemy soldiers, vehicles or buildings from above - causing an explosion.

Russia has intensified its bombardment of civilian areas in recent weeks as its military lost ground in multiple occupied regions of Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin has illegally annexed.

Kyiv said 83 missiles or drones were launched against the country on Monday morning, striking the capital and several other cities, killing civilians in the process.

'They want panic and chaos. They want to destroy our energy system,' Zelensky said in a video address on Telegram. He added: Russia is 'trying to destroy us and wipe us off the face of the earth.'

There are mounting concerns about Putin's willingness to start nuclear war.

The Russian leader has increased the number of strategic nuclear bombers stationed at an airbase near the Finnish and Norwegian borders, satellite images show.

Putin warned of 'global catastrophe' if Nato troops clash directly with Russia, despite having now heightened that risk himself.

The coming weeks will see a number of Russian nuclear drills, predicted to include the test-firing of ballistic missiles, at the same time as Nato tests its preparedness to respond to such attacks.

Western officials said Russia was 'rapidly exhausting' its supply of missiles and because of sanctions was unable to import the parts required to manufacture replacements.

One added: 'For these reasons Russia cannot sustain the aerial campaign indefinitely.'
A man arrested in the UK after the discovery of his girlfriend's body in a shallow grave in Peru is claiming he killed her in self-defence, police in the South American country have revealed.

Jorge Alfredo Minaya Garay, 46, was held by detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate in connection with Monday's gruesome find at his grandmother's house in the district of Carabayllo just under an hour's drive north of the capital Lima.

Karla Xiomara Zelaya Godoy, 36, went missing at the end of September during a holiday the couple had been enjoying in her partner's homeland.

Peruvian police have confirmed the mum-of-one, who was living in London with her self-confessed killer, was strangled after removing her body from the blue plastic sheeting she had been wrapped in and receiving the results of a post-mortem.

Minaya Garay was reportedly arrested after confessing to Karla's US-based brother Erick he had killed her in an emotional phone call and telling police what he had done.

Despite post-mortem results pointing to Karla being strangled, a Peruvian police chief confirmed today the murder suspect was claiming his girlfriend died as he tried to defend himself during a violent row.

Karla, who is believed to have an eight-year-old daughter, had travelled to Peru to be with her partner Jorge Alfredo Minaya Garay (pictured together in Peru), 46, where she visited tourist hotspots like Machu Picchu

Karla Xiomara Zelaya Godoy, a Honduran-Spanish national living in London, was murdered on a romantic getaway to Peru

Glen Garcia Chavez, head of the Peruvian National Police's Missing Persons Unit, said: 'He's saying they had an intense argument and she went to hurt him with a sharp weapon he described as a knife.

'He's claiming he defended himself by hitting her and she fell unconscious on the ground.'

He also said investigators were probing the possibility Karla's body was moved to the spot where she was found.

The Peruvian police chief told local media: 'It's something that's being looked into because we have to investigate what other places they have frequented and the possible transfer of the body.

'Those facts have to be corroborated. It's not enough to say 'I'm the author of the crime.

'It's something that has to be proven with all types of expert and testimonial evidence.'

Pictured: Police are seen scouring a property in Peru where Karla Xiomara Zelaya Godoy's remains was discovered

On Monday, police found human remains in a blue bag after receiving an audio recording of Garay speaking on the phone to Erick Zelaya, the victim's brother

Police in Peru are also said to be probing the possibility Minaya Garay did not act alone and had help burying his girlfriend's body.

An audio recording of the murder suspect's confession to Karla's brother was played on Panamericana Television morning news programme 'Buenos Dias, Peru.'

Erick Zelaya fights back tears as he begs Minaya Garay over the phone: 'Tell me where to find her body please, tell me where she is.'

Karla's boyfriend is heard replying: 'I've just called the police and I've told them I put it on land where my grandmother lives.

'I feel terrible. I'm sorry for everything that's happened. I don't know why it happened. I can't face seeing anyone.'

Karla and Jorge visited various tourist hotspots in Peru, including Machu Picchu and the capital city of Lima, sharing pictures of their dream trip on a WhatsApp group.

Her last contact with her family was on September 22 while she was travelling in a taxi with her boyfriend.

The Honduran-Spanish national was employed by Pioneer Facilities Management and worked at HMRC's lorry park at Ebbsfleet.

The company's chief executive Mary-Hanne Pettit said in a tribute after learning of her death: 'Her heart was so full of love for her daughter and family.

'Karla will be sadly missed and her friends and work family are beside themselves with grief.

'Our love and prayers are with Karla's family at this very sad time.'

Confirming an arrest had been made, Kent Police said yesterday/on Saturday in a statement: 'Investigators from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate have arrested a man in connection with the murder of a woman in Peru.

'With the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Service, a man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody in Kent.

'Officers are working closely with the Peruvian authorities as part of this investigation.'

The police spokesman also appealed for anyone with 'any information they believe can assist' to contact them.
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Britain will enjoy 20C temperatures at the start of the week with warm air from Africa set to keep mercury above average until Halloween.

The Met Office confirmed the South and South East will be the driest and warmest areas of the country over the next week.

However conditions over the next 24-36 hours will be unsettled with large parts of the North experiencing rain and strong winds.

After this short period the weather will calm down, with most places in the British Isles remaining dry.

A spokesperson from the Met Office told MailOnline: 'With low pressure anchored to the southwest of the UK during the coming week, winds will remain from a south-easterly direction.

'This will be acting like a pump, bringing some fairly warm air (for October) northwards from Iberia and France. Daytime maximum temperatures will reach 18-20 Celsius in some southern areas, whereas the average high for mid-October is close to 14 Celsius.'

Last year October was a warm month with a typically autumnal mix of weather types with warm spells and regular showers (Pictured: People out along in Mill Meadows on a sunny, autumnal afternoon)

After a short period of unsettled conditions, the weather will calm down, with most places in the British Isles remaining dry. (Pictured: A walker with a dog on Wimbledon Common as leaves on a maple tree have start to colour in the autumn Seasonal Weather, Wimbledon Common, London)

The news comes after the Met Office issued a yellow warning last month, when the weather was predicted to cause disruption to transport and businesses (Pictured: Rowers pass the changing, colourful autumnal trees along The River Thames on a sunny afternoon)

Pictured: Autumn leaves lie on the hood of a car in Berlin, Germany. Average temperatures are expected to be higher than most typical years

Nick Finnis, Netweather forecaster, told the Daily Star: 'Some computer models show 22C or 23C by midweek, bringing an Indian Summer.

'An exceptionally-warm plume of air from northwest Africa looks like being pumped across Europe and to Britain, with up to the low 30s in France, and over 20C in southern Britain.'

An Indian Summer can be described as a warm and calm spell of weather during the autumn.

The highest temperature in October ever recorded in the UK was in 2011 when temperatures soared to 29.9C in Gravesend, Kent.

Last year October was a warm month with a typically autumnal mix of weather types with warm spells and regular showers.

According to the Met Office, average maximum temperatures were more than 1C above long-term averages.

Experts have said the mild conditions will continue up until Halloween on October 31.

The news comes after the Met Office issued a yellow warning last month, when the weather was predicted to cause disruption to transport and businesses.
Other girls had reportedly worn false eyelashes to school and gone unpunished

The lashes had a huge chunk taken out the middle and were different lengths

Her mother Martina Cantor said it severely damaged her daughter's confidence

Rhenne, 15, had her lashes cut by teachers at Harris Academy in Beckenham

A mother has said her daughter was left devastated after teachers cut her false eyelashes with scissors for wearing them to class.

Rhenne, 15, was wearing her lashes when they were cut by teachers at Harris Academy secondary school in Beckenham, south east London.

Her mother Martina Cantor said it severely damaged her daughter's confidence as she was laughed at by her friends.

The lashes had a big chunk cut out of the middle and were different lengths, leaving Rhenne very embarrassed.

Martina said Rhenne has naturally 'minimal' lashes so relies on the false ones. She said the false lashes were subtle and not that much longer than her natural ones.

Rhenne, 15, had her lashes confiscated and butchered by teachers at Harris Academy secondary school in from Beckenham, south east London (pictured with her mother Martina)

Martina, 37, said: 'They didn't notify me they were unhappy, or ask Rhenne to get them out when she got home - they just butchered them and did a total bodge job leaving them all completely different lengths.

'It was too close to her eyelid on one. The middle had a big chunk taken out.'

She said other girls had worn fake lashes to school and hadn't been punished.

The mother-of-three went to the principal, the safeguarding team and the hub teacher and was told they were investigating what had happened.

The safeguarding leader said it was unacceptable and apologised. An internal disciplinary procedure investigation has begun.

The eyelashes had a big chunk taken out of them and were left 'all different lengths'

Martina said Rhenne has naturally 'minimal' lashes so relies on the false ones. She said the false lashes were subtle and not that much longer than her natural ones

Martina added: 'Rhenne is at an age where she's trying to find herself, and she and her friends experiment with them - it's a new trend. Other girls have worn them to school, but nothing's happened.

'But when she got to school her pastoral leader - who's meant to also be the one who looks after mental health - took her off to the hub teacher.

'Afterwards, one of her friends said 'What's happened to your lashes?' She got laughed at by her friends and was embarrassed. It's now affected her confidence.

She said the incident severely damaged her daughter's confidence as she was laughed at by her friends and she was embarrassed

'I wasn't aware of any specific policy that you can't wear false eyelashes from what I have read about rules.'

She said that the false eyelashes were glued on and so couldn't easily be taken off, but that the teachers could have asked Rhenne to remove them with make-up oil or baby oil.

A spokesperson for Harris Academy Beckenham said: 'Our uniform policy states that students are not allowed to wear make-up or false eyelashes.

'This approach, which is common to most schools, protects children from unnecessary peer pressure. To be effective, the rule must be applied consistently.

'In this instance, although the staff member involved had the best of intentions in agreeing to help the student remove a set of false eyelashes, we have apologised to the family involved.'

A Bromley Council spokesperson said: 'We have been made aware of an allegation from a parent to a Bromley school and we are currently looking into this. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this point.'
A murder probe has been launched after the body of a 12-year-old girl was found in Paris - tied up in a suitcase, covered with cuts across her throat and mysterious numbers placed onto her with a 'device'.

The victim was discovered with her feet and wrists bound, tape around her face and had visibly suffered several cuts to her throat.

She also had unexplained numbers on her body.

A post-mortem examination on Saturday concluded that she had died of asphyxiation (oxygen deprivation).

The numbers '1' and '0' were found on the child's corpse, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.

The girl was found outside a block of flats in the French capital's 19th arrondissement after she had been reported missing by her mother when she failed to return home from school

A police source said the figures had not been written on or cut into girl but were were 'placed' on her by a 'device'.

A mystery remains as officers do not yet know what the numbers mean.

The girl was found outside a block of flats in the French capital's 19th arrondissement after she had been reported missing by her mother when she failed to return home from school.

Police have launched a murder probe and said they had uncovered signs of kidnapping in the basement of the family home.

Detectives reviewed CCTV footage which showed a women outside the building carrying a suitcase.

The same suitcase, officers believe, was later found a few streets away in Rue d'Hautpoul containing the body of the girl.

The schoolgirl's face was covered in tape, her feet and fists were bound, and she had suffered several cuts to her throat, according to reports.

According to BFMTV, four people are in custody, although the reason for their detainment is unclear.

Among them is the man who contacted the force after discovering the suitcase.
Xi stresses safeguarding national security, social stability

Xinhua) 11:30, October 16, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping on Sunday stressed modernizing China's national security system and capacity and safeguarding national security and social stability.

"National security is the bedrock of national rejuvenation, and social stability is a prerequisite for building a strong and prosperous China," said Xi at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

"We must resolutely pursue a holistic approach to national security and promote national security in all areas and stages of the work of the Party and the country, so as to ensure national security and social stability," he said.

Xi said the CPC must take the people's security as its ultimate goal, political security as its fundamental task, economic security as its foundation, military, technological, cultural, and social security as important pillars, and international security as a support.

The Party will take coordinated steps to ensure external and internal security, homeland and public security, traditional and non-traditional security, as well as its own security and common security. "We will both uphold national security and create the conditions for ensuring it," he said.

China will strengthen popular support for national security and social stability, improve the mechanisms for the country's participation in global security governance, and advance the Peaceful China Initiative to a higher level, Xi said.

"With this new security architecture, we will be able to better safeguard China's new pattern of development," he said.

Xi said the CPC will improve the national security system, strengthen its capacity for safeguarding national security, enhance public safety governance, and improve the social governance system.

China will ensure the security of food, energy, and resources as well as key industrial and supply chains, and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal entities overseas, he said.

Protection of personal information will be strengthened, Xi said.

"We will improve the social governance system based on collaboration, participation, and shared benefits, so as to make social governance more effective," he said.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Du Mingming)
CHENNAI: Ruling DMK's youth wing secretary and Chief Minister MK Stalin's son Udayanidhi Stalin on Saturday warned that the party would stage a protest against the BJP-led Centre in Delhi if Hindi is thrust upon Tamil Nadu.

The Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni legislator, who led a massive protest near the landmark Valluvar Kottam here, said that the party would not remain a mute spectator if the sentiments of the people are disregarded by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government.

The DMK came to power opposing the "imposition" of Hindi in 1967 and today's agitation was a new beginning, he said. The opposition to Hindi imposition would not end with a day's protest and by raising slogans, Udayanidhi added.

"The protest will be intensified outside Tamil Nadu too and taken to New Delhi, with the Chief Minister's permission, if Hindi is imposed disregarding the feelings of the Tamils," Udayanidhi said addressing a massive gathering.

The DMK youth wing and students wing held a State-wide agitation protesting against what they called "Hindi imposition," in the wake of recommendations made by a parliamentary committee.

A parliamentary panel has recently recommended that the medium of instruction in technical and non-technical higher education institutes such as the IITs in Hindi-speaking states should be Hindi and in other parts of the country, the respective regional languages.

It also recommended that Hindi should be one of the official languages of the United Nations.

DMK MLAs and MPs were among the participants. Days ago, Stalin had warned the Centre against forcing another "language war by imposing" Hindi.
A father whose wife and five children died in an arson attack at their home ten years ago says he still has 'hope' police will find their killers - as he recalls the night he 'cannot forget'.

Dr Abdul Shakoor was the only survivor when a fire ripped through his family home in Harlow, Essex, in October 15, 2012.

Sabah Usmani, 44, and sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayyan, six, and daughter Hira, 13, were all killed in the blaze. Third son, Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, also later died in hospital.

Appealing for witnesses at the time of the incident, Essex Police revealed that evidence suggested it was caused by malicious ignition - with detectives confirming they were aware of a burglary at the house on the same day.

Speaking at Harlow Islamic Centre yesterday, where a remembrance service was held to mark the anniversary of the fatal fire, Dr Shakoor said it was 'absolutely important' to mark the deaths with the local community, the BBC reports.

He added: 'It's really difficult, I cannot forget the time in the night when it happened.'

Dr Shakoor described his wife as 'my best friend' and told of how his children 'really loved living here, we had a very good community'.

Dr Abdul Shakoor spoke at a remembrance service held to mark the anniversary of the fatal fire yesterday

Sabah Usmani, 44, with sons Sohaib, 11, Muneeb, nine and Rayyan, six, and daughters Hira, 13 and daughter Maheen, three

He also said he was pleased to be informed that detectives are still probing the fire ten years on following a meeting with Essex Police on Friday.

The father continued: 'I'm a strong believer in hope and that at some point, we will get the answers.'

Dr Shakoor has continually appealed for witnesses since the incident, with detectives leading the investigation saying there are 'facts in the case that don't add up'.

He discovered the fire at his home in Barn Mead, Harlow, at 1.40am and battled hard to save his family, suffering the effects of the dense smoke and also minor burns as he tried to get them out.

He bravely jumped out the window and landed on a car parked below, before trying to re-enter the house with a neighbour.

Dr Shakoor fought his way through the flames and managed to climb the stairs, but it proved to be too late.

At the same time as fire crews were tackling the blaze, a Ford Focus car was alight in a parking area nearby.

All six victims died of asphyxiation through smoke inhalation.

His wife Sabah died at the scene with their daughter Hira and sons Muneeb and Rayyan.

The significant damage to the family house in Harlow, Essex, following the fatal blaze in October 2012

Dr Abdul Shakoor (centre) and members of the Muslim Community follow the funeral cortege to the crematorium after a service of prayer in October 2012

Sohaib, 11, died at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow where Dr Shakoor worked.

The fifth and youngest child, Maheen, who would have celebrated her fourth birthday nine days after the fire, never regained consciousness. Her father had to make the painful decision to turn off her life support machine.

The fire remains listed as a cold and unsolved case on the Essex Police website.

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: 'The deaths of Sabah Usmani and her five children is an absolute tragedy and our thoughts continue to be with her husband Dr Abdul Shakoor.

'The pain he has experienced in losing his entire family is unimaginable. His grief is compounded by the fact that no-one has been brought to justice for what happened.

'Our investigation into that tragic night has been an extensive one. More than 70 police officers and staff have worked on the investigation into the fire, around 500 people have given witness statements, and 1,800 exhibits were collected and stored.

'No case is ever closed and this investigation has been regularly reviewed to see if it is possible to identify new lines of enquiry. I need anyone who has any information about that night to contact us.

'Loyalties do change and people who felt they previously could not come forward to us, may now feel they are able to.'

Detectives continue to pursue a number of lines of enquiry, including an appeal for a white man ages in his late teens or early 20s seen riding a bicycle in the area when the house and car was set alight.

The family laptop, a black Toshiba Satellite, which was taken from the house in a burglary has never been located.

The laptop had a two-pin lead because it was from Saudi Arabia, while its bag and lead were later recovered nearby. Attached was a shaver adapter plug, though this did not belong to the family.

In November 2012, a person rang Harlow police station from a phone box and left a message about the fire, but detectives have not identified the person who got in touch.

The same month, a piece of paper about the murder investigation was left on a shelf in Boots in Harlow, with detectives keen to speak to the person who placed it there.
A cure for cancer is within reach and could be available to patients before 2030, the husband and wife team behind one of the most successful Covid jabs has said.

German Professors Ozlem Tureci, 55, and Ugur Sahin, 57, said while scientists are hesitant to say that a cure for cancer is certain, they have had 'breakthroughs' they will keep working on.

Professor Tureci said: 'We feel a cure for cancer, or to changing cancer patients' lives, is in our grasp.'

The couple co-founded BioNTech in Mainz, Germany, in 2008, where they have worked to pioneer cancer immunotherapies tailored to individual patients and developed the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine.

They spoke about their hopes for a cancer treatment on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme this morning.

Asked when cancer vaccines might be accessed by many patients around the world, Professor Sahin said: 'we believe this will happen, even in a broader scale, before 2030'.

Professor Tureci warned: 'As scientists we are always hesitant to say we will have a cure for cancer,' before adding: 'We have a number of breakthroughs and we will continue to work on them.'

They said the development and success of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19, which became widely rolled out in the pandemic, has helped in their work finding a cure for cancer.

The couple were interviewed on BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme

They said the development and success of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19

Their use of mRNA technology was revolutionary in the fight against Covid-19, and the couple said that its success has been influential and instructive.

Professor Tureci told Kuenssberg: 'What we have developed over decades for cancer vaccine development has been the tailwind for developing the Covid-19 vaccine, and now the Covid-19 vaccine and our experience in developing it gives back to our cancer work.

'We have learned how to better, faster manufacture vaccines. We have learned in a large number of people how the immune system reacts towards mRNA.'

'This will definitely accelerate also our cancer vaccine,' she added.

While conventional vaccines are produced using weakened forms of a virus, mRNAs use only a virus's genetic code.

While conventional vaccines are produced using weakened forms of a virus, mRNAs use only a virus's genetic code

An mRNA vaccine is injected into the body, where it enters cells and tells them to create antigens which are then recognised by the immune system and prepare it to fight the disease.

Professor Tureci said the developments have also helped regulators learn about mRNA vaccines and how to deal with them.

Despite working in the field for three decades, Tureci admitted that nature and biology have 'so many secrets' that the couple will continue to navigate.

In August, Moderna said it was suing BioNTech and its partner, US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, for patent infringement over the company's Covid-19 vaccine

'Every step, every patient we treat in our cancer trials helps us to find out more about what are against and how to address that,' she said.

In August, Moderna said it was suing BioNTech and its partner, US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, for patent infringement over the company's Covid-19 vaccine.

When asked about the legal action, Professor Sahin said: 'Our innovations are original. We have spent 20 years of research in developing this type of treatment and of course we will fight for our intellectual property.'
Torrential rain will 'wreak havoc' across Australia's east coast in the coming week, after days of relentless wet weather and flooding already forced thousands to flee their homes.

The weather front is set to hit the Northern Territory and South Australia first as the low pressure system moves east with the worst of it to batter Queensland, NSW Victoria and Tasmania for several days from Tuesday into Friday.

Some areas will cop up to 150mm of rain, particularly in flood-ravaged areas of Victoria and Tasmania, while 40mm will be widespread across several states.

The forecast is another blow to thousands who have already suffered flooding over the past week.

Several flood warnings are active across the states, with thousands in Victoria ordered to evacuate their homes.

Up north in Queensland, severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for parts of the state on Sunday afternoon, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of high winds, large hailstones and heavy rain.

Those living in the Central Highlands, the Coalfields and Capricornia forecast districts, in the state's southeast, were forecast to cop the worst of the miserable conditions.

More torrential rain will 'wreak havoc' across Australia's east coast in the coming week, after days of relentless wet weather and flooding already forced thousands to flee their homes

An Australian Defence Force Bushmaster navigates floodwaters as Victoria faces an ongoing flood crisis, in Shepparton, Victoria on Sunday

Residents walk through a flooded street in Shepparton, Victoria on Sunday after days of relentless rain

Meteorologists at Weatherzone said 'what seems to be a never-ending conveyor belt' of bad weather is expected to 'wreak havoc' across the country in the coming days.

On Saturday, a 71-year-old man was found drowned on his property in the northern Victorian town of Rochester, with police unable to reach him. He is the first life lost amid the recent floods in the state.

More rain could also hit the NSW coast as people living in already saturated catchment areas prepare for more water to flow to flood-struck communities.

'Widespread rain and storms will likely renew and cause more riverine flooding as soil moisture reaches its limits,' Weatherzone warned.

A BP in Shepparton is seen inundated with water on Sunday as many residents are forced to flee

It comes as the Australian Defence Force (pictured loading sandbags in Shepparton) were deployed to help those living in flood-ravaged communities

October rainfall records have already been set in parts of inland NSW, including at Broken Hill in the state's far west.

Rain and thunderstorms developing in South Australia and inland Queensland would bring 'much more widespread' rainfall and 'renewed flooding' back to the south-east from Wednesday, the BoM said.

The bureau's senior forecaster Jonathan How earlier told Daily Mail Australia Tasmania, Victoria and NSW would only get 'a few days of reprieve'.

He said a weather system developing 'will start to produce showers and thunderstorms across South Australia and inland Queensland from Tuesday and then extend to the rest of the east coast from Wednesday to Saturday.'

'This will be much more widespread,' he warned.

SES personnel are seen helping a family leaving their home in Shepparton on Friday

'So we will see showers all the way from central northern Queensland, down to Tasmania and particularly with this, we will see thunderstorms as well.

'So expecting widespread falls which could produce renewed flooding for some parts of the south-east and the east.'

Mr How said heaviest rainfall is predicted for south-east Queensland and northern NSW.

He said that region will see between 50 and 100mm of rainfall though further south is still vulnerable to heavy local rainfall likely to come with thunderstorms.

Though waters were receding in Tasmania and parts of NSW - at least temporarily - central Victoria has continuously been battered with heavy rainfall, with it now too late for many in flooded areas to leave.

Emergency crews warned anyone remaining in Shepparton, Orrvale, Mooroopna and Elmore to Rochester, in northern Victoria, to find high ground as flood waters kept rising.

Flood water is seen from the Loddon River at Bridgewater in Victoria, with the rain set to continue

Victorian State Emergency Service said around 7,300 homes and businesses in the Shepparton area could be affected by the rising waters, with inundation possible in 2,500 of those.

Disaster recovery payments will be made available to residents in 23 local government areas and a 250-bed camp for displaced people will be opened at the former Covid quarantine facility in Mickleham.

About 100 ADF personnel are also being deployed to help with evacuations and sandbagging in the worst-hit areas.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said some families will not be able to return to their homes for 'extended periods of time'.

Late on Sunday emergency flood warnings were issued for the Campaspe River from Lake Eppalock to Rochester, and Fairy Dell, Kanyapella South, Koyuga and Nanneella.

The river at Echuca was peaking with major flooding higher than in January 2011, emergency authorities said.

Residents from Lake Eppalock to Barnadown, and Barnadown to Elmore were ordered to leave if safe to do so.

It was too late for those living between Elmore and Rochester, who were advised to take shelter.

Those in Fairy Dell, Kanyapella South, Koyuga and Nanneella were told to seek higher ground, while residents in Charlton and Echuca were told to leave their homes immediately, with up to 400 properties affected.

Shepparton residents outside their homes on Sunday, which they are now unable to leave due to floodwater

Stephanie Turpin said the water rose fast overnight and her home in Shepparton's south was surrounded by water but not inundated.

'We're fairly high and fairly safe,' she said on Sunday.

Ms Turpin said police advised residents to leave on Saturday and again early on Sunday but she decided to stay and defend her property.

'There is no way of leaving now,' she said.

'The community is sticking together and helping each other out. People are offering sandbags to other people around the neighbourhood.'

Local residents prepare sandbags at Shepparton Showground amid record-breaking floods

A Shepparton local kayaks down the flooded street after the city was hit by record flooding

She said some of the water was fast-flowing and dozens of homes and cars were flooded.

'But people are making the most of it. They've got canoes and floaties out. It doesn't happen very often,' she said.

There were 146 flood rescues in the past 24 hours, with the majority in the Shepparton area, the SES said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese toured flood-affected areas with Mr Andrews, where about 9,000 people are estimated to be affected.

There have been more than 450 rescues in Victoria since the flooding began on Wednesday.

'We are working across federal, state and local government to make sure that every support is being provided to these communities that are under such enormous pressure,' Mr Albanese said.

Hundreds of homes in Rochester were overwhelmed by the flooded Campaspe River, one of dozens of waterways to burst their banks and send northern Victorian towns underwater. Police confirmed a man was found dead in floodwaters in the backyard of his Rochester home

'Australians are coming together, they are helping each other and once again we are seeing at the worst of times, the best of the Australian character.'

Shepparton was hit by major flooding, with the swollen Goulburn River expected to continue to rise before peaking at 12.2 metres early on Monday.

That would be higher than the 1974 flood level of 12.09m, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Television footage showed buildings in the middle of town surrounded by a vast sea of brown water, and residents using sandbags to stop it.

The I ncredible force of the floodwater is shown by what it leaves behind. This is whats left of the McIvor Highway at Axedale after the Campaspe River burst its banks. pic.twitter.com/eh4ZprjU8z  Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) October 14, 2022

Mr Andrews said the flooding was unlike other flooding events because high rainfall had left catchment areas sodden and more rain was forecast.

'These (river) peaks, even once they recede off the high mark, there will still be water in the communities and houses will remain uninhabitable for extended periods of time,' he said.

Australian Defence Force personnel (pictured) load residents' cars with sandbags amid floods in Shepparton, Victoria Australia, October 16, 2022

Asphalt highways were no match for the power of floodwaters throughout northern Victoria

Major flood warnings are also in place for the Broken, Avoca and Loddon rivers, and the Seven and Castle creeks.

Echuca is expected to be hit by two flood peaks, one by Tuesday and another later in the week.

More than 350 roads are likely to remain closed in flood-affected areas and about 6,000 properties are without power.

Victorian SES chief Tim Wiebusch issued a specific warning for locals to be on the lookout for 'blue sky flooding' where clearing clouds lure people into a false sense of security that the risk is over when floodwaters are still rapidly rising.

Rescue workers (pictured) use an inflatable dinghy to rescue people from floodwaters in Maribyrnong

Swollen rivers across Victoria are expected to bring flooding to the state for up to six weeks. Pictured, Beechworth Woolshed Falls near Wangaratta

'One of the challenges is we've got what we call blue sky flooding,' Mr Wiebusch told ABC News.

'The rain has stopped  I think it's more obvious to people when there's heavier rain.'

Mr Wiebusch urged people not to drive through floodwaters as rescuers desperately try to reach anyone stranded.

'That just ties up our emergency services that could be supporting more vulnerable communities that are under pressure with these floods,' he said.

'So please turn around, find an alternate way to get there. If you don't need to be travelling in those northern parts of Victoria, don't travel at all.'
Donald Trump lashed out at the American Jewish population on Sunday morning for not being 'more appreciative' of his administration's work with Israel.

The ex-president claimed he was so popular there that he could be the country's next prime minister.

The message, posted on his Truth Social app, immediately made the rounds on Twitter where it was condemned through the morning. Trump was accused of making a veiled threat against American Jews during a period where extremist violence is already becoming more prevalent.

It comes soon after a famous ally of his, rapper Ye who was previously known as Kanye West, was removed from Instagram and Twitter for a string of anti-Semitic comments.

'No President has done more for Israel than I have. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S,' Trump said on his Truth Social app.

'Those living in Israel, though, are a different story - Highest approval rating in the World, could easily be P.M.!'

Trump concluded: 'U.S. Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel - Before it is too late!'

It's worth noting that Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is a devout Jew. Trump's daughter Ivanka converted to Judaism before marrying Kushner.

Donald Trump has previously been accused of spouting anti-Semitism, but his most recent comments come against the backdrop of rising threats to vulnerable groups across the country

The Anti-Defamation League accused Trump of 'Jewsplaining' in a statement to DailyMail.com.

'We don't need the former president, who curries favor with extremists and antisemites, to lecture us about the US-Israel relationship,' ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt said.

'It is not about a quid pro quo; it rests on shared values and security interests. This "Jewsplaining" is insulting and disgusting.'

Critics on Twitter also immediately went after the alarming remarks.

Aviva Klompas, co-founder of the group Boundless Israel, accused Trump of threatening US Jews in his post.

'And heres Trump adding fuel to the antisemitic dumpster fire by demanding American Jews show loyalty to him because of Israel. And he tops it all off with a veiled threat,' Klompas wrote.

Lawyer David Leopold, who served on the Biden-Harris transition team, said: 'A lot of antisemitism to unpack here. But one thing is clear; Trump has no problem threatening American Jews.'

'[H]ow extraordinary to hear an anti-Semitic fascist billionaire begging for support from Jews,' journalist Craig Unger wrote on the platform.

Lawyer Jennifer Taub wrote: 'Donald Jacka** Trump just threatened Jewish people in America.'

Trump told American Jews to 'appreciate what they have in Israel' in his Sunday morning post

Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner (pictured, far left, with Trump in Israel) is a devout Jew

Trump has made similar religiously divisive remarks, including in 2019 when he called American Jewish voters who supported Democrats 'disloyal.'

He had been venting to reporters about progressive 'Squad' members Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar for their push to end international support for Israel over its treatment of Palestinians.

'I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty,' Trump said at the time.

He doubled down on those comments the next day while denying they were anti-Semitic.

'I will tell you this: In my opinion, the Democrats have gone very far away from Israel,' Trump said when asked for clarification about the prior day's remark.

'In my opinion, if you vote for a Democrat, youre being very disloyal to Jewish people and youre being very disloyal to Israel. And only weak people would say anything other than that.'

He was also under fire in December 2021 when told Israeli-based journalist Barak Ravid for his book that it was 'dangerous' that more American Jews on the left did not support Israel - again throwing in the 'Evangelical' comparison.

Trump's daughter Ivanka, who converted to Judaism to marry Kushner, is seen at the unveiling of the US's embassy in Jerusalem

They also have a close relationship with Israel's former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

'Its a very dangerous thing thats happening,' Trump said, according to Ravid.

'Theres people in this country that are Jewish and no longer love Israel. Ill tell you, the evangelical Christians love Israel more than the Jews in this country.'

The comments earned backlash from civil rights groups like the Anti-Defamation League.

American Jews have historically been a pro-Democrat voting bloc, a trend that did not change in the 2020 presidential race.

During his White House tenure, Trump had been a close ally of Israel's then-conservative government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.

His upending of decades of US policy in the fragile region - including moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem - earned praise from conservative Jews at home and abroad.

Trump also shared a famously close relationship with Netanyahu himself, with both right-wing leaders often heaping public praise on the other.

In a show of appreciation for his support, Netanyahu named one of Israel's controversial planned settlements after Trump.

Trump made several pro-Israel moves while in office that were lauded by conservative Jews at home and abroad, including pulling out of the Iran Nuclear Deal (pictured: Trump visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem in May 2017)

But Trump turned against his friend when the prime minister phoned President Joe Biden after he won the 2020 election.

'The first person that congratulated [Biden] was Bibi Netanyahu, the man that I did more for than any other person I dealt with,' Trump told journalist Barak Ravid for his book.

'Bibi could have stayed quiet. He has made a terrible mistake,' Trump apparently said.

And while not so much a new sentiment, Trump's Sunday morning tirade comes against the backdrop of a troubling rise in threats and attacks targeting vulnerable groups.

A new wave of anti-Semitism in America has prompted synagogues and other Jewish community centers to be on high alert across the country.

Rapper Ye, tweeted last week that he would go 'death con 3' on Jewish people, which got him removed off the site.

Some conservative pundits and members of the fringe-right leapt to his defense, claiming he was censored for exercising his free speech.

The rapper, who has a history of mental illness, appeared at the Nashville premiere of Candace Owen's new documentary, The Greatest Lie Ever Sold, which accuses the BLM organization of misappropriating millions of dollars in donations

West continued his return to Twitter with a disturbing tweet where he suggested he would be 'going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE' while bringing back his 'White Lives Matter' T-shirt

It emerged afterwards that an interview he did around the same time with Fox News' Tucker Carlson was edited to remove wild claims like that Planned Parenthood was created to 'control the Jew populations' with eugenics.

'When I say Jew, I mean the 12 lost tribes of Judah, the blood of Christ, who the people known as the race black really are,' he said in a leaked clip. 'This is who our people are. The blood of Christ. This, as a Christian, is my belief.'

But the superstar ex-husband of Kim Kardashian doubled down on his anti-Semitism when asked about the remarks late last week at the premiere of conservative activist Candace Owens' new documentary.

'Do you think that the comment came just out of the blue? I do feel that in Hollywood when, especially with black entertainers, I've had a lot of bad experiences,' Ye said. 'People use the anti-Semite idea to cover up bad business. To say if you call someone out on bad business then you're being anti-Semitic.'

'So I feel happy to have crossed the line of that idea so that we can speak openly about things like getting canceled from the bank.'

He was referring to global banking giant JP Morgan Chase severing ties with him in a letter made public by Owens last week.

But it emerged the bank cut its relationship with him in late September, before he kicked off the controversy with a 'White Lives Matter' shirt at Paris Fashion Week.
Mr Cahill has been remanded in custody and will face court next week

Police allege Mr Cahill approached the officer outside a restaurant in Perth

A man has been arrested after he allegedly assaulted a police officer so badly that he broke his jaw while on a night out.

Neil Graham Cahill, 52, has been charged with assaulting the 44-year-old officer outside The Breakwater restaurant at Hillarys Boat Harbour in Perth on Saturday night.

Police allege that at about 8.50pm the officer was dealing with another man when Mr Cahill approached him and attacked him without warning.

Neil Graham Cahill, 52, allegedly assaulted a policeman outside The Breakwater at Hillarys Boat Harbour in Perth, Western Australia (pictured)

The officer suffered severe 'bodily injuries' and was taken to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment.

Mr Cahill was also taken to hospital after the alleged incident and appeared in Perth's Magistrates Court via videolink from his bedside on Sunday.

His lawyer made no application for bail and didn't comment on the injuries Mr Cahill sustained during the alleged assault, The West Australian reported.

Mr Cahill was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on Tuesday.
It's believed that Carter was on probation at the time of his arrest for unrelated charges back in 2012

Dispatchers picked up on queues that she needed help due to the particular way she spoke to them and by staying on the line for a while

On the way there, the woman managed to call 911 shortly after midnight from inside the vehicle without her kidnapper noticing

He drove 80 miles to Mesquite from Las Vegas with the four victims in his car

Charges include attempted murder, attempted sexual assault, and four counts of second-degree kidnappings in violation of an extended protection order

A woman in Nevada saved herself and her three children by pocket-dialing 911 and talking to dispatchers discreetly after they were kidnapped and held captive in a car.

Justin Junius Carter, 34, was arrested on Monday after allegedly trying to stab the mother-of-three at her Las Vegas home before holding her captive at knifepoint along with her children, according to the Mesquite Police Department.

Police said the unidentified woman and the suspect experienced a 'prior relationship' and that he drove her and the children to Mesquite - roughly 80 miles northeast of Sin City, close to the state's border with Arizona.

On the way there, the woman managed to call 911 shortly after midnight from inside the vehicle without her kidnapper noticing. She was hoping responders would pick up on queues that she needed help by picking up on the particular way she spoke to them and by letting the call go on.

The vehicle was later identified on Interstate 15 after the woman revealed the car's location to cops over the phone. Carter was subsequently pulled over and placed in handcuffs while the four victims were rescued.

Justin Junius Carter, 34, was arrested on Monday in Nevada after kidnapping a woman with whom he had a 'prior relationship with' and her three children. Charges filed against him include attempted murder, attempted sexual assault and four counts of second-degree kidnappings in violation of an extended protection order

Carter threatened the family-of-four with a knife at their home in Las Vegas before driving all four victims to Mesquite - an 80-miles drive north

Carter was then taken to the Clark County Detention Center and was booked on 14 felony charges, including attempted murder, attempted sexual assault, four counts of second-degree kidnappings in violation of an extended protection order, four counts of violation of an extended protection order, domestic battery with the use of a deadly weapon and coercion with the use of a deadly weapon.

He is also facing two counts of resisting arrest.

'The bravery of this woman and her children cannot be overstated,' Mesquite Police chief MaQuade Chesley told KVVU. 'They maintained their composure, and she bravely created a plan in her head to call for help as soon as she could.'

Chesley also applauded dispatchers for identifying the woman's plan and coordinating with officers to arrest the suspect.

'Their swift action and persistence to gather information from the 911 call saved this family from further harm,' he further said.

Police were able to identify the car's location on Interstate-15, thanks to the woman's 911 pocket dial call

Carter's first court appearance in relation to the case is set for October 26.

It won't be the first time the suspect has had run-ins with the law.

In November 2021, he was found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon and unloading a firearm at an 'occupied structure or vehicle,' the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

District court records indicate he was then on probation for a maximum of five years, meaning he may have violated it at the time of his arrest.
AirTags can also be inaccurate, failing to provide tracking information in real time, and Apple only supports them for the use of tracking personal items

Experienced caregivers argue that worrying about the ethics is naive and that any tools that make their job easier are valuable

However, exerts in the report argue the issue is not ethically straightforward and consent should be required to track all individuals

Apple AirTags are $30 tracking devices that present an imperfect way to locate loved ones that can wander off, according to a Wall Street Journal report

People are attaching small Apple tracking devices to loved ones with dementia and a habit of getting lost or going missing.

Some caregivers have found that Apple AirTags offer an imperfect solution to tracking elderly people that may have a habit of walking off or getting lost - sometimes due to Alzheimer's or dementia, according to a new Wall Street Journal report.

Although most people now carry GPS-equipped mobile phones when they leave the house, dementia patients are a group with a higher likelihood of either not having a phone or if they do, leaving it at home.

Instead, AirTags can be attached to things that they need to bring with them when roaming unannounced, such as keys or a wallet.

This unorthodox application of AirTags, which were introduced in April 2021 for keeping track of personal items, is not unique. People have been using them to track children and pets too.

However, AirTags can be difficult to locate precisely and questions regarding the morality of non-consensual tracking have also arisen.

Caregivers have resorted to attaching Apple AirTags to loved ones with dementia that have a habit of wandering off unannounced or getting lost

An AirTag is a small Apple device that can be attached to keys or a wallet. Third party accessory manufacturers now market new cases for attaching them to the clothing of elderly people with dementia

Michelle Hirschboeck is a graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota who has resorted to using an AirTag for tracking her husband Paul, who has dementia, per the Journal.

At first she was advised to buy GPS-equipped insoles for Paul's shoes but he wears different shoes on different days and those trackers can cost more than $300. Many GPS tracking services also require an ongoing subscription fee.

'He always puts his keys and wallet in his pocket when he goes out,' she told the WSJ. For the past two months Paul has been walking around with an AirTag attached to his keys.

The Apple AirTag, launched in April 2021, is designed for tracking personal items and not people

But AirTags do not provide a perfect solution as they are not always accurate and they don't usually provide location information in real time.

AirTags are not GPS devices in themselves. Instead, they work by communicating with nearby iPhones, iPads and other devices in Apple's network which can record their location and anonymously report it to the owner of the AirTag.

This means the AirTag will not work as well when the person carrying it does not have a phone on them.

On top of that are issues regarding consent. The WSJ noted that attitudes towards covert tracking of people can vary.

Paul Gaugler, a professor of long-term care at the University of Minnesota, told the WSJ: 'Just because someone has been diagnosed with dementia doesnt mean they cant still make decisions for themselves.

'They can and should be asked if its OK with them.'

'Its more constructive to understand what leads to the wandering and to try to come up with strategies to prevent it,' he added.

On an Apple forum, one user posted that they were hoping to use an AirTag to track their grandmother who has dementia and 'frequently leaves the home alone'. In the post they cited the 'privacy safety features built in' as being an issue.

The problem is that the AirTag is designed for tracking items and not people. It therefore has a privacy feature that caused it to beep if separated from its owner's iPhone.

Apple have addressed this feature on their website, saying: 'To alert people nearby, any AirTag separated for a period of time from its owner will emit a sound when it's moved.'

Another user in the forum suggested that the poster should take apart the AirTag and remove its speaker, preventing it from making a noise.

A Canadian company, Wairco, markets an AirTag accessory as being 'for families struggling with dementia'. The product is a clip that allows the device to be attached to pants, shirts, socks or bags.

While AirTags provide a solution for some, using them is only an imperfect method for dealing with complicated illnesses.

Apple has specified that it does not endorse the use of AirTags for the tracking of people.

In a February statement the company said: 'AirTag was designed to help people locate their personal belongings, not to track people or another persons property, and we condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products.

'Unwanted tracking has long been a societal problem, and we took this concern seriously in the design of AirTag.'

Laurel Wittman is the president of the non-profit Well Spouse Association that works with individuals caring for chronically ill or disabled partners.

In a comment addressing criticisms of the covert use of AirTags for tracking loved ones put forward in the WSJ report, she said that the 'experts come across as naive in their focus on patient autonomy'.

'Wandering can happen 24 hours a day,' she said. 'We need to sleep.'
Donald Trump has thrown his political weight into New York's gubernatorial race on Sunday, endorsing Republican House Rep. Lee Zeldin's bid to unseat Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The ex-president called Zeldin 'great and brilliant' on his Truth Social app while announcing his support.

Zeldin's campaign to unseat Hochul in the reliably blue state has gained unprecedented steam in recent weeks, with a new polling average suggesting Hochul's lead shrunk to roughly 5 percent.

'I have watched and known Congressman Lee Zeldin for many years. He is a great and brilliant lawyer who was a must see for others in Congress when they had a complex legal problem that was holding up legislation,' Trump wrote on Sunday morning.

'Lee was strong on the Border, Crime, our great Military & Vets (like few others!), and fought hard to protect our 2nd Amendment, and succeeded.'

He finished enthusiastically: 'Lee Zeldin is a WINNER who GOT THINGS DONE. He will be a GREAT Governor of New York, and has my Complete & Total Endorsement. GOOD LUCK LEE!'

Donald Trump formally endorsed House Rep. Lee Zeldin's campaign to become governor of New York on Sunday morning

Trump has already hit the campaign trail for Zeldin, holding a September fundraiser in nearby New Jersey

The former president had resisted picking sides in the Empire States' contentious gubernatorial primary between Zeldin and Andrew Giuliani, the son of his friend and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

But he hit the campaign trail for Zeldin after he won that race - but stopped short of a full endorsement.

Last month Trump attended a fundraiser on Zeldin's behalf in neighboring New Jersey.

That event, held outside of the state Zeldin hopes to run, brought in $1.5 million for his campaign, according to the New York Post.

The race to be Governor of New York tightened recently as Zeldin closed the gap and made the race a 'toss-up' against Hochul.

A RealClearPolitics average of polls taken between September 30 to October 12 shows Hochul's lead over Zeldin has dwindled to just 5.3 percent - with 7 percent of voters yet to decide.

Zeldin, a Republican congressman from Long Island, is edging closer to Democrat incumbent Kathy Hochul in the race for governor in New York (pictured with former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani)

Hochul, who took over when former governor Andrew Cuomo was ousted for claims of sexual harassment, has seen a surge in crime under her administration

Zeldin, a US Army veteran and congressman from Long Island, was down by as much as 24 points back in August, and his late surge shows the rising crime in New York may be beneficial to the Republican candidate.

He is also benefitting from the fact Republicans are more likely to vote, and his supporter base is more enthusiastic than Hochul's, Lee M. Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, said in a statement.

'Although Democratic candidates for governor and U.S. Senate lead in very blue New York, the race for governor still bears watching,' he added.

Miringoff also said 'any shift in crime' is likely to benefit Zeldin as the race comes to a close - and New York City has seen a surge this year.

Seizing on the troubling wave, Zeldin promised to fire Manhattan's District Attorney Alvin Bragg immediately upon entering office.

Bragg has been widely criticized for his lax attitude towards crime.

Among the 'ultra MAGA' gubernatorial candidates who are close allies of Donald Trump, Arizona's Kari Lake is seen as among the likeliest to win in November

Polls show the Arizona governor's race as among the most competitive on the ballot this year

'I'm not in this race to come in second. I'm all-in. I'm over 18 months into this race, campaigning all throughout this entire state,' Zeldin said earlier this month.

'One of the reasons why I got into the race was because of these pro-criminal laws that have been getting passed out of Albany,' he added.

Hochul has criticized Zeldin for his ties to Trump.

She has also slammed his views on abortion in an attempt to resonate with voters in the historically blue state. The state has not had a Republican governor since 2006.

The news comes as Democrats around the country are sounding the alarms over Republicans getting closer to snagging seats and governorships.

Arizona Republican candidate for governor and close Trump ally Kari Lake is locked in a tight race with Arizona's Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs for governor of the state.

Among the 'ultra MAGA' candidates who are close allies of Donald Trump and support his baseless claims that President Joe Biden lost the 2020 election, Lake is seen as among the likeliest to win in November.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the HPD tip line at 540-574-5050

No arrests have been made, as police have yet to identify suspects in the case

All of the eight victims range from ages 18 to 27 and are believed to be suffering from non-life-threatening injuries

The incident occurred near James Madison University, but no students were hurt

Eight people were wounded by gunshots at a late-night party near James Madison University (JMU) in Virginia early Sunday, as police continue to search for one or more suspects.

The shooting took place at around 2.20 a.m. on Devon Lane in Harrisonburg, where an unidentified individual opened fire on a group of people at an 'outside gathering', the city announced on Facebook.

'The incident was isolated to the gathering taking place on Devon Lane and HPD does not believe there is any threat to the greater community at this time,' added Harrisonburg Police Department.

Eight people were wounded at an outside gathering on Devon Lane in Harrisonburg, Virginia, early Sunday morning after at least one gunman opened fire on a crowd at around 2.20 a.m.

Mostly students but also local town residents live on Devon Lane (pictured), where the incident took place

Five of the victims were rushed to Sentara RMH, a little more than two miles south of the shooting location.

Three additional individuals were transferred to the University of Virginia's Health - University Hospital, located an hour away.

Cops are investigating whether there was more than one individual involved in the shooting, as several rounds were fired.

DailyMail.com has contacted Harrisonburg Police Department for comment. Michael Parks, a spokesperson for the city, told WTOP that no students were injured in the shooting.

The Harrisonburg Police Department on Facebook communicated that 'no arrests' have been made and that all eight victims range from ages 18 to 27

No arrests had been made as of Sunday morning and police have yet to identify any suspects.

JMU students, staff, and local residents mostly live in the part of town where the incident took place, which is also a popular location for late-night life for young adults.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the HPD tip line at 540-574-5050.
Huma Abedin isn't dismissing a potential future run for office after spending her career supporting Democratic politicians like Hillary Clinton and her ex-husband Anthony Weiner  but said she 'doubts' she would make a bid.

The longtime aide to the Clintons told Cats Roundtable host John Catsimatidis on Sunday morning that she is of the philosophy and stage of life where she wants to keep her options open.

'I am in that phase of my life where I say, 'Never say never,' Abedin, 46, said to the conservative radio show host. 'But I don't see it.'

'I was married for a long time to one of, I think, the most dynamic politicians out there  and successful. And I worked for another politician  these were next level public servants in terms of the work that they did,' she said of Weiner and Clinton.

'I loved supporting them,' Abedin continued. 'I've always been ambivalent about me being out in public myself.'

Longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin didn't shut the door to the potential of running for public office in the future, but said she 'doubts' she will make a bid and prefers to serve 'behind the scenes'

'There are many ways to serve. And I chose to do it behind the scenes. I liked it. I don't see myself on stage.'

She, however, said that she wants to keep her options open, saying: 'Who knows what the future holds? You never know, but I doubt it. I really seriously doubt it.'

Abedin was married to former New York Representative Anthony Weiner from 2010-2017  former President Bill Clinton officiated the wedding ceremony. They share 10-year-old son Jordan Zain Weiner.

The two got divorced after Weiner faced multiple allegations of sexting  and pled guilty to sending these obscene images to a minor.

The Democratic aide reflected Sunday morning on her 26 years working as top aide to the Clintons.

Abedin has worked for the Clintons for 26 years  and notably is Hillary's right-hand-woman. The dup is pictured together at the 2022 Venice Film Festival in Italy on September 1 this year

Abedin was married to former Representative Anthony Weiner from 2010-2017. The two divorced following a public scandal where Weiner pled guilty to sexting a minor. Pictured: Abedin and Weiner walk their son Jordan to school

She also talked about the energy in the room when Hillary Clinton became the first-ever female nominated for president for one of the two major political parties and being the person to call Barack Obama to concede in the 2008 primaries on behalf of her longtime boss.

Most recently, Abedin was pictured in Italy with Clinton for the Venice Film Festival.

'For me, Hillary Clinton has been a mentor and a friend and a guide,' Abedin told Catsimatidis. 'It's just been an extraordinary adventure.'

Abedin said that she continues to work for the Clintons because she has never had the feeling that she 'didn't want to go to work' in the morning.
THIRUVANTHAPURAM: Senior CPI (M) leader K K Shailaja has rejected corruption charges in the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits for an exorbitant price during the COVID-19 pandemic period and said it was done with the knowledge of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to ensure the protection of health workers.

When the health department faced a scarcity of the protective gears, the CM directed procurement of PPE kits ensuring its quality and thus the purchase was made spending Rs 1,500 for each kit, which had earlier been available for just Rs 500, she noted.

Shailaja, who had won global accolades for her effective handling of the COVID situation, was speaking after inaugurating a cultural programme organised by an NRK organisation in Kuwait on Friday.

The former minister came up with an explanation in the wake of anti-corruption watchdog Lok Ayukta issuing her a notice based on a corruption complaint in the purchase of the PPE kits two years ago.

Shailaja said the Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSCL) people had informed her that the stock of the PPE kits with them was about to be over and the life of health workers would be in danger if it was not purchased.

I asked the CM and he said it can be procured from any available source... but the quality should be ensured. It was a time when the manufacturers had raised the price of PPE kits exorbitantly. If a kit was available for Rs 500 before, they began to charge Rs 1,500 for each kit during the time, she recalled.

However, the government decided to purchase it for the hefty price as the lives of people were more important, she said.

Pointing out that under the Disaster Management Act, the government has the freedom to collect such protective equipment waiving other things, the leader also said a decision was taken to purchase 50,000 PPE kits spending Rs 1,500 for each kit.

Of this, a total of 15,000 kits had been bought for the same price. By that time, the market price of the PPE kits began to come down. So, we cancelled the order for the remaining 35,000 kits and later purchased it for the lower market price.

Not just flowers but thorns should also be expected while doing such things but that was not at all an issue, Shailaja added.

Chief Minister Vijayan and the ruling CPI (M) were yet to react to Lok Ayukta's notice on the PPE kit purchase.

Meanwhile, LDF MLA K T Jaleel on Saturday shared a Facebook post criticising the anti-corruption agency without directly mentioning the notice served to Shailaja.

He said it was good to inform the world that Lok Ayukta knows how to conduct preliminary inquiry and serve notice to the party.

The legislator indirectly indicated that he was not heard properly by the watchdog and passed a 'unilateral judgement' when a nepotism case against him was considered by it during the time of the first Pinarayi Vijayan government.

Jaleel had to resign as Higher Education Minister after Lok Ayukta found him guilty of nepotism.

Reacting to the Lok Ayukta notice against Shailaja, BJP state chief K Surendran said the graft charges in the purchase of PPE kit was just a tip of the iceberg of corruption that had taken place during the time of the first Pinarayi Vijayan government.

It was all done with the knowledge of the Chief Minister. The CM and the CPI(M) should answer. Those who looted the coffers while the state was facing a pandemic were enemies of humanity, he alleged.
A man who was found dead in a woodland after allegedly being abducted with a woman in a car in north London has been named as popular radio DJ Koray Alpergin.

The 43-year-old Turkish DJ, who was the owner of London radio station Bizim FM, was tragically discovered by police in Loughton, Essex yesterday.

Three men from Kent have been arrested in connection with the investigation and they remain in custody. Police did not confirm what they had been arrested on suspicion of.

Mr Alpergin had been reported missing on Friday afternoon along with a woman that police believed to be in her 30s.

The pair were suspected to have been taken 'against their will' from an address on Ebony Crescent, Enfield, north London, on Thursday night. They knew one another and were last seen earlier that night.

The woman, reportedly his girlfriend, has been located and is physically unharmed, police said in a statement.

A man who was found dead in a woodland after allegedly being abducted with a woman in a car in north London has been named as popular radio DJ Koray Alpergin (pictured)

The 43-year-old Turkish DJ, who was the owner of London radio station Bizim FM. The radio station posted this image of him, with the caption: 'R.I.P Koray Bizim'

Tributes to the radio DJ flooded in after his shocking death was announced. Bizin FM radio station posted a picture of their owner on social media with the caption: 'R.I.P Koray Bizim.'

The translated post described their shock at finding out about Mr Alpergin's death, as comments below shared the station's grief.

They also shared tributes from others with one describing Mr Alpergin as 'King of Londons radio stations'.

Meanwhile, T-Vine news wrote: 'We are devastated by DJ Koray 'Bizim FM' Alpergin's untimely death. He was a brilliant, universally loved man who brought joy to thousands with his radio shows.

'Our deepest condolences to Koray's family, friends and entire community.'

And Besime Ahmet, from a translated post, wrote on Facebook: 'We woke up to a very long news in the morning, DJ Korayi of our FM, who has been missing since Thursday, was found in Essex Woodland forest.

'My condolences to all his family and friends. It was a pity. How he happened at such a young age is still unknown!'

Many added below: 'May God rest his soul' and 'May God have mercy on him'.

The Turkish Police Association has revealed it is supporting the Central Specialist Crime unit in their investigation into the 'sad and tragic incident'.

Officers discovered a body after reports that a man and woman were missing. It has now been revealed the man was Mr Alpergin

It has urged the community to come forward with any information.

Essex Police were initially investigating but they confirmed on Sunday that Scotland Yard had taken over the probe as the man is believed to have died within the area for which the Metropolitan Police is responsible.



Officers had been working to locate the man after they were called to concerns for his welfare on land near to the Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate at around 11.55am yeserday.

He was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene.

Three men have been arrested after the man's body was discovered in Loughton, Essex yesterday

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Kieran, specialist crime, said a key line of inquiry is that the man and woman were taken against their will in a vehicle.

She said her team is 'working 24/7 to establish exactly what has happened'.

DCI Kieran said: 'This is a very complex and fast-moving investigation involving multiple units across the MPS, as well as invaluable support from our colleagues in Essex Police.

'While the investigation remains at an early stage, a key line of inquiry is that the man and woman were taken against their will in a vehicle on Thursday night.

'I need anyone who was in the Ebony Crescent area on the night of Thursday October 13, and may have witnessed something suspicious, to contact police immediately.

'I urge people to check doorbell camera or dashcam footage - you may have captured something that could prove crucial to our investigation.'
A pervert caught upskirting a schoolgirl inside a Co-op store after placing his mobile phone in a shopping basket is facing jail.

Graham Smith, 62, bumped the basket into the teenager's left leg as he stood behind her in an aisle of the supermarket in Bournemouth on December 10 last year.

The victim looked down towards the basket, where she spotted a camera phone facing up at her.

Smith immediately paid for the items in his basket and fled the store.

Using CCTV footage from inside the Co-op, police were able to track Smith from the registration of his silver Vauxhall van.

Officers subsequently arrested him at his home in Christchurch, where he admitted upskirting a second schoolgirl in the same shop just a few minutes before he was caught. He said it was the first time had had attempted to upskirt someone.

In police interview, he also told officers that, after recording his unsuspecting victim, he would travel to a cliff top to smoke a cigarette and watch the videos for his own sexual gratification.

In a brief hearing at Poole Magistrates' Court, Smith admitted a charge of recording an image beneath the clothing of another person to observe without consent.

Graham Smith pictured leaving Poole Magistrates' Court, where he admitted an offence of recording an image beneath the clothing of another person to observe without consent

Siobhan Oxley, prosecuting, told the court how Smith followed the two victims around the shop at 8.20am while waiting for them to pick something up off the shelves.

He tended to loiter in the chilled aisle for his unsuspecting victims, she said.

Ms Oxley added: 'He placed the basket under their skirts while they selected the items they wanted. He lingered for several seconds with his basket under their skirt before moving off to another aisle.

'Initially unsuspecting one of the girls was lifting an item down from a shelf when he connected with her left leg.

'She realised what was happening and noticed the camera in his basket. He walked away, paid for his goods and leaves the store.

'He drove away in his silver Vauxhall van before being arrested at his home and taken to Bournemouth Police station.

Poole Magistrates' Court (pictured) heard how Smith would travel to a cliff top to smoke a cigarette and watch the videos for his own sexual gratification

'A statement from one of the girls revealed that she noticed it was "an Android phone with the camera facing up".'

The prosecutor said the incident had left the victims 'alarmed and distressed'.

David Hurley, mitigating, said that the judge would require a pre-sentence report.

He said: 'You will see the defendant has no previous convictions and he stands before the court with good character.'

Deputy District Judge Julia Moffat described the act as 'quite worrying behaviour', particularly considering the admission of previous offences.

Smith will be sentenced on November 10.
Prince Andrew looked ashen faced today as he was seen with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson - hours after Jeffrey Epstein's conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell called him a 'dear friend'.

Her bombshell comments  in a world-exclusive prison interview with The Mail on Sunday  contradict Andrew telling a US court that they had not been close.

And both the Duke and Duchess of York appeared glum as they were seen in public driving through Windsor on the day after Sarah's birthday.

The remarks by Maxwell, 60  a convicted sex-trafficker described in court as a 'sophisticated predator'  land a devastating blow to the Duke's hopes of returning to public life.

Maxwell, who was convicted of helping Epstein abuse teenage girls, failed to deny suggestions that she and Andrew had been a couple, and declared: 'I care about him.'

Her remarks come as the MoS reveals a new photograph today of the disgraced former socialite taken at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York this year before she was moved to a prison in Florida to serve her 20-year sentence.

Prince Andrew with Sarah Ferguson in their car just hours after Ghislaine gave her interview

The pair looked incredibly serious as they drove the Range Rover through pretty Windsor

Ghislaine Maxwell in Brooklyn Prison, as revealed in the Mail on Sunday exclusive today

Maxwell believes the image taken of Prince Andrew with his arm around then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts (above) as she smiles in the background is a fake

Maxwell, who was convicted of helping Epstein (pictured together) abuse teenage girls, failed to deny suggestions that she and Andrew had been a couple

Maxwell was prepared to discuss her friendships with some of the rich and powerful men connected to her and Epstein, including former President Clinton (all pictured together)

Andrew, 62, was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages in January as he fought allegations that he abused Ms Roberts, one of Epstein's victims, as a teenager in London, Manhattan, and the US Virgin Islands.

He has repeatedly and vehemently denied the claims. He settled out of court with Ms Roberts, who now uses her married name Giuffre, for an undisclosed sum but made no admission of guilt.

A legal document submitted to a US court in January by the Duke's lawyers contained 41 separate denials of allegations made by Ms Roberts, including her claim that 'Prince Andrew was a close friend of Ghislaine Maxwell'.

But in her MoS interview, Maxwell spoke in glowing terms of her friendship with the Duke. 'I feel so bad for him,' said the disgraced former socialite, who has known Andrew since she was a student at Oxford University in the 1980s.

'Yes, I follow what is happening to him. He is paying such a price for the association [with Jeffrey Epstein]. I consider him a dear friend I care about him.'

Bombshell comments by Maxwell about their friendship contradict Andrew's denial to a US court that they had been close

Prince Andrew has always denied claims that he abused Virginia Roberts, one of Epstein's victims, but settled out of court with her

Quizzed on the denial by Andrew's lawyers that they were close friends, Maxwell said: 'I accept that this friendship could not survive my conviction.'

She dismissed a photograph, first revealed by this newspaper, of the Prince with his arm around Ms Roberts at Maxwell's home in Belgravia, Central London, in March 2001, saying: 'I don't recognise that picture and I don't believe it is a real picture. There's so many things wrong with it. There is no original and there isn't a true picture and there are that many other things besides that I cannot hardly get into I don't know how many points there are, but there are over 50 problems with the picture.'

Earlier this year, Euan Rellie, a former friend of Maxwell's, told ITV he believed she and Andrew 'had probably been girlfriend and boyfriend in the past'.

Asked about press reports that they were 'like a couple, an item', Maxwell said she would not address such speculation until after the appeal against her conviction. 'I have read and seen and heard and had reported to me so many monstrous inaccuracies that I can't start to pick apart all of them. If I pick apart one and then don't address all the others, it's going to say, 'Well, she said no to this, what about all those others?' I'm not going to discuss anything of that nature until after the appeal.'

She has been in jail since July 2020 when more than 20 armed FBI agents raided her 156-acre, 800,000 New Hampshire home.

Maxwell, pictured with Epstein, complained she has been portrayed as a 'wicked witch' Disney character and accused the media of 'monstrous inaccuracies'

The MoS interviewed her on June 22 this year at the MDC, six days before she was sentenced, and then weeks later after she was moved to the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, a low-security jail in Florida.

She was prepared to discuss her friendships with some of the rich and powerful men connected to her and Epstein, including former President Clinton.

'It was a special friendship, which continued over the years,' she said of Clinton. 'We had lots in common. I feel bad that he is another victim, only because of his association [with Epstein].'

She also spoke of her gratitude to former President Trump, who bestowed his good wishes on her after her arrest.

'I was very grateful when he wished me well. He got bad media for it, but he dared while others didn't. It gave me a big boost.'

Maxwell said the food at the MDC was 'truly terrible' and she was once so hungry she ate Vaseline. She is now in a cell measuring 10ft by 8ft that is too small for her and her three cellmates to all stand up in. 'It's very far from a cushy country club,' she said.

After Epstein killed himself as he awaited trial, prison bosses put her on suicide watch prior to her sentencing. Maxwell, who said she had never contemplated taking her own life, described wearing an anti-suicide smock  a long tunic made of thick nylon  adding: 'They strip you of any remaining shred of dignity that you have. They have you with no clothes, and they put you in a suicide smock, which has Velcro straps on it. So there's nothing to protect your modesty.'

The MoS revealed in June that a fellow inmate at the MDC had bragged she was going to murder Maxwell, claiming that there was a $1 million bounty on her head. Maxwell this weekend confirmed that a woman had threatened to murder her as she slept.

Maxwell now works in the prison's legal library, where she helps other inmates with their cases.

Prince Andrew declined to comment last night.
President Joe Biden as of Sunday has no plans for another one-on-one meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, after OPEC+ announced dramatic cuts to production that are likely to force gas prices up in the United States and elsewhere.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was asked by CNN's State of the Union whether Biden has any plans to meet with MBS, as he's colloquially known, at the upcoming G20 Summit of the world's wealthiest nations.

'He has no plans to meet with the Crown Prince at the G20 summit,' Sullivan said.

'And he is focused, however, on making sure that - through every engagement he has across the board - he's looking out for not just the US but our allies as well.'

But the Saudi Arabia-led oil cartel's recent decision to cut production of 2 million barrels of oil per day has dealt a blow to Biden's efforts to fight rising costs while providing a boost to Russia and its illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Both Republican and Democrat lawmakers are now calling for retaliation against the Saudis, including a legislative push to halt the American military's lucrative arms sales to the Gulf kingdom.

The White House said it would re-evaluate its relationship with the Saudis but has not elaborated on any further discussions.

Sullivan on Sunday said Biden would not 'act precipitously,' but assured that he would consult Congress before taking any meaningful action.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the president has no plans to speak with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Bali at the G20 summit next month

White House National Security Adviser @JakeSullivan46 tells @DanaBashCNN why President Biden does not plan to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/6Kpq15DM06  CNN (@CNN) October 16, 2022

'This is a relationship that got built over decades on a bipartisan basis,' the advisor said. 'And so the president isnt going to act precipitously, hes going to act methodically, strategically.'

'And hes going to take his time to consult with members of both parties, and also to have an opportunity for Congress to return so that he can sit with them in person.'

Biden met with MBS in Jeddah in July as part of a wider trip to meet with Gulf allies. The White House has maintained it was not about oil, despite domestic gas prices still hovering near June's record levels at the time.

Critics of the president who previously accused him of cow-towing to Saudi Arabia instead of doing more to expand domestic energy production are now blaming him for the expected price increases to come at the pump.

Sullivan stressed the positive outcomes of Biden's Saudi visit, including the subsequent opening of the country's airspace to Israeli flights.

'One of the things that he was able to achieve in that meeting in July was the historic opening of Saudi airspace to Israeli commercial air traffic,' Sullivan said.

'The first step Saudi Arabia has ever taken on a path towards normalization with Israel, which we believe was a positive thing for him to be able to deliver for a strong partner of ours.'

Biden has been attacked by critics for meeting with Saudi Arabian leaders despite vowing to make them a 'pariah' state - which has come back again to haunt him after the OPEC+ decision

Biden promised during a CNN interview last week that there would be 'consequences' for the decision led by Riyadh.

OPEC+'s production cut has put the president in a politically precarious place, with gas prices once again creeping back up and the midterm elections less than a month away.

It also stands to undermine the US-led energy sanctions against Russia, which has been relying on its oil and gas exports to help finance Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the Biden administration had previously asked OPEC and its allies to delay the cuts for a month - until just before the midterm elections.

Such a move would have likely minimized political fallout at the ballot box, and led to a delay in the expected increase in gas prices.

'The government of the kingdom clarified through its continuous consultation with the U.S. administration that all economic analyses indicate that postponing the OPEC+ decision for a month, according to what has been suggested, would have had negative economic consequences,' Saudi Arabia said in a statement shared by the Associated Press.

The White House denied any political motivations in such discussions, according to the AP.
The school band's director also allegedly applied pressure on Sandra to go through with the procedure

A woman is suing a California school district for allegedly covering up her allegations of sexual abuse by a band teacher almost 20 years ago and revealed this week that another school employee had helped the suspect to deceive her into having an abortion.

In the lawsuit filed against Paramount High School and Unified School District, the victim, publicly identified only as 'Sandra,' accuses the school's band director of pressuring her to go through with the abortion to hide alleged criminal offenses committed by her assistant, who has gone missing for years after faking his death.

'Although it has been almost 20 years, the pain today is as strong as the day it happened,' Sandra told ABC7.

She has been unable to lead a normal life for years, as she regrets ever having the abortion in May 2005 when she was only 16 years old. Sandra did not have her parents' consent at the time and did not even inform them about the procedure.

The teen, back then, played clarinet in the school band, which was spearheaded by assistant Steven Velasquez, from whom Sandra holds several records, including a 2004 picture of her kissing him.

Sandra (pictured), who is a former student at a Paramount High School in California, alleges that a 20-year-old music teaching assistant impregnated her when she was only 16 and then faked his death to get her to have an abortion

The alleged affair took place in 2004-05 at Paramount High School in the Greater Los Angeles area

'He made me believe that he loved me': A photograph showing Sandra (pictured) kissing her offender, Steven Velasquez, in 2004

'He made me believe that he loved me,' Sandra told Meawww of her former teacher.

'[...] When that needle went into my babys heart to stop it from beating, a piece of my heart died that day that I will never get back,' she added. 'Its time for all those responsible to stand up and speak the truth. Because in this life the only thing that will set you free is the truth.'

The photograph also has a handwritten message written by Velasquez on its back, which reads: 'Baby I love you, and I hope you are still happy with me.'

The lawsuit lists Velasquez as Sandra's offender, as details reveal that the music teaching assistant was 20 years old when his alleged affair with the teen student began.

'Baby, I love you! And I hope you're still happy being with me': A note written by Velasquez on the back of the picture before he took off and was never to be seen again

The victim also alleges that the suspect used his boss, the band's director, as a confidant in the case.

It is believed the director is still employed at Paramount High School and allegedly played a role in pressuring Sandra into undergoing an abortion and hiding it from her inner circle.

'He sent me to his sister-in-law at a clinic in South Gate,' Sandra told Telemundo 52. Both the clinic and the high school are in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Sandra, however, ended up having the termination in Long Beach, according to the Spanish-speaking outlet. She further revealed that the band's director had allegedly lied before the procedure, telling her that Velazquez had died.

'[It filled him with] lies and deception to cover up and cover up the evidence of this sexual abuse,' Moises Castillo, an investigator hired by the victim, told Telemundo 52.

The first time that Sandra opened up about her story was in 2020 when California passed the AB-218 bill, which extends the statute of limitations period for individuals to file civil lawsuits for childhood sexual abuse against persons and entities.

The Paramount School District has not yet publicly commented on the case. DailyMail.com has contacted Sandra's high school for comment.

Sandra, sitting next to her lawyer, Samuel Dordulian, explained that she only filed the lawsuit so that other potentially unheard voices who experienced similar abuse at the school could speak up

The victim said that her main reason for filing the lawsuit is to prevent other students from going through a similar experience of abuse(s).

'We know she's not the only victim, we know what's more. We have interviewed other people and found another victim,' Castillo added, referring to potentially more old- school students being sexually assaulted by the same offender - Velasquez - in this case.

Sandra is seeking unspecified monetary damages from the school district, as well as punitive damages from her offender.

Her lawyer, Samuel Dordulian, is also urging former bandmates and other former students at the school to come forward with any information on Velasquez's whereabouts or stories of alleged abuse from the music teaching assistant.
A police force has deleted a social media post encouraging trans people to report 'deadnaming' as a 'hate crime' after an intervention from the Home Secretary.

Leicestershire Police took to Twitter to encourage people who are transgender to report when a person deliberately refers to someone by their pre-transition name.

The force used a 'stock image' of a trans woman with 'fictitious' quotes which were made up by an 'experienced' officer.

But the post, which was widely shared on social media, sparked a backlash from Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Ms Braverman, a qualified barrister, said on Twitter that she believed police forces were 'confused' over what constitutes a 'hate crime'.

She also accused the force of 'undermining' confidence' in policing by spending resources on 'politically correct' campaigns, saying officers should instead be 'fighting actual crimes'.

And in a veiled threat, the Home Secretary said senior officers who sanction such campaigns will have to personally explain them to her.

The tweet was later deleted, with Leicestershire Police chiefs saying they were 'sorry' that the posts 'may have caused some upset'.

They also said the force was reviewing how it promotes campaigns because it 'should have made clear' the image was a 'stock' and the quotes were 'fictitious'.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured arriving at Downing Street last week) has today challenged a police force over a trans 'hate crime' poster encouraging people to report incidents of 'deadnaming'

The poster (pictured), by Leicestershire Police, encourages trans people to make a report when people purposely use their previous name

Responding to the force's tweet (pictured: the tweet by Ms Braverman), the cabinet minister said she believed police forces were 'confused' over what constitutes a 'hate crime'

What is a hate crime in England and Wales? According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), any crime can be prosecuted as a hate crime if there's evidence that the offender demonstrated or was motivated by hostility towards a person's race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity. In England and Wales, the law recognises five types of hate crime on the basis of race, religion, disability sexual orientation and transgender identity. There is no legal definition of hostility so the CPS use the everyday understanding of the word which includes ill will, spite, contempt, prejudice, unfriendliness, antagonism, resentment and dislike. Advertisement

The tweet was posted on Leicestershire Police's Stay Safe account, which is shared between the force's crime reduction officers and hate crime officers.

The post said: 'You can report #HateCrime via Stamp It Out.'

The tweet shared an image of a transgender person named Jane, 57, from Hinkley, who said: 'I get called my previous male name on purpose, but that's not who I am.

'It can be really hurtful, especially when it's just seen as a joke.'

The force said the image was a 'stock image obtained by the team' and that the words had been provided by an 'experienced police staff member who has significant knowledge of the different types of hate crime people can be and have been subjected to'.

Responding to the criticism, Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon said: 'Having examined the posts I believe we as a force should have made clear that the images were stock images and that the names given were fictitious for illustration purposes.

'For completeness, I am also having a scenario presented checked against current national hate crime recording policy.'

There are no specific homophobic, biphobic or transphobic hate crimes in UK law.

It comes after Leicestershire Police's Stay Safe Twitter account, which is shared between the force's crime reduction officers and its hate crime officers, posted an image encouraging people to report incidents of 'deadnaming'

But any criminal offence can be judged a hate crime if it is proved that a person committed an offence because of prejudice or hostility to LGBT people.

A court will need evidence that the offender did show prejudice, malice and ill will, for example, because of what was said.

IN FULL: Leicestershire Police's response to criticism of 'hate crime' poster Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon said: 'Over the past week, a number of social media posts were issued on our Leicestershire Police Stay Safe account aiming to raise awareness of hate crime. This was as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week. 'While we recognise that people have strong and often conflicting views regarding this issue, we should not forget the seriousness of hate crime and the devastating crimes that as a country we have seen in the past which have happened as a result of hate crime. 'Hate crimes are acts of violence or hostility directed at people because of who they are. Hate crime law in England and Wales have developed in various phases over the past two decades and the law recognises five protected characteristics; race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity. 'As a force, like all other forces, our priority is to prevent and detect crime. This includes raising awareness of different crimes, the impact these crimes can have and informing where victims of these crimes can report the offence and access support. Hate crime laws have been introduced following tragic incidents and are part of legislation. It is vitally important that we raise awareness of hate crime and work together to stop it from happening. 'We are however aware that during our hate crime awareness campaign there have been a significant number of comments relating to some of the posts. I am sorry that our posts may have caused some upset. I know that was not the intention of our communications team who I know are committed to helping the force to prevent and detect crime and to raise awareness. 'To clarify in relation to the posts, the images used were stock images obtained by the team. The source of those images had been considered to be reliable and the words on the posts were provided by an experienced police staff member who has significant knowledge of the different types of hate crime people can be and have been subjected to. 'Having examined the posts I believe we as a force should have made clear that the images were stock images and that the names given were fictitious for illustration purposes. For completeness, I am also having a scenario presented checked against current national hate crime recording policy. 'As a result, we have now removed the posts and will be reviewing how we use stock images and raise awareness of hate crime going forward. However, I do ask that people please remember the importance of the message which the posts related to  that hate crime is impactive and an offence and together we should be working to 'Stamp it Out'. 'If you are a victim of hate crime, we urge you to report it to us. You can visit How to report hate crime | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk) for more information on hate crime and how to report it to us. 'Finally, by way of some context I would like to share with you that our force communications work does consistently cover a whole range of subjects with the sole aim of informing the communities of what we are doing in an attempt to prevent and detect crime. 'As an example, last week, as well as our hate crime awareness posts, we issued posts about our drug enforcement work and county lines being dismantled during County Lines Intensification Week as well as our ongoing policing operation in East Leicester and ensuring that Diwali celebrations could continue safely. This was in addition to public appeals in relation to other offences as well as updates regarding arrests and charges made and convictions in court following dedicated police investigations.' Advertisement

According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), hate crimes are an incident or criminal offence which is 'perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person's sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation'.

It can also be any incident or criminal offence which is 'perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender'.

Cases where it is proved that an offence was committed or motivated by prejudice can result in an uplift in a person's sentence.

It comes after Ms Braverman, who took over as Home Secretary from Priti Patel last month, also criticised police over their dealings with climate change and vegan activists.

Ms Braverman labelled the climate activists, who have been behind a number of high-profile demonstrations in recent weeks, 'so-called protesters' and added that 'democracies reach decisions in a civilised manner'.

She also lambasted the protesters for their 'imagined right to bully' the public, adding: 'Who do they think they are?'

She also issued a stark warning to the police: 'I also expect the Metropolitan Police to do a better job of cracking down on these thugs and vandals  as does the public.'

It came after 15 days of successive protests by Just Stop Oil, who blocked roads in central London over the weekend, and action by vegan activists Animal Rebellion which included pouring milk on the floor and meat counters in luxury shops such as Fortnum and Mason.

Referring to activists such as those from Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain, Ms Braverman said those who glue themselves to the road are 'wildy irresponsible, idiotic, and risking lives'.

She threatened future 'serious penalties in order to deter public disorder' in her article in The Mail On Sunday.

Her comments come ahead of the Public Order Bill returning to Parliament this week, which the Government is hoping will strengthen officers' powers to deal with protesters more quickly.

Proposed measures include more stop and search powers to enable police to look for items such as superglue.

Accusing protesters of draining police resources, Ms Braverman will use the Bill to allow secretaries of state to apply for injunctions in the 'public interest' where protests are causing or threatening 'serious disruption or a serious adverse impact on public safety'.

According to the Home Office, this will include protecting access to 'essential' goods, services and key infrastructure.

Ms Braverman said: 'I will not bend to protesters attempting to hold the British public to ransom. Preventing our emergency services from reaching those who desperately need them is indefensible, hideously selfish and in no way in the public interest.

'This serious and dangerous disruption, let alone the vandalism, is not a freedom of expression, nor a human right. It must stop.'

The Home Office said the proposed legislation would create a new criminal offence of interfering with infrastructure such as oil refineries, airports, railways and printing presses. Such an offence would carry a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

'Locking on' or 'going equipped to lock-on' to other people, objects or buildings to cause 'serious disruption' could see people imprisoned for six months or hit with an unlimited fine.

A new criminal office of tunnelling to cause serious disruption is also being created, which will carry a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment as well as the potential for an unlimited fine. An offence of going equipped to tunnel will also be created.

Ms Braverman said it is 'high time' MPs back the Bill. She added: 'The police need strengthened and tougher powers to match the rise in self-defeating protest tactics and that's what the Public Order Bill will do.

'It's high time Parliament got behind it and put the law-abiding majority first.'

The Home Office is also promising that stop-and-search measures and new serious disruption prevention orders will support the police, with the latter targeting those repeatedly convicted of protest-related offences.
The mother of one of Jeffrey Dahmer's victims has said that Halloween costumes impersonating the Milwaukee serial killer are insensitive to the families of his victims.

Shirley Hughes, 85, the mother of Dahmer's 12th victim Tony Hughes, has criticized the Netflix show for re-victimizing the family of those he killed and misrepresenting the circumstances around the death of her deaf son.

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story has become the second most viewed English Netflix series of all time, having racked up more than 700 million hours viewed.

The renewed interest in Dahmer and his crimes has triggered speculation and fears for family members that people will dress up as the serial killer this Halloween, donning a blonde wig, gold frame sunglasses and buying drills similar to the one used by the killer to dismember bodies.

Hughes has now told multiple media outlets that she cannot believe the show was allowed to be made and that it pains her to see people profit from her son's death.

Shirley Hughes, 85, has said that she finds the new Netflix show re-traumatizing and views Dahmer-themed Halloween costumes as rubbing salt in the wound

A vintage Makita drill, similar to the one used by Dahmer to dismember his victim's bodies, is listed for sale on eBay

Imitations of Jeffrey Dahmer's distinctive gold-rimmed sunglasses are also available for sale online

Shirley Hughes was the mother of aspiring model Tony Hughes, who was murdered aged 31 by Dahmer after they met at a gay bar in 1991.

Hughes told the Guardian: 'I dont see how they can use our names and put stuff out like that out there.'

She also challenged the show's accuracy, saying: 'It didn't happen like that.'

Hughes told TMZ that it was difficult enough seeing the Netflix show but knowing that people have plans to dress like her son's killer is like salt in the wound.

While some fancy dress shops have opted not to sell Dahmer paraphernalia at all, props are showing up in online stores like eBay. For sale are blonde wigs, vintage gold-framed sunglasses and even vintage drills that look like the one used by Dahmer.

Hughes told TMZ that she believed the family should be seeing some of the profits generated by her son's death, but at a minimum eBay listings should be taken down.

Hughes is the mother of the deaf, aspiring model Tony Hughes, who was killed by Dahmer in 1991

A Dahmer-style wig for sale on eBay. Hughes told TMZ that she would like to see the insensitive listings taken down

A mug for sale on eBay featuring Dahmer's face and the text: 'I eat guys like you for breakfast'

In 1992 a Milwaukee judge awarded seven of Dahmer's victim's families $70million to acknowledge the severity of his crimes. But since Dahmer was behind bars there was no money for him to pay.

The judge at the time said: 'It is true that it is Monopoly money in that Mr. Dahmer does not appear to have any resources.

'But I think that it was critical to the survivors that the outrage that had been perpetrated on members of their family was appropriately appreciated by the court.'

It was then speculated that the penalties could potentially be paid for with money generated by a future book or movie.

A mugshot of Jeffrey Dahmer taken in August 1982, ten years before he was sentenced to 15 life sentences in prison

An entire episode of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story focused on the murder of Tony Hughes, who was played by deaf actor Rodney Burford

Shirley Hughes, mother of victim Tony Hughes, said of the Dahmer Netflix show: 'It didn't happen like that'

The cousin of another of Dahmer's victims, Errol Perry, posted on Twitter his family members were not made aware of the Netflix show until it came out, just like everyone else.

Dahmer is charged with two counts of first degree murder and 13 counts of intentional homicide for serial killings in Milwaukee in August 1991

Cousin of Errol Perry, Eric Perry, posts on Twitter that his family were not notified in advance that the film was being made

The wildly popular Netflix series has proved lucrative for owners of Dahmer collectibles.

Taylor James, who runs Cult Collectibles in Vancouver, Canada, owns a pair of glasses worn by Dahmer, listed for $150,000, as well as his original urn, which he's hoping to sell for $250,000.
January 6 panel member Adam Kinzinger said that the select committee will likely need to 'negotiate' with former President Donald Trump to get him to comply with their subpoena.

Comes as fellow panel member Stephanie Murphy revealed that they will seek to call back U.S. Secret Service (USSS) officials to testify under oath after revelations from the public hearing last week shows that they knew about the threats facing the Capitol.

Kinzinger, one of the two GOP members of the panel, said that it might not be so straightforward to get Trump to testify or hand over documents after the nine members voted to subpoena him at their meeting on Thursday.

'There have been some suggestions that he may be willing, according to associates, to testify live before the committee. Is that something that's acceptable to you?' ABC This Week host George Stephanopoulos asked the Illinois congressman.

'I think that's going to be a negotiation,' Kinzinger said, explaining that many other witnesses claimed they would do something publicly, then go back on that pledge.

'So, I'll only address that when we know for sure whether or not the president has tried to push to come in and talk to us live,' he said.

The January 6 select committee held possibly its last televised hearing on Thursday before the 2022 midterms and ahead of the release of its full report on the Capitol riot last year.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Representative Liz Cheney  who joins Kinzinger as the two Republicans on the panel  introduced a motion to subpoena Trump, whom they claim is the main cause of the attack that day.

Representative Adam Kinzinger said Sunday that there would likely be 'negotiations' between the January 6 panel and Donald Trump to get him to testify after voting to subpoena the former president

The January 6 select committee ended their public, televised hearing on Thursday by voting to subpoena the former president for testimony and to hand over relevant documents

The nine members voted unanimously by voice vote to subpoena Trump's testimony and relevant documents.

Trump responded on his social media website Truth Social questioning why the panel waited so long to subpoena him in relation to their investigation.

'Why didn't the Unselect Committee ask me to testify months ago?' he questioned. 'Why did they wait until the very end, the final moments of their last meeting? Because the Committee is a total 'BUST' that has only served to further divide our Country which, by the way, is doing very badly - A laughing stock all over the World?'

The 45th president did not comment on whether he would comply with the subpoena.

Reports following the hearing, however, note that sources close with Trump say that he does want to appear to answer questions  but will only agree to do so if it is conducted live.

Several committee hearings this summer featured testimony from witnesses who appeared on Capitol Hill and answered questions before the panel on live television. Trump wants the same treatment, according to reports.

Kinzinger dismissed Trump's response to the subpoena as 'rambling'.

'We made a decision and, in front of the American people, you know, not behind closed doors, to begin the process of subpoenaing the former president,' he said. 'He's required by law to come in. And he can ramble and push back all he wants. That's the requirement for a congressional subpoena to come in.'

Meanwhile, Representative Murphy said that she is 'looking forward' to hearing more from 'rogue' Secret Service agents, whom she wants to hear testify under oath regarding the events on and leading up to January 6, 2021.

Fellow panel member Stephanie Murphy also said Sunday that she 'looking forward' to hearing Secret Service officials testify again, this time under oath before the committee

'As a part of our investigation, we've looked at all of the law enforcement agencies response to January 6, and as you know, we are still going through tens of thousands of documents that the Secret Service have turned over recently,' Murphy told NBC's Meet the Press host Chuck Todd on Sunday morning.

'I look forward to us calling back in some of those Secret Service officials who have knowledge about what happened and putting them under oath this time now that we have additional information to gather their perspectives,' she added.

'And then as far as recommendations that would be included in the report.'

Murphy reaffirmed that the panel plans to release its report on the findings of its investigation 'before the end of the calendar year'  and before the new Congress is sworn in.
A company manager was left furious when his pick-up truck returned from being repaired with an extra 2,000 miles on the clock and hundreds of pounds of damage.

Phil Chatburns Nissan Navara had travelled the equivalent of a journey to Istanbul or two thirds of the way to New York during an unexpected five-month spell at the garage.

When the father-of-two eventually collected the vehicle last month he found numerous dents and scratches and noticed screeching coming from the front wheels.

He phoned the RAC, who found the brake pads and discs were so badly worn they towed it straight back to the garage.

Phil Chatburns Nissan Navara had travelled the equivalent of a journey to Istanbul or two thirds of the way to New York during an unexpected five-month spell at the garage

To make matters even worse, Mr Chatburn 52, was sent an invoice for almost 1,200 to cover the extra repairs  none of which he said were his responsibility.

He said: I could have driven to Edinburgh and back four times to run that mileage up.

They said they were test-driving the car but how can you rack up that kind of distance? It doesnt make sense.

Mr Chatburn took his three-year-old Navara to the Bristol Street Motors dealership in Halifax in April after persistent problems with a part called the diesel particulate filter, which had caused it to break down several times.

But the problem apparently confounded mechanics. Mr Chatburn claimed that when he phoned for updates he was either told his truck was unroadworthy or that they were awaiting a part from Japan.

When the father-of-two eventually collected the vehicle last month he found numerous dents and scratches and noticed screeching coming from the front wheels. He phoned the RAC, who found the brake pads and discs were so badly worn they towed it straight back to the garage

And when he drove past the dealership in his courtesy car on numerous occasions he saw it sitting on the forecourt.

But during that time the mileometer had leapt from 25,145 miles to 27,216 miles. Mr Chatburn said: I checked with independent experts who said a reasonable amount of mileage for test drives would have been between 30 and 50 miles.

A spokesman for the dealership said: We acknowledge we did not keep Mr Chatburn up to date with the number of miles driven by technicians to ascertain a confirmed diagnosis and to enable a part to be ordered and fitted, which has resolved the fault.

Therefore, as a gesture of goodwill we will make a payment to cover the mileage costs and we will arrange for the bodywork damage to his car to be repaired.

For now, Mr Chatburn is back in a courtesy car and is demanding the garage cover the cost of the brake repairs.

He added that they have agreed to meet him to discuss resolving his complaint.
Israeli ministers have said it is time for the country to support Ukraine with arms shipments after US officials claimed on Sunday that Iran has secretly agreed to supply Russia with surface-to-surface missiles.

The Islamic Republic has been sending drones along with Iranian troops into Ukraine to operate them, siding with Russia in its bloody invasion.

Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai wrote on Twitter: 'There is no longer any doubt where Israel should stand in this bloody conflict. The time has come for Ukraine to receive military aid as well, just as the USA and NATO countries provide.'

His comments came after the Washington Post quoted US sources on Sunday claiming Iran is stepping up its arms supply to Russia.

Tehran has finalised terms for additional weapons shipments, including two types of Iranian surface-to-surface missiles, the sources said.

A shipment of Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar missiles, weapons capable of striking targets at distances of 300 and 700 kilometers respectively, are set to be delivered for Putin's troops to use against targets in Ukraine  where Russian soldiers have been targeting civilians with missile strikes.

Moscow has been searching for allies for its nearly eight-month war in Ukraine after invading the country on February 25, only to have its nose bloodied by fierce Ukrainian resistance and a subsequent counter-attack.

Members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) march during the annual 'Sacred Defence Week'. Increased flow of weapons from Iran could help offset steep Russian weapons losses

Iran in July 2022 concluded an agreement on the supply of several types of drones to the Russian Federation, including the Shahed 136, pictured

Nachman Shai, Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister, said the time has come for Israel to supply Ukraine with weapons shipments

The news comes as Ukrainian forces mounted another counterattack on Russian occupiers in the south of the country, with the Armed Forces of Ukraine reportedly requesting a blackout of videos, photos, with regards to Kherson  the largest Ukrainian city taken by Russian forces during the conflict  to stop Putin's forces from locating Ukrainian troop movements.

Russia is loosing more than six troops for every one Ukrainian soldier killed, according to Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar, citing Andrii Kovalchuk, commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Operational Command 'South'.

Now, Vladimir Putin has announced the end to mobilisation only two months after starting forced military conscription, with more Russians ending up fleeing the country than fighting in the army.

The Russian president has also stepped up attacks on civilians in Ukrainian cities, with analysis pointing to increased Russian anxiety about its home front.

Turning to other despot regimes, Putin has reached out to countries as far flung as North Korea and Syria in hopes of winning the war.

But despite western sanctions and a coalition of countries working to isolate Russia, Iran has remained its steadfast ally, with US intelligence identifying invading Russian forces using Iranian munitions  despite denials from Iran.

Russia allegedly repainted the weapons and gave them Russian names.

Iranian Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar missiles is a short-range, road-mobile, solid-propellant ballistic missile. It is most likely a modified version of the unguided Zelzal-2, with the addition of control and guidance systems. While the program is based in Iran, the missile is believed to incorporate components from Chinese contractors. In 2006, the US Department of Treasury accused Chinese firm Great Wall Industry and its partners of playing a lead role in the development of the Fateh missile system. Iran has launched several Fateh missiles, as well as longer-range variants in military operations since 2017. On September 25, 2016, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan announced that Irans new Zolfaghar ballistic missile, a member of the Fateh family. On June 18, 2017, Iran reportedly launched six Zolfaghar missiles into Syria towards the Deir ez-Zor region. Houthi fighters in Yemen, backed by Iran, have also used the weapons against oil refineries and other civilian targets in neighboring Gulf countries. Iran has also reportedly employed both missile types against targets in Iraq. Source: Missile Threat Advertisement

Earlier this week, Russian forces rained down air strikes using Iranian-made Shahed-136 'suicide' drones near Makrariv, in retaliation for the Kerch Bridge linking Russian with the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

The 12-mile bridge holds importance as a symbol of Moscow's power and carries military supplies from Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Iran is preparing new deliveries of Shahed-136s to Russia, as well as Mohajer-6s drones.

The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament said on Thursday Russian forces struck more than 70 energy facilities in Ukraine this week.

He threatened an 'even tougher' response to future attacks by 'the Kyiv regime', although Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the bridge bombing.

Putin vowed a 'tough' and 'proportionate' response to Ukrainian attacks that threatened Russia's security.

On the same day, France pledged an air defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities against drone strikes, as well as an expanded training program for Ukrainian soldiers.

Up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers will be embedded with military units in France, rotating through for several weeks of combat training, Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, said in an interview published in Le Parisien.

'We are noting the fact that the war, alas, will last,' the newspaper quoted the minister as saying. 'A new generation of soldiers must also be trained, to last the distance.'

France had previously trained Ukrainian artillery troops to use Caesar self-propelled howitzers it has supplied.

The expanded training that France is now offering is 'a very important step,' the minister said. 'We are changing the scale.'

The minister said Crotale air defense missile batteries that France is preparing to send to Ukraine 'will be particularly useful in the fight against drones and against aerial bombardments.'

The French defense budget for 2023 will climb to its highest levels since World War II, at 44billion (38billion).

Rescuers work at the site of a residential building heavily damaged during a Russian attack in Mykolaiv today

A man weeps over the corpse of his cousin after a Russian strike in Mykolaiv today

Ukraine has accused Moscow of using Iranian-made Shahed-136 'suicide' drones as part of multiple deadly strikes on Ukraine
Tense situation prevailed near the flyover at Nidadavole in East Godavari district on Friday as YSRC activists tried to disrupt the Maha Padayatra of Amaravati farmers to Arasavalli. (DC)

KAKINADA: Tense situation prevailed near the flyover at Nidadavole in East Godavari district on Friday as YSRC activists tried to disrupt the Maha Padayatra of Amaravati farmers to Arasavalli in Srikakulam district.

Amaravati farmers started their padayatra in Nidadavole with the Telugu Desam, CPI, CPM, Jana Sena and BJP workers supporting them. Barricades had been erected so that the yatra could not be disrupted.

However, ruling YSRC supporters led by Nidadavole municipal chairman Bhupathi Adinarayana and ZPTC Koyya Suribabu reached the spot and tried to disrupt the padayatra. They raised slogans against the Amaravati sole capital demand and in favour of three capitals. They shouted Go Back Amaravati Farmers. They released balloons into the air with black ribbons and black towels. Some of the cadre made an attempt to jump over barricades to stop the Padayatra.

Special police forces deployed at the spot prevented the YSRC agitators from coming too near the Amaravati farmers, whose yatra entered the 33rd day.

Telugu Desam official spokesperson and former Pithapuram MLA S.V.S.N. Varma criticised YSRC government for closing the road-cum-railway bridge. He called the closure a conspiracy hatched by ruling party to disrupt Amaravati farmers' padayatra. He found fault with East Godavari district collector Madhavi Lathas statement that the bridge had been closed for repairs.

Varma asked Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy if N. Chandrababu Naidu, as chief minister, had stopped his (Jagans) yatra when he had been in opposition. He asserted that the farmers will not give up their padayatra, however much YSRC leaders may try to disrupt it.
At a vigil in September, Daniel Jones said: 'he main reason we are here tonight is because the devil is out there. Satan is on the verge'

The grief stricken parents said that just prior to her disappearance, they had confiscated her phone and found she was communicating with older men

In July, her parents, Daniel and Brenda, told DailyMail.com that they believed that their daughter had been sex trafficked

Recently, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office have renewed their pleas for information that might lead to her return

A 17-year-old Georgia girl with special needs remains missing four months after her parents say that she escaped from her bedroom window after they found her talking online with men.

When she vanished in June from Carrollton, Georgia , Kaylee Jones, who lives with autism, was 16 years old. The community is located 50 miles west of Atlanta.

In a Facebook post on Friday, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office said: 'Heartbreaking that we are FOUR months later and Kaylee Jones is still missing.' The agency has been leading the search for Jones since she went missing.

Despite numerous tips, the sheriff's office said that there been no solid leads established but reminded the public to continue to be vigilant.

In July, Jones' parents, Daniel and Brenda, that they believed that their daughter had been sex trafficked after they found at that she had been communicating with older men online and because of her trusting nature.

The family also criticized local law enforcement for their lack of effort in searching to Jones, labelling her as a runaway.

Kaylee Jones , 16, pictured here, was last seen on June 14 in the area of Whooping Creek Church Road in Carrollton, Georgia. Kaylee's parents, Daniel and Brenda Jones, say their daughter has special needs, and has been off her medication since she disappeared

In July, Jones' parents, Daniel and Brenda, that they believed that their daughter had been sex trafficked after they found at that she had been communicating with older men online and because of her trusting nature

Kalyee pictured with her dog. Kaylee's parents fear that she may be a victim of sex trafficking

The latest missing poster put out by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office was put out on Friday

The recent post read: 'The Carroll County Sheriffs Office has since day one been committed to locating Kaylee and have a team of dedicated Investigators working this case and tirelessly following every lead and working in conjunction with many law enforcement agencies throughout the state and the country.'

Multiple agencies have contributed resources in the search for Jones, including the FBI, Secret Service and the US Marshals Service.

In September, a vigil was held in Carroll County where lanterns were floated in the night sky over Mount Pleasant Baptist Church.

At the time, her family announced that $5,000 was being offered for information that led to Jones' return.

Her father said at the vigil: 'My daughter means everything. Our daughter means everything to us. We miss her dearly, her smiles, her personality,' according to Fox5.

He added: 'We have just ripped ourselves apart trying to think of how we couldve avoided this and we did what we thought we could do. We tried our best.'

A photo of Kaylee celebrating Mother's Day with her father Daniel Jones (pictured left) mother Brenda, (center) in May 2022 in Florida

Jones also said: 'The main reason we are here tonight is because the devil is out there. Satan is on the verge. Hes on the warpath, and hes doing everything he can to tear us away. She wanted to help everybody. The little girl was a mountain of a person.'

The teenager stands at 5 ft 8 and weighs 135 pounds, she has brown hair and brown eyes.

Her mother believes that Jones has a book bag with a horse on it and the word 'Kaylee' or 'Mazi' written on it in her possession. She could be wearing black Converse sneakers.

In addition, Jones may be using her birth name, Jillian Paige Temple.

The family moved from Brooksville, Florida, to Carrolltown, Georgia, in 2021 and they still have ties in the Sunshine State.

Kaylee (pictured right) riding her horse alongside a peer. Kaylee has special needs and has been off her medication since she disappeared. She had no cell phone on her when she disappeared

In July, Daniel told DailyMail.com: 'Our daughter is missing... gone... vanished... and it doesn't seem like anyone is looking for her. The police think she is a runaway.'

He added: 'When police arrived they didn't do a proper search of our house. They didn't use search dogs. Nothing. Kaylee is very trusting. Someone lured her away.'

Her mother said although Jones is 16 years old, she acts much younger. 'Mentally she is like a young kid and wouldn't know if she is in danger.'

Kaylee's mom said that when she spoke to the Carroll County investigator, she pleaded with them to issue a Mattie's Alert, a state-wide emergency alert that is used for disabled or elder persons.

She said they told them that their daughter 'did not qualify because she was considered a high functioning autistic.'

'Why isn't she being put out as a Mattie's Call,' she said to the DailyMail.com. 'This is horrific that no one can help.'

Kaylee's dad chimed in: 'It's crazy. It's hard to work. It's hard to be home because she isn't there.'

They said she had no cellphone on her since her parents had taken it away days before she vanished.

Two days before she went missing her parents had taken her cell phone away because she was communicating with strangers online. After her phone was confiscated, they said she used her laptop.

Omegle was found to be one of the websites Kaylee may have frequented.

A photo of Kaylee and her parents at the farm Tough Mudder race in 2022

A picture of the rural road in Georgia where Kaylee was reportedly last seen on June 14

According to its website, users are randomly paired together to socialize in one-on-one chat sessions where they chat anonymously. The site is free and there is no registration required.

The parents said Kaylee was very upset by the punishment and they later found out what she exactly she was doing behind their backs.

'My wife found she was talking to four or five guys via Snapchat,' he said.

He added: 'We didn't know about her chatting online until she went missing. She was hiding it from us.'

They also said they had no idea how many people she spoke to online.

Two of the people, a 20-year-old and a 22-year-old- boy she had met were interviewed by the police and were cleared.

One of the boys told police that Kaylee snuck out of the house a few weeks ago and that the next morning she had been in her room and her parents had no idea.

'We had no clue she had done this, neither did any of her friends,' Brenda said.

They described their daughter as someone who is very naive, trusting, and someone who would be susceptible for online grooming.

Now they fear she may be out of the country and a victim of sex trafficking.

If anyone has information, contact investigator Kim Biggs at 770-830-5916 or by email at kbiggs@carrollsheriff.com
The interpreters are used for suspected criminals, victims and crime witnesses

Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spent 21.3 million on translators in the last year alone

The amount of British taxpayer money being used to provide Albanian translators for suspected criminals has more than doubled in the last five years, new figures show.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) revealed that a record 1.2 million was spent in the last year alone providing bilingual staff to communicate legal proceedings to Albanians accused of committing crimes in the UK.

This is a rise of 35 per cent in the last year and double the 507,000 figure recorded five years ago.

The surge comes as the number of Albanians locked up in prisons in England and Wales has soared from 726 to 1,500.

The MoJ said translators are also used for victims and witnesses of criminal activity.

A group of Migrants being brought into Dover, Kent onboard a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel earlier this week

The surge in money being spent on language assistance for Albanians comes as crime experts have revealed gangs from the Balkan state have muscled in to take over much of the UK's illegal drug trade.

The National Crime Agency is working with local police in Albania to prevent people heading for Britain, and is cracking down on smuggling gangs, it is understood.

The NCA issued a warning in 2017 stating it had increasing concerns that violent Albanian criminal gangs were gaining control in illegal drug trading, particularly for cocaine.

The NCA report said: Criminals from the Balkans are increasingly expanding their network of influence, forming direct relationships with cocaine suppliers in Latin America.

The threat faced from Albanian crime groups is significant.

London is their primary hub, but they are established across the UK.

Home Office officials say more than 6,000 Albanians have arrived up to August this year in sub-standard dinghies and rigid inflatables, compared with less than 900 in the previous three years combined.

The MoJ figures show that the cost of translators for people from former Iron Curtain nations has increased.

The amount spent on Polish suspected criminals is now 3.2 million - more than any other language from around the world, up from 2.8 million five years ago.

In total, the Government department spent 21.3 millions of taxpayer's money on translators and interpreters - an increase on the previous years spends of 16 million, when court cases were delayed due to the pandemic.

In the last year, 1.3 million was spent on two different types of Arabic, 1.5 million on Urdu and 933,000 on two versions of Bengali.

In addition, 837,000 was spent on three types of Kurdish and 230,000 on mandarin.

A total of 184,000 was spent on Italian, 415,000 on Spanish, 220,000 on various French dialects and 57,000 on Greek.

Alp Mehmet, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: It was inevitable that the cost of translation services for Albanians was going to increase.

The fact that it has gone up by so much simply confirms that there are not only more Albanians coming but also that we are failing to identify criminals at the border.

All this is proof of how lax border control has become. This is dangerous and puts at serious risk the safety of ordinary citizens.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said interpreters and translators were needed for victims and witnesses to crimes as well as suspects and that the service was monitored closely to ensure value for money.

A spokesman said: Interpreters ensure criminals cannot escape justice by arguing they did not receive a fair trial.
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The final image of a 12-year-old girl who was discovered dead inside a suitcase in Paris has been revealed in CCTV footage taken moments before her death.

A murder probe has been launched into the death of the girl - known only as Lola - after her corpse was found tied up inside the plastic suitcase close to her home in the French capital late on Friday night.

The victim was discovered with her feet and wrists bound, tape around her face and several cuts to her throat, just hours after she was reported missing by her parents.

She also had the numbers '1' and '0' imprinted on her lifeless body, not painted or cut but placed by a 'device', according to police source cited by French broadcaster BFMTV.

A post-mortem examination on Saturday concluded that she had died of asphyxiation.

Chilling security camera footage has now emerged which showed the young girl, dressed in a white outfit and carrying what appears to be a schoolbag, walking into her building behind a woman who witnesses claimed was later seen carrying the suitcase.

The suspect, who in CCTV footage was dressed in white trainers, light leggings and a grey jumper, was arrested on Saturday morning in Bois-Colombe (Hauts-de-Seine) along with her sister, franceinfo learned from a source familiar with the matter.

Both the suspect and her sibling are in their twenties.

Lola is seen partially obscured by the door as she follows her suspected killer, pictured centre. The suspect is seen wearing a grey jumper, white leggings and trainers. Lola quickly followed her into the building

Lola is pictured in this CCTV footage still wearing a white coat and carrying what appears to be her schoolbag

The deceased's name has not yet been revealed - she is being referred to only as Lola

The tragic girl was found outside a block of flats in the French capital's 19th arrondissement near the Buttes-Chaumont park on Friday evening after she had been reported missing by her mother when she failed to return home from school.

Police told French media they had uncovered signs of kidnapping in the basement of the building and launched a murder enquiry.

Detectives are now reviewing CCTV footage which showed the suspect standing outside Lola's building carrying a suitcase.

The security camera clip also showed the suspect entering Lola's building, followed closely by the young victim, at 3:20pm.

Officers believe the suitcase seen in the CCTV footage is the same suitcase which was found later that evening containing Lola's corpse, just a few streets away on Rue d'Hautpoul.

One resident who lives in the area told BFMTV he saw the suspect dragging the suitcase around two hours prior to Lola's disappearance.

'We saw her go into the building, she was all alone... we saw her half an hour later with a suitcase, she was speaking a bit with everyone, she seemed to be a bit crazy,' the resident said.

He went on to allege that the suspect left the suitcase in the street as she nonchalantly sauntered into a patisserie and bought a croissant before dragging it away.

'She was struggling to carry the suitcase, we thought it was because it was heavy items and she was quite slim - we never thought it was a body... It was 5pm and she was walking around with that suitcase, she even left it outside a cafe and went to the bakery opposite to buy a croissant as if nothing had happened,' the witness claimed.

Lola's corpse was discovered on Friday evening by a homeless man who saw an abandoned suitcase on the street

The girl was found outside a block of flats on Rue d'Hautpoul (pictured) in the French capital's 19th arrondissement after she had been reported missing by her mother when she failed to return home from school

 INFO @CLPRESSFR



Le corps d'une adolescente nee en 2010 a ete decouvert cette nuit dans le 19e arrondissement de Paris.



Il etait dans une valise.



Elle avait disparu hier apres midi alors qu'elle rentrait du college.



La brigade criminelle est saisie de l'affaire. pic.twitter.com/gbULYp3jtT  Clement Lanot (@ClementLanot) October 15, 2022

The schoolgirl's face was covered in tape, her feet and fists were bound, and she had suffered several cuts to her throat, according to reports.

The victim's mother, Delphine, went to police at 5pm on Friday evening when she became worried that her daughter had not returned home, and subsequently posted a desperate appeal for help on social media.

Delphine posted an image of Lola, which was accompanied by the following message: 'Our daughter Lola was last seen at 3:20pm in the company of a woman we do not know in our residence.'

The surveillance footage from the entrance of the building only captured Lola following her suspected killer into her block.

Less than six hours later, a homeless man contacted the police after he allegedly stumbled upon the suitcase and discovered the body inside at around 11:30pm on Rue d'Hautpoul - just a stone's throw away from the victim's home.

Police have taken several people into custody including the female suspect who was seen carrying the suitcase and the homeless man who reported finding Lola's body.

The public prosecutor confirmed to BFMTV that signs of a struggle had been discovered in one of the basement rooms in Lola's building.

Parisian officials indicated that staff and students of the Georges-Brassens school attended by Lola would receive psychological support, as well as neighbouring schools in the area.
Republican Kari Lake wouldn't say if she would accept the election results if she loses her gubernatorial bid in Arizona next month  and Democrat Katie Hobbs is still refusing to debate ahead of Election Day.

'I'm going to win the election, and I will accept that result,' Lake told CNN State of the Union host Dana Bash on Sunday morning.

Bash followed up by asking if Lake would accept the results if she loses  but the candidate refused to directly answer the question.

'I'm going to win the election,' Lake pushed back.

'And I will accept that result, because the people of Arizona will never support and vote for a coward like Katie Hobbs who won't show up on a debate stage,' she said.

Lake, in her defense, also slammed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams for refusing to admit she lost against Republican Governor Brian Kemp in the 2018 elections.

'In 2018, Stacey Abrams never conceded  she still hasn't,' Lake said. 'I don't hear CNN calling her an election denier.'

'We have the right, it's protected with our First Amendment, to question our government and question elections.'

Arizona's GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake wouldn't say on Sunday if she would accept the results of the midterm elections if she loses to Democrat Katie Hobbs

Lake is endorsed by Trump and vying to keep the governor's mansion in Arizona red as Governor Doug Ducey ends his tenure. She has repeated the former president's claims that the 2020 election was stolen

Lake, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has embraced his claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and rigged by Democrats to keep him from winning reelection and instead propel Joe Biden to the White House.

Hobbs, who is facing off with Lake for Arizona governor in the November 8 midterm elections, has refused to participate in a PBS debate with her Republican challenger.

The Democrat says that the debate would be a 'spectacle' and told CNN in her own interview on Sunday morning that her television interviews are an OK alternative for a head-to-head debate with Lake.

The candidate said she's able to talk through the issues with television hosts like Bash better than she would be able to do in a room where she felt she would be 'interrupted' and 'shouted over'.

'She only wants a scenario where she can control the dialogue,' Hobbs said of Lake. 'She's the one afraid of talking to voters.'

Democrat Arizona gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs is refusing to debate Lake ahead of the midterms on November 8, claiming her opponent is looking for a 'spectacle' rather than a substantive debate

Hobbs has called Lake a 'conspiracy theorist' when asked about a potential debate even though Bash noted that 'a lot of Democrats are questioning your decision.'

Arizona is one of the states that could decide the fate of the U.S. Senate  and the governor's races help show the pulse of the direction states are heading ahead of a potential reelection big by both Biden and Trump in 2024.

The governor's race in Arizona, a key battleground state, is considered a toss up, according to Cook Political Report.

After trailing by between three and seven percentage points for much of the race, Lake has recently pulled ahead of Hobbs in polls just weeks ahead of the midterm election  especially after Hobbs refused to debate.

Currently, Lake is ahead of Hobbs by nearly 1 percent in an average of polls.
A vintage aircraft which crashed upon landing at a Cambridgeshire airshow this year pitched almost vertical due to a deflated tyre, an investigation has found.

The de Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft was being used for short commercial flights ahead of the airshow at Duxford on June 19 this year.

On its second flight at around 9.30am, all was normal until landing back at Duxford, at which point the pilot, 53, felt a large deceleration when the right landing gear touched the ground.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch's report described the landing: 'On landing the aircraft decelerated rapidly and unexpectedly.

'It pitched onto its nose and exited the runway to the right.'

The plane was carrying one pilot and eight passengers at the time of the incident.

All nine in the plane were safely evacuated with the assistance of a fire truck ladder and no-one was injured.

The pilot of the flight had more than 2,500 hours of flying experience, including 16 hours of flying the same type of aircraft within the 28-day period prior to the show.

He is said to have performed all routine safety checks, secured the aircraft upon the bumpy landing and ascertained that all passengers were safe.

The biplane was carrying eight passengers and a pilot at the time of the crash landing

Emergency services and a crane were brought in to deal with the aircraft after it veered off the runway

Although no-one was injured, there was significant damage to the aircraft during the incident

A fire truck responded immediately and the plane was eventually got back on its wheels

He then checked for fire or smoke and examined the height to the ground before instructing passengers to remain in the aircraft until an approaching fire truck arrived.

The plane in question had a small role during WWII, when it was useful for aerial couriers between Britain and France. Though a military-orientated version was later developed.

Investigators have now revealed that the right main landing gear became inflated either during the flight or on landing.

Due to the deflated gear tyre the aircraft 'decelerated rapidly and pitched onto its nose.

'The aircraft yawed to the right and exited the paved surface coming to rest on the adjacent grass.'

The report notes that although no-one was injured, there was significant damage to the aircraft as a result.

This included damage to the underside of the cockpit and front fuselage, both propellers and both engine cowlings.

An eyewitness told CambridgeshireLive at the time of the incident: 'It looks like a plane has landed nose first, the end of it is in the air, two fire engines, presumably from the air field and a crane.'

A spokesperson for IWM Duxford said at the time: 'This morning, there was a minor incident with an aircraft at IWM Duxford. No one involved was injured, the incident has been fully dealt with and the flying programme for today's event will run as planned.'

The rest of the airshow proceeded as scheduled.
The hunting party in Brittany included around a dozen hunters and two guests

The 67-year-old was shot above the heart and died in a Saint-Brieuc hospital

A British woman invited as a guest to a wild boar hunt was shot and killed by her companion in France on Sunday, a judicial source said.

The 67-year-old was wounded 'above the heart' and taken to hospital in Saint-Brieuc, Brittany, where she died around midday, public prosecutor Nicolas Heitz said.

The companion, a 69-year-old man, fired a 'shot with his rifle which he was carrying at the shoulder' towards her back, according to a judicial press release.

Police have arrested the man and launched a manslaughter investigation.

A British woman died after being shot by her companion during a wild boar hunt in Brittany, France. A file photo of a hunting rifle is shown

The exact circumstances are 'yet to be determined', Mr Heitz said, describing it as a 'dramatic accident'.

The party included around a dozen hunters and two guests, the prosecutor added.

The two people involved in the accident were moving through a corn field when the shot rang out, according to reporting from Upday.

The man was taken to Guingamp hospital after being arrested.

He had not consumed alcohol or any toxic substances, according to a doctor at the hospital.

The victim died in hospital and was taken to the Rennes Forensic Institute for an autopsy which will take place on Wednesday.

Police took a man who shot a hunting companion into custody and launched a manslaughter investigation. A train station in Saint-Brieuc is shown

Other shooting accidents have left families in France beset with tragedy, despite the hunting season drawing to a close.

On October 9, a 62-year-old hunter was shot in the abdomen while picking mushrooms in the town of Vinsobres in the Drome region.

Earlier this month, a 33-year-old mother and her young children were injured during a small game hunt in the Rhone, according to Le Bien Public.
A Republican vying for Senate in Colorado pledged on Sunday that he'll 'actively campaign' against Donald Trump if the former president runs again in 2024.

Joe O'Dea, who is running to unseat Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, appeared on CNN's State of the Union with less than a month before the November 8 midterm elections.

The businessman has separated himself from the majority of GOP Congressional hopefuls with his moderate stances - giving hope to the Republican establishment that he could flip a state that President Joe Biden won by 14 points.

He also hasn't shied away from speaking out against Trump, including on Sunday, when he repeated his call for a new de facto leader of the Republican Party.

'I don't think Donald Trump should run again,' O'Dea said.

'I'm going to actively I'm going to actively campaign against Donald Trump and make sure that - we've got four or five really great Republicans right now.'

In an indication of the establishment GOP's thinking, O'Dea instead suggested candidates like Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, former Trump administration United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.

All three have been floated as potential 2024 contenders, though it's not clear how many would try to primary Trump.

Colorado Senate candidate Joe O'Dea, a Republican construction executive, is running to unseat Democrat Senator Michael Bennet

'They can run and serve for eight years,' O'Dea said after listing off the trio.

'I'm gonna do my job as a US senator to make sure that they have good campaigns in the primary here, so we have a good selection of candidates for 2024.'

During the interview he also repeated his past criticism of Trump over last year's riot at the US Capitol on January 6 - but did not answer a question on whether it should prevent him from being president again.

'Look, I believe that the- January 6 was a black eye on the country. I've been very vocal that I thought [Trump] should have done more to keep the violence from heading towards the Capitol,' O'Dea said.

'Anybody that was violent at the Capitol or tore something apart, they should be held accountable. We've got processes in place that hold people accountable, and we need to move the country forward.'

He's largely shunned Trump, in a strategy that's been watched as a test run for Republicans in territory that solidly went to Joe Biden in 2020

Scott campaigned with O'Dea earlier this month, while Haley formally endorsed him in late September.

O'Dea is well-liked within the Republican establishment, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell telling donors in July that he was the 'perfect candidate,' according to Axios.

He's also campaigning with former President George W. Bush, according to NBC News, who has shown support for other anti-Trump Republican candidates this cycle.

Trump has not weighed in on the race.

The Colorado Republican has reportedly raised $3 million between July and September, including $1 million from his own money.

O'Dea floated a few other big GOP names for consideration, including Trump's former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley (left) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (right)

He said of Trump during a talk radio appearance in August, 'I hope he doesnt run. I dont want to see him as president again.'

'I think that seeing a Biden-Trump rematch again in 2024 would rip the country apart. I think a lot of people are ready to move our country forward. So, I wouldnt support him running again,' O'Dea added.

Most polls show him trailing Bennet in the increasingly blue state, though O'Dea is not far behind as the midterms loom less than a month away.

A left-leaning pollster called Public Policy Polling found O'Dea trailing Bennet by 11 points.

Meanwhile the Trafalgar Group's late September survey saw Bennet just 6 points ahead.

The Republican Attorneys General Association's poll with the Tarrance Group put the Democrat just a point over O'Dea.
A 'Good Samaritan' stumbled across a bundle of cocaine - with a street value of around $150,000 - on Daytona Beach in Florida.

Miami Border Patrol agents say they recovered the 11-pound bag after somebody notified authorities they had seen it washed up on the beach in Volusia County.

Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar of the Border Patrol's Miami Sector, which is responsible for managing 1,200 miles of coastal border, estimated that the seized drugs had a value of $150,000.

An 11-pound bag of cocaine with an expected value of $150,000 that washed up on the Daytona Beach shores

Daytona Beach in Volusia County, Florida, where the 'Good Samaritan' allegedly reached out to authorities after identifying a suspicious package

The bag is small compared to bundles of the drug that have washed up recently on the shores of Florida.

On October 10, Agent Solar said that 65 pounds were seized on the beach in Brevard County, directly south of Volusia.

Part of a 65-pounds seizure of cocaine on October 10, days prior to the most recent seizure

Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar of the Border Patrol's Miami Sector has reported a number of bundles of cocaine showing up the Florida coastline

In late July, Monroe County Sherriff's Office were notified of a bundle of what was suspected to be cocaine among the mangroves in Tavernier on the Florida Keys. The package weighed 72 pounds.

Just a few days later, again in the Florida Keys, Slosar announced the seizure of another 54 pounds of cocaine.

Together the drugs were estimated as being worth around $2million.

Last December there was another major seizure in which Border Patrol were told of 69 pounds of cocaine floating around in sea near the Florida Keys.

In December 2021 69 pounds worth of cocaine were found floating in the water near Florida Keys

Data published by the US Customs and Border Protection indicate that its Miami Sector have seized a total of 566 pounds of cocaine this year from January through to September.

264 of those pounds were seized in August. That is the largest amount of cocaine to have been seized by the Sector in a single month since August 2019.
The gunmen who shot dead 11 Russian soldiers and wounded 15 at a training camp near to the Ukrainian border had their Islamic faith 'insulted' by their commander, it has been claimed, as authorities opened a criminal probe into the incident.

Russia's RIA news agency, citing the defence ministry, said two gunmen opened fire with small arms during a training exercise of mobilised troops in Russia's western Belgorod region on Saturday.

RIA said the gunmen, who it referred to as 'terrorists', were shot dead and Russia's defence ministry said they were from a former Soviet republic, without elaborating.

But independent news outlet ASTRA claimed to have spoken to one of the men wounded in the attack who alleged the shooters were Muslims from the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan and turned on the group when the commander described Allah as a coward.

His claims were echoed by senior Ukrainian official, Oleksiy Arestovych, who also said the ethnic Tajiks had opened fire on the others after an argument over religion.

The incident was the latest blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'special military operation' after he announced last month that 300,000 new troops would be mobilised to fight in Ukraine.

Journalist Anatoly Shariy shared pictures of servicemen who shot dead during the Belgorod region military training massacre

The incident was the latest blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'special military operation' after he announced last month that 300,000 new troops would be mobilised to fight in Ukraine

The attack is said to have occurred in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine

The non-Russian shooters, who were recruited along with their victims as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent call to mobilise more troops to fight on the frontlines in Ukraine, had reportedly told their commanding officer 'this is not our war' and demanded they be excused from serving.

The commanding officer, named by ASTRA's source as Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Lapin, allegedly told all the soldiers in response: 'This is a holy war. ''Allah'' is a coward if he does not allow you to fight for the country to which you swore an oath.'

The hospitalised source said the statement was met with considerable anger from the Muslims among the group, adding: 'I personally think that this is what hurt the most, the phrase that ''Allah is a weakling''. The phrase shocked many people among those standing on the parade ground because we also have Muslims among [our Russian] officers.'

He said the conflict appeared to subside but then exploded again during afternoon training which involved shooting practice.

'They sent us all together to the shooting range, and the Tajiks... deployed their machine guns.

'They had live ammunition and shot our commander, Lt-Colonel Lapin - he died on the spot... they opened fire indiscriminately.'

The source went on to claim that a total of 32 people were killed in the attack - a considerably higher total than that reported by Russian state news channels.

'There were both contract soldiers and mobilised on the training ground. The dead, who I saw - numbered 29 people. The 30th was Lt-Col Lapin. This is not counting the two Tajiks who were killed along with them - making 32.

'I don't know exactly how many were wounded.'

The two shooters were killed by an ensign named Semyonov, according to the account.

Russia's defence ministry labelled the incident a terrorist attack. Pictured: Putin speaking at a summit on Friday

Some Russian troops who were drafted in late September have already died on the frontlines in Ukraine (Russian citizen is pictured on the way to the frontlines, October 10)

'Semyonov at that moment was in the room where boxes of cartridges are stored, where they are given to us,' said the source. 'He has his own combat pistol. He was not present during the shooting itself, he heard what was happening, went out and shot both Tajiks.'

He said the gunmen were 'ardent supporters of their faith' but were not given time to appropriately observe their religion.

'They constantly cursed because they were not allowed to pray on time, nor were they given a room for prayer,' the source said.

Unsettling images published by pro-Russian blogger Anatoly Shariy, 44, seemingly showed the aftermath of the attack with several bodies lying on the ground.

In Shariy's account, the shooters were ethnic Uzbeks, not Tajiks.

He wrote that 'a fair share of the blame for what happened lies in the fact that someone gave weapons to some very nasty people - without them being checked - the next time it won't happen.'

An official Russian defence ministry statement said: 'During a firearms training session with individuals who voluntarily expressed a desire to participate in the special military operation [against Ukraine], terrorists opened fire with small arms on the personnel of the unit.'

Tajiks and Uzbeks are predominantly Muslim, but it is not clear if the gunmen had been recruited in their own country or had been living in Russia.

There was fury among pro-war channels over a failure to vet recruits to the military operation.
Trioli was asked not to talk about politics, despite an upcoming state election

Focused on the floods in his first appearance on ABC Radio Melbourne in a year

Virginia Trioli clashed with Premier Dan Andrew when he appeared on program

Daniel Andrews has unleashed on one of the ABC's biggest stars during a fiery interview.

On Friday, the Victorian Premier appeared on breakfast host Virginia Trioli's ABC Radio Melbourne program for the first time in almost a year to update the listeners on the state's evolving flood situation.

Mr Andrews only agreed to the live studio interview on the condition that the chat was solely focused on the floods.

But Trioli broke that promise towards the end of the interview, and caught Mr Andrews off guard.

ABC Radio Melbourne Virginia Trioli (pictured) sparked a war of words with the Victorian Premier during a live studio interview on Friday

After ten minutes of discussing the crisis, Trioli wanted assurance on-air Mr Andrews would be back for another interview before the November 26 election.

'Now look, Premier, you've requested not to be asked about policy or politics today, you say, out of respect to those who are dealing with the floods,' Trioli said.

'But it has been, I just checked, almost a year to the day when you were last in this studio or on this show for an interview. Can you give an assurance to the listeners that you will be back here for a proper, in-depth interview within a couple of weeks?'

A visibly surprised Premier refused to give any guarantees.

'Ah, well, I can't give you a time, Virginia,' he replied.

'But I'm always happy to sit with you. I wish we were talking under much favourable circumstances.'

Trioli interrupted: 'You could (give me a time) if you'd like to.'

Friday was the first time Daniel Andrews (pictured) had appeared on Trioli's radio program in almost a year

The remark sparked a war of words.

'Well, I could, but it might not mean much because I might have flood issues to deal with, or something else to deal with,' Mr Andrews retorted.

'But I'm always happy to speak to you, you know that.'

Trioli said they do keep requesting to speak to him, promoting Mr Andrews to try and shut down the questioning.

'Today's not a day for politics,' he said.

But Trioli kept pressing: 'But you'll come back soon?'

'Sure, I'm more than happy to,' the Premier replied before quickly changing the subject back to floods.

Virginia Trioli's request for a 'proper, in depth' interview with the Premier before the election didn't go down well

Trioli was among the high profile names who slammed the Premier and his government after it was recently revealed 'failings' in the state's triple-zero service led to the deaths of 33 people in the eight months up to May this year.

She started her radio show demanding why the government released the report two days earlier on a Saturday.

'The government's not available to talk to this damning report on the show today after releasing it to the public when very few people would have been paying attention,' she said.

'So where is scrutiny and accountability in the state of Victoria these days?'

Trioli isn't the only broadcaster who has frosty relationship with the Victorian Premier.

Mr Andrews also has a long ongoing feud with rival Melbourne broadcaster Neil Mitchell and hasn't appeared on his 3AW radio program in five years.

That feud won't be ending anytime soon after Mitchell slammed the Premier in his latest piece in the Sunday Age on the weekend, describing Victoria's pandemic response as the 'elephant in the room' this election.
CHENNAI: The ruling DMKs youth and student wings organised prothests all over the state to oppose the Union governments alleged move to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states and making it the medium of instruction in elite institutions like IITs, IIMS and AIIMS as recommended by the Parliamentary committee headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The party's youth wing secretary, Udhayanidhi Stalin, addressing the protestors who had gathered at the protest venue near Valluvar Kottam in Chennai, warned the BJP government of escalating the protest and turning it into a major agitation if it did not give up its plans for imposing Hindi on the state.

Recalling the DMKs past agitations against Hindi, he said the party would not allow the language to be made compulsory in the state. Similar protests were also held in all the district headquarters with the party MLAs and other functionaries taking part in them.

Telling the BJP government that the state was not ruled by Edappadi K Palaniswami but by Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, he said that the BJP's gameplans would not work under the present regime.

Meanwhile, BJP state president K. Annamalai said that his party would also organize protests all over the state to expose the DMKs plan to create a wrong impression about the Union governments Hindi proposal to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking state.

He alleged that the DMK was raising the issue for political gains and that the BJP government at the Centre had no plans of making Hindi compulsory in all-India entrance examinations.
A notorious Liverpool drug baron known as the Pablo Escobar of Britain is set to be banned from WhatsApp and Facebook messenger on his release from jail next month but will be allowed to travel abroad.

Curtis Warren, 59, who earned a 200million fortune and has been linked to Colombian drug cartels, will also have to give a day's notice if he wants to get into a friend's car and will be barred from holding cryptocurrency.

The measures are some of the strictest ever imposed on a convict but keeping him away from Liverpool, the home of his drug empire, was seen as a 'possible human's rights violation', according to a source from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

NCA's lifetime management team will monitor Warren, who got a 13-year minimum term in 2009, to ensure he abides by the measures and failure to do could send him back inside, according to The Sun.

Curtis Warren, 59, who earned a 200million fortune and has been linked to Colombian drug cartels, will also have to give a day's notice if he wants to get into a friend's car and will be barred from holding cryptocurrency

Warren (pictured arriving at The Royal Court in St Hellier, Jersey) after he was found guilty of a 1million drug smuggling plot by a jury

He will not be allowed any assets worth more than 1,000, must provide details of who he is traveling with one week before, anytime he goes abroad.

Warren will also only be allowed one mobile phone, one sim card and one telephone number - which must be made available to NCA if requested, according to The Mirror.

Warren, known by the nickname the 'Cocky Watchman', spent the early 1980s as a nightclub bouncer before moving on to armed robbery and international drug trafficking through the 1990s which is believed to have involved Escobar's rivals the Cali Cartel.

He was first sentenced to 12 years in 1996 for trying to move a 125million drugs shipment from the Netherlands to the UK, given another four years for killing a fellow prisoner.

Warren has been linked to Colombian drug cartels and called Britain's Pablo Escobar (his mugshot from 1977 when he was arrested in Medellin) after the notorious drug criminal

Pictured: Cannabis seized during a States of Jersey Police investigation that brought down a drugs plot controlled from Merseyside by Curtis Warren

Just weeks after being released in 2007, he was arrested again for a plot to sneak 1million worth of cannabis into Jersey, and jailed for a further 13 years.

Then, after failing to comply with a 198million confiscation order, received another 10 years.

The crime prevention order will kick in upon his release in November from the max-security HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire.

As Warren, who Interpol once described as 'Target One', has served his sentence, he will not be on probation but instead monitored by the NCA.

He will be able to apply for a British passport and will not be under a curfew.
Prince Andrew, who has always denied any wrongdoing, settled the lawsuit with Ms Giuffre earlier this year

Ms Giuffre, 39, claimed in US lawsuit she was sexually assaulted by Prince Andrew three times as a teenager

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Prince Andrew needs the backing of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell like he needs a 'hole in the head', friends of the royal have reportedly said.

In a bombshell interview from behind bars, the disgraced socialite - jailed in the US for 20-years after being found guilty of being paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirator - described the Duke of York as a 'dear friend'.

Maxwell also suggested a photograph of Prince Andrew with his own sex assault accuser Virginia Giuffre was a 'fake', failed to deny suggestions that she and the Duke had been a couple, and declared: 'I care about him.'

Her jaw-dropping comments  in a world-exclusive prison interview with The Mail on Sunday  contradict Andrew telling a US court that they had not been close with Ms Maxwell - described during her trial as a 'sophisticated predator'.

Hours after the interview was published, Prince Andrew was spotted looking ashen faced while driving around the Windsor estate with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

And now friends of Andrew have suggested that Ms Maxwell's comments 'have not been very helpful' for the Duke, who continues to shake off his own sex assault allegations following his decision to settle with Ms Giuffre in her US civil case. Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

One friend of the royal reportedly today told The Sun: 'Receiving words of support from a convicted sex trafficker isn't very helpful.' The friend also reportedly told the paper that he needs Maxwell's backing 'like a hole in the head'.

Prince Andrew needs the backing of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell like he needs a 'hole in the head', friends of the royal have reportedly said. In a bombshell interview from behind bars, the disgraced socialite - jailed in the US for 20-years after being found guilty of being paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirator - described the Duke of York as a 'dear friend'.

Maxwell also suggested a photograph of Prince Andrew with his own sex assault accuser Virginia Giuffre (pictured) was a 'fake', failed to deny suggestions that she and the Duke had been a couple, and declared: 'I care about him'

It comes as Andrew looked ashen faced today as he was seen with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson - hours after Ms Maxwell called him a 'dear friend'.

Both the Duke and Duchess of York appeared glum as they were seen in public driving through Windsor on the day after Sarah's birthday.

The remarks by Maxwell, 60  a convicted sex-trafficker described in court as a 'sophisticated predator'  land a devastating blow to the Duke's hopes of returning to public life.

Maxwell, who was convicted of helping Epstein abuse teenage girls, failed to deny suggestions that she and Andrew had been a couple, and declared: 'I care about him.'

Her remarks come as the MoS reveals a new photograph today of the disgraced former socialite taken at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York this year before she was moved to a prison in Florida to serve her 20-year sentence.

Prince Andrew with Sarah Ferguson in their car just hours after Ghislaine gave her interview

The pair looked incredibly serious as they drove the Range Rover through pretty Windsor

Maxwell, who was convicted of helping Epstein (pictured together) abuse teenage girls, failed to deny suggestions that she and Andrew had been a couple

Maxwell was prepared to discuss her friendships with some of the rich and powerful men connected to her and Epstein, including former President Clinton (all pictured together)

Andrew, 62, was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages in January as he fought allegations that he abused Ms Roberts, one of Epstein's victims, as a teenager in London, Manhattan, and the US Virgin Islands.

He has repeatedly and vehemently denied the claims. He settled out of court with Ms Roberts, who now uses her married name Giuffre, for an undisclosed sum but made no admission of guilt.

A legal document submitted to a US court in January by the Duke's lawyers contained 41 separate denials of allegations made by Ms Roberts, including her claim that 'Prince Andrew was a close friend of Ghislaine Maxwell'.

But in her MoS interview, Maxwell spoke in glowing terms of her friendship with the Duke. 'I feel so bad for him,' said the disgraced former socialite, who has known Andrew since she was a student at Oxford University in the 1980s.

'Yes, I follow what is happening to him. He is paying such a price for the association [with Jeffrey Epstein]. I consider him a dear friend I care about him.'

Bombshell comments by Maxwell about their friendship contradict Andrew's denial to a US court that they had been close

Prince Andrew has always denied claims that he abused Virginia Roberts, one of Epstein's victims, but settled out of court with her

Quizzed on the denial by Andrew's lawyers that they were close friends, Maxwell said: 'I accept that this friendship could not survive my conviction.'

She dismissed a photograph, first revealed by this newspaper, of the Prince with his arm around Ms Roberts at Maxwell's home in Belgravia, Central London, in March 2001, saying: 'I don't recognise that picture and I don't believe it is a real picture. There's so many things wrong with it. There is no original and there isn't a true picture and there are that many other things besides that I cannot hardly get into I don't know how many points there are, but there are over 50 problems with the picture.'

Earlier this year, Euan Rellie, a former friend of Maxwell's, told ITV he believed she and Andrew 'had probably been girlfriend and boyfriend in the past'.

Asked about press reports that they were 'like a couple, an item', Maxwell said she would not address such speculation until after the appeal against her conviction. 'I have read and seen and heard and had reported to me so many monstrous inaccuracies that I can't start to pick apart all of them. If I pick apart one and then don't address all the others, it's going to say, 'Well, she said no to this, what about all those others?' I'm not going to discuss anything of that nature until after the appeal.'

She has been in jail since July 2020 when more than 20 armed FBI agents raided her 156-acre, 800,000 New Hampshire home.

Maxwell, pictured with Epstein, complained she has been portrayed as a 'wicked witch' Disney character and accused the media of 'monstrous inaccuracies'

The MoS interviewed her on June 22 this year at the MDC, six days before she was sentenced, and then weeks later after she was moved to the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, a low-security jail in Florida.

She was prepared to discuss her friendships with some of the rich and powerful men connected to her and Epstein, including former President Clinton.

'It was a special friendship, which continued over the years,' she said of Clinton. 'We had lots in common. I feel bad that he is another victim, only because of his association [with Epstein].'

She also spoke of her gratitude to former President Trump, who bestowed his good wishes on her after her arrest.

'I was very grateful when he wished me well. He got bad media for it, but he dared while others didn't. It gave me a big boost.'

Maxwell said the food at the MDC was 'truly terrible' and she was once so hungry she ate Vaseline. She is now in a cell measuring 10ft by 8ft that is too small for her and her three cellmates to all stand up in. 'It's very far from a cushy country club,' she said.

After Epstein killed himself as he awaited trial, prison bosses put her on suicide watch prior to her sentencing. Maxwell, who said she had never contemplated taking her own life, described wearing an anti-suicide smock  a long tunic made of thick nylon  adding: 'They strip you of any remaining shred of dignity that you have. They have you with no clothes, and they put you in a suicide smock, which has Velcro straps on it. So there's nothing to protect your modesty.'

The MoS revealed in June that a fellow inmate at the MDC had bragged she was going to murder Maxwell, claiming that there was a $1 million bounty on her head. Maxwell this weekend confirmed that a woman had threatened to murder her as she slept.

Maxwell now works in the prison's legal library, where she helps other inmates with their cases.

Prince Andrew declined to comment last night.
'The engraving is ''You're my favorite place,''' Steele revealed to the Today show

He now wears the wedding ring that Marshall planned to give him on their wedding day, which was set to take place in roughly two weeks

Steele said he knew his significant other was gone as soon as Raleigh started asking about the type of tattoos that Marshall had

'She says, ''I need you to come home right now. Immediately. Scruff, our dog has slipped his collar, and I just heard gunshots,''' he recalled

Robert Steele said he had spoken with his future wife, Mary Marshall, just minutes before she was killed last Thursday

A woman in North Carolina, who was set to walk down the aisle but was killed in last week's shooting in Raleigh, was trying to save her dog from the gunman, the victim's mourning fiance revealed on Sunday.

Robert Steele said that he had spoken with his wife-to-be, Mary Marshall, minutes just before she was fatally shot by a 15-year-old gunman last week that injured two others and killed four more people.

'She says, ''I need you to come home right now. Immediately. Scruff, our dog has slipped his collar, and I just heard gunshots,''' he recalled.

The teenage gunman, Austin Thompson, was captured hours after the victims were gunned down last Thursday evening. He was hospitalized and in critical condition following his arrest, but authorities have not said how he was injured. No motive for the attack has been determined.

After Marshall went looking for their dog, Steele rushed home to find detectives knocking from door to door in their neighborhood.

Robert Steele, the fiance of one of five victims killed in the Raleigh shooting last Thursday, said his wife-to-be, Mary Marshall, was rescuing their dog when she was fatally shot

Mary Marshall was among five killed and two injured in Raleigh next week after a 15-year-old gunman went on a rampage

Marshall (pictured left) and her dog, Scruff, who had 'slipped his collar' at the time of the shooting and went outside

'And they started asking about tattoos that Mary has,' he recalled in an interview with Today, before bursting into tears. 'We knew. We knew she was gone.'

Without his life partner to hold on to, Steele wears the wedding ring that Marshall planned to put on his finger on their big day, which was set for two weeks from today.

'The engraving is ''You're my favorite place,''' he added. 'I loved when she would wrap me up in her arms and every time that we would cuddle that way, she would whisper in my ear before we went to sleep, ''You're my favorite place.''

The victim's father, Thomas Marshall, revealed he was 'really looking forward' to the couple's wedding day, adding that he 'could wait' to walk his daughter down the aisle.

Marshall's sister, Meagan McCrickard, struggled to hold back her tears as she imagined the couple exchanging their vows.

'Them walking down the aisle. The mother-daughter dance. And Rob,' she told USA Today while trying to fight her emotions.

Based off of social media pictures, Marshall seemed to have an interest in becoming a chef (pictured in chef attire)

Steele wears the wedding ring that Marshall planned to put on his finger on their big day, which was set for two weeks from today. 'The engraving reads 'You're my favorite place'

Steele (middle) sitting next to Marshall's father, Tom, her mother (far left) and sister, Meagan

Including Marshall, all of the five victims were of different races and ranged in age from 16 to their late 50s, according to the Raleigh Police Department.

Family members and friends said some of the victims were gunned down while doing normal, everyday activities  an off-duty police officer was killed while on his way to work, one of the women who died was on her porch talking to a neighbor, and another was out exercising.

The fifth victim was the gunman's older brother, 16-years-old James Roger Thompson.

Governor Roy Cooper called the shooting an 'infuriating and tragic act of gun violence.' He added: 'No neighborhood, no parent, no child, no grandparent, no one should feel this fear in their communities  no one.'

'Baby-faced' Austin Thompson, 15 (right), also killed his brother James Roger Thompson (left) by gun wound

Growing memorial outside of the Hedingham neighborhood in Raleigh, where Thompson killed five

The gunfire broke out around 5 p.m. Thursday in a residential area northeast of downtown, Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said. Police said from there, the teenager fled to a nearby walking trail and continued shooting.

The teen eluded officers for hours  setting off a manhunt across a crime scene that stretched for 2 miles (3 kilometers)  before he was cornered in a home and arrested, Patterson said.

The Hedingham neighborhood is a residential area of single-family and townhomes. The Neuse River Greenway, a walking and biking trail, is behind some of the houses.

The trail runs about 27 miles (43 kilometers) along the river and connects to the states Mountains-to-Sea Trail thats popular with hikers. The stretch of trail behind the neighborhood is paved and lies down a grassy slope from the houses.
Migrants, mostly Syrian and Afghan, were found naked with several injuries

Ninety-two migrants were found almost naked and bruised after allegedly being forced across the Evros river from Turkey into Greece, Athens said Sunday, a charge fiercely denied by Ankara.

EU border agency Frontex confirmed the arrival of the group in circumstances which the Greek ministry for civil protection said sent out an 'inhuman image.'

'The Frontex officers reported that the migrants were found almost naked and some of them with visible injuries,' said Paulina Bakula, spokeswoman for the organisation.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said in a tweet that it was 'deeply distressed by the shocking reports and images of 92 people, who were reported to have been found at the Greek-Turkish land border, stripped of their clothes'.

Bakula, speaking from Frontex's Warsaw HQ, said Frontex officers worked with Greek authorities to provide the migrants - mainly Afghans and Syrians - with immediate assistance.

She added the organisation had informed the agency's fundamental rights officer of a potential rights violation.

Meanwhile, Greek minister for civil protection Takis Theodorikakos accused Turkey of 'instrumentalising illegal immigration' in the latest of a series of recriminations on migration between the neighbours.

'The Frontex officers reported that the migrants were found almost naked and some of them with visible injuries,' said a border agency spokeswoman

The flows of people arriving from Turkey are increasing every day as the refugee and migrant crisis is still ongoing (migrants pictured in Greece in October 2022)

Speaking on Skai television, Theodorikakos said many of the migrants told Frontex that 'three Turkish army vehicles had transferred them' to the river which acts as a natural border.

In a series of scathing comments on Twitter, the Turkish presidency denied any responsibility for the migrants and blamed Greece for the 'inhuman' situation.

'We urge Greece to abandon its harsh treatment of refugees as soon as possible, to cease its baseless and false charges against Turkey,' wrote President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's top press aide Fahrettin Altun.

'With these futile and ridiculous efforts, Greece has shown once again to the entire world that it does not respect the dignity of refugees by posting these oppressed people's pictures it has deported after extorting their personal possessions,' he added in tweets delivered in Turkish, Greek and English.

Turkey's Deputy Interior Minister Ismail Catakli called on Greece to stop what in a tweet he termed its 'manipulations and dishonesty.'

Greek minister for migration and asylum, Notis Mitarachi, had Saturday described the incident as a 'shame on civilisation.'

In a series of scathing comments on Twitter, the Turkish presidency denied any responsibility for the migrants and blamed Greece for the 'inhuman' situation (Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pictured)

Athens regularly faces and denies accusations from NGOs and the media that it has on many occasions sought to push migrants back to Turkey illegally, sometimes using force.

Last month, Erdogan used a UN address to accuse Greece of transforming the Aegean Sea into a 'cemetery' with 'oppressive policies' on immigration.

Berlin-based rights group Mare Liberum tweeted: 'In the Evros region, systematic human rights crimes against people on the move are committed on a daily basis by Turkey as well as Greece'.

'When these crimes are publicly discussed by members of the government, it only serves to add fuel to the fire of the long conflict between Turkey and Greece, not to protect people on the move,' the group added.
Tributes have been paid to founding member of Irish folk group Clannad - with the band praising his 'outstanding guitar solos' and his love of music.

Noel Duggan died suddenly in Donegal on Saturday evening aged 73, the group announced on social media.

The remaining members of the band, who were founded by Noel, his twin brother Padraig, and three of their nieces and nephews, said he would be 'forever remembered'.

In a post online, they said: 'We are heartbroken to share the news that Noel Duggan, our beloved Uncle, trusted friend, and founding member of Clannad, died suddenly in Donegal yesterday evening.

One of Clannads founding members, Noel Duggan (pictured far right), has died at the age of 73

Noel Duggan (pictured left and right) died suddenly in Donegal on Saturday evening aged 73, the group announced on social media

'He was 73 years old. Noel will be forever remembered for his outstanding guitar solos, his love of music and his dedication to the band.'

The Grammy award-winning Celtic band was founded in Gweedore, County Donegal in 1970 by siblings Maire (also known as Moya), Ciaran and Pol Brennan, and their uncles  twins Noel and Padraig Duggan.

The five-piece 'decided to fuse folklore with an intrinsic passion for singing', according to the band's website.

The group went on to achieve huge international success over the decades.

Padraig Duggan died in August 2016 in a Dublin hospital after a recurring illness.

Another of the Brennan siblings, Enya, left the group in 1981 to embark on a successful solo career.

The Grammy award-winning Celtic band was founded in Gweedore, County Donegal in 1970 by siblings Maire (also known as Moya), Ciaran and Pol Brennan, and their uncles  twins Noel (pictured left) and Padraig Duggan

Clannad's (pictured in 1978) unique take on traditional Irish songs, coupled with influences from The Beatles to the Beach Boys, won them a folk festival competition and a record deal

Their breakthrough hit Harry's Game, theme track to the TV series of the same name, came in 1982. Pictured: Members of the Irish musical group Clannad (from left to right, Maire Ni Bhraonain, Pol O Braonain, Padraig O Dugain, Ciaran O Braonain, and Noel O Dugain) stand on the beach during filming

Clannad's unique take on traditional Irish songs, coupled with influences from The Beatles to the Beach Boys, won them a folk festival competition and a record deal.

Their breakthrough hit Harry's Game, theme track to the TV series of the same name, came in 1982.

Worldwide acclaim and a global touring schedule followed, with a string of albums and well-known hits including In A Lifetime, with Bono.
Another massive rain band is about to unleash on Australia's east coast with four states in the firing line, as thousands of homes are threatened by floodwaters in Victoria.

The rain band will form on Monday evening, stretching from Central Australia to South Australia before moving eastwards, targeting NSW and Queensland by Wednesday and then lashing Tasmania by Friday.

The system is also set to cause even more challenges for Victoria, where devastating floods have damaged thousands of homes.

'There is another challenge coming later this week,' explained Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. 'We've still got the Murray to peak.

'A number of communities haven't peaked yet and we're going to get more rain off that higher base so that's going to present really significant challenges.'

The state government has announced a $351million flood recovery package to help clean-up efforts in Victoria, with $165million to be spent on emergency road repairs.

The heaviest rainfall is set to strike northern NSW and southern and central Queensland, with up to 100mm forecast in some areas.

Meteorologists predict the Macintyre River around Goondiwindi on the Queensland-NSW border could also see another flood event.

In Sydney, rainfalls of up to 10mm are predicted from Monday to Friday. Brisbane will be hit with showers of up to 10mm and 15mm on Friday and Saturday. Showers of up to 10mm are also forecast in Melbourne on Thursday and Friday.

Rescue workers (pictured) use a dinghy to rescue people from floodwaters in Maribyrnong

Shepparton locals spent the weekend preparing sandbags as the Goulburn River peaked

Hussain Daulat hugs his son Noyan at the edge of a flooded park in Shepparton on Monday

A worker is seen hosing mud from the footpath outside homes in Maribyrnong on Monday

Weatherzone meteorologist Andrew Schmidt said a slow-moving, low pressure system and trough will gain moisture as it travels to the east coast later this week.

He said the system would bring widespread rain and storms to South Australia on Tuesday before moving east to Queensland and western and eastern parts of NSW.

Mr Schmidt said while Victoria would dodge most of this system, a second, faster- moving trough would bring even more rain to the state's north over the weekend.

He told Daily Mail Australia these regions would see at least 30mm over 24 hours in bad news for areas already saturated by last week's rainfall.

The widespread rain and storms will dump moisture on NSW's slopes and plains on Thursday, and increase the risk of more riverine flooding across the state.

Mr Schmidt explained that some communities in northern Victoria will remain under flood threat to four to six weeks before the water recedes and filters away through catchments - with some of the water heading inland or out to the ocean.

He said with climate drivers indicating the east coast will experience wetter than average conditions this summer, there would likely be more rainfall events as embattled residents continue clean-up efforts.

Residents have been sheltering at the Shepparton Showground amid the heavy rain in Victoria

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, travelling to flood-hit western NSW on Monday, warned bumper wheat, fruit and vegetable crops in Victoria's food basin have been affected

FLOODING IN NORTHERN VICTORIA: AREAS TOLD TO EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY: Echuca and Echuca Village, Bunbartha and Charlton AREAS TOLD TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND: Campaspe River downstream of Rochester, Fairy Dell, Koyuga and Kanyapella South. Lake Eppalock to Barnadown and Loddon Weir to Kerang. Avoca River to Charlton Town. Murray River downstream of Tocumwal to Barham. Seven Creeks downstream of Euroa. Broken River downstream of Casey Weir and Goulburn River downstream of Shepparton. AREAS TOO LATE TO LEAVE: Shepparton, Mooroopna, Orrvale, Murchison, Kialla West, Murchison. Advertisement

Early on Monday morning, residents in Shepparton, Orrvale, Murchison and Mooroopna were told it was too late to leave their flooded communities.

The river reached 11.88 metres on Sunday and continued to rise overnight, with major flooding expected when it hits its peak on Monday at 12.2 metres.

This is higher than the river's flood level of 12.09 recorded back in 1974.

Early on Monday in Echuca, residents and holiday-makers were being told to immediately leave amid concerns people could become stranded by floodwaters.

The flood-ravaged town is expected to be hit by two flood peaks, one by Tuesday and another later in the week.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said communities such as Echuca along the Murray River could be under flood threat for four to six weeks, with workers and volunteers preparing for a long campaign.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said modelling indicated more than 9000 homes were inundated in Victoria's north and about 34,000 homes across the state could be inundated or isolated.

'It's quite likely we'll see a flood peak happen and waters recede, followed by another peak as different river systems come together,' he told the ABC.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, travelling to flood-hit western NSW on Monday, warned bumper wheat, fruit and vegetable crops in Victoria's food basin have been affected and it would inevitably lead to rising prices.

Flood damaged belongings outside houses in Maribyrnong in Melbourne on Monday

Residents in Maribyrnong (pictured) have already commenced clean-up efforts after floods as the state government announces a $351million flood recovery package

'The impact will feed into higher prices, most unfortunately at a time when inflation has already been rising,' he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

The Goulburn River at Shepparton has risen overnight to 12.05 metres, with major flooding expected on Monday morning at 12.1m.

That is higher than the 1974 flood level of 12.09m, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Images show buildings in the middle of town surrounded by a vast inland sea of brown muddy water and residents using sandbags to protect properties.

Mr Crisp said 56 requests for rescues were made overnight in Mooroopna and Shepparton.

Hundreds of homes in the area have been flooded along with another 800 to 900 homes in Rochester, where a 71-year-old man was found dead in the backyard of his home on Saturday.

Images from the flood-ravaged township of Shepparton, northern Victoria, showed residents wading through the ravaged town in knee-high muddy water and preparing sandbags

It is estimated about 9,000 residents are currently affected by the flooding in northern Victoria (pictured, clean-up efforts in Maribyrnong, northern Victoria, on Saturday)

Floodwaters have receded in Maribyrnong, northern Victoria, where police confirmed an unoccupied house was looted on Monday morning.

It is believed a man wearing high-vis and a face covering entered the flood-hit home and stole items, before fleeing in a car with another two men waiting inside.

Melbourne Water has been directed to carry out a review of Flemington Racecourse's levee wall to determine whether it contributed to the flooding of properties in Maribyrnong and Kensington.

The Loddon River at Kerang is expected to peak on Tuesday and into Wednesday, with levels similar to the record-breaking January 2011 floods.

Kerang will remain isolated by floodwaters for a week amid forecasts the Loddon River will peak on Wednesday or Thursday.

A warning has also been issued for the Wimmera River, with Horsham residents warned major flooding is possible on Monday and into Tuesday.

Local residents walk through a flooded street in Shepparton on Sunday

Victorians and their beloved pets have been taking shelter in their cars at the Shepparton Showground after the region was overwhelmed by floodwaters over the weekend

People in Victoria's north have been told to move to higher ground as the flood crisis worsens

The Campaspe River at Barnadown, Rochester Town and Echuca peaked on Monday morning with major flooding occurring - higher than in 2011.

The Victorian State Emergency Service has received more than 4750 calls for help, including more than 500 flood rescue requests, since Wednesday when heavy rainfall lashed the state.

Disaster recovery payments have been made available to residents in 23 local government areas and a 250-bed camp will open at the former Mickleham COVID-19 quarantine facility.

About 100 ADF personnel have been deployed to help with evacuations and sandbagging.

Dozens of schools were closed across the state on Monday, including almost 50 in the northeast, almost 30 in the northwest and seven in the southwest. Early childhood services were also closed.

The Victorian health department has warned of the increased risk of bacterial outbreaks such as leptospirosis, which is caused when people come into contact with the urine of infected animals and can occur after flooding events.

A colossal rain bomb will strike Sydney as residents in northern Victoria brace for even more record-breaking floods (pictured, wet weather in Sydney earlier this month)

Residents have already commenced clean-up efforts in Maribyrnong after a weekend of rain

Australian Defence Force personnel (pictured) load residents' cars with sandbags amid floods in Shepparton, Victoria Australia, October 16, 2022

In the last 24 hours, the SES has undertaken 146 flood rescues, with the majority of calls coming from the Shepparton area (pictured, residents shelter at the Shepparton showground)

More than 350 roads are expected to remain closed in Victoria's flood-affected areas and about 6000 properties are without power (pictured, a resident paddles through Shepparton)

Residents in Shepparton, Orrvale, Murchison and Mooroopna have been told it was too late to leave their communities (pictured, a flooded BP petrol station in Shepparton)

In northwest Tasmania, almost 100 properties have been damaged by flooding as Bass Strait ferry sailings resume after being cancelled due to rising rivers.

Significant floodwaters will continue to subside in coming days following record rainfall across the top half of the island state last week.

The State Emergency Service has to date identified damage to 53 homes, 18 businesses and 21 community facilities, as well as bridges and roads.

Acting director Leon Smith said the information would be further assessed and used to plan recovery efforts.

Watch and act emergency warnings remained in place on Monday morning for parts of the South Esk River in the north.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited flood-affected areas with Premier Daniel Andrews, where up to 9,000 people are estimated to be impacted (pictured, a street in Maribyrnong, an inner-city suburb in Melbourne

Meanwhile, Spirit of Tasmania passenger sailings between Melbourne and Devonport in northwest Tasmania resumed on Monday.

They were cancelled on Thursday when the port of Devonport was closed to commercial operations ahead of flooding in the Mersey River.

Spirit of Tasmania chief executive Bernard Dwyer said additional sailings had been scheduled this week to clear a backlog of booked travellers.

Dozens of roads remain closed, with photos on social media showing boulders blocking Poatina Road in the Western Tiers.

The state's Great Lakes region registered 398 millimetres of rain in 30 hours when parts were lashed by wet weather from Wednesday to Friday.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has often been accused of looking like a sinister robot and when he visited a laboratory in Pittsburgh last month, the 100 high-resolution cameras that captured his image from every angle were certainly trying to make him look more human.

They werent, however, attempting to soften up the image of his controversial social media empire but to create a new face for him in his other world: the Metaverse, Zuckerbergs ambitious and increasingly risky-looking master plan to create a futuristic three-dimensional virtual reality world.

In the Metaverse youre no longer simply staring into a computer but actually feel you are inside it, living in a richly animated and lifelike 3D simulation, an all-encompassing virtual universe that exists alongside the real one. At least thats the theory.

People appear in the Metaverse as a so-called avatar, an animated online representation of themselves that they can design and which can be made to look like them.

It is clear that much of Metas catastrophic slide is down to the simple fact investors and others in Silicon Valley dont share Zuckerbergs breathless passion for it

The real world, however, isnt showing quite the same enthusiasm as Zuckerberg for his new vision.

In the past 14 months, Meta  which used to be called Facebook  has seen its share price fall nearly 60 per cent, wiping a staggering $600 billion off its market value. True, the company is still worth nearly $400 billion, but the collapse means Zuckerbergs personal fortune has shrunk by more than $76 billion since January and hes no longer among the richest 20 people on the planet.

This monumental slump reflects in part a general malaise in the technology industry, caused by declining advertising revenue and increased competition. The social media sites Facebook and Instagram  both part of Meta  are being pressed hard, for instance, by outfits such as Chinas phenomenally successful TikTok.

But increasingly, it appears that Zuckerbergs obsession with his virtual reality kingdom of the Metaverse is playing a large part in the companys difficulties.

The omens were not auspicious when the avatar that engineers produced of Zuckerberg drew widespread ridicule.

It made him look like a baby, or perhaps a porcelain doll  with a fixed smile and wide green but lifeless eyes set in an unlined face.

Social media exploded in mockery, prompting Zuckerberg  already a Silicon Valley hate figure as he sinks tens of billions of dollars into the Metaverse in a make-or-break bet on the internets future  to rush to get it redone. A company insider claimed they created 40 versions of Zuckerbergs face before a final replacement was chosen.

In the Metaverse youre no longer simply staring into a computer but actually feel you are inside it, living in a richly animated and lifelike 3D simulation, an all-encompassing virtual universe that exists alongside the real one. At least thats the theory

But despite this, the second avatar of the Meta boss also looked unnerving. So last week, Meta unveiled a third Zuckerberg avatar as it wheeled out the latest big step in its march to the Metaverse.

Its a new virtual reality headset called the Quest Pro. While it costs an other-worldly 1,499 for each set and looks like a pair of oversized ski goggles, it features some impressive technology that supposedly enables you to combine your physical environment with virtual elements in a realistic way as you peer around inside your headset.

Sensors inside the headset are attuned to the wearers face, not only tracking eyeball movements but monitoring every muscular twitch, so it can detect when they are smiling or frowning and ensure that their avatar follows suit.

Its a sad reflection of just how little Zuckerberg and his scandal-plagued company is trusted, that the immediate response of many of the first reviewers of the Quest Pro was to ask whether this mood-detecting technology was simply yet another underhand attempt by the company to spy on users and harvest data on how they respond to what they encounter in the Metaverse.

For the record, Meta insisted this was not the case, although the sceptics have yet to be convinced  long gone are the days when anyone gave Zuckerberg the benefit of the doubt.

But questions about data- harvesting are not the only criticism levelled at Zuckerbergs dreamscape. Others include complaints that its graphics are still as primitive as the ones in video games from the 1990s and theres so little to do in the Metaverse that there seems not much point venturing there in the first place.

The 100 high-resolution cameras that captured his image from every angle were certainly trying to make him look more human

Those whove gone into the Metaverse have reported, with dismay, how many of the users are clearly young children, despite an official minimum user age of 13.

Child welfare campaigners warn they are far more vulnerable to abuse in the Metaverse than they would be elsewhere on the internet, because young people speak with their real voices and so cannot hide their age from predators.

As for those expensive and rather heavy headsets, although they provide the principal means of accessing the Metaverse, their battery only lasts up to two hours and then takes another two hours to re-charge, so nobodys going to be spending their entire day in there even if they wanted to.

Yet Zuckerberg, it appears, wont be budged from his messianic belief that this is the future of the internet  even though his empire has suffered a huge reversal of fortunes since he announced it would focus its attention on the Metaverse.

It is clear that much of Metas catastrophic slide is down to the simple fact investors and others in Silicon Valley dont share Zuckerbergs breathless passion for it.

While the 38-year-old wants to attract a billion users to this alternative reality within a decade, and make it a venue for hundreds of billions of dollars of digital commerce a day, hes got a long, long way to go.

Leaked internal company documents revealed at the weekend that the number of monthly visitors to Metas main Metaverse attraction, Horizon Worlds, has slumped to fewer than 200,000.

Despite paying $400 (358) for the most basic headset, visitors generally dont return to the site  a rambling collection of virtual worlds such as Hot Girl Summer Rooftop Pool Party and Murder Village  after the first month. Common complaints are that the technologys endlessly glitchy and theres not enough to do. An empty world is a sad world, commented an internal document.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has often been accused of looking like a sinister robot and when he visited a laboratory in Pittsburgh last month

Zuckerberg has been caught out not only by rivals but by changing times. His company took the big decisions to hurl resources at the Metaverse  it is currently investing some $10 billion (8.95 billion) a year  during the pandemic when internet use soared and, amid dark predictions that social distancing was here to stay, it really did appear that the future of so much work would be online.

The Metaverse was going be to another world in which people interact with each other online  playing games, having work meetings, buying and selling and just chatting  because they couldnt do this in the offline world.

Instead, many of us are screaming to get back to the office  or at least out and about  and turn off our home computers. Even Metas own staff have been giving the Metaverse a wide berth, as revealed by a damning series of leaked emails.

Last month, Vishal Shah, the vice president in charge of Metas Metaverse division, spotted how few of the companys staff were actually on it and said managers will start checking up on them. Why dont we love the product weve built so much that we use it all the time? he wrote pleadingly on an internal Meta message board.

The simple truth is, if we dont love it, how can we expect our users to love it?

It also emerged that some Meta staff mockingly refer to any work thats done on Metaverse as MMH or Make Mark Happy projects. Its hardly a ringing vote of confidence from the people supposedly building this brave new world. Zuckerberg has made clear that those who dont share his vision will be shown the door.

As Metas 83,000 staff strive to make the boss happy and keep their jobs, critics of the Metaverse dearly hope that this is one digital experiment that does indeed bite the dust before it becomes an even more toxic environment in the hunt for more users.

It also emerged that some Meta staff mockingly refer to any work thats done on Metaverse as MMH or Make Mark Happy projects

While the company claims it wants almost Disney levels of safety for users, visitors report that its a scary place with very little moderation.

A popular YouTube broadcaster named Ethan Klein streamed a session on the Metaverse last month, in which he tried to be as sexually explicit as possible while surrounded by children in the Plaza, its central meeting place. He was thrown off and barred from returning as punishment  but only for two hours.

A BBC researcher posing as a 13-year-old girl said she was able to easily access a digital strip club on the Metaverse, where a man told her that avatars can get naked and do unspeakable things, while others talked about erotic role play.

An NSPCC spokesman described some parts of the Metaverse as dangerous by design.

Already condemned around the world for what a senior whistleblower called products that harm children, stoke division, weaken our democracy and much more, Metas rapacious chief executive has the nerve to think he can now convince people to spend even more time in its sinister and exploitative company.

His peculiar arrogance may this time have proved to be his undoing.
Ben Wallace has warned Liz Truss he could withdraw his support for the embattled Prime Minister if she ditches her pledge to increase defence spending.

The Defence Secretary has issued what amounts to an ultimatum to the PM and her new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt over her promise to increase military spending to 3 per cent of GDP.

A defence source told the Daily Mail: The Defence Secretary will hold the PM to the pledges made.

The Prime Minister made clear in her leadership campaign and since that she wants 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2026 and 3 per cent by 2030 to be spent on defence. We are working on that basis.

Current world events, and allies commitments show that defence is not a discretionary spend but a priority.

The warning comes amid mounting speculation that Mr Wallace could emerge as a unity candidate to replace Miss Truss as prime minister if she is forced out.

He has played down the prospect but allies were yesterday said to be sounding out Tory MPs about whether they would support him if the position becomes vacant.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured) has warned Liz Truss he could withdraw his support for the embattled Prime Minister if she ditches her pledge to increase defence spending

The warning comes amid mounting speculation that Mr Wallace could emerge as a unity candidate to replace Liz Truss (pictured) as PM if she is forced out

Javid 'victim of four-letter No10 slur' Tory MPs desperately urged the Prime Minister to stop fostering disharmony last night after her allies launched a disgraceful attack on former Chancellor Sajid Javid. Mr Javid, who endorsed Liz Truss in the summers leadership contest after he was eliminated from the race, had been rumoured to have been the Prime Ministers preferred choice to replace the Kwasi Kwarteng in No 11 after she sacked the Chancellor last week. But days after Jeremy Hunt took the role, No 10 sources denied Mr Javid had ever been considered  and said Miss Truss regarded him as s*** during his time in Cabinet. Yesterday furious senior Tories defended Mr Javid. Education Committee chairman Robert Halfon, who nominated Mr Javid for the leadership this summer, told Sky News: The briefings that have come out using a four-letter word to describe Sajid Javid... Ive known him since university, hes a really good man, he was respected. If the Prime Minister wants to unite the party and get people around her, then these kind of negative briefings about colleagues have got to stop. All it does is bring disharmony to the party. MPs were quick to defend Sajid Javid after rumours circulated he had been regarded as s*** by Liz Truss Ex-chief whip Mark Harper, who backed Rishi Sunak in the leadership contest, added: Sajid Javid is a good colleague and, although we backed different candidates in the leadership election, Im proud to call him a fellow Conservative. No 10 briefing nasty insults about their own colleagues is not helpful to the Conservative Party when we need to work together. Yesterday Miss Truss said the decision to sack Mr Kwarteng, who is a close friend of hers, had been a wrench. Advertisement

A Tory MP said supporters were texting round asking if people would back a government led by Ben.

Mr Wallace is understood to have held talks with the new Chancellor yesterday on the future of the defence spending pledge, without reaching a resolution.

Mr Hunt has also backed an increase in defence spending in the past but is now scrabbling to fill a black hole in the public finances of up to 72billion by the end of this month.

The commitment to increase defence spending from 2.2 per cent of GDP to 3 per cent by the end of the decade was a central plank of Miss Trusss leadership campaign and one of the key factors that persuaded Mr Wallace to back her.

The PM repeated the pledge in her party conference speech on October 5, saying the increased spending was needed to ensure our Armed Forces are ready to tackle new and emerging threats. But analysts have warned it could cost as much as 157billion by the end of the decade.

In a round of media interviews over the weekend, Mr Hunt suggested the target will be watered down as part of the need to curb public spending.

He acknowledged that defence spending needed to rise, but refused to commit to any target date.

The long-term ability to fund an increase in defence spending will depend on stability in the economic situation and a healthily growing economy.

Mr Hunt yesterday told the BBC that we are going to have to ask all government departments to find more efficiencies than they planned.

Asked directly about the defence spending pledge yesterday, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury Andrew Griffith told Sky News that everything is in scope for spending cuts. He added: There are no commitments Im afraid that I can make... because were going into a process.

Mr Wallace, who is popular with Tory activists, was the early favourite to succeed Boris Johnson when he stepped down in July.

But he quickly ruled himself out after consulting with his family. He said it was not an easy choice but that he wanted to focus on the defence issues facing the country as war in Ukraine rages.

A senior defence source yesterday denied Mr Wallace was on manoeuvres for the leadership, adding: The Defence Secretary is focused on our support for Ukraine and the security of Britain and our allies.

Our future as a Government and as a Conservative Party lies in demonstrating and providing stability. Anything other than that will lead to a deserved spell in opposition.

After deciding to sit out the contest in July, Mr Wallace then remained on the sidelines for the initial part of the leadership race before endorsing Miss Truss.

Speaking at the time, he cited her commitment to increasing defence spending, adding: Given the threats we face, gaps in our defences, and our global ambitions I believe that Lizs commitment to spending 3 per cent of GDP by 2030 is correct.

It is still below our Cold War levels, but the extra investment will maintain our leadership in Nato, reinforce our national resilience, and invest in the scientific research and supply chains that give us the strategic advantage we so desperately need.

Mr Wallace is a popular figure in government and is regularly cited by Conservative activists as one of the best-performing ministers.

Mr Wallace is understood to have held talks with the new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (pictured) yesterday on the future of the defence spending pledge, without reaching a resolution

His profile has risen sharply since Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has forced defence issues up the political agenda. In the most recent survey of Tory activists by the grassroots website Conservative Home, Mr Wallace topped the poll with a net approval rating of 85.8, far ahead of Liz Truss on 35.6 and rivals like Penny Mordaunt on 55.2.

Critics question whether his success on Ukraine has blinded supporters to his relative lack of experience in other parts of government.

One source in a rival camp said: What does he think about the economy, or housing, or transport or health? No one has any idea.

A source close to Mr Wallace said last night that MPs pushing for him to take over were not authorised by him to do so.
A quarter of a million smart meters made by a firm linked to the Chinese government have been installed in UK homes, sparking fears Beijing could destroy the national grid.

At least three major UK energy suppliers have struck deals with Kaifa Technology UK, which is controlled by a subsidiary of the state-owned China Electronics Corporation (CEC).

There are already 250,000 Kaifa meters in homes across the country, according to industry figures obtained by the Daily Mail.

But experts predict there could be more than three million by the end of the rollout.

It has sparked accusations that penny-pinching energy firms are ignoring a Trojan horse that could pull down the whole of the grid as they source cheaper meters.

Tory MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith, co-chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, slammed ministers for their complacency in assessing the risk posed by Chinese state-owned companies and exposing Britain to the security risk posed by an aggressive Beijing.

How our supply could go off with a flick of a switch All smart meters in the UK are fitted with a remote controlled off switch. This is not essential to their functioning, but utility companies argue it saves them money if they dont have to send a bailiff to disconnect a house should it default on bills. But the measure has sparked security concerns. If the switches were used to turn off a significant proportion of meters in tandem, the national grid would be generating far more energy than was being used. This would trigger a surge and damage substations, leaving entire cities without power. Advertisement

It comes after the head of GCHQ warned that Chinas plans for global technological dominance posed a huge threat to us all.

Sir Jeremy Fleming said China was seeking to create client economies and governments by selling technology cheaply to other countries in order to leverage influence.

The UK Government has ordered telecoms equipment from Chinese tech giant Huawei to be stripped out of the UKs 5G network.

But Nick Hunn, a director at WiFore Consulting, who gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on smart meters, warned that Kaifa could represent a greater threat.

He said this was because all meters featured a switch that can be used to remotely turn off power, potentially blacking out homes and destroying the national grid.

Energy suppliers say meter manufacturers cannot access this switch, but Mr Hunn said it shows a frightening lack of complacency if they think the system cant be hacked, adding: It is handing a loaded gun to China.

The International Cyber Policy Centre has designated CEC as very high risk due to its role as one of Chinas leading producers of military electronics, while the US has blocked the use of Chinese smart meters.

But Octopus Energy hailed the installation of its 100,000th Kaifa meter this year by declaring it was just the beginning of a great partnership. Ovo Energy has ordered 38,000 Kaifa meters for 2022 alone, while Eon has signed a four-year deal with the Chinese firm.

Multiple industry sources have told the Mail that Kaifa is winning around 20 per cent of contracts by undercutting European competitors by as much as 30 per cent.

They believe Kaifas strategy is to use the UK market to gain credibility before it jacks up prices.

An Octopus spokesman said Kaifa meters constituted less than 4 per cent of its installations.

Both Energy UK and the Government stressed that all smart meters operating in Great Britain were subject to robust security standards.

Michael Wu, head of Kaifa UK, said the accusations were not an honest reflection of our company and a result of an adversarial political narrative.
Lord Mountbatten has been accused of abusing an 11-year-old boy at a childrens home  in a case being brought 43 years after his death.

Arthur Smyth, who has waived his right to anonymity, claims he was twice molested by the royal in 1977 at the infamous Kincora childrens home in Northern Ireland.

Lord Mountbatten, Prince Philips uncle and a second cousin of King George VI, was murdered two years later when the IRA planted a bomb on his yacht.

Now, for the first time, the High Court in Belfast is set to hear allegations that he abused a boy at the childrens home  which has faced widespread allegations of abuse.

Five years ago a public inquiry found at least 39 boys had been abused at Kincora  four decades after three members of staff were jailed for abusing 11 victims there. The inquiry criticised the authorities for failing to act and the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland last year slammed the Royal Ulster Constabulary for its poor response to complaints at the time.

Lord Mountbatten has been accused of abusing an 11-year-old boy at a childrens home  in a case being brought 43 years after his death

Despite claims security agencies actively aided the abuse, no evidence to support those allegations has been accepted. Mr Smyth, now 56, claims he was first abused by staff member William McGrath  who came to be known as the beast of Kincora  shortly after arriving at the home.

He claims that Mr McGrath introduced him to an upmarket stranger in August 1977 who preyed on him twice.

Mr Smyth told the Sunday Life: McGrath would say, You are going to meet a special friend. And I went, Oh really? And thats when he took me into that room  downstairs there was a big office, with a big desk and there was a shower.

[The strangers] name was never mentioned in the room. He made me have a shower and then McGrath would come down and get me afterwards.

He claims he realised who his abuser was only in 1979 due to publicity over Lord Mountbattens murder.

Mr Smyth, who now lives in Australia, added: You dont forget who abused you. Trust me. You block it out but you dont forget. I shut it down for years. I felt embarrassed by what had happened but now I want peace.

Arthur Smyth (pictured), who has waived his right to anonymity, claims he was twice molested by the royal in 1977 at the infamous Kincora childrens home in Northern Ireland

The civil legal action against Lord Mountbatten is also against a number of Northern Irish institutions including the Department of Health and the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Kevin Winters, Mr Smyths lawyer, said: [This is] the first time that someone has stepped forward to take allegations against Lord Mountbatten into a court.

That decision hasnt been taken lightly. He understands only too well that it will be a deeply unpopular case with many people, coming as it does within weeks of the passing of the Queen.

However, litigation involving mental, physical and sex abuse isnt undertaken to deliberately offend sensitivities.

Last night a Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment on the case.
BENGALURU: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said he would inform Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about the alleged corruption in appointments during the tenure of Congress rule in the state from 2013 to 2018. K. Siddaramaiah was the chief minister of the state from 2013 to 2018.

Speaking to media persons in Mandya district, Bommai claimed that when the Congress party was in power, the state witnessed massive corruption in appointments to the posts of teachers, police constables and prosecutors.

He was reacting to a charge made by Rahul Gandhi during his speech in Ballari as part of Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday where he alleged that various posts in Karnataka are being sold.

He said an inquiry is going on, into the question paper leak case under the Congress rule in the state.

Bommai felt that Congress leaders of the state might have hidden all these facts to Rahul Gandhi or he might not be aware of what happened in the state during Congress rule. The facts and figures to Rahul Gandhi will be eye-opener to the alleged corruption of the Congress rule, and let him speak thereafter, he said.
Rampant fraud and theft are ripping $8 billion out of Medicare every year and threaten to topple the whole system, a bombshell report has found.

An investigation by the Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC has uncovered massive overcharging by doctors that could amount to 30 percent of the entire Medicare budget.

Doctors have routinely charge the government for time and services they did not provide by falsifying records and wrongly diagnosing to claim more money.

Medicare is losing $8 billion a year to fraud and misdiagnoses, according to a bombshell new report

One GP at an aged care facility even made a claim for services retendered to dead people.

Doctors billed for rounds that didn't happen, they charged residents who were impaired and had no memory of the consultation and misdiagnosed, deliberately or otherwise, to claim more than they should.

The sums of money can be be mind-boggling with one GP in the western Sydney suburb of Fairfield Heights ordered to pay back $1 million for prescribing addictive pain-killers to patients without an appropriate management plan in place.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA), which is the peak body representing doctors, has hit back strongly at the claims.

'The AMA is extraordinarily disappointed at the allegations today in the media suggesting that up to $8b is being defrauded each year from Medicare by health professionals including doctors,' the association said on its Twitter account.

AMA President Professor Steve Robson has called the report of Medicare rorting an 'undeserved attack on the whole profession based very much on anecdotes and individual cases'

'These claims are an unjustified slur on the medical profession.'

AMA President Professor Steve Robson was quoted as saying 'the AMA works closely with the Department of Health on compliance and we have never seen any concerns or numbers that would support the figures reported today'.

'Doctors will be sickened by today's reporting which is an undeserved attack on the whole profession based very much on anecdotes and individual cases.

'Australia's doctors have worked incredibly hard through COVIDtreating Australians during lockdown, rolling out the nation's vaccine efforts, putting themselves at risk every day to treat COVID patients on the front lineso today's coverage is as appalling as it is inaccurate.'

Treasurer Jim Chalmers lashed out furiously at what he called the 'grubs' draining Medicare of much needed resources.

'If these numbers are true, it's absolutely atrocious,' Dr Chalmers said on Monday.

'Every dollar rorted, whether it's from Medicare or the NDIS, is a dollar thieved from people who need and deserve good health care.'

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has hit out at the 'grubs' who are siphoning $8 billion a year of Medicare with fraudulent claims

'If you're stealing from Medicare or the NDIS, you're a grub. It means that money that's not exactly thick on the ground in the budget is not going to people who need it.'

Dr Chalmers vowed to catch those doing the wrong thing.

'(It is) something that we will get to the bottom of because we don't want to see a single dollar rorted or thieved from the system when it could go to helping people who are vulnerable,' he said.

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said while the 'vast majority' of general practitioners did the right thing, payment integrity was a problem.

'It drives taxpayers to despair if they think that some people are opportunistically rorting the system,' he told Nine's Today show on Monday.

Medicare compliance expert Margaret Faux has cast doubt over whether the health system can last more than a 'few more years'

'Crooks do leave footprints ... obviously we have got to make sure there is complete confidence in the system but we need to put the crooks on notice that 'you will get caught'.'

Radio host Ben Fordham called for the entire system to be overhauled if necessary as the government promised to come down 'like a ton of bricks' on those ripping off the system.

Fordham said the investigation uncovered 'an utterly broken system' that made rorting Medicare 'a breeze' and pointed to an 'obscene waste' of taxpayers' money.

he noted there are even courses to teach doctors how to rort the system and cover their tracks and there are few protections to stop this.

Sydney radio host Ben Fordham said the government cannot ignore the 'obscene' waste of taypayers' money

Endemic overcharging happened in all fields of medicine with surgeons and specialists claiming for operations and services they did not provide or were unnecessary.

A dentist had to repay Medicare $650,000 for over servicing children, including exposing some to radiation with no medical benefit.

In one case a telehealth service charged $50 for consults and bulk billed them as well, which is illegal.

Medicare compliance expert Margaret Faux said the incentives were there to cheat the system.

'I think most Australians believe that doctors are honest people,' Faux said.

It is estimated that nearly a third of Medicare's budget is being soaked up by doctors doing the wrong thing

'But the reality is anywhere where you've got a huge pot of money that is super easy to access, you are going to get bad actors building business models just taking the money unlawfully.'

Fordham noted the vulnerability of Medicare 'is not a new problem despite repeat warnings the waste has been happening for decades'.

'The problem is so big that governments have been reluctant to touch it or tackle it.'

'The federal government cannot ignore this report today.

'If you need to overhaul the entire system, let's do it. If you need to hire more people to catch the crooks, then do that too.'

Doctors have charged impaired patients for services that they won't be able to recall or in one case a GP even billed dead people

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten has vowed that Medicare 'crooks will get caught'

'For those people who are ripping it off, they need to face the full consequences of the law.'

Dr Faux delivered a more bleak diagnosis, one which questioned whether just going after the 'crooks' would be enough as Medicare haemorrhaged money.

'Medicare doesn't have a lot of life in it, unfortunately,' she said.

'I'd give it a couple of years max. It's in really bad shape.

'Out-of-pocket costs are going to continue to soar and patients won't be able to access the care that they need.'
This is the dramatic moment a Connecticut cop shoots and kills a man who murdered two officers after luring them to his home with a fake 911 call.

Police released the body-cam footage of Alec Iurato, 26, one of the three officers who responded to the home of Nicholas Brutcher in Bristol last Wednesday.

Once the cops arrived, Brutcher suddenly opened fire on them, unloading more than 80 rounds at the unsuspecting officers.

Dustin DeMonte, 35, and Alex Hamzy, 34, were both killed in the shootout.

Officer Iurato was shot in the leg but managed to run for cover, before eventually finding an opening and killing Brutcher with a single gunshot. It remains unclear what motivated Brutcher to carry out the attack.

Alec Iurato, 26, was rushed to Saint Francis Hospital and underwent surgery for serious gunshot wounds, where he is currently recovering

Nicholas Brutcher, left, and Nathaniel Brutcher, right, allegedly lured two cops to their deaths with a fake 911 call on Wednesday night

Iurato's body-camera footage showed the officer hiding behind a tree as he desperately called dispatch for back up.

'Shots fired, shots fired, more cars, send everyone!' Iurato yelled into his radio, as hysterical screaming could be heard in the background.

'Officer shot, officer shot,' he then reported, as he leaned on the tree and groaned with pain from his wounded leg.

After another gunshot rang out Iurato began to limp to his car for better cover, then a loud burst of nearly thirty gunshots erupted.

Iurato took cover behind a squad car, and peering over the hood he took aim and fired a single shot.

'He's down,' somebody could be heard saying aloud as Iurato shone a light on the location where Brutcher fell, before he then called 'One down,' in over his radio as somebody can be heard wailing 'No! Oh god!' aloud.

Iurato can be seen reflected in the squad car he is hiding behind as he takes aim at Brutcher

Iurato shines a light at the spot where he shot and killed Brutcher moments earlier,' One down,' he then called in over his radio

Dustin DeMonte (left), 35, and Alex Hamzy, 34, were shot dead while responding to a 911 call of a domestic incident between two brothers in Connecticut

Police said Brutcher's 9-11 was 'a deliberate act to lure law enforcement to the scene.'

One witness, Danny Rodriguez, said he heard three sets of gunshots and 30 shots in total. He says he heard another woman yelling out during the shooting: 'you killed them!'

'I heard a whole war going on behind me,' Rodriguez said, according to KOCO.

According to the New York Times, Rodriguez saw a man dressed in camouflage leaving the Brutcher home with a rifle. Another man followed and attempted to restrain the camouflaged man before he was shot.

Connecticut State Police Sgt. Christine Jeltema said state troopers and detectives are still gathering evidence and the 'very complex' investigation is ongoing.

She added that it was an 'isolated incident' with 'no threat to the community' during a press conference.

Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould added that the deaths were as a result of 'senseless violence' which has brought the force 'sadness and grief.'

'They answered a call to duty, and they responded without hesitation, and that's what they did every night before that,' Gould said. 'And that's what all our officers do and will continue to do day after day.'

Nicholas Brutcher, 35, who was described as 'rowdy' and 'always drinking,' was shot dead at the scene

According to reports, Brutcher was kicked out of a bar earlier in the night before placing the phony 911 call around 10.30pm.

Neighbors said the divorced dad of two was 'always drinking,' and that he'd often be around checking on his brother Nathaniel. Nathaniel was shot but not killed in the Wednesday altercation.

Another neighbor described Nathaniel as a 'skater punk' and 'man-child' who was constantly under the influence and did little to get his life together.

'Nate is high as a kite every time I see him. But cocaine doesn't drive you to call cops and shoot them,' he said.

The neighbors also spoke of the Brutcher's family, which includes their mom and dad, two brothers and an adopted sister.

'Their mother must be a wreck right now,' a neighbor told the New York Post. 'She's also crazier than a f**king bag of chips.'

The neighbor added the Brutcher's father has 'got a really good heart. He's been taking care of their mother and those boys for years. That dude's a strong man.'

Police are shown investigating the Brutcher home where the officers were shot on Wednesday

Sergeant DeMonte was hired in 2012 and worked as a school resource officer, and is survived by his wife Laura and two young children Phoebe and Porter. The couple was expecting a third child.

'Words cannot express the sadness and grief that brings me before you this morning,' Gould said.

DeMonte was named the 2019 Officer of the Year and also worked as an advisor for the explorer cadet program.

Officer Hamzy joined in 2014, working the patrol division and is survived by his wife Katie, parents and two sisters.

Iurato was hired in 2018, and was also assigned to the patrol division.

It was discovered Friday that Brutcher had been Facebook friends with Officer Alex Hamzy, whom he is accused of killing Wednesday night. Hamzy apparently spelled his last name backwards on the social networking site

Nicholas Brutcher, who allegedly fired on the officers before being killed in the ensuing shootout, attended Bristol Central High School at the same time as the ex-New England Patriot

In a bizarre twist, it was discovered that Brutcher and Hamzy were Facebook friends with each other, who apparently went by Alex Yzmah on the social networking platform.

It is unclear whether the two actually knew each other.

It was also uncovered that Brutcher attended Bristol Central High School at the same time as former New England Patriot Aaron hernandez.

Hernandez died by suicide in a Massachusetts prison cell in 2017, after his arrest and conviction for the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013.

He had been acquitted in the double murders of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado and he was appealing his conviction for the murder of Lloyd when he killed himself at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster.

It was later determined that he'd had an advanced stage of CTE, which causes brain damage and is common among NFL players.

Brutcher and Hernandez both played on the school's football team and had several mutual friends, according to the New York Post. It is unclear if they had any relationship beyond that, as Brutcher was a senior when Hernandez was a freshman.

Bristol Police officers console one another at the scene of the shooting which killed two on Wednesday

Police officers from across Connecticut stood at the scene in Bristol where two officers were killed

The day after the shooting, scores of Connecticut cops turned out to the site of the attack to pay their respects to the fallen police officers.

Photos showed uniformed officers lining the street, and many wiping away tears and embracing one another at the memorial gathering.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont directed flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the fallen officers.

Mourners have left several floral tributes outside of the Bristol Connecticut Police Department, which also has black bunting hung over their sign.
Hundreds of Scotland Yard officers are still in the ranks despite being accused of crimes including sexual assault, domestic abuse, corruption and fraud, an explosive review published today reveals.

Some are getting away with sexual misconduct, systemic racism and misogyny, thanks to an anything goes attitude in Britains biggest force.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the officers involved were undermining our integrity  and should be sacked.

Hundreds of criminals in uniform are getting away with sexual misconduct, racism and misogyny in Britains biggest police force, its commissioner admitted yesterday.

An excoriating report out today lays bare the scale of misconduct and criminal behaviour festering within the Metropolitan Police.

Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley, who has been in the job for only a month, conceded his force is riddled with hundreds of officers behaving disgracefully, undermining our integrity  and who need kicking out.

Hundreds of criminals in uniform are getting away with sexual misconduct, racism and misogyny in Britains biggest police force, its commissioner admitted yesterday

The bombshell report by Baroness Casey, was commissioned in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard by Met officer Wayne Couzens (pictured)

ELEVEN misconduct allegations ... but officer remains in his job Sir Mark Rowley has said he was unable to get rid of officers if a legally qualified chairman in a misconduct hearing decided they could keep their job. Among the shocking cases uncovered was an officer facing 11 misconduct cases involving abuse, sexual harassment and assault, fraud, improper disclosure of information and distribution of an explicit image of himself. The officer received a formal sanction in relation to the first allegation of harassment and assault but was not dismissed. By then, six more cases, including sexual assault and serious assault, had been raised. After a formal sanction, four more cases were brought and the officer received another formal sanction but was not dismissed. He is still serving. Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley was unable to get rid of officers if a legally qualified chairman in a misconduct hearing decided they could keep their job One officer who has had six misconduct cases against him for oppressive conduct and harassment, neglect of duty, leakage of information and discriminatory behaviour linked to race and faith has remained in post. The discrimination and harassment allegations were linked to social media, including a Whatsapp group. The officer has received two final written warnings in ten years. He received a no case to answer decision for three of the cases and one case remains open. He, too, is still serving. An officer with seven misconduct cases against him including corrupt practice, sexual assault and domestic abuse, has kept his job. A month after his third case, he was involved in a domestic assault, but a chairman decided this did not constitute misconduct. Seven months later, an allegation of sexual assault and domestic abuse was made which resulted in no action. In total, the officer has received management action three times, reflective practice once and no case to answer three times. Advertisement

The bombshell report by Baroness Casey, commissioned in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard by Met officer Wayne Couzens, has uncovered how scores of officers are allowed to remain in the ranks despite being accused of appalling crimes, including sexual assault, domestic abuse, corruption and fraud.

Its shocking conclusions, which reduced the new commissioner to tears, revealed systemic racism and discrimination in the forces shoddy disciplinary system that resulted in a shameful culture where anything goes and officers cannot be sacked despite committing successive crimes.

It raises the prospect that, far from being an isolated case, there may be many other predatory sex offenders like Couzens within the ranks. When asked how many criminals in uniform he thought he had in his force, Sir Mark said: You have to come to the conclusion there must be hundreds of people that shouldnt be here, who should be thrown out.

There must be hundreds who are behaving disgracefully, undermining our integrity and need ejecting.

Rogue officers can be hard to weed out as the outcome of misconduct hearings are determined by independent legally qualified chairmen, leaving frustrated police chiefs powerless to change the sanction if an officer is not sacked.

Sir Mark called for an overhaul of the system, which would require a change in the law, something which is being considered by Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

The report found:

Officers are virtually unsackable, with only 5 per cent of all misconduct cases ending in dismissal;

Some officers have faced 19 misconduct probes and one accused of 11 matters including sexual harassment, assault, fraud, leaking information and sending naked images is still in post;

Racism in the ranks results in black officers and staff being 81 per cent more likely to be accused of misconduct than their white colleagues;

Sexual degradation of female officers and bullying is encouraged by some managers;

About 20 per cent of officers accused face multiple misconduct cases, yet less than 1 per cent are fired.

Sir Mark apologised as he said the painful report shames us. He said it was hard not to shed a tear at how some female and black officers had been treated, admitting the report had left him angry and upset.

Currently, only about 30 to 50 officers are dismissed a year from the force. Figures show that just 5 per cent of almost 9,000 Met officers and staff accused of misconduct since 2013 have been sacked.

Of the 1,809 who faced more than one misconduct case, just 13 were fired  less than 1 per cent.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (pictured) said the officers involved were undermining our integrity  and should be sacked

The alarming findings Just 5 per cent of 8,917 Met officers and staff accused of misconduct since 2013 have been fired. Of the 1,809 who faced more than one misconduct case, only 13 were fired  which is less than 1 per cent. The report found 1,263 were involved in two or more cases, more than 500 were involved in three to five, and 41 were involved in six or more  the highest number being 19. One officer accused of 11 matters including sexual harassment, assault, fraud, leaking information and sending naked images is still in post. Racism in the ranks results in black officers and staff being 81 per cent more likely to be accused of misconduct than their white colleagues. Sexual degradation of female officers and bullying is encouraged by some managers, officers told Baroness Casey. Currently around only 30 to 50 officers are dismissed a year from the force, but Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley believes hundreds need to be ejected. In one unit nearly half (47 per cent) of female staff said they had experienced sexism and misogyny in the past six months. In another borough, 22 per cent of public protection officers and 37 per cent of emergency response officers had been the victim of unwanted sexual advances or touching. Advertisement

More than 500 officers were involved in three to five misconduct probes, 41 officers faced more than six and some stood accused of as many as 19 matters.

This leaves many officers and staff in the Met to conclude that discriminatory behaviour is in fact not a breach of professional standards and adds to the sense that anything goes, Baroness Casey said. The former Whitehall troubleshooter condemned the Mets misconduct system as not fit for purpose, saying it has been infected by systemic racism for a decade, with black officers and staff 81 per cent and Asian officers 55 per cent more likely to be accused of misconduct than white colleagues.

Black probationary officers are 126 per cent and Asian officers 123 per cent more likely to be forced out compared to their white colleagues, who often escape sanction for lying during vetting and failing exams.

The report also lifted the lid on the tolerance of predatory sexual behaviour within the ranks.

In one unit, 47 per cent of female staff said they had experienced sexism and misogyny in the past six months. In another borough, 22 per cent of public protection officers and 37 per cent of emergency response officers had been the victim of unwanted sexual advances or touching.

One female officer recalled being told that if you fell asleep on a night shift you couldnt claim there was no consent to unwanted sexual touching. After one officer was convicted of an offence, it emerged that a female colleague had reported him for sexual assault but supervisors did not act.

Others told Baroness Casey of their frustration that wrongdoers went unpunished, describing the system as stacked against them. Many were discouraged to report misconduct and made to feel like they were the one with the problem when they raised a conduct issue.

One inspector said: We dont want this behaviour in the Met. If we worked for Tesco wed be able to sack someone for less.

Baroness Casey found that allegations of sexual misconduct or discrimination were less likely to result in a case to answer than other claims. An internal review revealed that 24 officers had been investigated two or more times for sexual misconduct and domestic abuse but previous allegations had not been taken into consideration.

Sir Mark called for an overhaul of the system, which would require a change in the law, something which is being considered by Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured)

The report is just the first from the peer who was brought in to look at misconduct procedures and the culture within the force after a series of scandals.

As it was published, the Home Office announced a review of the systems to sack police officers, whether forces are using powers to dismiss probationary officers, and if regulations governing the disciplinary system should be changed. Mrs Braverman said: The public rightly expects the highest standards of behaviour from police officers and the vast majority meet this expectation.

But recently too many high-profile incidents and reports, especially in London, have damaged trust  which is unfair on the public and lets down other serving officers. This cannot continue. Culture and standards in the police must improve. And where an officer has fallen seriously short of these expectations, demonstrable, public action must be taken.
The Today Show's weatherman has inadvertently foiled a looting attempt after spotting a group of hooded men attempting to rob a flooded home during Victoria's unprecedented flood crisis.

Tim Davies was reporting from Maribyrnong in Melbourne's north on Monday morning after the river burst its banks, causing significant damage for houses nearby.

Nine's camera crew were filming outside a property when a group of men suspiciously appeared from an evacuated home, before fleeing in a four-wheel-drive.

Davies called triple-zero, with Victoria Police officers arriving a short time later.

Victoria Police confirmed the men had ransacked the house, stealing iPads, bikes and other valuables.

'These guys are obviously up to no good, couldn't get out of here fast enough,' he told hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon.

'Sickening sight to see people doing that sort of thing here in the streets of Melbourne early this morning with these residents already going through so much.'

Davies said the three men pulled up to one of the houses in a blue Ford Territory, before getting out and acting oddly.

The area had been largely deserted with residents forced to evacuate, with debris and destroyed belongings lining the streets.

The Nine weatherman said he knew 'something wasn't quite right' with the men, before they quickly called police.

'They had faces covered with Covid masks and hoodies on and when we arrived with the crews, these guys were in a hurry to get out,' he said.

'And I saw one of the guys fly out of the homes here - I don't want to identify which one yet because we are in contact with the police about what's just happened - and these guys got out of here quick.'

Davies then provided a witness statement to police, who are investigating.

The Today weatherman called triple-zero, with Victoria Police officers promptly arriving. They found the men had ransacked the house, stealing iPads, bikes and other valuables

Tim Davies was reporting from Maribyrnong in Melbourne's north on Monday morning when he witnessed the looters robbing the house

The home belongs to a man called Darren and his wife, who was celebrating her birthday on the day they evacuated their home. The pair also have two children.

They had been living upstairs to escape the flooding on the lower level, but had to leave their home the night before to escape the rising waters.

Nine reported the man had gone through the entire upstairs area, stealing a number of electrical items, kids toys and other objects.

Police said the men had dropped a bag containing priceless family items including photos, likely when they were disturbed by the camera crew.

Stefanovic described the looters as 'absolute scumbags'.

'People are at their lowest point and people think it is a moment to come in and exploit. I hope they catch them and lock them up,' he said.

Images from the flood-ravaged township of Shepparton, northern Victoria, showed residents wading through the ravaged town in knee-high muddy water and preparing sandbags

It is estimated about 9,000 residents are currently affected by the flooding in northern Victoria (pictured, clean-up efforts in Maribyrnong, northern Victoria, on Saturday)

It is estimated about 9,000 residents are currently affected by the flooding in northern Victoria, with many cut off in their communities amid the rising waters.

Emergency authorities ordered residents in Charlton and Echuca to leave their homes immediately, where up to 400 properties could be affected.

The major flood level at the river at Echuca was higher than in January 2011, emergency authorities said.

The Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) has received over 4,750 calls for help, including more than 500 flood rescue requests since Wednesday.

In the last 24 hours, the SES has undertaken 146 flood rescues, with the majority of calls for help coming from the Shepparton area.

On Saturday, a 71-year-old man was found drowned on his property in the northern Victorian town of Rochester, with police unable to reach him.

He is the first life lost amid the recent floods currently threatening the state.

About 100 Australian Defence Force personnel have also been deployed to help with evacuations and sandbagging in the worst-hit areas in Victoria.

Disaster recovery payments have been made available to residents in 23 local government areas and a 250-bed camp for displaced people will be opened at the former Covid quarantine facility in Mickleham.
Dozens of Chinese nationals are working at UK universities on sensitive projects that could aid Beijings plans for military domination, a report warns today.

The Civitas think-tank claims to have identified more than 60 individuals from top Chinese defence firms or universities linked to the Peoples Liberation Army who have carried out research on campuses here in the past 18 months.

Six joint Sino-British laboratories are still active despite many UK institutions insisting they have ceased formal collaboration with the Communist regime.

Although most of the projects have civilian uses, it is feared that some could inadvertently help China develop weapons of mass destruction as part of president Xi Jinpings masterplan to create a world-class military by 2027.

Dozens of Chinese nationals are working at UK universities on sensitive projects that could aid Beijings plans for military domination, a report warns today. Pictured: Chinese president Xi Jinping

It is feared that some projects could inadvertently help China develop weapons of mass destruction as part of president Xi Jinpings masterplan to create a world-class military by 2027. Pictured: Library image showing A Dongfeng-41 intercontinental strategic nuclear missiles group formation

Last night military expert and report author Rob Clark said the research highlights the dangerous extent to which China maintains active research collaborations with leading UK universities.

He added: Downing Street must recognise the multi-layered threats which increased cooperation with China [pose] and fundamentally must be prepared to finally address this with actual meaningful policy implementations.

The report recommends a visa ban on Chinese nationals who are Communist Party members or work for the Peoples Liberation Army.

A Government spokesman said that all foreign nationals applying for UK visas are carefully considered and subject to security checks.
With her customary efficiency, retired nurse Marie de Laet booked the doctors appointment for early Friday morning. Ready on the dot, her blonde bob specially styled by a hairdresser for the occasion, she told the medic: Youre ten minutes late, as he rushed in the door. A quarter of an hour later, she was dead exactly as she had wished.

Marie, 81, had chosen to end her life by lethal injection, with close members of her family at her bedside in a Belgian care home. She was happy that day, her son Bart remembered this week. We were happy for her, too. She had peacefully gone to sleep for ever.

Marie was one of several people euthanised by doctors across Belgium on February 1, 2019, and among 2,655 to die the same way that year. She meticulously arranged her death, said Bart, a 61-year-old civil servant, who oversees primary schools in the cathedral city of Mechelen where his mother lived.

The night before the doctors visit, she posed in smart clothes with her new hair-do for a last photograph with me, my sister and our children.

Bart talks quite openly about his mothers death. For here in Belgium almost everyone knows someone who has chosen euthanasia to end their lives. They view it as a matter of choice, which people such as Marie, who was frail after a fall breaking both hips, deserve as a human right.

Yet the small country is embroiled in a huge controversy, after it emerged that a 23-year-old woman called Shanti De Corte had chosen to end her life in May this year, with the support of her middle-class parents Peter and Marielle. She was suffering from depression and unbearable mental distress. She had never recovered from being caught up in the Isis terror bombing of Brussels airport in 2016 as she waited to board a plane to Rome on a school trip.

Shanti De Corte, 23, chose to end her life in May this year after suffering from 'unbearable' stress and mental illness following a 2016 ISIS attack on Brussels airport

Shanti De Corte (left) is pictured with a friend in this image shared to a tribute page

Shanti, who was then 17, escaped the explosion in the departure hall physically unscathed but many others were less fortunate. No fewer than 32 innocent people were killed and hundreds injured.

Yet Shanti found it impossible to enjoy life afterwards. She tried very hard to keep going, mother Marielle told a Belgian TV programme. The attack really broke her. She was never the same after it.

As Shanti struggled, she was treated at a psychiatric hospital and prescribed anti-depressants. But on two occasions in the years after the Isis attack, she tried to kill herself.

At the familys neat terrace house in Kontich, Antwerp, last week, her father Peter, an events photographer, told the Mail he didnt yet know if Shantis name would be added to the countrys memorial commemorating the victims of the atrocity, increasing their number to 33.

But most people here in Belgium agree his daughter is indeed just as much a victim as the others who were cut down by terror that day.

Marielle said that when her daughter decided on euthanasia, she supported her decision. It was Shantis wish. I am convinced she is at peace now. It brings us comfort, makes it more bearable, to know that it is what she wanted.

After the bombing, she recalls, Shantis life had never been the same. A recent trip to France for a summer holiday was an ordeal. She could not bring herself to leave the hotel. When there were fireworks on Bastille Day, a national holiday in France, she had a panic attack.

Even balloons bursting at a birthday party made her scared, said her mother. In the first six months after the airport bombing she hid her panic from us. She wanted to go it alone, to show she was strong.

But in the end, the truth came out and, after years of turmoil, her parents made the decision (shocking to many) to help her end her life.

A plume of smoke rises over Brussels airport after the explosion of a third device in Zaventem Bruxelles International Airport, where Shanti De Corte was traumatised

Passengers were evacuated from the airport after the terrorist attack in March 2016

The revelation that Shanti chose death because of a mental health problem, rather than as a result of suffering a painful or terminal physical disease, has now provoked Belgian prosecutors to investigate her case.

They acted after a Brussels neurologist, Paul Deltenre, complained that she was euthanised prematurely. The neurologist said there were treatments and care options that had not been tried or explored.

Whatever the truth of this, the case has led anti-euthanasia campaigners to renew claims that, if a young woman who has everything ahead of her can so easily opt to end her life by a doctors injection, the countrys assisted-dying law is too liberal.

The powerful Christian advocacy organisation ADF International declared in a statement on Shantis death: Once the laws are passed, the impact of euthanasia cannot be controlled. Belgium has set itself on a trajectory that, at best, implicitly tells the most vulnerable their lives are not worth living.

In Britain, euthanasia is illegal and can be prosecuted as murder or manslaughter. Assisted suicide, where a person is encouraged or helped to die, is also against the law, although attempts to change this are under way.

Last September, the British Medical Association dropped its opposition to assisted dying. Members of the UKs biggest doctors union voted to adopt a neutral stance on assisted dying, with 49 per cent in favour, 48 per cent opposed and 3 per cent abstaining. The decision means the BMA will neither support nor oppose attempts to change the law.

In Scotland, where euthanasia is not a specific offence, a Bill giving competent adults who are terminally ill the right to an assisted death is expected to be introduced in the Holyrood Parliament next year.

A pensioner handed a suspended jail sentence after he cut his terminally ill wife's throat in a failed suicide pact says the law has to change. Mr Mansfield, 73, walked free from court after a judge said he was entirely satisfied he acted "out of love" in taking the life of cancer-stricken Dyanne, 71

The spotlight fell on this delicate and highly contentious issue in July this year when Graham Mansfield, a pensioner of 73 from Hale, Greater Manchester, was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter.

His 71-year-old wife Dyanne suffered from terminal cancer and he had cut her throat in an act of love before trying to kill himself. The retired baggage handlers deeply emotional testimony stated that he had killed her because she was in such severe pain. Outside the court, after being given a suspended sentence of two years, he said the law has to change. Nobody should go through what we had to resort to.

Where is assisted dying legal in Europe? Assisted dying refers to both voluntary active euthanasia and physician-assisted death, when a patient's life is ended at their request.

Only three countries in Europe approve of assisted dying as a whole: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

The first two even recognise requests from minors under strict circumstances, while Luxembourg excludes them from the legislation.

Germany, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, and Austria allow physician-assisted death under specific circumstances.

Countries such as Spain, Sweden, England, Italy, Hungary, and Norway allow passive euthanasia under strict circumstances.

Passive euthanasia is when a patient suffering from an incurable disease dies because doctors stops doing something necessary to keep them alive. Sources: Euronews Advertisement

Many ordinary Belgian people will empathise with his standpoint. But, although euthanasia has been legal in the country for 20 years, it remains embroiled in controversy.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) slammed the country earlier this month after a 64-year-old woman called Godelieve de Troyer, who suffered from chronic depression, persuaded doctors to euthanise her without the knowledge of her family.

In a damning judgment, the ECHR ruled that the countrys federal euthanasia commission had violated Godelieves right to life by failing to examine her case properly after her son, Tom Mortier, complained to the ruling body about the manner of his mothers death.

His lawyers say she was physically healthy and her own doctor of more than 20 years had denied her request to be euthanised. But she had made a 2,500 donation to an end-of-life organisation which helped organise the procedure in 2012, according to ECHR documents.

Mr Mortier, who is still distressed about the case, has said: My mother was treated for years by psychiatrists and, sadly, she and I lost contact for some time. It was during this period that she died. Never could I have imagined that we would be parted for ever.

He has revealed that the first he knew of his mothers death was 24 hours after it had happened, when his wife received a phone call from the hospital telling the family to collect his mothers belongings and make funeral arrangements. Euthanasia inflicts immense harm on people in vulnerable situations contemplating ending their lives, but also their families, he said in a series of European TV interviews and media statements.

Another high-profile civil case is under way in Belgium over the euthanasia of a 38-year-old woman called Tine Nys who, according to her three doctors, was suffering unbearable psychological pain when she died.

The medics, who argued that they acted in good faith, were each cleared of murder in 2020 despite poisoning Ms Nys when she asked them to kill her in the aftermath of a broken relationship.

Her two sisters, Sophie and Lotte, argue that her condition fell short of an incurable mental disorder. They want the key doctor who administered an injection to Tine to pay compensation to their family for what they have told Flemish TV was a botched procedure carried out in an amateurish way on someone who had not had psychiatric treatment for 15 years.

Last year, around 2.3 per cent (or more than 2,500) of the 112,390 people who died in Belgium had enlisted a doctor to kill them, according to ADF International. (Stock image)

According to the murder trial evidence, the doctor admitted he had never previously carried out euthanasia for psychological suffering, and had been clumsy.

It records him saying he had not completed his end of life training and failed to administer the lethal injection properly. In one particularly distressing incident, the infusion bag containing the lethal medicine fell on to Ms Nys face in the few last minutes of her life as she was saying goodbye to her family.

In a Flemish TV interview, the sisters said: He [the doctor] also asked our father to hold the needle in her arm because he had forgotten to bring plasters. When she had died, he asked our parents if they wanted to listen through the stethoscope to check her heart had stopped beating.

These are shocking stories for a country that prides itself on being a pioneer when it comes to euthanasia. Belgium legalised it in 2002, after its neighbour the Netherlands had done so.

The law here insists that the person choosing death in this way should be conscious, competent, and have a medically futile condition of constant and unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be alleviated, resulting from a serious and incurable disorder caused by illness or accident.

There is even support for the right to extend to the young. It was in 2016 that a terminally-ill boy of 17 became the countrys first minor to die by a doctors lethal injection, an act that was supported by Belgiums euthanasia commission, which said at the time: We should not refuse children the right to a dignified death.

In the two decades  up to the end of 2021  27,000 patients of all ages, including 24 with psychiatric conditions, have been euthanised in Belgium, at the astonishing average rate of up to five a day.

Last year, around 2.3 per cent (or more than 2,500) of the 112,390 people who died in Belgium had enlisted a doctor to kill them, according to ADF International.

Tellingly, the Nys sisters  like many in Belgium  still believe in a persons right to euthanasia if there are proper checks and balances.

The photo shows Bart Pepermans from Mechelen, who's mother Maria De Laet chose to be euthanised at the age of 81 after spending a decade nursing her husband through dementia

The subject may be provoking heated debate, but Marie de Laets family are convinced she did the right thing. Her son Bart told the Mail: It took her a year to get permission from the Belgian euthanasia commission to let her go as she wished.

Her health had deteriorated. She was only able to move about in a wheelchair and had to be hoisted out of her bed at the end. When she died, her friends at the care home cried. They didnt want to lose her. They liked chatting to her, they knew they would miss her.

Ten of them waited outside the door weeping that morning as the nurse came first to prepare her for the procedure and then the doctor, who was late, arrived to give her the injection.

Today, Bart keeps that final photograph of his mother in his study at home and on a memory stick. Her friends hoped my mother would change her mind. But she was very organised all her life. We, her family, knew she wouldnt have second thoughts. She was relieved to go. We feel she is now in peace. She would be proud that her story is being told.

For help or support, visit samaritans.org or call Samaritans for free on 116 123
Drake has lost 537,000 (CA$8333,333) after betting on Barcelona to beat Real Madrid in Sunday's El Clasico.

The Canadian rapper backed Barcelona to win, and Arsenal to emerge victorious from their Premier League clash with Leeds.

He was in line to win 2.5million (CA$3,900,002) if his wager had come good, but Real Madrid picked up a 3-1 win at the Bernabeu.

Drake backed both Barcelona and Arsenal to win on Sunday to earn him over 2.5million

He posted his betting slip online to show that he had strongly backed Barcelona and Arsenal

Drake posted a message alongside his betting slip to say he was looking forward to the games

However, Real Madrid beat Barcelona to ruin Drake's bet on Sunday's matches

Drake has a checkered past when it comes to gambling. Although he won a staggering 3m backing both British MMA superstars Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann earlier this year, he also lost 368k after Leon Edwards' shock UFC 278 knockout of Kamaru Usman.

Heading into Sunday's match, Barcelona and Real Madrid were both unbeaten in LaLiga, but it was Carlo Ancelotti's men who came out on top as they raced into a two-goal lead through Karim Benzema and Fede Valverde.

Ferran Torres pulled a goal back for Barcelona, but Rodrygo's late penalty ensured that the hosts took all three points, much to Drake's dismay.

Xavis's side were unable to avoid the 'Drake curse' - an internet theory that the rapper is behind the downfall of several form sides and athletes across the world.

Barcelona's defeat meant that Drake's bet was unsuccessful on Sunday afternoon

Bukayo Saka's goal helped Arsenal beat Leeds but Drake's bet was still unsuccessful

After players met with Drake ahead of fixtures, each of PSG, Arsenal, Anthony Joshua and Conor McGregor suffered high profile defeats from 2018-19.

Drake did get his prediction for Arsenal's match with Leeds correct, though.

Bukayo Saka's first half goal proved to be the difference between the two sides, as Patrick Bamford missed a penalty after the break.

Mikel Arteta's team managed to hang on for an important win to extend their lead at the top of the table.

However, their victory was not enough to save Drake's bet, a matter of minutes later, Barcelona's defeat was confirmed.
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Emmerdale celebrates its 50th Anniversary on Sunday night, marking a half-century on screens with an epic disaster that sees a storm tear through the usually-sleepy village.

The soap has come a long way since its sleepy beginnings in 1972, when some of the most dramatic events included Jack Sugden's takeover of his family's farm, and Peggy Skilbeck's surprise pregnancy, with recent years seeing the country village hit by tragedy, death and destruction.

So, as fans celebrate Emmerdale's historic milestone with yet more disaster and fan-favourite characters in turmoil, here is a look-back at the Yorkshire village's most iconic moments.

Emmerdale turns 50! As the ITV soap marks a half-century on screens with an epic storm, MailOnline looks back at some of the village's most iconic moments

Historic: Back in the early 1990s, LGBT soap characters were few and far between, so when Zoe Tate realised that she was gay, and came out to her family, it made headlines nationwide

1993 - Zoe Tate comes out as gay

Back in the early 1990s, LGBT soap characters were few and far between, so when Zoe Tate realised that she was gay, and came out to her family, it made headlines nationwide.

Despite originally forming a romance with Archie Brooks, Zoe struggles to be intimate with him, and for many months kept her sexuality a secret due to concerns around how her loved ones would react.

Eventually, after sparking concern from her father Frank, Zoe decided to come out to her family, and despite her dad's initial shock, he vowed to support her.

Zoe went onto enjoy romances with a slew of female village beauties, including Frankie Smith, Susie Wilde, Emma Nightingale, and even Charity Dingle.

Realisation: Eventually, after sparking concern from her father Frank, Zoe decided to come out to her family, and despite her dad's initial shock, he vowed to support her

1993 - A big-budget plane crash throws the Emmerdale village into turmoil

As Emmerdale reached 20 years on screen, the soap was in danger of being axed by ITV, following a decline in viewership due to its slow and uneventful storylines,

However, in 1993 Brookside and eventual Hollyoaks frontman Phil Redmond was tasked with overseeing a revamp of the soap, and he decided to reignite excitement with its first major disaster; a plane crashing into the village.

A record 18 million viewers tuned into the episodes, which aired over the Christmas period and cost around 1 million, and saw the death of four major characters; Archie Brooks, Elizabeth Pollard, Leonard Kempinski and Mark Hughes.

Wow! in 1993 Brookside and eventual Hollyoaks frontman Phil Redmond was tasked with overseeing a revamp of the soap, and he decided to reignite excitement with its first major disaster; a plane crashing into the village

Devastating: A record 18 million viewers tuned into the episodes, which aired over the Christmas period and cost around 1 million, and saw the death of four major character

2003 - A devastating tornado destroys Tricia Dingle (and the Woolpack!)

While adverse weather conditions are commonplace in soap land, this was the first time that Emmerdale was rocked by an wind-based disaster.

As the Woolpack prepared to ring in the New Year, Tricia Dingle was preparing to leave the village after ending her marriage to husband Marlon.

Upon reading a romantic letter from her husband, Tricia opted to stay, but as she returned, a lightning strike caused the iconic pub to collapse on top of her, leaving her covered in bricks and debris.

Tense scenes saw Tricia fight for her life, but after slipping into a coma, she died in hospital just days later, leaving Marlon devastated.

Dramatic! As Emmerdale rang in the New Year in 2003, a huge tornado struck the village, with beloved barmaid Tricia Dingle falling victim to the disaster after being curshed by the collapsing Woolpack pub

He's dead! Villain Tom King was murdered after alienating much of the village with his behaviour, sparking a huge 'Whodunnit' with a lengthy list of 11 suspects

2006 - Who Killed Tom King?

Within months of arriving in the village, businessman Tom King became Emmerdale's most prominent villains, upsetting this three sons with his cunning plots and plans for his vast fortune.

After marrying his wife Rosemary on Christmas Day, just days later Tom was murdered after being struck on the head with an ornament and pushed out of a window, sparking a huge 'Whodunnit' with a lengthy list of 11 suspects.

The plot sparked a flurry of speculation from fans around who could be responsible, and through an online competition viewers could get the chance to watch the 11 different versions of Tom's death, featuring each suspect committing the crime, before the true culprit was revealed.

Weeks later, it was revealed that Carl King was responsible for this father's death after learning he forced Chas Dingle to end their relationship, and while he and his brothers were eventually arrested, a lack of evidence meant the trial collapsed, and Carl was never prosecuted for the killing.

Dark: Emmerdale sparked controversy in 2011 when it tackled the divisive topic of assisted dying, illegal in the UK, and in graphic pre-watershed scenes depicted the moment a paralysed Jackson Walsh ended his life

2011 - Jackson's assisted suicide

Emmerdale sparked controversy in 2011 when it tackled the divisive topic of assisted dying, illegal in the UK, and in graphic pre-watershed scenes depicted the moment a paralysed Jackson Walsh ended his life.

After a train accident left him quadriplegic, Jackson begged his mother Hazel and partner Aaron to help him die by making a cocktail of drugs, but both refused.

Eventually, in tear-jerking scenes, Hazel realised that she had to let her son go and in a moving scene delivered the drink that would bring his life to an end.

The episode sparked a flurry of complaints to media watchdog Ofcom, but bosses insisted they had handled the storyline sensitively, with actor Marc Silcock, adding that programme-makers had ensured the death was not glorified.

RIP: In 2012 Emmerdale celebrated its 40th Anniversarywith a live episode, which along with two weddings and two births, saw the death of bad boy Carl King at the hands of Cameron Murray

2012 - The live episode

Emmerdale celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2012 with a one-off live episode, which was heavily teased with plans for two weddings, two births and a surprise death.

As Chas prepares to tie the knot with Dan Spencer, she is desperate to flee her furious ex Carl, and comes dangerously close to killing him after hitting him with a brick.

The eventful hour-long episode also saw Katie Macey tie the knot with Declan, to Megan's fury, and both Debbie Dingle and Gennie Walker give birth to their babies in dramatic scenes.

In a shocking climax, the Anniversary special ended with Cameron coming face-to-face with Carl, before grabbing the same brick Chas used and killing him in a shocking cliffhanger.

Epic scenes: In 2016 Emmerdale delivered one of its most spectacular stunts yet, as multiple lives were left hanging in the balance after a huge car pile-up hit a motorway

RIP: Sparked by a demented Emma Barton, who violently pushed her husband James from a viaduct after keeping in hostage in their home, the crash saw a dementia-stricken Ashley grind to a halt when James landed on his bonnet

2016 - The devastating bridge pile-up

In 2016 Emmerdale delivered one of its most spectacular stunts yet, as multiple lives were left hanging in the balance after a huge car pile-up hit a motorway.

Sparked by a demented Emma Barton, who violently pushed her husband James from a viaduct after keeping in hostage in their home, the crash saw a dementia-stricken Ashley Thomas grind to a halt when James landed on his bonnet, before colliding with several other cars.

The tragedy led to James' tragic death, while Rhona Goskirk and Aaron Dingle were left fighting for their lives in hospital, and Emma spent weeks desperately covering her crimes.

Tragedy: In 2015 Emmerdale bosses announced that much-loved vicar Ashley Thomas would be diagnosed with dementia, setting the stage for his eventual exit from the soap after 22 years

2017 - Ashley's death from dementia

In 2015 Emmerdale bosses announced that much-loved vicar Ashley Thomas would be diagnosed with dementia, setting the stage for his eventual exit from the soap after 22 years.

The hard-hitting storyline was extended after being praised by viewers for its sensitive portrayal of the disease, and even included a much-lauded episode showing how Ashley was viewing the world around him after being overcome by the disease.

While Ashley's deteriorating condition left many viewers in tears, the storyline also saw him rekindle his relationship with wife Laurel, with the pair remarrying before welcoming their baby daughter Dotty.

After taking a turn for the worst, Ashley was brought home to die surrounded by his family, and following a short reunion with Laurel, the priest quietly passed away in heart-wrenching scenes.

Heart-breaking: After taking a turn for the worst, Ashley was brought home to die surrounded by his family, and following a short reunion with Laurel, the priest quietly passed away in heart-wrenching scenes

Violent: After first entering the village as the devastated husband of Tess Harris, Pierce slowly began to show his true colours after he began a relationship with Rhona Goskirk, who herself was cheated on by her husband Paddy

2017 - Pierce rapes Rhona

After first entering the village as the devastated husband of Tess Harris, Pierce slowly began to show his true colours after he began a relationship with Rhona Goskirk, who herself was cheated on by her husband Paddy.

Gradually displaying his possessive nature, Pierce and Rhona's fast-paced relationship drew concerns from much of the village, especially after he recorded a sex tape without her consent before blaming it on her best friend Vanessa.

It all came to head on the couple's wedding day when Rhona refused to move out of the village with her new husband, after he discovered her drunken kiss with ex Paddy, and when she tried to escape, Pierce pinned her down and raped her.

Eventually Rhona revealed the truth about her ordeal and Pierce was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison, however he later made a surprise return to the village in 2020 to kill Rhona's new love interest Graham Foster.

Scary: It all came to head on the couple's wedding day when Rhona refused to move out of the village with her new husband, after he discovered her drunken kiss with ex Paddy, and when she tried to escape, Pierce pinned her down and raped her

Bunny boiler: In 2020, Emmerdale's newest bombshell Meena Jutla was revealed as one of the soap's greatest serial killers, murdering Leanna Cavanagh after she learned the truth about her grisly past

2021 - Meena's reign of terror

In 2020, Emmerdale's newest bombshell Meena Jutla was revealed as one of the soap's greatest serial killers, murdering Leanna Cavanagh after she learned the truth about her grisly past.

While Meena's terrifying true colours were kept under wraps for many months, with victims Andrea Tate and Ben Tucker paying the price, the village finally learned the truth after footage emerged of the nurse attempting to drown Victoria Barton.

Escaping the village and going on the run, Meena resurfaced to get her revenge during Billy and Dawn's wedding day earlier this year, before being captured by the authorities.

Her subsequent trial, which saw Meena attempt to play the innocent victim and charm the jury, was gripping viewing, and as the serial killer was found guilty, she was hysterically dragged back to prison in her final appearance on the soap.

Emmerdale turns 50 on Sunday, October 16 with an hour-long special at 7pm on ITV.
Rebel Wilson and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma have sparked rumours they are secretly engaged.

The Australian actress, 42, and her partner, 38, sent fans into a frenzy after the actress shared a loved-up photo together wearing a diamond ring on her finger on Saturday.

'Date night at @alexisrael s 40th!' Rebel captioned the cosy picture, making no effort to hide her conspicuous sparkler.

Rebel Wilson and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma have sparked rumours they may have secretly got engaged after she was spotted wearing a diamond ring on THAT finger

Eagle-eyed fans immediately began speculating the couple are ready to share big news with one commenting: 'Do I spot a wedding ring?'

'Are you engaged?' asked another fan.

'You look so happy, you're glowing,' observed another.

'Date night at @alexisrael s 40th!' Rebel captioned the cosy picture, making no effort to hide her conspicuous sparkler

In the photo a beaming Rebel showed off her slimmed-down figure in a sheer black jumpsuit.

The trendy number featured statement white cuffs and a collar and was teamed with simple black ballet pumps.

She accessorised her stylish look perfectly with a black leather handbag and wore her blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders while opting for glam makeup.

Rebel confirmed she was dating Ramona on June 9 this year. She shared a selfie of the pair, captioning the post: 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince  but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess'

Meanwhile Ramona looked sensational in a white shirt and sparkly gold high-waisted trousers teamed with nude heels to boost her height.

Rebel confirmed she was dating Ramona on June 9 this year.

It is the Australian star's first relationship with a woman, and her first public romance since ending her engagement to Napp's Dairy Free Ice Cream founder Jacob Busch in January 2021.

Rebel first teased she was dating someone new in May before making her relationship public via Instagram in June.

She shared a selfie of the pair, captioning the post: 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince  but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess.'

The couple have been seen out and about over the last two-and-a-half months, including traveling to Europe together with several of their friends.
Kim Kardashian enjoyed an outing with her son Saint, six, in Los Angeles this Saturday after a scare earlier that day.

An intruder nearly made it into Kim's Hidden Hills mansion Saturday morning before he was apprehended by security.

Yet she appeared calm and unruffled that day while taking a stroll with Saint, who is one of the four children she shares with her ex-husband Kanye West.

On the go: Kim Kardashian enjoyed an outing with her son Saint, six, in Los Angeles this Saturday after a scare earlier that day

Alarming: An intruder nearly made it into Kim's Hidden Hills mansion Saturday morning before he was apprehended by security

As Kim was spotted out and about with her eldest son, news broke about the man who was just barely prevented from entering her home.

He mysteriously managed to get through the entrance of her gated community and onto her estate, where the guards halted him mere steps from Kim's door.

Security were able to subdue the man after a tussle and he was arrested that morning around 11am, sources informed TMZ.

It is not currently known whether Kim or her children - North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three - were on the property at the time.

In her stride: Yet she appeared calm and unruffled that day while taking a stroll with Saint, who is one of the four children she shares with her ex-husband Kanye West

Use it or lose it: Kim showed off her sensational supermodel legs in a set of revealing workout gear and warded off the autumnal chill with a cozy-looking blue jacket

After being removed from the scene in handcuffs, the intruder - whom insiders say was besotted with Kim - was charged with trespassing and battery.

Apparently sheriff's deputies in the area were already aware of this particular man, whom they previously spotted in surveillance footage.

Kim and Kanye bought the Malibu compound in December 2014 just months after their Florence wedding, and according to People paid $20 million.

She filed for divorce last February after months of rumors their marriage was on the rocks, and in October 2021 news broke that she was keeping the house.

Pride and joy: As Kim was spotted out and about with her eldest son, news broke about the man who was just barely prevented from entering her home

Trouble: Kim is said to be keeping her distance from Kanye at the moment as he faces down his latest storm of controversy, which began when he debuted his 'White Lives Matter' t-shirts

The spread has been decorated in an eerily antiseptic style Kim once described as 'minimal monastery' while doing Vogue's 73 Questions.

Her personal bathroom is so massive she threw a spa party in it this summer to celebrate her gal pal Olivia Pierson's birthday.

The bathroom includes floor-to-ceiling windows offering a dazzling view of a lush lavender forest planted right outside.

Kim is said to be keeping her distance from Kanye at the moment as he faces down his latest storm of controversy, which began when he debuted his 'White Lives Matter' t-shirts during his show at Paris Fashion Week last month.

Babysitter: Kim and Saint were also joined by Kourtney Kardashian's son Saint

Had it: The exes attended North's basketball game last Friday night but Kim made sure to sit a few seats away from her ex-husband

Focused: Kim looked focused on the game as she sat in a black fold out chair

Bored? Meanwhile, Reign looked a little board as he kicked back in a chair beside Kim

He was then suspended from Instagram after posting screen-grabs of a text argument with Sean 'Diddy' Combs about the t-shirts in which he, Kanye, declared he would 'use you as an example to show the Jewish people who told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me.'

In short order he was thrown off Twitter after he bizarrely wrote on the social media platform that he would 'go death con 3 ON JEWISH PEOPLE.'

The rapper claimed that he 'can't be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also' and ranted that 'You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.'

Amid the mounting furor, Kim and Kanye have both attended their children's sporting events but appeared to avoid any contact with one another.

Inside peek: Kim's Malibu mansion is decorated in an eerily antiseptic style Kim once described as 'minimal monastery' while doing Vogue's 73 Questions

Swank: Her personal bathroom is so massive she threw a spa party in it this summer to celebrate her gal pal Olivia Pierson's (second from left) birthday

Lap of luxury: The bathroom includes floor-to-ceiling windows offering a dazzling view of a lush lavender forest planted right outside

The exes attended North's basketball game last Friday night but Kim made sure to sit a few seats away from her ex-husband.

A source revealed to DailyMail.com that Kim deliberately 'avoided him' at the game and 'even moved her car' to retain her distance from him.

Kim's failed home invasion comes just a couple of months after a bombshell interview with one of the perpetrators of her infamous 2016 Paris robbery.

Yunis Abbas is one of 12 elderly men arrested for the burglary, in which Kim was bound and gagged at gunpoint.

The band of thieves now known as the 'grandpa robbers' plundered $10 million worth of jewelry from her luxurious hotel suite.

Palling around: Kanye got a deluge of backlash for unveiling his 'White Lives Matter' t-shirts at his Paris Fashion Week show, where he is pictured with right-wing pundit Candace Owens

'Black people are actually Jew also': He has been thrown off Twitter after he bizarrely wrote on the social media platform that he would 'go death con 3 ON JEWISH PEOPLE'

'Since she was throwing money away, I was there to collect it, and that was that,' Abbas told VICE News, adding with a chuckle: 'Guilty? No, I don't care.'

He also divulged details of the robbery itself, alleging that Kim's 'secretary' attempted to call help - but dialed 911 despite being in France.

When asked about celebrities posting about their valuables online, Abbas argued: 'They should be a little less showy towards people who can't afford it.'

When asked about celebrities posting about their valuables on the internet, Abbas defiantly argued: 'They should be a little less showy towards people who can't afford it. For some people, it's provocative.'

'I don't care': Yunis Abbas, one of the perpetrators of Kim Kardashian's 2016 Paris robbery has spoken out, declaring he feels no guilt over the crime

Before: Kim was bound at gunpoint and robbed of $10 million worth of jewelry in October 2016 while attending Paris Fashion Week, where she is pictured at the Balenciaga show

Kim reportedly experienced flashbacks after the robbery, during which she feared she might be raped or murdered.

She told David Letterman the experience left her so 'paranoid' for a year that she would have 'half a dozen' guards constantly posted at her home.

Last year, five years after the robbery, she revealed she was still so scarred by the incident that she no longer keeps any jewelry at home even in a safe.

She insisted 'no expensive items ever come' to her home and 'As far as jewelry, if I'm wearing something, it's borrowed' or 'It's fake.'

'Provocative': When asked about celebrities posting about their valuables on the internet, Abbas defiantly argued: 'They should be a little less showy towards people who can't afford it'
VISAKHAPATNAM: Thousands of people, including students and women, joined the 3.6-km-long Visakha Garjana procession braving heavy rains in the port city on Saturday. The rainfall recorded had been 90 mm till evening, the highest of this season.

The huge procession started from Ambedkar statue at LIC Building junction. It culminated into a public meeting at YSR statue on Beach Road to demonstrate public support for Visakhapatnam being given the status of being the executive capital of Andhra Pradesh.

YSRC Uttarandhra regional coordinator and TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy said despite the heavy rains, a sea of people came forward for decentralised development in the state through establishment of three capitals. The previous Telugu Desam government chose Amaravati as the capital for its own benefit, he underlined.

"Visakhapatnam will be the capital as soon as legal complications are cleared," Subba Reddy maintained.

Former minister and Gudivada MLA Kodali Nani, among those who addressed the public meeting, underlined that once Vizag becomes the executive capital, migration from north Andhra to other parts of the state can be stopped. Opposition parties like TD, Jana Sena and a section of media are opposing Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddys decision to have three capitals because of their vested interests in Amaravati.

People should understand that it is possible to develop Visakhapatnam as executive capital with limited financial resources, unlike Amaravati, which will need lakhs of crores of rupees. If Amaravati is developed with huge funds, the ultimate beneficiaries will be Chandrababu Naidu and his gang, as they each own hundreds of acres of land, Nani remarked.

Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao said people of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh had once given up Chennai, another time Kurnool and then Hyderabad as capital. CM Jagan has decided to have three capitals to prevent such a mistake from happening again. After 130 years, people of North Andhra have got an opportunity to establish a capital locally, Prasada Rao declared.

Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana said, Vizag has a huge network of rail, sea and air links. Setting up a capital here will bring huge opportunities and funds, Botsa emphasised.

IT minister Gudivada Amarnath appreciated people for braving heavy rains and coming from various north Andhra districts in large numbers to support the movement for Vizag as capital. Opposition parties conspired to put brakes on the mega rally. But their efforts failed miserably, he declared.

Tourism Minister R.K. Roja said Pawan Kalyan wants Visakhapatnam for shootings and movie releases, but does not want to develop it as capital city.

JAC chairman Lajapathirai also spoke.
Geena Davis has claimed Brad Pitt was so 'embarrassed' about a spot on his bottom that he begged a make-up artist to cover it up.

The actress, 66, who starred alongside the Hollywood superstar, 58, in 1991's Thelma & Louise joked that he was happy to strip off for a raunchy scene, as long as the zit was concealed.

In an excerpt from her new book, Dying of Politeness, obtained by The Sun, Geena wrote: 'Brad, for his part, couldn't have cared less about all the fuss over his looks.'

Hilarious! Geena Davis has claimed Brad Pitt was so 'embarrassed' about a spot on his bum that he begged a make-up artist to cover it up while filming Thelma & Louise (pictured on Wednesday)

Geena continued: 'He was just embarrassed about a tiny little pimple on his butt that the make-up gal re-covered after each take.'

While discussing the movie recently, Brad said he was 'really grateful' to director Ridley Scott and Geena for '[giving him] a shot' and choosing him for the role of J.D.

'I had nothing to show for myself, except for my work as an extra, and they took a chance on me,' explained the 56-year-old actor in an interview published by The Sun.

Though he is thankful for his breakthrough role, Pitt admitted that he cannot help but cringe at the 'high voice' he put on for the character.

Revelation: The actress, 66, who starred alongside the Hollywood superstar, 58, (pictured in-character) in 1991's Thelma & Louise joked that he was happy to strip off on-set, as long as the zit was concealed

'I'm more aware of how high my voice is in it. My a** must have been clenched so tight, being the first one,' joked the two-time Academy Award winner.

Pitt also believes producers of the 1991 film 'were desperate' to cast the part due to its production schedule.

'I think they were desperate, to tell you the truth. They were already shooting because a week later I was on set, working.'

At his final audition for Thelma & Louise, he was going head-to-head with 'five other actors,' one of which was George Clooney.

According to Brad, it was his co-star Geena that plucked him out from the bunch.

'The blond one . . . hello!' gushed Geena at the time.

Brad officially landed the role in 1990 and the film went on to premiere in theaters in the spring of 1991.
Jimmy Bartel's pregnant girlfriend Amelia Shepperd revealed her growing baby bump as the couple arrived at their Melbourne home on Friday.

The couple, who announced earlier this month they are expecting a baby girl, were all smiles as they parked outside their suburban home after a day out with Jimmy's sons Henley, three, and Aston, six.

Amelia was positively glowing as she showcased her stomach in a skin-tight pair of black leggings and matching singlet top.

Jimmy Bartel's pregnant girlfriend Amelia Shepperd (pictured) revealed her growing baby bump as the couple arrived at their Melbourne home on Friday

She completed her look with a khaki trench coat, green-and-white sneakers and a black leather handbag.

The brunette swept her hair back into a low ponytail and went makeup-free.

Former AFL star Jimmy, who shares his sons with ex-wife Nadia, was in good spirits as he chatted and joked with his ladylove in the driveway.

The couple, who announced earlier this month they are expecting a baby girl, were all smiles as they parked outside their suburban home after a day out with Jimmy's (left) sons Henley, three, and Aston, six

Amelia was positively glowing as she showcased her stomach in a skin-tight pair of black leggings and matching singlet top

Aston and Henley were seen sitting next to each other in the back seats of the car as they waited for their doting dad to help them leave the vehicle.

Jimmy and Amelia announced that they were having a girl during an intimate gender reveal party two weeks ago.

Henley and Aston were present at the party, popping a balloon that exploded to reveal a flurry of pink confetti.

The brunette swept her hair back into a low ponytail and went makeup-free

'Baby Bartel, youre already so incredibly loved,' the footy star captioned the short video.

Countless celebrities shared their congratulations, with Rebecca Maddern: 'Jimmy congratulations, beautiful news.'

'Congratulations guys xx,' commented Joel Selwood.

Aston and Henley were seen sitting next to each other in the back seats of the car as they waited for their doting dad to help them leave the vehicle

Jimmy and Amelia announced that they were having a girl during an intimate gender reveal party two weeks ago

Jimmy and Amelia celebrated their one-year anniversary together back in August.

At the time, Jimmy shared a blurry photo of the couple kissing to Instagram and wrote: 'It's been a blur, but what a year with you. Love you.'

He debuted his relationship with Amelia in December, with the announcement also confirming his split from former girlfriend Lauren Mand.

Jimmy and Amelia celebrated their one-year anniversary together back in August

In a post on Instagram at the time, the Geelong great shared a photo of himself kissing Amelia in front of the Sydney Harbour skyline.

'Happy,' he simply captioned the post, adding a red love heart emoji.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Amelia worked as the executive assistant to the managing director and chief operations officer of Queensland Rugby League from July 2019 to March 2021.

She recently returned to her home city of Melbourne after spending several years in Brisbane for her job.

According to a well-placed source, Amelia met Jimmy after they began following each other on Instagram.

They have reportedly been together ever since he split from Lauren, 32, whom he began dating after his separation from ex-wife Nadia Bartel in 2019.
She regularly astounds Countdown contestants and fans as the shows brilliant wordsmith in Dictionary Corner.

But theres one word thats currently not on Susie Dents lips: dating.

The lexicographer tells You magazine today that after her split last year from her husband of 20 years, Paul Atkins, romance is absolutely not on my radar.

She reveals that friends tried to set her up recently with a housemaster from top school Eton College, but says: Im not looking for anyone at all. Ive always liked my own company.

And she wouldnt dream of looking for love on an online dating service such as Tinder, saying: I wouldnt, for a second, think of putting myself on a dating app.

Lexicographer Susie Dent tells You magazine today that after her split last year from her husband of 20 years, Paul Atkins, romance is absolutely not on my radar

Instead, it has fallen to friends to try to set her up with a new partner, most recently an Eton housemaster. But the Oxford-graduate, 57, who speaks fluent French and German, admits that, as she gets older, she feels totally invisible.

I think that comes with age. Its sort of positive and not so positive. Im not that sexualised at all. There is liberty within that. But theres also a slight regret at leaving that behind, she says.

I feel totally invisible. I feel like Im out of that [dating] sphere at the moment. I just would not class myself as a dateable entity I quite like that the pressure is off. I dont need to prove anything. I dont really feel like I need someone.

Susie says she was initially reluctant to join Countdown when first approached 30 years ago while studying at Princeton. Its not like I wanted to be on the telly, says Dent, who admits she has always been massively self-conscious.

But she joined the cult teatime show in 1992 and has worked alongside close friend and confidante Rachel Riley for the last 13 years. She says that the maths guru complements her worrier personality.

She reveals that friends tried to set her up recently with a housemaster from top school Eton College, but says: Im not looking for anyone at all. Ive always liked my own company.

Rachel is incredibly loyal and supportive, she said. Shes amazing with words as well as the numbers so she really appreciates that side of me, which is great. But also she looks after me a bit in terms of my worries because shes the least anxious person I know.

Alongside her Countdown career, Susie is a prolific author. She recently published her 13th book, An Emotional Dictionary, which explores words to describe every feeling and emotion.

For now, however, Susie is focused on her children, Lucy, 22, and 14-year-old Thea. My daughters are my life, she says. When you have kids, you give so much of yourself to them that  rightly, I think  you lose the person you were before.

In some ways thats absolutely lovely and in another way, at the end of raising your kids, you need to revisit it and redefine yourself a bit. That time will come and Im certainly not there yet.

Interview: You magazine
Ellen DeGeneres has been spending more time at home with her wife Portia de Rossi since her hit talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show came to an end in May.

And on Saturday, the couple packed on the PDA while out shopping in Santa Barbara County, which is about 83 miles north from Los Angeles, but only a few minute drive from their posh $49 million mansion in Montecito.

Looking relaxed and at ease, the pair chatted as they walked hand-in-hand near a stretch of stores and restaurants, and on more than one occasion couldn't contain their laughter.

Quality time: Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi enjoyed a quiet day taking a stroll while shopping in Santa Barbara, which is just a few miles from their Montecito mansion

The couple both opted for casual and comfort in the fashion department when they stepped out from their nearby mansion for an afternoon excursion.

DeGeneres, 64, wore brown utility pants, with elastic on the cuffs that hugged on to her ankles, and a black t-shirt.

Knowing she would be doing a lot of walking, the former daytime talk show queen also sported a pair of blue and brown running sneakers, and had her blonde hair cut short with a part on the left.

The Louisiana native appeared to cracking jokes while telling a funny story, which seem to keep her longtime partner amused and laughing out loud.

Good medicine: The couple, who have been romantically linked since 2004, continued their laugh attacks as they made their way along the streets of Santa Barbara

De Rossi, 49, was similarly dressed in black utility pants, only she would add a blue and white-patterned poncho to the mix, along with brown ankle boots.

The actress, who's a native of Horsham, Victoria, Australia, had her long blonde tresses pulled back off her face and into a loose bun.

The former Arrested Development and Ally McBeal star appeared to get into storytelling mode, which also prompted a few laughs from the both of them.

End of an era: de Rossi made her last appearance on The Ellen Show in early May, which was about three weeks before the talk show aired its finale show

Life changes: The Australian actress announced she would be retiring from acting during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in May 2018, although she later elaborated that she would make an exception for future seasons of Arrested Development

Going strong: The couple celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary this past August

Now that The Ellen DeGenres Show aired its finale in late May, the couple spend most of their time at their 9,000 square foot, 4.3 acre Montecito mansion, according to Insider, which isn't too far from where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live in a $15 million home.

The celebrity couple have also had a sprawling home in the posh Beverly Hills neighborhood over the years.

DeGeneres and de Rossi are also a well-known real estate tandem, who have focused a lot of their business deals on renovating and flipping homes in Los Angeles and the Montecito area, and then selling them, oftentimes to celebrity buyers.

The pair have been romantically linked for about 18-years, and were married in August 2008 following the overturn of the same-sex marriage ban in California.
Emily Ratajkowski made a fashion statement as stepped out to run a few errands in the heart of New York City earlier on Saturday afternoon.

The supermodel, 31, donned a pair of form-fitting pants while adding a brown, faux leather coat to stay warm in the cooler, fall temperatures.

The beauty recently commented on her relationship status amid rumors that she was currently dating Brad Pitt after filing divorce from her estranged husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard, due to alleged cheating rumors.

Stunning: Emily Ratajkowski, 31, turned heads in a stylish ensemble as she stepped out in New York City earlier on Saturday

The Gone Girl actress kept her look elegant and stylish as she enjoyed an outing in the big apple.

The beauty slipped into a pair of black slacks that showcased her long legs and donned a pair of black, heeled boots.

Emily wore a yellow and orange-printed shirt underneath a long, brown faux leather jacket.

The fashionable outwear piece was also comprised of soft fur fabric on the cuffs and neckline. A belt of the same color and material was tied to better accentuate her slim waist.

Weekend outing: The supermodel appeared to be in good spirits as she spent time out and about in big apple on Saturday

The author accessorized her ensemble by adding a pair of gold, dangly chained earrings along with a gold-chained necklace.

Her dark hair was parted in the middle and flowed down straight past her shoulders, with her bangs lightly resting on the sides of her forehead.

Emily's makeup was classically done, with a touch of black mascara around her eyes and a nude-colored lip balm.

She opted to not carry any heavy bags or purses with her during her outing, and instead was seen balancing her phone in her right hand.

The actress and model was also pictured sipping on a refreshing drink from a Canada Dry can as she walked about the city.

Taking a break: During her brief afternoon stroll, the mother of one was spotted checking her phone as she sipped on a refreshing drink

Relationship status: Emily recently commented on her relationship status after rumors circulated that she was dating actor, Brad Pitt; seen in October in NYC

The businesswoman recently opened up to Variety on a number of different topics, including talking about her relationship status with recent rumors circulating that she was dating Brad Pitt.

The model recently filed for divorce in September from her estranged husband after being married for a total of four years.

'One of the things I write about in the last essay of the book is about control and kind of understanding that one of the best ways to actually be happy and have some semblance of control is letting go,' Emily explained to the publication, referencing to her book called, My Body.

She then added, 'Im newly single for basically the first time in my life ever, and I just feel like Im kind of enjoying the freedom of not being super worried about how Im being perceived.

Shutting down the rumors: During an interview with Variety, Emily shut down the rumors that she was dating Brad Pitt

Enjoying freedom: The author further explained that she currently feels, 'like Im kind of enjoying the freedom' of being single; seen walking the runway in Paris in October

Emily appears to be taking time to enjoy her newfound freedom while raising her one-year-old son, Sylvester, whom she shares with Sebastian.

Earlier this month in October, a source commented to People about the Brad Pitt situation, explaining that the two stars were simple 'having fun' and were not anything serious.

'The split was very rough for her,' the insider stated, adding, 'It was unexpected and devastating. It's the perfect timing right now. There is nothing like Brad Pitt cheering you up.'

A separate source also told the publication, 'There is an attraction, but nothing serious is going on. They have had a few dates and stay in touch when they don't see each other.'

Moving on: Following alleged cheating rumors, Emily officially filed for divorce from her estranged husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard, last month in September
She's the Neighbours star who is vying for a career in state politics.

And Madeleine West, 41, looked every inch the active stateswoman on Saturday as she participated in the I Run For Her community walk in Byron Bay.

Showcasing her trim pins in a pair of minuscule blue short -shorts, the mother-of-six looked fit and fabulous while pounding the pavement.

Aspiring politician Madeleine West, 41, (pictured) looked every inch the active stateswoman on Saturday as she participated in the I Run For Her community walk in Byron Bay

The Underbelly star was decked out in branded apparel to promote the I Run For Her campaign, which focuses on supporting women faced with domestic violence.

Her outfit consisted of a baggy printed shirt, black sneakers and a blue cap emblazoned with the logo for of charity Disaster Relief Australia.

At times, the brunette covered up in baggy grey sweater and shielded her eyes behind large sunglasses.

Showcasing her trim pins in a pair of minuscule blue short -shorts, the mother-of-six looked fit and fabulous while pounding the pavement

The Underbelly star was decked out in branded apparel to promote the I Run For Her campaign, which focuses on supporting women faced with domestic violence

Her outfit consisted of a baggy printed shirt, black sneakers and a blue cap emblazoned with the logo for of charity Disaster Relief Australia

During the outing, social justice activist Madeleine could be seen merrily chatting with other women taking part in the event.

Madeleine's participation in the charity walk comes as she prepares to run as an independent candidate in the 2023 NSW state election.

The soap star announced her intentions to run for office during an interview with Studio 10 in March this year.

At times, the brunette covered up in baggy grey sweater and shielded her eyes behind large sunglasses

During the outing, social justice activist Madeleine could be seen merrily chatting with other women taking part in the event

Madeleine's shorts were barely visible beneath her baggy top

Madeleine's participation in the charity walk comes as she prepares to run as an independent candidate in the 2023 NSW state election

The Byron Bay-based philanthropist, who had spent weeks helping flood recovery efforts in Northern NSW, told the program she'd grown frustrated with how the NSW government handled the catastrophe.

'I'm not agitating to see change anymore, I want to be change. And so today I'm formally announcing that I intend to run for state parliament at the NSW Elections next year,' she said, as Studio 10 hosts Sarah Harris and Tristan MacManus cheered.

'I want to be the voice for my region. We need a strong voice on the floor, and I want to be it. When I came to my region [from Melbourne] six years ago - of course I love it as everyone does - but I wanted to understand it, I want to understand it better,' West said.

The soap star announced her intentions to run for office during an interview with Studio 10 in March this year

The Byron Bay-based philanthropist, who had spent weeks helping flood recovery efforts in Northern NSW, told the program she'd grown frustrated with how the NSW government handled the catastrophe

'So I dived in deep. I'm a mum of six. I want to see the region flourish. I want to see my children flourish and everyone's children to flourish there.'

In recent years, West has volunteered her time to help provide food for homeless families in her local area.

She also volunteers for environmental group ReForest Now, which aims to regenerate northern NSW's subtropical rainforests.

'I'm not agitating to see change anymore, I want to be change. And so today I'm formally announcing that I intend to run for state parliament at the NSW Elections next year,' she said, as Studio 10 hosts Sarah Harris and Tristan MacManus cheered

'So I dived in deep. I'm a mum of six. I want to see the region flourish. I want to see my children flourish and everyone's children to flourish there', she continued

In recent years, West has volunteered her time to help provide food for homeless families in her local area

She also volunteers for environmental group ReForest Now, which aims to regenerate northern NSW's subtropical rainforests

The actress also told Studio 10 she plans to advocate for gender pay equality

The actress also told Studio 10 she plans to advocate for gender pay equality.

Madeleine rose to fame playing Dee Bliss on Neighbours between 2000 and 2003.

She has also had prominent roles in Underbelly, Satisfaction and The Wrong Girl.

Madeleine rose to fame playing Dee Bliss on Neighbours between 2000 and 2003
Eiza Gonzalez made a show-stopping arrival at the second annual Academy Museum Gala, which is being held at the museum's headquarters in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

The actress, 32, channeled Jessica Rabbit as she flaunted her figure in a strapless red sequin gown.

The Baby Driver starlet's dazzling dress trailed behind her as she made her way down the red carpet.

Show-stopping: Eiza Gonzalez made a show-stopping arrival at the second annual Academy Museum Gala, which is being held at the museum's headquarters in Los Angeles on Saturday night

Her brunette hair was worn in a sleek bun and she was given a radiant complexion paired with a glossy nude lip.

For some added sparkle, Eiza wore a stunning diamond necklace and matching drop earrings.

Just before hitting the carpet, Eiza was captured posing for a few selfies with model pal Kaia Gerber.

The 21-year-old daughter of Cindy Crawford looked like sheer perfection in a moody purple and black mesh gown.

Ravishing in red! The actress, 32, channeled Jessica Rabbit as she flaunted her figure in a strapless red sequin gown

Julia Roberts is slated to receive the first-ever Icon Award at the Academy Museum Gala, which is being held this year for only the second time.

When it was held for the first time last September, the star-studded event managed to rake in a whopping $11 million for the new museum, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Other honorees this year include Doctor Strange star Tilda Swinton, who is being presented with the Visionary Award, which honors 'an artist or scholar whose extensive oeuvre has advanced the art of cinema.'

The Vantage Award celebrating 'an artist or scholar who has helped to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema' is going to Steve McQueen, the director of 12 Years A Slave and Shame.

Following in tow: The Baby Driver starlet's dazzling dress trailed behind her as she made her way down the red carpet

Glam: Her brunette hair was worn in a sleek bun and she was given a radiant complexion paired with a glossy nude lip. For some added sparkle, Eiza wore a stunning diamond necklace and matching drop earrings

Parasite producer Miky Lee, who also happens to be the vice chair of the Academy Museum board, will receive the Pillar Award in honor of her 'exemplary leadership and support for the Academy Museum.'

Oscar-winning actresses Lupita Nyong'o and Halle Berry are chairing the gala with TV impresario Ryan Murphy and successful horror producer Jason Blum.

Former TCM host Jacqueline Stewart, who was named head of the Academy Museum in July, showered praise on Julia earlier this year when it was announced she would be presented with the icon award.

'Over the course of her expansive and renowned career, Julia has embodied iconic characters and memorable roles. We are thrilled to be honoring her continued excellence in the industry and contribution to the arts,' she gushed.

Selfies: Just before hitting the carpet, Eiza was captured posing for a few selfies with model pal Kaia Gerber

'We are deeply grateful to Julia, Miky, Steve, and Tilda, to Rolex, and to our co-chairs and host committee for making our second annual Gala an evening to remember.'

The Academy Museum opened last year just four days after the first gala, igniting a storm of controversy over its political slant.

Critics slammed the museum for emphasizing the contributions of various minorities to the American film industry while all but ignoring the white Jewish immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe who played a major role in creating Hollywood.

The museum responded to the blowback by announcing this March that they will be adding a permanent exhibition highlighting the Jewish history of the movie business.
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Olivia Wilde, Hailey Bieber and Julia Roberts led a cavalcade of celebrities at the second annual Academy Museum Gala when it was thrown in Los Angeles this Saturday.

Olivia, 38, fresh off the success of her latest directorial venture Don't Worry Darling starring her boyfriend Harry Styles, went audaciously bra-less under a see-through gown.

She set pulses racing in a sparkling silver dress that perfectly hugged her impressively petite frame and was sheer enough to leave jaw-droppingly little to the imagination.

On the town: (from left) Olivia Wilde, Hailey Beiber and Julia Roberts led a cavalcade of celebrities at the second annual Academy Museum Gala when it was thrown in Los Angeles this Saturday

Turning this way and that for the shutterbugs Olivia, whose new movie triumph came at the end of a drama-filled publicity tour, revealed how well the gown accentuated her pert curves.

The frock was reminiscent of the 1980s, with a set of retro chic touches including raised shoulders and pale pink showgirl-esque feathery trim around the hemline.

Meanwhile Hailey, the wife of Justin Bieber and the niece of Alec Baldwin, slid into a flesh-flashing walnut brown dress that showcased her toned physique.

The strapless number fell to expose her cleavage and included a peekaboo section that allowed the showbiz legacy to flaunt her washboard abs.

Accentuating her unmistakable features with makeup, she let her dark brown hair tumble freely over her shoulders and complemented the dress with a choker.

When you got it: Olivia, 38, fresh off the success of her latest directorial venture Don't Worry Darling starring her boyfriend Harry Styles, went audaciously bra-less under a see-through gown

Bombshell: She set pulses racing in a sparkling silver dress that perfectly hugged her impressively petite frame and was sheer enough to leave jaw-droppingly little to the imagination

Julia, who is slated to receive the first-ever Icon Award at the Academy Museum Gala, worked her monochrome magic in an elegant gown that recalled a men's suit.

While most of the dress was black, the fabric above the decolletage was white and adorned with frills, bringing back memories of men's tops from the 19th century.

Wearing her hair in a chic gamine crop, she draped a black blazer fashionably over her shoulders without putting her hands in the sleeves with a white pocket square.

Meanwhile: Hailey, the wife of Justin Bieber and the niece of Alec Baldwin, slid into a flesh-flashing walnut brown dress that showcased her toned physique

Who's who: While Hailey flashed the flesh in a slinky long dress, her husband's ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez (right) cut an assertive figure in an understated black trouser suit

While Hailey flashed the flesh in a slinky long dress, her husband's ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez cut an assertive figure in an understated black trouser suit.

George and Amal Clooney were every inch the power couple they usually are, he characteristically classic in a three-piece tuxedo and she in a summery gown striped with various shades of green.

Eiza Gonzalez channeled Old Hollywood in a crimson sequined dress, Jussie Smollett's sister Jurnee went sci-fi chic in a dress with metallic accents and Diana Silvers slid her lean frame into an Audrey Hepburn-esque gown.

Emma Stone and Alicia Vikander looked like peas in pod in strikingly similar dresses as they gathered together to flank Louis Vuitton creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere.

Hello, gorgeous: While most of the dress was black, the fabric above the decolletage was white and adorned with frills, bringing back memories of men's tops from the 19th century

Performer: Diana Ross then took to the stage for a show-stopping performance during the gala

Loving it: The 78-year-old Motown singer appeared in extremely high spirits during the performance, throwing her hands in the air as she beamed

Glimmering: She donned a diamante emblazoned two-piece for the performance, consisting of a balloon sleeved top and matching straight leg trousers

Signature look: The star had her dark tresses styled in a signature volumnious curl for the appearance as they fell freely

Glamour: Amping up the glam factor, Diana opted for a pair of statement diamond drop earrings

In the zone: She appeared completely in the zone during the performance as she gave it her all

Bold: She whipped off her mesh white cape and held it in the air, which usually drapes over her arms

Standing ovation: Many guests stood around the stage to watch the performance, completely entranced by the performer

A-list: George and Amal Clooney were every inch the power couple they usually are, he characteristically classic in a three-piece tuxedo and she in a summery gown striped with various shades of green

Trio: Emma Stone and Alicia Vikander looked like peas in pod in strikingly similar dresses as they gathered together to flank Louis Vuitton creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere

What a night: (from left) Eiza Gonzalez channeled Old Hollywood in a crimson sequined dress, Jussie Smollett's sister Jurnee went sci-fi chic in a dress with metallic accents and Diana Silvers slid her lean frame into an Audrey Hepburn-esque gown

Mwah: The I Care A Lot actress, in a playful touch, blew a kiss as she stood for the photographers

Alexandra Daddario was a busty bombshell in a plunging gown, while Rebel Wilson encased her slimmed-down figure in a flatteringly fitted cocktail dress and Keke Palmer was engulfed in frou-frou blue frills.

David and Victoria Beckham's son Brooklyn Beckham planted a romantic kiss on the cheek of his new wife Nicola Peltz, who has lately been hitting the headlines for her recent tensions with her in-laws.

The evening's honorees oozed chic at the fete, including I Am Love actress Tilda Swinton who modeled an elegant floral gown and 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen wore a casual head-to-toe-black look.

Phil Collins' daughter Lily of Emily In Paris fame flashed a bit of leg through the slit of her voluminous floral gown as she held hands with her husband Charlie McDowell.

So many stars: (from left) Alexandra Daddario was a busty bombshell in a plunging gown, while Rebel Wilson encased her slimmed-down figure in a flatteringly fitted cocktail dress and Keke Palmer was engulfed in frou-frou blue frills

All that sweet affection: David and Victoria Beckham's son Brooklyn Beckham planted a romantic kiss on the cheek of his new wife Nicola Peltz, who has lately been hitting the headlines for her recent tensions with her in-laws

Garlanded: The evening's honorees oozed chic at the fete, including I Am Love actress Tilda Swinton (left) who modeled an elegant floral gown and 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen (right) wore a casual head-to-toe-black look

Dynamic duo: Phil Collins' daughter Lily of Emily In Paris fame flashed a bit of leg through the slit of her voluminous floral gown as she held hands with her husband Charlie McDowell

Amber Valletta was a sight to see in a pink and silver dress, Natasha Lyonne looked forbidding in a metal-studded dress with spikes over the shoulders and Selma Blair carried a dapper walking stick for her multiple sclerosis.

Among the many couples who turned the gala into a date night were Game Of Thrones star Sophie Turner, who beamed as she modeled fishnets, and her pop star husband Joe Jonas, in an outfit exuding a BDSM vibe.

Project Runway star and Elle editor Nina Garcia proved her fashion bona fides in a swanky scarlet gown while Kerry Washington teamed her cleavage-baring frock with a kinky pair of black leather opera gloves.

Mindy Kaling was simply chic in a floor-length royal purple gown as she posed alongside her longtime friend and collaborator BJ Novak, who is godfather to both her children.

What a time: (from left) Amber Valletta was a sight to see in a pink and silver dress, Natasha Lyonne looked forbidding in a metal-studded dress with spikes over the shoulders and Selma Blair carried a dapper walking stick for her multiple sclerosis

Parents: Among the many couples who turned the gala into a date night were Game Of Thrones star Sophie Turner, who beamed as she modeled fishnets, and her pop star husband Joe Jonas, in an outfit exuding a BDSM vibe

Ladies in red: Project Runway star and Elle editor Nina Garcia proved her fashion bona fides in a swanky scarlet gown while Kerry Washington teamed her cleavage-baring frock with a kinky pair of black leather opera gloves

Barrel of laughs: Mindy Kaling was simply chic in a floor-length royal purple gown as she posed alongside her longtime friend and collaborator BJ Novak, who is godfather to both her children

Jodie Turner-Smith glowed in a shimmering green gown with silver embroidery and feathery trim, Laura Dern hugged her daughter Jaya Harper and Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Garber smoldered in a transparent outfit.

Oscar-winning actors Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain, who have co-starred in a new crime drama called The Good Nurse that bows next week, enjoyed a reunion in front of the shutterbugs.

The Pianist star Adrien Brody swanked about in a suit reminiscent of the 1980s, Michele Yeoh sparkled in a dress with sequined floral accents and Lena Dunham was unmistakable in a gleaming dress.

Honoree Miky Lee, the vice chair of the Academy Museum being honored that evening for her leadership of the institution, posed up with none other than Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife Marilyn.

Glam: (from left) Jodie Turner-Smith glowed in a shimmering green gown with silver embroidery and feathery trim, Laura Dern hugged her daughter Jaya Harper and Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Garber smoldered in a transparent outfit

Colleagues: Oscar-winning actors Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain, who have co-starred in a new crime drama called The Good Nurse that bows next week, enjoyed a reunion in front of the shutterbugs

Such fun: (from left) The Pianist star Adrien Brody swanked about in a suit reminiscent of the 1980s, Michele Yeoh sparkled in a dress with sequined floral accents and Lena Dunham was unmistakable in a gleaming dress

Honoree: Miky Lee, the vice chair of the Academy Museum being honored that evening for her leadership of the institution, posed up with none other than Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife Marilyn

Whitney Peak of the Gossip Girl revival glowed at the gala, while Diana Ross' son Evan wore a eye-catching outfit including a shiny black top and Squid Game actress Ho Yeon Jung modeled a mini-dress with saucy lace trim.

Alana Haim, who made her transition from rock star to film actress with last year's acclaimed Licorice Pizza, attended the fete on the arm of her sister and bandmate Este Haim.

Allison Janney was classically tasteful in an off-shoulder black gown and diamond necklace, while Julianna Margulies was nouveau chic in a swirling print dress and Ava DuVernay was regal in a slanted cowl.

One of the showbiz hot couples who lit up the event were Top Gun: Maverick dreamboat Jay Ellis and his glamorous wife Nina Senicar, whom he married this year.

Parade of celebs: (from left) Whitney Peak of the Gossip Girl revival glowed at the gala, while Diana Ross' son Evan wore a eye-catching outfit including a shiny black top and Squid Game actress Ho Yeon Jung modeled a mini-dress with saucy lace trim

Sister act: Whitney Peak of the Gossip Girl revival glowed at the gala, while Diana Ross' son Evan wore a eye-catching outfit including a shiny black top and Squid Game actress Ho Yeon Jung modeled a mini-dress with saucy lace trim

Starry night: (from left) Allison Janney was classically tasteful in an off-shoulder black gown and diamond necklace, while Julianna Margulies was nouveau chic in a swirling print dress and Ava DuVernay was regal in a slanted cowl

Electrifying: One of the showbiz hot couples who lit up the event were Top Gun: Maverick dreamboat Jay Ellis and his glamorous wife Nina Senicar, whom he married this year

Luca Guadagnino, the director of such features as Call Me By Your Name and Tilda's movie I Am Love, posed up at the glittering affair with Taylor Russell, the star of his new movie Bones And All.

Some acclaimed filmmakers were there with their spouses, like Judd Apatow with his actress wife Leslie Mann who frequently appears in his movies, or Spike Lee and his wife of nearly three decades Tonya.

Legendary movie composer Danny Elfman, married to the former actress Bridget Fonda who was a scene-stealing presence in Jackie Brown, attended the gala with his agent.

A beguiling array of Hollywood heartthrobs were also invited to the festivities, including Zola villain Colman Domingo, Rock Of Ages sizzler Diego Boneta and Lovecraft Country sex symbol Jonathan Majors.

Collaborators: Luca Guadagnino, the director of such features as Call Me By Your Name and Tilda's movie I Am Love, posed up at the glittering affair with Taylor Russell, the star of his new movie Bones And All

Celebrated: Some acclaimed filmmakers were there with their spouses, like Judd Apatow with his actress wife Leslie Mann who frequently appears in his movies (left), or Spike Lee and his wife of nearly three decades Tonya (right)

Legendary movie composer: Danny Elfman, married to the former actress Bridget Fonda who was a scene-stealing presence in Jackie Brown, attended the gala with his agent

Hunk-tastic: A beguiling array of Hollywood heartthrobs were also invited to the festivities, including (from left) Zola villain Colman Domingo, Rock Of Ages sizzler Diego Boneta and Lovecraft Country sex symbol Jonathan Majors

Naomi Scott, who played Princess Jasmine in the new live-action remake of Disney's animated feature Aladdin, was swathed in white mesh over a canary yellow dress.

Fashion designer Kate Mulleavy was ravishing in red, while Better Call Saul actress Kerry Conlon made a fashion statement in a peekaboo look and Ron Howard opted for a conservative ensemble of a suit and tie.

Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung reunited at the gala with Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun, whom she co-starred with in the 2018 South Korean dramedy Keys To The Heart.

Thuso Mbedu was a showstopper in a white miniskirt with an extravagant train, Glenn Close brought a timeless shimmer to the event in a full-length black gown and Regina Hall stunned in silver and white.

Disney princess: Naomi Scott, who played Princess Jasmine in the new live-action remake of Disney's animated feature Aladdin, was swathed in white mesh over a canary yellow dress

Splendid evening: (from left) Fashion designer Kate Mulleavy was ravishing in red, while Better Call Saul actress Kerry Conlon made a fashion statement in a peekaboo look and Ron Howard opted for a conservative ensemble of a suit and tie

Together again: Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung reunited at the gala with Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun, whom she co-starred with in the 2018 South Korean dramedy Keys To The Heart

Talent: Thuso Mbedu was a showstopper in a white miniskirt with an extravagant train, Glenn Close brought a timeless shimmer to the event in a full-length black gown and Regina Hall stunned in silver and white

Christina Ricci sharpened her unmistakable features and mesmerizing eyes with expertly applied makeup as she struck a pose for the camera in a glitzy gown that tightened around her svelte torso.

Shia LaBeouf's wife Mia Goth went for a Gothic look with her combination of attire and makeup, while Booksmart star Kaitlyn Dever gave off an autumnal vibe in a brown floral outfit.

Acclaimed South Korean director Park Chan-wook, the man behind such seminal movies as Oldboy and Lady Vengeance, brought his pedigree to the soiree.

So did Ke Huy Quan, who as a child actor featured in such films as The Goonies and Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom and has now made his comeback in Everything Everywhere All At Once.

There she is: Christina Ricci sharpened her unmistakable features and mesmerizing eyes with expertly applied makeup as she struck a pose for the camera in a glitzy gown that tightened around her svelte torso

Out and about: Shia LaBeouf's wife Mia Goth (left) went for a Gothic look with her combination of attire and makeup, while Booksmart star Kaitlyn Dever (right) gave off an autumnal vibe in a brown floral outfit

Harold And Kumar alum John Cho was dashing as ever in a tuxedo, while Jeremy Scott turned up the kitsch factor in a black outfit covered in metal stars and Laura Harrier wowed in a strapless white dress.

This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown beamed at the event while modeling a suit with a throwback chic watch-chain, posing on the arm of his wife Ryan Michelle Bathe.

When it was held for the first time last September, the star-studded event managed to rake in a whopping $11 million for the new museum, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Other honorees this year include Doctor Strange star Tilda Swinton, who is being presented with the Visionary Award, which honors 'an artist or scholar whose extensive oeuvre has advanced the art of cinema.'

Acclaimed South Korean director: Park Chan-wook, the man behind such seminal movies as Oldboy and Lady Vengeance, brought his pedigree to the soiree

The Vantage Award celebrating 'an artist or scholar who has helped to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema' is going to Steve McQueen, the director of 12 Years A Slave and Shame.

Parasite producer Miky Lee, who also happens to be the vice chair of the Academy Museum board, will receive the Pillar Award in honor of her 'exemplary leadership and support for the Academy Museum.'

Oscar-winning actresses Lupita Nyong'o and Halle Berry are chairing the gala with TV impresario Ryan Murphy and successful horror producer Jason Blum.

Comeback: So did Ke Huy Quan, who as a child actor featured in such films as The Goonies and Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom and has now made his comeback in Everything Everywhere All At Once

Former TCM host Jacqueline Stewart, who was named head of the Academy Museum in July, showered praise on Julia earlier this year when it was announced she would be presented with the icon award.

'Over the course of her expansive and renowned career, Julia has embodied iconic characters and memorable roles. We are thrilled to be honoring her continued excellence in the industry and contribution to the arts,' she gushed.

'We are deeply grateful to Julia, Miky, Steve, and Tilda, to Rolex, and to our co-chairs and host committee for making our second annual Gala an evening to remember.'

Top-flight event: Harold And Kumar alum John Cho was dashing as ever in a tuxedo, while Jeremy Scott turned up the kitsch factor in a black outfit covered in metal stars and Laura Harrier wowed in a strapless white dress

The Academy Museum opened last year just four days after the first gala, igniting a storm of controversy over its political slant.

Critics slammed the museum for emphasizing the contributions of various minorities to the American film industry while all but ignoring the white Jewish immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe who played a major role in creating Hollywood.

The museum responded to the blowback by announcing this March that they will be adding a permanent exhibition highlighting the Jewish history of the movie business.
Kaia Gerber left little to the imagination as she posed up during the star-studded Academy Museum Gala, which was held at the museum's headquarters in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The supermodel offspring, 21, slipped into a moody black and deep purple mesh gown that put her bust on display.

The lower half of Kaia's daring dress gathered at the waist and clung tightly as to flatter her backside.

Sheer perfection! Kaia Gerber left little to the imagination as she posed up during the star-studded Academy Museum Gala, which was held at the museum's headquarters in Los Angeles on Saturday

The daughter of Cindy Crawford's brunette tresses cascaded down her chest and back in a glamorous curls.

To coordinate with the tones of her dress, Kaia's makeup artist blended an array of purple and black eyeshadow on her lids that created a sultry effect.

Her full eyebrows were gelled in place and her pout was drenched with a warm nude lip gloss.

She often posed with her freshly manicured hands hugging her waistline, while also turning her back to the cameras to show off every angle.

Moody in mesh: The supermodel offspring, 21, slipped into a moody black and deep purple mesh gown that put her bust on display

Kaia was captured mingling with actress pal Eiza Gonzalez, who dazzled in a strapless red sequin gown and diamond jewels.

Julia Roberts is slated to receive the first-ever Icon Award at the Academy Museum Gala, which is being held this year for only the second time.

When it was held for the first time last September, the star-studded event managed to rake in a whopping $11 million for the new museum, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Other honorees this year include Doctor Strange star Tilda Swinton, who is being presented with the Visionary Award, which honors 'an artist or scholar whose extensive oeuvre has advanced the art of cinema.'

Glam: The daughter of Cindy Crawford's brunette tresses cascaded down her chest and back in a glamorous curls

Sultry stare: To coordinate with the tones of her dress, Kaia's makeup artist blended an array of purple and black eyeshadow on her lids that created a sultry effect

Event: The Academy Museum opened last year just four days after the first gala, igniting a storm of controversy over its political slant

The Vantage Award celebrating 'an artist or scholar who has helped to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema' is going to Steve McQueen, the director of 12 Years A Slave and Shame.

Parasite producer Miky Lee, who also happens to be the vice chair of the Academy Museum board, will receive the Pillar Award in honor of her 'exemplary leadership and support for the Academy Museum.'

Oscar-winning actresses Lupita Nyong'o and Halle Berry are chairing the gala with TV impresario Ryan Murphy and successful horror producer Jason Blum.

Former TCM host Jacqueline Stewart, who was named head of the Academy Museum in July, showered praise on Julia earlier this year when it was announced she would be presented with the icon award.

'Over the course of her expansive and renowned career, Julia has embodied iconic characters and memorable roles. We are thrilled to be honoring her continued excellence in the industry and contribution to the arts,' she gushed.

Working her angles: She often posed with her freshly manicured hands hugging her waistline, while also turning her back to the cameras to show off every angle

'We are deeply grateful to Julia, Miky, Steve, and Tilda, to Rolex, and to our co-chairs and host committee for making our second annual Gala an evening to remember.'

The Academy Museum opened last year just four days after the first gala, igniting a storm of controversy over its political slant.

Critics slammed the museum for emphasizing the contributions of various minorities to the American film industry while all but ignoring the white Jewish immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe who played a major role in creating Hollywood.

The museum responded to the blowback by announcing this March that they will be adding a permanent exhibition highlighting the Jewish history of the movie business.

Selfies: Kaia was captured mingling with actress pal Eiza Gonzalez, who dazzled in a strapless red sequin gown and diamond jewels
Julia Roberts, the Pretty Woman long known as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, received the Academy Museum Gala Icon Award at the second annual Academy Museum Of Motion Pictures Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday.

George Clooney, who has starred alongside Roberts six times during their illustrious careers, and his elegant wife Amal Clooney were among the guests to attend the star-studded event.

Last year's gala managed to rake in a whopping $11 million for the museum, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Pretty Woman support: George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney were among the guests to watch Julia Roberts receive the Academy Museum Gala Icon Award during the second annual event on Saturday

Clooney, 61, made his grand arrival ahead of the ceremony decked out in a classic black three-piece suit and matching bow tie.

The longtime leading man and philanthropist also wore a white shirt, black dress shoes, while sporting a well-manicured salt-and-pepper beard and mustache.

The two-time Oscar winner seemed to bask in all the attention, just as long as his wife was by his side.

The couple, who celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary last month, struck a number of poses together for the admiring photographers who couldn't get enough of the handsome duo.

Handsome: Clooney, 61, made his grand arrival ahead of the event decked out in a classic black three-piece suit and matching bow tie

Classy: The longtime leading man and philanthropist also wore a white shirt, black dress shoes, while sporting a well-manicured beard and mustache, alongside his glamorous wife

Chic: Amal, a 44-year-old lawyer specializing in international law and human rights, was the picture of elegance in a two-tone lime green gown and matching heels

Amal, a 44-year-old lawyer specializing in international law and human rights, was the picture of elegance in a two-tone lime green gown and matching heels.

The Beirut, Lebanon native styled her dark brown tresses long and flowing down over part of her chest and the middle of her back with plenty of soft waves and curls.

Rounding out her overall look, Amal accessorized with plenty of bling, including dangling earrings, rings and a bracelet, all while she carried a silver clutch purse.

Considering they have starred together on six films, dating back to 2001, it's only fitting that the Clooneys watch Roberts accept the Icon Award in person.

Julia and George first met on the set of the popular heist caper film, Ocean's Eleven (2001), and became 'instant friends', according to the acclaimed actress during a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Elegance: The Beirut, Lebanon native styled her dark brown tresses long and flowing down over part of her chest and the middle of her back with plenty of soft waves and curls

Funnyman: The two-time Oscar winner also showed off his infectious sense of humor during the red carpet portion of the festive evening

Accessorizing: Rounding out her overall look, Amal accessorized with plenty of bling, including dangling earrings, rings and a bracelet, all while she carried a silver clutch purse

They actually played husband and wife in the Ocean's Eleven series that included the sequels Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007).

The two A-listers also starred together in the biographical spy film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) and the crime thriller film Money Monster (2016).

And now, with the release of the new romantic comedy film Ticket To Paradise (2022) on October 21, that will make six films that Clooney and Roberts have shared screen time together.

In the new movie, the duo play two divorced parents, David and Georgia Cotton, who travel to Bali after learning that their daughter, Lily, is planning to marry a man named Gede, whom she has just met. They decide to work together to sabotage the wedding to prevent Lily from making the same mistake they made 25 years ago.

Going strong: The couple just celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary last month

Center of attention: Photographers hovered around the powerhouse couple ahead of the gala

The Academy Museum honored Roberts, 54, with the Icon Award for her career as an artist who has had 'a significant global cultural impact,' according to Deadline.

'Over the course of her expansive and renowned career, Julia has embodied iconic characters and memorable roles,' said Jacqueline Stewart, Director and President of the Academy Museum. 'We are thrilled to be honoring her continued excellence in the industry and contribution to the arts.'

During the evening, Steve McQueen received the Vantage Award, which goes to 'an art or scholar who has helped to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema.'

Making a difference: As a lawyer who specializes in international law and human rights, Amal is qualified to practice law in the United States, England and Wales

Justice for all: The Clooneys are the co-founders of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which advocates for justice through accountability for human rights abuses around the world: 'We believe that justice means fighting for the rights of individuals unfairly targeted by oppressive governments through the courts'

Plus, Miky Lee was presented with the Pillar Award, for his 'exemplary leadership and support for the Academy Museum', and Tilda Swinton received the Visionary Award that goes to an 'artist or scholar whose extensive oeuvre has advanced the art of cinema.'

Roberts made her debut in film and television in 1987, and went on to become among the top leading ladies, with many of her films earning over $100 million worldwide, including six that are ranked among the highest-grossing films of their respective years.

The Georgia native earned the title of the world's highest paid actress throughout the majority of the 1990s and the first half of the 2000s.

Forever linked: Julia Roberts and George Clooney first met on the set of the popular heist caper film, Ocean's Eleven (2001), and became 'instant friends', according to the acclaimed actress on Jimmy Kimmel Live; in all, they have starred together in six films during their careers
Union minister G. Kishan Reddy said the EC would deploy central forces to ensure smooth conduct of the byelection. (Photo: DC/file photo)

HYDERABAD: Alleging that the state police officers and its staff had violated rules by blatantly supporting TRS leaders in Munugode, Union minister G. Kishan Reddy on Sunday said that they would deploy central forces to ensure smooth conduct of the byelection.

He participated in BJP's election campaigns at Munugode, Palivela and Kistapuram villages where he was welcomed with Batukammas and kolatam renditions.

Addressing the gathering in Munugode, Kishan Reddy felt that the state police have failed to provide proper security because of which they would petition the Election Commission seeking Central forces in the poll-bound constituency.

"The police officers have been biased towards the ruling party. If the BJP comes to power in Telangana, our government will take action against them," Reddy warned.

Stating that BJP had three R's  Raja Singh, M. Raghunandhan Rao and Etala Rajender  as MLAs, he said a fourth `R' would be in the form of Rajgopal Reddy. People must bless Rajgopal Reddy by electing him to help him fight against Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's corrupt administration.

"During the nine-year rule, the TRS government has completely failed in taking up people's issues in the state," he said.

The TRS leaders were involved in corrupt activities and were hand in glove with the land mafia, sand mafia and liquor mafia besides threatening the people of dire consequences, he said.

"Munugode people are aware of the unlawful activities. It is time to fight against the TRS party, which can be made possible if Munugode voters will ensure a BJP win here," Reddy said.

Tension gripped when TRS and BJP activists took out rallies in Palivela village. The Union minister participated in the rally along with hundreds of party activists.

He said that although they had permission for taking out rallies, TRS leaders were deliberately creating law and order problems. Police dispersed the mob and Kishan Reddy proceeded towards Munugode.
Jessica Chastain was among the stars to attend Saturday night's annual Academy Museum Gala, which was held at the museum's headquarters in Los Angeles.

The Academy Award-winner, 45, was a vision in a flowing white strapless gown with a vibrant floral pattern and matching floor-length cape.

Her toned legs peeked through two thigh-high slits in the show-stopping number as she strolled the red carpet.

Star-studded: Jessica Chastain was among the stars to attend Saturday night's annual Academy Museum Gala, which was held at the museum's headquarters in Los Angeles

Jessica rocked sparkling platform heels that gave her petite frame a boost.

Instead of jewelry, the Zero Dark Thirty actress debuted a metallic gold manicure.

Jessica's head of lengthy auburn hair was tucked behind one ear and cascaded down her chest in glamorous curls.

Her pout was painted a glossy mauve shade and she dusted shimmering eyeshadow across her lids.

Flirty in floral: The Academy Award-winner, 45, was a vision in a flowing white strapless gown with a vibrant floral pattern and matching floor-length cape

Leggy: Her toned legs peeked through two thigh-high slits in the show-stopping number as she strolled the red carpet

During the event, Jessica was captured posing up with her The Good Nurse co-star and fellow Academy Award-winner, Eddie Redmayne.

The Danish Girl actor looked spiffy in a fitted black suit paired with a mint green dress shirt and skinny tie.

Julia Roberts is slated to receive the first-ever Icon Award at the Academy Museum Gala, which is being held this year for only the second time.

When it was held for the first time last September, the star-studded event managed to rake in a whopping $11 million for the new museum, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Other honorees this year include Doctor Strange star Tilda Swinton, who is being presented with the Visionary Award, which honors 'an artist or scholar whose extensive oeuvre has advanced the art of cinema.'

Dazzling: Jessica rocked sparkling platform heels that gave her petite frame a boost

Stunning: Jessica's head of lengthy auburn hair was tucked behind one ear and cascaded down her chest in glamorous curls

The Vantage Award celebrating 'an artist or scholar who has helped to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema' is going to Steve McQueen, the director of 12 Years A Slave and Shame.

Parasite producer Miky Lee, who also happens to be the vice chair of the Academy Museum board, will receive the Pillar Award in honor of her 'exemplary leadership and support for the Academy Museum.'

Oscar-winning actresses Lupita Nyong'o and Halle Berry are chairing the gala with TV impresario Ryan Murphy and successful horror producer Jason Blum.

Radiant: Her pout was painted a glossy mauve shade and she dusted shimmering eyeshadow across her lids

Former TCM host Jacqueline Stewart, who was named head of the Academy Museum in July, showered praise on Julia earlier this year when it was announced she would be presented with the icon award.

'Over the course of her expansive and renowned career, Julia has embodied iconic characters and memorable roles. We are thrilled to be honoring her continued excellence in the industry and contribution to the arts,' she gushed.

'We are deeply grateful to Julia, Miky, Steve, and Tilda, to Rolex, and to our co-chairs and host committee for making our second annual Gala an evening to remember.'

Reunited: During the event, Jessica was captured posing up with her The Good Nurse co-star and fellow Academy Award-winner, Eddie Redmayne

Beaming! The duo looked handsome as they posed for shutterbugs

The Academy Museum opened last year just four days after the first gala, igniting a storm of controversy over its political slant.

Critics slammed the museum for emphasizing the contributions of various minorities to the American film industry while all but ignoring the white Jewish immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe who played a major role in creating Hollywood.

The museum responded to the blowback by announcing this March that they will be adding a permanent exhibition highlighting the Jewish history of the movie business.
Kerry Washington had all eyes on her as she hit the red carpet at the second annual Academy Museum Gala which was held in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

The Scandal star, 45, flaunted her figure in a vibrant low-cut fuchsia dress that gathered from waist to hem.

She slipped on a pair of black latex opera gloves that gave her look an added edge.

Scene stealer: Kerry Washington had all eyes on her as she hit the red carpet at the second annual Academy Museum Gala which was held in Los Angeles on Saturday night

The stunner wore her brunette hair back in a voluminous ponytail and her skin had a radiant glow.

A pair of diamond drop earrings hung down onto her shoulders and she slipped her feet into a pair of black patent leather Christian Louboutin heels.

Kerry was joined by her hunky husband Nnamdi Asomugha, 41, who looked sharp in a black suit with satin lapels.

Julia Roberts is slated to receive the first-ever Icon Award at the Academy Museum Gala, which is being held this year for only the second time.

Taking the plunge: The Scandal star, 45, flaunted her figure in a vibrant low-cut fuchsia dress that gathered from waist to hem

When it was held for the first time last September, the star-studded event managed to rake in a whopping $11 million for the new museum, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Other honorees this year include Doctor Strange star Tilda Swinton, who is being presented with the Visionary Award, which honors 'an artist or scholar whose extensive oeuvre has advanced the art of cinema.'

The Vantage Award celebrating 'an artist or scholar who has helped to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema' is going to Steve McQueen, the director of 12 Years A Slave and Shame.

Parasite producer Miky Lee, who also happens to be the vice chair of the Academy Museum board, will receive the Pillar Award in honor of her 'exemplary leadership and support for the Academy Museum.'

Edgy: She slipped on a pair of black latex opera gloves that gave her look an added edge

Oscar-winning actresses Lupita Nyong'o and Halle Berry are chairing the gala with TV impresario Ryan Murphy and successful horror producer Jason Blum.

Former TCM host Jacqueline Stewart, who was named head of the Academy Museum in July, showered praise on Julia earlier this year when it was announced she would be presented with the icon award.

'Over the course of her expansive and renowned career, Julia has embodied iconic characters and memorable roles. We are thrilled to be honoring her continued excellence in the industry and contribution to the arts,' she gushed.

Designer heels: A pair of diamond drop earrings hung down onto her shoulders and she slipped her feet into a pair of black patent leather Christian Louboutin heels

'We are deeply grateful to Julia, Miky, Steve, and Tilda, to Rolex, and to our co-chairs and host committee for making our second annual Gala an evening to remember.'

The Academy Museum opened last year just four days after the first gala, igniting a storm of controversy over its political slant.

Critics slammed the museum for emphasizing the contributions of various minorities to the American film industry while all but ignoring the white Jewish immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe who played a major role in creating Hollywood.

The museum responded to the blowback by announcing this March that they will be adding a permanent exhibition highlighting the Jewish history of the movie business.
Rebel Wilson has continued to fuel rumours that she and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma are secretly engaged.

The Australian actress arrived at the 2nd Annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday sporting a massive diamond ring.

The 42-year-old showed off her slimmed-down figure in a romantic velvet dress with lace edging.

Rebel Wilson (pictured) has continued to fuel rumours that she and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma are secretly engaged

But all eyes were on the bling on her finger, after talk that Rebel and her partner, 38, could be set to walk down the aisle.

Rebel stunned in the fitted frock, which beautifully skimmed her slender physique.

She opted for a flawless makeup look with a bright red lipstick and wore her blonde locks down around her face.

The Australian actress arrived at the 2nd Annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday sporting a massive diamond ring

The 42-year-old showed off her slimmed-down figure in a romantic velvet dress with lace edging

But all eyes were on the bling on her finger, after talk that Rebel and her partner, 38, could be set to walk down the aisle

Rebel stunned in the fitted frock, which beautifully skimmed her slender physique

The Pitch Perfect star added a pair of wedged, chunky heels to the ensemble.

Keeping her accessories minimal, she let the diamond ring do all the talking and could not wipe the smile off her face.

It comes after Rebel and Ramona sent fans into a frenzy after the actress shared a loved-up photo together wearing a diamond ring on her finger earlier on Saturday.

She opted for a flawless makeup look with a bright red lipstick

The beauty wore her blonde locks down around her face

Keeping her accessories minimal, she let the diamond ring do all the talking

Rebel could not wipe the smile off her face

'Date night at @alexisrael's 40th!' Rebel captioned the cosy picture, making no effort to hide her conspicuous sparkler.

Eagle-eyed fans immediately began speculating the couple are ready to share big news with one commenting: 'Do I spot a wedding ring?'

'Are you engaged?' asked another fan.

'You look so happy, you're glowing,' observed another.

She also posed alongside Julia Roberts (right) at the event

The stars greeted each other warmly when they spotted one another

Julia looked incredible in a black corset worn over a white blouse

In the photo a beaming Rebel showed off her slimmed-down figure in a sheer black jumpsuit.

The trendy number featured statement white cuffs and a collar and was teamed with simple black ballet pumps.

She accessorised her stylish look perfectly with a black leather handbag and wore her blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders while opting for glam makeup.

Rebel and Ramona sparked rumours they may have secretly got engaged after she was spotted wearing a diamond ring on THAT finger earlier on Saturday

'Date night at @alexisrael 's 40th!' Rebel captioned the cosy picture, making no effort to hide her conspicuous sparkler

Meanwhile Ramona looked sensational in a white shirt and sparkly gold high-waisted trousers teamed with nude heels to boost her height.

Rebel confirmed she was dating Ramona on June 9 this year.

It is the Australian star's first relationship with a woman, and her first public romance since ending her engagement to Napp's Dairy Free Ice Cream founder Jacob Busch in January 2021.

Rebel confirmed she was dating Ramona on June 9 this year. She shared a selfie of the pair, captioning the post: 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince  but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess'

Rebel first teased she was dating someone new in May before making her relationship public via Instagram in June.

She shared a selfie of the pair, captioning the post: 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince  but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess.'

The couple have been seen out and about over the last two-and-a-half months, including traveling to Europe together with several of their friends.
Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Hauer has revealed she prefers dancing with women as she feels more 'comfortable'.

The professional dancer, 40, is partnered with Comedian Jayde Adams, 37, this year in one of two same-sex couples.

Karen told The Sun it feels more 'natural' to have a female partner as there's a 'friendship' and they can put more emotion into their routines.

Opening up: Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Hauer has revealed she prefers dancing with women as she feels more 'comfortable'

Karen, who is married to fitness trainer Jordan Wyn-Jones, told the publication: 'I've danced with a lot of male dancers, but it's finding what works for them. This is more natural.

'It is female empowerment for me to be dancing with Jayde. I feel the most comfortable because there is that friendship. We are girls and we talk about everything. We cry together, we laugh together.

'We share so many things. When it comes to the dancing we are able to put that emotion into it.'

Partners: The professional dancer, 40, is partnered with Comedian Jayde Adams, 37, this year in one of two same-sex couples

Karen went on to explain that it's been an emotional week for the pair who danced the American Smooth to Wind Beneath My Wings to Bette Midler.

Comedian Jayde opened up about how it reminds her of her late sister Jenna, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 26 from an inoperable brain tumour.

Karen added: 'This week we have cried every single day. It is very emotional and special. This song is especially close to her heart and dedicated to her sister.'

Strictly Come Dancing 2022: Jayde burst into tears as she dedicated the American Smooth to her late sister Jenna and topped the leaderboard during Saturday's show - with a teary-eyed Shirley Ballas calling the comedian 'her hero'

Strictly Come Dancing's fourth live show of the series hit BBC One on Saturday evening, with the 13 couples set face the third public vote of the series.

After giving it their all on the dancefloor last week, the celebrities once again learned a new routine as things stepped up a gear in week four.

Jayde was emotional after performing the beautiful routine as she began crying after receiving 31 points out of 40.

Judge Shirley Ballas - who herself faced trolling this week after being accused of sexism by viewers - also broke down in tears as she lauded Jayde's routine, branding the comic 'her hero.'

Gorgeous: Jayde looked incredible in a pale blue maxi dress with sparkly details

In Jayde's VT, she said: 'The lyrics really resonate... she was two years older than me and she died 11 years ago. I didn't just lose a sister, I lost a best friend, a dance partner. This song in particular is very special to me and my family and I hope I can do it justice this week.'

Following the routine, a teary-eyed Shirley Ballas said: 'I feel like you're my hero. You've represented this number with everybody who's lost a loved one. I'm really emotional. I'm sure your sister would be proud of you.'

Speaking to Claudia Winkleman afterwards, Jayde burst into hysterical tears, saying: 'Something she said to my mum before she died, "Do you think people will forget me?" You just said her name on this and...

'I'm so lucky that I get to do this because so many people lose people and grief is so difficult. To be able to keep the promise that we wouldn't let people forget her is the greatest gift.'
Curtis Stone and Lindsay Price have a famously happy marriage.

And the couple looked as smitten as ever as they attended the AdoptTogether Baby Ball 2022 in Los Angeles on Friday.

The Australian chef and the American actress cuddled up close together as they posed for photos on the red carpet.

Curtis Stone and Lindsay Price have a famously happy marriage. And the couple looked as smitten as ever as they attended the AdoptTogether Baby Ball 2022 in Los Angeles on Friday. Pictured together

Lindsay, 45, looked stunning in a rainbow themed gradient dress which clung close to her figure.

She added a pair of strappy blue high heels and went light on accessories but for a glittering ring.

The star opted for a rosy makeup look with lots of blush and a pink lipstick along with winged eyeliner, while wearing her caramel locks down in waves.

The chef and the actress cuddled up close together as they posed for photos on the red carpet

Lindsay, 45, looked stunning in a rainbow themed gradient dress which clung close to her figure

Curtis, 46, opted for a cornflower blue suit with a crisp white shirt underneath along with black and white sneakers.

The celebrity chef and Beverly Hills, 90210 star met each other on a blind date in 2009 after they were set up by a mutual friend.

Following that fateful night, the pair exchanged romantic emails for several months.

She added a pair of strappy blue high heels and went light on accessories but for a glittering ring

Curtis, 46, opted for a cornflower blue suit with a crisp white shirt underneath

'I can be quite verbose,' the Secrets of the Summer House actress told The Daily Telegraph.

'I'd write paragraphs, and then get two words, these Aussie-isms, back.'

'I was worried he didn't like me! Little did I know he was trying to type with his giant thumbs,' she added.

The celebrity chef and Beverly Hills, 90210 star met each other on a blind date in 2009 after they were set up by a mutual friend

Following that fateful night, the pair exchanged romantic emails for several months

True to form, Curtis sealed the deal by making Lindsay a chilli crab on one of their first dates.

The rest they say is history, and the pair married in 2013. They later had children Hudson, 10, and Emerson, seven.

The couple are now launching a new project with Destination NSW, filming a web project for the tourism site.
Emily Ratajkowski showed off her sense of style on Saturday evening as she headed out to the Saturday Night Live after-party in New York.

The model, 31, looked gorgeous as she donned a tiger printed midi skirt, showing off her toned midriff as it sat low on her waist.

She was joined by pals as they headed to the bash, after watching the show to support pal Megan Thee Stallion - who was the guest host.

Bold: Emily Ratajkowski, 31, made a style statement on Saturday in an animal print midi skirt and torso-baring cropped shirt as she headed to the SNL after-party in New York City

Emily teamed her printed denim skirt with chocolate brown shirt, which she left undone and tied together in a centre bow.

The beauty added a pair of leather, knee-high boots to the look - slightly elevating her height with a small kitten heel.

Throwing a mini Louis Vuittion bag over her shoulder, the British-American star had her chocolate brown locks left to fall freely in a centre part, with some copper highlights showing through.

Toned: Emily teamed her printed denim skirt with chocolate brown shirt, which she left undone and tied together in a centre bow - showing off her taut stomach

Boot season: The beauty added a pair of leather, knee-high boots to the look - slightly elevating her height with a small kitten heel

Stylish: Emily walked alongside pal Ziwe Fumudoh for the night out, who looked ultra-cool in a bright yellow dungaree-style boiler suit

She opted for a pink palette of makeup, adding a flush of colour into her cheeks and nose while keeping with a glossy bronze lip.

Emily walked alongside pal Ziwe Fumudoh for the night out, who looked ultra-cool in a bright yellow dungaree-style boiler suit.

She paired the bright number with a cropped black T-shirt, as the ladies walked alongside Kat Mendenhall.

Ladies night out: They were also joined by pal Kat Mendenhall and another female friend (L-R) Emily Ratajkowski, Ziwe Fumudoh, Kat Mendenhall and a guest

Utility style: Ziwe paired her bright number with a cropped black T-shirt and chunky shoes

The trio appeared in high spirits while watching SNL earlier in the evening, with Emily posting snaps from the show to her 29.5M Instagram followers.

Sharing a snap of guest host Megan on stage to her Stories, the model wrote 'ily', before posing in the mirror with Kat and Ziwe at the show.

Megan's appearance on the comedy sketch show comes as a slew of celebs have taken on the hosting gig this series, including Miles Teller and Jack Harlow - who is set to front the show during next week's episode.

Supportive: The group headed to the bash after watching Saturday Night Live, which was hosted by Megan Thee Stallion
On Sunday night's episode of Australia's Got Talent, two acrobats left the judges stunned and saw them awarded the Golden Buzzer.

Tanzanian-based performers Ibrahim and Fadi Ramadhani, known as The Ramadhani Brothers, wowed the audience with a death-defying acrobatic act.

The judges were visibly shocked by their feats, with Kate Ritchie grabbing her face in amazement.

On Sunday night's episode of Australia's Got Talent, two acrobats left the judges stunned and saw them awarded the Golden Buzzer. Pictured: Kate Ritchie with The Ramadhani Brothers

Also thrilled, Alesha Dixon dramatically jumped on the table and danced exuberantly above the other judges.

Kate was unable to keep her excitement to herself, slamming the Golden Buzzer and pushing the acrobats through to the Semi Final.

'I can't even string a sentence together because I've never seen anything like it ever in my life,' Kate said to the pair.

Tanzanian-based performers Ibrahim and Fadi Ramadhani, known as The Ramadhani Brothers, wowed the audience with a death-defying acrobatic act

The judges were visibly shocked by their feats

Also thrilled, Alesha Dixon dramatically jumped on the table and danced exuberantly above the other judges

Kate was unable to keep her excitement to herself, slamming the Golden Buzzer and pushing the acrobats through to the Semi Final

'That was just absolutely incredible to the point I almost want to cry.'

British comedian and fellow judge David Walliams was equally impressed, lauding the brothers.

'Tonight a legend was born in this act with these two amazing performers,' he said passionately.

'I can't even string a sentence together because I've never seen anything like it ever in my life,' Kate said to the pair

'That was just absolutely incredible to the point I almost want to cry,' she said

Ibrahim, 36, and Fadi, 26, have previously said they hope to win AGT and help children in their community.

The pair are also aiming for a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive stairs climbed while balancing a person on the head.

Elsewhere in the episode, David joined 61-year-old male pole dancer Allan Reinikka on stage, stripping off and having a spin in his underwear.
Melbourne Demons AFL player Christian Petracca has announced his engagement to girlfriend Bella Beischer.

The 26-year-old shared the exciting news to Instagram on Sunday, alongside a series of photos with his fiance after proposing in Lake Como, Italy.

Christian also posted a close-up photo of Bella's stunning emerald cut diamond engagement ring.

Melbourne Demons AFL player Christian Petracca announced his engagement to girlfriend Bella Beischer on Sunday

He simply captioned the post with two emojis of a ring and a love heart.

The couple have been enjoying a romantic holiday together and visited Dubai and Paris before arriving in Italy.

Christian and Bella's romance blossomed during the pandemic after the pair met in Portsea and began seeing each other in January, 2020.

The 26-year-old shared the exciting news to Instagram on Sunday, alongside a series of photos with his fiance after proposing in Lake Como, Italy

Bella is a highly-credentialed lawyer, who Christian describes as an 'amazing support' and someone with 'great values who is ambitious and competitive'.

Christian has notched 127 games with the Melbourne Demons and is one of the club's star players.

He won the Norm Smith medal during Melbourne's historic premiership win against the Western Bulldogs last year.

Christian also posted a close-up photo of Bella's stunning emerald cut diamond engagement ring

He is signed to a seven-year contract said to be worth more than $6million.

According to the Herald Sun, the couple recently bought a house in Armadale for $5.4million.

In February, Christian and Bella also sold their stunning Kew pad for $2.89million.
Dorinda Medley is looking for new love.

The Real Housewives of New York star, 57, told Daily Mail Australia at BravoCon she is 'trying' to find romance and wouldnt rule out a hunky man from Down Under.

I am trying. I lived in Australia for a couple of months and those guys are good looking!' she said.

Dorinda Medley is looking for new love. The Real Housewives of New York star, 57, told Daily Mail Australia at BravoCon she is trying to find romance and wouldnt rule out a hunky man from Down Under

Dorinda previously enjoyed a seven year relationship with John Mahdessian, before the couple split in September 2019.

The star has been married twice, Her second marriage was to financier Dr. Richard Medley whom she wed in 2005. Their marriage lasted until 2011 when Dr. Medley tragically passed away at the age of 60.

Speaking about her Real Housewives - The Ultimate Girls Trip, Dorinda told Daily Mail Australia she had an absolute ball filming alongside the ex-wives club, including original OG stars Taylor Armstrong, Brandi Glanville, Vicki Gunvalson, Tamra Judge, Eva Marcille Medley, Phaedra Parks and Jill Zarin.

I am trying. I lived in Australia for a couple of months and those guys are good looking! she said

She said she loved watching her beloved Blue Stone Manor in The Berkshires transform into a bustling TV set.

We had a ball. I have never seen Blue Stone Manor transform like that, I think we had over a 100 people on the property at one point. I love the fact that they used all of Blue Stone manor  the inside, the outside, the grounds, the pool,' she explained.

'It just really allowed the fans to see Blue Stone In a totally different light. It made me see Blue Stone manor in a totally different light.'

Speaking about her Real Housewives spin-off, Ultimate Girls Trip, Dorinda told Daily Mail Australia she had an absolute ball filming alongside the ex-wives club, including original OG stars Taylor Armstrong, Brandi Glanville, Vicki Gunvalson, Tamra Judge, Eva Marcille Medley, Phaedra Parks and Jill Zarin

Dive in, head first, heels on, to the juiciest reality drama with every episode ever of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, streaming exclusively on Hayu in Australia, the UK and Canada

Dorinda previously enjoyed a seven year relationship with John Mahdessian, before the couple split in September 2019

Dorinda also enjoyed making new friends - bonding with Eva and Phaedra who she describes as 'her loves'.

The reality star recently returned to New York City just months after parting ways with her long-time home on the Upper East Side for nearly $2.5 million.

Speaking with DailyMail.com in July, Dorinda revealed she has snapped up a one bedroom apartment for $1.25 million in the building she had just moved out of.

'I'm back New York City! I can't believe I found my new apartment in my old building that I just moved out of,' she said.

Speaking with DailyMail.com in July, Dorinda revealed she has snapped up a one bedroom apartment for $1.25 million in the building she had just moved out of

The stunning apartment boasts 760 square feet, one bedroom, one bathroom, and a lofted area.

It contains breathtaking views of the neighborhood and an overall chic ambiance.

Medley last lived in a two bedroom unit in the exact same building for more than 20 years, and only recently parted ways with the apartment after her daughter Hannah, 28, moved out.

'The funny thing is my realtor Laurie Cooper who sold me my original apartment in this very same building 21 years ago, found this beautiful jewel box apartment in the same building. I love Laurie Cooper and I'll be forever grateful, she's the best,' Dorinda explained.

'It's a beautiful one bedroom with a loft. Just what I was looking for.'

Breathtaking: The one bedroom apartment boasts incredible views of the Upper East Side

Chic and sophisticated: The unit boasts hardwood floors, white walls, and plenty of natural sunshine

'Now I get the best of both worlds  my beloved New York City and Blue Stone Manor in The Berkshires,' she added.

'I've loved living on the Upper East Side, so this is a dream come true.

'It's smaller and easier to manage and exactly what I am looking for.'

Dive in, head first, heels on, to the juiciest reality drama with every episode ever of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, streaming exclusively on Hayu in Australia, the UK and Canada
Kate Hudson showed off several fashionable outfits during the first day of the London Film Festival on Sunday morning.

In a new Instagram video, the 43-year-old star uploaded footage of herself walking into the frame, then sitting down and walking off while changing outfits a few times.

The clip began with Hudson walking into frame in a white robe with a pair of barrettes stuck in her long blonde locks.

Chic: Kate Hudson showed off several fashionable outfits during the first day of the London Film Festival on Sunday

As she crossed her left leg over her right, the robe changed into a tight teal green dress that clung tightly to her ensemble.

She added a pair of white leather boots which ended near her knees. Her blonde locks were parted in the middle and fell in soft waves to the middle of her chest.

The Almost Famous actress cocked her head to the left, suddenly donning a light and dark blue blazer and matching skirt.

Getting ready: The clip began with Hudson walking into frame in a white robe with a pair of barrettes stuck in her long blonde locks

Preppy: The Almost Famous star cocked her head to the left, suddenly donning a light and dark blue blazer and matching skirt

Darker colors: In her final outfit, the Fool's Gold actress wore a dark blue denim jacket over a matching dress with a big gold buckle on her belt

She added a dark blue tie to the outfit as well as a white button-down shirt, stirring up images of a popular prep-school girl. Dark leggings snaked their way up her long legs.

In her final outfit, the Fool's Gold actress wore a dark blue denim jacket over a matching dress with a big gold buckle on her belt.

She captioned the video, 'London Film Festival Day 1 Morning to night[star emoji] #pressday #glassonion #london #netflix.'

Toned: The Something Borrowed star wore another outfit, a black and white patterned crop top and matching skirt which ended near her ankles, to a photocall at The Mayfair Hotel in London

Second Knives Out movie: The Los Angeles native attended the photocall for her part in the movie Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

The Something Borrowed star wore another outfit, a black and white patterned crop top and matching skirt which ended near her ankles, to a photocall at The Mayfair Hotel in London.

She added a pair of big, brown leather boots, and her lips were painted a pale pink. Hudson flashed a brilliant white smile.

The Los Angeles native attended the photocall for her part in the movie Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery stars Hudson alongside Skyfall actor Daniel Craig, Moon Knight star Ethan Hawke, Outer Banks actress Madelyn Cline and Guardians of the Galaxy actor Dave Bautista.

The movie is a sequel to the highly-popular and critically-acclaimed 2019 film Knives Out. It is set for release on November 23.
VIJAYAWADA: Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan has succeeded in grabbing the peoples attention towards his party via the Vizag incidents on Saturday, while the principal opposition Telugu Desam took the backseat.

The ruling YSR Congress held a massive rally styled as Visakha Garjana, which was a big hit despite the downpour. Meanwhile, the principal opposition, Telugu Desam, held a roundtable meeting on North Andhra developments but failed to attract much attention to it.

Pawan drew much attention by conducting an open car rally and holding the Prajavani programmes amid controversies, ruckuses and police interventions to dampen his spirits.

At another level, the Amaravati-Arasavalli padayatra was under progress for the past one month. The participants faced ire in some places along the coastal districts. The yatra would soon enter North Andhra districts. Analysts note that there are no chances of resolving the capital issue in the immediate future despite the protests from pro-Amaravati activists including farmers as also members of the Telugu Desam and all other opposition parties.

It was against this backdrop that the YSRC decided to take the cause of decentralised development to the masses, with an eye also on the next assembly polls.

While the non-political JAC played a crucial role in the establishment of Telangana state, the same strategy is now being followed by chief minister Jagan Reddy in AP. The formation of NPJAC in AP is aimed at getting support to the CM for decentralization, from political parties, organisations, unions and associations.

On the one side, the NPJAC called for a Visakha Garjana to take the cause forward. In order to counter the Garjana, the TD held a roundtable meeting in Visakhapatnam but it failed in the face of the mega rally of the YSRC.

The JS was waiting in the wings. As per schedule, Pawan who arrived in Visakhapatnam was to go to a hotel by car directly from the airport to hold a meeting with party leaders on Saturday. He was scheduled to hold the Prajavani grievances programme on Sunday.

Pawan fans in large numbers gathered around the airport, raising Pawan CM, CM slogans. The actor-turned-politician did his road show with the support of his fans in a top-open vehicle for four to five hours. This jammed the roads. Jana Sainiks, or Pawan supporters, tried to obstruct the path for state ministers and allegedly threw stones at them, damaging their cars.

By midnight, the police conducted checks in the hotel where Pawan was staying on Saturday. Cops took several JS leaders into custody for the attack on ministers. The arrests angered Pawan and he decided to stay on in Vizag till the unconditional release of all the arrested Jana Sena leaders. This, despite Pawan receiving the 41A notice from the police.

Notably, the high-pitched programmes of the Jana Sena gained much public attention while the TD failed to make a mark. All attention from the public went towards Pawan on Saturday and Sunday.

Some political analysts say actor Pawan is maturing as a leader by using the circumstances in his favour and attracting the masses. Pawan is a Crowd Puller and he showed his strength through the Vizag offensive. The TD, which first showed an interest to have a poll alliance with the JS, later changed its decision.

Pawan, by his actions in the past two days, sent out a warning to the TD and other political parties against underestimating the Jana Sena and his popularity.
Ryan Thomas has been pictured 'cuddling and nuzzling' the neck of EastEnders star Zaraah Abrahams.

The former Coronation Street actor, 38, could be seen embracing the married 35-year-old actress, with whom he is close friends, in images taken at Thursday's National Television Awards after-party.

Ryan, who has two children with his fiancee Lucy Mecklenburgh, starred alongside Zaraah in the ITV soap when she was a member of the cast between 2005 and 2007.

Oops! Ryan Thomas (pictured on Thursday) has been pictured 'cuddling and nuzzling' the neck of EastEnders star Zaraah Abrahams, who is allegedly married although it is unclear who to

An onlooker claimed the pair - who played Jason Grimshaw and Joanne Jackson on Corrie - got on 'like a house on fire' as they caught up at the swanky event.

They told The Sun: 'Ryan was inviting Zaraah to come to his house with her family. They were laughing together, and he was looking at something on her phone.

'Then he pulled her in for an affectionate cuddle. The drinks had been flowing all night, and he was obviously caught up in the moment.

Oh dear: The former Coronation Street actor, 38, could be seen embracing the 35-year-old in images taken at Thursday's National Television Awards after-party

Eek! An onlooker claimed the pair - who played Jason Grimshaw and Joanne Jackson on Corrie - got on 'like a house on fire' as they caught up at the swanky event

'Afterwards they were laughing together again. It was clear they had known each other for some time, as Ryan was heard telling her, "You know me so well." He then went on to tell her, "You know what I'm like." It was all very playful.'

Zaraah's spokesperson told The Sun: 'Zaraah and Ryan have been good mates for over 20 years and were just catching up as they haven't seen each other for quite some time. It's nothing more than that.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ryan and Zaraah for further comment.

Old pals: Ryan, who has two children with his fiancee Lucy Mecklenburgh , starred alongside Zaraah (pictured) in the ITV soap when she was a member of the cast between 2005 and 2007

Ryan and his fiance Lucy broke their social media silence on Sunday after the story broke.

He took to Instagram to share a gym snap of himself and a pal at the F45 gym in Stratford.

Meanwhile Lucy, who didn't attend the awards bash, shared a clip of herself, Ryan and their children out for a leisurely stroll before enjoying a family lunch during their outing.

Couple: Ryan has two children with his fiancee Lucy of TOWIE fame

Lucy, who shares children Lilah and Roman with Ryan, also posted sweet snaps of her baby giggling and then of herself breastfeeding in the middle of the night.

The pair are proud parents to son Roman, two, and daughter Lilah, four months.

Ryan is also father to daughter Scarlett, 13, from his relationship with former Coronation Street co-star Tina O'Brien, 39.

Roman was hospitalised earlier this month during a family break in Carlisle.

The actor shared a photo of the toddler in an A&E cot, telling his Instagram followers that they had 'unfortunately been in this situation many times before'.

Brushing off the drama: Ryan and his Lucy broke their social media silence after the story broke on Sunday

Last month, Lucy was in hospital with the couple's eldest child as he battled a virus.

Ryan shared a black and white photo of Roman resting in his hospital cot, writing: 'Me and my little man have unfortunately been in this situation many times before.

'But this weekend we spent 24 hours in hospital away from home - but wanted to say a massive thank you to all the doctors and nurses at The Cumberland Infirmary for the hard work and dedication in making sure we get the best care possible.

'Me and my boy are home safe because of you. We are truly grateful.'
Georgia Toffolo dressed to impress as she headed out for a night out at the Chiltern Firehouse in London on Saturday evening.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 27, looked incredible in a backless black mini dress which she teamed with sheer tights.

The beauty elevated her frame in a pair of towering matching heels and carried her belongings in a stylish crossbody bag.

Stunning: Georgia Toffolo dressed to impress in a backless black mini dress and sheer tights as she headed out to the Chiltern Firehouse in London on Saturday evening

Georgia stunned in a glamorous palette of makeup and styled her long blond tresses in a chic half up do leaving her bangs to frame her face.

The reality star seemed in high spirits as she made her way from her car into the lavish restaurant.

The outing comes after Georgia is tipped to be among the stars to have signed up for the upcoming I'm A Celebrity All Stars series.

Looking good: The former Made In Chelsea star, 27, looked incredible as she elevated her frame in a pair of towering heels and carried her belongings in a stylish crossbody bag

She will reportedly be joined by Joe Swash, Myleene Klass, Gillian McKeith, Phil Tufnell, Amir Khan, Paul Burrell, Jordan Banjo, Andrew Whyment, Dean Gaffney and Shaun Ryder with Janice Dickinson and Fatima Whitbread completing the line-up.

The new spin-off series is set to hit TV screens in 2023 and will see fan favourites battle it out in the jungle once more, with presenters Ant and Dec having confirmed that they are currently filming in South Africa.

According to The Sun, viewers will see a group of 15 soap stars, reality TV personalities and sporting icons enter the camp.

Georgia was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2017 and has allegedly flown to South Africa to begin filming.

The reality TV star was famed for striking up a firm friendship with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's dad, Stanley during her stint Down Under.

Toff did coyly confess she had a soft spot for older politicians, saying: 'I have always said I do have a thing for older politicians before I came in here... and can confirm that is still standing!'
Kate Winslet got stuck into character on Sunday while filming her new movie Lee, for the second time after being hospitalised due to a leg injury on set last week.

The actress, 47, was clad in a 1940s US military costume for the filming, featuring a khaki jumpsuit with a thick belt and lighter green calf chaps as she took on the role of Lee Miller, a model who became a photographer in the Second World War.

She seemed to be back to full health as she got firmly into work mode for the filming - which is taking place in Budapest - after a shoot in the village of Kupari, Croatia.

In-character: Kate Winslet got stuck into character on Sunday while filming her new movie Lee, after being hospitalised due to a leg injury on set last week

The historical biopic chronicles the life of Vogue model turned World War II correspondent Lee Miller, who Kate portrays as she stars alongside actors including Jude Law and Marion Cotillard.

Lee famously posed for a photograph in Adolf Hitler's bathtub in his Munich apartment and became the official war photographer for Vogue, documenting the Blitz and recording the Siege of the heavily fortified city of St Malo.

After returning to the UK post-war, Lee buried the record of her wartime work in boxes in the attic of her Sussex home and her photographs were not discovered until they were found after her death by her son.

Busy bee: The actress, 47, was clad in a 1940s US military costume for the filming, featuring a khaki jumpsuit with a thick belt and lighter green calf chaps as she took on the role of Lee Miller, a model who became a photographer in the Second World War

Talented: She seemed to be back to full health as she got firmly into work mode for the filming - which is taking place in Budapest - after a shoot in the village of Kupari, Croatia

Exciting: The historical biopic chronicles the life of Vogue model turned World War II correspondent Lee Miller, who Kate portrays as she stars alongside actors including Jude Law and Marion Cotillard

She appeared to has made a full recovery from her recent on-set injury, which saw her rushed to Dubrovnik hospital after slipping during filming.

Photos obtained by the Croatian press showed the star arriving at the city's hospital in a black van while accompanied by a number of people.

Kate was checked by medics following the trip and was given the all-clear to head home.

A representative for the screen star told MailOnline: 'Kate slipped and was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure required by the production.

'She is fine and will be filming, as planned, this week.'

Hidden past: Lee (Pictured with Frederick Laws in 1950) buried the record of her remarkable life in boxes in the attic of her Sussex home - and they were not found until after her death by her son

Kate was announced as the star of a new biopic about Vogue cover model-turned-war correspondent Lee Miller in 2020.

The film, called Lee, will follow the life and experiences of the photojournalist as she travels to the frontline of World War II and tries to expose the horrific truths of the Nazis.

Throughout her journey, she then comes to realise the truths of her own past - after she was a victim of rape when she was just seven years old.

In 1914, Lee had been sent to stay with family friends near New York while her mother, Florence, was ill in hospital. While there, she was raped and infected with gonorrhoea - apparently by a male friend or relative of the family she was staying with.

Later in her life, the New York fashion photographer went from appearing in American Vogue to witnessing first hand the horrors of Nazi Germany - becoming one of the most important photographers to record the 20th century.

Accident: The actress, who plays legendary American photojournalist Lee Miller (pictured) in the flick, was filming in the village of Kupari when she lost her footing

One of only two women combat photographers during World War II, she was also one of the few female correspondents who ventured into the liberated concentration camps.

WHO WAS PHOTOJOURNALIST LEE MILLER? Lee Miller went from appearing in American Vogue to witnessing first hand the horrors of Nazi Germany - becoming one of the most important photographers to record the 20th century. Her talents were first put on full display in American Vogue during the 1920s when she became one of the country's most sough-after models. Before the Second World War, she worked as a 20s cover girl and worked with surrealist artists in Europe before she embarked on a photojournalism career. In 1929, when her modelling career hit controversy when her image was used in a menstrual pad advert, Miller went to Paris with the intention of apprenticing herself to the surrealist artist and photographer Man Ray. She honed her skills under the guidance of the great photographers of her day, including Man Ray, her became her lover during the early 1930s. She felt that photography was 'ideally suited to women as a profession, for it seems to me that women are quicker and more adaptable than men. And I think they have an intuition that helps them understand personalities more quickly than men'. After a stint living in Cairo, she returned to Paris, where she met the British surrealist painter and curator Roland Penrose, who would go on to teach the use of camouflage on the Second World War. Living in Hampstead, north London with Penrose when the bombing of the city began, Miller decided to embark on a new career in photojournalism as the official war photographer for Vogue, documenting the Blitz. Her work would later take her across the whole of Europe, working for the Allied forces and teaming up with fellow American photographer David E. Scherman, a correspondent for Life magazine. One of only two women combat photographers during World War II, she was also one of the few female correspondents who ventured into the liberated concentration camps. Her collection includes incredible photos she took documenting the end of the war, traveled to France less than a month after D-Day and to record the Siege of the heavily fortified city of St. Malo. She also witnessed the liberation of Paris, the Battle of Alsace, and the horrors of the first soldiers arriving at Nazi concentration camps at Buchenwald and Dachau. And while visiting Germany, David Scherman took a photograph of Miller lying in the bathtub of Adolf Hitler's apartment in Munich, with its shower hose looped in the center behind her head, resembling a noose. The images became one of the most iconic of their partnership, and showed off her infamous modelling skills. It is believed Miller had kept the address of Hitler's apartment in her pocket 'for years', hoping to be one of the first to arrive during the invasion. After taking the bathtub picture, Miller took a bath in the tub and slept in Hitler's bed. After returning to the UK, Miller buried the record of her remarkable life in boxes in the attic of her Sussex home - and they were not found until after her death by her son, who was able to chronicle her achievements, according to the BBC. She spent the later years of her life in England and died there in 1977, aged 70. Advertisement

Before the Second World War, she worked as a 20s cover girl and worked with surrealist artists in Europe before she embarked on a photojournalism career.

She felt that photography was 'ideally suited to women as a profession, for it seems to me that women are quicker and more adaptable than men. And I think they have an intuition that helps them understand personalities more quickly than men'.

In 1937, Picasso painted six portraits of Lee, including one in which she had a third eye.

After a stint living in Cairo, she returned to Paris, where she met the British surrealist painter and curator Roland Penrose, who would go on to teach the use of camouflage on the Second World War.

Living in Hampstead, north London with Penrose when the bombing of the city began, Miller decided to embark on a new career in photojournalism as the official war photographer for Vogue, documenting the Blitz.

Her work would later take her across the whole of Europe, working for the Allied forces and teaming up with fellow American photographer David E. Scherman, a correspondent for Life magazine.

Her collection includes incredible photos she took documenting the end of the war, traveled to France less than a month after D-Day and to record the Siege of the heavily fortified city of St. Malo.

She also witnessed the liberation of Paris, the Battle of Alsace, and the horrors of the first soldiers arriving at Nazi concentration camps at Buchenwald and Dachau.

And while visiting Germany, David Scherman took a photograph of Miller lying in the bathtub of Adolf Hitler's apartment in Munich, with its shower hose looped in the center behind her head, resembling a noose.

The images became one of the most iconic of their partnership, and showed off her infamous modelling skills.

It is believed Miller had kept the address of Hitler's apartment in her pocket 'for years', hoping to be one of the first to arrive during the invasion. After taking the bathtub picture, Miller took a bath in the tub and slept in Hitler's bed.

Just hours before the iconic image of herself in Hitler's bathroom, she had captured the horrors at Dachau.

Shortly after D-Day, she broke a rule against female correspondents going anywhere near the frontline, and followed Allied soldiers as they made their final assault on the Germans in the French town of St Malo - which saw her briefly arrested by the US Army.

After returning to the UK, Miller buried the record of her remarkable life in boxes in the attic of her Sussex home and rarely spoke about the war with her husband Roland or her son Antony Penrose.

The records of her wartime photographs were not found until after her death by her son Antony, who was able to chronicle her achievements and write a biography of his mother's life.

Lee spent the later years of her life in England and died there in 1977, aged 70.

The film will be directed by Ellen Kuras, who was the cinematographer of Kates 2004 hit film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which also starred Jim Carrey.

It is adapted from the book The Lives of Lee Miller, written by Lee's son, Antony Penrose.

Oscar-winning actress Kate, who is also producing the film, previously said of her role: 'A woman I admire tremendously and whom I am so thrilled to be playing in this film. An extreme lover, thinker, life liver, cook, Vogue cover girl, war correspondent, icon, mother.'

Kate was fighting fit as she shot underwater scenes for her new role in the upcoming Avatar movie earlier this month.

The role involves her getting back in the water tank to shoot underwater scenes - after previously ending up with hypothermia.

Kate, who is best known for portraying Rose in Titanic, spent months in the water while filming the emotional 1997 movie and was left ill because of it.

But that hasn't stopped the star from positively thriving in her new role in the Avatar sequel The Way Of Water.

The Oscar-winning actress plays Ronal - one of the underwater beings closely related to the Na'vi.

Producer Jon Landau was in London on Wednesday to screen some footage and (very gently) start to beat the drums to promote his new sci-fi blockbuster.

He told Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff: 'Kate broke a free-diving record among the cast. It was six minutes 50-something  but for Kate we agreed to call it seven. She was phenomenal.'

Kate was apparently particularly delighted to beat Tom Cruise, who famously performs his own stunts and managed a six-minute free dive while making Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation in 2015.

Young actress Bailey Bass who plays Ronal's daughter Tsireya in The Way Of Water, said: 'Kate holds the record  she set it during training. I managed six minutes and 30 seconds.'

All the cast went through dive training to prepare for the picture which is set over a decade after the events of the first film.
Jayde Adams took to Instagram on Sunday to share the last photo with her sister Jenna, who died in 2011 aged 26 from an inoperable brain tumour.

The comedian, 37, dedicated her dance on Saturday's show to her beloved sibling, admitted that she would grieve the loss for the rest of her life.

Jayde also poignantly shared pictures of the pair as they danced together in their teens as well as a shot of a young Jenna beaming for the camera.

Memories: Jayde Adams (left) took to Instagram on Sunday to share the last photo with her sister Jenna (right) who died in 2011 aged 26 from an inoperable brain tumour

She penned: 'Last picture we ever had together. Her love for me was so strong, Ill never ever feel unloved in my life'.

'I will grieve my loss for her for the rest of my life, it is the most important thing that has ever happened and I am beyond grateful to be able to channel my grief through creativity, thank you @bbcstrictly @karenhauer'.

'This is Jenna Adams everyone, she will never be forgotten. And yes she would be so proud of me, astounded @claudiawinkle said her name and very jealous Im on Strictly, we loved this show together'.

Tears: The comedian (left) dedicated her dance on Saturday's show to her beloved sibling, admitted that she would grieve the loss for the rest of her life

Dancing queens: Jayde (left) who scored an impressive 31 points for the performance, also poignantly shared pictures of the pair as they danced together in their teens saying knew her sister would be 'so proud' of her (Pictured with the late Jenna)

Strictly host Claudia Winkleman commented three love heart emoji's beneath the post.

During Saturday's show Jayde spoke about the lyrics to Bette Middler's Wind Beneath My Wings which was chosen for their spectacular routine.

She said: 'The lyrics really resonate... she was two years older than me and she died 11 years ago. I didn't just lose a sister, I lost a best friend, a dance partner. This song in particular is very special to me and my family and I hope I can do it justice this week.'

Sweet: Another image featured the late Jenna as a youngster as she beamed sweetly for the camera

Emotion: She penned: 'Last picture we ever had together. Her love for me was so strong, Ill never ever feel unloved in my life'

Following the routine, a teary-eyed Shirley Ballas said: 'I feel like you're my hero. You've represented this number with everybody who's lost a loved one. I'm really emotional. I'm sure your sister would be proud of you.'

Speaking to Claudia afterwards, Jayde burst into hysterical tears, saying: 'Something she said to my mum before she died, "Do you think people will forget me?" You just said her name on this and...

'I'm so lucky that I get to do this because so many people lose people and grief is so difficult. To be able to keep the promise that we wouldn't let people forget her is the greatest gift.'

Gorgeous: Jayde looked incredible in a pale blue maxi dress with sparkly details as she took to the floor

Emotional: She scored an impressive 31 points for the performance and also poignantly shared pictures of the pair as they danced together in their teens saying she knew her sister would be 'so proud' of her

It comes after professional Karen revealed she prefers dancing with women as she feels more 'comfortable'.

The dancer, 40, and Jade are are just one of two same-sex couples in this year's competition.

Karen told The Sun it feels more 'natural' to have a female partner as there's a 'friendship' and they can put more emotion into their routines.

Emotional: Following Jayde's routine, a teary-eyed Shirley Ballas said: 'I feel like you're my hero. You've represented this number with everybody who's lost a loved one. I'm really emotional. I'm sure your sister would be proud of you'

Karen, who is married to fitness trainer Jordan Wyn-Jones, told the publication: 'I've danced with a lot of male dancers, but it's finding what works for them. This is more natural

'It is female empowerment for me to be dancing with Jayde. I feel the most comfortable because there is that friendship. We are girls and we talk about everything. We cry together, we laugh together.

'We share so many things. When it comes to the dancing we are able to put that emotion into it.'
Emily Blunt showcased her elegant sense of style on Sunday, as she attended the premiere for her new series The English, at Cannes Mipcom.

The actress, 39, looked incredible in a black jacket, embroidered with intricate black beading with silver gems encrusted around the hems.

She paired the sparkling jacket with a black maxi skirt that flowed to the floor and trailed behind her.

Statuesque: Emily Blunt showcased her elegant sense of style on Sunday, as she attended the premiere for her new series The English, at Cannes Mipcom

The Devil Wears Prada star added a few extra inches to her frame with a pair of black pointed high heels.

Emily wore several silver rings and a pair of eye-catching diamond earrings for an added touch of sparkle.

Her short blonde tresses were left down, styled in neat waves and tucked behind her ears.

Dazzling: The actress, 39, looked incredible in a black jacket, embroidered with intricate black beading with silver gems encrusted around the hems

Sensational: She paired the sparkling jacket with a black maxi skirt that flowed to the floor and trailed behind her

Making her mark: She readied herself to take part in the handprint ceremony, where she had to make an imprint of her hands in a piece of soft clay

She completed her glamorous look with a light palette of makeup to accentuate her natural beauty.

She readied herself to take part in the handprint ceremony, where she had to make an imprint of her hands in a piece of soft clay.

Emily, who plays Cornelia Locke in the series, was joined by actor Chaske Spencer, 47, who takes on the role of Eli Whipp.

He wore a pale grey shirt and a matching blazer over the top of a pair of dark grey trousers and black shiny shoes.

Co-stars: Emily, who plays Cornelia Locke in the series, was joined by actor Chaske Spencer, 47, who takes on the role of Eli Whipp

50 shades of grey: He wore a pale grey shirt and a matching blazer over the top of a pair of dark grey trousers and black shiny shoes

Television series The English, which will air on BBC in the UK and Prime Video in the US, was written and directed by award-winning Hugo Blick, who also wrote Amazon's spy thriller The Honourable Woman.

Emily plays a lady thrown into the wild landscape of mid-America in the late 19th Century, who joins forces with an ex-cavalry scout to reach the new town of Hoxem, all the while embroiled in a tale of love and revenge.

Uppity Victorian Lady Cornelia Locke ,who is a fish out of the water in the rough American West, encounters terrifying obstacles to reach her destination.

The English will premiere on 11 November on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on Prime Video in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Kate Hudson sent temperatures soaring upon her arrival at the BFI London Film Festival closing night gala for her new film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery on Sunday evening.

The braless actress, 43, flashed her sideboob in a plunging brown maxi dress while wearing a faux fur shawl across her shoulders.

Meanwhile her dapper fiance Danny Fujikawa put on a suave display in a black suit and bow-tie as they walked the red carpet at The Royal Festival Hall.

Hot stuff: Kate Hudson sent temperatures soaring upon her arrival at the BFI London Film Festival closing night gala for her new film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Goldie Hawn's daughter portrays character Birdie Jay in the new murder mystery.

It centres on the story of tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) inviting his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island - with one turning up dead.

In a similar fashion to the first Knives out, detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) shows up to investigate the murder.

The forthcoming release stars a slew of other big names, many of which were also at the photocall and press conference, held at the capital's five-star May Fair hotel.

Couple: Joined by her dapper fiance Danny Fujikawa, the musician put on a suave display in a black suit and bow-tie as they walked the red carpet at The Royal Festival Hall

Out of this world: The braless actress, 43, flashed her sideboob in a plunging brown maxi dress while wearing a faux fur shawl off her shoulders on Sunday

Wowzers: Kate ensured to send pulses racing as she strutted down the red carpet

Kate and Danny, who share daughter Rani Rose, five, knew each other for 15 years before they started dating, because he is the stepbrother of her best friends Sara and Erin Foster.

They were first spotted together in 2017; they welcomed Rani in 2018 and got engaged in September 2021.

Kate and Danny met in 2002 when she was 23 years old - but began dating him at age 37 in December 2016.

Two weeks after Rani was born in 2018, Erin took to Instagram to share a sweet story about the newborn's name as well as Kate and Danny's love story.

Talented: Goldie Hawn's daughter portrays character Birdie Jay in the new murder mystery

Star-studded: In a similar fashion to the first Knives out, detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) shows up to investigate the murder

Coming soon: The forthcoming release stars a slew of other big names, many of which were also at the photocall and press conference, held at the capital's five-star May Fair hotel

Show-stopping: Kate put on a busty display for onlookers

Posing: She smouldered up a storm for photographers

She wrote: 'When I was 19 my mom started dating a man named Ron. He came into our lives and made my mom happy for the first time in a very long time. He became a staple of unconditional love in my life that I needed.'

Erin continued: 'His 3 sons became family to us. Meanwhile, Sara's best friend from high school, Kate, was a part of our family over the 11 years they were together. Ron got sick and passed away 5 years ago and Kate was there everyday supporting us.'

Adding: 'Then one night out of the blue Kate looked at one of Ron's sons differently. They fell in love and now have a daughter named after Ronnie, who brought them together. She helps it all make sense now. Rani Rose Fujikawa.'

Glass Onion will play in major US theater chains for one week only, from November 2329, and UK cinemas on November 25, before premiering on Netflix on December 23.
Noomi Rapace wowed onlookers as she attended the red carpet for Django - The Series during the 17th Rome Film Festival on Sunday.

The actress, 42, flashed her toned legs in a ruffled white blazer minidress with multiple tiers and a train, while elevating her height with thigh-high black boots.

Commanding attention at the Auditorium Parco Della Musica, she accessorised her look with a sparkly silver necklace and coordinating earrings.

Gorgeous: Noomi Rapace wowed onlookers as she attended the red carpet for Django - The Series during the 17th Rome Film Festival on Sunday

The highly-anticipated series will be released in 2023 exclusively on Sky and streaming service NOW, as well as Canal+.

A 10-parter, it will star Noomi as Elizabeth Thurman, the powerful and ruthless enemy of John Ellis, played by Nicholas Pinnock, the 'visionary founder' of New Babylon.

Matthias Schoenaerts will play as the titular character while Lisa Vicari portrays Django's daughter Sarah and Tom Austen is cowboy Eljiah Turner.

Stunning: Commanding attention at the Auditorium Parco Della Musica, she accessorised her look with a sparkly silver necklace and coordinating earrings

Hot stuff: The actress, 42, flashed her toned legs in a ruffled white blazer minidress with multiple tiers and a train, while elevating her height with thigh-high black boots

Exciting: The highly-anticipated series will be released in 2023 exclusively on Sky and streaming service NOW, as well as Canal+

Jyuddah James, Benny O. Arthur and Eric Kole play John Elliss children.

Its IMDb description reads: 'Follows Django, a gunslinger in the Wild West who is searching for his daughter who he believes escaped the murder of his family eight years ago.'

Noomi shot to fame as Lisbeth Salander in the first screen adapatation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

But the actress recently explained how she's desperate to move on from the 'bada**' reputation that trilogy of films and subsequent projects foisted on her.

Cast: A 10-parter, it will star Noomi as Elizabeth Thurman, the powerful and ruthless enemy of John Ellis, played by Nicholas Pinnock, the 'visionary founder' of New Babylon

Wow! Noomi caused onlookers to gasp as she sizzled up a storm

Having fun: The Swedish star appeared to be in high spirits as she worked her stuff

Speaking to The Guardian, the Swedish star admitted the 2009 film and its sequels had a lasting impact over the following decade.

Noomi starred in the Swedish-produced film adaptations of Larsson's books, earning herself a string of major award nominations and a new international career.

She went on to star in major movies, including her first English-speaking role in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (2011) and Ridley Scott's blockbuster hit Prometheus (2012).

Stunner: She accentuated her natural beauty with a full face of flawlessly-applied make-up

Woah! Noomi wore her raven tresses in a sleek updo

Reflecting on that stage in her career, Noomi tells the Guardian that playing Lisbeth Salander gave her 'an identity' she struggled to shake off.

'I don't want to be the bada**,' she explained. 'I even hate the word. People are always pitching things to me, "She's so bada**, she's so you." I'm like  ' [putting her head in her hands].

'Making those films was like drowning in trauma. It meant that the first connective tissue between me and the world was pain for many years.'

'Pain and sadness was like my identity card. Now I've healed a lot. Maybe I'm not lighter but I would say I allow more colours in me. I feel looser. The veneer, the shield I'd built up since childhood, is slowly peeling off. I'm alive now rather than surviving.'

The interview sees the actress recalling examples of her own 'stupid and nerdy' personality, telling the publication about the time she took colleagues to a cross-dressing club night.

'I put them in wigs and long dresses, and I was a full-blown man. I was wearing this dildo, this big strap-on, and I was walking round like a man the whole night. I loved it!'
Sofia Richie showed off her chic fashion sense in a newly shared photo from her Parisian bachelorette celebration.

The Nudestix beauty director, 24, donned a red and black two-toned blazer mini dress from Yves Saint Laurent.

She also shared a slew of photos with mom Diane Alexander and sister Nicole Richie, 41, as she prepares to marry fiance Elliot Grainge.

Stunner: Sofia Richie showed off her fashion sense in a newly shared photo from her Parisian bachelorette celebration

Sophia, who previously dated Scott Disick, looked typically gorgeous in her color blocked ensemble.

She didn't post a caption, but still collected tens of thousands of likes from her following of 7.8 million.

Among the many comments praising Sofia for her sleek style was a drop-in from Paris Hilton, who left a heart-eye emoji.

She teamed the dress with sheer black tights and classic, pointed-toe black pumps.

Outtakes: She shared a slew of photos with mom Diane Alexander and sister Nicole Richie as she prepares to marry fiance Elliot Grainge

In a separate post the soon-to-be Mrs. Grainge stepped outdoors to enjoy the city's iconic Eiffel Tower.

Despite the cloudy weather, the blonde beauty looked happy to spend time with her family and friends.

In a carousel of images she posed cheek-to-cheek with her mom, who was formerly married to her dad, the legendary Lionel Richie.

Both mother and daughter beamed with glowy, clear complexions as they took a selfie together.

Matching: Sofia and Nicole matched each other's style in black Ray Ban sunglasses

Nicole, who married Joel Madden in 2010, wore a plush white peacoat in the photos, along with black Ray Ban sunglasses.

Sofia followed her big sister's lead, matching her in a pair of dark sunglasses of her own.

She wore a long, black coat and let her lengthy blonde locks fall over her shoulders in a textured wave.

For the festivities Richie and her group of gal pals each had large cutouts of Elliot's face, with the entrepreneur wearing his signature black-framed eyeglasses.

Festive: Nicole wore a life-size cutout of Elliot's head, complete with his signature black eyeglasses

Dreamy: Richie and her group of gal pals posed in front of the legendary Eiffel Tower

For her caption, Richie wrote her future initials, SRG, along with an emoji of a blonde bride.

And her bridal party enjoyed a meal at Matsuhisa Paris, where their tables was decorated with white and soft silver balloons.

One of them had 'Mrs.' embellished on it in sparkly gold font, moving Sofia to write, 'Omg, thank you @matsuhisaparis.'

Excited: For her caption, Richie wrote her future initials, SRG, along with an emoji of a blonde bride.

Days earlier the socialite shared images to Instagram with Nicole and close pal Tess Kemper as they wore cheeky headbands with stuffed penises on top.

'We have a theme,' Sofia cleverly captioned the post, referencing the headgear.

'Ready for the best week with my people,' she wrote in another caption.

The influencer was in a luxe room that had a crystal chandelier and gilded moldings, as well as a fireplace and mirrored doors.

On the mantle was a framed photo of Elliot and Sofia kissing next to pink roses shaped in their initials.

Sofia and Elliot became engaged on April 19.

His father is Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, who's worked with acts like Elton John and Katy Perry.
Fiction will be alive and kicking as long as we  and our imaginations  are alive. I think its people who are in the book business who need to check their pulses.  Representational Image/DC

Havent you heard? The novel is dead. At least, thats what youd believe if you read its recent obituary in a reputed journal, where it was given a quick and comprehensive burial by the people who matter in Indian publishing.

In the article, a well-regarded editor and publisher who has worked with some of the top publishing houses in India had this to say with regard to the Indian novels demise: Today, people want to read non-fiction because they think, I should be talking intellectually. This phenomenon of social show-offism is the malady that has hurt fiction. Everybody is arguing about their idea of India today  at dinner tables, parties, social media, literature fests. Non-fiction gives them the fodder for this head-butt over ideas.

In other words, people who tweet, attend parties and literature festivals are not reading novels. So why publish them. Because thats who the novel was always published for: the show-offs.

Fiction is in a dismal state, said a well-known literary agent. Publishing houses are cutting it down, and theres little machinery to support its growth.

While the agencys website highlights the prestigious books by award-winning writers on their roster, I urge the reader to check the majority of that bloated list. It may prove the accuracy of his first claim, the dismal state of Indian fiction, quite comprehensively.

There are many people saying many things about the rotting corpse of the Indian novel in the article I reference, but for the purpose of this piece, the quotes above suffice.

That the so-called gatekeepers of this industry, the editor/publisher and the literary agent, attribute the demise of Indian fiction to, one, the show-offs not wanting to read novels and, two, publishing houses cutting down on their fiction lists because it isnt selling, makes it sound like it is all poor, despondent fictions fault. And if the Indian novel decides to jump off a cliff, what can they, helpless chaps, really do? That, too, without leaving a suicide note, which, being non-fiction, would have sold, dammit.

Well, since the writer of the previous piece didnt ask these questions, I take it upon myself, as both fiction writer, and non-show-offy reader of novels, to ask the publishers, literary agents and editors, among others, the following.

If no one is buying fiction, could it be because of the mountainous pile of garbage that has been published in the name of fiction in the last decade? And could this glut of unreadable sub-pulp have happened, say, because not enough time or effort was invested by the editors in the most important part of their job: finding and nurturing actual talent? And could that be because these lovely folk, when not publishing works by their coterie, were busy on social media praising each other, attending lit fests, and handing over the job of commissioning/talent-scouting to so-called literary agents?

Could it also have something to do with publishers/editors taking the lazy route of giving so much money to big-name writers (whose books have since bombed) that the money set aside for real writers became laughable? And did that, in turn, lead to the old adage If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys coming true? What about the shameless and relentless pursuit of Bollywood personalities? Didnt sinking crores into disingenuous memoirs by actors and actresses drain the resources of publishing houses? And didnt the cumulative effect of irredeemably humungous advances  to jaded big-names and Bollywood dilettantes  also contribute somewhat to publishing houses downing their shutters overnight? Do you think the same talent pool, with the same blunted consciences and worn-out ideas, playing musical chairs for the high positions in publishing has had an effect on Indian fiction?

Did these back-scratching cliques (with some families even having turned it into a cottage industry with nary a thought about conflict-of-interest) contribute in any way to killing the novel and its writer?

I leave the epitaph-writers of the novel with this passage by Neil Gaiman:

My cousin Helen, who is in her 90s now, was in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. She and a bunch of the girls in the ghetto had to do sewing each day. And if you were found with a book, it was an automatic death penalty. She had gotten hold of a copy of Gone With the Wind, and she would take three or four hours out of her sleeping time each night to read. And then, during the hour or so when they were sewing the next day, she would tell them all the story. These girls were risking certain death for a story. And when she told me that story herself, it actually made what I do feel more important. Because giving people stories is not a luxury. Its actually one of the things that you live and die for.

Your job, dear editors, publishers and literary agents, isnt to produce only what you think the public wants. As dictated by your all-knowing sales team. It is to invest some time, money, effort and love into publishing what the world needs, too. As understood by your heart and conscience.

In sum, I dont think its the novel or fiction thats dead. Far from it. Fiction will be alive and kicking as long as we  and our imaginations  are alive. I think its people who are in the book business who need to check their pulses.
Typically, a film cannot be split into two halves in terms of quality  pre-intermission and post-intermission. Anubhuti Kashyaps film an unwitting male gynaecologist goes against this rule. The movie is tempered with mediocrity in the first half, while the second half boasts of comparatively high quality content. The movie loiters in the first half, aimlessly making one believe that Ayushman Khurana just sheds synthetic tears and throws crass one-liners.

Uday Gupta (Ayushman Khurana) aspires to be an orthopedician but gets a seat in the department of gynaecology and obstetrics in a local government college. To make things worse for him, his boss is stern and no-nonsense Nandini (Shefali Shaw). He suffers from further ignominy, isolation and embarrassment when his classmates  aspiring gynaecs such as Rakul Preet Singh and the YouTube sensation AiyyO Shraddha  try to bully and rag him. Uday plays along as he sees gynaecology as a stop gap before he can move to his desired specialisation in bones and limbs.

When the professor talks about vagina, Uday reacts like a layman than a graduate in medicine and surgery. The systemic gender challenges are cliched, but they are tad loud. While women were gasping for breath and weaning in pain, students behave like they are at a picnic.

After the intermission, however, the film picks up pace and quality.

Uday transforms from a misfit male gynaecologist to a man, who is willing to address immediate human challenges in the GynObs ward. He develops crush for classmate Sameera, only to realize later that she was already engaged and wants him only as a friend. His single mother Lakshmi Devi (Sheeba Chadda), on the other hand, fights hard to find herself an identity and an emotional space (a repeat of Badhai Ho).

Uday, who faces multiple challenges, is forced to make decisions hard and fast. His romance crashes, and faces issues on the domestic front. The director has handled the latter part deftly and all artists have performed well.

Rakul Preet Singh, who has large audience in the south, leaves a whiff of fresh air. Even minor characters like Indranil Sen Gupta and Abhay Misra impress audience with their performance. Sheeba Chadda performs

amazingly, as the single mother, tries to overcome middle-class blues and middle-age inhibitions. She balances her lighter moments of self-indulgence with the strong stand of her independent choices.

Ayushman Khurana literally grows to become the hero as the film progresses. He literally evolves from an apologetic professional to the man of convictions and decision making. He is exactly what the audience have to expect of him. More than just an experimental actor, gutsy and adventurous. He has the streak of the veteran, the

confidence of success backed by the fine understanding of the media.

The central piece in the film, however, is Shefali Shah, whose performance is mind-boggling. She has the emotive capacity that is reminiscent of all-time greats and is also in great form. Albeit delayed, she is getting roles that justify her presence.

Doctor G gets to business late but once in form hits a great high both in style and in content. The icing on the cake is, of course, the top notch performances of Shefali Shah, Ayushman Khurana and Sheeba Chadda. This Doctors treatment works slowly but cures effectively.
HYDERABAD: Taiwanese national Chu Chun-Yu, ringleader in the Rs 903-crore multi-country investment fraud who was arrested by the Hyderabad cybercrime police last week, was initially in the business of developing apps for gaming, betting, and investment. For this, he was earning up to $3,000 per month. As part of his job, the 30-year-old flew frequently between India and Cambodia, as well as other Southeast Asian countries.

During one of his trips to Cambodia, police said, he reportedly met a Chinese woman named Huan Zhuan. Huan offered him $4,000 per month in exchange for his services. She paid him $5,000 as a 'gift' before he could give her confirmation to work for her.

Huan and her associate Pei, both Chinese nationals who run JInping ventures in China, were the masterminds behind this multinational investment fraud racket, police alleged. The agents who worked for the duo had no knowledge of their colleagues.

Police said Chun-Yu lives in a plush apartment in Powai, Mumbai, from where he ran web agents for Chinese nationals. When he agreed to work for Huan, he was told that her agent Lec alias Li Zhongjun was already in Delhi and that he would have to collaborate with him in expanding their business.

Initially, he was hesitant to accept Huans offer of $4,000 per month because he was content with his earnings and did not want to take a risk for a little more. But after she gave him $5,000 even before he could give her a confirmation, he thought this is more lucrative and he can make big money in a short time and jumped on the bandwagon, police said.

Lec, who was arrested on Wednesday last, arrived in India prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and began selling mobile accessories in Karol Bagh in New Delhi. Due to the pandemic, he suffered losses and lost his job, when Huan enticed him to work for the scamsters.

Iin January 2022, he was arrested by the Delhi police for overstaying his visa and was imprisoned. He was released on bail but was taken to the Intelligence Bureau's detention centre, where he was arrested by the city police.
HYDERABAD: Illustrations have become a key part of school textbooks, with teachers, students and officials hailing this years textbooks designed by the state board. But, it takes a lot of effort to conceptualise and execute them, especially for bilingual textbooks, say illustrators.

Officials of the SCERT and printing officials said that cover pages have also been given more attention this year, as these books are compared to the CBSE and ICSE ones. The illustrations and the colours used in the textbooks play a major role in developing an interest in studies among children. We have, this year, specially focused on the illustrations with the bilingual format, an official said.

The head illustrator of the state for government school textbooks, K. Srinivas, said that several workshops were conducted and that his team of 10 members created several versions of the same concept before they were approved by the education officials.

There were several rules the illustrators had to follow with size given the most importance. For the primary sections, we had to make sure we made big illustrations with less space for matter and as the sections kept increasing, the size of the illustration kept getting smaller, said Srinivas.

Illustrators said that the process was long-winded, as they first had to read the lessons and discuss among themselves the colours and figures to be used. However, even after a consensus, these were not approved in one go.

We had to take care of things like layout and scanning of pictures. After making a figure, we had to scan it and check whether the outline, expression and colours were printed how we wanted it to come out. Many times, we had to re-do several images as they kept getting an improper figure/colour once printed, Srinivas said.

Other team members emphasised the key role they played, as students looked to pictures for easy learning. They must understand what is good and bad from the picture we make, which is a difficult job, an illustrator said.

The most difficult part, according to Syed Hashmatullah, a team member who is also a government art teacher in Jangaon, said that there was insufficient time to execute the work.

If more time is given, we can illustrate better. We have to make sure that illustrations are not repeated; we cannot take anything from the internet either. A lot of creativity is required in this job. But it was also fun to learn all the lessons back. We pick up the important part of the story and illustrate it, Hastmathullah said.
KOLKATA: Dilip Mahalanabis, a doctor who became world famous for creating Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) that saved millions of lives of refugees during the 1971 Liberation War, passed away at a private hospital early Sunday. He was 87.

The member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was admitted to Apollo Gleneagles Hospital at EM Bypass in Kolkata two weeks ago with old-age related ailments. He was later diagnosed with lung infection.

At around 2.50 am on Sunday, the noted pediatrician-turned-clinical scientist died. Born on November 12 in 1934, Dr Mahalanabis graduated from Calcutta Medical College and Hospital in 1958 and started his practice in paediatrics.

He joined the National Health Service in London two years later and did his MRCP. Dr Mahalanabis later joined Johns Hopkins University, which had an international centre at Beliaghata ID Hospital in Kolkata for the cholera treatment.

In 1964, Dr Mahalanabis returned to India and started his research on oral rehydration therapy, consisting of a mixture of table salt, baking soda and commercial glucose to treat diarrheal diseases.

In 1971 when the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out, millions of refugees fled from former East Pakistan and took shelter in various camps in West Bengal. An outbreak of Cholera infected many of them, Dr Mahalanabis along with his staff used the ORT which not only reduced the death rate among the refugees but also curbed the spread of the disease.

The ORT later came to be known as ORS globally with the publication of his work in Johns Hopkins Medical Journal and Lancet. Between 1980s and 1990s, Dr Mahalanabis worked as a medical officer in the Diarrheal Disease Control Programme of the World Health Organization, Geneva. In 1990, he established the Society for Applied Studies in West Bengal.
HYDERABAD: Shashi Tharoor, the Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP contesting for the post of president of the party, on Monday said there was no question of him withdrawing from the contest saying he cannot betray his colleagues.

Tharoor, who is currently campaigning in Hyderabad for the AICC chiefs post against Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge, said to withdraw would be to betray the very many colleagues from across the country who spontaneously came forward and asked me to contest. Most of them are ordinary party workers. I will not let them down.

When asked why TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy could not meet him, the Thiruvananthapuram MP stated that he had received an invitation from Revanth Reddy to visit his home, but a family bereavement caused a change in the his schedule. "I will gladly meet with him at any time, and if invited to the TPCC office, I will go," he said.

On the Telangana Congress leadership deciding to throw all its weight behind Kharge, who is the only other contestant in the Congress presidential polls, Tharoor said it will be up to the delegates to decide who they want to vote for.

The partys election authority has already said that there can be no directive to the delegates to vote for a particular candidate. If that happens with a PCC resolution, then that will not be acceptable to the party, he said.

He said Kharge was a party leader who everyone in the Congress respected, but these elections are about how the Congress can best prepare to face the formidable challenge of the ruling BJP, which has won two elections. "And we know that unless we attract voters away from the BJP, we will fail," he said.

Emphasising the need for a reinvigorated Congress to take on the ruling BJP at the centre, he remarked, The Congress, he said, needs an invigoration to take on this challenge. The only difference is how we do it, Kharge has his vision, I have mine and we will let the delegates choose, he said.
CPI General Secretary D Raja, party leaders K. Narayana, K. Ramakrishna and others take part in a rally taken out on the occasion of the 24th CPI National Congress held in Vijayawada on Friday.  DC Image/C. Narayana Rao

VIJAYAWADA: A five-km long 'March Past' through the city roads by red volunteers of the CPI marked the start of the partys 24th All India Congress here on Friday. A public meeting was held at the Makineni Basava Punnaiah Stadium in which CPI leaders made a call to the people to oust the BJP from power and save the country.

CPI general secretary D Raja said the policies of BJP were disastrous for the country and it would be defeated in the 2024 general-parliament elections.

Thousands of party activists, as also leaders and delegates from various states, and some international delegates attended the public meeting. Heavy rains however dampened the enthusiasm of the partymen attending the public meeting.

Raja said saw a threat to democracy in India from the suppressive policies of the BJP. He underlined the need to protect secularism, democracy and the rights of the people. The ousting of the BJP- RSS from power is the "biggest challenge" and a historical task" for the people, he said.

Raja said, The BJP is branding the opposition parties and civil society organisations as Urban Naxals, anti nationals, and Maoists.

CPI national secretary K Narayana said the CPI is ready to work with any party to defeat the BJP in the 2024 elections. The BJP is misusing government agencies such as CBI, ED etc to conduct raids on the opposition parties and organisations that opposed its policies.

CPI former general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, national leaders Ram Naresh Pandey, Diwakar Naik, KE Ismail, Girish, Azeez Pasha, state party secretary K Ramakrishna, Telangana party secretary K Sambasiva Rao and others were present.

The CPI also organised a rally from the Kedareswarapet fruit market near BRTS road to MBP stadium.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi holds a sword that was presented in a temple, during a public meeting as part of Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Bellary. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

BALLARI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday hit out at the BJP-led regime in Karnataka as against the Scheduled castes and tribes and alleged that it is a "40 per cent commission" government.

The BJP government in Karnataka is "anti-SC and ST," and there is a 50 per cent rise in atrocities against these oppressed people, Rahul Gandhi alleged addressing a public meeting here, which is part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by him.

A large number of party workers and people gathered at the municipal ground here as the Congress party celebrated the foot march led by Rahul completing the 1,000 km milestone.

The BJP-led regime in the state is called a "40 per cent commission" government as any work could be done by paying it, he alleged.

The ruling BJP and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai have dismissed such bribery allegations as 'unfounded' and 'baseless.'

Rahul Gandhi's bribery barb comes against the backdrop of his party's sustained campaign in Karnataka against the Saffron party government over corruption allegations.

The Congress has made corruption a poll-plank in the state after a contractor, Santosh Patil died by suicide accusing the then Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K Eshwarappa of demanding a 40 per cent kickback. Following the contractor's death, Eshwarappa resigned from his post. Congress ran a 'PayCM' campaign as well.

The former Congress president alleged that funds allocated for the development of the SC and ST communities have been diverted. "Rs 8,000 crore of your money has been diverted," Gandhi claimed.

If you have to become a police sub-inspector then you can get it by paying Rs 80 lakh. If you have money you can buy a government job here but if you don't have money, you can never get a job in your life.

The Congress leader was referring to the recent police sub-inspector recruitment scam in which many people have been arrested.

It includes an additional director general of police Amrit Paul, some deputy superintendents, inspectors, sub-inspectors, constables, BJP leader Divya Hagargi and the gunman of a Congress MLA besides some candidates.

The exam has been annulled after the scam broke out. Candidates who were arrested reportedly told police they paid Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh to get a job.

This is the reason that Karnataka government is called as the 40 per cent commission government. If you have to get any work done, you can do it by paying a commission of 40 per cent.

Gandhi alleged a scam in the cooperative banks and in appointment of assistant professors as well.

The Wayanad MP demanded to know why the BJP regime was not implementing the Justice Nagamohan Das commission recommendation to increase the reservation for scheduled caste from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and for scheduled tribes from three per cent to seven per cent.

The BJP never wished to give special status to the erstwhile Hyderabad-Karnataka region, now known as Kalyana Karnataka.

His party-led government gave special status to the region under the 371-J of the Constitution, which helped youth get jobs and admission in engineering, medical and other professional colleges.

On the one hand, there is unemployment while on the other there is price rise. People are squeezed in between the two, Gandhi said.

He slammed the BJP and RSS for the ideology of "hatred" that is weakening the country.

Congress leader Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in his address said the nation is facing challenges from "fascist" forces.

Condemning what he called the "communal forces," Gehlot claimed that people are suffering due to unemployment and price rise.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah blamed the BJP and RSS for "disturbing peace" in the country by indulging in "communal" politics.

Congress presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge joined Gandhi and other leaders today in the ongoing yatra in the district.

Leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi has so far covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and made an entry into Andhra Pradesh as well.

The foot march began on September 7 from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and it is set to culminate in Jammu and Kashmir, after covering about 3,500 km.
A study shows that the remains of ancient marine animals have an influence on how much tectonic plates move in the sea.

One example is the Hikurangi subduction zone, the largest fault line close to New Zealand, where a megathrust earthquake can occur at magnitudes 8 or more. But the deposits of the remnants of archaic long-dead organisms could be a factor there.

Marine Remains Could Control Tremors

Scientists point out that calcite deposits left by ancient marine animals over millions of years are thought to control the movement and friction of the Pacific plate and the Australia plate, reported Science Alert.

Suppose the calcite will dissolve according to the study if it does the plate slide better. But, it will stop and store energy that breaks with a more deadly explosive force of tectonic plates.

According to structural geologist Carolyn Boulton from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, calcite dissolves faster if very stressed with colder temperatures. She added in cooler or room temperature, though the deeper the depth with hotter climes in the earth's crust, the much stiffer.

Plate Movements

Beneath the deepest part of the plate boundary, the temperature rises progressively with depth, heating up by about 10 C for each kilometer.

Calcite shells that fail to disintegrate further below the surface may significantly impact the fault's movement patterns, citing the Latest News.

The fault is already challenging to study and requires costly drilling equipment to reach.

Read Also: Kim Jong-un Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is North Korea's Leader?

Therefore, the scientists have been utilizing the exposed structures of limestone, mudstone, and siltstone on a local shoreline southeast of Martinborough, here on North Island, to access the layers.

Layers there comprise calcite from aquatic creatures, which are primarily of a form known as foraminifera, which includes plankton, among others. The questions arise on how much of the calcite lies inside the subduction zone and what condition it is in.

Boulton introduced the quantity and actions of calcite from all these life forms as a significant component of the puzzle as to how massive the next earthquake could be.

Geologists are not privy to the working of the Hikurangi subduction zone compared to other faults locations in the area of New Zealand because examining the geologic structure cannot be seen close up.

Not much is there about earlier quakes, and it is hard to get comprehensive evidence for it; also, these conditions are not all known, which hampers an effective way to tell if the big one is coming.

The researchers claim there is a 26.9 statistical probability of a massive earthquake somewhere along the fault within the next 50 years, which could result in a massive tsunami; hints of these previous events are on the New Zealand coast.

Most aspects are all at play, however, the research demonstrates why plate movements could be slow and slight or rapid and large, and the more we understand about the build-up of calcites on the seafloor, the more effectively we'll be capable of figuring out what is arriving after that, per Science Direct.

These tiny, long-dead organisms can physically impact how two enormous continental plates interact. For millions of years, these ancient marine animals have comprised part of the subduction layers, impacting tectonic plates and movement.

Related Article: Remnants of 1 Million-Year-Old Genetic Material Found Preserved in the Frozen Arctic by Scientists

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With farmers changing their route, Kovvuru circle inspector A.N.S. Ravi Kumar tried to issue notices to Amaravati Joint Action Committee leaders.  DC File Image

KAKINADA: The padayatra undertaken by Amaravati farmers entered Kovvuru in East Godavari district on Saturday evening. The farmers will rest on Sunday and restart their yatra on Monday.

They will go to Rajamahendravaram through the fourth bridge (Gaman Bridge) and reach Mallayyapeta by Monday evening for night halt.

Telugu Desam leaders J.S. Subba Rao Chowdary, Kovvuru former MLA and former Minister K.S. Jawahar, Bharatiya Janata Party East Godavari district president P. Radhakrishna, Jana Sena leader M. Venkateswara Rao and others welcomed the farmers.

Meanwhile, with farmers changing their route, Kovvuru circle inspector A.N.S. Ravi Kumar tried to issue notices to Amaravati Joint Action Committee leaders. Police asked them how many people will be participating in the padayatra over the bridge, as it could cause traffic problems if they go through the fifth bridge. But, JAC convener Siva Reddy and co-convener Tirupati Rao refused to take the notice.
amil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin with his sister and party's MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi after filling his nomination papers for the post of DMK President, at Anna Arivalayam in Chennai (PTI/file photo)

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday staunchly opposed what he called a Parliamentary panel's recommendation that for specific jobs, aspirants should have learnt the Hindi language.

Writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin referred to media reportage on a report of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Languages.

Stalin said: It has been reported that the Committee, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, submitted its report to the President of India, wherein inter-alia, has recommended that Hindi should be the compulsory medium of instruction in educational institutions of the Union government such as IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and central universities and Hindi should replace English.

It also includes a recommendation that Hindi shall be made as the medium of instruction in all technical, non-technical institutions and all the Union government institutions including Kendriya Vidyalayas.

The Chief Minister, who is also the president of the ruling DMK said that it has been recommended by the panel that, youth would be eligible for certain jobs only if they had studied Hindi, and removal of English (is proposed) as one of the compulsory papers in recruitment exams.

Such proposals went against the federal principles of Constitution and would only harm the nation's multi-lingual fabric, he said.

Efforts to impose Hindi in various ways as recommended in that report should not be taken forward and the glorious flame of unity of India may be held high forever, the Chief Minister requested. Stalin demanded that all languages should be accorded the status of official language of the Union government.

All the regional languages, including Tamil, should be treated equally and that is the way to ensure the principle of unity in diversity. There are 22 languages including Tamil in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. All such languages have equal rights and there are several demands that some more languages should also be included under the schedule.

I would like to point out that the number of people speaking languages other than Hindi is numerically more than Hindi-speaking people in the Indian Union. I am sure you would appreciate that every language has its own specialty with its uniqueness and linguistic culture.

He recalled Tamil Nadu's consistent opposition to Hindi imposition, the massive agitations in 1965 in the state and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's assurance that English would continue to be one of the official languages as long as the non-Hindi speaking people wanted.

Subsequently, the resolutions passed in 1968 and 1976 on official language, and according to the rules laid down thereunder, ensured the use of both English and Hindi in union government services. This position must continue to remain as the corner stone of all discussions on official language.

The Centre's recent attempts to impose Hindi are impractical and divisive in character puts non-Hindi speaking people in a very disadvantageous position in many respects. This will not be acceptable not only to Tamil Nadu but also to any state that respects and values their mother tongue.

On October 10, Stalin appealed to Modi to give up attempts to make Hindi mandatory and uphold the nation's unity. Do not force another language war by imposing Hindi, the DMK chief had said. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also had taken exception to the panel's recommendation. DMK and CPI(M) are allies in Tamil Nadu.

On Saturday, the ruling DMK's youth wing secretary and Stalin's son, Udayanidhi Stalin warned the Centre that his party would stage a protest against it in Delhi if Hindi was thrust upon Tamil Nadu.

A parliamentary panel has recently recommended that the medium of instruction in technical and non-technical higher education institutes such as the IITs in Hindi-speaking states should be Hindi and in other parts of the country, the respective regional languages.
Visakhapatnam: YSRC leaders and activists staged a protest on Sunday morning at the Janasena's Janavani programme at Port Kalavani Stadium, where Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan is receiving grievances on public services from people.

Meanwhile, Janavani programme has been postponed in the wake of protests, announced Pawan Kalyan. "The new date will be announced soon," he said while addressing the media at Visakhapatnam.

The police have reached the venue and arrested 100 Janasena activists.

The YSRC leaders took out the protest at the stadium by raising slogans of 'Go Back Go Back Pawan', in response to the Janasena leaders' alleged attack on the vehicles of YSRC workers and ministers at the airport yesterday.

The protest is being organised by the supporters of YSRC Visakhapatnam East Assembly segment in-charge Akramani Vijaya Nirmala and Visakhapatnam North incharge KK Raju.

YSRC Visakhapatnam North in-charge KK Raju speaks to media

Rumours are also rife on social media that the police are trying to arrest Pawan Kalyan, along with around 20 party workers who were detained late on Saturday night.

When contacted, Visakhapatnam city police spokesperson said, "The reports on arresting Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan are baseless. The police officials are discussing with Pawan Kalyan the arrangements for the Janavani programme."

The police have surrounded the Novotel hotel on Beach Road where Pawan Kalyan stayed. Janasena leaders Sundarapu Vijay Kumar, P.V.S.N, Dr Vishwakshen, Palavalasa Yashaswini, Panchkarla Sandeep and Gedela Chaitanya who were allegedly involved in the attacks on YSRC men and ministers were detained on Saturday based on a complaint lodged by the YSRC leaders.

In a statement, the police stated that they have identified those involved in the attack from CCTV footage and registered cases under Section 307 and various other sections.

When Minister Roja and other YSRC leaders arrived at the airport, a large number of Janasena workers abused them and pelted stones at them. The government property was also vandalised and police personnel were also injured, the police said.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia outside the Vasundhara branch of Punjab National Bank amid a search of his bank locker by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi Excise Policy. (Photo: PTI)

GHAZIABAD: The CBI has given a "clean chit", Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Tuesday after a team of the probe agency searched his bank locker for about two hours.

Sisodia and his wife were present as the four-member team, including a woman officer, conducted the search at a Punjab National Bank branch in Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of the national capital.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader is among the 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the agency in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi government's Excise Policy 2021-22.

The CBI was acting under pressure, Sisodia told reporters after the search was over.

"Just like my home, they did not find anything in my lockers. Jewellery of about Rs 70,000-80,000 of my children, my wife...I am happy that I got a clean chit from the CBI in searches today. They have found nothing (incriminating) from searches of my locker or residence," Sisodia told reporters here.

The Delhi deputy chief minister said he was happy "the prime minister got my house searched but could not find anything".

"Today, he sent the CBI to get my locker searched but could not find anything. This is the proof that I and my family have come out clean in all the inquiries done by the prime minister. I have got a clean chit in all the probes done by the prime minister and not a single penny of questionable nature has been detected. I have full faith in my truth," Sisodia said.

He said all the CBI officers were cordial with him and his family.

"We also cooperated. Unofficially they (CBI) admit that there is nothing questionable but they are also under some sort of pressure to find something so that I can be put in jail for two to three months.

"There is pressure from the prime minister to put me behind bars for two to three months Truth shall triumph," a smiling Sisodia said.

In the morning, camera crews jostled with each other and curious crowds gathered as the Sisodias as well as CBI the team arrived at the bank.

"The CBI is welcome," Sisodia had said in a tweet on Monday. "Tomorrow, the CBI is coming to check our bank locker. They did not find anything during a 14-hour raid at my residence on August 19. They won't find anything in the locker too My family and I will extend full cooperation in the probe."

On August 19, the federal probe agency raided 31 locations, including Sisodia's residence, over alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi government's Excise Policy 2021-22.

Sisodia has been claiming that he has been "made an accused in a false case to stop the march of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal" who, he believes, has emerged as an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

During a special session of the Delhi Assembly on Friday, the AAP leader had claimed that the BJP-led Centre is "acting like a serial killer" to eliminate state governments and described the CBI FIR against him as "false" and based on "mere sources".
Forcing the use of Hindi in non-Hindi regions by the Central government and Central public sector enterprises, including the nationalised banks, is causing avoidable resentment (Image credit: Facebook)

No other institution has played a bigger role in the popularisation of Hindi across the country than the much-maligned Bollywood cinema. When crowds rushed into cinema halls in Madurai and Kolkata, and in Vijayawada and Vadodara, to watch Rajesh Khanna romance Hema Malini, they voluntarily learnt the language in which this Punjabi matinee idol was wooing a Tam Bram beauty. No, it is not the Hindi Prachar Sabha that popularised Hindi across India, it is popular cinema that did it.

The same goes for dress. The Punjabi salwar kurta is ubiquitous in the villages of southern India because young women sought easy to wear clothes, and not because the home minister of India wanted them to.

Consider food habits. Delhis restaurants are full of people demanding dosa, idly and vada, while paneer has entered the cuisine of non-milk consuming Kerala households. Food, clothing and language have a way of finding their place in peoples minds and hearts without officious governmental bodies pontificating from their fancy pulpits.

Union home minister Amit Shah should relax. So too should all the Hindi-Hindu outfits that his political party members inhabit.

In response to the recent Hindi enthusiasm emanating out of New Delhi, various political leaders across the non-Hindi regions have drawn attention to the fact that Hindi is in fact not the mother tongue of a large majority of Indians, including those who may identify Hindi as their mother tongue in official surveys, shying away from mentioning Bhojpuri or Maithili. Yet, more and more Indians are learning to speak, even read and write Hindi. The growing use of Hindi is a function of a variety of social, cultural and economic factors that have little to do with the activities of the busybodies of the Official Language Committees.

On the other hand, forcing the use of Hindi in non-Hindi regions by the Central government and Central public sector enterprises, including the nationalised banks, is causing avoidable resentment. I was recently at a nationalised bank branch in Hyderabad where all the forms to be filled were in Hindi, using terms that even the bank clerk could not explain. When I asked for a form in English, I was told that despite repeated reminders to their headquarters, only Hindi forms were being supplied.

The bank manager, the teller and I were all unhappy Hindi-speakers.

At a New Delhi conference a few years back, a Hindi enthusiast began speaking in Hindi and devoted the first few minutes of her speech to how we English-speakers at the conference had no contact with Indias ground realities and how she was in touch with the heart and soul of the nation because she spoke in the language of the people. When it came to my turn to speak, I chose to speak in Telugu. Initially the audience was nonplussed and confused. Slowly my message dawned upon them and they began to clap. I persisted in my Telugu speech and asked the Hindi enthusiast if she understood what I had said. New Delhi is a stage upon which many fancy people dance and sing and pretend to govern.

In the mid-1990s, the late Mulayam Singh Yadav staged a dharna outside the premises of the Union Public Service Commission demanding that English be dropped from all UPSC examinations and that Hindi be made compulsory. His own son was to later study in Australia. In response to Mulayams protest I wrote an editorial comment in a national daily saying that English was in fact just another Indian language because lakhs of Indians do legitimately declare it as their mother tongue.

Why make any language compulsory, I argued, let every candidate show proficiency in at least two languages to qualify.

My editorial attracted a lot of support and criticism. For days together we were flooded by letters to the editor till we finally declared the subject closed. Language ignites passion. Which is why, following the violent anti-Hindi agitations of the 1960s, no government has sought to impose any one language. The BJPs effort today to once again try and impose Hindi, relentlessly pushing its use in Union government offices and organisations, is bound to boomerang.

If Hindi enthusiasts are hurting the cause of their language, so are other such language enthusiasts in other parts of the country. The obsession with Tamil all over Tamil Nadu has already hurt the economic interests of that state. Compared to the linguistic cosmopolitanism of all other southern states, which are increasingly bilingual and trilingual -- mother tongue and Hindi/English -- Tamil Nadu is becoming increasingly unilingual. Tamil Nadu chief minister Stalin has become as much of a Tamil chauvinist as the Hindi chauvinists of the BJP.

Bilingual states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Punjab have better economic opportunities to offer for their own citizens as well as to Hindi-speaking north Indians. The lack of employment opportunities in unilingual Hindi-speaking Uttar Pradesh is forcing people from there to migrate to the Deccan where they can find work because they can communicate in their language with bilingual southerners.

Globally too, the record shows that bilingualism is increasingly the norm.

Societies that opt for a one-language policy are paying the price for their obsession.

Most of Europe, Latin America, Africa and East and Southeast Asia is or on the way to being bilingual.

The policy of the Union government should be to promote bilingualism as well, if not a three-language policy. This means all bank forms should be in Hindi and the local language or in Hindi, English and the local language. This also means that Hindi-speaking regions actively promote the learning of a second language, which could be English or another Indian language.

There is a lesson for todays political leaders to learn from the proceedings of the Constituent Assembly on the language issue. In fact, no other subject generated as much heat and took as much time as the discussion on the language issue. If the great leaders of the national movement and members of the Constituent Assembly could not satisfy all, and opted for compromise, who are these lesser mortals of today to impose their will on over a billion people.
The Uttar Pradesh unit of Shiv Sena has threatened to "cut off the tongue" of AIMIM state president Shaukat Ali, who has been booked for making disparaging remarks against Hindus.

Shiv Sena state president Anil Singh said in a statement that Shaukat Ali had crossed all limits while making the comments and Hindus would not tolerate it.

"It is because of people like him that even nationalist Muslims are viewed with suspicion," he said.

Also Read  'We marry twice but you marry once and keep 3 mistresses': AIMIM leader's remarks land him in trouble

Singh termed the AIMIM leader as a "PFI agent" and said that if he did not mind his language, his tongue would be cut off.

Shiv Sena secretary Vishwajeet Singh said, "Everyone has the right to air his opinion but this did not mean that he is free to target a community."

"The AIMIM is the B team of BJP and is working to spread hatred and anarchy in the country. The AIMIM should stop instigating Hindus like this. The silence of the BJP is intriguing too," he said.

He further said that the complicity between the AIMIM and the BJP was evident since Shaukat Ali had not been arrested as yet.

The Shiv Sena further said that if Shaukat Ali was not arrested within one week, the party would take to the streets.

Shaukat Ali was booked on Saturday after he allegedly made the remarks during a speech at a private programme in Sambhal on Friday.

In the video, Ali is purportedly heard saying that whenever the BJP is weakened, its leaders bring up controversies related to Muslims.

"Sometimes, they say you have many children and marry twice or thrice... Yes, when we marry twice, we give equal respect to both the wives, but you marry one woman and keep three mistresses that no one knows about," he is heard saying.

A complaint was filed against him by one Archit Aggarwal, said Superintendent of Police Chakresh Mishra.
As the Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samithi gears up to stage a massive protest against the toll gate in Surathkal on October 18, the police have served notices to agitating individuals, to appear before DCP who is executive magistrate under Section 107 of CrPC.

The serving of the notices late in the night has drawn criticism from various quarters.

In her Facebook post, Congress leader and former corporator Prathibha Kulai, who is also one of the leaders in the forefront protesting against the toll gate, alleged that the police visited her house to serve notice late in the night.

"It is an attempt to suppress the protest. I am a social worker and not a terrorist. As a citizen of the country I respect the law of the land. Five police personnel attached to Surathkal police station visiting my house at 11.45 pm has been recorded in the CC camera. As I was not at home, notice was not collected. Can anyone come and knock on the door in the middle of the night in a house where there are women? Is this democracy?," she sought to know.

While advocate Dinesh Ulepadi said "as expected, police are trying to stop the scheduled protest. Notices have been served under Section 107 CrPC in the name of breach of peace and disturbing public tranquility. The toll collection should be stopped. There is no change in the date of the scheduled protest."

Horata Samithi convener Muneer Katipalla said that the police had arrived at my house late in the night to issue summons. "More than 50 people have been served with the notice. We are discussing with advocates over executing a bond as sought by the police. If a warrant is issued for our arrest, we are ready to go to jail for the cause of people. The scheduled protest will not stop at any cost. It will be a peaceful protest. The toll collection should end on October 18," he said.

While Dakshina Kannada JD(S) spokesperson Susheel Noronha condemned the serving of the notice to the agitating leaders in the late night. "Protest is not an anti-national act. For the past six years, several petitions have been submitted to the government against the toll collection. If the Centre and state governments have concern for the people, then they should stop toll collection immediately."

City Commissioner of Police N Shashi Kumar said that notices have been served to 16 people so far. "In the backdrop of some provocative calls and statements issued by some of participants of the proposed agitation, notices have been served to them as a preventive measure to appear before the DCP."

On the allegation of police visiting the house of Prathibha Kulai late in the night, the Commissioner said "privacy of every individual is to be respected, more so of women. I have asked ACP (North) Mahesh Kumar to enquire into the issue and submit a report to me. We have facilitated every democratic and peaceful protest or agitation of any individual organisations or party."
Lynchs, the family business which operates three Eurospar supermarkets in the Derry area, was the most successful independent retailer from NI at the recent Retail Industry Awards in London, bringing home five top awards.

Lynchs Eurospar, Skeoge scooped the independent categories of the Chilled Retailer of the Year, Independent Retailer of the Year (3,001 sq. ft  6,000 sq. ft) and Store Team of the Year Awards, while their Greysteel Eurospar took home the Most Improved Store award, and was highly commended in the Independent Forecourt Retailer of the Year Award category.

Judges described Lynchs Skeoge store as the definition of local convenience  an all rounder that has innovated its way through Covid, praising management for reviewing its fresh, chilled range for all seasons  and daily, with effective communication throughout the store.

Greysteel was commended for its 900,000 upgrade which doubled the store size, extending its range of forecourt convenience services and freshly prepared meals, seven days a week.

Judges said the businesss food-to-go core, with its fantastic range of sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruits and Barista Bar coffee, alongside ice cream and slushies, made it  a must-stop for passing customers. It was also praised for its phenomenal growth numbers.

Henderson Retail operated Eurospar Rossdowney was also successful at the awards, winning the Post Office Retailer of the Year Award in the company owned category.

Judges noted Hendersons investment of 3m into the Derry store last year allowed additional trading hours which extended to the Post Office, and allowed for a combined proposition to boost both Post Office and store sales.

Bill Sherry, Retail Industry Award Group Publisher presents Michelle Donnelly from Henderson Group and Michelle Donnelly and Claire Gaston, Senior Post Office Manager at EUROSPAR Rossdowney with their award for Post Office Retailer of the Year (company owned) for EUROSPAR Rossdowney at the recent Retail Industry Awards. Also pictured is awards host Kerry Godliman.

The Derry stores wins were part of a record breaking year with stores and individuals from Spar and Eurospar NI picking up 16 wins overall against some top UK-wide competition.

Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director at Henderson Group says this is the biggest collective win for retailers at the Retail Industry Awards so far; To be able to go to London and see our stores being recognised on a national platform for the excellence they bring to their communities, day in, day out, is fantastic.

We are incredibly proud of our stores and their teams who are the ultimate competition, not only in their local markets but on a national and international retailing platform.

"They are consistent in their innovation and service and we send them huge congratulations for bringing home some of the top awards.

Ian Taylor, Retail Director, SPAR UK presents Alastair Connor, Erin Moore, Gregory Nichol and Gary Lynch from Lynchs EUROSPAR, Greysteel with the award for Most Improved Store (Independent) at the recent Retail Industry Awards. Also pictured is awards host, Kerry Godliman.

Mark McCammond, Retail Director at Henderson Group added; Henderson Retail has been continuing to invest across communities in Northern Ireland, bringing unrivalled additional services within new and renovated stores, designed with their local communities at the heart.

The Retail Industry Award winners were selected by a panel of esteemed and experienced names in the industry. The Awards are a celebration of all that is great about the UK grocery retail sector. The 2022 winners were revealed at a gala ball ceremony at The Brewery in London on 20 September 2022
North West Regional College (NWRC) has appointed its first entrepreneur in residence, supporting students on their first steps into business.

Alastair Cameron, co-founder of Startacus, a company which informs, inspires, and connects startups and entrepreneurs, will be based at NWRC one day a week supporting students and the college community.

Alastair has extensive experience as a business mentor, providing founders with the commercial guidance, support, advice, and insight needed during the early stages of any startup development process.

This is an important development for the College that will significantly enhance its work to contribute to economic growth and social inclusion in its locality and Northern Ireland.

Finneen Bradley, Student Services Manager at NWRC said: We are thrilled to welcome Alastair to NWRC as our Entrepreneur in Residence to support our students with their business ideas, and to help the college connect with the startup ecosystems across these islands.

Anyone with the right drive and passion can become an entrepreneur. As a college, we want to harness the creative flair and potential of our students to create businesses and organisations to achieve the ambition of the 10X economic vision.

As well as his role as NWRCs Entrepreneur in Residence we are also eager for Alastair to work with stakeholders across the North West engaging in programmes with Invest NI, Derry and Strabane District Council, Causeway Coast and Glens Council, local schools, and our entire network.

With a focus on mentoring, networking, and encouragement there is no doubt that Alistairs involvement with NWRC will have a positive impact on the lives of our students at this crucial junction in their career journey.

NWR Entrepreneur in Residence, Alastair Cameron said: As the new Entrepreneur in Residence for NWRC, I look forward to helping the College connect to the entrepreneurship and startup ecosystems across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

In my role I will support individual students with their business ideas, increasing their entrepreneurship potential and creative flair to drive forward entrepreneurship and startup culture throughout the College.

My wealth of experience and connections will no doubt benefit students who are looking to develop their own business in the near future.
Google has reinforced its commitment towards passwordless smartphone usage by releasing support for passkey login to Chrome and Android. Earlier this year, Google was among the three tech giants that announced theyre working on passwordless sign-in features, including Microsoft and Apple. Going forward, users can create and use passkeys on Android devices. In addition, developers can build passkey support on their sites for users visiting via Chrome. Passkeys are the next big step towards smartphone security as they replace passwords and cannot be reused.

What is a passkey?

As per the Android Developers blog, Passkeys follow already familiar UX patterns, and build on the existing experience of password autofill. For end-users." Using a passkey is similar to using a password, except the phone confirms whether it is actually the user by asking for another credential.

Adding to it, the blog explains, Passkeys on users phones and computers are backed up and synced through the cloud to prevent lockouts in the case of device loss. Users will also be able to use passkeys on their phones to sign in to websites and apps on other nearby devices.

In simple words, a passkey is a type of login credential that has the potential to replace passwords. Most importantly, a passkey only works on a particular device unless the user scans a QR code for signing in on another device after verifying via Face ID or fingerprint scanners. To avoid reuse, passkeys are created using public key cryptography, meaning each passkey is unique and encrypted. Further, with passkeys, users dont need to remember the multiple passwords theyve set for websites, as they can sign in using one passkey.

How to sign in to a website using a passkey?

First, an end user must create a passkey by confirming the passkey account information and presenting their screen lock, face or fingerprint. Once the passkey is created, users can log in by selecting the account they want to sign in to and present their biometrics. Since the passkeys are stored offline on the smartphone, users dont have to worry about remembering several passwords.

Apart from this, a passkey on the phone can also be used to sign in on a nearby device. This is where the cross-platform compatibility of the technology comes in, as an Android user can sign in to a passkey-supported website using the Safari web browser on a Mac. Apple iOS 16 and macOS Ventura also support the technology, which will be rolled out to the masses this year.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in.
Media Growth: China reiterates commitment to deepen cooperation with Africa

People's Daily Online) 13:35, October 16, 2022

China's National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) has reiterated its commitment to deepen cooperation with African media to boost growth of China-Africa relations.

Dr Yan Chengsheng, Director-General, International Cooperation Department of NART, said this during the interactive session with Journalists in Beijing under the auspices of China Africa Press Centre (CAPC) Programme 2022.

He spoke on the development of the media industry of China and its international exchanges and cooperation, saying the administration would exchange media programmes on philosophy that suits China-Africa.

Yan said, To improve the level of cooperation between China and Africa; actually we have been thinking about that all the time, we should continue to focus on programme exchange.

This is a good way to learn about each other and meet peoples needs on various cultural products.

China promoted screening of Chinese TV-dramas and documentaries in the past decade; I think it is a way to help our African friends learn about the real situation in China and deepen China-Africa relations.

During the China-Africa media cooperation programme in August, we screened Chinese platforms of over 30 programmes from 20 African countries.

He said that measures were taken to get feedback on results of African media contents in August, also that some user platforms reflected that it was nice to have watched African contents in China.

According to him, media programme exchanges will promote knowledge sharing between China and Africa.

Chinas philosophy of media operations is quite different from Western media. I have studied in the United States and Japan and can say Western journalism focuses on critical thinking.

It is definitely not wrong that they will have negative opinions about something that they view about society, in China we emphasize social responsibility practice of the media.

The media can play a more constructive role in reporting events and the phenomenon, because lots of criticism does not solve problems.

We hope the media improves the situation, solves problems and plays an active role in meaningful development; we see achievements about Africas development and are happy to report them.

At the same time, there were of course some problems in Africa we report but focus on educating people, which is much better than criticising the problems, he added.

He reiterated the need for dialogue among journalists on media programme exchanges to be encouraged in ways that suit development of China and Africa.

The director-general further said that China established its journalism philosophy in ways that suit the traditional situation of the country, adding that such formed the basis of the culture of China.

On willingness by China to provide technological support for media growth in Africa, he said that such could be related to the economic situation and social development of the country.

China had a low level of development of media, but after several years of efforts we can say in some areas like 5G application China is leading in some technological areas.

What we can do for Africa is first with content; we can provide Chinese programmes for you to broadcast and you also provide your programmes to China.

This is to support each other in our development of media outlets globally; between China and African countries there have been aiding projects between the governments.

We can try business and commercial promotions in the media sector; we should attach importance to both governmental levels.

The Chinese government will provide assistance to African countries; the market is important for us in China with various enterprises and institutions having capabilities in broadcasting services; you can rely on, he added.

He, however, said that a lot could be learnt about the history and situation from Chinas regional development through such exchanges.

NRTA, a ministerial-level central government agency directly under the State Council of China, is responsible for administration and supervision of radio, television and online audio-visual programme service in China and promotion of industrial development.

No fewer than 90 Journalists from 67 countries across Africa, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, are participating in the programme which began in June.

The programme, which is being hosted by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), is expected to end in November.

(Source: Realnewsmagazine.net)

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Du Mingming)
The US Navy is increasing the number of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and linking them to an internet data link, a combination of robotic boats and artificial tools operating with Task Force 59, capable of catching weird activity for human operators.

Maritime Domain in the Gulf

The US Navy has established a network model to link its USVs and artificial intelligence tools to command center operators one year after the Bahrain-based U.S. 5th Fleet formed Task Force 59 to enhance maritime awareness in the overcrowded and highly susceptible waters, reported Defense News.

Additionally, the Navy will augment its stock of systems in the following month, 5th Fleet Vice Adm. Brad Cooper informed news outlets on October 12. With the aid of AI that would carry out tasks automatically, he added 8,000 ships that were active in some way, noted Yahoo! News.

To efficiently test commercially unmanned AI systems that could be integrated into maritime forces in the Middle East, Task Force 59 was formed in September 2021. The task force's staff cooperates with academia and industry to progress advanced technologies.

The staff collaborates with regional navies to connect this innovation to actual missions. Several Middle Eastern nations functioned as testing grounds for the robotic ship.

US Navy Plans Multinational Fleet

Based on the US Navy's fifth fleet's plans, a global fleet of 100 unmanned surface vessels will be assembled before the summer. Cooper offered no additional details.

As he said, Bahrain and Kuwait already had pledged to buy USVs, or other participants in Task Force 59 demonstrations could soon follow before warmer months.

Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is the Ukraine President?

An early version of the efficiency of USVs and AI tools operating together was Task Force 59's management of the International Maritime Exercise 2022 in February, according to Naval News.

In contrast to traditional manned patrol boats and frigates, he explained, such tools can effectively boost their coastline protection.

Cooper clarified that its goal would be to demonstrate to the region's alliances how these tools could boost their coastal security at a lower cost than traditional manned patrol boats and frigates, per DVIDS.

He added that these short cycles of remarkable progress in the systems and innovative solutions for these USVs and AI tools are remarkable, like an internet data link.

The USVs, which include Saildrone Explorer and MARTAC Devil Ray T38, have also experienced 60-to-90-day testing cycles.

Cooper references the United States' involvement of a communication network to share information in communications-restricted surroundings as an instance of even rapid iteration.

During an occasion with the United States and Saudi Arabia, the above crude connectivity has been evaluated at sea. A week afterward, Task Force 59 augmented this grid network based on hard lessons and re-evaluated it occasionally with both US and Jordan.

A week later, the US and Israel tested the next iteration. In an activity off the coast of Portugal, the US and NATO allies evaluated an even stronger version that would include the Starlink satellite internet.

He stated although Starlink doesn't have coverage inside the Middle East, a fresh cluster of satellite systems ought to be functional by the spring of 2019, at which juncture the broadband scope could be rapidly integrated into the Task Force 59 communication network.

The US Navy said its use of unmanned surface vessels and connecting them to an internet data-link mesh network.

Related Article: China Develops Carrier Drones with Canine Attack Robot To Be Deployed Anywhere Needed

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Realme has introduced a premium after-sales plan for its existing and new customers in India, Realme Care+. The new subscription-based program aims to provide a seamless support experience, an extended 1-year warranty, a year of screen protection, and a year of accidental and liquid damage protection for Realme devices. The company also added that the premium service would enable customers access to the company's service staff, hassle-free claim processes, and authorized service centers with genuine device parts.

Realme stated the integrated digital customer service platform would support SMS notifications and live tracking of service requests, knowledge bank, pick-up service, TV on-door service, self-service, software upgrades, and warranty status checks. In addition, a supporting service center will coordinate with the technical support team to make maintenance tasks and repairs easier for customers availing of this scheme.

The value-added service will be available via social media, email, voice, WhatsApp, and webchat from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM IST. In addition, it will extend support to multiple regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, and Hindi.

CEO of Realme India, VP of Realme, and President of Realme International Business Group, Madhav Sheth, said, "Realme Care is a testimony of our commitment to serving the best to our customers and our focus to further build on our customer experience. Through this initiative, we are ensuring a complete service through digital technology with 'service quality as the foundation and 'consistency, convenience, and care as the core values. We are hopeful that Realme's service will become the customer experience benchmark in the technology industry."

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in.
Tech giant Samsung has received Matter certification for a fully integrated household. The company will upgrade its SmartThings hubs to accommodate the new open source smart home technology this month.

The company confirms that the hubs won't connect Zigbee and Z-Wave devices to Matter devices, reports The Verge.

The company received its certification a week after Matter launched, according to Jaeyeon Jung, Samsung's corporate vice president and head of SmartThings' mobile experience business.

Samsung was one of the first to obtain a certification, according to Michelle Mindala-Freeman of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, which is in charge of Matter.

According to the company, certification has only been granted for the hubs and a date for certification of the dongles has not yet been set.

Matter lays the groundwork for full home device connectivity. The company is dedicated to Matter integration and claims to achieve the vision of a totally integrated home.

Samsung and Google collaborates closely to provide multi-admin capabilities that reduce manual management and increase accessibility for Google Home and Nest Hub, with the goal of making life easier and more seamless for both consumers and device manufacturers.

"This ease of use across Samsung and Google is just the start, and we're looking forward to delivering a more seamless, delightful home experience", said Matthew McCullough from Google.

(Except for the headline and cover image, the rest of this IANS article is un-edited)

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk says his rocket firm SpaceX will continue funding its Starlink Internet service in Ukraine, a day after he said it could no longer do so.

On the microblogging site Twitter, Musk wrote that "the hell with it... Even though Starlink is still losing money and other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we'll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free".

According to the BBC, Starlink has been vital for Ukraine's military and people to stay online.

Ukraine says it helped to reboot key infrastructure after Russian attacks.

Energy installations were among the facilities targeted by more than 100 Russian missiles this week. Starlink consists of thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit and ground terminals.

Last month, Musk asked the Pentagon to fund the Starlink programme instead of him, according to the US media.

And on Friday, he tweeted: "SpaceX is not asking to recoup past expenses, but also cannot fund the existing system indefinitely". That move drew strong criticism.

Earlier, Musk provoked Kyiv's ire by suggesting Ukraine could cede territory to Russia.

(Except for the headline and cover image, the rest of this IANS article is un-edited)

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The oldest item in the history of furniture is an expression of technical transformation and lifestyles. Here is a list of some of the most iconic sofas from the second half of the twentieth century.
The debris of the Northern Ireland Protocol must be cleared away if Stormont powersharing institutions are to return, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted.

Sir Jeffrey was speaking ahead of a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Monday, and he reiterated the political institutions need the support of unionists as well as nationalists and others.

The Taoiseach is meeting local parties in Belfast as a deadline to restore Stormont and avoid fresh Assembly elections rapidly approaches.

Mr Martin arrived at a city centre hotel on Monday morning ahead of his round of meetings.

The DUP is blocking the functioning of the powersharing institutions in Belfast as part of its protest against the post-Brexit protocol that has created barriers on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The UK Government has vowed to secure changes to the protocol, either by way of a negotiated compromise with the EU or through proposed domestic legislation that would empower ministers to scrap the arrangements without the approval of Brussels.

Relations between the UK and EU appear to have improved since Liz Truss became Prime Minister and London and Brussels have been talking up the potential for a deal through fresh negotiations.

Current legislation says that unless Stormont is restored by October 28, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has to call Assembly elections  something he has said he is prepared to do.

Sir Jeffrey said: We must lay solid foundations if we are to move forward.

We need to clear away the debris of the protocol years.

We need to restore cross-community consensus.

No unionist MLAs support the protocol. Therefore, it must be replaced by arrangements that unionists can support.

This is essential if the political institutions are to function and succeed.

The DUP leader also called on Brussels to loosen the guide ropes for its negotiating team so problems with the protocol can be discussed and resolved.

He added: The protocol continues to bedevil us, with businesses and consumers reporting further problems each week.

A 25% tariff on steel, driving up transport costs by almost 30%, and uncertainty over medicine and veterinary supplies.

The checks, however, on the Irish Sea border are but a symptom of the problem.

They are the product of Northern Ireland being subject to a different set of laws imposed upon us by a foreign entity without any say or vote by any locally-elected representative.

If we can secure a better way forward, then there is a great prize of stable devolved government, but without decisive action in Dublin and Brussels then the protocol will continue to erode the foundations of Stormont.

Devolution requires the support of unionists as well as nationalists if it is to function and succeed.

Sinn Fein, which emerged as the largest party in Northern Ireland during Assembly elections earlier this year, has repeatedly called for Stormont to return immediately to address the cost-of-living crisis.

Speaking last week, Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle ONeill said: We need to get around the executive table today, no more delays. Particularly whenever you see the scale of challenges that we have to tackle as an executive, not least fixing our health service.

The Taoiseach will hold separate meetings with Ms ONeill, Sir Jeffrey, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long, leader of the SDLP Colum Eastwood and Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie.

His programme will conclude with a visit to meet participants in programmes working with schools as catalysts for peace and reconciliation.
Applications are now open for the Primary Science Fair which will take place at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) next January 2023 at the RDS Dublin. The Primary Science Fair returns to an in-person event for the first time in three years as the 2021 and 2022 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibitions were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BT Ireland is calling on primary school students from Louth to begin working on their projects. Projects from qualifying schools from across Ireland will be showcased during the three-day event, from 12  14 January at the BTYSTE 2023. Closing date for applications is Friday October 28th 2022 at 5pm.

For over 20 years, the Primary Science Fair has been a core component of the BTYTSE, allowing 3rd to 6th class primary school students develop their interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in a non-competitive environment and encouraging them to become future participants in the exhibition.

Mari Cahalane, Head of the BTYSTE commented, The Primary Science Fair is an opportunity for young people to research science topics that interest them, develop their experimental skills and most importantly have fun while doing it.

"For many young students, its their first introduction into science related subject and at BT Ireland were delighted to be able to give our budding young scientists the chance to see the wonders of science and the infinite possibilities it offers.

More information is available at https://btyoungscientist.com/
The estimated 2,430 stroke survivors in Louth are being urged to join a series of live and recorded talks offering supports ahead of World Stroke Day.

The Irish Heart Foundation is co-ordinating a series of expert-led online talks to provide vital support to patients who need help coping with the after effects of stroke. This is in addition to the charitys monthly in-person stroke support group at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dundalk and the D Hotel in Drogheda.

One survivor from the capital has told how in an instant, my whole world was taken from me and is backing the information campaign as an essential tool in the recovery process. Teacher Fiona Bardon, from Terenure, woke up feeling sick in August 2019 and suffered a seizure at home, breaking her shoulder as she fell, before being rushed to A & E and told she had a stroke.

To say I was lost is a complete understatement; I wasnt able to complete tasks independently, she said. I had no energy, I was hugely fatigued and I wasnt able to regulate my emotions. I was incapable of communicating my thoughts. I was under constant supervision so I felt like I was back to being a child.

Before World Stroke Day on October 29, survivors, their families and healthcare professionals are invited to register for the Irish Heart Foundation talks - seven of which are live via Zoom and three of which will take place in the Irish Heart Foundations Life after Stroke Facebook group.

They include discussions on secondary prevention (Oct 26), involving stroke nurses from Dublins Mater Hospital and focussing on medical and lifestyle methods to reduce a patients chances of suffering a further stroke. A talk on October 25 offers advice on supporting a stroke patient returning home from hospital, how to navigate daily tasks and adjusting to cognitive changes.

Others focus on managing fatigue (Oct 24), mindfulness for relaxation and stress management (Oct 25) and State grants/entitlements for stroke patients (Oct 28). Healthy eating and lifestyle advice (Oct 27) is also examined, while participants will also hear personal stories from other stroke survivors (Oct 26).

We want to reach people living with stroke, their carers and healthcare professionals, said Helen Gaynor, Head of Community Services with the Irish Heart Foundation. Stroke affects the whole family. Isolation is often a major factor and some people cant meet socially, they may have lost confidence, so talks like these where people can meet others in similar situations is very empowering.

For more details and to register for the free talks, taking place between October 24-28, go to: https://irishheart.ie/news/ world-stroke-day-stoke-talks-2022/.
A teen boy, age 15, was slain with a gunshot to his chest, last Friday afternoon, in a suspected gang shootout at a Queens subway station in New York City.

According to the local police investigating the incident, an encounter with a rival group caused a fatal altercation that resulted in the death of one of the participants.

Violence strike NYC as the police struggle to control criminal elements striking NYC, endangering its residents.

Gang Shootout at Queens Subway

According to police sources, the fighting broke out on the Rockaway-bound A train with two unknown groups, the subway conductor remarked, reported NY Daily News.

In the witness's statement, one of the members of these gangs felt the need to call in more members, according to the cops. Soon after a call from one of these groups, two more suspicious teens got on the train at Beach 25th Street, verified by a police source.

When the subway train was making the next and final stop on Far Rockaway/Mott Avenue, at around 3:45 p.m., at this moment of the two teenage males who boarded Beach 25th St. drew a hidden firearm and fired a round, noted a police witness.

In the ensuing suspected gang shootout, a good Samaritan pulled the teen boy from the train to the Queens subway platform.

Read Also: Joe Biden Uncomfortably Grabs Teen Girl's Shoulder During Administration's Visit in Southern California

Two policemen were patrolling at that time when they came upon the rescuer and the victim. New York Police Department Transit Bureau Head, Jason Wilcox, confirmed attempts to revive the shot teen with CPR failed.

EMS Rescues Shootout Victim

According to a witness who worked at a retail business nearby, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) workers arrived at the train station and took the victim. The witness remarked that the victim was carried out on his side on a stretcher with unkempt hair.

One unidentified girl in pink was trying desperately to climb into the ambulance with the victim and screaming hysterically. She claims that the victim was her brother, citing Yahoo News.

Details indicate that the EMS workers placed an oxygen mask on the victim, remarked one witness. He died along the way to the Children's Medical Center, despite the best efforts of the EMS team.

The perpetrator reportedly escaped with his companions, and fled in Rockaways

NYC Police Detemine Motive for Shooting

Chief Wilcox said this was not accidental violence but intentional as the groups involved were having a dispute on the train. Several reasons for the rumble between the two groups remains unclear.

Detectives were investigating the probable cause that could be students involving students at close by Beach Channel Educational Campus, which comprises several institutions.

Authorities arrested a suspect after Friday, as police seeks wilnessess to help in solving the crime, noted the NY 1.

The death of an unidentified teen boy in a suspected gang shootout in a Queens subway continues under investigation.

Related Article: Rep. Tenney Calls Out Democrats' Defunding the Police Lead To the Subway Shooting, Overwhelming Crimes New York

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National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out the new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Governments National Broadband Plan (NBP), is announcing that it has reached 20,000 connections to its network.

Communications and Broadband Spokesperson for Sinn Fein, Ruairi O Murchu, TD, NBI Chief Commercial Officer, Joe Lavin and Declan Campbell, Managing Director of Louth retail broadband provider, Digiweb marked the milestone with local farm family, Cathrina and Francis Bellew of Monasterboice, Co. Louth, who recently connected to the network.

As of 5 October, a total of 20,512 premises  including homes, farms, businesses, and community facilities  are now connected to NBIs network, meaning that these premises now have guaranteed access to minimum broadband speeds of 500Mb. More than 94,000* premises are now in a position to place an order or pre-order for service with one of the retail service providers registered on the NBI network.

NBIs most recent progress update shows strong momentum in the roll-out across all 26 counties, with take-up rates of over 30% already in Deployment Areas which have been live for a period of six months or more.

NBI Chief Commercial Officer, Joe Lavin said: 20,000 connections is a significant milestone for the rollout and one that were continuing to build upon, as our ability to move premises from the construction phase to the order phase ramps up. Ultimately, we will connect 560,000 homes, farms, businesses, and schools or over 1.1 million people.

"Customers like the Bellews have experienced the life-changing difference made by guaranteed minimum speeds of 500 megabytes per second. We look forward to even more Irish households benefiting from the limitless possibilities created by becoming one of the most connected countries in Europe.

Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Communications and Broadband, Ruairi O Murchu said: We all know the absolute necessity of high-speed broadband. This marks an important milestone and is hopefully a sign of forward momentum in the rollout so that more homes and businesses can look forward to operating online efficiently with access to fit-for-purpose broadband.

"While we wish we were further along, delivery is gathering pace, but there is a requirement on the Government and NBIs infrastructure partners to ensure every effort is made to achieve acceleration.

Declan Campbell, Managing Director of retail broadband provider Digiweb said: We are delighted to be bringing NBI fibre to homes and businesses, delivering high-speed broadband with consistent coverage at a reasonable price.

"We pride ourselves on customer service and the positive feedback we are receiving is a sure sign our partnership with NBI is delivering broadband access to our customers in the East which is second-to-none.

Cathrina Bellew, a recent customer of Digiweb in Louth said: The new connection has made a huge difference to our lives. Were a farming family and my husband uses cameras for security on the farm and to manage livestock. He can now monitor cows calving without having to leave the house.

"Prior to this, the wireless system was so unreliable; he couldnt trust it and would often leave in the middle of the night to drive down to the farm to check the animals. So that's been a hugh advantage in terms of saving time and peace of mind.

Our whole family has benefitted from a reliable high-speed broadband connection, Cathrina added. I help manage all the admin that comes with running a farm and good internet has made my life so much easier. Our daughter is a teacher and uses the internet to plan for the week ahead; this new connection is a world apart from the frustrating experience she had prior to connection.

"Theres also no issue with people being online at the same time which is a huge plus for our family. I cant speak highly enough of the service we received from Digiweb and the KN team; they were fantastic and the whole process was seamless.
The EU will deliberate on Iranian drones that Moscow utilized to terrorize the Ukrainians, with sanctions on individuals connected to them.Russian forces have recently utilized Shahed-136 'suicide' drones as Tehran denies it, and the Kremlin ignored the European Union ministers.

Russia Used Iran-Made Drones in Ukraine

Three drones controlled by Russian forces hit the small town of Makariv, west of Ukraine's capital, early Thursday, with experts saying that critical infrastructure installations had been damaged by what they claimed were Iranian suicide UAVs, reported Euractiv.

An assessment of unmanned aerial systems activity has been conducted, as shown by envoys quoting preliminary conferences ahead of Monday's ministerial meeting in Luxembourg, with the topic currently on the agenda. The officials said that although an arrangement on new listings was still not feasible on Monday, there may be a political settlement that might open the door for punitive measures later, noted Reuters.

The bloc is now planning to impose travel restrictions and financial sanctions on 15 Iranians involved in the crackdown on protests that began last month in response to the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, citing The Intelligencer.

Members of the EU, all parties involved in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, had already stated that they assumed additional sanctions about the unmanned aerial vehicles in use by Moscow were necessary and that any Iranian drones in transactions should be viewed as a contravention of resolution 2231 of the United Nations Security Council 2231.

Read Also: Mark Zuckerberg Net Worth 2022: How Did Facebook Founder Lose $30 Billion in 1 Day?

Resolution 2231 supported the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six powers that restricted Tehran's enriched uranium activity, making it more challenging for Iran to advance nuclear arms even as international pressure is lifted.

An EU representative remarked that foreign ministers might bring up Iran this Monday but declined to elaborate as to whether Iranian drones or punishments on UAV transfers will be on the priority list.

France's foreign office stated on Thursday it would seek advice from its European partners about how to react to the drone operation, which for the first time connected Iran's prospective stockpiles with the UN Security Council resolution, and said such behavior is an infringement of it.

Limiting Iran To Develop Nuclear Arms

Based on the resolution, Iran has been subject to an arms embargo till October 2020.

Notwithstanding the US attempts to extend the arms embargo under former President Donald Trump, who backed away from the deal through 2018, the Security Council rebuffed this, enabling Iran to renew its armaments exports.

The decision maintains constraints on missile systems and related technology until October 2023, including those encompassing the importation and procurement of cutting-edge military components.

A diplomatic reference has said that the UAVs in question fall under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), an informal political understanding among 35 states that aims to control the propagation of missiles, missile systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles, revenues that would infringe the agreement.

Questions on the interest of the EU in restricting the sales of Iranian drones to Moscow; one could be the US is preventing an already bad situation that its proxy in Ukraine will suffer badly with such weapons deployed against it.

Related Article: Former Australian PM Paul Keating Slams Quad, G7 for Excluding China, Urges US To Withdraw from AUKUS Security

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Russian President Vladimir Putin is using press gangs to kidnap unwilling army recruits off the street and drag them into the conflict in Ukraine.

To apprehend draft evaders, "conscript-catchers" conducted raids in Moscow and St. Petersburg. They even stopped a holiday flight to seize the co-pilot.

Russia's Mobilization Tactic

Face-recognition cameras have been used by teams of agents touring neighborhoods under the protection of dubious FSB operatives. On street corners, in metro stations, and next to apartment buildings, police thugs and enlistment officers wait to pounce.

According to reports, the armed recruiters even prowl offices looking for men for Putin's despised mobilization for the "meat grinder" war in Ukraine. Men of mobilization age were stranded by the entrance to the Polyustrovo Park residential complex in St. Petersburg while summonses were being delivered.

According to The Sun, summonses were delivered in bulk at subway stations in Moscow. Security goons interrogated male passengers, served some of them with call-up papers, and then whisked them away in police cars, according to eyewitnesses.

Tourists were detained for nine hours as a result of the first cop being enlisted by one of Putin's snatch gangs. After passengers had already boarded the AzurAir flight from Ufa in the Urals to Antalya in Turkey, the junior pilot was hauled away.

Vladimir Putin's most recent act of savagery and retaliation may have been motivated by his rage over the destruction of his iconic Crimean bridge. But the possibility of a horrifying new twist in a terrible war is also increased by his indiscriminate targeting of Ukrainian civilians, as per CNN.

On Monday, Russian missiles destroyed a major tourist attraction in Kyiv with a glass bottomed footbridge, destroyed busy junctions, and came down close to a playground. In strikes that echoed the terror inflicted on civilians in the early days of the invasion but that had largely subsided in recent months, power outages rolled throughout the nation, in some instances cutting off water supply and transit.

In advance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's attendance at an urgent virtual conference of G7 leaders, Russian forces initiated further attacks on Tuesday, firing rockets at two energy installations in western Ukraine. The attacks stole away the appearance of normalcy that city people had managed to reestablish and stoked worries of further attacks after spending months earlier in the war in subways converted into air raid shelters.

Read Also: Will Queen Consort Camilla Wear Controversial Crown at Coronation with King Charles III?

Russia-Ukraine War

The globe could clearly see the message. Putin does not want to be made to feel bad. He refuses to concede defeat. And in response to his record of defeats on the battlefield, he is very willing to cause civilian deaths and unleash widespread terror.

However, the targets on Monday were similarly of limited military significance and, if anything, helped to highlight Putin's need to identify fresh targets in light of his inability to humiliate Ukraine militarily.

The bombing of power plants in particular on Monday seemed to be an overt indication of the suffering the Russian President may bring about as winter approaches, despite the fact that his forces are retreating in the face of Ukrainian troops equipped with Western weapons.

With reports that two high-level officials have defected and are disclosing additional information about Russian war crimes and covert operations in Ukraine, there is more evidence of panic in Moscow's major military organizations tonight. A military commissar in charge of recruitment for Vladimir Putin's disorganized mobilization effort was discovered dead close to his home, prompting Russian authorities to open a murder investigation, Express reported.

Senior sources in Crimea, however, issued a warning tonight, saying that Russia remained unconvinced and was preparing to sanction the use of chemical weapons as part of a new offensive that will take place in conjunction with the G20 summit in Bali in November.

A senior mercenary with the Putin-supporting Wagner paramilitary group and a female FSB intelligence officer with operational knowledge of Russian troop movements are now reportedly in safe exile in France, where they have applied for political asylum.

According to Russian human rights activist Vladimir Osechkin, who made the defections public, the two defectors' information will both help assemble the case for war crimes against Vladimir Putin's war machine and aid Ukrainian forces in their counteroffensive in Donbas.

Related Article: Vladimir Putin Gets Brutally Honest on Russia Missile Strikes That Killed Ukraine Civilians: 'No Regrets'

@YouTube

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After Mary Sears and her team had revolutionized the field of oceanography, but before Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson helped put John Glenn into orbit, a cadre of women programmers working for the US government faced an impossible task: train ENIAC, the world's first modern computer, to do more than quickly calculate artillery trajectories. Though successful  and without the aid of a guide or manual no less  their names and deeds were lost to the annals of history, until author Kathy Kleiman, through a Herculean research effort of her own, brought their stories to light in Proving Ground: The Untold Story of the Six Women Who Programmed the Worlds First Modern Computer.

Grand Central Publishing

Excerpted from the book Proving Ground: The Untold Story of the Six Women Who Programmed the Worlds First Modern Computer by Kathy Kleiman. Copyright  2022 by First Byte Productions, LLC. Reprinted with permission of Grand Central Publishing. All rights reserved.

Demonstration Day, February 15, 1946

The Moore School stood ready as people began to arrive by train and trolley. John and Pres, as well as the engineers and deans and professors of the university, wore their best suits and Army ofcers were in dress uniform with their medals gleaming. The six women wore their best professional skirt suits and dresses.

Kay and Fran manned the front door of the Moore School. As the scientists and technologists arrived, some from as far as Boston, the two women welcomed them warmly. They asked everyone to hang up their heavy winter coats on the portable coat racks that Moore School staff had left nearby. Then they directed them down the hall and around the corner to the ENIAC room.

Just before 11:00 a.m., Fran and Kay ran back to be in the ENIAC room when the demonstration began.

As they slid into the back of the room, everything was at the ready. At the front of the great ENIAC U, there was space for some speakers, a few rows of chairs, and plenty of standing room for invited guests and ENIAC team members. Across the room, Marlyn, Betty, and Jean stood in the back and the women smiled to each other. Their big moment was about to begin. Ruth stayed outside, pointing late arrivals in the right direction.

The room was packed and was lled with an air of anticipation and wonder as people saw ENIAC for the rst time.

Demonstration Day started with a few introductions. Major General Barnes started with the BRL ofcers and Moore School deans and then presented John and Pres as the co-inventors. Then Arthur came to the front of the room and introduced himself as the master of ceremonies for the ENIAC events. He would run ve programs, all using the remote control box he held in his hand.

The rst program was an addition. Arthur hit one of the but-tons and the ENIAC whirled to life. Then he ran a multiplication. His expert audience knew that ENIAC was calculating it many times faster than any other machine in the world. Then he ran the table of squares and cubes, and then sines and cosines. So far, Demonstration Day was the same as the one two weeks earlier, and for this sophisticated audience, the presentation was pretty boring.

But Arthur was just getting started and the drama was about to begin. He told them that now he would run a ballistics trajectory three times on ENIAC.

He pushed the button and ran it once. The trajectory ran beautifully, Betty remembered. Then Arthur ran it again, a version of the trajectory without the punched cards printing, and it ran much faster. Punched cards actually slowed things down a little bit.

Then Arthur pointed everyone to the grids of tiny lights at the top of the accumulators and urged his attendees to look closely at them in the moments to come. He nodded to Pres, who stood against the wall, and suddenly Pres turned off the lights. In the black room, only a few small status lights were lit on the units of ENIAC. Everything else was in darkness.

With a click of the button, Arthur brought the ENIAC to life. For a dazzling twenty seconds, the ENIAC lit up. Those watching the accumulators closely saw the 100 tiny lights twinkle as they moved in a ash, rst going up as the missile ascended to the sky, and then going down as it sped back to earth, the lights forever changing and twinkling. Those twenty seconds seemed at once an eternity and instantaneous.

Then the ENIAC nished, and darkness lled the room again. Arthur and Pres waited a moment, and then Pres turned on the lights and Arthur announced dramatically that ENIAC had just completed a trajectory faster than it would take a missile to leave the muzzle of artillery and hit its target. Everybody gasped.

Less than twenty seconds. This audience of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians knew how many hours it took to calculate a differential calculus equation by hand. They knew that ENIAC had calculated the work of a week in fewer than two dozen seconds. They knew the world had changed.

Climax complete, everyone in the room was beaming. The Army ofcers knew their risk had paid off. The ENIAC engineers knew their hardware was a success. The Moore School deans knew they no longer had to be worried about being embarrassed. And the ENIAC Programmers knew that their trajectory had worked perfectly. Years of work, effort, ingenuity, and creativity had come together in twenty seconds of pure innovation.

Some would later call this moment the birth of the Electronic Computing Revolution. Others would soon call it the birth of the Information Age. After those precious twenty seconds, no one would give a second look to the great Mark I electromechanical computer or the differential analyzer. After Demonstration Day, the country was on a clear path to general- purpose, programmable, all- electronic computing. There was no other direction. There was no other future. John, Pres, Herman, and some of the engineers elded questions from the guests, and then the formal session nished. But no one wanted to leave. Attendees surrounded John and Pres, Arthur and Harold.

The women circulated. They had taken turns running punched cards through the tabulator and had stacks of trajectory printouts to share. They divided up the sheets and moved around the room to hand them out. Attendees were happy to receive a trajectory, a souvenir of the great moment they had just witnessed.

But no attendee congratulated the women. Because no guest knew what they had done. In the midst of the announcements and the introductions of Army ofcers, Moore School deans, and ENIAC inventors, the Programmers had been left out. None of us girls were ever introduced as any part of it that day, Kay noted later.

Since no one had thought to name the six young women who programmed the ballistics trajectory, the audience did not know of their work: thousands of hours spent learning the units of ENIAC, studying its direct programming method, breaking down the ballistics trajectory into discrete steps, writing the detailed pedaling sheets for the trajectory program, setting up their program on ENIAC, and learning ENIAC down to a vacuum tube. Later, Jean said, they did receive a lot of compliments from the ENIAC team, but at that moment they were unknown to the guests in the room.

And at that moment, it did not matter. They cared about the success of ENIAC and their team, and they knew they had played a role, a critical role, in the success of the day. This was a day that would go down in history, and they had been there and played an invaluable part.
Eleven people were killed when gunmen attacked a Russian military training base in Belgorod on Saturday, according to Moscow's defense ministry.

The RIA news agency reported that, according to the ministry, two men opened fire and killed a group of people who had volunteered to fight. Aside from the fatalities, 15 people sustained wounds in the shooting in the southwest Belgorod region, near the border of Ukraine.

Per Reuters, the report claimed that both attackers had been killed by gunfire; they were citizens of a former Soviet republic that was not named in the report. Several Russian independent news sources claimed the death toll could be more than the official tally.

The attack came one week after a blast damaged a bridge in Crimea, the peninsula that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Russian authorities arrested eight people and blamed Ukraine for the incident.

The gunmen, identified by Russian authorities as "terrorists," used small weapons to shoot the personnel of the unit while engaged in a firearms training session with volunteer individuals interested in participating in the special military operation of Russia against Ukraine, as per the RIA report.

Attackers Were Tajikistan 'Terrorists'

In a YouTube interview, Oleksiy Arestovych, a counselor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claimed that the assailants were from the Central Asian country of Tajikistan. The attackers started shooting at the others following a dispute over religion, per Al Jazeera.

While Muslims make up the vast majority in Tajikistan, Russians of all faiths make up about half the country.

The Russian ministry claimed the attackers came from one of the nine post-Soviet states that comprise the Commonwealth of Independent States, including Tajikistan.

Sota Vision, an independent Russian news website, reported the attack in Soloti, 105 km. (65 miles) southeast of Belgorod.

About 300,000 Russians who had previously served in the military were mobilized last month at Putin's order. Protests were held all over Russia as a result of the order, and a record number of people tried to leave the country.

Read Also: Xi Jinping, CCP To Hold Week-Long 20th Congress: Here's Top 5 Things To Expect



A military recruiter in Siberia was shot and killed not long after mobilization was announced by Putin, according to BBC News.

In early October, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu revealed that over 200,000 reservists had been called up to join the Russia-Ukraine war.

Violent Incidents Shake Belgorod

The assault on the Belgorod training ground on Saturday was the most recent in a string of violent incidents that have rocked the Russian region.

The governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported earlier on Saturday that a fuel depot had been shelled and was on fire. He shared a picture of a building ablaze with thick black smoke billowing out from it.

Meanwhile, as per a report from Al Jazeera, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked that around 65,000 Russians have died since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February, significantly more than Moscow's official September 21 estimate of 5,937.

The Pentagon said that between 70,000 and 80,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or hurt in August.

Despite numerous Russian strikes, Ukrainian troops are still holding the vital eastern town of Bakhmut, while the situation in Donbas remains challenging.

Russian soldiers have regularly sought to take Bakhmut, which is near Sloviansk and Kramatorsk within the Donetsk region.

Related Article: Crimea Bridge Blast: Russia Arrests Suspects Over Shocking Explosion | Here's What Happened

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Sunday, October 16, 2022

Commentary From Crisis Management Expert Edward Segal, Bestselling Author of the Award-Winning Book "Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies" (Nicholas Brealey, 2020)







Many chief information security officers work extra hours as they try to protect their companies from ransomware and other cyberattacks. Ironically, racking up too much overtime could make the companies vulnerable to a different kind of crisis.

That's one of the conclusions to be drawn from the results of a new survey by Tessian, an email security company.

According to their report, 18% of surveyed security leaders worked 25 extra hours a week, which was double the amount of overtime they worked last year.

Size Matters

The survey also found that security leaders at larger companies are putting in more overtime.

Chief information security officers (CISOs) at smaller companies (10-99 employees) report working an average of 12 extra hours a week.

Those in the same role at companies with 1,000+ employees report working an extra 19 hours.

Security leaders at small companies said they have more difficulty creating boundaries between work and home life. Twenty percent of CISOs at these companies say they can always switch off from work, compared to 31% of those at larger companies.

The survey of 600 security leaders in the U.S, UK, Middle East and Africa was conducted by Censuswide in September 2022.

Wake-Up Call

"These stats should serve as a wake-up call to the entire organization about security hygiene and overall posture, Josh Yavor, Tessian's information security officer, said in a statement.

This is especially true "when employees are tired or stressed and more likely to make mistakes like clicking a phishing email or emailing sensitive material to the wrong person," he noted.

When Burnout Begins To Develop

When people "work too many hours of overtime on a consistent basis, that is when burnout begins to develop, according to the definition of burnout by the World Health Organization," Janice Litvin, author of the Banish Burnout Toolkit , noted.

Employees who suffer from burnout are not "able to think clearly due to physical and mental exhaustion. The whole body is busy trying to keep you upright rather than allowing the brain to think creatively," she observed.

That, in turn, can result in bad or delayed decisions, which can create or prolong a business-related crisis. As I wrote last November, "Cybersecurity staff who are stressed, fatigued or suffering burnout cannot function at their full potential and may be prone to errors or poor judgement in a cyber crisis, which could make a bad situation worse."

Consequences Of Working Extra Hours

"Some overtime or extra hours worked can be unavoidable, but the consequences of habitual overwork are real. Our recent study shows that employees are more likely to make mistakes when they're tired or stressed, which could have serious consequences for security pros," Tessian said in a press release.

"A career in information security can be demanding. And as recent headlines have shown, the stakes have never been higher as CISOs are charged with keeping all facets of their organization protected online," the company noted.

Too Much Overtime Can Be Pointless

Litvin pointed to the research of John Pencavel, a Stanford University economics professor, who "found that productivity per hour declines sharply when a person works more than 50 hours a week.

"After 55 hours, productivity drops so much that putting in any more hours would be pointless. And, those who work up to 70 hours a week are only getting the same amount of work done as those who put in the 55," she said.

"In a crisis, our natural human reaction is an emotional one, based in the fight-flight-or-freeze part of the brain. It's important during a crisis to try to remain calm, or in terms of the brain, move the reaction to the pre-frontal cortex, the executive functioning part of the brain, so that you can think rationally and make wise decisions," Litvin said.

"How do you control your initial emotional reaction? By using S-T-O-P, an acronym for Stop, Take a Breath, Observe, and Proceed," she counseled.

'Lead By Example'

"It's critical that CISOs lead by example for their teams, Tessian's Yavor recommended.

"This includes setting and managing expectations, outlining clear priorities and recognizing our own limits. When we set boundaries and acknowledge our own constraints and limitations, others on our team feel empowered to do so as well. The end result is a more efficient and less stressed team," he concluded.


Slovenias second busiest airport, Portoroz, is in the final stages of talks with Air Serbia over the introduction of scheduled flights from Belgrade. At a presentation marking the airports sixtieth anniversary over the weekend, its General Manager, Bernard Majhenic, said the service, which would be operated by an ATR72 aircraft, would be subject to weight restrictions due to the length of Portorozs runway, which would limit passenger numbers on the flight. Air Serbia recently said it was looking to expand its regional network and boost frequencies on existing routes to feed its developing long haul destinations. This winter, the airline will operate two daily flights from Belgrade to Ljubljana, and a two weekly service from Nis to the Slovenian capital. Slovenias second busiest airport, Portoroz, is in the final stages of talks with Air Serbia over the introduction of scheduled flights from Belgrade. At a presentation marking the airports sixtieth anniversary over the weekend, its General Manager, Bernard Majhenic, said the service, which would be operated by an ATR72 aircraft, would be subject to weight restrictions due to the length of Portorozs runway, which would limit passenger numbers on the flight. Air Serbia recently said it was looking to expand its regional network and boost frequencies on existing routes to feed its developing long haul destinations. This winter, the airline will operate two daily flights from Belgrade to Ljubljana, and a two weekly service from Nis to the Slovenian capital.





The potential launch of Air Serbias flights to Portoroz would mark the carriers return to the city after thirteen years. Its predecessor, Jat Airways, maintained services between the two on a seasonal summer basis for two years - in 2009 and 2010. Furthermore, in 2010 it was granted approval by both Slovenian and Italian authorities to commence operations between Portoroz and Rome. However, the flights never materialised due to low interest and poor sales. If an agreement is reached, Portoroz would become Air Serbias sixteenth destination in the former Yugoslavia. Portoroz Airports single-largest shareholder is the Serbian MK Group, which also runs the nearby Kempinski Hotel.





Portoroz Airport has also signed a letter of intent with Czech carrier Van Air Europe for a two weekly service from Portoroz to Prague, Brno and Budapest. Over next three months, the Slovenian coast will launch promotional campaigns in the three cities to evaluate the potential of these routes. "We don't want a repeat of previous years when flights were co-funded by local tour operator and had just three or so passengers", Mr Majhenic said. Van Air Europe boasts a fleet of five nineteen-seat Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft and had maintained domestic Public Service Obligation flights within Croatia on behalf of Trade Air up until June of this year. Portoroz Airport has handled over 20.000 passengers so far this year, although it lacks scheduled commercial flights.




(The Center Square)  A coalition of leading House Republicans is raising the alarm and demanding answers after the Biden administration approved another round of grant funding for research on coronaviruses and bats in Asia.

The lawmakers sent a letter to Anthony Fauci, who leads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and serves as the chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden.

We have grave concerns that one of your last acts at NIAID is to send even more taxpayer dollars to an organization whose prior involvement in the very same subject may have contributed to a global pandemic, the letter to Fauci, who is ending his decades-long role with the federal government in December, said. We write seeking information about your decision, including whether anyone at NIH has a financial or other non-official interest in EcoHealth continuing to receive taxpayer funds.

EcoHealth Alliance is the group that received funding to study bats and coronaviruses via the infamous lab in Wuhan, China. The contract with that lab has been severed, in large part due to international scrutiny and questions about its role in the origin of the pandemic.

Your decision to fund EcoHealth is especially galling because the company continues to stonewall information gathering about the grant-funded work it previously financed at the WIV, the letter said. NIH has requested all U.S. taxpayer-funded laboratory notebooks and experiment results from EcoHealths research conducted at the WIV. As of today, however, EcoHealth has yet to supply the records sought by NIH.

House Republican Whip and Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Ranking Member Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., and House Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, sent the letter to Fauci.

The lawmakers called for more transparency, especially regarding the labs potential role in the COVID-19 pandemic, an issue still in dispute.

It is outrageous that the results of U.S. taxpayer-funded experiments are unavailable to the U.S. government, particularly when those experiments could shed light on the origins of a virus that has killed more than one million Americans, the letter said. It is unconscionable that you would choose to continue to fund a company that has violated its NIH grant terms in a manner that helps to keep this valuable information from the U.S. government and American taxpayers.

Based on the totality of circumstances surrounding EcoHealth and the WIV that have transpired over the past two and a half years, your decision to continue funding this entity is downright shocking, the letter adds.

Fauci announced earlier this year he would resign in December.

It has been the honor of a lifetime to have led the NIAID, an extraordinary institution, for so many years and through so many scientific and public health challenges, Fauci said in the announcement of his resignation. I am very proud of our many accomplishments.
The Rock Review is a reminder that farm tenants have a vital role in delivering the governments ambitions for the sector, the NFU has said.

The review, carried out by the Independent Tenancy Working Group, was published earlier this week, providing a new set of recommendations for both landlords and tenants.

It looked into accessibility within the government's financial schemes as well long-term changes in the tenanted sector.

The review comes following the formation of the independent Tenancy Working Group, chaired by Baroness Rock.

The group was established to identify and address concerns for the tenanted sector through the delivery of Environmental Land Management (ELM) and ongoing sector sustainability.

In response to the review, NFU vice president, David Exwood said government ministers must now respond swiftly following its publication.

In such a comprehensive review there will be some differences to iron out," Mr Exwood said.

As the NFU has long argued, the review stresses that landlords and tenants should be equal partners collaborating in this endeavour.

Baroness Rocks review and the NFU concur that ELMs must be accessible and relevant to tenants and landlords alike, and that county council farm estates are a key entry point for next generation farmers.

NFU tenants forum chair, Chris Cardell reiterated how essential tenant farmers were to the industry, as over 60% of Englands farmed was farmed by tenants.

"They play a pivotal role in producing food for the nation and looking after our environment," Mr Cardell explained.

"That is why it is important that agricultural land in the tenanted sector is protected, and any loss minimised.

The report is right to urge Defra and regulators to tenant-proof their schemes, policies and processes, ensuring they are a benefit to all farmers, including tenant farmers, and therefore wider food production and environmental protection.

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) said it 'welcomed and endorsed' the report, but warned that its recommendations could be 'quickly forgotten'.

"However, the TFA will be doing all it can to ensure that the valuable work carried out by the Tenancy Working Group will be taken seriously by this government and any which follows it," said TFA national chairman, Mark Coulman.

"The recommendations of the Rock Review hang together well and provide an extensive, thorough and clear blueprint for action with a host of easy wins that must not be missed."

The government said it would publish a formal response to the review in due course.
Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low around 45F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low around 45F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
By Lee Min-hyung







Seon Soon-chul, head of Hana Bank's Amsterdam Branch, poses after winning the Best Sub-Custodian Bank in Korea award from the Global Finance Transaction Banking Awards 2022, at the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam hotel, Netherlands, Oct. 11. Courtesy of Hana Bank

Hana Bank was named the Best Sub-Custodian Bank by Global Finance magazine in recognition of its commission competitiveness and diversified customer satisfaction capabilities, the lender said Sunday.







The bank has received the award every year since 2008, except for 2010. This year is the first time that a Korean commercial lender has won its 14th award from the Global Finance Transaction Banking Awards.







The magazine spoke highly of Hana's high level of customer services, its competitive edge in commissions, solid sales roadmap and capabilities in meeting the market's diversified needs.







"Hana Bank was recognized again for its three decades of expertise in custodian services by the global market," an official from the lender said. "We will keep developing our services customized for not just overseas financial institutions and international organizations, but also investors here and abroad."







Global Finance is a magazine headquartered in New York, with offices in London and Milan. It was founded in 1987 and has a readership of more than 50,000 corporate leaders, financial officials, bankers and investors in 163 countries.







This year, the magazine picked the best custodian banks by region from 82 countries at a time when financial products are diversifying and getting more complex. The magazine takes into consideration diverse factors, such as financial institutions' growth potential, innovation and profitability, before appointing the award winners each year.







Hana Bank has so far received a total of six best bank awards, 21 best foreign exchange bank awards and 21 best trade finance bank awards from the magazine.


Vietnam earned $29.014 billion from textile and garment exports in the first nine months of 2022, an increase of 23.8 per cent over the same period of last year, as per preliminary data from customs IT and statistics department, general department of customs, Vietnams ministry of finance. However, exports in September 2022 fell 31.9 per cent month on month.

According to the latest figures, the US accounted for a major share (about 48 per cent) totalling $13.869 billion in the textile and garment exports of Vietnam during the period under review. Japan and South Korea were the other major destinations with exports of $2.920 billion and $2.522 billion, respectively.

Vietnams yarn exports, however, decreased by 7.8 per cent to $3.774 billion compared to the same period of last year. Of this, China imported around 46.41 per cent or $1.754 billion worth of yarn, followed by India that imported yarn worth $98.302 million. In volume terms, Vietnam exported 1,204,356 tons of yarn which was 17.7 per cent lower than the exports during the corresponding period of last year.

Vietnam earned $29.014 billion from textile and garment exports in the first nine months of 2022, an increase of 23.8 per cent over the same period of last year, as per preliminary data from customs IT and statistics department, general department of customs, Vietnam's ministry of finance. However, exports in September 2022 fell 31.9 per cent month on month.

As per data, Vietnams exports of textiles and garment have registered a steep fall of 31.9 per cent in September 2022 compared to the previous month. It reflects the severe impact of slow demand in the international markets.

In 2021, Vietnams textile and garment exports earned $32.750 billion, registering a growth of 9.9 per cent over the exports of $29.809 billion in the previous year, while yarn exports increased by 50.1 per cent to $5.609 billion from $3.736 billion in 2020.

For 2022, Vietnam has set a target of $43 billion for its textiles, garments, and yarn exports, according to the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS).

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Portugal's Ideal Homes Portugal is a real estate agency. Currently, the company is facilitating American Investors by offering a two percentage of Mortgage rate on its luxury properties in Portugal.

Lagos, Portugal--(Newsfile Corp. - October 15, 2022) - Ideal Homes Portugal is assisting American real estate investors with a 2% Mortgage Rate and the Portugal Golden Visa program. Portugal has a reputation for welcoming foreigners to its real estate market, so the company makes applying for a mortgage is convenient for applicants.





Ideal Homes Portugal



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8621/140677_7c2d3b4c5436b8c9_001full.jpg

Ideal Homes Portugal, a real estate firm in Portugal, reports a recent increase in American clients eager to benefit from the strong dollar and, in many cases, to relocate to Portugal using the well-known Portugal Golden Visa program. The Golden Visa is a "residency-by-investment" visa that allows applicants to obtain residency in exchange for making eligible real estate or other types of capital investments.

Ideal Homes Portugal provides an opportunity for American investors to purchase. Moreover, the rates have changed, and Ideal Homes Portugal offers 1.8 percent and fixed 3.3 percent for Americans on its real estate properties.

Chris White, CEO of Ideal Homes Portugal, states about the new development:

"The buying power of Americans in the Algarve and wider Portugal has strengthened significantly. Based on today's [October 11th] rate of 1/$0.97, a Portuguese house with a price tag of 500,000 is around $90,000 cheaper than a year ago, when the rate was 1/$1.15."

About Ideal Homes Portugal

The company provides its services to American investors purchasing luxury properties in Portugal. Their services include locating the ideal property, assisting with the paperwork, closing dates for any problems, and guiding clients through buying their new residence or investment property.

Intending property dealers and potential American clients can visit https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/.

Media Details:

Contact person: Chris white

Company Name: Ideal homes Portugal

Email: Info@idealhomesportugal.com

Website: www.idealhomesportugal.com

Contact Number: 00351918055119

City: Lagos

Country: Portugal

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/140677
CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - The Communications Workers of America or CWA said that a majority of retail workers at the Penn Square Apple store in Oklahoma City won their union election and will be represented by the CWA. The Apple workers, known as Apple Retail Workers/CWA, are the second group of Apple retail workers to win union representation in the US. Apple Retail Union/CWA will represent Apple salespeople, genius admins, technicians, creatives, and operations specialists. Apple retail workers in Atlanta filed for a union election in April 2022, becoming the first group of Apple workers in the U.S. to seek formal recognition. CWA said that last week, the National Labor Relations Board or NLRB formally issued a complaint on the unfair labor practice charges brought by CWA against Apple for multiple federal labor law violations. CWA noted that Apple Retail Union/CWA is waiting to hear from the NLRB on several unresolved unfair labor practice charges which accused the company of violating the National Labor Relations Act by requiring workers to listen to anti-union propaganda during mandatory meetings in Atlanta, as well as interrogating and threatening to withhold benefits from Penn Square Apple workers weeks before the union election. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 132nd Canton Fair kicked off on Oct. 15, bringing a variety of heating products that will help buyers from Europe and North America dispel the cold and keep warm this winter.

According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, EU imported 1.29 million electric blankets from China in July, a 150% year-on-year growth. China's total export of heat pumps in the first half of this year reached 3.62 billion yuan; over 70% of these are exported to the European market.

In line with the "Canton Fair Warm Winter Program", thermal and heating products, including mobile device controlled heaters, heating blankets, velvet sheet sets and cashmere clothing, demonstrated the best of China's manufacturing.





The smart inverter convective heater, by Foshan Shunde Big Climatic Manufacture adopts a patented frequency conversion technology, providing precise temperature control of  1 - whilst saving 30% of electricity. Its patented hedgehog-type heating technology can increase the air contact by 36%, significantly improving heating performance. It also comes with overheating and dumping protection.

The heating blanket from Zhejiang Hualian Group, uses PTC technology for intelligent constant temperature control and delivers quick and even heating performance. The heating blanket weaved with TACHIBANA's double helix heating wires, which have gone through a rigorous 35,000 folding tests and 168 hours of high temperature tests, can be both machine or hand washed.

Chengdu Rainbow Appliance Group's heating underblanket also draws attention for its environmentally friendly materials. It enables fast removal of beddings damp and is equipped with the 7 temperature settings.

Among the manufacturers of heating and warming products, represented by High Hope International Group Jiangsu Champion Holdings Ltd., High Hope Zhongding Corporation, Tianjin Huitian Aixin Handknitting Tech Co. and Raidyboer Fashion Garment Co., Ltd, thermal and warming clothes and accessories are presented during the online show, such as cashmere and silk made clothing, padded jacket, gloves, scarves, heat tech underwear, warming sticky pads and velvet sheet sets.

China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, was established in the spring of 1957. Held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou, it is a comprehensive international trading event with the longest history, the largest scale, in China. The Canton Fair is hailed as the barometer or wind vane of China's foreign trade.

For more information and opportunities, please register https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US/register/index?utm_source=rwyx#/foreign-email.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/132nd-canton-fair-gathers-heating-commodities-to-dispel-the-cold-this-winter-301650226.html
On September 23, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Wang Yi expressed, China and Sri Lanka are each other's strategic cooperative partner. The two countries have always shared weal and woe and sincerely helped each other. This year, which marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact, is of great significance for inheriting the past and ushering in the future. China is ready to work with Sri Lanka to carry forward the traditional friendship, consolidate strategic mutual trust and deepen and expand pragmatic cooperation. Congratulations to Sri Lanka on its initial results in stabilizing the situation and easing difficulties. China has provided medicines, rice, fuel and other emergency humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, and will continue to offer assistance within our capacity to help Sri Lanka overcome temporary difficulties.

Sabry said that the Sri Lanka-China friendship has a solid foundation. China has provided strong support for Sri Lanka's economic and social development for a long time. In particular, China has offered timely help to Sri Lanka when it encountered difficulties. Sri Lanka will never forget that. China is an important development partner of Sri Lanka, and Chinese enterprises have made positive contributions to Sri Lanka's efforts to accelerate development. The so-called "China's debt trap" claim is an entirely groundless rumor. Sri Lanka welcomes investment from all countries, including China, and will strive to ensure the safety and reasonable returns of foreign investment. He thanked China for assisting Sri Lankan students in returning to China to resume studies.

Wang Yi said, the cooperation between China and Sri Lanka is part of South-South cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit. Certain countries created and spread the narrative of "debt trap". But by so doing, they bring developing countries an "underdevelopment trap" in essence. China and Sri Lanka will continue the understanding of and support to each other, and stand firmly together on the issues of sovereignty, independence and national dignity.

The two sides agreed to jointly advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and give play to the effects of flagship projects such as the Hambantota Port and the Colombo Port City, so as to boost Sri Lanka's economic recovery.

The two sides will speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement and strive to reach a deal at an early date, so as to inject strong confidence and stable expectations into economic and trade cooperation.
On September 24, 2022 local time, State Councilor met with Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Wang Yi congratulated Shahid on the successful performance of his duties during his presidency of the UN General Assembly, which has made positive contributions to the development of the UN cause, addressed global challenges, and helped the Maldives to improve its international status and influence. Wang Yi said, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Maldives diplomatic relations. Over the past time of half a century, China and the Maldives have been upholding the spirit of friendship and neighborliness, treating each other as equals, conducting cooperation for development, supporting each other with mutual assistance and tiding over difficulties together. China highly appreciates the Maldives' long-standing understanding and support for China's just claims on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns, and China also supports the Maldives in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and national dignity, and will continue to uphold justice for the Maldives at the international arena.

Shahid expressed his gratitude to China for its long-standing valuable support to the Maldives in various fields such as infrastructure, education, and energy. The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge built with China's assistance has brought enormous changes to the country and greatly accelerated the economic development process of the Maldives and benefitted the Maldivian people.

Shahid stressed, the one-China principle is a firm consensus of the Maldivian government which the Maldives will consistently and firmly adhere. The one-China principle is also an international consensus confirmed by the UN General Assembly resolution, and I have released a press statement as the President of the UN General Assembly to make my position clear. I thank China for its strong support during my presidency of the UN General Assembly and look forward to continuing to strengthen coordination with China on multilateral affairs.

Wang Yi said that China and the Maldives have a tradition of mutual understanding and mutual support, and China appreciates the Maldives' adherence to the one-China principle. When it comes to the principle of sovereignty, there is no room for double standards. Since some countries now flaunt respect for national sovereignty, they should match their words with actions, must show equal respect for China's sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Taiwan question, and unequivocally oppose separatist activities for "Taiwan independence", and do not engage in any form of official contacts with Taiwan.

The two sides expressed readiness to continue to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and speed up the ratification of the free trade agreement, so as to inject more stable and positive expectations for bilateral cooperation.
On the afternoon of 15 September local time, President Xi Jinping held the sixth meeting of heads of state of China, Russia and Mongolia with President Vladimir Putin and President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh at the Forumlar Majmuasi Complex in Samarkand.

President Xi underscored the strong impetus and resilience of the cooperation among China, Russia and Mongolia. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trilateral cooperation has never stopped, and the achievements made should be recognized. The three countries fought the pandemic together, sending medical supplies to each other at the earliest time possible, sharing anti-epidemic experience without reservation, and jointly protecting the life and health of our people. We had online discussions to keep the momentum of exchanges, and the hearts of our people were brought even closer. Cooperation on joint COVID-19 prevention and control in the border areas was carried out to keep economic and trade interactions steady and smooth. Notable progress was made in the development of international road transportation along the Asian Highway Network connecting the three countries.

President Xi put forth a four-point proposal on furthering China-Russia-Mongolia cooperation. First, keep the trilateral cooperation in the right direction. It is important to deepen political trust, increase mutual support, respect and accommodate each others core interests and major concerns, and strengthen coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs.

Second, upgrade cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to jointly build a platform of cooperation against risks and challenges and a platform of growth that helps unleash the potential of development.

Third, follow through on the common understanding reached on the building of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, support the neighboring regions in deepening cooperation in economy and trade, people-to-people exchanges, tourism and other fields, and continue to build high-quality platforms for the exchanges of business communities of the three countries.

Fourth, work for more outcomes in trilateral cooperation and support the expansion of settlement in local currencies in mutual trade. Russian and Mongolian financial institutions are welcome to join the RMB Cross-border Interbank Payment System to build a strong bulwark of financial security in the region.

President Putin noted that Russia-China-Mongolia trilateral cooperation has made significant progress, and, with its mutually beneficial nature, adds value to the development of their mutual relations. As close neighbors, the three countries should give each other understanding and support, and consolidate and promote trilateral cooperation across the board. The three countries should encourage and support their entrepreneurs to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and push for more substantial progress in cooperation in areas such as transport, logistics, cross-border transportation, energy, high and new technology, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

President Khurelsukh said that the development of good-neighborly and friendly cooperation with China and Russia is a diplomatic priority for Mongolia. Given the complex international situation, it is all the more important to strengthen trilateral cooperation among Mongolia, China and Russia. The Mongolian side is ready to strengthen communication with China and Russia and jointly work for progress in both bilateral and trilateral cooperation in trade, investment, environment, energy, railway, tourism and other areas.

The three countries confirmed the extension of the Outline of the Development Plan on Establishing the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor by five years, officially launched the feasibility study on the upgrading and development of the central-route railway of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, and agreed to actively move forward the project on the Mongolian section of the China-Russia natural gas pipeline.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi and He Lifeng were present at the meeting.
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as he arrives for the opening session of the 20th Chinese Communist Party Congress in Beijing, Sunday. AFP-Yonhap



China likely to increase support for North Korea



By Kang Seung-woo



Chinese President Xi Jinping's precedent-defying third team in power, which will be confirmed during the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) week-long Congress that kicked off on Sunday, is casting a shadow over the Korean Peninsula.



South Korea-China relations are already facing looming tensions, with Seoul in favor of U.S.-led value-based diplomacy against Beijing's assertiveness, according to diplomatic observers, Sunday.



In addition, the continued tenure of Xi as the leader of China is likely to put a damper on efforts directed toward resolving North Korea's nuclear issue, they added.



The national congress will end Oct. 22. Xi is widely expected to win a third five-year term there as the general secretary of the Chinese Community Party.



"In general, Xi's third term will not play a positive role in advancing South Korea-China ties at all," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University.



Park said Xi's third term will likely see rising authoritarianism and assertive foreign policies. Thus, the United States will likely seek to bolster its alliance with its allies and like-minded liberal democracies against China, he said.



"Under the conditions of an intensifying rivalry between the U.S. and China, there is little room for South Korea to maneuver," he added.






Albany's beleaguered homeless shelter is being accused of mishandling donations, unfair hiring practices and a breach in bylaws, according to complaints filed with the Oregon Department of Justice and a current staff member.

In the past two months, five employees have quit Albany Helping Hands, 619 SE Ninth Ave, with little explanation. Last month, Mid-Valley Media learned that board President James Sapp had stepped down from his leadership role after concerning behavior was reported to the Department of Justice.

The news followed an exodus of staff members, including key members Executive Director Emma Deane, Program Manager Allison Bumgarner and Leigh Matthews Bock, who handled marketing, human resources support and served as the grant manager.

These strong women left because they had been fighting against a powerful board, Accounting and Office Manager Trudy Fields said.

It all came to a head in August.

Allegations of mishandling money

On Aug. 5, a donor called Albany Helping Hands confused about why her check was being held, Fields said.

Fields researched her name in the records system but discovered the shelter had never received a donation from her.

The donor then explained that since 2016, she had been giving regularly to Albany Helping Hands during her church service at Hands of Mercy, which uses the shelter's dayroom as its worship hall, Fields said.

She was misled. She thought they were under the same nonprofit, Fields said.

Sapp and his wife Marilee Sapp are listed as the board members of Hands of Mercy. They are also board members at Albany Helping Hands. At the time, James Sapp was the board president.

Fields said the donor did fill out checks in the name of Hands of Mercy but didnt think to question it because the names were similar and had the same leader.

The donor began to cry and said she "felt scammed, Fields said.

After the incident, Fields met with then-director Deane and another board member, she said.

I wanted the donor to be comforted, the former president and his wife to be fully removed, and to bar Hands of Mercy from being allowed to fundraise at any of the Helping Hands properties, she said.

But that didnt happen.

With a scheduled board meeting a couple of days later, an emergency discussion was added to address the concerns, Fields said. But the executive director was told she could not participate.

Not long after, employees started giving their notice, Fields said.

The former president stepped down but now has the title of chaplain, Fields said. It's spelled "Chaplin" on the website.

Fields described what happened as a conflict of interest that saw no accountability.

He still has a say and a vote, she said, referring to Sapp's new position in the board.

Two complaints were filed in September with the Department of Justice, copies of which were attained by Mid-Valley Media. Both had the identity of the filers redacted for confidentiality.

Five staff that resigned because their integrity would no longer allow them to associate with the board, the Sept. 15 complaint read.

The shelter's former executive director, Deane, declined to comment.

The complaint detailed concerns over the board presidents handling of funds.

Recently there was a concern that the board president was taking and soliciting donations for Helping Hands. Helping Hands never saw those funds. ... When reported to the department of justice the board swept it under the rug.

A second complaint detailed a similar concern.

The complaint expresses concern that donations for Albany Helping Hands may be going to a different and unregistered nonprofit, Hands of Mercy, DOJ Communications Director Kristina Edmunson said by email.

This issue was taken to the board of directors of Albany Helping Hands, who did not address it, resulting in multiple resignations," Edmunson said, summarizing the complaint.

Fields did not file the complaints, she said, but they could have been written by any one of the staffers.

Reached for comment, Sapp declined to give a statement beyond saying, We did nothing wrong.

Coming forward

As she spoke, Fields' hands were shaking. She fidgeted with her staff lanyard.

"I almost had a panic attack in the car," she said.

Fields had a background in finance and a passion for volunteer work, so the job that opened at Albany Helping Hands a little more than a year ago seemed like a dream come true.

Fields would have left with the others, she said. But she wasnt in a financial position to weather it. The sole breadwinner of her family of eight, she fears retaliation. But she also feels a call to action to shed light on what has happened.

Im fearful for my family and myself, but I couldnt wait any longer. It had to be done, she said.

Separation of church?

Albany Helping Hands is listed as a religion organization with the Oregon Secretary of State's Office. It's supposed to be nondenominational, but the board has shown some biases, Fields said.

Fields defines being nondenominational as not changing your view of someone based on their religion. She doesnt believe the board practices that.

I dont believe they are open-minded enough to make it nondenominational, she said.

The Sept. 15 complaint says the Board of Directors forced religion on staff and residents by screening for members of the Christian faith in the hiring process. The complaint alleges this runs afoul of equal opportunity laws.

When Fields was hired, she was asked if she attended church. She said the question was inappropriate and declined to answer. The human resources officer present in the interview also marked the question as inappropriate.

Fields said she was told the presence of the HR officer was required because the prior interview was discriminatory.

Recently at work, she was handed a religious book that she was encouraged to read. Sometimes behaviors overstep to religious harassment, she said.

There is constant, loud prayer, she said.

But what hurts her the most, she said, is seeing the residents of Albany Helping Hands put their last dollars and change in the donation basket at the end of the religious services.

"None of that goes back to them," she said.

Bylaws bypassed?

The Sept. 15 complaint also alleges that by not holding elections, the board of directors had not been following its own bylaws for more than five years.

A copy of the bylaws was obtained through a request with the Department of Justice.

Election of the executive officers for one year term shall take place at the annual meeting on the second Thursday in October of each year, the bylaws state.

With the exception of adding a board member, Fields said she has not seen an election.

You cant keep burying your head in the sand and claiming ignorance when you are not going by the book, she said.

Lack of passion

There is a disconnect between the groundwork staff does and the board of directors' oversight, Fields said.

She has seen board members question why residents are still at the shelter. Some have referred to the residents as inmates and "guests, rather than residents, she said.

Ive never seen the board have a meaningful interaction with a resident," she said.

God will provide is a motto the board sticks to, which Fields said isnt helpful for getting things done, or for getting the proper help to those who are unhoused and down on their luck.

The progress the previous team made was accomplished with a lot of "pleading" and "begging" to the board of directors, she said, and it shouldn't have to be that way.

I dont think they are bad people, but they just dont have a passion for our mission," she said.

The aftermath

Fields said she is in full support of the team that has left but feels a great loss. For the residents, the wave of resignations and new staff has created confusion.

Her eyes welled with tears as she relayed that some residents dont know whom to talk to, while others say they would rather be on the street.

The shelter aims to get people back on their feet by transitioning to assistance. They are in a vulnerable position and need support, Fields said.

But she said the work and goals of the old team have lapsed since their departures.

Peoples lives are being re-destroyed, she said.

Fields doesnt blame those who have resigned, but rather the unethical behavior that has caused them, she said.

For the past few months, working at Helping Hands has put Fields in a sort of depressive funk, she said. Shes had to shoulder more work and responsibility.

Its my dream job, and here its crumbling, she said. Its a burden to see what you love go down the drain.

At the same time, she has become emboldened. She has gone from feeling like she has to stay to wanting to stay.

I want to be a sense of security for the residents, she said.

Fields believes there is still hope for the organization and wants to still work there. But change needs to happen.

She said the board needs to be uprooted, with no family members or conflicts of interest.

I want to continue to work there, but I want big change, Fields said, I will never give up hope on Albany Helping Hands being a great place to help people.

Editor's Note: The article has been edited to correct the spelling of a name.

Related articles:




By Kang Hyun-kyung







Poland will purchase nearly 300 K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers from Korea and the artillery weapon system will be provided to the European country by next year, according to a Polish media outlet.







In a media interview on Oct. 14th, Polish Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said negotiations between Poland and South Korea had been completed and a contract will be signed during his visit to South Korea next week.









"It's an excellent artillery weapon and based on our observations from the war in Ukraine we can clearly see how much advantage artillery can create on the battlefield," Blaszczak was quoted as saying in

with local news site I.PL.







His remarks came after Ukraine was able to change the course of the war against Russia after the use of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System or HIMARS in late June and early July. The missiles have been used to hit Russian targets, such as bridges that Russia occupied during the war, and command posts.







Poland's ruling conservative Law and Justice Party, in power since fall 2015, has been strengthening the country's armed forces in response to neighboring Russia's policies and actions.







The K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher was developed by both Hanwha Corporation and Doosan DST: The rocket was developed by Hanwha and the launcher by Doosan.







The Chunmoo is a multi-caliber rocket system and the rockets can be fired from the same platform but have different ranges.







Last year, the Polish government announced a plan to purchase 500 HIMARS launchers from the United States. But the plan has been adjusted since then.







"We're aware that we will not receive all 500 HIMARS launchers, for which we have sent a letter of request, within a timeline that would be satisfactory for us," the Polish defense minister said, noting that the Polish government, therefore, decided to purchase both the HIMARS and the Chunmoo.







Minister Blaszczak will arrive in Seoul on Monday. South Korea and Poland are expected to sign a contract during his Seoul visit.







The news came months after the two countries agreed on a $5.8-billion contract in August for Hyundai Rotem to sell tanks and Hanwha Defense to provide howitzers to Poland.


Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Dong-geun, sixth from left, joins a protest rally with Uijeongbu citizens and politicians, in front of a facility that child rapist Kim Geun-sik was scheduled to enter, Saturday. The prosecution requested another arrest warrant for Kim on the same day. Screenshot from Kim Dong-geun's Facebook account



By Lee Yeon-woo



The court issued an arrest warrant for serial child rapist Kim Geun-sik, Saturday, one day before he was set to be released from prison, after a woman filed charges that she was raped by Kim 16 years ago when she was a minor.



The prosecution had requested the court to issue an arrest warrant for Kim earlier on Saturday.



Kim, who was expected to be released this Monday after serving 15 years in jail on charges of having raped 11 minors, will be put behind bars again.



According to the prosecution, the victim recently recognized Kim's face as the man who sexually assaulted her 16 years ago, as the media began to report on his release using his mugshot photo. She filed new charges against him with the prosecution.



Prosecutors said they analyzed relevant evidence and proved that Kim had been the attacker in the case.



"Not only is Kim's crime very serious, but also there's a possibility of Kim running away as he has no permanent residence at the moment. He could reoffend, or do harm to the victims. That's why we requested an arrest warrant," the prosecution said.



On Monday, Kim was scheduled to move into a facility affiliated with the justice ministry that helps released prisoners reintegrate into society, by offering housing as well as psychiatric, educational and other services, similar to what is known in English as a "halfway house." As Kim was assigned to enter such a facility located in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, residents who have children attending school nearby have expressed their worries.



Seven elementary, middle, and high schools and 23 facilities for minors are located within a one-kilometer radius of the facility, the city government said.



"Don't say we don't have to worry because you will watch him closely 24 hours a day. Crimes occur anyway even though there's law  We hope the facility with Kim Geun-sik leaves Uijeongbu. Justice Minister Han, who is dumping brutal criminal Kim Geun-sik on Uijeongbu's residents, should get rid of this facility," Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Dong-geun said in a statement released on Saturday.



The mayor also said that the justice ministry had denied his requests to hold a meeting at the facility. In response, he issued an administrative order shutting down roads near the facility from Sunday to prohibit Kim from entering Uijeongbu.



The Ministry of Justice has made no public comments regarding Uijeongbu City's opposition to its decision.


Tokyo, Oct. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Precedence Research, Recently Published Report on Floating Wind Power Market (By Water Depth: Shallow Water, Transitional water, Deep Water; By Turbine Capacity: Up to 3 MW, 3 MW  5 MW, Above 5 MW) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Regional Outlook, and Forecast 2022-2030.



The market for floating wind power is anticipated to rise significantly due to the significant increase in demand for renewable energy sources. In contrast to conventional power sources, floating wind turbines are also affordable and have lower carbon emissions. Additionally, the floating wind turbine technology does away with the water depth restriction, making it easier to choose the ideal location for power generation. For instance, in June 2017, the Norwegian energy corporation Statoil committed $268 million in a project using wind turbines.

Get the Sample Copy of Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/sample/2225

The project entailed installing floating wind turbines off Scotland's north-east coast at a depth of 78 metres. Additionally, compared to other onshore wind turbines, floating wind turbines have a larger capacity factor. This is explained by the reliable power production of floating wind turbines. For example, a floating offshore wind turbine has a capacity factor of 0.50.7, compared to an onshore wind turbine's capacity factor of 0.250.3. It might be costly to build a wind turbine with several mooring lines and anchors, though. Additionally, a permanent defence against hurricanes or strong storms could be a Twisted Jacket foundation with fewer nodes and parts. In addition to providing strong and stable constructions, the inward battered guiding structure significantly lowers installation costs. The market for floating wind power will see more prospects as a result of this new invention.

Regional Snapshots

In 2021, Europe held the greatest market share for offshore wind power worldwide. In terms of offshore wind technology & offshore wind farm development, Europe has been a pioneer. The European Wind Initiative (EWI), a wind energy R&D initiative created to advance the wind sector in Europe, supports the development of offshore wind energy. The EU's member states are primarily concentrating on updating their deteriorating electrical infrastructure, and their governments are encouraging the use of renewable energy sources for power generation and creating networks from sources to end users to facilitate effective power and energy trading.

Over the course of the forecast period, the global offshore wind energy market is anticipated to see profitable market expansion in North America. The rise is linked to both rising wind energy demand and wind energy investment in North America. The economies of the U.S. and Canada contribute significantly to the wind energy industry. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the implementation of offshore wind projects in the U.S. will prevent the worldwide harm caused by greenhouse emissions by around $50 billion.

Additionally, the market for offshore wind energy in North America is expanding due to the significant presence of important companies here. Turbine producers, for instance, Bergey Wind Power and Kelso Energy LTD, are concentrating on upgrading their turbines with cutting-edge technology like onboard sensors and improved rotors with characteristics of injection and compression moulding.

Over the anticipated time in the industry, Asia Pacific is anticipated to have a sizable market share. Additionally, during the anticipated timeframe, the region was estimated to produce 2.12 GW of offshore wind energy.

Report highlights

In May 2021, around 35,324 megawatts (MW) of U.S. offshore wind energy were produced, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Energy.

During the projection period, deep water (>60 metres) is expected to rule the floating wind turbine industry. The optimal location for power generation may be chosen thanks to the construction of deep-water turbines, which provide a vast region with no water depth restrictions.

In 2021, the European offshore wind energy industry attracted more than 39.9% regional shares.

From 2022 to 2030, the Asia-Pacific offshore wind energy industry will have a notable CAGR.

Growing energy demand in emerging nations is driving the offshore wind energy market expansion in the upcoming years.

Up to 30 metres of sea depth accounted for 69.9% of the entire market share in 2021.

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Scope of the Report

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2021 USD 2.9 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 69.8 Billion CAGR 42.4% from 2022 to 2030 By Water Depth Shallow Water

Transitional water

Deep Water By Turbine Capacity Up to 3 MW

3 MW  5 MW

Above 5 MW By Geography North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA) Base Year 2021 Forecast Year 2022 to 2030 Key Players General Electric (US), Vestas (Denmark), Siemens Gamesa (Spain), Goldwind (China), Shanghai Electric Wind Power Equipment Co. (China),ABB (Switzerland), Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction (South Korea), Hitachi (Japan), Nordex SE (Germany), EEW (Germany) and Others.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Rising Renewable Energy Investments to Fuel Market Growth for Floating Wind Power.

Today, many nations throughout the world are switching to renewable energy to cut down on carbon emissions. The demand for wind and solar energy is therefore quite strong. The growing utilisation of wind energy will also provide new prospects for the offshore wind energy sector. According to the Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2019 research, investments in renewable energy increased by USD 272.9 billion globally in 2018. These elements are expected to hasten the expansion of the floating wind power industry in the near future. However, the pre-development of wind farms and engineering operations are quite expensive. It could prevent growth.

Restraints

Due to the installation's geographic position, the foundation and equipment installed offshore are expensive and also provide logistical challenges. Additionally, the cost of maintenance will be significant and it is possible that the turbines could corrode. During inclement weather, it is incredibly challenging to fix even the slightest problems with wind turbines. The undersea cables that transport energy back to land can be damaged by hurricanes or storms, and they are very expensive to manufacture and install. All of these elements pose a severe danger to the market for floating wind power's expansion.

Opportunities

To support market development, offshore wind power ambitions will draw massive investment. In order to establish R&D in the floating offshore wind power objectives to get power on much larger scale, renewable energy goals have increased interest in floating offshore wind turbines across numerous nations. In 2021, the US Department of Energy declared a funding opportunity to encourage enormous investment in this market. Offshore wind can provide 11 times increase in energy than what the world needs, attracting $1 trillion by 2040, based on the International Energy Agency's 2019 forecast. The UK has set a goal of 30GW of offshore wind energy by the end of 2030. A 5.25.2 GW offshore wind power project that would be fully operational by 2028 was announced by France in 2020.

Challenges

The market, installation, and supply chain were all negatively impacted by the COVID 19 epidemic. Because of this, the intended result was not obtained. The market has stopped growing since there were delays in international commerce. The safety of the workers is put at risk when working on offshore sites, and the R&D team is particularly concerned about the operators' safety. The turbines or the infrastructure have a detrimental influence on the animals, flora, and fauna of the water and constitute a hazard to birds flying over the water body. Currently, shallow water bodies are utilised for installation; however, deeper waters will be employed in the future, thus the foundation technology and innovation used to install the turbines must be appropriate for those deeper seas.

Recent developments

In October 2020, Total bought a 20% share in the EolMed floating wind project. It is situated in the Mediterranean Sea, off the French coast of Gruissan and close to Port-La-Nouvelle. Three MHI Vestas 10 MW turbines will be installed there.

In June 2020, Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, a 1.4 GW project, will receive 100 of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy's SG 14-222 DD offshore wind turbines. It is in the United Kingdom. More than 1.2 million households will be able to be powered by the project's electricity production.

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SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges MINISO Group Holdings Limited (NYSE: MNSO) investors who suffered significant losses to submit your losses now. A securities class action related to MINISOs Oct. 15, 2020, initial public offering of approximately 30.4 million American Depositary Shares at $20/share has been filed.



Relevant Period: Oct. 15, 2020  July 26, 2021

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Oct. 17, 2022

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/MNSO

Contact An Attorney Now: MNSO@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

MINISO Group Holdings Limited (NYSE: MNSO) Securities Class Action:

The litigation focuses on MINISOs repeated claims, enabling it to complete its IPO, that its business model was a high margin, asset-light network of thousands of independent franchise stores who shoulder capital expenditures and operating expenses, and on its claims it would use IPO net proceeds to expand its business operations.

The complaint alleges that the IPO offering documents misleadingly stated or failed to disclose: (1) MINISO and undisclosed related parties owned and controlled many more MINISO stores than previously stated; (2) as a result, MINISO concealed its true costs; (3) MINISO mischaracterized its true business model; (4) MINISO and its Chairman engaged in planned unusual and unclear transactions; (5) as the result of at least one of these transactions, MINISO risks breaching contracts with Chinese authorities; and, (6) MINISO would imminently and drastically drop its franchise fees.

On July 26, 2022, analyst Blue Orca Capital published a scathing report concluding in part that MINISO owns and operates about 40% of MINISO stores. Hundreds of stores are registered to company executives or persons connected to its Chairman and, MINISOs chairman, Ye Guofu, bilked hundreds of millions of freshly raised capital from public investors through a series of crooked transactions revolving around the purchase and construction of a massive headquarters in China.

As of the date of the filing of the action, MINISOs ADSs trade almost 70% below the IPO price.

Were focused on investors losses and proving MINISO misrepresented its asset-light business model and how it would use of its IPO proceeds, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in MINISO and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding MINISO should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email MNSO@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
Vitriolic, ultra-right Labor Council chair unfit for key post



Kim Moon-soo, chair of the presidential Economic, Social and Labor Council, was forced out of the conference room during a National Assembly audit of government agencies Wednesday, due to his controversial remarks that come close to ideological branding. Above all, Kim called former President Moon Jae-in a "Kim Il-sung-ist," a follower of the North Korean founder. The resulting interparty clash disrupted the audit session. Kim was sent away after protests by the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmakers, and members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) also left the meeting.



Amid the furor over Kim's remarks, the rival political parties could not discuss actual labor issues at all, such as working hours and wage issues. Kim was once a labor activist. However, since the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, he has moved in tandem with ultra-right groups outside the National Assembly. When President Yoon Suk-yeol appointed Kim last month as the ministerial-level chief of the labor council, there were concerns about whether his extreme political views were appropriate for the post, which requires a middle-of-the-road attitude and a capacity for compromise and mediation.



Politicians have usually held the post, and most of them have been inclusive, tolerant and persuasive. However, Kim quickly triggered a political dispute. On a radio show the following day, Kim said he would not retract his previous remark that "former President Moon should be shot to death," sticking fast to his ultra-right political beliefs. It's preposterous to brand Moon as a Kim Il-sung follower simply because the former president professed his respect for Shin Young-bok, the late economics professor who served a 20-year jail term for his 1968 involvement in the United Revolutionary Party, an underground communist movement linked to North Korea.



As the head of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, a body that should promote dialogue, reconciliation and cooperation among diverse groups with varying interests and ideologies, including employers and workers, it is inappropriate to make far-fetched remarks reminiscent of McCarthyism. President Yoon, who appointed such a controversial figure to lead labor reform, should sack him immediately and find an appropriate figure for the post.










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A HOUSE?
Interview: China's development achievements in past decade amazing, says Kiribati president

Xinhua) 15:20, October 16, 2022

SYDNEY, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Amazement is the right word to use when describing China's development achievements in the past ten years, Kiribati President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau said.

The chapter ahead would add color and excitement to the great story of the Chinese people and the country, Maamau said in a recent written interview with Xinhua.

Maamau recalled his first trip to China as "an eye-opener" to see the high living standards of the Chinese people. "This is a great achievement" testifying to the country's "people-centered development vision," he said.

First elected president of Kiribati in 2016 and then re-elected, Maamau paid a state visit to China in 2020, after the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries in September 2019.

Maamau said he strongly agrees with the idea that people's support is of paramount importance in governance.

"My government also prioritizes anti-corruption at the top of our agenda," and has begun to establish legislative frameworks to "effectively stamp out corruption in Kiribati," Maamau noted.

"More work is required," he said, adding Kiribati will continue to learn from its partners like China about measures that will assist efforts in Kiribati.

The partnership and cooperation between Kiribati and China have "grown immensely" since the resumption of diplomatic ties three years ago, Maamau said.

Noting that Kiribati has drawn its first long-term development blueprint Kiribati 20-year Vision (KV20), which "focuses on building wealth, peace and security, infrastructure for development and governance," Maamau said. "China's assistance has been very responsive to the priorities under the KV20," particularly infrastructure building and improving the livelihood of the Kiribati people.

After the outbreak of COVID-19, China sent batches of vaccines and equipment to Kiribati, which Maamau said have boosted the country's response to the pandemic.

"We are also fortunate to have medical experts from China, who are now assisting in our health sector, and their contributions have been felt very strongly," said the president.

China's assistance throughout the world shows its "deep commitment" to helping countries struggling to respond to the pandemic, he said.

Kiribati "is very much appreciative" of the South-South cooperation China has been calling for, the concept of which is "to foster solidarity among peoples and countries of the South that contributes to their national well-being, their national and collective self-reliance and the attainment of internationally agreed development goals," Maamau said.

China's South-South cooperation programs aim to "assist building resilience to disasters and climate change and to uplift the livelihood of people," he noted.

China's attitude towards Pacific island countries is "very culturally sensitive," Maamau said. "That is the key to promoting cooperation, mutual trust and genuine partnership between China and the region."

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Du Mingming)
Tech giant hit by unprecedented service disruptions



The country's tech giant, Kakao Corp., suffered service disruptions due to a fire at a data center Saturday. The incident shows how vulnerable our wired digital society is to such a malfunction.



The fire broke out at around 3:33 p.m. at SK C&C's Pangyo building in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, which houses Kakao's data center. The building's power supply was cut off, causing a disruption for the country's dominant mobile messenger app KakaoTalk.



The malfunctions on the KakaoTalk app included a message delivery failure and log-in error. Its affiliated firm Kakao Pay reported glitches in its online payment service and its gaming platform Kakao Games showed another problem. The fire-induced power cut in the data center also triggered service errors to Daum, Kakao's portal service arm. Additionally, Naver, the country's top internet portal, reported a partial disruption of its online shopping service.



Those developments have caused chaos for users. They remind Koreans of a large-scale disruption of the wired and wireless communication networks of KT, one of the nation's leading telecom operators, which took place a year ago due to a "routing error." KT also brought about a similar internet blackout because of a fire at its underground network center in Ahyeon-dong, Seoul, in November 2018.



It is unprecedented for all of Kakao's internet servers  their total number estimated at 32,000  to come to a halt all at once. Such an incident was dumbfounding. Yet the question is whether Kakao was prepared. The IT behemoth has a crisis management manual which calls for repair and recovery of any failed system within 20 minutes.



But the manual has not worked at all. Only one-third of the Kakao servers had been restored by the next morning, with the company suffering its worst and longest service disruption in its 12-year history. It seems that the company's backup system has failed to cope with the data center power stoppage although Kakao has several other data centers around the country to be activated in emergency. Company management should find out what is wrong with the system and do all it can to prevent future disruptions.



The service disruptions cannot and should not be tolerated. Providers of free-of-charge services are not liable for such disruptions. However, Kakao should be held accountable for any damage arising from the glitches. It must invest more in ensuring the provision of flawless services as well as protecting user security, instead of going all out to maximize its profits by taking advantage of user data and expanding its business recklessly.



Telecommunication policymakers and regulators are not exempt from culpability, either. They cannot avoid the blame for neglecting to oversee online services providers. President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed officials to work closely with Kakao to resume their services quickly and fully. On his orders, Science and ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho formed a telecommunications disaster headquarters to deal with the case.



Most of all, the authorities should pinpoint the exact cause of the incident. Then they must strengthen rules to prevent further service disruptions. Kakao, for its part, need to restore consumer confidence by making its service networks more reliable and secure.
Many commenters under last weeks poll have already pre-ordered one of the new Pixels  the 2022 models are proving to be quite popular or at least well liked. Maybe Google is right to be making a record number of Pixel 7 units.

If you want one, but havent pre-ordered, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro (and Pixel Watch) are now available for direct purchase. You will find pricing details in this post (note: it seems that 512GB Pixel 7 Pros are not available in Europe for some reason).

Last year the Pixel 6 poll showed that there are a lot of potential buyers for the Google phones, but the company doesnt have the retail footprint of other major smartphone makers, so many fans couldnt buy a Pixel locally. Things are slightly better this year with the phones being officially available in more countries.

Interestingly, there is no clear favorite  both the 7 and 7 Pro have around 67% approval rating. The cheaper model has its supporters as does the larger, pricier model and no one is stuck wondering this one or maybe this one. Maybe other companies can learn something about not oversaturating the market with a dozen nearly identical phones.

Also, Google didnt raise the European prices compared to last year (unlike Apple) and that didnt escape fans notice.

Not everyone is convinced that the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro are a big enough upgrade over the 6 and 6 Pro. However, Google is accepting trade-ins  for example, a 128GB Pixel 7 is $600, but you can get $440 for a Pixel 6 (also 128GB) if its in a good condition. This makes the upgrade only $160. In Europe the equation doesnt look quite as good, 650 - 300 = 350 for the same Pixel 6 to Pixel 7 trade, but its still a decent discount.

Phones from other brands are accepted too of course, e.g. an iPhone 12 Pro (128GB) is valued at $620/620, more than the base Pixel 6 costs in the US (and almost as much as it does in Europe).

The positive reception for the Pixel 6 series didnt lead to record-setting sales for the Pixel family, but the numbers did bounce back from the Pixel 5. The Pixel 7 duo received a warm welcome too and it could become even more popular.
Parenting the Rainbow is the resource I wish was available to us when first hearing the news that our son was gay. It is a guide to loving our gay kids well, said Allison Zimmerman, a mother of five who raised her kids on Guam.

While on Guam, she and her husband, Rob, also opened two faith-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities under Elim Pacific Ministries: Lighthouse Recovery Center, now operated by the Salvation Army, and Oasis Empowerment Center, which serves women.

The Zimmermans lived on Guam until 2015 when Ethan Zimmerman son got into an accident while he was away at college.

My son, that I wrote this book about, was on a date and he was crossing the road and a dump truck took a right on red and he ran over him, she said in a video interview. That was a nightmare. So I left Guam very quickly, got to D.C., and thats why I left. We would still be there.

The family relocated to California, where she is on the board of her church, which is called the Stirring in Redding, California, and began her writing career.

Her most recent work, Parenting the Rainbow was published in September. Ethan Zimmerman, who is part of the LGBTQ community, asked her to write the book to help other kids come out to their parents.

They were really scared of telling their parents and just didnt know how their particularly Christian parents would handle this because obviously there is a lot of homophobia out there, she said.

And so one day, it seemed random, but  he said Alice, you should write a book about this. Youve done pretty well. And that was it. He moved on. But it was like, you know a little seed was planted and its like  why not? So I did.

Honestly, maybe we can pray together that God will use (the book) to touch kids and their parents, Zimmerman said. My hope is that pastors will read it, that clergy will read it because the more we can get the message out, I think this is a good thing because people dont realize how they treat other people. It matters. How we treat people matters and can have eternal effects.

Guam recovery centers

Helping others has been something she and her husband have always done, and what led to the establishment of the Guam recovery centers.

The people who worked in recovery were amazing people, and yeah, we did start the Lighthouse because there were no ongoing residential services. New Beginnings was starting something and they invited us up to be a part of what they were doing, she said.

So, I think weve always been interested in making a difference. And theres loads of churches, theres loads of schools, there are loads of colleges, and we had done all of the above and we got to Guam and its like OK, where can the most difference be made?

A recovering addict they knew had nowhere to go so we said, Come and live with us. Were just a humble family with five kids. After living with the Zimmermans for six months, the person was clean and sober.

And so, kind of it was a process for sure  because we knew nothing, we didnt know how to do this stuff, we just had a dream. And out of the dream was for the Lighthouse and then later on the Oasis. The Lighthouse and the Oasis, particularly the Oasis, has been the biggest privilege of our lives.

Work isnt done

After impacting their lives through their activism and her book, she said their work isnt done yet.

We are looking at returning to the Pacific. Were kind of doing our homework, where will we fit? Where can we go where we can make a difference?
Guam teens may finally be starting to move past COVID.

The governor has steadily lifted COVID restrictions this year and several high school students have shared they are more comfortable than when the pandemic first began two years ago.

I dont think its as big of an issue as before because the hospitals arent being overwhelmed anymore and things seem more manageable, said sophomore Vinh Nguyen, a student at St. Johns School.

Others, such as students Joshua Valencia and Camille Lujan, said they feel that they know more about the virus, and feel safer being vaccinated and knowing they are around others who are vaccinated.

In March 2020, the island was locked down when coronavirus appeared on Guam. COVID-19 is caused by the coronavirus, which has caused the deaths of millions of people worldwide. On Guam, schools were shut down, disrupting the education of thousands of students.

Nguyen said his feelings about COVID this year are much different from last year. The students all said they were very concerned about catching COVID last year.

COVID was more deadly around early 2021 with the delta variant stuff, and when omicron came around, it was definitely scary at first, Nguyen said.

Although the students said they were less scared of COVID this year, they still have some concerns.

Obviously a lot of students at Harvest here still wear face masks, and they still care about things like hand sanitizer, said Thomas Valencia, a Harvest Christian Academy student.

This easing of attitudes toward COVID is reflected in school policies and how theyve changed during the last two years. The pandemic significantly affected students lives across public and private schools. Schools were shut down in many cases, forcing administrators to develop alternative ways to provide education.

Although all schools were shut down from mid-March and through December 2020, St. Johns School opened its doors in January 2021.

We are not an online school, said Bob Kelley, assistant head of school for St. Johns School. He added that the school was focused on going face to face as soon as possible.

However, Kelley said, rushing back did mean restrictions. The school implemented one-way hallways and mandatory mask use. Other private schools such as Harvest also had similar restrictions, with things like Plexiglas dividers on desks.

Guam High, a Department of Defense school, had similar restrictions. Last year we were all required to wear masks in school, and we had to sanitize our desks, said Camille Lujan, a Guam High junior.
Six months after the governor announced she wanted to pardon people convicted of previous petty marijuana crimes, Adelup still is working out the details of an executive order.

But a Department of Corrections official said Friday there is an existing pardon process that could be used for those convicted of simple marijuana possession before recreational marijuana was legalized on Guam in 2019.

Michael Quinata, chief parole officer at the Department of Corrections, said people seeking pardons start by submitting a letter to the governor.

Process

The governors counsel then sends a letter to the Guam Pardon Review Board, and the case is assigned to a parole officer.

The board hears the case and makes a recommendation to the governor.

We will follow the current process and make necessary adjustments in the process as we move forward, to make the process much more efficient and seamless, Quinata said.

From DOCs standpoint, theres no telling how many individuals will come before the Pardon Review Board to request pardons for marijuana offenses.

Not all individuals convicted necessarily get to spend time at (DOC) so we will not have files in our custody. We have no idea how many individuals will come before the board, Quinata said.

Second chancesPresident Joe Biden on Oct. 6 announced pardoning Americans convicted of marijuana under federal law, saying no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.

Biden called for governors across the nation to do the same at the state level.

But Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero made a similar announcement back in April, saying her administration believes in second chances and that marijuana has been legalized for years now.

Krystal Paco-San Agustin, the governors director of communications, said Adelup continues to work on plans for the marijuana pardon process with the Judiciary of Guam, the attorney generals office and the Department of Corrections.

Our team is working to develop the procedure, just as the Department of Justice will be doing so federally, Paco-San Agustin said.

Guams 2019 law allows people at least 21 years old to use and possess up to an ounce of marijuana. However, marijuana sales are not allowed.

Several states with legalized marijuana have also reduced convictions or sealed or expunged convictions for past marijuana crimes, which generally means removing convictions from public databases.

That means there will be fewer barriers to employment, housing and education.

Great news

Sen. Clynt Ridgell said Bidens recent announcement is great news.

The senator said when Biden was campaigning for office, he said he wanted to address the decriminalization of cannabis. When he didnt do anything along those lines, many in the cannabis community nationwide were concerned that he wasnt really supportive of cannabis legalization.

This announcement is a sign that he is indeed supportive of legalization and I think its just the beginning of a process that will eventually lead to the federal legalization of cannabis. When I introduced the Cannabis Industry Act, I said repeatedly that the federal government would eventually legalize cannabis. Its just a matter of when or how long the process will take, Ridgell said.

Right side of historyLegislative candidate Will Parkinson, also a leading advocate for marijuana, said he finds Bidens pardoning of marijuana crimes an encouraging sign. Parkinson is a former member of the Guam Cannabis Control Board.

As someone involved with recreational cannabis activism from the beginning, I see the announcement of these pardons as vindication that we are on the right side of history and our cause is just, he said.
Struggling homeowners can now apply for up to $26,550 in relief funds during the ongoing cycle of the Homeowners Assistance Fund program.

Those who qualify can now receive up to $26,550  about $11,000 more than the $15,000 previously offered, explained Audrey Topasna, program director for the fund at the Department of Administration.

That is an additional $11,550 increase, because when we started the program we were at $15,000, she said during an Interagency Council for Coordinating Homelessness Programs meeting held last week.

Homeowners who have used all of their $15,000 in relief assistance but still need help are encouraged, if they are still eligible, to apply for more funds, said Topasna.

Previous recipients are required to submit a continuance form, updated income documents and billing statements.

Applications for the current cycle will be accepted until Oct. 28.

Applications are available at the DOA office, on their website at doa.guam.gov and at the Government of Guam Relief Center at the former Bank of Hawaii building in Hagatna.

Topasna said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has also raised the Guam Homeowners Assistance Fund income limit.

The program is to assist homeowners who, because of the pandemic, are having trouble making mortgage, utility or property tax payments.

According to the Department of Administration website, the applicants annual household income must now be equal to or below:

$90,000 for a single-person household.

$91,000 for a two-person household.

$103,050 for a three-person household

$114,450 for a four-person household.

$123,650 for a five-person household.

$132,800 for a six-person household.

$141,950 for a seven-person household.

$151,000 for an eight-person household.

During the meeting, Topasna also gave an update on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program as the application period starts Oct. 24.

The household income limit for the program has also been raised, said Topasna, who gave examples.

Income for a household of one must be at or below $42,800. For a household of four, $61,040.

All updated information on the ERA program cycle five will be available on DOAs website starting next week, said Topasna.

The program was created to provide rental and utility assistance to residents who meet three criteria:
Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen AFB Environmental Flight and the National Park Service.
A picture of a throne room taken by Burton Holmes circa 1899 Robert Neff Collection



By Robert Neff



The Kingdom of [Joseon] came to a quiet end October 12th, 1897. Not with the tramp of the invader, not with the shout of the traitor did this change take place; no boom of cannon resounded [through] these hills, neither did the lurid flame of the torch light up the streets of the Capital." It was, according to the editors of The Korean Repository (a monthly English magazine published in Seoul), through the coronation of King Gojong as emperor.



The Independent (one of Korea's early newspapers, published in Korean and English in Seoul) was equally dramatic. It claimed Gojong's coronation surpassed Nicholas of Russia's coronation and the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria  not only because of its "quaintness and uniqueness" but also because it took place at 3 a.m. "No European potentiate ever thought of holding a coronation ceremony at such an hour," the newspaper declared.



This "quaint and unique" ceremony began at about 3 a.m. when Gojong and the crown prince were once again conveyed through the streets of Seoul  presumably in the yellow chairs which were "richly gilded and each carried on the shoulders of fifty or more men"  to Hwangudan, an altar located next to today's Westin Josun Seoul hotel.



According to the paper, Gojong "wore the yellow robes which the sun, moon, stars and various animals were embroidered in gold. His hat was the jeweled crown after the fashion of the Ming dynasty. The Crown Prince wore a similarly fashioned robe except that the color was red instead of yellow."



Upon reaching Hwangudan, the royal personages ascended the steps to the upper platform where several tables were placed  graced with the usual sacrificial foods  and was lit by a myriad of torches and lanterns.





A picture of King Gojong taken by Percival Lowell in the winter of 1883/84 Robert Neff Collection



Gojong "reverently bowed to Heaven, and a high dignitary  Grand Master of Ceremonies,  read loudly the prayer which was composed for the occasion. The gist of the prayer was that through Heaven's blessing His Majesty takes upon himself the title of Great Emperor of Great Choson, which was done in accordance with the will of Heaven and man. Heaven may bestow upon the Emperor continual blessings and guide him in directing the affairs of the Empire. After the completion of the prayer and offerings of various sacrificial animals His Majesty and the Crown Prince again bowed."



Yun Chi-ho's description of the event was extremely brief: "At 5 a.m., His Majesty in a yellow robe, solemnly assumed the title of the Whang Chei of Dai-han, or the Emperor of Korea."



He continued, "Emperor Gojong then took his seat and was preparing to receive the congratulations of his Ministers of State and other military officials when it suddenly began pouring rain. The rain soaked through the awnings [causing] great inconvenience and discomfort to the Imperial party as well as thousands of others. Everybody was shivering with cold and their silky robes and gilded hats presented the most dilapidated appearance on account of the drenching rain." The wind blew out some of the lanterns and extinguished many torches, further darkening the joyous event. Yun sarcastically noted that astrologers  when choosing this auspicious date and time  had left the weather out of their calculations.



After the emperor had received the congratulations of his officials (each bowing to the emperor nine times), the "procession was again formed and in the midst of rain and wind the Imperial party safely returned to the palace."



In his diary, Yun Chi-ho wrote:



"Went to the Palace at [noon] to congratulate (?) the new Emperor, but this ceremony didn't take place as other mummeries had to be gone through in connection with giving the dead Queen the title of Empress etc. Another shower of vigorous rain made the farce all the more ridiculous and pitiful."



Yun Chi-ho was not the only one bitter about the coronation. For several months  in fact, years  there had been talk of the Korean monarch accepting the title of emperor. According to Yun:



"Koreans have come to regard a king necessarily as tributary to an emperor; and that the assumption of the title of emperor was the best possible means of convincing the people that the sovereign of Korea is independent of all and inferior to none. Their watchword was, 'No emperor, no independence.'"





Yun Chi-ho (dressed in traditional Korean attire) and members of his family, circa 1900s Robert Neff Collection



A coronation had been planned for Oct. 26, 1895, but "due to intervention of certain influences, the 26th October came and went, but no coronation." Yun's diary entry for that date offers further clues as to why it did not happen:



"The ceremony of imperializing His Majesty did not come off today. He is reported to have refused to accept the ridiculous offer of the title. The straight talk of the Legations seems to have some effect in the matter."



The "certain influences" were apparently the foreign representatives in Seoul, particularly Carl von Waeber, the Russian minister to Korea. But in 1897 the political situation on the peninsula had changed and many felt the Russians  who exerted great influence  were pushing for the Korean monarch to accept the imperial title. It didn't take much persuasion.



In a report to the State Department in September 1897, Horace Allen (the American minister to Korea) wrote:



"His Majesty is listening to the advice of courtiers who to gain favor, are continually urging him to assume the title of Emperor. The funeral of the late Queen has been postponed from time to time in order, it is said, that His Majesty may be an Emperor and the Queen an Empress at the time of the funeral and have their titles as such inscribed upon the funeral tablets."



As part of the Korean monarch's preparations, hundreds of men worked night and day for several weeks to prepare the Hwangudan.



But these were not the only preparations. In his diary (Oct. 3, 1897), Yun wrote:



"For the last two weeks the King and his officials have been absorbed in the scheme of imperializing the Dynasty. A week ago the King secretly ordered Kwon Chai Hyong to memorialize the Throne begging it to accept the title of an Emperor! Beginning from last Friday the Prime Minister [has] started a series of petitions to the King asking him to accept the Imperial title in accordance with the earnest wishes and prayers of the whole realm!



"The bother is that when these farcical petitions are presented, everybody connected with the government is required to be present. All the officials in official robes have been, for the past three days, kneeling in the court yard of the Palace from 3 to 6 p.m. Today the 9th petition was sent in and the King was obliged (!) to accept it, consenting thereby that he would call himself an Emperor according to the earnest wishes of the whole nation! What lies on both sides!"





A picture of the Russian legation in Seoul by Burton Holmes circa 1899 Robert Neff Collection
Robert Underwood is the former president of the University of Guam and Guams former delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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On the last Sunday in October, the traditional raking event will take place in Kaivopuisto, where all residents are welcome to come and rake leaves. The volunteers will gather from 11 a.m. near Kaivohuone square, which will be the starting point of the event.

The City of Helsinki is inviting Helsinki residents to participate in the Kaivopuisto raking event on Sunday 30 October 2022 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Volunteers will receive on-site guidance and instructions. The city will provide the tools but you should bring your own gloves. There will be snacks and hot drinks for the first 150 volunteers. Equipment distribution and snack tents will be located on the south-west side of Kaivohuone.

In store are the joy of raking and the spirit of working together. The communal raking of Kaivopuisto is a decades-old tradition in the city of Helsinki. The event is organised cooperatively between the Urban Environment Division and Stara. Come and join us!

The city also regularly organises other voluntary events. Read about volunteering activities on the Volunteering page.

HT

Source: City of Helsinki, Urban Environment Division
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee explains the company vision at the Tech Forum 2022 held at Samsung Research America in California's Silicon Valley, Oct. 13 (local time). Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



By Kim Hyun-bin



Samsung Electronics successfully held the Tech Forum 2022 in California's Silicon Valley, Oct. 13 (local time), discussing future innovative technologies of the IT industry with experts and executives in the field, according to the company, Sunday.



The forum was held at Samsung Research America, located in Mountain View, California, after previous sessions in San Francisco and Boston last month.



Some 100 people attended the event, including leading U.S. developers, designers and Samsung Electronics executives. A large number of executives and research executives from Samsung Electronics, including Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee and MX (Mobile eXperience) Business Unit President Roh Tae-moon, took part in the event to inform the attendees about the company's vision and businesses.



Participants listened to lectures from Samsung Electronics executives in related fields and engaged in discussions on service technology, eco-friendly home appliances, SmartThings and network virtual technology, which are currently hot topics.



"I am always looking forward to meeting talented people who create new innovative models in their respective fields. Samsung Electronics is also continuously innovating technology, such as expanding the device platform and innovating the multi-device experience, in order to provide a higher level of experience to customers by increasing synergy between products," Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee said. "We will make Samsung Electronics an opportunity for diverse talents to lead innovation and create new global businesses."



At this event, Samsung Research presented a blueprint for Samsung Electronics' future growth engines under the theme of "The Future of Samsung Electronics R&D," along with a presentation on "Service Strategy and Vision," and discussed career growth opportunities.



In addition, executives from each business division, including video display, MX, home appliances and networks, discussed Samsung Electronics' strategic direction and future roadmap.



"I was able to learn about Samsung Electronics' service strategy and medium- to long-term R&D vision, and it was a time to understand that Samsung Electronics is putting a lot of effort into becoming an innovative leader in its major business areas," a participant of the forum said.



Samsung Electronics plans to host more forums to expand its networks by continuing to organize related events for skilled people in the future, according to the company.


Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms / Yonhap



Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of U.S. tech giant Meta Platforms, has met with senior officials of Samsung Electronics to discuss ways for business cooperation between the two companies, sources said Saturday (U.S. time).



Zuckerberg visited Samsung Research America in Silicon Valley on Thursday and had talks with Han Jong-hee, head of Samsung's device experience division, and Roh Tae-moon, head of mobile experience business, according to the sources.



The two Samsung executives were in the United States to attend a Samsung leadership meeting in San Francisco the previous day.



Although detailed topics of the three-party meeting remained unknown, sources said Zuckerberg had asked the Samsung officials to seek comprehensive business partnership for virtual reality devices with his company Meta Platforms, formerly named Facebook.



In Meta Connect 2022, the company's annual event devoted to augmented and virtual reality, Meta Platforms unveiled its new high-end mixed reality headset, Meta Quest Pro.



Zuckerberg changed the company's name to Meta Platforms in October last year, saying he will focus on building the "metaverse." (Yonhap)


Xi Jinping delivers an important speech at the first meeting of the presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15. Xinhua-Yonhap





Chinese President Xi Jinping is to open the 20th Communist Party Congress on Sunday, a week-long event where he is widely expected to win a third leadership term and cement his place as the country's most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong.



The gathering of roughly 2,300 delegates from around the country is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. (0200 GMT) in the vast Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square.



The congress will likely open with Xi, 69, reading a lengthy report in a televised speech that reviews the party's achievements of recent years and outlines broad-brush priorities for the next five years. Analysts generally do not expect any significant change in policy direction.



In his decade in power, Xi has set China on an increasingly authoritarian path that has prioritized security, state control of the economy in the name of "common prosperity", a more assertive diplomacy, a stronger military and intensifying pressure to seize Taiwan.



In particular, China has in recent days repeatedly emphasized its commitment to Xi's zero-COVID strategy, dashing hopes among countless Chinese citizens as well as investors that Beijing might begin exiting anytime soon a policy that has caused widespread frustration and economic damage.



"We see no reason for him to change course or make substantial adjustments to the fundamental principles and strategies he has cultivated over the past decade," Saxo Bank market strategist Redmond Wong wrote in a Friday note.



Xi's power appears undiminished by the tumult of a year that has seen China's economy slow dramatically, dragged down by the COVID policy's frequent lockdowns, a crisis in the property sector and the impact of his 2021 crackdown on the once-freewheeling "platform economy", as well as global headwinds.



China's relations with the West have deteriorated sharply, worsened by Xi's support of Russia's Vladimir Putin.



Revolutionary's son



The son of a Communist Party revolutionary, Xi has reinvigorated a party that had grown deeply corrupt and increasingly irrelevant, expanding its presence across all aspects of China, with Xi officially its "core".



Xi did away with presidential term limits in 2018, clearing the way for him to break with the precedent of recent decades and rule for a third five-year term, or longer.



The twice-a-decade congress is expected to reconfirm Xi as party general secretary, China's most powerful post, as well as chairman of the Central Military Commission. Xi's presidency is up for renewal in March at the annual session of China's parliament.



The day after the congress ends on Saturday, Xi is expected to introduce his new Politburo Standing Committee, a seven-person leadership team. It will include the person who will replace Li Keqiang as premier when Li steps down from that post in March after serving the maximum two terms. (Reuters)




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MassDOT launches 2022-2023 Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Funding Program

BOSTON  The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), through its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, announced the launch of the 2022-2023 Infrastructure Funding Program.

The Program provides both design and construction services for projects between $300,000 and $1.5 million in areas immediately around public elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the Commonwealth.

"The Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Program provides communities across the Commonwealth with funding that can be used to make key infrastructure improvements to help make walking and biking to and from school safe and accessible," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler. "We encourage all Safe Routes to School partners to apply and use the informational resources that have been made available to help ensure successful applications are submitted."

The most recent iteration of the SRTS Infrastructure Program, which has involved a competitive project solicitation process, began in 2019 and to date has awarded approximately $35 million in funding for 30 infrastructure projects across the Commonwealth. Eligible projects include transportation construction and capital improvement projects that will improve safety and/or increase the number of children walking, biking, and rolling to school and are located within two miles of a school serving children in any grades between kindergarten to twelfth grade.

The application period opens today, Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, and all applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 18, 2022. The SRTS Infrastructure Funding Program Guidance Document is available on the SRTS website under the "Engineering" section. All SRTS Partner Schools are encouraged to apply and must have a municipal contact as the primary applicant.

To be eligible for this SRTS Infrastructure Program, schools must build a partnership with the SRTS non-infrastructure program that involves education, encouragement, engagement, equity, and evaluation activities. Applicants must be an SRTS partner for at least six months (as of Oct. 3, 2022) prior to applying.

The funding program allows schools to conveniently use MassDOT's Massachusetts Project Intake Tool (MaPIT) to submit information online. MaPIT was developed to provide municipalities with more convenient access to transportation funding program opportunities available statewide. The Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Funding Program application is available in the MaPIT portal

The Massachusetts SRTS Program, sponsored by MassDOT and with funds from the Federal Highway Administration, promotes safer routes for students to actively get to and from school by fostering partnerships between community-led organizations, local law enforcement, education leaders, and public health departments. The program currently serves more than 1,000 schools in over 260 communities across the Commonwealth. Through these partnerships, the Massachusetts SRTS Program highlights the importance of pedestrian and bicycle safety and provides information, materials, and resources to support schools and communities with their local SRTS initiatives.
MCLA Welcomes Seven New Faculty Members

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is pleased to announce that seven new faculty members will be joining the Trailblazer community for the Colleges fall semester: Eunice Uhm, Mariah Hepworth, Omotara Adeeko, Carter J. Carter, Darren Johnson, Amy Shapiro, and Kara Corlew.

New faculty members include:

Dr. Eunice Uhm joins MCLA's Fine and Performing Arts Department as an assistant professor of art history and museum studies. She specializes in modern and contemporary art, with a transnational focus on the United States and East Asia. Her work examines the conditions of migration and the diasporic aesthetic subjectivities in the works of contemporary Japanese and South Korean art from the 1960s to the present. She has previously taught courses on modern and contemporary art with a focus on race and transnationalism, and Asian and Asian American art. She has organized panels and presented her work on Asian American art at national conferences such as CAA. Her essay, "Contradictions and Continuity: Constructing Asian American Political and Aesthetic Subjectivities in the Work of Ruth Asawa," is forthcoming (Verge: Studies in Global Asias, University of Minnesota Press). She recently co-curated an online exhibition on the Korean diaspora, titled I Am Here/You Were There: Archiving Transnational Memory Within the Korean Diaspora (https://www.iamhere-youwerethere.com/). Beyond her academic research and curatorial work, she is an active member of numerous grassroots community organizations for Asian Americans and immigrant rights, and she is involved in immigrant rights campaigns such as Love has no borders: A call for justice in our immigration system. Dr. Uhm received a doctorate in the history of art from the Ohio State University and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and Kalamazoo College.

Mariah Hepworth joins MCLA's History and Political Science Department. She fell in love with history as an undergraduate at Seattle University, where she graduated summa cum laude with departmental honors. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University, specializing in modern America with additional expertise in the First World War, American cinema, and popular culture. Her current manuscript examines the critical role commercial war films have played in shaping the public's collective understandings of war and the nation's foreign entanglements. Mariah has taught courses in American military, political, social and cultural history, courses ranging from History of the American Soldier to History of American Celebrity. Each of her courses foreground race, class, and gender as primary categories of analysis. Mariah lives in Shelburne Falls with her two cats, Arthur and Donna.

Omotara Adeeko joins MCLA's Mathematics Department as an assistant professor of economics. She obtained her bachelor's degree (2011) in Economics from Redeemers University, Nigeria, and her master's degree in economics at Eastern Illinois University in 2014. Adeeko completed her doctoral degree in economics in 2021 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Her doctoral work focused on the estimation of cost efficiency, scale economy, technological progress, and total factor productivity in developing economies. Adeeko's current research focuses on the specific and accurate methods for forecasting prices of commonly consumed grains or legumes in Nigeria using different models that include autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), artificial neural networks (ANN), seasonal decomposition of time series by loess method (STLM), and a hybrid model that combines these three models.

Carter J. Carter joins MCLA's Psychology Department as an assistant professor of clinical psychology. He will teach courses on abnormal psychology, clinical theory and practice, and qualitative research. Dr. Carter is a graduate of New York University (B.A.), Simmons University School of Social Work (MSW), the Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis (certificate in psychoanalytic psychotherapy), and Smith College School for Social Work (Ph.D.). Dr. Carter's workas a psychotherapist, scholar, teacher, and activistaddresses the causes and effects of violence, abuse, discrimination, and bigotry. He brings an active interdisciplinary research program to MCLA that studies different forms of racially-motivated aggression, from mass shootings to workplace discrimination, and he will be involving students in this research. Dr. Carter will also maintain a part-time private practice in psychotherapy and clinical supervision, geared primarily towards fellow queer people of color. A leader in the field of psychoanalysis, Dr. Carter is a Member-At-Large of the Board of Directors of Division 39 (Psychoanalysis & Psychoanalytic Psychology) of the American Psychological Association, and Associate Editor at the journal Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society. He lives on a working farm in the Franklin County hilltowns, where he writes the recipe column for the local newspaper"Larder Ardor with Carter Carter."

Darren Johnson joins MCLA's English/Communications Department as a professor of journalism and supervisor of the Beacon newspaper and WJJW, MCLA's radio station. He has a depth of experience, having taught journalism courses most recently for the University at Albany and has managed student newspapers in the SUNY system, as well as started an independent student newspaper in the New York Metro region called Campus News. Three years ago, Johnson purchased a struggling 180-year-old newspaper in his hometown and has made it journalistically and financially sustainable again. His writing has appeared in scores of newspapers, from small weeklies to The New York Times, and he once was a New York Press Association Writer of the Year. He is a regular speaker at College Media Association and Associated College Press conferences. His master's degree is in Writing and Literature from Southampton College of Long Island University.

Amy Shapiro joins MCLA's Business Department this year after teaching as a visiting assistant professor of marketing for the last four years contributing to Entrepreneurship Studies. Shapiro was raised in North Adams in her family business and serves in community economic development for Western Massachusetts. After receiving a master's degree in business administration from Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Shapiro developed and grew a business assistance program that supported hundreds of business owners as the Business Development Director with the Franklin County Community Development Corp.  a non-profit that assists businesses to start, stabilize, grow, and obtain financing throughout western Massachusetts. She has been influential in developing the state's professional field of business assistance providers. Early in her career, Shapiro pursued community economic development interests and later co-owned a retail & manufacturing ceramic business. She has two grown daughters, enjoys creative projects of all kinds, and outdoor activities, and resides in Ashfield, Mass.

Kara Corlew joins MCLA's Biology Department to teach health sciences as an assistant professor. She is a Radiologic Technician and holds a bachelor's degree in Radiologic Science from MCLA. Corlew has served more than 12 years with the Army Reserves. Recently, she worked for Carlos Otis Clinic-Stratton Mountain Urgent Care as a full-time Radiologic Technologist as well as per-diem at Rutland Regional Medical Center in Diagnostic Imaging. She enjoys mentoring, teaching, and building the skills of others. Corlew lives in South Londonderry, Vt., where she spends time outdoors with her children and dogs.
Veteran Spotlight: Navy Cmdr. David Vermilyea

FALMOUTH, Mass.  It was an honor to interview this week's Veterans Spotlight guest. Navy Cmdr. David Vermilyea served his country for 27 years, from 1962 to 1989. He was in the Vietnam from 1965 to 1967, flying an amazing 300

missions.

"It was not a big deal. Some guys flew a lot more than that," he said humbly.

He went to basic training in San Diego in April 1962 and described it as this: "It was a shock."

"It's a bear," he said. "The Navy turns you into a team player. If you don't know what you're doing a sea, your ship sinks. It also provided an excellent educational experience."

After aviation training in Memphis, Tenn., he received his first command in anti-submarine warfare with the VS-41 Sea Control Squadron, then went to flight training school.

"It was an adventure. I wanted to fly in the worst way," he remembered. He was commissioned in 1965 and flew the F-4 Phantom Aircraft.

When asked about his arrival in Vietnam, Vermilyea laughed then added, "it was again, another adventure and something I was looking forward to."

It would all come to a tragic halt when on his first mission over South Vietnam, he lost his crew.

"Really brings you back to reality and lets you know you're at war," he said. "It really shook us."

I asked him about the holidays and he said this: "We worked 12 on 12 off, busy 24-7. Normally you would stand on

condition watches then stand two hours in the cockpit of your plane, ready to go."

How was it to fly at night? "Scary  plain and simple. You get launched like a slingshot off the deck. Coming in is pretty hairy, too, definitely have to be on the ball," he recalled.

I asked Vermilyea if any particular mission stood out in his mind. "Absolutely. We were flying to Hanoi and doing combat patrol in the 'Big Cat' (plane). MIGS shot my airplane nine times and they fired a missile at us! I kept yelling to my co-pilot, 'PULL GEORGE! PULL GEORGE!' several times. The MIG fired and it went right underneath us. Wingmen are so important."

He continued that it "was June of 1966 and we were standing on condition 5 watch when we saw two enemy patrol boats and they fired at us. I got shot while we were on patrol. They hit the place on the plane which made it unable

for us to get fuel to the engines and had to eject ... got picked up a while later by a destroyer."

What is the feeling when you have to eject from your plane?

"Oh [expletive], we all had concerns of being captured by the enemy," he said. "I knew Bill Lawrence and several other guys that went to the Hanoi Hilton [prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam]. Not the place you want to end up."

What was coming home like?

"I was very fortunate. My wife was a Navy brat and the support I had from my family was wonderful," Vermilyea said. "The toughest part was seeing the wife of my buddy who got killed ... that was really tough."

I asked Vermilyea if he had any animosity toward the protestors of the Vietnam War and he responded, "not really."

"They didn't know any better. I blame the politicians and the media," he said. "None of us wanted to be there, we were told to go and did.

"I'm proud of my service and was proud to serve my country  I'd do it again, if I could."

Cmdr. Dave Vermilyea, thank you for your service to our great country.
Lanesborough Staff to Participate in Administrator Search Committee

LANESBOROUGH, Mass.  The Board of Selectmen has formed a steering committee for a new town administrator, a little under a year after it last filled the position.

The new committee will consist primarily of Town Hall staff, who were invited to be a part of the search. The board also appointed community member Claire Kristensen to be the committee's chair.

"Basically, we're having a Town Hall staff, be the search committee for the position of the new administrator," said board Chair John Goerlach.

Board member Timothy Sorrell said he would additionally like to see someone from Berkshire Village on the committee.

"Take this moment to offer to anybody from Berkshire village [to join]. They can reach out to us and fill out a participant participation form," he said.

The town's last search committee concluded its work in November last year, picking Joshua Lang of Pennsylvania for the position after interviewing three candidates. Lang, who announced his resignation in late August to return to the Keystone State, has stayed with the town, for now, primarily working remotely until a replacement is found.

Lang said he would work with the committee to get its first meeting set up. He said he and the board decided it was best to include public staff on the committee.

"It was discussed to include those folks in on it so that they could participate in the process," he said.

In other business, the board approved early voting hours for the Tuesday, Nov. 8, state election, beginning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. Additional hours will be held Monday through Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. for the following two weeks, with another Saturday on Oct. 29.

 The board voted to pick EDF Renewables to design, permit, install, finance, own, operate and maintain two solar photovoltaic systems in town. The lease amount is $116,000 a year over 25 years.

Kirt Maryland, of Housatonic Solar LLC, recommended the company after looking at several options for the project. He said any of the companies he looked at could have done the job, but EDF stood out.

"If I had to pick I'd take EDF right now. They were real professional when they got back to me. They had engineers redo everything, made long, thoughtful decisions," he said.

Lang said he agrees with Maryland that EDF is the best option for the town.

"I think it's going to be a good start for the from town," he said. "It'll be a process to getting it up and running. But this is a big first step."

 Kristen Tool of the Police Station Building Committee provided an update, noting that the open house for the temporary station will be held on Nov. 12.

"That'll just be a chance for community members to come take a look at the temporary space, see how it's set up," she said. "Just reminding everyone that it's paid for with ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] money, so it's not any burden to the taxpayers."

Tool also provided clarification on the committee's discussions on a space for the permanent station. She explained that several people had asked about the Berkshire Mall property, saying it has not been discussed at this time.

"The committee didn't look at the Berkshire Mall because it's privately owned, and it wouldn't be appropriate for a town committee to pursue private business owners for that purpose," she said. "So no one from the mall has come to the committee. Of course, if private business owners want to come and talk with us at the committee about what they have to offer, we're open to that."

 The board appointed Ben Gelb to be the town's treasurer/collector, replacing Jodi Hollingsworth, who resigned last month. The board also appointed Regina DiLego to the position of part-time assessor and approved the posting of an assistant treasurer position and

"I'd hope to hire somebody from the town," Gelb said. "College students, parents who need those flexible hours, or senior citizens who don't want to affect their pension and Social Security."

 The board approved trick-or-treat hours for Oct. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m.

 The board publicly thanked Betsy Bean and Roberta Corey for obtaining and maintaining flower planters at Memorial Park.

"They add a touch of beauty to our town for residents and visitors alike," Goerlach said. "This year was extremely, extremely dry and we applaud your efforts to provide water on a daily basis."
Donald and Merry Lathrop have been leading a vigil for peace at Park Square every Thursday for 20 years. The war they first protested against is long over but they say there are other important issues to consider. Dozens of people would stand out for peace on a Thursday evening but after two decades, the numbers have dwindled to a half dozen or so stalwarts. PreviousNext

Signs of Peace: Park Square Vigils Mark 20th Anniversary



Gordon has been holding his sign at Park Square for almost 20 years.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  A lot has changed in the city over the years but one constant has been the peace vigil at Park Square on Thursday evenings.

Last week marked 20 years since Donald and Merry Lathrop held the first vigil on Oct. 3, 2002, when the Iraq war was about the begin.



Though the war concluded some years ago and the United States ended its "combat mission" in Iraq last year, there are still a number of worldly causes to advocate for, they said.



The couple, who are now in their 80s, return to the park weekly to hold signs with slogans such as "World cooperation, not world domination" and "Our leaders must have integrity."



"A lot of people think that standing there week after week does nothing. But my feeling is it doesn't do any harm and we just keep reminding people that these are issues to think about," Merry Lathrop said.



"I don't think I'm telling anybody anything to do. I'm telling them what I believe as a witness on my part. I'm not saying you have to think differently, or you have to do differently. I'm saying this is what I believe and we get mostly really positive responses."



The Lathrops have stood in the park through all types of weather and have seen the city change over the years. Merry reflected on a time that the group watched the first cars drive through Park Square's new traffic reconfiguration more than a decade ago.



"We just haven't ever found a time to quit," she said.



Don Lathrop said there is no question of what they should do on a Thursday - it's always spending an hour in Park Square. He was all smiles when talking about the event's long legacy in the community, reflecting on a time when one of the neighboring churches would bring them hot chocolate.



"It's what you do on Thursday afternoon," he said.



Don was one of the first three full-time faculty members of Berkshire Community College in the early 1960s and Merry graduated from the college as student of the year in 1985.



The couple has had a long history of activism within the college and throughout the wider community.

The drumbeat for war had begun after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 as then President George W. Bush launched the Global War on Terror. Unfounded allegations that Iraq was producing weapons of mass destruction formed the rationale for the March 2003 invasion.

The first one had about 55 people and a band.



Now there are about seven people who come regularly and hundreds of signs to hold.



"There's no end to the issues," Merry said, noting there are issues with the environment, health care, human rights, and the conflict in Ukraine.



A crowd comparable to the first vigil attended for the 20th anniversary last week. The organizers were glad to see so many people come out.



"We're a small part of the conscience of the country," sign holder Joe Hamling said.



Fellow sign holder Sandra Blomberg said every tiny bit helps.



"People think that just standing out with the signs about peace is not really helpful," she added.



"I try to think that it keeps in mind when people are driving by and they will maybe feel inspired to help more in the world."



Merry and Don plan to continue hosting the vigils as long as they can. When asked if she hopes that a younger generation takes over the event, she said, "we need young people, it's your world" while recognizing that they may have other ways to activism.
A pink teddy bear lies on the ground in front of residential apartments that were destroyed by Russian military strikes, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Oct. 14. Reuters-Yonhap



Gunmen shot dead 11 people at a Russian military training ground on Saturday, the defense ministry said, in the latest blow to President Vladimir Putin's forces since the invasion of Ukraine.



RIA news agency cited the ministry as saying 15 other people were wounded in the shooting on Saturday in the southwestern Belgorod region that borders Ukraine when two men gunned down a group who had volunteered to take part in the war.



It said the two assailants  nationals from an unspecified former Soviet republic  had been shot dead. Some Russian independent media outlets reported that the number of casualties was higher than the official figures.



The attack took place a week after a blast damaged a bridge in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. Earlier in the war, Russia's flagship in the Black Sea blew up and sank.



"During a firearms training session with individuals who voluntarily expressed a desire to participate in the special military operation (against Ukraine), the terrorists opened fire with small arms on the personnel of the unit," RIA cited a defense ministry statement as saying.



Just a day earlier, Putin said Russia should be finished calling up reservists in two weeks, promising an end to a divisive mobilization that has seen hundreds of thousands of men summoned to fight in Ukraine and huge numbers flee the country.



Oleksiy Arestovych, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy, said in a YouTube interview that the attackers were from the Central Asian nation of Tajikistan and had opened fire on the others after an argument over religion.



Tajikistan is a predominantly Muslim nation, while around half of Russians follow various branches of Christianity. The Russian ministry had said the attackers were from a nation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, which groups nine ex-Soviet republics, including Tajikistan.



Reuters was not immediately able to confirm the comments by Arestovych, a prominent commentator on the war, or independently verify casualty numbers and other details of the incident.



The independent Russian news website SOTA Vision said the attack occurred in the small town of Soloti, close to the Ukrainian border and about 105 km (65 miles) southeast of Belgorod.



Zelenskiyy said on Saturday that Ukrainian troops were still holding the strategic eastern town of Bakhmut despite repeated Russian attacks while the situation in the larger Donbas region remained very difficult.



Although Ukrainian troops have recaptured thousands of square kilometers (miles) of land in recent offensives in the east and south, officials say progress is likely to slow once Kyiv's forces meet more determined resistance.



Ukrainian forces and civilians are relying on Starlink internet service provided by Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket company. Musk said on Friday he could no longer afford to fund the service but on Saturday said he would continue to do so.



Zelenskiyy said almost 65,000 Russians had been killed so far since the Feb. 24 invasion, a figure far higher than Moscow's official Sept. 21 estimate of 5,937 dead. In August the Pentagon said Russia has suffered between 70,000 and 80,000 casualties, either killed or wounded.





A resident works to clean the debris from damaged house after an overnight Russian shelling in Konstantinovka, eastern Ukraine, Oct. 14. AP-Yonhap
China's President Xi Jinping waves as he leaves after the opening session of the 20th Chinese Communist Party's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct. 16. AFP-Yonhap



Chinese President Xi Jinping called for accelerating the building of a world-class military while touting the fight against COVID-19 as he kicked off a Communist Party Congress by focussing heavily on security and reiterating policy priorities.



Xi, 69, is widely expected to win a third leadership term at the conclusion of the week-long congress that began on Sunday morning, cementing his place as China's most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong.



Roughly 2,300 delegates from around the country gathered in the vast Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square amid tight security and under blue skies after several smoggy days in the Chinese capital.



Xi described the five years since the last party congress as "extremely uncommon and abnormal", during a speech that lasted less than two hours - far shorter than his nearly three-and-a-half-hour address at the 2017 congress.



"We must strengthen our sense of hardship, adhere to the bottom-line thinking, be prepared for danger in times of peace, prepare for a rainy day, and be ready to withstand major tests of high winds and high waves," he said.



He mentioned "safety" or "security" 73 times, compared with 55 times in 2017, according to state news agency Xinhua's transcripts, and said China will strengthen its ability to build a strategic deterrent capability.



By comparison, Xi said "reforms" 16 times in the televised speech, far fewer than the 70 mentions five years ago.



Xi called for strengthening the ability to maintain national security, ensuring food and energy supplies, securing supply chains, improving the ability to deal with disasters and protecting personal information.



The biggest applause came when Xi restated opposition to Taiwan independence.



In his decade in power, Xi has set China on an increasingly authoritarian path that has prioritised security, state control of the economy in the name of "common prosperity", a more assertive diplomacy, a stronger military and intensifying pressure to seize democratically governed Taiwan.



Analysts generally do not expect significant change in policy direction in a third Xi term.



Alfred Wu, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said that as China's economy has slowed, Xi is attempting to shift the basis of legitimacy from economic growth to security.



"His narrative is - China faces many dangers, the country is in a war-like state, figuratively, and he is the saviour. With this narrative, he can get people to unite around him," he said.











The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16. Xinhua-Yonhap



Continuity



In recent days, China has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to Xi's zero-COVID strategy, dashing hopes among countless Chinese citizens as well as investors that Beijing might begin exiting anytime soon a policy that has caused widespread frustration and economic damage.



Xi said little about COVID other than to reiterate the validity of a policy that has made China a global outlier as much of the world tries to coexist with the coronavirus, which emerged in central China in late 2019.



"We have adhered to the supremacy of the people and the supremacy of life, adhered to dynamic zero-COVID ... and achieved major positive results in the overall prevention and control of the epidemic, and economic and social development," Xi said.



On the economy, he restated support for the private sector and allowing markets to play a key role, even as China fine-tunes a "socialist economic system" and promotes "common prosperity".



"We must build a high-level socialist market economic system ... unswervingly consolidate and develop the public ownership system, unswervingly encourage and support the development of the private economy, give full play to the decisive role of the market in the allocation of resources, and give better play to the role of the government," he said.





Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Oct. 16. Reuters-Yonhap
The rising terror threats from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Pakistani Taliban could deal a further blow to Pakistans already battered economy. The government has issued an alert after negotiations between the outfit and the government hit a roadblock. The rise in terror threats will dampen sentiments of the global investors at a time when Pakistan is making desperate attempts to fix its economy. The flow of foreign direct investment has seen a sharp fall. FDI inflow in July and August has dropped 26.1 percent to $169.5 million compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.

According to Pakistan Today, the Shehbaz Sharif government, instead of playing down terror threats, from TTP, should taken notice of the terrorist infiltration months back to be well prepared to address the issue.

In 2022, the TTPs violence will remain a major challenge for Pakistan, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in a report published in January said. In 2021, the group operating from bases in Afghanistan, and with a growing presence inside Pakistan, mounted an increasing number of attacks.

For the Sharif government, the real threat arises from the TTP, which has asked people to support jihad.. Islamabad will find it challenging to control that sphere and no one will be able to tell what its next steps will be, Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation who earlier served as Indias ambassador and told India Narrative earlier.

Also read: India nails Pakistans lies at UN, says Islamabad must stop cross-border terrorism

The TTP has started strengthening itself in the Swat Valley of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Protests have erupted in the area after unidentified gunmen open fire on a school van killing the bus driver.

Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) in a report published last year, said that the number of terror attacks and the number of resulting fatalities has started to tick up with growing sectarianism and the causes feeding into radicalization of the population not only continue to exist but, in some instances, are aggravating the problem. It also quoted the South Asia Terrorism portal (SATP) which highlighted that there were 319 terrorism related incidents in Pakistan in 2020. Pakistans National Counterterrorism Authority (NACTA) data showed terrorism attacks caused 357 deaths in Pakistan in 2020, a clear increase in the number of victims of terrorism from the previous year.
The discovery of nearly 200 rotting bodies on the roof of Nishtar hospital in Pakistans Punjab on Friday continues to baffle. Though the hospital maintains these bodies were meant for educational purposes, human rights activists say that these could belong to the victims of enforced disappearancespeople kidnapped by the Pakistani military and spy agencies.

The Europe-based Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) has said that the federal government should undertake a thorough investigation into the cause of death of the bodies and take measures to establish the identities of the bodies through DNA collection and matching. It added that the incident should not be swept under the carpet like the unmarked graves found in Totak, near Khuzdar in the strife-torn Balochistan in 2014.

In Multans Nishtar Hospital,more than a 500 decomposed bodies were discovered on the rooftop. We demand an investigation under the supervision of [email protected] are concerned that these are bodies of #balochmissingpersons and many mass graves have already been found in #Balochistan. pic.twitter.com/vF4fX7x1Aj  HudaHair Ellahi (@HudaHair_Ellahi) October 14, 2022

Social media photos and videos showed that the bodies, which were decomposed and putrefied, had been devoured by vultures and crows.

Condemning the discovery of bodies as a crime against humanity, the US-based Baloch American Congress (BAC) urged the US Congress to send a fact-finding mission to Balochistan. It also appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to fulfill its global obligations and conduct postmortem and DNA tests of the bodies of Baloch victims of enforced disappearances found on rooftop of Multan hospital, Pakistan.

OMG in our horror country, the story of 500 unidentified bodies found on the rooftop of Nishtar hospital, #Multan in #Punjab is a true story.  pic.twitter.com/VW2iarMES7  Meena Gabeena (@gabeeno) October 14, 2022

The Pakistani mainstream media has not reported the numbers of bodies while the social media has been rife with 500 bodies found on hospital rooftop.

The Punjab government has set up an inquiry committee to investigate the gruesome revelation while Nishtar hospital too has formed a three-member committee to inquire into the sensational discovery on its rooftop.

Deflecting attention, the hospital held rescue officials and police responsible for the decomposing bodies in the morgue and on the roof.

Giving a more accurate assessment on the number of bodies, a Baloch National Movement (BNM) spokesperson told India Narrative that at least 238 bodies are confirmed to have been found from the hospital. He said that it was only through social media that the news broke out which was later picked up by the mainstream media.

There needs to be a @UN investigation into #NishtarHospital. The Government of Pakistan has already put out official literature to say only 4 bodies were found on the roof. Those are lies. They have also tried to say the video is fake and taken elsewhere. Also lies. https://t.co/IGaLn6HoD3  Chris Blackburn (@CJBdingo25) October 15, 2022

The BNM has also alleged that Pakistani security forces run many torture cells in Punjab where Baloch political prisoners have been kept earlier.

Pointing out the glaring gaps in information from the government as well as the hospital, the BNM source added: no one has explained who those people were. Even if the numbers are not 500, they were once living human beings. Their bodies were destroyed and it is not only an inhumane action but it is an action against the Islamic rules and law.

He alleged: We believe that these bodies are of the victims of enforced disappearances because this is not the first time that such numbers of bodies are being found from Punjab. I hope that these people were not missing persons but one can not ignore the brutalities of Pakistani forces. They are capable of abducting people from one part of the country and then extra-judicially killing them in a different part of the country.

Many activists have alleged that from the remnants of clothes, the bodies seem to be of Baloch people. Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) chief Dr Allah Nazar also urged the UN and human rights agencies to take urgent notice of the gruesome incident. He also demanded a fact-finding mission should be sent to Multan.

Also Read: Exclusive: Baloch activist Mahganj Baloch recalls war against women unleashed by Pakistan
[Trigger Warning: This article contains references to suicide. Reader's discretion is advised]



Television actress Vaishali Takkar is no more. The 26-year-old was known for her roles in 'Sasural Simar Ka' and 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai'. She was found dead at her Indore residence on Sunday morning. Police suggest that she passed away by suicide and a note was also recovered.



screengrab

What do the reports of this mishap suggest?

Vaishali used to stay in Madhya Pradesh with her father and brother. They mentioned having no clue about her taking such a drastic step. Early this morning, When Vaishali did not come out of her room, her father went in and found her hanging, cops said. Police then reached the spot and recovered the dead body, further sending it to Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital for post-mortem.

IndiaTV

What did the cops say?

Indore Assistant Commissioner of Police M Rahman has said that they recovered a suicide note which suggests that she was stressed and was being harassed by a former boyfriend, news agency ANI reported. They have started investigating the matter and her mobile phone has also been confiscated. Statements of family members are also being recorded. For the facts, Vaishali was already engaged to Dr. Abhinandan Singh last year.

TFIPost

Who was Vaishali Takkar?

Having roots in Mahidpur, Ujjain, Vaishali moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in the film industry. She later moved to Jaipur and eventually to Sai Bagh Colony of Tejaji Nagar police station area of Indore where she had been staying for the last year with her younger brother and father. She had a recognizable run on Indian television. Vaishali was last seen in Dangal TV's Rakshabandhan... Rasal Apne Bhai Ki Dhal where she starred opposite Bigg Boss fame Nishant Malkani.

NETTV4U

She made her television debut with Star Plus Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai as Sanjana and went on to do Yeh Hai Aashiqui. In late 2017, she became a household name after playing the role of Anjali Bharadwaj in Colors TVs Sasural Simar Ka, on Colors TV. She was also a part of SAB TVs Super Sisters, Vish Ya Amrit: Sitara and Manmohini 2.



IMDb

Actor Ankush Arora who worked with Vaishali in Yeh Vaada Raha has said that he wasnt aware of this unfortunate incident. He told Hindustan Times, I have no news about it and I am not in touch with her for a very long time. After Yeh Vaada Raha, we couldnt keep in touch. Its very shocking for me.



Jagran

Disclaimer: If you know someone who is having suicidal thoughts or is suffering from a serious mental illness, reach out to a nearby doctor, mental health expert, or an NGO for immediate help.

(For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment, and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.)
With a massive inflow of tourists to the Ladakh region this year, experts said that it is leading to the environmental impact and shortage of water in the Himalayan region.

This coldest region has been much into the news for the last many years due to the stand-off between Indo-Chinese troops. Ladakhs Galwan valley has been the hotspot of the clashes for both the armies as the area falls along Line of Actual Control (LAC). But this time the area is in the news for some other reason.



BCCL/Representational Image

Dr Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Chairman J&K RTI Movement and an environmentalist told Indiatimes that it was an alarming situation in Ladakh.

I came to Kashmir a few days back from Ladakh. I witnessed mass tourism in the region. The intake capacity of tourists has been exceeded and it is posing a threat to its water and environment too, he said.

During my experience, I witnessed that the locals were using 21 litres of water daily while tourists were using 107 litres for bathing. So, one can imagine what this is leading to. Since the homestay culture has also come up, the demand for the water is high, he said.

Tourists are also using plastic bottles and wrappers. The entry of more tourist vehicles to the region is causing pollution, he said adding, It is posing a threat to the wildlife habitation as well as snow leopards.

Sheikh said that they demand a ban on mass tourism in Ladakh.

Instead, we should promote community tourism and authorities should check on the intake capacity of tourists in the region, he added.

Lateef Ahmad, a local of Ladakh who runs homestay facility said that he has been requesting the tourists not to waste the water unnecessarily.

I also keep telling them to use the water ATMs instead of plastic bottles, he said.

Government has also been requesting the tourists to use the water ATMs as three million water bottles are produced in every tourist season.

AP/Representational Image

Huge influx of tourists

According to the official data, the tourist influx in Leh this summer surpassed its previous records. As many as 2.5 lakh people travelled to Ladakh in just two months, June and July. Ladakh has a population of around 31,000 households and it is eight times more than that and twice that of Ladakhs population, which is approximately 1.33 lakh.

Almost 50 years since its inception, the number of tourists in Ladakh has grown to 4.5 lakh this year in just eight months (from January 1 to August 31, 2022), the data said.

Ladakh is most famous for breathtaking landscapes, the crystal-clear skies, the highest mountain passes, thrilling adventure activities, Buddhist monasteries and festivals.

This region is popularly known for motorbike rallies but environmental experts believe it is leading to disastrous situations. In 2018, wildlife enthusiasts and activists had protested about a major motorsport rally which would have affected the ecologically sensitive areas of the cold desert. This led to the organisers changing the routes of the event.

Wake up before it is late

A professor of Geography and Disaster Management at University of Kashmir wishing not to be named said that Ladakh authorities need to take concrete steps to stop this otherwise it would be too late.

AP/Representational Image

The problem is that we dont know how to manage the things because our lakes are dying and when it comes to the foreign countries, their tourism is long lived and there are no issues of pollution as well, he said.

In July, a study revealed that it is the time to put a brake on bucket-list bike and car trips as the shrinking of glaciers in Himalayan region Ladakh, the battleground for the Indian and Chinese troops along Line of Actual Control (LAC) is due to the growing vehicular traffic.

The study published by the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research is based on satellite images of 77 glaciers observed over two decades, from 2000 to 2020, in the Drass basin of western Himalaya.

Atal tunnel adds to chaos

On October 3, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang at an altitude of above 3,000 metres in Himachal Pradesh. After the inauguration, he said the tunnel would provide new strength to the countrys border infrastructure.

TOI

The 9.02 km-long-tunnel, built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is the worlds longest highway tunnel and connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley. It provides all-weather connectivity to the landlocked valley of Lahaul-Spiti, which remains cut-off for nearly six months in a year as the Rohtang Pass is usually snow-bound between November and April.



The data revealed that before the opening of Rohtang pass over 4.5 lakh vehicles passed through the tunnel between January 2018 and October 2020.

Over 17 lakh vehicles passed through the tunnel afterwards till August 2022. This year alone 7.62 lakh vehicles passed till August ending, it said.

However, experts see this route as the main cause for the unprecedented tourist rush and vehicular pollution. Before the construction of this tunnel, Ladakh used to remain disconnected with the rest of the world due to the heavy snowfall and avalanches for almost six months.

Ladakh LG says focus is on quality tourism

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur said the benefit of tourist activities should be spread in all parts of the region rather than allowing it to concentrate in a few places.

AP/Representational Image

Mathur said this while attending the inaugural session of the Indian Himalayan Youth Summit-V which is being organised by Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) and Sustainable Development Forum of Ladakh with support of the UT administration and the LAHDC, Leh recently.

Terming the Himalayan regions as the most important ecologically as they determine the climate of the country and the world, Mathur stressed the need for youth taking part in the summit to deliberate and record the outcomes of the event so that it could be heard and implemented at both regional and national levels.

Mathur emphasised the need to focus on quality tourism. He stated that tourism enabled the consolidation of the cultural aspect of a region and emphasised the need for Himalayan states to respect, own and propagate their culture for the overall benefit of society.





For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.
Scientists have found new evidence for liquid water on Mars. According to an international team of scientists, there is liquid water beneath the south polar ice cap of Mars.

Results from this study were published in the journal Nature Astronomy, and provide the first evidence of liquid water on Mars using data other than the information obtained from radars.

PTI

Finding water on Mars' south pole

Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Sheffield used spacecraft laser-altimeter measurements of the ice cap's upper surface shape in order to find subtle patterns in its height.

Then, scientists demonstrated how these patterns match predictions by computer models about how a water body beneath the ice cap would affect the surface. Their results were in sync with old radar measurements that were interpreted to show the potential of liquid water beneath the ice.

NASA

Also read: After 8 Glorious Years Around Mars, India's 'Mangalyaan' Has Run Out Of Fuel

Essentially, this new study puts to rest concerns over liquid water interpretation from radar data.

"This study gives the best indication yet that there is liquid water on Mars today because it means that two of the key pieces of evidence we would look for when searching for sub-glacial lakes on Earth have now been found on Mars," said Frances Butcher, one of the authors of the study from the University of Sheffield, PTI reported.

NASA

Also read: A Treasure Trove Of Organic Matter Found By Perseverance Rover On Mars



"Liquid water is an essential ingredient for life, although it does not necessarily mean that life exists on Mars," Butcher added.

At such cold temperatures, the water beneath polar ice might be extremely salty. This means that microbial life might not exist there. But this points to the existence of habitable environments on Mars in the past.

What do you think about potentially finding liquid water on Mars? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

References

PTI. (2022, October 5). Scientists find new evidence for liquid water on Mars. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/scientists-find-new-evidence-for-liquid-water-on-mars/article65971321.ece
I meet Rebecca Miller in a Dublin hotel on a day when torrential rain has caused traffic gridlock.

Weve both travelled from Co Wicklow and have arrived a few minutes late. Were here to discuss Total, Millers new book of short stories.

Its a masterful collection showing characters in extremis and is both comedic and dark. Drawn from inspiration over many years, she wrote the bulk of the stories during the first lockdown in New York. Did some of the darkness of that time seep into the stories?

I think so, yes, she says, after a pause for thought.

I dont see how it could not have. I mean, we were all washing our groceries, and had a terror of touching.

And to think that there was no vaccine  it was terrifying.

"Death was everywhere and the sense that outside your circle of life there is darkness is definitely present in the stories.

This collection is the first Miller has produced in more than 20 years (her first, Personal Velocity, a Washington Post Best Book of 2001, was the basis for her award-winning film of the same name).

But thats not to imply that Miller has been idle in the interim. There have been two novels, four other feature films, and a documentary film about her father, the playwright Arthur Miller.

Rebecca Miller Total

When I remark on her brilliance and versatility, she says that there was no other career she could have done. But I dont let her away with that; while starting life as an artist and sculptor, Miller also spent a decade as a stage and film actor.

But that was years ago, she says, claiming that most of it came about by accident.

Miller started writing in her teens, but art became her passion.

In fact, I was heartbroken when I realised I wanted to make a film, she says.

I started with short films which were really like art pieces.

Then, after a dream about my two best friends, I wanted to make a large sculpture with a motor, and I wanted to film it. I priced it out, and realised I needed $30,000 for the project.

By a weird series of events I got the opportunity to audition for a part for TV. Im not an actor, but I could get by, and I got the part. I got paid $30,000 and made the sculpture.

After that, I worked with some great directors, including Peter Brooke for The Cherry Orchard. But I was never a great success in film, and that was great, because I never became famous.

That was good?

Yes, fame would have been bad, she says, because acting is not the thing Im best at and I wasnt as talented as I wanted to be.

All this, she says, was interwoven with her filmmaking.

Her big break came in 1995 with her first feature film, Angela. But although the movie won her both acclaim and awards, it failed to make money  and she couldnt raise funds for a follow-up film. Thats when she turned to fiction.

All her publications have been wonderfully received, but Total sees her at the top of her game.

The startling first story, Mrs Covet, gives the reader a rollercoaster ride.

It starts with an infestation of ladybugs. The narrator, a woman pregnant for the third time, cant bring herself to deal with the so called Lucky insects.

Instead, she ruminates about her life, and sex, wondering, idly, if she has time for a quick orgasm before picking her elder son up from school.

When her mother-in-law provides her with help, in the form of the motherly Mrs Covet, she happily relinquishes the care of her children.

There are hints that all might not be well, but the shocking dark denouement, is narrated with a true sense of humanity, understanding and forgiveness.

Where do such stories spring from?

I first wrote Mrs Covet when I was breastfeeding my youngest child, who is now 20. I was in that mindset, and in the conflict of wanting help, but also wanting to protect your kid.

And also, how frightening the world suddenly becomes when a baby is so vulnerable. And there was, actually, an invasion of ladybugs.

Writing in the dark, with little flashbacks, she doesnt necessarily know what will happen next, or how the story will end.

Usually I know nothing, and I start with a character or an event, she says.

Sometimes, as a younger woman, I couldnt figure how to put clothes on an idea.

"Theyre like little souls that need bodies, and thats what takes the time. That took me many years, but during the pandemic, I was able to sit down and work it all out.

Rebecca Millers new book of short stories, Total, is the first she has produced in more than 20 years.

A story set in Dublin, She Came to Me, features Ciaran Fox, a middle-aged writer who fears he will never have a new idea for a novel.

The spark for this one, was a period when Miller suffered from complete writers block.

I think that is something all writers can connect to in a way, she says, and especially if youve had a measure of success."

"Are you writing something that has any value to anybody? Or enough value that it can cause a shadow in this world?

It happened to Miller when she was making the transition from writing screenplays to short stories.

It was a genuinely frightening thing, she says. I was here in Ireland, and I didnt have any other job, and I didnt have kids yet, so, to distract myself I volunteered in a womans shelter, working in the creche.

A little bit later, a short story came to me, and I gradually built the entire Personal Velocity collection around that story.

Having lived around creatives her entire life  her mother, Inge Morath, Arthur Millers third wife, was a photographer, and shes married to actor Daniel Day Lewis  Miller cant imagine another life: You think, wouldnt it be interesting to have a mother or father who was a banker?

Shes happy with her choices, liking the way films and writing naturally dovetail.

The two things, films and writing feel like breathing in and out, she says.

Filmmaking is brutal on many levels  getting it all together can destroy your sanity, but you can control your writing.

You can write a story with 3,000 people in it, and nobody can tell you they cant afford it.

Miller is a delightful interviewee. She laughs easily and often, and seems utterly content with her life  living, as she does, between Ireland and America.

She loved writing the stories, as it gave space to all the characters who had been knocking on the door of her head.

It gives relief to all those people who are in there and want out.

But writing isnt pure joy either.

There is a lot of joy involved, but its more like being a slave, albeit a willing slave to ones imagination, she says. Once you sign up, you are in it, whatever the medium is.

A film, She Came to Me, is in process  shes off to her home in the US for that one, but she hopes to write another novel soon.

Its a question of, what will the subject be, and when can I have my whole brain back, so I can focus, she says, laughing. Because novels are immense.

Its not just hacking out the first path. You then have to go through it all sentence by sentence and that is going to be hard.

"One of the things I have learned is to allow the rhythms of life to happen. If I have another novel in me, it will arrive.
I'm in a dead-end job with no prospects of promotion. I want to get out, but Id probably need to retrain. My wife works part-time, and we have a two-year-old child and a mortgage, so time out to learn new skills is not an option. I have a happy home life, but I dread the thought of going to work almost every day.

Feeling stuck can be deeply uncomfortable, creating a fear that we will never escape this sense of stuckness. A survival instinct may kick in and you may lash out or recoil and try to hide in a shrunken world.

This is not unlike the sensation you might have when swimming and fearing you might drown and in many respects, the advice is the same: lean back, make a star of your body, move gently, and breathe.

While this may seem counterintuitive, especially in outcome-driven work, its often the antidote.

The Persian poet, Rumi, encourages us to be patient where you sit in the dark. The dawn is coming.

Similarly, I believe this space of stuckness offers you space to reflect on the meaning of the underlying fear. Allow yourself to float through a series of reflective questions.

What does it mean to be in a job where you see no opportunities for professional growth?

What does it mean to be the primary earner for your young family?

What does it mean to return to the role of student?

What does it mean to be an unhappy employee?

I suggest you answer each of these questions in turn and in-depth, writing out, perhaps initially in a stream of consciousness until you have exhausted your reflections.

Notice the sensations that arise, does your stomach churn, your heart hurt, do muscles tighten?

Notice any emerging feelings of sadness, anxiety, grief, or longing.

Caroline Martin, psychologist. Photograph Moya Nolan

Dont rush to make sense of these sensations and emotions, sit with them, be curious, see what bubbles to the surface.

Lean back and float for a while with this new awareness. This phase of enquiry may take a few days or a few weeks. When you are ready to be curious, you can explore one of the above questions a little further.

For example, what would it mean to acknowledge that holding the weight of expectation of being the primary earner is exerting a toll on you and your quality of life?

What would it mean to let go of that idea? What parts, if any, of that idea still hold merit?

Whose voices are loudest about this expectation: parents, wife, manager, social media feed? Who is likely to explore a different possibility with you?

Your wife, your friends, a familiar, or a new, mentor?

Consider those people who will serve you best as you move from fear of letting go to action.

The effort to get unstuck can feel less onerous when we rally support. The trusted people in your life can throw light in corners you might not have considered. It is this awareness of the possibility of other perspectives that can reveal something altogether new for you.

This may be your wifes desire to return full-time to the workplace, an opportunity to rent out the house and travel abroad while your child is young, or the news that a local ETB is offering a Skills for Work programme in your workplace.

I am reticent to make suggestions as this may dilute your own exploration and stifle curiosity.

A helpful step as we emerge from being stuck is playfulness; it stops us from jumping too quickly into a hasty decision.

Often we seize the first plausible solution without considering the range of possibilities. By resisting this urge and remaining curious, you are more likely to uncover an assortment of novel answers.

In our quest to grow up and achieve, we can forget the art of play. Your two-year-old is possibly going to be your greatest teacher in this arena.

Your child sees you and the world through eyes filled with awe and wonder.

To your child, you are that star-shaped individual; as Rumi says, you are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.

While you may feel youre in a dead-end job, this is perhaps the time for you to truly come to life. Take care.

Email questions for Caroline: feelgood@examiner.ie
Last month, I attended the Brand USA summit, a lively meetup in Frankfurt where tourist board officials from across America and its territories met European travel journalists to promote their cities and region.

A number of CEOs from across Florida crossed my networking path and they were proud to showboat their regions areas from eco-tourism in Fort Myers, electric boat tours in Tampa to (this is Florida) ziplining over gators in Kissimmee. Yet, all the while we were networking, news was reaching the podiums of the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian back home.

Two weeks on from the devastating storm, the cost on tourism is being counted (at billions) with some resorts having been virtually wiped out by the impact. But in true Floridian spirit, the clean-up is underway, hotels (and Disneyland) are reopening and the message from many cities is that Florida is back open for business.

We have some lingering flooding in some of the residential and non-tourist areas but all resorts, hotels and vacation rentals are opened and fully operational, says DT Minich, CEO of Experience Kissimmee the hugely popular tourism town in central Florida. All of the theme parks are fully reopened and most of the other attractions as well, he added. Mr Minich also highlighted that consumer confidence remains for the state which welcomes over 100m visitors per year.

Long haul, business is looking strong for the holiday season, he added, and we also have healthy bookings for the first through third quarter of 2023. As air service continues to return and expand from our overseas markets, we are seeing that added capacity book fast. There is still a lot of pent-up demand for the US, Florida, and Kissimmee.

Back in Ireland, Florida specialist Tour America is still seeing strong demand for the state. Florida is one of our top destinations in the USA and we continue to receive lots of enquiries for 2022/2023 and beyond, CEO of Tour America Mary McKenna told me this week. In fact, when we looked at our booking data for 2023, we found that Orlando is coming out on top as the number-one US destination our customers are booking.

Theme parks are proving the top type of holiday for Tour America clients for 2023 with Florida appealing to all different types of holidaymakers according to McKenna. Families love the beautiful beaches and famous theme parks, whilst young explorers are keen to hop in a rental and cruise down the Florida Keys. It also attracts a huge number of golfers each year, since it boasts almost 1,100 courses, located all over the state.

And of course, we cant forget the weather. Irish holidaymakers love being able to escape the cold weather and head to sunnier shores, which makes Florida the perfect destination as late winter and early spring are the ideal times to visit this amazing destination.

Theres value too, the operator is offering seven-night packages to Orlando from 722pps while if you fancy travelling DIY, Aer Lingus fly to both Miami and Orlando from 396 return. Hopefully this winter, tourism in the Sunshine State will continue to shine.

For more, see visitflorida.com

1. Destination Cleveland

Oh hi, Ohio! If youre looking for an alternative US escape, then how about a trip on the latest Aer Lingus route, Cleveland, famed for its Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Lake Erie beaches. As the only direct link to the city offered by a European airline, the route will strategically offer Ohioans the opportunity to travel to Ireland and Europe via Dublin while also tempting Irish travellers to experience the gateway to the Midwest hub. Aer Lingus has just also announced the return of the airlines Dublin to Hartford route which was suspended during the pandemic. Flights to Connecticut resume from March offering a handy option for those with interests between Boston and New York.

2. Dublins newest hotel

The Maldron Merrion Road

Hotel rooms in Dublin have rarely been in such short (and pricey) supply, which is why were very much rolling out the red carpet for the newest opening in the city. Having just launched last week, the Maldron Merrion Road is the capitals latest four-star hotel and brings 140 rooms to its scenic location in the heart of D4. Appealing to the corporate and city break market the seven storey property offers stunning panoramic Dublin Bay vistas from Sandymount Strand to Howth while guests can enjoy the Maldrons signature stylish rooms, dine at their Grain and Grill Restaurant or order a coffee to go from their Red Bean Roastery. Take advantage from hot B&B rates from 139.

3. Wendy Wu

Looking for a dream getaway to Asia? Irish operator Sunway has teamed up with the UKs leading escorted holiday operator Wendy Wu to offer their premium, guided tours for the Irish market. Wendy Wu is known for its all-inclusive offerings with rates including everything from all food and accommodation on the ground down to visas which are sorted by their own red tape team. Expect that to be reflected in the price which puts Wendy Wu very much in the luxury market; if you fancy soaking in the cherry blossoms or scaling Mount Fuji in Japan, their classic eight-day tour to the county costs 4800 excl. flights; sunway.ie

4. Hidden Haven

Hidden Haven is luxury lodge, nestled in a stunning swathe of countryside between Gougane Barra and Glengarriff.

Ive just been tipped off to a pretty dreamy new getaway in West Cork! The Hidden Haven is a beautifully designed and just launched luxury lodge, nestled in a stunning swathe of countryside between Gougane Barra and Glengarriff. Overlooking its own lake, the design and comfort led property features everything from organic sheets on its supersized king bed, a wood burning stove, claw toe tub bath and outdoor barbecue. If you tear yourself away from those views, pick some blueberries at the onsite organic farm. The Hidden Haven is accepting bookings for three-night minimums with rates from 250 per night.

5. Staycation deals

November typically offers some of the best hotel rates of the year and Ive uncovered a few hotel deals this week with rates which may give you a hint of nostalgia! The Mills Inn in Ballyvourney have winter rates from 120 per night (and that doesnt increase for weekend stays), while if you still have a Blue Book voucher knocking about, Butler House in Kilkenny are by reckoning the cheapest property in the collection with midweek rates this month from just 115!
The Third Chapter is a popular term anticipating our retirement days filled with fun, food and travel.

This past month, my wife Becky and I added more stories to our third chapter as we traveled Europe by plane, train, automobile  and even a bus, gondola and tuk-tuk.

We made the transatlantic flight to celebrate our 40th anniversary, (two pandemic years later). We visited nine of the 15 countries of Southern Europe, but our first stop was Lisbon, Portugal, to catch our breath and feast on great seafood.

Three days later, we flew to Barcelona, Spain, where we ate tapas and saw the legendary flamenco dancing.

From there we boarded a cruise sailing around the Italian coastline through five of the 11 seas that comprise the Mediterranean. I started out seasick in the Balearic Sea, but the water calmed as we pushed through the Ligurian Sea and Tyrrhenian Sea. Our ship crossed through the Strait of Messina into the Ionian and Adriatic Seas.

Each day brought us to a new city. We found ourselves walking the Grand Prix streets of Monte Carlo, gliding through Venice canals in a gondola, riding a tuk-tuk into Vatican City to view the Sistine Chapel ,and strolling atop the defensive stone walls surrounding Dubrovnik, Croatia.

We took a prayer-inspiring bus ride along Italys insanely steep Amalfi Coast, a place modestly described on a travel website as: pastel towns that line up like sugar cubes on green hills sprinkled with bright yellow lemons, overlooked by turquoise skies dotted with brilliantly white clouds, and plunging down to sapphire seas. A little understated, I have to say.

After 12 days at sea, we disembarked to stay three days at the Great Waterfall (Plitvice Lakes National Park). At this UNESCO site, we saw water pouring over every rock, transforming through a kaleidoscope of colors as it replenished the lake below. Miles of boardwalk took us through a scene from Psalms 23, leading us beside the still lake waters and restoring our over-traveled souls.

In neighboring Slovenia, I boarded a train into the 15 miles of Postojna Cave. The jaw dropping cave is among the best known in the world. But nearby Skocjan Caves, AKA Underground Grand Canyon, remains the most impressive. The Reka River gushes through the underworld canyon with the deafening sound level of a jet engine.

I encourage everyone to travel as much as they are able. I believe it inspires resiliency and brings a new perspective of the different ways people live.

However, Im aware that there are times when travel is financially or physically impossible. If that describes you, consider the five ways Staycations can inspire resilience and fill the travel void.

From the comfort of home, read nonfiction about history, religion, cuisine or culture. Read fiction from international writers describing their home.

Introduce yourself to people from other cultures. Ask your Afghan neighbor to describe life in her country. Get your Sikh veterinarian to talk about his religious holidays.

Food is my favorite form of stay-at-home travel. Attend a food festival sponsored by a Greek Orthodox or Buddhist congregation or share a meal in a Bahai temple. Food is a wonderful challenge of your ethnocentric taste buds.

When I cant afford to travel, I find a nearby lake, beach or waterfall. For me, water is my God spot. Its where I inhale the sights and sounds that renew my connection with my Creator.

Finally Interstellar travel can be as close as a moonless night in your backyard. Check online calendars for meteor shows and prepare to watch the little sky-scratchers as they etch straight lines at a perky 18 miles per second. (Watch for the Orionids shower peeking on Oct 20-21.)

Travel can be a part of your third Chapter  how do you plan to write yours?

If youre ready to travel, why not come to Honduras to help Chispa Project start libraries in Honduran elementary schools. Dates are February 12-19 or March 12-19, 2023. See more info at https://chispaproject.org/volunteertrip/.

Coincidentally, travel is the topic covered in the third chapter of my book, Thriving Beyond Surviving. The chapter, titled Flight expands the points in this column. Please read past columns on my website, www.thechaplain.net Send comments to comment@thechaplain.net or 10556 Combie Rd. Suite 6643 Auburn, CA 95602 or via voicemail (843) 608-9715.

To read Chaplain Burkes' last column, click here.
MyDeal, a subsidiary of supermarket giant Woolworths Group, has suffered a data breach, with compromised user credentials being used to gain access to the company's customer relationship management system.

In a statement issued on Friday, Woolworths said 2.2 million customers were affected, adding that it had begun to contact regulatory authorities and government agencies.

The MyDeal site is hosted by Amazon in the US, according to Internet services company Netcraft, and appears to use ASP.NET, technology sold by Microsoft.

Optus & Woolworths have been hacked. Government health records were hacked.



This is being used as an excuse to spend billions on Digital ID & biometric security.



Yet the only system in the world a hacker can't get into is an old-fashioned filing cabinet filled with paper.  Alexandra Marshall (@ellymelly) October 15, 2022

As per Microsoft's own site, "ASP.NET is a free, cross-platform, open source framework for building Web apps and services with .NET and C#."

Is the facial recognition data of that @Woolworths covertly extracts from customers and stores for commercial and investigation purposes part of this new data breach? https://t.co/YVie2lbByc pic.twitter.com/yNbNUdOLkm  Sally Rugg (@sallyrugg) October 14, 2022

Of itself, MyDeal: "MyDeal is a leading Australian online retail marketplace that provides customers with quality products from a curated selection of trusted retailers. "Since 2011, weve brought Australian shoppers the biggest brands, the best deals, discounts and sales on an extensive range of home and lifestyle products."

Woolworths completed its acquisition of about 80% of MyDeal.com.au on 23 September. "There has been no compromise of any other Woolworths Group platforms or the Woolworths Group customer or Everyday Rewards records," the statement added.

The statement said data that had been accessed included customer names, email addresses, phone numbers, delivery addresses, and, in some cases, the date of birth of customers.

Of the affected customers, 1.2 million had only their email addresses exposed.

Woolworths said the data was accessed within the CRM system and the MyDeal Web site and app were not affected.

"MyDeal does not store payment, drivers licence or passport details and no customer account passwords or payment details have been compromised in this breach," the statement said.

MyDeal founder and chief executive Sean Senvirtne said: We apologise for the considerable concern that this will cause our affected customers. We have acted quickly to identify and mitigate unauthorised access and have increased the monitoring of networks.

"We will continue to work with relevant authorities as we investigate the incident and we will keep our customers fully informed of any further updates impacting them.

Woolworths Group chief security officer Pieter van der Merwe added: Woolworths Groups cyber security and privacy teams are fully engaged and working closely with MyDeal to support the response."

The statement said affected customers could contact MyDeal directly or through the company's help centre.

This is the sixth data breach of Australian companies announced in less than a month. Optus announced on 22 September that its systems had been breached, followed by Telstra, G4S, Costa Group, Dialog and Medibank Group.
GUEST OPINION: When the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to allow staff to work from home, the biggest initial challenge to overcome was organising ways to effectively communicate. Many turned to services such as Zoom and Teams to allow group conversations while mobiles became the favoured one-on-one channel. Over a period of a few months, most staff became comfortable with these ways of staying in touch while working remotely. However now, with hybrid work practices likely to be a feature of business life for some time to come, many organisations are realising there is another challenge that needs to be solved. As well as enabling hybrid communication, there is also a need for hybrid collaboration capabilities.

Solving this challenge could be more difficult for leaders to navigate, even compared with the rapid switch to remote working in early 2020. But while challenging, this new, blended approach to work may also be a major growth opportunity, as well as a chance to foster greater engagement and innovation.

The same old (age-old) ways to collaborate

This challenge is why Facebook's introduction of a virtual reality workspace, Horizon Workrooms, is so interesting. Maybe we don't all need Oculus headsets and VR avatars to restore a sense of teamwork. But Facebook is on the right track: it's looking for ways to help people connect and collaborate, not just communicate, in virtual workspaces.

To ensure this switch to the next normal has a positive impact, leaders and companies will need to adopt a whole new mindset when it comes to collaboration. Research commissioned by Lucid last year showed that while managers have concerns about how remote working impacts productivity, employees are more concerned about how it impacts their ability to collaborate.

This is unsurprising. Collaborative tools have been stale for a long time. While the advent of Slack, Zoom and Microsoft Teams have shifted businesses away from operating solely on email, they remain communication platforms at heart, not collaboration solutions.

The office suites we use today are broadly similar to those we used 30 years ago; we're still collaborating around virtual 8.5 x 11 documents, virtual spreadsheets, and virtual slideshows. Even within Facebook's Workrooms, the whiteboard is just a 4 foot by 6 foot rectangle floating in front of you. But the fact is, we no longer go to work to pass memos around. Why are we restricting our collaborative work to what fits on a virtual sheet of paper or inside an imaginary conference room?

Collaboration needs to be visual

We go to work to build things, whether it's a company, a product, or a market. And, as mentioned above, good communications tools are only part of what's needed to do this kind of creative work in a remote or hybrid setting. A 2021 paper from Microsoft suggests that employees might be "collaboratively isolated" during work-from-home stints, with mixed results for creative work. That's because building things requires focused work time, along with both effective communication tools and effective collaboration.

In order to empower employees to be more collaborative, leaders need to think differently. In short, hybrid environments need visual solutions that facilitate working side-by-side, not just face-to-face.

Creativity and collaboration are possible with a hybrid workforce, as long as managers are able to build a culture that supports and prioritises these values, not just productivity. Work practices and visual technologies can give people a voice and spark creativity, regardless of their location  remote or in the office.

For example, BambooHR entered a three-year strategy refresh process just after the pandemic hit in 2020. Normally, this is the kind of process that would take days or even weeks of intensive collaborative work in a conference room, with lots of scribbling on whiteboards and flipcharts, and pasting up sticky notes full of ideas. Instead, BambooHR conducted everything virtually using a virtual whiteboard.

Employees reported they found the ability to add sticky notes and ideas on a virtual whiteboard as they went along much more engaging than sitting through a PowerPoint presentation. The whiteboard's infinite canvas meant that when one section got full, people just swiped over to a new, blank area. There was no need to pause, take a picture, and start again. The virtual canvas also allowed everyone to see all ideas on their screens and discuss them in real time and afterward to quickly establish priorities and next steps.

It's time to reimagine working together

By putting everyone in a shared, virtual space, you can eliminate old barriers and constraints. By collaborating on an infinite canvas instead of a 4'x6' whiteboard, people's ideas can literally "stretch out" and go beyond the frameworks that normally constrain their thinking.

Besides brainstorming and planning, other areas where visual, collaborative technologies could use a more hybrid-friendly approach include process mapping, system diagramming, and product development.

As staff members become comfortable with these tools and processes, virtual workplaces will quickly become spaces where the most effective collaboration can happen. They will end up being the workspaces that best promote and enable innovation, creative thinking, and new ideas to push businesses forward.
Guangzhou to host SIMS 2026 event

By ZHENG CAIXIONG (China Daily) 15:30, October 16, 2022

Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, has won the right to host the 2026 International Conference on Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), according to a statement released by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) on Friday.

It will be the first time the international conference on SIMS is held on the Chinese mainland, demonstrating the progress China has achieved in this field in recent years.

The event will be held in HKUST (Guangzhou) which started its very first semester in Guangzhou's Nansha district in September, the statement said.

Weng Lutao, director of the Center of Materials Characterization and Preparation Facility with HKUST (Guangzhou), said China has achieved rapid progress in the development of SIMS in recent years and China's achievement in this field has been highly regarded by the Organizing Committee of SIMS.

"Meanwhile, the rapid development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the locational advantage of Nansha district with advanced transportation facilities have also helped Guangzhou to be qualified to hold the event," he said.

Weng is chief scientist in his center and concurrently professor of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in the university.

Weng will serve as the chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 2026 International Conference on SIMS, while Li Xianhua, an isotope geochemist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Zhao Lixia, an expert in semiconductor materials and executive vice-dean of the School of Electrical Engineering and Automation of Tiangong University, will serve as co-chairpersons.

Weng is a core member of the Chinese team that bid for the 2026 International Conference on SIMS and he is also the only Chinese representative in the organizing committee of SIMS.

According to the statement, SIMS is one of the most widely used surface analysis technologies, which play an important role in the fields of materials, biology and earth science.

Due to the high cost of related instruments and equipment, SIMS started late in China. But China's SIMS has developed rapidly in recent years, it said.

The country has increased not only the number of instruments in academia and industry significantly, but also the level of relevant academic research.

Chinese scientists with the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, once published three papers in world-famous academic journal Nature, after they had studied and researched a very small sample size of lunar soil brought back by lunar probe "Chang'e-5" in a very short period of time via using SIMS and other analytical techniques in October 2021.

Weng said the international conference on SIMS, which is held every two years, is the top academic event in SIMS and usually attracts top scholars and experts from all over the world.

North America, Europe and Asia usually take turns to host the event. Previously, only Japan and South Korea in Asia had hosted the event.

"China once applied to host the event, but failed for various reasons," said Weng.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Du Mingming)
Russia said two gunmen from a former Soviet state attacked a military training ground on Saturday, killing 11 people who had volunteered to fight in Ukraine and wounding 15 others.

Russias Defense Ministry said the attack in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, happened during a firearms training session.

Russia launched a so-called special military operation in Ukraine at the end of February. Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a mobilization of 300,000 Russians who had previously done military service.

On October 15, two citizens of a CIS country committed an act of terrorism at a training ground of the West Military District in the Belgorod region, state news agencies quoted the ministry as saying.

As a result, 11 people were fatally injured. Another 15 people suffered injuries of varying severity and were taken to medical facilities.

The two attackers were killed by retaliatory fire, the ministry added.

The CIS or Commonwealth of Independent States was formed between republics that were part of the Soviet Union.

Since partial mobilization was announced on September 21, more than 200,000 people have been drafted into the Russian armed forces.

The draft notice sparked protests and several attacks on recruitment agencies.

 Fierce fights 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said on Saturday that his troops were facing a highly difficult situation near the eastern city of Bakhmut, which has been under attack by the Russian army for weeks.

Ukraine is retaking areas in both the east and south that have been occupied by Russia for months, but faces a major challenge in some areas.

The situation in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions remains very serious, said Zelenskyy, referring to two regions that Russia says it has annexed.

Like in the past few days, it is most difficult near Bakhmut. Were still holding our positions, he said.

Russian troops have been attacking Bakhmut, a wine and salt mining town formerly populated by 70,000, for weeks in hopes of capturing the town.

Zelenskyy also said that Russias total losses are now approaching 65,000.

A soldier, just returned from the front, told AFP news agency they had been fighting non-stop for four days.

Of the 13 boys in my group, we lost two soldiers and five were evacuated, said 50-year-old Soldier Poliak of the 93rd Brigade.

For days I didnt sleep, didnt eat, didnt drink anything except coffee, he added.

France, meanwhile, said it would train up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers on its soil.

Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu said France will also provide Ukraine with Crotale air defense systems to enable it to defend its skies.

 Repeated strikes 

Saturdays attack at the Belgorod training ground is the latest in a series of incidents to hit the Russian region.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod, said earlier Saturday an oil depot was on fire after it was shelled. He posted a photo showing flames and plumes of black smoke rising above a building.

Last week, Russia lamented an increase in artillery and rocket attacks on its territory bordering Ukraine.

And on Friday, authorities said a Ukrainian strike had set fire to a power plant in the regions capital, also known as Belgorod, and caused power outages.

This came a day after a rocket destroyed the top floor of an apartment building in the city of Belgorod without causing injuries.

An ammunition depot in the region was also destroyed on Thursday.
President Xi Jinping vowed in a speech at the opening of the Communist Party Congress in Beijing on Sunday that China will never commit to renouncing the use of force when it comes to the Taiwan issue.

The solution to the Taiwan issue is a matter for the Chinese people themselves and must be solved by the Chinese alone. We will uphold the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and best effort, but never commit to abandoning the use of violence and reserve the option to take any necessary measures, Xi told Communist Party delegates in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

China sees self-governing, democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, to be recaptured one day through military intervention if necessary.

The historic wheels of national reunification and national rejuvenation are rolling forward, Xi added. The reunification of the fatherland must be achieved and will be achieved.

Xi condemned separatism and interference in the matter.

He also hailed Hong Kongs transition from chaos to governance after the enactment of a national security law in 2020 that has quashed dissent in the once outspoken city.
Pope Francis, in an excerpt of his new book published Sunday, said the need for United Nations reform was more than evident after the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war showed its limitations.

Argentinas Pope said Russias invasion of Ukraine in February highlighted the need to ensure the current multilateral structure  particularly the UN Security Council  finds more agile and effective ways of resolving conflicts.

In times of war, its important to reaffirm that we need more multilateralism and better multilateralism, but the UN is no longer fit for new realities, he added in an excerpt published by La Stampa daily.

The organization was formed to prevent the horrors of two world wars from repeating themselves, but while the threat of those conflicts was still alive, the world today isnt the same, Francis said.

The need for these reforms became more than evident after the pandemic, when the current multilateral system revealed all its limitations, he added.

Francis denounced the unequal distribution of vaccines as a blatant example of the rule of the fittest over solidarity.

The 85-year-old advocated organic reforms aimed at enabling international organizations to rediscover their essential purpose of serving the human family and said international institutions must be the result of the broadest possible consensus.

The Pope also proposed guaranteeing food, health, economic and social rights on which international institutions would base their decisions.
NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)  WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, is reminding buyers of Abbott Laboratories stocks AWAY between February 19, 2021 and June 8, 2022, both dates inclusive (the Instruction Period), the important October 31, 2022 Deadline for Lead Plaintiff.



SO WHAT: If you purchased Abbott securities during the Class Period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of expenses or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Abbott Class Action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8453 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll free at 866-767-3653 or by email [email protected] or [email protected] for information about the Class Action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you want to appear as lead plaintiff, you must call the court by October 31, 2022 at the latest. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other group members in conducting the litigation.

WHY ROSES LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified advisors with a track record in leadership positions. Frequently, companies that issue notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or meaningful recognition from peers. Many of these law firms do not actually conduct securities class actions, but are merely intermediaries who refer clients or work with law firms who actually hear the cases. Be wise in choosing a lawyer. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors worldwide and focuses its practice on securities class actions and shareholder derivatives litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest-ever settlement of a securities class action lawsuit against a Chinese company. Rosen Law Firm was ranked #1 in 2017 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for the number of securities class action settlements. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 every year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone, the company secured over $438
EXO member and actor Park Chanyeol met his fans through a live stream where he generously shared some of his happy moments while serving in the military.

Excited to know his stories? Then keep reading the article!

Park Chanyeol Meets Fans Through 'Invitation From Chanyeol' Live Stream

On September 28, EXO's Chanyeol finally finished his service in the military. EXO-Ls rejoiced as they are about to see more of their favorite idol with new projects since he already enlisted in the army.



As he is also eager to see his fans, Chanyeol had his first live stream "Invitation from Chanyeol." He greeted his beloved EXO-Ls and Yeolmaes' (Chanyeol's individual fandom).

During the broadcast, the "Memories of Alhambra" actor also shared what it was like to be in the military as well as the most memorable moments he had throughout his journey inside the army.

Park Chanyeol Shares Memorable Journey In the Military

Like other male Koreans who will be serving in the military, Chanyeol also experienced the burning desire to do as much as possible before his discharge. According to him, before he entered the training camp, the EXO main rapper was full of fear and worry. He revealed he couldn't even bring himself to walk into the building that easily.

"When I was already at the training center, I couldn't go inside. I kept going round and round nearby about five times. I went inside as if I was dropped from the sky for a bungee jump," Chanyeol jokingly said.

Fortunately, after days of stay, Chanyeol quickly adjusted to military life, and made the most of his time inside, leaving a trail of numerous achievements.

When he started reading the fans' questions, Chanyeol realized that EXO-Ls were most curious about his journey to becoming part of the special forces.

How Did Chanyeol Acquire the 'Special Warrior' Badge?

Originally, Chanyeol had no intention to join the special forces; he simply observed their training.

However, he then noticed that almost everything that the special forces were doing were skills he had already learned while he was still in the recruit training battalion, so he decided to give it a try.

requirements to get the title "special warrior" in the 9th infantry division:



72 push-ups, 86 sit-ups in 2 mins, pass for 18 shots and more, 3km run in 12 mins 30 secs



chanyeol had acquired the "special warrior" badge and tag rewarded by the Republic of Korean Forces  pic.twitter.com/JZEvZhlESa   (@exorijilleo) October 16, 2021

Chanyeol was able to join and was placed at the special force level during the physical exam. His impressive skills will blow your mind!

According to sources, he underwent various tests, and he did not just pass but excelled in them.

In one of the radio shows he went to, Chanyeol shared that he had to excel in stamina tests, first aid, CBR training (Chemical/Biological/Radioactive Weapons Destruction), and shooting tests.

With all his hard work and outstanding skills, he was able to acquire the "special warrior" badge and tag rewarded by the Republic of Korean Forces.

What can you say about Chanyeol's military journey? Share your comments with us!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

KDramastars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Ryu Sung Hoon (Ha Seok Jin) was implied to be related to five boys of Hope Welfare Center. Speculation is pouring out, saying he has something to do with the Joker Murder Case.

Want to know what happened in "Blind" episode 9? Then read on.

'Blind' Episode 9: Ahn Tae Ho Sacrifices Life For Friend

In "Blind" episode 9, the survival game, triggered by a video sent by the mysterious killer, had a sad ending despite the efforts of Ryu Sung Hoon, Ryu Sung Joon (Ok Taecyeon), and Jo Eun Ki (Jung Eun Ji).

The victim Ahn Tae Ho (Chae Dong Hyun) took his own life to atone for his friend who betrayed him. To make matters worse, Baek Moon Kang (Kim Beop Rae) and the police, who rushed to the welfare center, tied and stuck Tae Ho inside the place.

Baek Moon Kang, who was looking for an opportunity to remove him, immediately sought Sung Joon's life after killing the police who were monitoring him.

The detective, who was poorly attacked by Baek Moon's gang, fought back as soon as he regained consciousness.

Ryu Sung Joon Clears Name From Murder Charge

Sung Joon was able to save himself and strangled Baek Moon in anger. He was able to get away from Mr. Baek's gang with the help of his colleagues.

Meanwhile, Ryu Sung Hoon presented a USB containing Baek Moon's face pushing Jung Man Chun (Jeon Jin Woo) from the rooftop, and Sung Joon was cleared of the murder charge.

Ryu Sung Joon immediately returned to the scene and conducted an investigation to reveal the facts about the hidden story at the Hope Welfare Center, including the Joker murder case.

Jo Eun Ki Shows Interest in Hope Welfare Center Investigation

Jo Eun Ki became interested in HWC in the wake of Ahn Tae Ho's death and stepped up her pursuit to find the missing children and the truth.

While Sung Joon began investigating Baek Moon Kang in earnest, he found a suspicious number on his call history.

Yeom Ki Nam (Jung In Gi), strongly believed Sung Joon to be Jung Yoon Jae and destroyed evidence to prove his innocence, causing great confusion in the investigation.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Park Chanyeol Talks About His Enlistment -And People Praise the Idol-Actor For Being Good At Everything

Feeling suspicious, Sung Joon stole Yeom Ki Nam's phone with the help of his team leader, Oh Young Guk (Jung Eui Wook), and was shocked to witness the murder of Yeom Hye Jin (Baek Seung Hee) sent by the murderer.

In the clip, the killer explained that Hye Jin was killed because of Yeom Ki Nam.

Is Ryu Sung Hoon Related To The 'Joker Murder Case'?

On the other hand, suspicion about Ryu Sung Hoon's real identity continued. Not only did he call Ahn Tae Ho's name as if he was calling an old friend, but he also carefully carved five boys who tried to escape from the HWC, raising speculation that Ryu Sung Hoon may be one of the boys.

He was spotted wearing the same shoes as the black raincoat guy; who attacked Ryu Sung Joon at the Hope Welfare Center.

His unpredictable aura raises curiosity about his real identity.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Blind' Episode 8: Ok Taecyeon Tries To Save Chae Dong Hyun From Danger

What are your thoughts about "Blind" episode 9? Tell your comments with us!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramastars.

KDramastars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
"Under the Queen's Umbrella," starring Kim Hye Soo, premieres with a solid viewership rating as the historical K-drama depicts the challenges inside the palace.

The weekend K-drama illustrates how the queen protects her five sons, especially the crown prince as he ascends to the throne. However, the King's wife faces hindrance from her mother-in-law.

Kim Hye Soo plays Queen Im Hwa Ryeong while Choi Won Young portrays the great King Lee Ho.

"Under the Queen's Umbrella" also includes veteran actress Kim Hae Sook as one of the lead stars who plays Queen Dowager Cho.

The historical K-drama also includes Moon Sang Min, Yoo Seon Ho, Bae In Hyuk, Yoon Sang Hyun, Kim Min Ki, who plays Queen Im Hwa Ryeong's five troublemaker sons.

From crown prince to grand princes, the new historical K-drama also focuses on concubines starting with the prim Tae So Yong, played by Kim Ga Eun and the eager Hwang Gwi In portrayed by Ok Ja Yeon.

'Under the Queen's Umbrella' Episode 1 Viewership

According to Nielsen Korea, "Under the Queen's Umbrella" made its debut with a decent start as episode 1 scored an average nationwide rating of 7.6 percent.

In addition, the new historical K-drama is the most-watched series in its time slot across all channels.

'Under the Queen's Umbrella' Episode 1 Recap

The story began showing how Queen Im Hwa Ryeong will do whatever it takes to protect her sons and properly educate them to become worthy of their place.

One of the highlights in "Under the Queen's Umbrella" episode 1 is Queen Im Hwa Ryeong making sure that all her five children follow the palace's orders including taking special lessons along with their half brothers.

Apart from the five sons of Queen Im Hwa Ryeong, King Lee Ho has other children from other concubines, including Royal Consort Hwang (Ok Ja Yeon), whose son is Prince Ui Seong (SF9 Chani).

In one scene, Queen Im Hwa Ryeong managed to bring one of his sons, Grand Prince Seongnam to Jonghak, also known as the educational institution for princes and royal descent.

READ MORE: Kim Hye Soo Proves She IS Queen That Even the Director Did THIS in Front of Her

In front of the King and his mother, the Queen Dowager the princes are on their quest to win over the Majesties by showing what they've got starting off with their knowledge in the history and duties of the king and its descents.

Queen Im Hwa Ryeong's Sons Get Punished by Queen Dowager Cho

However, as the royals are done with their lessons Queen Dowager Cho saw Prince Seongnam beating Prince Ui Seong and punished him and his brothers for being "troublemakers."

With this, they punished them to kneel the entire day, despite the heavy rainfall.

Crown Prince's Health Status Worries Queen Im Hwa Ryeong

Another highlight of "Under the Queen's Umbrella" episode 1 is the Crown Prince's deteriorating health.

While his four brothers bring shame to their family, the Crowne Prince is the total opposite and exudes the qualities of becoming the future king.

However, as the young royal and his mother Queen Im Hwa Ryeong were walking towards their quarters, the Crown Prince fell unconscious.

After seeking help from the royal physician, Queen Im Hwa Ryeong learned that the Crown Prince possessed the same symptoms as the late Crown Prince Taein, who was Queen Yoon's son.

On the other hand, the Queen tells her court ladies including the physician to keep things a secret, especially with the majesties.

To help his son to recover, the Queen requested for the royal physician Cho Huk Yeong, who at the time looked after the late Crowne Prince Taein.

However, she was stunned to see Queen Dowager visiting his son's quarters and warned her to take care of the crown prince.

The King's mother also pointed out that if the crown prince dies, none of her sons will be able to take his place.

In the last scene, Queen Im Hwa Ryeong visited Queen Yoon's shabby home, who was thrown out of the palace after her son died.

She pleaded with the queen to help her and tell her what really happened between her and Queen Dowager and how her son ended up in a devastating situation.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kim Hye Soo Gets Praised for Deep Affection to Junior Actors, Fans for THESE Reasons

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Written by Geca Wills
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The Kenosha Landlord Association will meet Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Fireside Restaurant, 2801 30th Ave.

Attorney Gary D. Koch from Petrie+Pettit, S.C., will be the guest speaker addressing the types of notices terminating tenancy, service of the notices, common pitfalls and a brief overview of the court procedure. He has been practicing law for over 20 years, representing landlords for nearly 15 years, and specialized exclusively in landlord/tenant law. He is licensed to practice in all Wisconsin state courts, the Eastern and Western District of Wisconsin Federal Courts, as well as the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The meeting pen to the public, however, there is a $20 fee for non-members.

This meeting is offered in person and via Zoom. Appetizers and networking begin at 6:30 p.m. with the meeting at 7 p.m.

To attend you must register in advance by clicking the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84413425424?pwd=bE0wVS9lNEc5TjJrRkd0OU5RUW5Udz09

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
An excerpt from Fifty Years a Doctor: The Journey of Sickness and Health, Four Plagues and the Pandemic.

It took me years to fully realize what a unique residency program I had enjoyed in my one-year general surgical training in Honolulu.

Early in this residency, we had state-mandated education in leprosy. All the new doctors had to visit the Hawaiian leper colony on the island of Molokai for the tutorial and to see people with the disease. We learned that leprosy, also called Hansens disease, had been curable with antibiotics since 1940, and that all the people living on Molokai were cured but had many facial and body deformities and preferred to live with people like themselves, and they were supported by the State of Hawaii. After spending most of the day on Molokai, we were relieved to learn that leprosy was not very contagious.

Contrary to common thinking that a great residency program had to be at a large teaching hospital, the integrated surgical program was better because there were fewer residents, so you were not lost in a crowd of medical students, interns and residents. In this residency program in small hospitals with many good surgeons, who were very attentive with one-on-one instruction to the young interns and residents, I had the opportunity to see the many different ways that skilled surgeons operated.

We also saw and enjoyed listening to the singing doctors! We are taught to limit talking in the operating room because of the danger of microscopic contamination of open wounds by small amounts of saliva, but these doctors faced away from the operative sites as they sang.

One Hawaiian doctor, well known for his good voice, was cheered on by the nurses and anyone else close enough to hear him as he would sing an old Hawaiian song in a beautiful, loud voice while finishing an operation and suturing the wound. At another time in Kuakini Hospital, there was an ob-gyn doctor of Japanese descent who would also sing at the end of his operations. This last doctor was also the happiest doctor I have ever met. He was not a youngster but had a wonderful following of patients and was loved by the entire hospital staff. And he had a very nice singing voice. Today this would be considered dangerous.

Ronald Halweil is an otolaryngologist and author of Fifty Years a Doctor: The Journey of Sickness and Health, Four Plagues and the Pandemic.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Johnstown native Tom Tynan, who spent seven years working in the European Commission, most recently as a member of the Commissions Cabinet for Trade, has taken up new roles in the marine sector.

Mr Tynan will bring his vast experience to the sector, which forms an important part of Irelands economy. He has been appointed a non-Executive Director of Shannon Foynes Port Company, the second largest port in Ireland.

Since leaving the EU Commission he has also taken on a non-Executive Directorship with the Marine Institute, Irelands national agency for marine research, technology, development and innovation. Tom is also a director of Agri-Food Bioscience Institute (Northern Ireland), the Northern Ireland Government's main research and science provider in the agri-food and marine sectors.

A former special advisor to the Irish Minister of Agriculture, Food & Forestry and a former member of the European Commissions Agriculture and Rural development cabinet, Toms knowledge of the trade and agri-food industry is extensive. Maritime affairs / fisheries as well as research and innovation were among his functional responsibilities in the EU commission.

This, together with wide ranging experience across commercial, strategy, operations and advisory roles will benefit the Institute and company boards to which he has been appointed.

Horizon Europe is the most ambitious EU Research and Innovation framework programme to date, with a budget of 95.5 billion for the period 2021 to 2027," Tom Tynan.

"Within that framework programme there are huge opportunities for Ireland in terms of our soil and our ocean, both of whom are huge carbon sinks. Horizon Europe offers focused research and innovation policies on soil and ocean health to ensure the full contribution of agriculture and marine to climate change adaptation and the challenging goals of the European Green Deal.

"The ports sector has a pivotal role to play in Irelands energy transition. They are essential partners in delivering government objectives on decarbonisation, supporting the growth of renewable energy generation in Ireland and achieving the governments target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050, and a reduction of 51% by 2030. To help meet the EU goal of climate neutrality by 2050, the European Commission in November 2020 published the EU strategy on offshore renewable energy."

Shannon Foynes Port is situated on the deepest watercourse in Ireland and one of the deepest estuaries in the world. Renewable energy sources are naturally available in the estuary in terms of wind, ocean and tidal energy. The Irish west coast has one of the best wind resources in the world.

"Our ports also benefit from EU initiatives like the Trans-European Transport Network and the Connecting Europe Facility which is a key funding instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment at European level," said Mr Tynan.

Ireland is one of only three island nations in the EU. Ireland has a sea area that is approx seven times its landmass with one of the best offshore renewable energy resources globally. The marine is a fantastic natural resource for sustainable development that will benefit present and future generations.

"There is significant untapped potential to grow the sector further and I look forward to bringing my skills to the boards of the Marine Institute and Shannon Foynes Port company and to the Agri-Food Bioscience Institute in Northern Ireland. The 45 million soil nutrient health scheme in Northern Ireland is one of the most comprehensive regional soil nutrient sampling schemes to be undertaken anywhere in the world.

"It will enable Northern Ireland farmers to optimise crop nutrient applications, assess on-farm carbon stocks and build farm resilience. It will also provide a baseline assessment of farm carbon stocks in soils and hedgerows and contribute to the transition to Net Zero farming in Northern Ireland. I believe strategic cross border partnerships can benefit the agriculture and marine sector across the island of Ireland and I look forward to helping to realise this potential.

Mr Tynan is a graduate of University College Dublin and UCD Smurfit Graduate School of Business and previously worked with Avonmore Coop, the Irish Farmers Association, IAWS plc and Teagasc.
The estimated 1,800 stroke survivors in Kilkenny are being urged to join a series of live and recorded talks offering supports ahead of World Stroke Day.

The Irish Heart Foundation is co-ordinating a series of expert-led online talks to provide vital support to patients who need help coping with the after effects of stroke.

One survivor has told how in an instant, my whole world was taken from me and is backing the information campaign as an essential tool in the recovery process.

Teacher Fiona Bardon, from Dublins Terenure, woke up feeling sick in August 2019 and suffered a seizure at home, breaking her shoulder as she fell, before being rushed to A & E and told she had a stroke.

To say I was lost is a complete understatement; I wasnt able to complete tasks independently, she said.

I had no energy, I was hugely fatigued and I wasnt able to regulate my emotions. I was incapable of communicating my thoughts. I was under constant supervision so I felt like I was back to being a child.

Before World Stroke Day on October 29, survivors, their families and healthcare professionals are invited to register for the Irish Heart Foundation talks - seven of which are live via Zoom and three of which will take place in the Irish Heart Foundations Life after Stroke Facebook group.

They include discussions on secondary prevention (Oct 26), involving stroke nurses from Dublins Mater Hospital and focussing on medical and lifestyle methods to reduce a patients chances of suffering a further stroke.

A talk on October 25 offers advice on supporting a stroke patient returning home from hospital, how to navigate daily tasks and adjusting to cognitive changes.

Others focus on managing fatigue (Oct 24), mindfulness for relaxation and stress management (Oct 25) and State grants/entitlements for stroke patients (Oct 28).

Healthy eating and lifestyle advice (Oct 27) is also examined, while participants will also hear personal stories from other stroke survivors (Oct 26).

We want to reach people living with stroke, their carers and healthcare professionals, said Helen Gaynor, Head of Community Services with the Irish Heart Foundation.

Stroke affects the whole family. Isolation is often a major factor and some people cant meet socially, they may have lost confidence, so talks like these where people can meet others in similar situations is very empowering.

For more details and to register for the free talks, taking place between October 24-28, go to: https://irishheart.ie/news/ world-stroke-day-stoke-talks- 2022/.
A group of Australian and New Zealand travel agents has been visiting Ireland, including Kilkenny, as guests of Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland.

The travel agents are all Ireland Specialists, whove taken part in Tourism Irelands virtual training series during 2022.

The aim of the travel agents visit is to familiarise them with Ireland and our superb tourism offering, so that when they return home, they will be better informed and more enthusiastic than ever about Ireland when advising their clients about planning and booking their holidays here.

Their busy programme included visits to the Smithwicks Experience Kilkenny, the Medieval Mile Museum and Kilkenny Castle. They also did a walking tour with Nevin Cody of Shenanigans Walks, which included the Kilkenny Design Studio. They stayed in the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel and enjoyed lunch in Foodworks and dinner in Zuni.

Sofia Hansson, Tourism Irelands Manager Australia and New Zealand, said: We were delighted to invite this group of Australian and New Zealand travel agents to explore Kilkenny and Ireland. There really is no substitute for being able to come here and experience what Ireland has to offer at first-hand. Our aim is that when they return home, the travel agents will be even more enthusiastic about the destination, helping to secure a greater share of their business for Ireland in 2023 and beyond.

Our key message for the Australian and New Zealand travel advisors is that the island of Ireland is open for business again and we cannot wait to welcome their clients back to our shores for a fantastic holiday experience.
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When the COVID-19 pandemic whipped, numerous activities were temporarily paralyzed as protocols were adjusted far beyond the customary instructions. Being susceptible to these changes, the music and performance industry had no escape as well.

As COVID-19 practices strictly advise people to observe social distancing, minimize talking, and mandatory wearing of face masks, conducting concerts for almost two years became blurred and directionless.

In aid of the pandemic procedures, agencies conducted offline concerts through online streaming. But it seems like this setup will never equalize the energy and power that in-person concerts could give.

On the Gradual Transition to In-Person Concerts

After concluding the unparalleled concert success of the Love Yourself and Love Yourself: Speak Yourself world tour, BTS was always vocal on longing to perform again in the same venue with their ever-beloved ARMYs.

In November and December 2021, American Music Awards 2021's Artist of the Year once again showed the world what a real concert performance is as they did not need any permission to dance with the ARMYs during the 4-night sold-out concert at the SoFi Stadium.

Additionally, the concert was streamed via VenewLive for ARMYs outside the SoFi Stadium.

The concert chronology started in Inglewood City and was sustained in 2022 as the septet group extended Permission to Dance on Stage to Seoul and Las Vegas.

As the group concludes PTD on Stage in Las Vegas, the Bulletproof Boys pact with their ARMYs that the shows might be over, but the light between BTS and ARMYs shall remain forever.

THIS MIGHT INTEREST YOU: BTS Las Vegas Concerts 2022 Earn 2nd Highest-Grossing Boxscore in US

BTS RM's Thoughts on 'Yet to Come in Busan'

Staying true to their promise of light to the ARMYs, BTS will once again fire up the stage for 'Yet to Come in Busan.' As evident with the members' Instagram and Weverse uploads, the two-time GRAMMY-nominated group is indeed preparing hard to break their limits.

A day before the much-awaited concert, BTS' leader, RM, shared his thoughts and feelings regarding performing on stage without the COVID-19 restrictions.

The leader and resident rapper of one of HYBE Labels' pride started by mentioning that they have wrapped up the rehearsals and just like the ARMYs, the members are excited as well. That after three years of waiting, BTS and ARMYs have the chance to experience the traditional concert vibes as COVID-19 restrictions in South Korea have been gradually lifted.

RM also mentioned that the concert is close to his heart since he considers Busan City "like a home to his heart."

He also mentioned the challenge of sandwiching performances since 'Yet to Come in Busan' will be held only for one day. In addition, the fans may feel the nostalgic vibes as the group will perform some throwback songs.

According to reports, some of the rumored songs that BTS may perform are Butterfly, Dionysus, Cypher Pt. 3, Spring Day, and 00:00 (Zero O'Clock).

The ever-humble leader of BTS concluded his letter to ARMYs by admitting that lapses are always present, but BTS is always there to give their best during live performances.

"But since BTS is all about performing live, you know we'll be giving it our best as we always do." - RM

Finally, RM (and perhaps, his members too) wishes nothing but for everyone to enjoy the show, most especially when ARMYs are given the chance to express their excitement through cheering and singing along with the artist.

Are you also excited that COVID-19 restrictions are gradually being lifted for in-person concert performances? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

KpopStarz own this article.

Sophia Carson wrote this.
Jin is set to become the next member venturing into a solo music release. Here's what the idol said about his solo debut!

Keep on reading to know more.

BTS Jin Announces Upcoming Solo Debut During 'Yet to Come' in Busan Concert

Recently on October 15, BTS held their highly-anticipated free concert Yet to Come in Busan as part of South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo, in which the seven-piece group is the ambassador for.

BTS' Yet to Come concert, which was previously mired with several issues, including the Busan government's lack of financial support to fund the free event, went without a hitch at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Busan Government Draws Intense Backlash for Refusing to Sponsor BTS' Concert Costs

The exciting concert was attended by up to 50,000 fans who came from all around the world, and was simultaneously livestreamed and had a live-play, which drew in accumulatively more than a million viewers across the globe.

Following the members' fun performances of 20 of their well-loved songs during the 90-minute event, BTS ended their Yet to Come concert with a speech from each member.

All seven of the members expressed their love and gratitude to their fandom ARMY, as well as share what the latter can expect from the group in the coming months.

In particular, Jin excited fans when he announced that he will be releasing his own solo single album soon, making him the second BTS member after J-Hope ("Jack In The Box") to release solo music following the announcement of their indefinite hiatus back in June 2022.

Regarding his upcoming solo debut, Jin said, "Lastly, I have something to tell you... I have ended up becoming the second [BTS member] after J-Hope to release my own album. It is not a huge album or anything, it is just a single."

Jin Collaborated With Mystery Artist for Solo Debut

He then teased fans on what they can expect from his upcoming solo release. During his speech, he revealed that he was able to collaborate with someone for his single, yet did not divulge any more information on who this person could be.

The 29-year-old idol also shared that he has been filming a variety of things for his highly-anticipated solo debut.

"It is not that big of a deal, it is just a single. I was able to work together with someone that I had always really liked, so I will be releasing a new song. I have filmed a lot of different things recently, and there is still a lot of [content] left to film. So I hope you will enjoy all of it," the eldest BTS member said.

Meanwhile, this would mark Jin's first official solo release since his debut with BTS back in June 2013. His latest solo release, although unofficial, was the global hit "Super Tuna," released back in December 2021 as a gift to fans for his birthday celebration.

Are you excited for Jin's solo debut?

Check out Jin's solo debut announcement here:

.@BTS_twt Jin has announced that he will be releasing a single album!



I have a new album coming out. It's not that big of a deal. It's just a single. I was able to collaborate with someone I really adore. I have a lot of contents to share with you so I hope you enjoy them. pic.twitter.com/dx18gxCqM1  All for Jin (@jinnieslamp) October 15, 2022

For more K-pop news, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

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Written by Robyn Joan
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 16 (ANI): The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India Shaktikanta Das on Sunday said the central bank has been taking progressive measures to improve the availability of digital infrastructure for banking services.

Governor Shaktikanta Das said the RBI issued the required guidelines after consulting the Indian Banks Association and other experts in the field, following the announcement made in the Union Budget 2022-23 for setting up of 75 digital banking units.

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He said that it was heartening to note that the commercial banks - both in the public and private sectors - have responded very positively to this initiative and added that 75 DBUs had been set up in a record six-month time in 75 districts of the country to commemorate 75 years of Independence. The governor said, "Their focus was to harness the benefits of technology and innovation in the banking space. The establishment of DBUs is a step to further augment the digital infrastructure in the country. This will act as an enabler in the digital ecosystem and will improve customer experience by facilitating seamless banking transactions."

Shaktikanta Das also added that the DBUs would augment our efforts to promote financial inclusion by providing banking services in a paperless, efficient, safe and secure environment. "The specific financial services to be provided by the DBUs include, among other things, savings, credit, investment and insurance."

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The governor said on the delivery front, the DBUs will provide end-to-end digital processing of small ticket retail and MSME loans, starting from online applications to disbursals and these DBUs would also provide services related to certain identified government-sponsored schemes.

"The products and services in these units will be provided in two modes, namely, self-service and assisted modes, with self-service mode being available on a 24X7X365 basis. The banks are also free to engage the services of digital business facilitators and business correspondents to expand the footprint of the DBUs," the governor said.

He also appreciated the efforts taken up by the Indian Banks' Association, the banks which have established these DBUs, the Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance and his colleagues at RBI in setting up these units in such a short time. (ANI)

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Thane, Oct 16 (PTI) As many as 69 new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Maharashtra's Thane district, taking its infection count to 7,45,891, a health official said on Sunday.

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With the addition of the latest cases on Saturday, there are currently 488 active COVID-19 cases in Thane, which is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, he said.

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The death toll in the district remained unchanged at 11,962, he said, adding that the recovery count has reached 7,34,140.

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Ahmedabad, Oct 16 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann will be on a two-day visit to poll-bound Gujarat from Sunday.

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Aam Aadmi Party's national convener Kejriwal along with Mann will address public rallies in Bhavnagar, Mehsana and Banaskantha districts during the two days, AAP's state general secretary Manoj Sorathiya said.

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"They will reach Bhavnagar on Sunday afternoon and address a public rally there," Sorathiya told reporters.

On Monday, the two leaders will address public meetings in Unjha town of Mehsana district and Deesa town in Banaskantha district, he said.

"During the two days, the two leaders will also meet local leaders and hold meetings with the state AAP leaders on the upcoming elections," Sorathiya said.

The elections in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Gujarat are due this year-end.

Kejriwal has visited Gujarat multiple times in the recent past and made a number of promises for the welfare of people of the state if his party is voted to power.

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Chandigarh, Oct 16 (PTI) The young and suave candidate of the ruling BJP, Bhavya Bishnoi, looks to defend his "family bastion" for five decades, while the main opposition Congress has placed its bet on veteran leader Jai Prakash in the Adampur bypoll in Haryana.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) have fielded "turncoats" for the November 3 bypoll to the Assembly seat in Hisar district. The nominees of all three parties were once in the Congress, which feels that the voters will teach a lesson to "traitors" this time.

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The Congress is banking on former Union Minister Jai Prakash (67), a three-time former MP from Hisar and a two-time former MLA, to boost its fortunes in the contest.

While Bhavya Bishnoi (29) recently quit the Congress along with his father Kuldeep Bishnoi to join the BJP, the INLD candidate is Congress rebel Kurda Ram Nambardar.

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The AAP has fielded Satender Singh, who switched over from the BJP. Singh was also in the Congress before joining the saffron camp.

Bhavya Bishnoi had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Hisar as the Congress candidate.

The bypoll was necessitated after Kuldeep Bishnoi, the younger son of former chief minister late Bhajan Lal, resigned as the MLA from the seat and switched sides from the Congress to the BJP. Bishnoi had defeated BJP's Sonali Phogat from Adampur in the 2019 state Assembly polls.

Phogat (42), a former TikTok star, was found dead in Goa in August under mysterious circumstances. On her family's persistent demand, the Goa government recommended a CBI probe, after which the federal agency took over the investigation in the case.

Phogat's sister Rukesh had recently said she would contemplate about contesting the Adampur bypoll to fulfil her sister's dreams.

However, she subsequently decided not to enter the fray.

When asked, Rukesh Phogat said, "I held a meeting with Sonali's supporters and well-wishers on Thursday evening. I told them that I have not been keeping well for the last few days. They left the decision to me and I decided not to contest."

Barring the BJP, the three other major parties have fielded candidates from the majority Jat community in Adampur, a predominantly rural constituency. The BJP's ally, Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), is supporting Bhavya Bishnoi.

Adampur has more than 1.71 lakh voters, of whom over 91,000 are men.

Polling will be held on November 3 and the counting of votes will be taken up on November 6.

Adampur has been a bastion of the family of Bhajan Lal, who was a tall non-Jat leader in Haryana and enjoyed a good rapport across communities. No one outside his family has ever won from the seat. Bhajan Lal represented the seat in the Assembly nine times, while his son Kuldeep Bishnoi was elected as a legislator from the constituency on four occasions.

As the Congress nominee from Hisar in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Bhavya Bishnoi lost to bureaucrat-turned-politician Brijendra Singh, the son of veteran BJP leader Birender Singh.

Bhavya Bishnoi, who is currently enrolled in a Master's programme in public administration from the John F Kennedy school at the Harvard University, said the entire country is benefitting from the policies of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the people of Haryana are also getting the benefits of the schemes of the Manohar Lal Khattar government.

Kuldeep Bishnoi said the achievements of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Haryana are among the main issues on which they are seeking votes.

AAP's Satender Singh said as in the Punjab Assembly polls held earlier this year, bastions will be broken this time in Adampur too.

INLD candidate Nambardar has been raising the issues of farmers.

The Congress, on the other hand, feels that Jai Prakash is its best bet to upset the BJP's applecart as the former Union minister enjoys a considerable influence in Hisar, but whether he will able to prevent a big split in the Jat votes and consolidate a bulk of those in his favour remains to be seen.

State Congress chief Udai Bhan accused Kuldeep Bishnoi of betraying the grand old party and said, "The people of Adampur will teach a lesson to traitors this time."

Bhan claimed that Adampur is a bastion of the Congress and will remain so.

Targeting Bhavya Bishnoi and his father Kuldeep Bishnoi, Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, "Those driven by selfish gains cannot serve people."

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New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) The Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) will hold its 23rd annual general meeting in India this week to chalk out a future path for pandemic response preparedness.

The meet is being co-hosted in Pune by Serum Institute of India along with DCVMN on the theme "Global Equity and Timely Access: COVID-19 & Beyond".

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"The event will be inaugurated by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on October 20 in the presence of our CEO, Adar C Poonawalla, various eminent personalities from the industry and global dignitaries," Prakash Kumar Singh, Director Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India (SII), said.

The Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network, founded in 2000, is a voluntary public health-driven alliance of 42 vaccine manufacturers from 15 developing countries spanning across Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle-East and South America, firmly engaged in research, development, manufacturing and supply of high-quality vaccines.

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Its mission is to provide a sustainable supply of high-quality, affordable vaccines globally to protect people against known and emerging infectious diseases.

DCVMN has played a vital role in innovating, developing, manufacturing and making COVID-19 vaccines available to protect billions of people worldwide standing shoulder to shoulder with governments and global health agencies, Singh said.

The two-day event will see sessions by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan and Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of the vaccine alliance Gavi, among others.

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New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) After the fate of the electoral fight for the post of the next Congress president between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor gets sealed on Monday, focus will shift to long-running rivalry between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot for who gets to call the shots in the largely desert state.

Late last month, the matter had come to a head after 82 Congress MLAs in Rajasthan did not attend an official legislature party meeting convened for passing a resolution authorising the Congress chief to appoint a successor to Gehlot, who was then about to contest the Congress presidential election, and participated in a parallel meeting at Gehlot loyalist Shanti Dhariwal's residence in Jaipur.

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While Gehlot has long been known as a loyalist to the first family of the country's oldest party, his position as the Gandhis' confidant is said to have been dented with the developments last month.

Pilot, who had rebelled against Gehlot's leadership in 2020, is seen as an agent of change, just like Tharoor, who many say has been putting up a spirited fight for the top Congress post but has fallen short when it came to winning the 'loyalty' tag.

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Quite a few Congress leaders and observers have pointed out it has been ironic that the party is trying to reinvent itself but the campaigns for the Congress president elections as also for who gets the top marks for running Rajasthan are being largely driven by a narrative of who is closer to the Gandhi family, rather than who is more capable of running the party in today's age.

A senior leader said the family is not very keen on Gehlot continuing as the chief minister, after he defied the diktat for him being a party president candidate and quitting as Rajasthan CM but Gandhis are not completely convinced of Pilot either.

There is also a possibility that the party may decide that neither Gehlot nor Pilot get the charge of Rajasthan, which will anyway go to polls next year and the BJP has been trying hard to come back to power there.

The party sources also pointed out that Gehlot has joined Rahul Gandhi a lot more times in the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the incumbent chief minister remains on good terms with the Gandhis.

He was also present at the Congress' rally in Karnataka's Bellary on Saturday.

However, there is a counter view that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi are a lot more comfortable with Pilot, while the old guard, including the interim party president Sonia Gandhi and the favourite in the party presidential election, Kharge, have better equations with Gehlot.

Gehlot is set to visit Gujarat from October 17-18 as part of his responsibility as senior observer for polls in that state.

He is likely to participate in a roadshow and a public meeting in Radhanpur on October 17. He is also expected to participate in a roadshow and youth rally at Tharad on October 18.

Activity on Rajasthan has been going on behind the scenes even as the spotlight remains on the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the party's presidential polls, with the three loyalists of Gehlot -- ministers Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi and party leader Dharmendra Rathore -- having replied to the show-cause notice issued by the Congress disciplinary committee over the rebellion by a large group of MLAs.

The disciplinary committee is likely to hold its meeting soon to discuss further steps in the matter.

The show-cause notice was issued to the trio after 82 MLAs did not attend an official legislature party meeting convened for passing a resolution authorising the Congress chief to appoint a successor to Gehlot.

The party's disciplinary committee had sent the notices after Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken submitted their written report to party chief Sonia Gandhi charging the three state leaders with "gross indiscipline".

The Congress disciplinary panel's member secretary Tariq Anwar in the notice to Dhariwal, Joshi and Rathore had referred to Maken's report. The matter had reached an impasse as legislators loyal to Gehlot wanted that if he is replaced, any of the 102 MLAs who supported the Gehlot government during the crisis in July 2020 should be elected chief minister.

In July 2020, the then Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, along with 18 of his supporting MLAs, revolted against the leadership of Gehlot.

Gehlot had last month apologised to Congress president Sonia Gandhi for not being able to get the one-line resolution passed in Jaipur, authorising the president to pick his replacement.

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Ballari (KTK), Oct 16 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the BJP regime was clearly taking action detrimental to small and medium business owners, through its policies that supported a handful of large businesses.

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He also promised to attempt to address this issue.

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Gandhi today met with small and medium textile industry entrepreneurs and workers in Moka here, as part of Bharat Jodo Yatra led by him.

After the 2023 state elections, when the Congress comes to power in the state, we will take upon the challenge to make Ballari jeans into a global brand," he assured during the interaction with the entrepreneurs.

He noted that despite the history of the region as a textile hub, there appeared to be little in terms of strategy to support the industry here. The region's textile capability, and heritage, made it potentially a global textiles manufacturing powerhouse.

Stressing on the need to develop the industry in a holistic way, the former AICC President said these clusters need comprehensive banking, finance and other support infrastructure to succeed.

Gandhi also said that he understood how much small entrepreneurs and workers were struggling, how difficult it is, and that he is very proud of the work they do.

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Ballari, October 16: Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar on Sunday claimed that the Congress would win more than 150 seats in the Karnataka Assembly elections next year. While addressing a press conference in Mokha, Bellari, the Congress leader said "We will touch 150+ seats in the Karnataka Assembly elections without anyone's support. 100 per cent, the people will give a clear mandate of 150 seats," Shivakumar said

While talking about the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', the Congress leader said that we are walking to bring "hearts" together. "Our people are suffering economically, the youngsters are suffering without jobs. The kids, farmers, and women are all meeting us. They are coming to Rahul Gandhi and telling about their grievances. We are walking to bring hearts together," he said. Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Says We Will Win Hands Down in the State.

"People are supporting the Bharat Jodo Yatra. It is a clear indication that people have decided to vote for us and the BJP government will be thrown away," he further said. Bharat Jodo Yatra: Rahul Gandhis Padyatra Energises Congress Workers in Karnataka.

The Karnataka Congress chief said that they will try to leave tomorrow for the Congress Presidential polls. He said that some of our leaders will vote here and others will vote in Bengaluru, he said.

The Congress leader also took a jibe at the BJP and accused them of "copying" Congress' campaign. "BJP also started the Jana Spandana (public response) Yatra, but they never had any 'spandana' with the people. They are waking up now. After our campaign, they are also copying after our programs," he said.

Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge are up against each other in the race for the post of Congress President.

With the Gandhis not running for the top post, the party is all set to get a non-Gandhi president after over 25 years. The voting will take place on October 17 and the election results will be declared on October 19.

Rahul Gandhi has been leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra since September 7 aiming to cover a distance of 3,500 km, covering as many as 12 states. The Yatra started from Kanyakumari and will end in Kashmir the next year by covering 25 km every day.

Currently, the Yatra is in its Karnataka leg and has covered more than 1000 kilometres so far. According to Congress, the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' is being held to combat the divisive politics of the BJP-led Centre and to awaken the people of the country to the dangers of economic inequalities, social polarisation and political centralisation.

The Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held earlier this year and the Yatra is seen as an attempt to rally the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles.

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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16 (PTI) A fortnight after social activist Daya Bai began her indefinite hunger strike in front of the state secretariat here seeking justice for Endosulfan victims of Kasaragod district, the Kerala government on Sunday said it was ready to accept at least 90 per cent of her demands.

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Daya Bai sat on hunger strike on October 2 alleging that the state government had abandoned the victims.

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State ministers R Bindhu and Veena George today visited Daya Bai and assured her that all her demands would be met. After the talks, the social activist, however, said she will not back down from her strike unless a written assurance was received from the government.

"Earlier also, the government had given such assurances. But nothing materialised," she told the ministers. Endosulfan, an organochlorine insecticide and acaricide was used widely on crops like cashew, cotton, tea, paddy, fruits and others until 2011 in Kerala, when the apex court banned its production and distribution. Endosulfan's toxic effects on humans and related health hazards are well-known.

Daya Bai is on strike to ensure proper and better healthcare facilities in the Kasaragod district, where there are a maximum number of victims.

Talking to reporters here, the Ministers said they have informed the social activist about the steps taken by the government to meet her demands.

"The government was taking all steps to meet all the demands of the victims. Kasaragod medical college and a speciality hospital at Kanjangadu is nearing completion. New posts have been created at Kasaragod medical college. Funds have been allocated for new equipment, procurement has started," Health minister Veena George said.

Minister Bindhu said the state government will conduct the medical camp within two months and also agreed to open the day care centres as sought by Daya Bai.

The social activist was shifted to a hospital on October 4 after her health deteriorated. However, she resumed her satyagraha soon after her discharge. On October 8, Leader of Opposition, V D Satheesan, visited Daya Bai and pledged his support to her.

He attacked the Left government for not holding discussion with the 81-year-old even after six days of her hunger strike.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also visited Daya Bai.

The social activist had sought to ensure better healthcare facilities in the Kasaragod district and also demanded that an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) be set up there.

She also demanded care centres in all grama panchayats, special medical camps for Endosulfan victims and provision of home-based care for bedridden patients.

The Supreme Court had on May 13 pulled up the Kerala government for not paying the compensation of Rs five lakh to each of the victims of toxic pesticide Endosulfan and directed the Chief Secretary to hold monthly meetings and ensure necessary medical help to them.

The top court had in January 2017 directed the CPI(M)-led government to disburse compensation and rehabilitation package for endosulfan pesticide victims.

The court had ordered the government to provide a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the next of kin of people who died following exposure to the pesticide and those who became bed-ridden or mentally challenged.

Earlier, the state government had prepared a list of 5,837 victims. A monthly pension was being given to 4,376 affected people.

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New Delhi [India], October 16 (ANI): The Indian Army has signed agreements with 11 banks, including the private sector banks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank, for providing banking facilities to Agniveers on enrolment, the Ministry of Defence said on Saturday.

The memoranda of understandings (MoUs) were signed by Lt Gen V Sreehari, DG (MP & PS) and senior officials of Banks in a ceremony presided over by Lt Gen C Bansi Ponappa, the Adjutant General of the Indian Army on 14 October 2022, the ministry said.

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Eleven banks with which the Indian Army has signed the agreement include State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank and Bandhan Bank.

The features and benefits offered under Agniveer salary package are similar to the Defence Salary Package. In addition, the banks have offered soft loans to exiting Agniveers to promote and enhance their entrepreneurial skills. The first batch of Agniveers under "Agnipath Scheme" will be joining Training Centres by January 2023, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.This is a major defence policy reform introduced by the Government to usher in a new era in the human resource policy of the Army, Air Force and Navy. The policy, which comes into immediate effect, will hereafter govern the recruitment of personnel below officer rank (PBOR) in the three services, according to the Ministry of Defence.

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The Agniveers will form a distinct rank in the three services, and will also wear a distinct insignia as part of their uniform. AGNIPATH scheme allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years. Soldiers who are recruited under this scheme will be known as Agniveers.

The AGNIPATH Scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces and provide a fresh lease of 'Josh' and 'Jazba' whilst at the same time bring about a transformational shift towards a more tech-savvy Armed Forces - which is indeed the need of the hour, the defence ministry highlighted.

It is envisaged that the average age profile of the Indian Armed forces would come down by about 4-5 years with the implementation of this scheme.

Agniveers will receive Rs 33,000 in the second year, Rs 36,500 in the third year and Rs 40,000 in the fourth year. They will get Rs 11.71 lakh as Seva Nidhi Package after four years.The 'Seva Nidhi' will be exempt from Income Tax. There shall be no entitlement to gratuity and pensionary benefits. Agniveers will be provided non-contributory Life Insurance Cover of Rs 48 lakh for the duration of their engagement period in the Indian Armed Forces. During this period of service to the nation, the Agniveers will be imparted with various military skills and experience, discipline, physical fitness, leadership qualities, courage and patriotism.

The skills gained by each Agniveer will be recognised in a certificate to form part of his unique resume. (ANI)

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Jammu, October 16: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir chief Ravinder Raina on Saturday condemned the killing of the Kashmiri Pandit by terrorists and said that the conspiring culprits would be turned to dust.

"All the conspiracies of Pakistan and terrorists will be made unsuccessful. Those who conspired to target a Kashmiri Pandit will have to bear the brunt. The Army-Police have put up check nakas, and the conspiring terrorists will be turned to dust," Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina told ANI. Kashmiri Pandit Shot at by Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian.

Earlier on Saturday, Puran Krishan Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit, succumbed to his injuries after militants opened fire at him while he was on his way to an orchard in Shopian. The injured was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the terrorist killing and assured that the perpetrators will be severely punished.

"Attack on Puran Krishan Bhat by terrorists in Shopian is a dastardly act of cowardice. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. I assure the people that the perpetrators and those aiding and abetting terrorists will be severely punished," he said in a tweet. Jammu and Kashmir Government Dismisses Five Employees for Anti-National Activities Under Article 311.

Hours after the killing, terror outfit Kashmir Freedom Fighters claimed responsibility for killing the Kashmiri Pandit in the Shopian district, said Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sujit Kumar said, "A Kashmiri Pandit Puran Ji has been murdered. We are working on the case. KFF (Kashmir-freedom-fighters) has claimed the responsibility for it. We won't say anything for sure about it, yet. A guard was present here."

As per the eyewitnesses, only one person had targeted him and was in front of him. "In the initial investigation, eyewitnesses say that there was only one person who had targetted him and was in front of him. Nobody has spotted anyone else who might be hiding. Things will be clear, give us some time," said Kumar.

DIG Kumar further said, "We are ascertaining the reason, he had gone out on his scooter and had returned on it. He wasn't alone, they were two people. If the incident occurred in presence of the guard who was deployed here, action will cover not only him but all concerned officers in the area." The police investigation is underway and further information is awaited.

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New Delhi [India], October 16 (ANI): BJP national president JP Nadda while addressing the Panch Parmeshwar Sammelan at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi today enumerated the achievements of the party and put forth the history and ideology of BJP in front of the workers present at the ground.

Nadda said, "The ethos, thoughts, ways and thinking of other parties have changed: Socialists are no longer socialists, communists are no more communists and Indian National Congress has become neither Indian nor National nor Congress, but it is just a brother and sister party".

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Nadda lauded the work of the BJP and said that it is the only party that has an ideology and a large base among people.

"We have shown one nation one constitution one mark. We are the only party, which has an ideology and is the largest party in the world, with a mass base among the people. We have been winning the state, national and local elections. At the time of COVID, leaders of other parties used to meet on VC or Twitter, but BJP workers went to the public and served them", he said.

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JP Nadda slammed the Aam Aadmi Party government and said, "Kejriwal government has just done scams in Delhi and these are the same people who were going to bring Lokpal Bill but have done the exact opposite. The Congress party was known for the commission, but Kejriwal broke its record too".

"Under the Ayushman Bharat, we have ensured health insurance of up to Rs 5 lakh to the poor. We have given Ayushman Bharat health cards to crores of poor across the country, but, in Delhi, Kejriwal had deprived the poor of Ayushman Bharat", Nadda added.

JP Nadda further took a dig at the Kejriwal government's education model and said, "but there are no schools, no classrooms, no courses", adding, "Kejriwal's MLA is roaming between jail and bail in Jal Board scam and tender scam. We will defeat them in the coming MCD elections and assembly elections". (ANI)

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Kozhikode (Kerala), Oct 16 (PTI) Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Sudhakaran on Sunday withdrew his interpretation of Ramayana during an interview to a newspaper after his remarks kicked up a political storm in the State with both the BJP and CPI(M) criticising him over it.

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Sudhakaran, while answering a query during an interview on how different are politicians from southern Kerala when compared with those from the Malabar region, had said that while returning from Lanka on the Pushpaka Vimanam, after defeating Ravana, Lakshman briefly entertained the thought of pushing his brother -- Lord Ram -- into the sea and go away with his wife Sita.

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However, by the time they reached central Kerala, Lakshman had a change of heart and Lord Ram patting him on the shoulder said that he had read the former's mind and that it was not his fault, but that of the land (southern Kerala) they covered.

As this portion of the interview became viral on social media platforms, members of the public and politicians alike questioned and criticised his remarks and interpretation of Ramayana.

CPI(M) State secretary M V Govindan said that every political party should try to unite the people and not divide them.

"We should seek to unite the people of the State and not divide it into 2-3 parts. That should be the endeavour of every political party," he told reporters.

Subsequently, Sudhakaran came up with an explanation that it was a story which was prevalent in the Malabar region and he had grown up hearing the same.

"I just narrated a story that I had heard as a child. There was no other intention or aim to demean or insult anyone or divide the people. There was no malign interest behind it," he said.

He further said if people want him to withdraw the remarks then he would.

"If it has hurt anyone, I apologise," he added.

However, BJP State president K Surendran did not appear to have bought the explanation as he told reporters that what Sudhakaran said in the interview was "insulting and provocative" with regard to Ramayana and the people of southern Kerala.

"His statement is an insult to the people of Kerala. He is no longer eligible to continue in the post he holds. Rahul Gandhi should be ready to remove him from the post of KPCC president," Surendran said.

Strongly criticising Sudhakaran over his remarks, Surendran said the comment was unbecoming of an MP from Kerala.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 16 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said that the state government will start education in Hindi in six engineering and six polytech colleges this year.

Speaking to ANI, Chouhan said, "Union Home Minister Amit Shah is launching the Hindi version of medical education books for students who had not studied in English medium schools and could not express their talents because of not having knowledge of English. This day will be written in history in golden letters."

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CM Chouhan said the Madhya Pradesh government will start engineering and polytechnic studies in Hindi soon.

"We will free education completely from English. Whoever wants to study (in English) can study, there is no compulsion...We will start education in Hindi in six engineering and six polytech colleges this year. It is our dream to start education in Hindi at IIT and IIM in the state."

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"Why do we have to be a slave to the English language? If Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Russians and French can study and express their talents in their own respective languages and reach high positions then why cannot our children do that?" he added.

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said that his government will share these books with other States to promote education in English medium.

"We will share the (Hindi medical education) books that we have prepared, with other states. I will meet with the chief ministers of all states regarding this. Whatever we have, we will give to others and if they (other states) do well in anything, we will take from them," Chouhan said.

In a first-of-its-kind move, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the MBBS Hindi course book at Lal Parade ground in Bhopal today.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also be present on the occasion. Madhya Pradesh is the first state to start the MBBS course in the Hindi language in the country. Initially, three subjects have been selected to be studied in Hindi which includes Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.

A team of 97 experts have been working on the preparation of books for the last 232 days at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. They have been translating the book from English to Hindi.

Madhya Pradesh medical education minister Vishwas Sarang on Sunday said that the move will bring a big change in the advancement of education in Hindi medium.

Speaking to ANI, Sarang said, "It is a big day. For the first time in the country, medical education in Hindi will begin in Madhya Pradesh. Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the Hindi versions of textbooks of all three subjects of the first year - Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry today."

"This is a matter of joy for me. It now becomes clear that if medical education is possible in Hindi, any course is possible in Hindi. This will bring a major change in the lives of youth, especially those from Hindi backgrounds," he added.

The Minister said that it is an emotional moment to start an MBBS course in Hindi."My father was also a Hindi litterateur, he also had a dream of it, today, I am starting it with his blessings. After the completion of 75 years of independence, no greater work could have been done than this. English is a symbol of slavery, Hindi was lagging behind somewhere," Sarang added.

"It was not an easy task but we prepared it in very easy language. We have prepared it so that it will be helpful in the studies of the students," an expert involved in the translation told ANI.

The expert further said the new edition of Medical Biochemistry contains the application of some new chapters which include Sodium, Potassium, Water Homeostasis, Biochemistry Techniques, Radiation, Radioisotopes and Environmental Pollutants and Toxins.

Besides, Several new line diagrams, tables and text boxes have been added to make information more memorable.

Similarly in the Anatomy edition, new chapters of surface anatomy have been added in both abdomen and lower limb sections. New line diagrams, CT's and MRI's diagram tables and flow charts are added to increase the retention of knowledge. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
One hundred and sixteen inmates escaped from correctional facilities between January 2021 and October this year, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has confirmed.

Most of the fugitives were B class inmates, who were allowed to be outside for work duties while serving their terms at medium-security prisons.

In an interview, ZPCS national public relations officer, Chief Superintendent Meya Khanyezi, said Harare Central and Chikurubi Farm prisons had high incidences of prison escapes.

In 2021, 64 inmates escaped from our prisons, and 52 inmates in 2022 up to date, making a total of 116, she said.

Harare Central and Chikurubi Farm prisons have a high incidence of escapes since these stations have more B class inmates, who go out of prison to work.

Police, however, recaptured 40 escapees during the same period. After escaping, 40 inmates were recaptured  18 in 2021 and 22 in 2022, added Chief Supt Khanyezi.

Most fugitives, she said, sneak away after asking for permission to answer the call of nature.

Some A class inmates also abscond since they will no longer be under escort of a prison officer, given that they are of less risk and would have exhibited good behaviour.

ZPCS is installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems at maximum prisons, arming its officers and reinforcing the canine section to avert future prison breaks.

In March, a convicted armed robber was recaptured by police after escaping from Harare Central Prison. He spent four months on the run. Richard Sasumba (40) was subsequently charged with attempting to escape from lawful custody.

It was alleged that on October 7 last year, Sasumba, who was serving his sentence at Harare Central Prison after having been convicted at the Bindura Magistrates Court of armed robbery, escaped from custody.

On March 9, 2022, police received a tip-off that Sasumba was seen loitering at a shopping centre in Epworth. Police proceeded to the shopping centre and arrested him. Sunday Mail
Mumbai, Oct 16 (PTI) Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) coordinator Ramesh Kere Patil on Sunday tried to kill himself by consuming poison during live interaction on social media amid allegations of corruption to break the MKM.

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Kere Patil was rushed to JJ Hospital in Byculla and is currently under treatment, officials said.

An audio clip that went viral on social media about corruption allegations and attempts to break the MKM, which has been at the forefront of the agitation to get the quota in education and jobs for the community, is reportedly at the centre of the incident.

Kere Patil, before consuming poison, had refuted all the allegations made against him in the audio clip and sought a thorough investigation into it.

"I have worked for reservation for the Maratha community, and justice for Maratha students. Whatever I have done is for my community and have never done anything wrong," he said in a Facebook Live interaction, adding he could not face defamation when he had done nothing wrong.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Palanpur, Oct 16 (PTI) A man was detained and then released after he went up to the stage during an event of Gujarat Chief Bhupendra Patel to hand over a memorandum on recruitment on Sunday, a police official said.

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The CM was on stage for the Bharatiya Janata Party's 'Gujarat Gaurav Yatra' event when Rohit Kumar (30) climbed on to the stage, the Deesa city police station official said.

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"He wanted to hand over a a memorandum regarding recruitment to the post of talati-cum-mantri. He dodged the security personnel because he was wearing the saffron scarf of the BJP and appeared to be a party member. However, he was overpowered and whisked away from the stage as soon as he took out the paper," he said.

The man was detained and taken to the police station at around 3:30 pm and was released post questioning after three hours, the official informed.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Gurugram, Oct 16 (PTI) More than four quintals of banned firecrackers were seized in a raid at a warehouse in Farrukhnagar area here, police said on Sunday.

The warehouse bearing the title 'Vashishth and Company', built over a six acres of land near Daboda village, was raided Saturday night by a team of Farrukhnagar Police Station, led by Inspector Jitender Kumar, they said.

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The godown had 10 rooms and eight of them were used to keep the banned firecrackers that were later weighed at 4,235 kg.

Some of the other rooms had green crackers for which the warehouse owner, Anand Vashishth, had a licence, police said.

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The raid was conducted and firecrackers were seized in the presence of duty magistrate Sajjan Kumar, tehsildar of Farrukhnagar.

An FIR has been registered against the godown owner who is a native of Delhi and the matter is being investigated. The accused will be arrested soon, said Inspector Jitender Kumar.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hassan (K'taka), Oct 16 (PTI) Nine people, including four children, were killed and 10 injured in a pile-up involving three vehicles here, police sources said.

The accident involving a milk tanker, a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus, and a tempo traveller took place in Arsikere taluk here around 11 pm on Saturday, they said.

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All those killed were travelling in the tempo traveller, which was crushed between the bus and the milk tanker. While six of them died on the spot, three succumbed on the way to the hospital, the sources said.

The injured are undergoing treatment at a hospital here, they said.

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Superintendent of Police, Hassan, Hariram Shankar and senior officials visited the accident site and all necessary procedures are being followed, they said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) A man was killed while his friend was injured in a fight with another group in Central Delhi's Ranjit Nagar, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place on the night of October 12, they said.

Also Read | Kerala Human Sacrifice Case: Key Accused Convinced Others That Victims' Flesh Could Be Sold.

According to police, there was a fight between two groups, with three people on each side.

The brawl happened when Nitesh, Alok, and Monty stopped three people on a bike and assaulted one of them who fell on the ground.

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As the bike got disbalanced, the other two too fell on the ground and a scuffle ensued between the two groups, a senior police officer said.

Since no one gave any statement at the time, a case was registered under section 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code on DD entry at Ranjit Nagar Police Station and an investigation was taken up, said Shweta Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central).

On Saturday night, Nitesh succumbed to his injuries, she said.

Meanwhile, the police have identified the three accused who are absconding, she added.

"The footage of the incident reveal that the quarrel was started by Nitesh and Alok. However, in the end, the other party overpowered them and assaulted them.

Both Nitesh and Alok have previous criminal records," the DCP said.

The exact reason for the fight is not clear, she said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ghaziabad (UP), Oct 17: Amid a series of pet dog attacks, the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation has banned the residents from keeping the ferocious Pitbull, Rottweiler and Dogo Argentino breeds as pets.

The civic body issued a host of other guidelines on Saturday for pet-owners according to which they will have to get a licence for their dogs, which will be issued from November 1, and no family can keep more than one pet dog. Dog Attack in Haryana: Woman Receives 50 Stitches After Pitbull Attacks Her and Two Children in Rewari.

Pet-owners living in high rise complexes will have to use service lifts for taking their dogs out and make sure they wear a muzzle while in the public.

The decision comes amidst several dog bite incidents reported from various localities of the city in the recent months. The pet-owners will have to obtain registration within two months.

"The three breeds -- Pitbull, Rottweiler and Dogo Argentino -- are ferocious (khoonkhar), and no permission will be granted to keep these dogs. No licence will be issued. If somebody buys one of these, he/she will be responsible. All these three breeds have been banned in Ghaziabad," BJP leader and GMC councillor Sanjay Singh told PTI on Sunday.

Singh had moved s proposal to ban these breeds which was passed by the municipal body House. He said people who already have these breeds of dogs will have to get them sterilized within two months.

Mayor Asha Sharma told PTI, "Sterilisation of the dogs has been declared compulsory in the board meeting of the civic body held on Saturday. Without sterilisation, certificate registration will not be granted." Stray Dog Attack in Kerala: Canine Bites Former MLA, 3 Others in Palakkad; Cameraman Attacked in Separate Incident in Kozhikode.

"In case the dog is younger than six months, the owner will have to submit an affidavit with an assurance that they will get the pet sterilised when he becomes one," she added.

The mayor said dog-owners love their pets, but they must also think about the children who sustained severe injuries in dog attacks.

"More than 10 children suffered dog bites. A child in the Sanjay Nagar colony, Kush Tyagi, was attacked by a Pitbull and he got 150 stitches on his face. Four days later, another boy was attacked by a dog of this breed," she said.

All zonal officers of of the GMC have been instructed to issue notices to pet-owners to inform them about the rules and regulations passed in the board meeting.

On stray dogs, mayor Sharma said residents would be allowed to offer them food at a designated place.

"The Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (GNN) would slap fines on dog-owners if complaints are received from RWA (Residents' Welfare Association)," she said.

Earlier, the Kanpur Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the Panchkula Municipal Corporation banned the pitbull and rottweiler breeds of dogs as pets within the city limits.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, October 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the two-day event -- PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 -- on Monday at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.

The event would bring together more than 13,500 farmers from across the country and around 1,500 agri startups, an official statement said. More than 1 crore farmers from various institutions are expected to attend the event virtually. The Sammelan will also witness the participation of researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders. Prime Minister will inaugurate 600 Pradan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSK) under the ministry of chemicals & fertilizers.

The statement said under the scheme, the fertiliser retail shops in the country will be converted into PMKSK in a phased manner. It said PMKSK will cater to a wide variety of needs of the farmers and provide agri-inputs (fertilisers, seeds, implements); testing facilities for soil, seeds, fertilisers; generate awareness among farmers; provide information regarding various government schemes and ensure regular capacity building of retailers at block/ district level outlets. More than 3.3 lakh retail fertiliser shops are planned to be converted into PMKSK. Home Minister Amit Shah Lays Foundation for Expansion of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Airport Terminal in Madhya Pradeshs Gwalior.

During the event, the Prime Minister will launch Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana -- One Nation One Fertilizer. Under the scheme, Prime Minister will launch Bharat urea bags, which will help companies market fertilisers under the single brand name 'Bharat'. In a reflection of the continued commitment of the Prime Minister towards welfare of the farmers, during the event, Prime Minister would release the 12th instalment amount of Rs16,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) through direct benefit transfer, the statement said. Under the scheme, eligible farmer families are provided a benefit of Rs6,000 per year in three equal instalments of Rs2,000 each. So far, eligible farmer families have received benefits of more than Rs2 lakh crore under PM-KISAN.

The official statement said the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Agri Startup Conclave and Exhibition. About 300 startups will showcase their innovation related to precision farming, post-harvest & value-add solutions, allied agriculture, waste to wealth, mechanisation for small farmers, supply chain management, argi-logistic, among others. The platform would facilitate startups to interact with farmers, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), agri-experts, corporates etc. Startups will also share their experience and interact with other stakeholders in technical sessions. PM Narendra Modi Dedicates 75 Digital Banking Units to Nation, Says DBUs Will Enhance Banking Experience for Citizens.

The statement also noted during the event, Prime Minister will also launch 'Indian Edge', an e-magazine on fertiliser. It will provide information on domestic and international fertiliser scenarios, including recent developments, price trends analysis, availability and consumption, success stories of farmers, among others.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, Oct 16 (PTI) Indian airlines industry will continue to be sick unless there are policies in place to ensure that the operators have at least 4-6 months of cash kept in reserves for continuity of operations, according to global consultancy and aviation firm CAPA.

CAPA said it estimates the domestic airline industry could post losses to the tune of USD 1.4-1.7 billion or more losses this fiscal.

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The two listed airlines, IndiGo and SpiceJet, have already reported losses of Rs 1,064.30 crore and Rs 789 crore, respectively, in the April-June quarter of the current fiscal.

Financial fitness is a fundamental criterion of operating (globally)India is the only country where technically insolvent companies can expand, can continue to operate, Kapil Kaul, CEO for South Asia at CAPA, said at an industry event in Mumbai recently.

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He said going by the global practice, the airlines have to ensure that they have at least 4-6 months of cash reserves when no revenue is coming in while their air operator permits are also renewed every year, while in India, the AOP comes for renewal only after 5-odd years.

We don't have a financial assessment. We do have it only when the airlines are in almost the last stage of operations. So through a structure of policy-making you need to ensure that 4-6 months of cash, depending upon the size of the business, must be fundamental in terms of operating. If you don't have that (the framework) we will continue to have a sick industry, Kaul stated.

He emphasised that if such a best practice is not adopted at this stage when some of the airlines are infusing capital through various funding instruments, everything in the circle will go out of hand.

He noted that the airlines industry was unviable even before the emergence of the pandemic as barring one, no other airline had the cash on hand for more than 15 days of operations.

Covid had an unprecedented impact on the sector, which nobody was prepared for, resulting in USD 7-8 billion of losses, he added.

This fiscal we will be looking at USD 1.4-1.7 billion losses or possibly more, Kaul said.

For a capital-starved industry which is mostly negative net worth where getting funds is very tough, these numbers call for radical measures and a different strategy, he noted.

The more we celebrate profit-less growth, the more we will be away from the kind of reforms the sector requires. We continue to play around at the edges, not looking deep enough to change the sector, Kaul said.

The Covid impact is going to be long-term and structural and such losses with a very inadequate balance sheet can't be washed away by recovery to pre-covid, Kaul asserted.

In many ways, pre-Covid was easy to navigate. Because every participant ensured its strategic cooperation. In fact, the whole value chain such as staff, lenders, vendors and lessors were very cooperative, he said.

Now that we have come out of the Covid, and start looking at the next year, you are entering post-Covid environment which, in my assessment, is going to be more hostile with no room for cooperation, he said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh, October 16: Former minister Sunder Sham Arora was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau for allegedly offering a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to one of its officers to help him settle cases against him, officials said on Sunday.

Arora has been facing inquiries in a disproportionate assets case and alleged irregularities during his tenure as industries minister in the previous Congress government. Punjab: Assistant Inspector General of Police Ashish Kapoor Arrested for Taking Rs 1 Crore Bribe.

Varinder Kumar, chief director of Punjab Vigilance Bureau, told reporters that Arora was arrested for allegedly offering Rs 50 lakh as a bribe to a vigilance officer to "help" him in these cases.

Kumar said Arora allegedly contacted Assistant Inspector General Manmohan Sharma, who is supervising the inquiries, on October 14 and told him to help him clear his name. The former minister offered to pay Rs 1 crore for it. He offered to pay Rs 50 lakh as the first instalment and the remaining amount later, the chief director said. Punjab Polices AGTF Arrest Two Aides of Gangsters Goldy Brar, Anmol Bishnoi While They Try To Escape.

After Sharma brought it to the notice of his seniors, a trap was laid to arrest Arora. He was arrested when he tried to handover a bag containing Rs 50 lakh cash, Kumar said. Arora joined the BJP after quitting the Congress in June this year.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 16 (ANI): Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayende attacked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over her statement that Enforcement Directorate (ED) is not a political tool and is an independent agency saying that she is "misleading" the common people.

While attacking the Finance Minister, she said, "This is a joke. She is misleading people through her statements in a foreign country."

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"ED is being misused the most in the states, where BJP doesn't have the government. Everyone can see this, but Nirmala Ji can't. It's wrong to make such statements," she further said.

She also said that ED was "most active" during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regime.

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"ED was most active during the MVA government in Maharashtra, but as soon BJP government has come there, it seems ED no longer has any problem. Any person who is being investigated by the ED, if joins BJP, all the cases against him are closed," she further said.

Earlier today, Union Finance Minister defended the actions of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on private capital and civil societies and negated that it is being used as a political weapon.

At a media briefing on her official US visit, she said, "ED is completely independent in what it does, it is an agency that follows predicate offences."

Answering to question on the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department that these institutions have been used to go after sections of private capital but also civil societies, she said, "The first offence is already picked up by any other agency, whether it is CBI or any other agency and it is forced that ED comes into the picture. ED does not appear at first instance. There are instances which are so standing out and if ED goes there, it is because of some prima facie evidence in their hands and some of them have been covered by media - the quantum of money seized, gold and jewellery seized. They have to act." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)


CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has been barred by prison authorities from visiting incarcerated legislators Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole but his nemesis Douglas Mwonzora has been granted access.

But Sikhalas lawyers yesterday said the opposition legislator was not interested in seeing Mwonzora.

Mwonzora yesterday visited Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison where 14 other Nyatsime residents charged alongside Sikhala and Sithole have been detained since June 14. His spokesperson, Witness Dube claimed the MDC T leader had met with Sikhala but Sikhalas spokesperson Freddy Masarirevu told The Standard that was not true.

Mwonzora visited the Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison with fellow party members.

I dont want to comment on Mwonzoras visit, Masarirevu said. Just like any other person, he is allowed to visit Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison but I was with comrade Sikhala (yesterday) from 9 am to 12pm and he told me clearly that he was not going to see Mwonzora. He does not want to see him. If they say he (Mwonzora) saw him, they are lying.

But Mwonzoras spokesperson Witness insisted that Mwonzora met with Sikhala.

Addressing journalists outside Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, Mwonzora said he did not need permission from anyone to see Sikhala, Sithole and the 14 others while calling for their unconditional release.

Meanwhile, lawyers representing Chamisa said the CCC leader has been denied access to Sikhala, Sithole and the 14 others since their arrest in June. They have threatened to take legal action against this embargo.

In a letter dated October 13, 2022 addressed to Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) commissioner general Moses Chihobvu, Shava Law Chambers representing Chamisa said such a restriction was unlawful.

He (Chamisa) was advised by the prison guards that he was specifically barred from visiting anyone in prison detention without your written permission. The basis for this requirement could not be easily ascertained from these guards, the lawyers said.

We advise that in terms of section 50(5)( c) any person who is detained, including a sentenced prisoner, has a right to communicate with, and be visited by a relative or anyone else of their choice, subject to reasonable restrictions which may be imposed for the proper administration of prisons or places of detention.

Further, a careful perusal of your prison policies would reveal that there is only a single category of visitors that are not allowed visits, these are those in need of conjugal rights.

Sikhala faces a separate charge of obstruction of justice. He has been denied bail countless times with the courts pointing out that the legislator is a repeat offender not fit for bail.

We are of the firm view that the guards, in trying to implement a patently unlawful policy, which seems to be targeted at one individual, our client, might have acted without your blessings, Chamisas lawyers said.

They said denying Chamisa access to Sikhala, Sithole and 14 others was a violation of section 56 of the constitution which guarantees our client the right to equal protection of the law.

It is within the above context that we are of the firm view that this is a matter capable of resolution without resorting to costly litigation process which, in any event, would put your office under unnecessary spotlight, they said.

We found no reason to approach the courts for recourse before having inquired from you on whether or not it is now a requirement that our client must first get permission from yourself before visiting the aforementioned individuals, and if so kindly furnish us with a copy of the said policy document.

While addressing the media at Chikurubi yesterday Mwonzora said: Our view as the MDC is the continual pre-trial incarceration of Job Sikhala and his colleagues is totally unjustified, we are appealing to the government to release them so that they can be tried while they are coming from home, said Mwonzora.

This is an issue about humanity, its an issue about the families that were left behind and it is an issue about constitutional right to liberty. I do not require permission in terms of the law from any quarter to see accused people. This is a political issue that must be resolved politically. We believe that the opposition must show solidarity with one another.

Sikhala says he is a political prisoner.

Recently, hundreds of citizens and other foreign nationals petitioned President Emmerson Mnangagwa pleading with him to intervene to secure the release of the CCC legislators and other members.

But government spokespersons have said Mnangagwa would not intervene out of respect of separation of powers between the Judiciary and the Executive.

Constitutional law expert and politician Lovemore Madhuku has said the arrest and detention of Sikhala and others needed a political solution.

The detainees face charges of incitement to public violence following violent skirmishes at the funeral of slain opposition activist Moreblessing Ali. Standard
Chennai, Oct 16 (PTI) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday expressed confidence that the country will achieve the export target for goods and services to USD 2 trillion by 2030.

The minister was speaking at the Exporters Conclave held at Chennai.

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Goyal emphasised on sustaining the export momentum and said that he is confident that Indian exports will be able to wither the global headwinds and will surpass growth in exports by a big margin.

He also said that by 2047, the country will become a USD 30 trillion economy with 25 per cent share in exports.

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By the year 2030, exports from India will be USD 2 trillion, he said.

The industry participants were assured that the government is committed to addressing the issues raised by them.

Speaking at the event, A Sakthivel, President, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said that Indian exporters have good opportunities for exports to Russia and the EU despite recessionary trends visible there.

He said that there would be about USD 8-10 billion additional exports to Russia in the next 12 months and USD 15-20 billion to the EU.

He requested the minister for introducing the Exports Refinance Facility for banks so as to refinance them at the repo rate to the extent of credit extended to the export sector.

The levy of GST on exports freight has added to exporters liquidity woes, Sakthivel said.

In the meeting, exporters flagged several issues related to the rising cost of raw materials and subdued demand in certain key export markets and the need for more support to the exporters in this difficult time.

Other issues discussed during the session include need for higher interest subsidy for exporters, extension of benefits for export to Russia under Rupee payment; higher freight costs; withdrawal of 50 per cent duty of export of law-grade Iron Ore and non tariff barriers faced by domestic exporters in the markets of EU, Japan, and China.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing, October 16: China opposes protectionism, the erection of fences and barriers, decoupling, disruption of industrial and supply chains, unilateral sanctions, and maximum-pressure tactics, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday, apparently hitting out at the US.

China adheres to the right course of economic globalisation, he told the key Congress of the ruling Communist Party here. The 20th Congress in its weeklong session starting from Sunday is widely expected to endorse a record third five-year term for Xi who also heads the party and the military. Also Read | China President Xi Jinping Following Footsteps of Mao Zedong, Fallen Into Dictator Trap, Says Report.

China strives to promote trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, advance bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation, and boost international macroeconomic policy coordination, Xi said. Chinas Communist Party Kicks Off Key Congress To Endorse Record Third Term for President Xi Jinping.

China opposes protectionism, the erection of fences and barriers, decoupling, disruption of industrial and supply chains, unilateral sanctions, and maximum-pressure tactics, he said.

Xi said China is committed to working with other countries to foster an international environment conducive to development and create new drivers for global growth.

The US has sectioned several Chinese high-tech firms including telecommunications equipment company Huawei which Beijing alleges was aimed at containing its development.

China is also one of the biggest benefactors of globalisation as it has emerged as the biggest exporter of goods to the world which propelled it to become the second largest economy in the world. The Chinese president said the country will move faster to build a modernised economy, Xi said.

China will raise total factor productivity, make industrial and supply chains more resilient and secure, and promote integrated urban-rural development and coordinated regional development, so as to effectively upgrade and appropriately expand economic output, Xi said.

Efforts will be made to build a high-standard socialist market economy, Xi said. "We will work to see that the market plays the decisive role in resource allocation and that the government better plays its role."

The industrial system will be modernised, with measures to advance new industrialisation, and boost China's strength in manufacturing, product quality, aerospace, transportation, cyberspace, and digital development, Xi added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Tehran [Iran], October 16 (ANI): At least eight people were injured in a fire at Tehran's Evin prison on Saturday, state news agency IRNA reported amid the ongoing protests over the death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini.

The fire was ignited as a result of clashes among a number of inmates, according to the report, adding the clashes and unrest that erupted in the wards led to a fire in the prison's clothing storeroom.

Also Read | Mexico Bar Shooting: 12 People Killed by Unidentified Gunmen in Irapuato, Hunt for Assailants On.

The blaze has been brought under control by firefighters and prison officers, IRNA reported.

The state media outlet claimed that clashes inside Evin Prison on Saturday have nothing to do with the recent unrest in the country.

Also Read | Elon Musk Says He Will Keep Funding Starlink Internet Service in Ukraine.

It said the ward of prisoners incarcerated on security charges is separate from the ward of bandits and prisoners serving their jail terms on financial charges where the fire incident happened.

The fire comes as Iran continues to be rocked by its most intense unrest in decades. In September, Mahsa Amini died after she was detained by the country's morality police for apparently not wearing her hijab properly.

Iranian authorities have since unleashed a brutal crackdown on demonstrators, who have united around a range of grievances with the country's authoritarian regime.

Hundreds of those detained during the protests have reportedly been sent to Evin.

The United States said Iran is fully responsible for the safety of wrongfully detained citizens in Evin Prison.

"We are following reports from Evin Prison with urgency. We are in contact with the Swiss as our protecting power. Iran is fully responsible for the safety of our wrongfully detained citizens, who should be released immediately," US State Department Ned Price said in a tweet. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], October 16 (ANI): India-Africa Defence Dialogue will be held on October 18 on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host the Defence Ministers of African Nations during the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 12th DefExpo in Gujarat, according to a Defence Ministry press release.

Also Read | Elon Musk Says He Will Keep Funding Starlink Internet Service in Ukraine.

The broad theme of the dialogue is 'India-Africa: Adopting Strategy for Synergising and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation'.

India and Africa share close and historical ties. India's approach towards Africa is guided by the Kampala Principles enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. India's engagement rests on African priorities as outlined by Africans themselves.

Also Read | China's Communist Party Kicks Off Key Congress To Endorse Record Third Term for President Xi Jinping.

The first-ever India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in conjunction with DefExpo on February 06, 2020. A Joint Declaration - 'Lucknow Declaration' - was adopted at the end of the conclave as an outcome document.

In continuance of the 'Lucknow Declaration' and in consultation with stakeholders, IAAD has been institutionalised to be held once every two years on the sidelines of DefExpo.

The IADD will explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagement, including in areas like capacity building, training, cyber security, maritime security and counter-terrorism.

Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) is the knowledge partner for the India-Africa Defence Dialogue. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Oct 16 (PTI) India is preparing to focus on several key issues like multinational development banks, debt situation and climate change during its G20 presidency next year, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

During the just concluded annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the Indian delegation, including Sitharaman, briefed finance ministers and central bank governors of G20 countries on India's priorities as the president of the grouping of the world's major economies.

Also Read | Pakistan Indulges in 'Misinformation Campaigns' To Revive China's Failing CPEC, Says Report.

India will assume the presidency of the G20 for a year from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023.

"We had an informal breakfast with G20 members. There was a very positive and cooperative mood. Unhesitatingly, I found all of them extending cooperation and saying India's year as president should take on issues and we're all here to support and cooperate with you. And that was expressively said," Sitharaman said in response to a question here on Saturday.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Around 100 Hindus From Pakistan Reach Jodhpur, Say 'We Don't Want To Go Back' After Facing Discrimination in Relief Work Post Flash Floods.

The minister said she did not lay out the agenda in detail but spoke about the broad issues that India will be interested in.

"In no particular order, I wish to say that we will certainly be wanting the G20 members to discuss how the multilateral development banks can better leverage the endowment that they have," she said.

"Also, think in terms of getting other sources through which their finances can improve because one, they have to be more nimble in reaching out for development funding and two, they have to better effectively deploy the resources that they have.

"So that will certainly be one of the things that we will be working out and how that becomes an agenda point and how specifically we're going to try to make it is subject to taking inputs from everybody," she added.

Sitharaman said the debt situation is also likely to be on the agenda.

"I know solutions were arrived at during the pandemic, the sustainability initiatives. Now that period is gone. Now the vulnerabilities of more countries are coming out, many middle-income countries themselves are at high risk," she said.

The common framework has not really delivered as much as it was expected to. So that will certainly be one of the issues that India would want the members to discuss during its presidency and have some kind of outcome, she said.

"Third, we'll be talking about climate finance... we think a large part of this debate will have to be within the UNFCCC. So, environment-related issues should emanate from there. Certainly, there will be a role for the multilateral bodies," she said.

Sitharaman is on a six-day visit to the US, which began on October 11. Besides attending the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, she held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from several countries during the visit.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], October 16 (ANI): Pro-Baloch groups have voiced serious concern over the recovery of the dead bodies on the roof of Nishtar hospital in Pakistan's Punjab province.

Several media reports said that hundreds of dead bodies were recovered in dubious circumstances, indicating that those people are forcibly Baloch disappeared persons.

Also Read | China's Communist Party Kicks Off Key Congress To Endorse Record Third Term for President Xi Jinping.

In a statement, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) spokesperson said that the dead bodies discovered on the roof of Multan hospital and the condition of the dead bodies concern them.

The spokesperson said that the news went viral on social media with gruesome videos and pictures that around five hundred unidentified mutilated bodies were found.

Also Read | Russia Military Range Shooting: 11 Dead, 15 Wounded in Terrorist Attack on Training Ground in Belgorod.

"Those who were thrown on the roof inhumanely, whose flesh was being eaten by vultures and crows. These bodies were identified by Tariq Gujjar, adviser to the Chief Minister of Punjab. Despite this, the Pakistani media has suppressed this news. It also shows this reality is against Pakistani institutions that is why this news is being hidden in media," the BNM spokesperson said.

"In this month, the bodies of 168 unidentified people were found in Punjab. Those who were declared unknown persons and buried unanimously," the spokesperson added.

Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) chief Allah Nazar Baloch described the recovery of hundreds of dead bodies as a huge tragedy and urged the UN and the human rights agencies to take urgent notice of the gruesome incident.

He demanded that a fact-finding mission must be sent to Multan. He alleged that earlier, Pak security forces used to throw the dead bodies of Baloch people in various cities of Balochistan after abducting them.

The BLF chief alleged that Pakistan has crossed all limits of ruthlessness and barbarity and it is high time that the international community breaks its silence and takes practical measures.

He added that the recovery of hundreds of human corpses from a single site is a big slap on the face of the people who considered the parliamentary politics of Pakistan as a guarantee of Baloch people's rights.

"No one can even imagine that in this modern era, human bodies are abandoned in such large numbers and the state remains free of its responsibilities," he added.

However, all this is happening in Pakistan in broad daylight. He stressed that political struggle is the only option to get rid of ongoing repression and brutalities being perpetrated by Pakistan. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Oct 16 (PTI) During the just concluded annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, several countries including India expressed concern over the spillover effects of political and economic decisions of developed nations, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

The minister said she raised the issue prominently during her meetings here.

Also Read | Pakistan Indulges in 'Misinformation Campaigns' To Revive China's Failing CPEC, Says Report.

Earlier this week, Sitharaman had said that in the near-term, advanced nations must take responsibility for the global spillover of their political and economic decisions and put in place safety nets rather than impose sanctions on nations who are merely fulfilling their moral and democratic obligations for their people.

Her remarks came in the wake of the push by the US-led western countries to reduce their oil purchase from Russia and warning to other nations that they would face sanctions if they continued to do so.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Around 100 Hindus From Pakistan Reach Jodhpur, Say 'We Don't Want To Go Back' After Facing Discrimination in Relief Work Post Flash Floods.

In an interaction with a group of Indian reporters here on Saturday, she said she raised the issue during her bilateral and multilateral meetings as well.

"I repeated it in some of the meetings inside as well," she said in response to a question.

"I didn't particularly notice any one minister and their reaction but I did say this. And incidentally, at a different meeting, Sri Mulyani (Indrawati, Finance Minister of Indonesia) also voiced it. Maybe one or two of the countries also voiced it. If I'm not mistaken, maybe the finance minister from Nigeria also voiced it," she said.

"There are several others who said it as well... that the unintended consequences of certain action taken, or the spillover (effects) of policies is definitely hurting our countries," she added.

Sitharaman is on a six-day visit to the US, which began on October 11. Besides attending the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, she held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from several countries during the visit.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing, October 16: Chinese President Xi Jinping has fallen into the dictator's trap similarly to supreme leader Mao Zedong as he also took the entire power into his hand and now seeking a third term to achieve his goal with a word of caution as it could spell years of uncertainty as problems mount around an unbound leader who has shown little inclination to share decision-making.

Today, Chinese leader Xi opened the ruling Communist Party's twice-a-decade National Congress, which may give him the responsibility of the general secretary of the party for another five years, The New York Times reported. China Rolls Out 5G Base Stations in Xinjiang, Experts Say It Will Boost Surveillance.

Xi Jinping has removed all the rivals, who are stopping him from achieving his third-term goal. Recently, Two more top former officials were jailed last month, accused of financial crimes and disloyalty to Xi. This move by Xi shows his fealty to himself. Even his subordinates compete to prove their loyalty by carrying out his policies to the extreme rather than raising harsh truths about negative consequences. China Deploys Driverless Police Cars for Surveillance of Uyghurs in Xinjiangs Karamay.

This is precisely the sort of situation that Deng Xiaoping, Former Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and other ex-party leaders had set out to prevent with changes introduced decades ago.

Earlier, Mao also did the same thing, concentrating more power in his hands, he misguided Great Leap Forward, a campaign to greatly increase agrarian and industrial output in the late 1950s that led instead to a devastating famine and then to the chaotic political violence of the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution.

After Mao's death, Deng introduced term limits and retirement ages for leading posts in the government and military and gave party institutions more authority, reported The New York Times.

Party institutions -- their members all appointed by senior leaders -- proved to be pushovers for Xi. No visible resistance was raised when he engineered the abolition of presidential term limits in 2018, which could allow Xi, who is 69, to stay in power until he dies or is deposed in a power struggle.

Xi, who favors a state-led, centrally controlled economy, began an abrupt crackdown on major Chinese internet companies last year, as part of a plan to redistribute wealth and rein in the private sector. That has been put on the back burner for now, but not before it wiped billions of dollars from the valuations of innovative companies and cast a pall over entrepreneurship, exacerbating an extended Chinese economic slowdown, according to The New York Times.

Not only this, but when the whole world was trying to adjust to the "new normal," Xi refused to loosed his zero-tolerance approach and continued the Zero-COVID policy which imposes mass lockdowns and surveillance in a bandwagon dynamic that has echoes of the Great Leap Forward when officials over-complied with Mao's damaging directives.

The Covid policy has angered citizens and saddled local governments with the huge costs of constant testing and quarantining. Private companies stricken by the disruption and regulatory crackdowns are laying off employees, and college graduates are struggling to find jobs. For the first time in years, unemployment has become a serious political risk for the party, and a tanking Chinese real estate market threatens to pull down the entire economy.

Talking about the foreign policy of China, the country has made its new rivals. China militarized disputed islets in the South China Sea, threatened military action against Taiwan, cut off many imports from Australia, destroyed Hong Kong's autonomy, and on top of that has deepened Beijing's isolation from Europe and the United States by aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin just before Russia launched his invasion of Ukraine, reported The New York Times.

The dispute between China and other countries came under the limelight when the United States, Japan, Australia, and India came together and formed Quad to fight against Beijing.

The greatest risk now facing China and the world is that the consequences of Xi's misrule could lead to a point where he feels compelled to provoke a foreign conflict to divert domestic public attention. Xi's continued reluctance to share power also could increase the risk of an internecine split in his third term. The level of dissent within the secretive Communist Party is difficult to gauge, but possible signs of frustration have emerged, as per The New York Times.

It's anyone's guess how much longer Xi's rule will last, but there appears no end in sight. The party normally selects a successor five years in advance to groom and introduce him to the Chinese public. But everyone is in the shadow cast by Xi, who has so far given no hint who his eventual successor might be.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing, Oct 16 (PTI) As he is all set for a record 3rd five-year term in power and perhaps for life, President Xi Jinping on Sunday warned that China will "not renounce the use of force" to unify Taiwan with the mainland and vowed to advance the modernisation of the country's military to "world-class standards" to protect national sovereignty, security and developmental interests.

Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state  but China views the self-ruled island as a breakaway province that must be reunified. Beijing has not ruled out the possible use of force to achieve national unification.

Also Read | Bars in UK Offer Work From Pub Deals With Lunch, Unlimited Tea and Coffee Among Other Benefits; All You Need To Know.

"We will not renounce the use of force and will take all necessary measures to stop all separatist movements" in Taiwan, Xi said on the opening day of the week-long key once-in-a-five-year Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), which is widely expected to confer an unprecedented 3rd five-year term on him.

Except for Xi, all the top leaders of the party, including the number two leader Premier Li Keqiang, would be replaced or reshuffled during the Congress as the administration headed by 69-year-old Xi is completing a 10-year tenure.

Also Read | China Rolls Out 5G Base Stations in Xinjiang, Experts Say 'It Will Boost Surveillance'.

However, the Congress is expected to endorse Xi's continuation as he has already been declared a core leader of the party on par with its founder Mao Zedong. Xi's continuation in power will formally end the over three decade practice of its top leaders retiring after completing two-five-year tenures.

In a show of unity, almost all retired former leaders of the party -- including Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao and Song Ping, a 105-year-old party veteran who groomed Xi's early career, took part in the opening ceremony held at the ornate Great Hall of the People here. However, conspicuously missing was 96-year-old former president Jiang Zemin, who was party leader until 2002.

All the leaders were seated along with Xi and Premier Li in the front row in the ornate Great Hall of People and seen cheering key aspects of his speech spanning one hour 45 minutes.

Xi's pledge to complete the reunification of China, which means the merger of Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, received a prolonged round of applause from over 2,300 elected delegates attending the Congress.

Xi, also the General Secretary of the CPC, said the party must stand firm on its strategy to resolve the Taiwan issue and be determined to reunify the nation.

"Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, a matter that must be resolved by the Chinese," he said.

China has conducted intense military drills and fired missiles over the self-governing island following the high-profile visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August, the highest American official visit to Taiwan, sparking concerns that Beijing may be preparing the ground for invasion.

"We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary. This is directed solely at interference by outside forces and the few separatists seeking 'Taiwan independence' and their separatist activities; it is by no means targeted at our Taiwan compatriots," Xi said.

The president said the wheels of history are rolling on toward China's reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

"Complete reunification of our country must be realised, and it can, without doubt, be realised! We have always shown respect and care for our Taiwan compatriots and worked to deliver benefits to them. We will continue to promote economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Strait.

"We will encourage people on both sides of the Strait to work together to promote Chinese culture and forge closer bonds," he said.

He said that during the past 10 years China has resolutely safeguarded sovereignty.

"We have not yielded any ground on matters of principle and we have resolutely safeguarded China's sovereignty, security and development interests. National security has been strengthened on all fronts," he said.

But at the same time he said China strives for friendly ties and partnership with neighbouring countries. China strives to enhance friendly ties, mutual trust and converging interests with neighbouring countries," Xi said.

Xi also stressed on further modernising national defence and military.

Achieving the goals for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027 and more quickly elevating the people's armed forces to world-class standards are strategic tasks for building a modern socialist country in all respects, he said.

The CPC will intensify troop training and enhance combat preparedness across the board, strengthen all-around military governance, and consolidate and enhance integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities, Xi said.

He also said that the CPC will strengthen its control of the military to obey its directives.

"We will strengthen party building across the board in the people's armed forces to ensure that they always obey the party's command," he said.

The party will improve the institutions and mechanisms for implementing the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

CMC is the overall high command of China's two million-strong military. Xi is also the chairman of the CMC, besides being the General Secretary of the party and President, making him the most powerful leader of the country in modern China.

During his ten-year tenure, Xi has carried out extensive reforms re-orienting the military, retrenching three lakh troops from the army and strengthening navy and air force as China expanded its influence globally with initiatives like the multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Xi said the CPC will strengthen party organisations in the people's armed forces, carry out regular activities and put in place institutions to improve the military's political work, and make unremitting efforts to improve conduct, enforce discipline, and combat corruption in the military.

In his address, Xi mostly focused on domestic issues and the development of the party under his leadership. He also said China must modernise its national security system and safeguard social stability.

"National security is the foundation of national rejuvenation, and social stability is a prerequisite of national strength. We must unswervingly implement the comprehensive national security concept, maintain national security throughout all aspects of the work of the party and the state to ensure national security and social stability, he said.

Xi said China will have to come up with capacity and institutes to ensure food, energy, key industrial and supply chains, and the lawful rights of Chinese citizens overseas.

He also said China works to see cooperation mechanisms such as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) exert greater influence and emerging markets and developing countries are better represented and have a greater say in global affairs.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mehsana, October 16: An army jawan serving in Jammu & Kashmir was booked for assaulting his wife in the presence of his friends on suspicion of having an extramarital affair, police said.

The Vadnagar police on Saturday booked the jawan and three of his friends for criminal force, disrobing or compelling a woman to be naked and hurting her with a dangerous weapon. Gujarat Shocker: Bodies of Two Children Recovered From Well in Jamnagar, Probe Underway.

Victim Amarben Thakor in her complaint with the Vadnagar police station stated, "On Saturday morning, my husband Dilip Thakor took me to a guest house in his friend Pintoo's car, along with them was Kalpesh and an unknown person. In the presence of Kalpesh, my husband asked me to unclothe in a guest house room. When I refused, my husband disrobed me, bit me on the lower lip and tore it. Then he bit me on the chest and on the ear. As I was bleeding, they took me to doctor Jigar Patel's private hospital, who refused to treat me, being a criminal case." Gujarat Shocker: Student Hospitalised After Forced To Do 200 Sit Ups in Una School.

"On the private doctor's suggestion, they took me to Vadnagar government hospital, where the doctor conducted surgery on her lip," the woman said. She alleged that her husband was misinformed by his friends that she had an affair, because of which he started suspecting her and acting violently.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 16, 2022 03:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).


THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has released the names of five Tynwald High School students who perished in a bus accident along Rusape-Nyanga Road on Friday.

The bus had 46 passengers and 34 were injured.

The victims are: Anesuishe Hove (14), Beyonce Guyo (15), Anita Manyuka (16), Destiny Dziva (14) and Kimberly Tarisai Mutusva (15). The 6th victim is yet to be identified by the next of kin.

According to the police, the accident happened around 7pm when the bus veered off the road and overturned at the 75km peg along Rusape-Nyanga Road near Pine Tree Hotel.

A memorial service was held at Tynwald High School yesterday with parents, teachers and other learners bidding farewell to the deceased students.

Some of the victims are expected to be buried today. The Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) oversaw the transportation of the deceased and injured to Harare and has since paid most of the funeral expenses through First Mutual Funeral Services which was contracted by Tynwald School.

ICZ marketing and public relations manager, Ringisai Batiya told NewsDay that the bus had a public passenger liability policy but ICZ went the extra mile as part of its corporate social responsibility.

As per the Road Traffic Act, funeral or medical expenses are pegged at an equivalent of US$350 per person in the event of an accident.

In excess of what the policy gives, we have paid US$10 000 to cover medical bills, transport for the injured students transferred back to Harare Hospital (Sally Mugabe Central Hospital) and repatriation of the bodies from Nyanga, Batiya said. Newsday
A total of 797 Congress delegates from Maharashtra will cast their votes here on Monday to elect the new president of the party with veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor in the fray for the top post.
A 14-year-old girl ran way from home in Nagpur and travelled to neighbouring Chandrapur district in Maharashtra and later cooked up a story of her own kidnapping as she was fed up with being nagged by her mother over studies, a police official said on Sunday.
Australian Defence Force deployed to aid flood crisis response

Xinhua) 16:20, October 16, 2022

Photo taken on Oct. 14, 2022, shows a flooded area in Victoria, Australia. (Photo by Bai Xue/Xinhua)

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel were now on the ground assisting with evacuations and sand-bagging in response to the catastrophic flooding.

CANBERRA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been deployed to aid in the response to catastrophic flooding in the country's second most populated state.

Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese on Sunday toured flood-affected areas in Victoria.

Hundreds of homes in the region have been impacted by floods following heavy rains, with waters expected to continue rising.

Authorities have warned thousands of homes could be inundated when water levels peak. Residents who stayed beyond evacuation orders have now been told it is too late to leave their properties.

Photo taken on Oct. 14, 2022, shows a flooded area in Victoria, Australia. (Photo by Bai Xue/Xinhua)

In the 24 hours to Sunday morning, there were 103 flood rescues by authorities, and one person, a 71-year-old man, died.

"This is a very severe weather event that's having an impact in urban communities but also in regional communities right throughout Victoria, but particularly there in the north and the north-west," Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio, adding that he would work with local government to make sure that people get the support that they need at this difficult time.

Albanese said ADF personnel were now on the ground assisting with evacuations and sand-bagging.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Du Mingming)
Another solar farm has been granted planning permission in Offaly not that far from the border with Laois.

Summit Solar has been granted planning permission for a construct a Solar PV Development at Broughal and Drinagh comprising of 55,000 photovoltaic panels, ten power hubs, a communications building, a sub station building, an equipment storage building and CCTV cameras.

Offaly County Council granted permission for the development in the Kilcormac area with 18 conditions attached.

Among the conditions is a Development Contribution of 300,000 to be paid to Offaly County Council prior to commencement of development.

Offaly County Council's website it is the eighth solar farm given the green light in the county in the last two years with more in the planning system and other applications set to be lodged in the near future.

One of the largest solar farms granted permission by Offaly County Council is to be located at Greenhills and Wood in Rhode. Initially covering 132 hectares, permission was subsequently granted to extend the solar farm by close to another 23 hectares bringing the total size of the solar farm to almost 400 acres.

This development will nett Offaly County Council over 1.2 million in development contributions.
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A woman who admitted assaulting two gardai by spitting in their faces has been fined 300.

Emilia Danhelova, 25, of 25C Market Square, Portlaoise was arrested for being drunk and disorderly at Lower Main Street, Portlaoise on April 16 last.

Sgt JJ Kirby said at 12.55am on that date gardai approached the woman who was highly intoxicated and roaring and shouting in the street. He said she had no previous convictions.

Sgt Daly told the court that the woman was placed in a patrol car where she spat in the face of two gardai.

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was a Slovakian national who has resided in Ireland for a number of months. He said she is in receipt of social welfare and doesnt normally go out.

However, he said, it was her boyfriends birthday and the two of them had gone out.

They were removed from a premises and at that stage they came to the attention of the guards, he explained.

He said his client took umbrage at the fact that she wasnt getting back into the premises to get her coat.

When she was in the garda car she wanted to get her phone from her bag to ring her boyfriend but gardai wouldnt allow her, said Mr Meagher. She then acted out and she spat, he said. She is extremely ashamed, he added. Mr Meagher said his client had written a letter of apology to the gardai.

Sgt Daly told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that she was very apologetic when I took a statement later.

She is lucky she entered a plea at an early stage particularly with what happened in the garda car, Judge Andrew Cody said.

He fined the woman 300 on the Section 2 assault charge against Garda Ronan Fitzsimons and he took the second Section 2 assault charge and the public order charges into consideration.

Judge Cody ordered that her letter of apology be handed over to the gardai.
A recently retired woman, a restaurant owner, a pharmacist in the midlands, a shareholder in a water filtration company, and a crane hire and construction company were all tricked into putting money into a fraudster's bank account after hackers accessed their emails.

The account into which all the money was lodged - some of which was never recovered - was a Bank of Ireland account in the name of Michael Fakinle, with an address at Ballyboden in Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Now a 21-year-old student, he says that when aged 19, he allowed his account to be used by someone whose identity he has not revealed to gardai.

Judge Pauline Codd heard that the largest single amount of money, a retirement fund of 71,892.41 belonging to a recently retired woman in the southwest, was transferred into Fakinle's Bank of Ireland account.

For four days in May 2020, it remained there, apparently unnoticed by the criminals, and was retrieved before they could take it.

However, other sums of money ranging from 1,100 to 5,000 have not been recovered and the rightful owners are out of pocket, the court heard.

Fakinle pleaded guilty to five counts of handling property knowing it to be the proceeds of criminal conduct. He also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of money laundering.

Yesterday, Friday, October 14, Judge Codd noted in sentencing remarks that Fakinle was not a mastermind of the schemes but his role was to allow his account to be used, remove money and hand it over.

She said he was at a low level of offending but persons at the higher end require people willing to do these things and he had to interface with those people a number of times. She said he had acted in a highly reckless manner.

Judge Codd noted he did not want to name people involved for his own safety but said he had allowed himself to become involved with people of that nature despite having no convictions and no prior involvement with criminality.

She took into account the contents of a probation report outlining he was at low risk of reoffending, as well as his mental health and other issues. She noted he was engaging with services and attending counselling.

Judge Codd imposed concurrent sentences totalling three and a half years which she suspended for four years on strict conditions. She ordered that 1,000 Fakinle had gathered be divided among the injured parties.

At a sentencing hearing last May Detective Garda Shane Whelan told David Perry BL, prosecuting, that in May 2020, a shareholder in a water filtration company received an email from the company seeking funds to assist with cashflow.

He phoned the company and said he was willing to provide a 5,000 loan to help the company with their difficulty.

However, the email to him had been hacked and, following this, the man received another email asking him to lodge the 5,000 promised, not into the company's account but into a Bank of Ireland account, for which details were provided.

The man lodged the money to this account, which was Fakinle's account. When he was later told by the company that the money had not been received, he called gardai. The 5,000 has never been recovered and the man is out of pocket for it.

In another case, a restaurant owner in Kinsale made a legitimate insurance claim and, in March 2021, 1,339 was paid out.

However, an early email exchange between him and the insurance company had been hacked. This allowed the hackers to ask to lodge the money into Fakinle's account.

The money has also never been recovered.

Another victim, a chemist in a midlands town, was tricked into transferring 3,251 into Fakinle's account in April 2020. It too has never been recovered.

In the same month, a construction company in Donegal was tricked into paying a fraudulent invoice for 1,100. This sum has also not been recovered.

As a result of the near loss of the woman's pension fund, gardai investigated Fakinle's bank account and found the other questionable transactions. When questioned by gardai in February 2021, he made admissions.

He told gardai he had been approached by someone who asked to use his account. He said his role was to take money that had been lodged into the account and hand it over to another person. He did not identify this person because he claimed to be in fear of them, Det Garda Whelan told the court.

The alleged deal was that Fakinle would receive some of the money himself. He claimed not to have received any money and he maintained he did not initiate any frauds or send emails. He had 500 in court as compensation for his victims, the court heard.

Det Garda Whelan agreed with Ronan Prendergast BL, defending, that Fakinle had co-operated with the investigation into the fraud, which was uncovered because of the attempted theft of the woman's retirement fund.

Mr Prendergast said Fakinle accepted what he had done was wrong and pleaded guilty at an early stage. He had only made "a few hundred euros", the barrister said.

Defence counsel said Fakinle attended Dublin Technical University where he was studying digital marketing.
Companies owned by taxpayers that major historic and ongoing stakes in Laois and other midland counties should be developed to help Ireland to move away from gas and other energy sources outside Ireland.

The 'huge potential' of the ESB, Bord na Mona and Coillte was flagged with the Government by Laois Offaly Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley.

He said these semi-State firms can be a big part of address Ireland's energy security in the medium and long term.

Bord na Mona is in the process of developing a big biodigestor near Portlaoise that will supply gas to the grid. It also has wind turbine plans. One of Coillte's biggest forestry zones is located in Laois and Offaly in the Slieve Blooms.

Dep Stanley wants this type of development expanded.

"Sinn Fein has consistently called for more direct involvement in energy provision by the ESB, Bord na Mona and Coillte. We do so because the State owns them.

"Each of these are semi-State bodies that are well-established with deep roots in our communities. We should be looking to build up their capacity so as to increase supply and security. We cannot be left subject to a whim at the end of a pipeline, hoping someone else does not turn it off. We should also be able to get a clawback on the dividend from their profits.

"After all the difficulties it has gone through, this year Bord na Mona paid a dividend to the State on its profits from last year. Those companies have huge potential, and I am asking the Minister of State, as the Minister of State with responsibility for this, to take that on board.

"We should also be building up our biogas and biomass industries. We have the resources; we just need the political will" he said.

He said his party wants to see long-term solutions to the energy crisis and that means becoming more self-sufficient so that Irish people are not at the mercy of international affairs or price-gouging private energy. He also called for a windfall tax to be introduced on the excessive profits of energy suppliers.
A Francis Bacon triptych depicting his close friend has sold for 24.3 million  the highest value work sold in a Frieze season auction in the last 10 years.

The paintings, titled Three Studies for Portrait of Henrietta Moraes, come from the collection of American media executive William S Paley, who acquired the work from Malborough Gallery months after it was finished in 1963.

Moraes was a key figure in Londons post-war artistic landscape and acted as a muse for both Bacon and Lucian Freud.

On Friday, the triptych made its auction debut at Sothebys in London during a contemporary evening sale, which totalled 96.1 million  highest frieze week evening sale at Sothebys since 2015.

Until recently it was kept under the stewardship of the Museum of Modern Art (Moma) in New York, where it stayed for more than 30 years following Mr Paleys death in 1990.

There is Laois family connection to Bacon but a direct link to the paintings just sold for millions.

Morates was painted Bacon portrayed her about twenty times during her bohemian days in London. She was a well-known bohemian character in London during the swinging 1960s who mixed with artists and Soho society but she died, poverty stricken, in a council flat in Chelsea, in 1999 aged 63.

In between her wilder years and her later days and free of intoxication but hampered by poverty, she lived at Roundwood House near Mountrath as a caretaker during the 70s and 80s, where she entertained such guests as Eric Burdon of The Animals, before her return to London.

Roundwood House was then owned by the Irish Georgian Society but is now owned privately.

Portrait of Henrietta Moraes which sold for 21.3 million in 2012.

Bacon himself developed deep regard and fondness for Laois as his grandmother Winifred Supple lived here. Her house near Abbeyleix contained bow-ended rooms which it is clamed echoed in the backdrops of Bacons paintings as a result of living with her for sometime in .

Born in Dublin in 1909, his family moved between houses in Laois, Kildare and Dublin.

Bacon, known for his bold and shocking figurative style, died aged 82 in 1992.

His work focused on the human form in an often brutal manner and included a number of triptychs, religious images of crucifixions and popes, and self-portraits.

Sothebys said proceeds from the sale will support various charitable organisations, including The Paley Museum, the Greenpark Foundation, and a new endowment at the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art).

Further works will be sold at Sothebys to benefit charitable causes on Saturday.
Were no longer making a fantasy tale, were making a documentary.

Those were the words spoken by author and poet Margaret Atwood after Donald Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential election.

Atwood was referring to the visceral reaction of the cast and crew who were filming the TV adaptation of her book The Handmaids Tale. For them, it really must have felt that life was beginning to imitate art. The first episodes of the series were released not long after Trumps inauguration.

Starring Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes and Yvonne Strahovski, this series deals with the fallout from a civil war which has torn the United States apart. The levers of power have fallen into the hands of a few (all male) commanders. The new state is now called Gilead.

Gilead is a repressive theocracy. Fertility rates have collapsed due to disease and pollution, and the leaders have struck upon a horrendous solution.

Women of a child-bearing age, who are fertile, are forced into domestic servitude in the houses of powerful members of the ruling class. Whats more, they are forced to bear children for their commanders, and to add insult to injury must take on the name of the men who now control them. In this way, Mosss character, who is called June, is given a new name which is connected to her commander Fred. She now becomes Offred.

The book may have seemed just like any other work of fiction in 1985, when it was originally released. This interpretation would have depended, though, on what part of the world you lived in and whether or not you had access to a free media and uncensored literature.

The trick of all good science fiction is to hold a mirror to events around us. By creating an alternative world, set somewhere just out of view but with similarities to our own, the author poses the question: Dont you think this could happen to us too?

After having lived through four tumultuous years of the Trump presidency and the subsequent January 6 Capitol attack, Atwoods book and statement dont look so hyperbolic after all.

For many, Trumps attacks on the press, his appointments to the Supreme Court and the character of his administration all bore uncomfortable similarities to the fictional world Atwood created back in 1985.

With the rise of police surveillance states, protests on the streets of Iran, and war in Yemen and Ukraine, current events unfortunately keep conspiring to make The Handmaids Tale feel more and more relevant.

This is a very well realised series. The acting, sets, costumes and dialogue are easily on a par with the best content being released at the moment. The Handmaids Tale is currently on season five and it has avoided the pitfalls of other shows like The Walking Dead. It has managed not to get too repetitive.

Mosss acting is excellent where she interacts with other characters in the show. Sometimes taxing, though, are the long and drawn out scenes focusing on her face. Alternately twitching, ticking, frowning and grimacing, sometimes you just want these scenes to end in a hurry.

Moss has also directed several episodes of The Handmaids Tale, and is a producer on the series. It might come as a surprise to some to learn that she is a Scientologist. The irony that the main star of The Handmaids Tale is a member of this controversial religion is hard to ignore, but this is an argument for another day.

Season Five is on the RTE Player and all episodes can be streamed on Hulu.
Ken Hom has been preparing for the cost-of-living crisis all his life.

I grew up with a single parent, my mum, because my father died when I was eight months old, and we were quite poor, the 73-year-old remembers. But we managed to eat well.

Growing up in America with his Cantonese mother, Hom picked up the tricks and tips for saving money in the kitchen. Now, he adds with a good-natured laugh: Im basically very cheap.

According to Hom, there are plenty of things home cooks can do to save a bit of cash. Use the things people dont think about, he advises. For instance, I do stir-fry cucumber, and cucumbers inexpensive. You dont think about stir-frying it, you think about it in a salad.

Sunday 25 September 9.30 am @channel4 @SundayBrunchC4 Tune in, I will be showing you what to do with a humble cucumber. Do cucumbers and woks go together? You'll have to wait and see- will be revealed in the morning. Can't wait to say hello to you all. #wokcooking pic.twitter.com/7LtiTKP5Ro  Ken Hom, CBE (@ChefKenHom) September 24, 2022

Youd be astonished by how it tastes. I cooked it in Aberdeen this weekend for some charities  I cooked for people who are vegetarians, just cucumber. They couldnt believe it, they said, Is it some kind of mushroom or something like that? Its the technique of salting the cucumbers then rinsing them, then squeezing all the water out and then stir-frying it, and using Lee Kum Kee Sichuan sauce, which really adds some pep to it. Its inexpensive, delicious, nutritious and healthy  what more can you ask for, right?

Plus, the technique of stir-frying might help keep your energy bills down. One of the reasons the wok was invented was because China was resource-poor, and because of that people had to cook things really fast, Hom explains. Its perfect for these times  that means you dont have your gas or electricity on for a long time. Its not like cooking in the oven, where it takes hours  youre flash cooking, its good, its fast.

And theres another upside to all this  the great thing about cooking in the wok, you get this additional flavour of grilled smokiness. We call it in Chinese wok hei, which means the breath of the wok. It flavours the food so quickly and is economical  how wonderful.

Steamed fish Cantonese Style is a dish I grew up with. today I can do this in the microwave. A tasty, healthy delicious dish in minutes. Take firm white fish fillets, cod,sole or salmon fillets, crush some fresh ginger & squeeze this over the fish. Salt and pepper to taste.more pic.twitter.com/jDzYM4UseF  Ken Hom, CBE (@ChefKenHom) March 23, 2022

And to make your food go further, Hom is all about reducing food waste  a problem he calls scandalous. To do so, he recommends a bit of common sense: Use the nose nature gave you. Even though something is past the sell-by date, smell it. You were born with this nose  use that nose. Obviously if something is mouldy, then you have to throw it away. But for instance, if you have a tip of a cucumber that is a little bit softer, just cut it off  save the rest of it.

Hom leans closer and says: You know what I do, my secret? Leftovers go into my mysterious bolognese sauce. And sometimes, its so bloody good  I forget what I put in it.

Frugality isnt the only thing that inspires Homs cooking, which is also informed by Chinese philosophy. You have to remember, we have a background of 5,000 years, and were still around, so were doing something right, he says. I think the Chinese have learned through their philosophy about yin and yang.

This balanced approach applies to food, Hom explains: I remember my mother used to say, dont eat too much fried food, because its too hot. And shes right. What she meant is, it wouldnt fuel my body, maybe Id get sick because of too much oil. So thats the philosophy behind this kind of food, and I grew up with it.

He is credited with bringing Chinese food into the mainstream in the UK, with his groundbreaking TV series Ken Homs Chinese Cookery airing on the BBC in 1984. For Hom, his success was down to showing people in real-time how to make the dishes of his youth  plus, there was the allure of cooking with a wok.

Its sexy, Hom says, laughing. A lot of men love cooking [with a wok], they want to show off as a kind of macho thing. Its like BBQ  its fast. Unfortunately, we men have a very low attention span. We dont have the patience of women  because of that, Im a militant feminist.

The Wok from Hom recipe series: Kens Kee to authentic Chinese flavours for less has been inspired by Chinese Wisdom in partnership with Lee Kum Kee, to help create healthier, more affordable alternatives to takeaways. For more info just visit: LKK.com
At the end of a week like no other, the people of Creeslough once again summoned the strength to stand together in silent tribute.

As they have done time and again, the exhausted community lined the narrow main street of the Co Donegal village with heads bowed as coffins passed.

This time they had come to say goodbye to Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, the youngest victim of the tragedy which claimed 10 lives.

Even by the standards of grief witnessed in Creeslough over recent days, the sight of Shaunas tiny wicker casket being carried into St Michaels church seemed for many to be close to unbearable.

As has been remarked countless times, everyone knows everyone in this village. There are just 400 people who live in Creeslough in the shadow of Muckish Mountain and they have all carried the burden of grief. Most of the victims lived here. The others were known to people here.

The strain has been evident at times on the face of Father John Joe Duffy, on whom the weight of responsibility for leading most of the services has fallen. A week ago, he was known as the local priest. Now, through his comforting presence and compassion, he is known around the world as the personification of the inspiring power of community in this tiny settlement when dealing with overwhelming tragedy.

Similarly, the names of the victims have become familiar to many as the days have passed by in Creesloughs longest week: Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, James OFlaherty, Catherine ODonnell and her son James Monaghan, Martina Martin, Leona Harper, Hugh Kelly.

And now, at the end of it all, the funeral for Robert Garwe and his beloved daughter Shauna, who had started school just weeks ago.

Their two hearses arrived at the church side by side. Fr Duffy said they had lived side by side and he prayed they were side by side in heaven.

He said: Shauna could always be heard with a giggle, and when sitting down she sure did like to wiggle.

On her pink scooter she would come to the gate, with Kylo in tow, her little dog mate. So chatty and bubbly, she just loved to play and have fun with her friends each and every day.

A truly wonderful girl who left a lasting impression on all she met.

She, together with her dad, were very well known in this community, together with her dad and mum, such a familiar sight up and down the road. They were always together, that little unit.

It had all started eight days ago when a huge explosion destroyed buildings and ripped the heart out of this community.

This was followed by harrowing scenes during the search operation. Emergency services and first responders from both sides of the Irish border came together in the desperate task of sifting through tonnes of rubble to recover the bodies.

Last weekend, a stunned silence lingered over the groups of locals who gathered to watch the operation, punctuated only by occasional anguished cries of sorrow.

Then there were the vigils, the books of condolence, as the sense of grief rippled out across the county, the island and beyond. Messages of support came from around the world, including from King Charles and the Pope.

An international fundraising effort has raised hundreds of thousands of euro. Local cafes have provided refreshments in return for a donation to the appeal fund.

Irish president Michael D Higgins has been there to share the sorrow of the families. He said it had been an extraordinary week.

And then there were the funerals. At times it was difficult to remember which day it was as one service quickly followed another. The grief of separate families, like the days, bled into one.

Now, the TV cameras will finally leave and attention will turn away. The world will move on and Creeslough will be left to deal with its grief.

Last Saturday, at a service at St Michaels church, the Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian lit 10 red candles in memory of the victims of the Creeslough tragedy.

The candles have burned continually on the altar since then as the funerals have taken place. Now, they will be extinguished.

But, as Fr Duffy has said repeatedly during the saddest week for Creeslough, the people have shown they are strongest when they rely on each other.

That sense of community cannot be so easily extinguished.
Ninety-two migrants were found almost naked and bruised after allegedly being forced across the Evros river from Turkey into Greece, Athens said Sunday, October 16.

EU border agency Frontex confirmed to Agence France-Presse the arrival of the group in circumstances that the Greek ministry for civil protection said sent out an "inhuman image". "The Frontex officers reported that the migrants were found almost naked and some of them with visible injuries," said Paulina Bakula, spokeswoman for the organization.

Ms. Bakula, speaking from Frontex's Warsaw HQ, said Frontex officers worked with Greek authorities to provide the migrants  mainly Afghans and Syrians  with immediate assistance. She added the organization had informed the agency's fundamental rights officer of a potential rights violation.

Greek minister for civil protection, Takis Theodorikakos, accused Turkey of "instrumentalizing illegal immigration" in the latest of a series of recriminations on migration between the neighbors. Mr. Theodorikakos told Skai television many of the migrants had told Frontex that "three Turkish army vehicles had transferred them" to the river which acts as a natural border.

Read more Subscribers only Green MEPs visit Greek-Turkish border to investigate migrant pushbacks

Ankara denied any responsibility and Interior Minister Ismail Catakli called on Greece to stop what in a tweet he termed its "manipulations and dishonesty."

Notis Mitarachi, the Greek minister for migration and asylum, had Saturday described the incident as a "shame on civilization."

Athens regularly faces  and denies  accusations from NGOs and media as having on many occasions sought illegally to push migrants back to Turkey, sometimes using force.

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Read more Subscribers only EU investigators find Frontex turned blind eye to Greece migrant pushbacks

Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used a UN address to accuse Greece of transforming the Aegean Sea into a "cemetery" with "oppressive policies" on immigration.

Le Monde with AFP
Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega in Managua on September 28, 2022. JAIRO CAJINA / AFP

Daniel Ortega defies the world. The former Sandinista guerrilla has committed yet another act of authoritarian overreach and isolationist thinking by taking direct measures against Western diplomats. In recent days, the Nicaraguan authorities have expelled the ambassador of the European Union, broken off diplomatic relations with the Netherlands, and refused entry to the US ambassador.

Three days after being declared "persona non grata," the European Union (EU) ambassador to Managua, Bettina Muscheidt, left the country by plane on Saturday, October 1, flying first to Mexico and then to Paris, according to a European diplomatic source. She had been summoned on Wednesday, September 28 by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Denis Moncada. Nothing had officially transpired from their exchanges, but the local press reported that the reason given by Mr. Moncada for the decision was "interference and a lack of respect for national sovereignty" by the European Union.

"She was notified orally that she had to leave the country the same day, in complete violation of the Vienna Convention," said the diplomatic source consulted by Le Monde. "In the end, she was allowed to delay her departure until Saturday, but she was forced to stay at home until then, and was thereby under de-facto house arrest." As of Saturday evening, the EU's foreign service had not yet reacted to the expulsion of its ambassador.

Breakdown of diplomatic relations with the Netherlands

On Monday, September 26, before the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the EU delegation urged the regime to "return Nicaragua's sovereignty to the Nicaraguan people," to "restore democracy" and to "immediately and unconditionally release" its political prisoners. A speech that has probably caused Managua's anger. Some 200 opponents of the regime are currently in prison or under house arrest. In recent days, 23 of them began a hunger strike.

Read more Subscribers only Nicaragua's escalating political oppression turns to opponent's families

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On Friday, the Netherlands came under fire from a beleaguered president, whose dozens of senior officials and relatives, including his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, have been targeted by European and US sanctions in retaliation for the government's ongoing human rights violations.

Managua, therefore, decided to break off diplomatic relations with the government in The Hague, which it described as "interventionist," "neo-colonial" and "pro-imperial" after Dutch Ambassador Christine Pirenne announced that the Netherlands would withdraw funding for the construction of a hospital that had been part of the countries' efforts toward cooperation. Mr. Ortega accused Ms. Pirenne, who on Friday returned to her base in Costa Rica, of having delivered "a speech that trampled on the dignity" of the Nicaraguan people.

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A LIMERICK father-of-three has expressed concern at the fact a key mental health service for youngsters is not available at weekends and evenings.

The man, who requested not to be identified in order to protect his eldest daughter, 15, who is using the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Cahms), has said if she is struggling, she cannot turn to it out of hours.

Instead, youngsters are directed to either their own doctor, otherwise Shannondoc or the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

A spokesperson for the HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare confirmed this is the case with Limericks three community mental health teams operating from 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Cahms provides support to children up to the age of 17, and the man, who lives in Moyross, feels there is inadequate care if you are below 18 out of hours.

Two weeks ago, he felt his daughter who suffers from depression and anxiety needed help just after 5pm on a Friday.

He said he initially attempted to call Camhs, but it went straight to an answering machine.

He then called UHL, and a crisis nurse called back two hours later.

Unfortunately, I was told because of her age, there was no over-weekend support. What they could do is bring her into the hospital and keep her there on the Friday to the Monday morning, the man claimed.

He said he decided against this feeling the emergency department  or anywhere else in the hospital  would not be a suitable environment for a teenager who was in distress like his daughter was.

Instead, he, his wife and his grandparents provided round-the-clock support to the teen so as to ensure she was not left alone with her thoughts.

The father, who is a popular figure in the northside community, acknowledges he is fortunate to be able to provide this car to his daughter.

He knows many other children might not be in the same position.

We have reached out a few times over the weekend, and not received any help, he claims.

In response, a spokesperson said children needing the Camhs service must be referred through their doctor.

The spokesperson confirmed Camhss operating time.

And they added if any parent or guardian has a concern about their child outside of office hours, they are advised to contact Shannondoc at 0818 123500 or 061-459500, or their own doctor.

In an emergency situation you are advised to attend the emergency department, the spokesperson added.

_______________________

If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this article please contact:

Samaritans helpline 116 123

Aware helpline 1800 80 48 48

Pieta House on 1800 247 247

Alternatively, you can visit www.jigsaw.ie for tailored youth mental health support, or telephone 061-974510.
FORMER mayor Jim Long has criticised councillors for seeking money for a community fund from a private firm which has just secured permission to expand its operations in west Limerick.

One of the county's biggest employers Rusal Alumina secured planning permission from An Bord Pleanala last month to expand its operation in Aughinish, where it employs almost 500 people.

But members of the Adare-Rathkeale muncipal district, where the huge alumina production factory is located, were aggrieved after the national planning appeals body overlooked a local recommendation that the firm make a contribution to a local community fund.

On foot of a recommendation from Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey at a meeting, members wrote to bosses at Rusal asking them to contribute to a community fund, something he said they have agreed to.

Veteran councillor Kevin Sheahan, Fianna Fail, asked that the contribution be distributed to the applicants of community projects in the surrounding area. The amendment was seconded by Cllr Teskey.

This would be on an informal basis rather than formal, after members were told they can only challenge Pleanala decisions on points of law.

Now, Mr Long, who served a decade on the old City Council, and was first citizen in 2011/12, is concerned at the suggestion that private companies be asked to make a financial contribution like this.

"As bad as [An Bord Pleanala] are, they see it as being an inappropriate procedure. You cannot build in a condition once you give planning approval, you make a contribution, said Mr Long.

He believes it sets a dangerous precedent, adding: You just cannot do that. Im sure every community would take a donation and a contribution from any business, but you can't make it a condition of a planning approval. Especially where the application is controversial as this one was.

While Cllr Sheahan was unavailable for comment, Cllr Teskey criticised the intervention from the ex-Fine Gael man.

As a former representative, he should be mindful of the onus that is on public representatives to assist in community grouping in any shape or form. Aughinish Alumina is a major rate payer to the local authority. With the extension that is happening down there which the EPA approved, there was a mention [in a council meeting] that the company should oblige the local community by supporting local initiatives and local community projects.

Where there is a possible stream of funding which has been highlighted, we wouldn't be doing our public duty as councillors to not explore that as an option.
IF YOURE out in a pub in Limerick and you hear a cornucopia of Latin American music, chances are it is the workings of three pals from Chile.

While Chile may straddle only a tiny strip of South America, its contribution to the continents musical scene is impressive.

And friends Domingo Galaz, Rommel Mancilla and Florencio Andre, who met in Limerick, have formed a Latin fusion band bringing the best sounds from their native country, while also dipping into the culture of neighbouring lands.

The Chilean Way, as they are called, have already played 40 concerts in pubs and venues across Limerick, in spite of the fact they only formed in May after meeting as students studying at NED college English language school in the city centre.

It was Domingo and Rommel who were the fulcrum of the group, and Florencio later joined.

The founders plan was to form an instrumental Latin music project.

Taking up the story, Domingo said: We want to show Latin music from all of Latin America. We try different things from different places  music from Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Peru. We are trying to make a mix.

Despite taking on sounds from across the continent, the trio are dyed-in-the-wool Chileans.

Domingo was born in the capital city of Santiago, Florencio hails from Concepcion in the south, while Rommel is a native of the island of Chiloe in the town of Ancud.

A multi-talented collective, they bring music from their native continent, most notably the Peruvian cajon  a box like percussion instrument  played by Domingo, who also is a master of the drum-sticks.

Rommel is the groups vocalist, and also plays the guitar and the charango, a guitar-like instrument popular in certain regions of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina.

As for Florencio, he provides the groups second voice, while a 12-string guitar and a melodica  think of a harmonica  are his specialities.

As mentioned earlier, the band has played 40 gigs across Limerick, with some of the citys most well-known bars playing host to the collective.

They have performed at Charlie Malones bar in Wolfe Tone Street in the city, The Commercial and Ma Hogans Bar both in Catherine Street in the city and Russells Bar at Father Russell Road.

Outdoor sets have been played in the Milk Market, as well as performing as part of the Culture Night festival which took place last month.

As if that isnt enough, they are also working on their debut album, which they say will contain songs with the sensations and experiences that they have lived throughout this process since our arrival in Ireland.

This will be a great help to continue growing as a band and establish ourselves in concerts and festivals for next year, Florencio explained.

He said the trios musical content had surprised many, adding his own influences are very eclectic, citing gypsy jazz, prog rock and salsa.

Its balanced, he smiled.

Its been good to educate people in the culture of Chile, Domingo added.

So many people ask 'where is Chile? People do not recognise the country as its a small country. When they think Latin America, they think Mexico and Argentina. We created this outfit to promote Chile, but also show the musical culture of South America, he explained.

You can catch the band playing in Charlie Malones every Thursday night at 9pm, while the ninth hour is also the start time for their Sunday night set in Russell Bar, plus their Friday night gig at Ma Hogans.

They play the Milk Market on Saturdays too, and hope to return to the Commercial Bar next month.
The street cheered Infosys Ltds margin performance for the quarter ending September (Q2FY23) with shares closing almost 4% higher on the NSE on Friday. Infosys Ebit (earnings before interest and taxes) margins rebounded to 21.5%, up 140 basis points (bps) sequentially, ahead of consensus estimates. One basis point is 0.01%.

The sharp recovery in margin allays concerns that the companys growth is coming at the expense of profitability, said analysts at IIFL Securities Ltd. Peer Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) saw 90bps sequential rise in Ebit margin to 24%.

View Full Image Stiff competition

Further, the total contract value of Infosys large deal wins stood at $2.7 billion, a seven-quarter high. The deal wins of TCS were satisfactory, but not particularly exciting.

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Infosys results were a mixed bag, but it helps that the positives outweighed the negatives. Both Infosys and TCS were neck-and-neck on revenue performance in Q2, clocking 4% sequential constant currency growth. While Infosys missed consensus estimates on this metric, TCS exceeded it. To be sure, as the chart here shows, over the past nine quarters, Infosys has beaten TCS in five quarters.

Ambit Capitals relative preference for Infosys over TCS stays on likely better growth of revenue/earnings per share compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over FY22-25E at 8.9/11.2% (versus 6.9/8.1%). However, the broking firm maintains valuations of the Infosys stock are still not cheap.

Nevertheless, with relative earnings prospects improving, Infosys valuations may well get a boost. The FY24 price-to-earnings multiple for Infosys is 21.87x, lower than 23.82x of TCS, showed Bloomberg data. We believe Infosys will deliver industry-leading growth among large caps, which warrants convergence of its valuation gap with TCS," said the IIFL report. In the near-term, the buyback could support investor sentiments for the stock.

That said, investors need to be mindful that Infosys management commentary was largely cautious. Hi-tech and telecom were another two segments, after retail and mortgages, where caution on tech spending is emerging, indicated the management in a call with analysts.

As such, Infosys growth guidance for FY23 implies a muted revenue performance in the second half. So, while Infosys investors sentiment may revive in the short-term, the overhang of a potential global recession remains. This risk is not unique to Infosys, but for the sector as a whole.

Elsewhere in Mint

In Opinion, Manu Joseph reveals life hacks one can learn from Ambedkar. Sandipan Deb says the West has overplayed its hand in cornering Russia. Anjani Trivedi argues the American EV strategy is caught up in a geopolitical haze. Long Story surprises by comparing PPF returns with those from the stock market.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that World Bank President David Malpass has offered to work with India to take its successful digitalization efforts to other countries so that they can also avail benefit from it, according to the news agency PTI.

The minister, while speaking to Indian reporters during a press conference towards the end of her visit to Washington city, said that there was a request extended to India to showcase how Indian people have accepted the deepening digital applications.

Today, in my meeting with the World Bank President David Malpass, he said that you should now showcase the deepening of digital applications in India and how common people have accepted it," Sitharaman said after she met Malpass at the World Bank headquarters here.

"He (World Bank President) said that he will be happy to work together with India to be able to take it to the other parts of the world. There is not just the World Bank, but every bilateral that I've had people have spoken very highly of India's achievement on the digital side," she added.

The finance minister further referred to her meetings on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank. She said that there's certainly a lot of appreciation for India's digitalization success.

So, India stacks are both the point of admiration and the manner in which it has been rapidly developed, But even better, that we were able to spread it and reach a level of saturation and many of them. And that it is kept as a common public good, is also recognized," Sitharaman stated.

Earlier, the finance minister also mentioned that the World Bank has been a valuable partner of the G20 since its inception and India looks forward to closing collaboration with the World Bank during the upcoming G20 Presidency.

She mentioned that during its Presidency, India would like the G20 to explore the potential for Multilateral Development Banks to enhance Climate Financing through leveraging and intermediating resources.





(With PTI inputs)




























Russias struggling invasion of Ukraine has faced problems from poor coordination to unmotivated soldiers, but overshadowing and aggravating all was a critical blunder in the wars early days, say Western military officials: failure to win control of Ukraines skies.
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Pramila Patten is the United Nations special representative on sexual violence in conflict and who has informed the world about the more than 100 Ukrainian women who are testifying to their government about their encounters with the Russians claiming that they have been raped by Russians.

Rape as a military strategy

Patten claims that Russia is using rape as a military strategy while they are trying to expand into Ukraine, and proof of this is the administering of medication for sexual performance.

"When you hear women testify about Russian soldiers equipped with Viagra, it's clearly a military strategy,".

Patten also claims that the UN has verified "more than a hundred cases" of rape or different types of sexual assault ever since the war began back in February.

Girls, boys, men, and women have been raped according to officials

The UN official claims that the main victims have been girls and women, however, there have been reports that both boys and men have been raped as well.

War crimes have been committed officials claim

Last month, the top seat of the organization's Independent International Commission of Inquiry into Ukraine wrote that Russian soldiers have committed rampant war crimes against non-combatant civilians, these crimes contemplate unlawful confinement, torture and rape.

Patten has elaborated saying that in some cases family members of the victims who have been raped were forced to watch how the Russian soldiers performed the acts.

"Reported cases are only the tip of the iceberg," Patten told the media, "The numbers will never reflect reality because sexual violence is a silent crime."

As expected, the Russian government has denied all war crime allegations.
An Armed Forces of Canada Boeing C-17A Globemaster III aircraft arrived in Haiti Saturday, delivering the first four of more than a dozen new armored vehicles for the Haiti National Police.

The vehicles are among 18 Haitis government purchased commercially from a Canadian-based firm over the summer but for inexplicable reasons were delayed getting to the Caribbean nation. The government of Canada, which had guided Haiti through its purchase, later stepped in to ensure delivery of the vehicles.

Saturdays flight is part of a stepped-up effort by both Canada and the United States, which also flew in three additional armored vehicles later Saturday, to provide the ill-equipped Haiti National Police with badly needed security assistance to confront powerful gangs.

In a statement, U.S. Southern Command said in response to a request for international assistance from the Haitian government, a U.S. Air Force C-17, based at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, also transported armored vehicles and other vital security equipment purchased by the Haitian National Police from Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario, Canada, to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The delivered equipment will help the HNP ensure access to vital resources and infrastructure urgently needed in Haiti to respond to a public-health crisis following a recent rise of cholera cases in the country, Southcom said.

In a joint statement, the Canadian government said that along with the United States, they remain committed to supporting the police in its work to protect and serve the Haitian population.

After more than four weeks, gangs continue to block the distribution of fuel from the countrys main terminal, Varreux, in Port-au-Prince while also engaging in attacks on other ports, police stations and kidnappings.

The alliance of gangs, known as the G-9 Family and Allies, has used trailers to block access to the terminal and seaports, as well as dug trenches along the road.

Just as the Canadian armed forces flight was offloading the tan-colored armored vehicles on the runway at Port-au-Princes Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Saturday, the operators of the Varreux terminal issued an appeal for help. The facilities had suffered a new attack by armed men on Friday night, one of the tweets said. Individuals entered the compound via the northern evacuation portal neighboring Cite Soleil, overpowered the surveillance and emergency [protocols], then left with 4 tank trucks and filled drums with more than 28,000 gallons of petroleum products.

It was the second armed attack in less than a week by gangs, which have been selling diesel, gas and propane for between $13 and $23 a gallon on the black market. Outside of Port-au-Prince, gasoline is more than $30 a gallon.

WINECO is sounding the alarm on these situations of systematic theft and irregular handling, which endanger personnel, facilities and the surrounding population, the company said.

Since mid-September, Haiti has been in the throes of a gang blockade of its seaports and roads, preventing the flow of fuel and drinking water in the country. Hospitals have been forced to close or cut services; the school year is currently delayed and hunger is deepening as Haitians have no access to markets, and grocery store shelves go bare.

On top of it all, the country is now wrestling with an outbreak of cholera, a deadly waterborne disease that creates life-threatening vomiting and diarrhea.

Civil unrest, lack of access to affected populations and fuel and logistics constrains are hindering the emergency response operations, the Pan American Health Organization said Friday after reporting that the government has reported 35 deaths and 560 suspected cases in metropolitan Port-au-Prince.

Despite attempts to take back control of key infrastructure from the gangs, the countrys ill-equipped police force has not been able to. Earlier this month, Haitis government pleaded with the U.S. and others in the international community for a specialized armed force to help police regain control of the Haitian territory so that a humanitarian corridor can be created to get help to those who need it.

The U.N. secretary general in a letter to the Security Council on Sunday endorsed the deployment of a rapid action force to help police and offered other proposals on how the international community can help strengthen the Haiti National Police after the strike force leaves.

The idea of a multinational strike force is also being endorsed by the United States, according to a copy of a United Nations Security Council resolution the Biden administration has drafted. The draft, obtained by the Miami Herald and McClatchy, which first reported on the language, encourages the immediate deployment of a multinational rapid action force to Haiti to address the nations worst security and health crisis in decades.
MIAMI  More than 40 migrants from Cuba arrived in the Florida Keys and Key Biscayne aboard three separate boats Friday, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Two of the vessels in the Keys were about 20 feet long and displayed what a veteran Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer called ingenuity and desperation.

One of them, which was still floating about a mile offshore of the Upper Keys community of Tavernier Friday afternoon, had a hull made from welded together 50-gallon fuel drums and highway guard rails. It was powered by a Russian-built diesel engine.

A plastic soda bottle was attached to the engine, used as an improvised container for oil. Strewn about the inside were cans and other food containers, as well as backpacks and at least one wallet.

Im surprised they didnt take that with them, said Jason Rafter, a Fish and Wildlife officer, as he surveyed the vessel.

One of Rafters main roles with the FWC is to catalog derelict vessels  including migrant boats  mitigate the environmental concerns by removing fuel that can leak into the ocean and send the information on the boats whereabouts so Monroe County can arrange to have them removed.

Rafters job got much busier this year. Not only are the Keys the destination for most boats involved in the largest maritime migrant increase from Cuba in nearly a decade, Hurricane Ian left more than 100 displaced boats of all kinds throughout the the island chain after it whirled past late last month.

On Friday, Rafter pointed out how resource-intensive each migrant landing is in South Florida, noting that FWC, the Coast Guard, Border Patrol and local fire rescue medics all play a part initially when a boat arrives. Then, once the vessel is cataloged, Monroe Countys Marine Resources department gets involved to arrange for its eventual removal.

Getting to all the vessels with migrants aboard that have landed over the past two years is a huge task, however. Theyre arriving faster than they can be removed., and its becoming increasingly common to find them abandoned in the shallow waters or wedged in the mangroves.

Theyre really cool boats, and its a shame to see them come over here and then they just sink, said local fishing guide Mark Cockerham, who has taken to towing the vessels on his flats boat and preserving them. Theres been so many lately, everybody is just basically ignoring them, and then there they are.

Between the end of September 2021 and the beginning of October, the Coast Guard has stopped 6,182 people at sea trying to migrate to South Florida  the highest number in seven years.

Already this month, Coast Guard crews have stopped 388 people along the Florida Straits, said Petty Office Nicole Groll, an agency spokeswoman.

Were definitely back up to pre-storm levels, Groll said, noting there was a dip in activity as Ian steamed past the Keys and up the West Coast of Florida. Tragically, a group of Cubans did make the dangerous journey in the midst of the powerful hurricane, killing seven people.

A Coast Guard cutter returned 68 people to Cuba Friday who were stopped in four incidents between Monday and Tuesday, Groll said.

The exodus is being driven by deteriorating political and economic conditions on the island nation.

The boat off Tavernier Friday carried 12 men and two women, said Adam Hoffner, division chief for U.S. Customs and Border Protections Miami operations. They jumped off the boat before it reached shore, and swam as much as a mile to shore, arriving in a residential neighborhood around 7 a.m.

Three people were taken to local Keys hospitals for basic medical treatment, Hoffner said.

The crew of a small Coast Guard boat towed the vessel away from the channel off Tavernier Creek Friday afternoon.

The other group to arrive in the Keys Friday came in a wooden boat that appeared sturdier that most vessels that come ashore the archipelago. They made landfall on the ocean side of the Indian Key Fills area in the Village of Islamorada.

Hoffner said 19 people  17 men and two women  were in the boat.

In the Key Biscayne group were nine adults and one accompanied child, Hoffner said. They told agents they left the Caibarien municipality Oct. 6.

That means they were at sea for over eight days, Hoffner said.
The Ejura Traditional Council on Friday October 14, 2022, installed an alumnus of the University of Cape Coast as the first-ever chief to represent the Ejura Diaspora Community.

The new chief, Nana Osei Kofi ll, known in private life Hanson Egyirifo, would be responsible for bringing together all indigenes of Ejura who have traveled outside Ghana.

The chief of Ejura Traditional Area Barima Osei Hwedie II admonished the new Chief to live an exemplary life worthy of emulation, saying: Your conduct henceforth will be regulated.

"You are expected to hold yourself out in dignity and not bring your name and the revered chieftaincy institution into disrepute.

Barimah Osei Hwedie II urged the new Chief to be guided by wisdom, and honesty, and exhibit quality leadership in order to succeed as a leader.

Speaking to this reporter after performing all the necessary traditional rights at the Ejura Palace, the new Chief called for unity among the community for development.

Nana Osei Kofi II promised to bring together all Ejura residents across the globe to bring development to the area.

He commended the traditional council and residents of Ejura for the peaceful exercise and promised to ensure peace and unity rapid socio-economic growth.

Mr Hanson Egyiri is a former student of the University of Cape Coast and has served as a tutor at Saint Monica's SHS, Kumasi Anglican SHS and Sefwi Bekwai SHS before moving to London.
The Africa Centre for Global Citizenship and Education Research (ACGCER) has held a day-long street advocacy campaign on democracy.

The Advocacy is part of the Street Dialogue Project, under the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), which is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre.

In 1957, Ghana gained independence, a move that was seen as a major booster for the independence of states bordering it.

The democracy wasn't stable as there were approximately five (5) coups d'etat between 1957 and 1992 when the country returned to democracy.

From 1992 to date, the country has enjoyed a relatively peaceful transfer of power from a government to the other.

However, a lack of development and a slowing economy are retrogressing the nation's democracy.

Young people, especially, have lost confidence in the government and its institutions.

The streets advocacy on democracy seeks to afford ordinary citizens the opportunity to share their views and opinions on democracy and global issues.

The street advocacy was held at Krofrom, a community within Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region. Young people pass by the booth to share their opinions on democratic happenings in the country.

A female participant mentioned that, she doesn't believe in the Ghanaian democratic system because the rule of law doesn't apply equally to all people.

Another participant explained that his confidence in the democratic system of the country has shrunk due to the past government's ability to manage corruption.

A situation, Mr. Sani Sali, a program coordinator at the center who led the street dialogue, said, is contributing to the country's setback. "Corruption remains a major concern. Illegal mining and oppression of the media, among others, continue to affect the country's democracy," he said.

"To better understand what ordinary citizens think of the current stage, we held a street dialogue where we asked the question, "What does democracy mean to you?" he added.

More than 100 young people passed by the stand to share their experiences and opinions on what they think of democracy in Ghana.
French liquor giant Pernod Ricard has asked an Indian court to strike down a government order to pay 251 million for allegedly undervaluing some of its imports for a decade in a bid to avoid India's stiff duties on imported spirits.

The demand is nearly double Pernod's net profit in India, which last year stood at 134.4 million.

Indian customs authorities said the French spirits giant paid lower duty by undervaluing liquor concentrates it imported between 2009 and 2021 from a Pernod subsidiary, UK-based Chivas Brothers.

Import duties on liquor concentrates are pegged at a whopping 150 percent in India, putting foreign alcohol out of many consumers' price range.

There are ample reasons to doubt the truth or accuracy of the value declared in relation to the imported goods, customs officials said in a notice served on Pernod, which owns popular brands such as Absolut Vodka, Glenlivet Scotch whisky, Chivas Regal and Ballantine's.

It appears that the import price has been decided in such a manner as to maximise profits accruable to holding companies, said the notice, adding that Pernod should also pay interest on the money it owed.

Pernod's denial

The customs authorities also cited other violations by Pernod India, which accounts for more than 17 percent of India's alcohol market.

Pernod India denied any wrongdoing as it filed an appeal in court, which came up for its first hearing earlier this week, with no immediate ruling.

It had "always endeavoured to act with full transparency and in compliance with customs and regulatory requirements", said Pernod, which had initially sought a settlement.

The latest dispute involving Pernod is the second since 2018 when another Indian agency, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, accused Pernod of evading 76.5 million in taxes in a separate case.

Tax labyrinth

Pernod's revenue from operations in India stood at 2.48 billion in 2021, but it argued that a maze of federal and state taxes and custom duties ate up 79 percent of the amount.

Pernod and others also see India's high duties as a stumbling block for consumers seeking quality imported spirits.

Market experts say India will have 386 million drinkers by 2030 as alcohol loses its social taboo.

India is the largest market in terms of volume with a fantastic growth potential, said Chivas Brothers chairman Jean-Etienne Gourgues earlier this year.

The local liquor market was worth nearly 50 billion in 2020, but the steep prices of foreign brands  pushed up by taxes that can vary from state to state  have kept down their sales.

High taxes have riled many overseas investors who set up base in India in the hope of tapping a potentially lucrative market.

Free trade bonanza?

Industry experts and diplomats say a widely anticipated free trade agreement between the UK and India, expected by the end of October, could see Delhi reduce duty and taxes on premium foreign labels over three years.

India would slash import duty by 50 percent in the first year after signing the pact and gradually bring it down to 30 percent, an official said on condition of anonymity.

This move is also expected to open a big market for Indian liquor makers to export their products to the UK, according to Zee Business TV.

But some reports suggested that disagreements over British visas for Indian workers could delay the trade deal.

Local automobile makers have also sought a 30 percent cut in taxes on imported foreign cars in India, where the tariff ranges up to 100 percent.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will on Sunday, October 16, commence a five-day working visit to the Ashanti Region to inspect development projects in the area.

These projects cover a wide spectrum of government's initiatives meant to improve the living conditions of the people.

The President's itinerary, copied to the Ghana News Agency by the Regional Coordinating Council on Saturday, said the projects included the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternal and Children's Block, Kejetia/Central Market Phase Two, Obuasi Trauma and Accident Hospital, and Boankra Inland Port Project.

The rest are the Anwiankwanta-Obuasi and Santasi-Apire Road Projects, Oforikrom, Nsuta and Trede Agenda 111 Projects, as well as a sod-cutting ceremony for work to begin on the Suame Interchange.

While in the Region, President Akufo-Addo will also inaugurate some completed projects such as the Toase Magistrate's Court, residential accommodation for the Appeals Court judges, the ECG KATH 33/11 kv Primary sub-Station, and Nsuta Maize Processing Factory under the 'One District, One Factory' programme.

He will interact with traditional authorities, including the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as well as the leadership and activists of the New Patriotic Party.

GNA
Strasbourg's ecologist mayor has released a list of products and items banned from the city's Christmas market. But her quest for "authenticity" has provoked a sharp reaction.

The controversy dates back to early October when the 300 or so stallholders received an email from the Eurometropole of Strasbourg entitled "Authorised Products, Strasbourg Christmas Capital 2022".

The list of more than 350 foodstuffs and articles has since been updated by the Strasbourg Christmas market's "consultative selection committee".

The banned items include champagne, raclette, hot dogs and popcorn, among others.

Locally produced sparkling wine will replace champagne while local cheese Munster will replace raclette.

Crucifixes bearing a representation of Jesus Christ are accepted "subject to reservations".

'Eco-responsability, origin of products'

"The promotion of know-how and authenticity is essential," says Guillaume Libsig, deputy mayor in charge of non-profit organisations and a member of the product selection committee.

He believes the list gives the event "credibility".

The "Christmas Capital" must keep up with the times, responding to society's interest in "eco-responsibility, the origin of products, well-being or identity", Libsig says.

He refuses to see the city as "an open-air supermarket [...] with objects sold elsewhere the rest of the year."

But opposition city councillor Alain Fontanel (LREM) argues that by wanting to control Christmas the town council has revealed "its prejudices and ideology".

Socialist Anne-Pernelle Richardot called the list "stupid wokism".

Pierre Jakubowicz from the conservative right said he was surprised the list had "arrived so late"  a month and a half before the opening whereas most traders order their stock at the beginning of the year.

Champagne and Christian crosses

Libsig said he wanted to spark debate.

For products, such as Christian crosses, authorised "with reservations", organisers will talk to stallholders to find out the products' origins.

The point is to ensure quality products, made in Europe, not imported from Asia, Libsig pointed out.

In an open letter addressed to Strasbourg mayor Jeanne Barseghian, Republicans city councillor Jean-Philippe Vetter denounced a desire to "potentially ban the symbol of the Christian faith from the Christmas market".

"I love cremant d'Alsace and champagne, wines of joy and celebration," tweeted Jean Rottner, president of the Grand Est region, describing the Strasbourg list as "clownish".

"The list was drawn up democratically, every vote counts," said Eric Bodein, a fairground vendor selling food, and one of the 15-member selection committee.

"The aim is to have better quality items and some sorting out had to be done," he said.

On Tuesday, Strasbourg town hall stressed that the list of banned products was a "working document" and would be refined at the beginning of 2023.

The Strasbourg market  the biggest and most famous Christmas market in France  opens this year on 25 November.
A vendor in South Africa's Alexandra with the backdrop of the Sandton Towers, one of Africa's most prestigious shopping centres. - Source: Photo credit Mujahid Safodien/AFP via Getty Images

16.10.2022 LISTEN

Over the last three decades, there has been a proliferation of social protection programmes across the global south in what some have dubbed a development revolution . International development agencies across the ideological spectrum have embraced social protection as an effective and efficient instrument to reduce poverty and inequality.

The advent of digital technologies has further strengthened support for social protection, including among development agencies sceptical of local state administration. Payments can be delivered electronically directly into the pockets of the poor. This seemingly circumvents networks of patronage and corruption.

This apparent counter-movement in development thinking reflects a growing consensus that economic growth does not invariably lead to a reduction in poverty and inequality. Social protection can play an important role in ensuring inclusive growth by providing income support along the life cycle.

However, measures tied to employment such as social insurance have limited reach given widespread unemployment and growing informality. Women, in particular, have been excluded due to gender discrimination. Therefore, publicly funded cash transfers are a key pillar of any strategy towards universal social protection. And studies show that they are affordable at all stages of economic development.

But cash transfers are not a magic bullet response to poverty and inequality.

Economist Thandika Mkandawire warned about the diminution of social policy to cash transfers. He said it would ultimately leave unchecked the structures of accumulation which dispossessed, exploited and excluded the working classes in the first place. It also threatened to reproduce highly stratified, segmented and segregated forms of social provisioning.

Take the example of South Africa. It has one of the most expansive cash transfer systems, buttressed by a progressive tax structure. It provides nearly half of the population with publicly funded cash transfers. Yet it remains the most unequal country in the world, both in terms of income and wealth, and along the lines of race, gender and geography.

So, what role can social protection play in reducing inequality?

In my view, social protection is fundamentally contradictory. On one hand, it reflects the relative surplus value which the working classes have been able to claw back from capital via the state.

On the other hand, it has historically served to preserve rather than disrupt exploitative processes of accumulation under capitalism . Ultimately, the impact of social protection on inequality depends on its terms, which in turn are shaped by the relative balance of power between social forces.

No guarantees

The objectives of social protection have varied across time and place . Its terms have been influenced by dominant conceptions of citizenship, underlying assumptions about the roots of poverty and inequality and ideological positions vis-a-vis the state.

To be sure, social protection has the potential to decommodify labour. It can enable people to pursue meaningful activities outside the labour market. It can reduce social stratification through the provision of universal, high quality benefits, complemented by other meaningful forms of public provisioning. However, as history shows, this is not guaranteed.

Across colonial Africa the majority were excluded from emerging forms of social protection by racist labour-citizenship regimes. In Mozambique, for instance, social insurance was only available to skilled and semi-skilled workers. Four fifths of these were white.

Meanwhile, unskilled workers, all of whom were black, were excluded. The official justification was that they did not have contributory capacity. Colonial officials further claimed that black workers could rely on the mythical rural family.

At independence, many postcolonial African states introduced expansive social policy measures. But the structural adjustment programmes of the 1980s and 1990s resulted in the roll back of public provisioning.

Paradoxically, it was during this period that development agencies began to embrace cash transfers as a response to the fallout from structural adjustment. This led some scholars to argue that cash transfers were little more than a smokescreen to eliminate more radical forms of redistribution.

Since then, there has been a consolidation and expansion of social protection systems across Africa. But only 17.4% of Africans are effectively covered by at least one social protection programme. Most cash transfers are short term, highly targeted, and insufficient to meet households' reproductive needs.

It is in this context one could argue that cash transfers have a limited impact on poverty and inequality.

From short term transfers to long term entitlements

The COVID-19 pandemic propelled governments across the globe to introduce unprecedented social protection measures . These included one-off universal payments, short term cash transfers for informal workers, and the extension of employer responsibility. However, the pandemic also exposed the fragility of social protection systems.

In Mozambique, for instance, the government approved a cash transfer of 1,500 meticais (about US$23.50) over a period of six months. This was provided to vulnerable households in urban and peri-urban areas. It also covered the province of Cabo Delgado under insurgency. But the transfer was entirely funded by development agencies.

The reliance on foreign funds subjected the state to the whims of World Bank conditionalities . These included the outsourcing of cash transfer payments to private service providers. Ultimately, the conditionalities proved impossible to implement. This undermined the pandemic response.

Globally, most COVID-19 measures have been short term. But civil society organisations in some countries have been mobilising for them to be institutionalised and expanded through a universal basic income guarantee.

Proponents of the grant argue that it would fill the cracks of the social protection system. These largely exclude able-bodied adults of working age.

It would also enable people to pursue more meaningful activities outside the labour market, such as unpaid care work. Finally, it has the potential to boost economic activity and increase investment, all while promoting social cohesion.

However, critics point out that a universal basic income guarantee is only meaningful if set at a high enough level for recipients to be able to withdraw from the labour market. In addition, its impact can be easily eroded by other aspects of life such as the commodification of public services.

And finally, it can be unsustainable, if it ends up absolving employers of the responsibility to provide labour and social protection. In other words, it is important not to let capital off the hook.

Towards a transformative social policy

Social protection alone cannot fundamentally change the organisation of production and the structure of accumulation, which lie at the heart of deepening inequality.

Nonetheless, social protection can play a transformative developmental role. What form social protection takes is a matter of political contestation between social forces.

For the International Labour Organisation, a high road approach would involve universal, comprehensive, adequate and sustainable social protection systems. The Social Protection Floors Recommendation proposes the extension of coverage through publicly funded minimum guarantees along the life cycle, and higher quality benefits through many policy instruments, including social insurance.

Ruth Castel-Branco does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Ruth Castel-Branco, Research Manager, University of the Witwatersrand
Nearly three weeks into a strike that has forced filling stations across France to close, police in Paris are preparing for protests Sunday against soaring living costs.

Left-wing opponents of President Emmanuel Macron's administration have organised the demonstration for this Sunday, which they say is also in protest against government inaction over climate change.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, firebrand leader of the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party, had planned the march well before the current strike, but organisers are hoping to pick up some of the momentum from the current industrial unrest.

According to LFI deputy Manon Aubry, "The rise in prices is unbearable. It is the greatest loss of purchasing power in 40 years."

It is time the billions that the big companies were reaping in profits were passed down to those struggling to make ends meet, she added.

Police are expecting around 30,000 people to attend the march  which will begin at Place de la Nation at 14h00 local time  with one source saying they feared problems from hard-left "troublemakers".

More demonstrations ahead

The dispute at French refineries and fuel depots has forced many filling stations to close and has had a knock-on effect across all sectors of France's economy.

Four of France's seven refineries and one fuel depot are still out of action after striking members of the hard-left CGT union rejected a pay offer from the hydrocarbon industry leader that other unions accepted.

They remain furious that Macron's government used requisitioning powers this week to force some strikers back to open fuel depots, a move that has so far been upheld by the courts.

But the union risks stoking resentment in a country where three-quarters of workers rely on personal vehicles for their jobs. One poll by released on Friday, suggested that public support for the strike was at just 37 percent.

The militant CGT union is pushing for a 10-percent pay rise for staff at TotalEnergies, backdated to the beginning of the year.

The union has extended its strike action until at least Tuesday, when it has also called for a broader general strike involving public transport nationwide.

Government calls blockades 'unacceptable'

Meanwhile, Public Accounts Minister Gabriel Attal said on Sunday that the continuation of blockades at French refineries was "unacceptable" even though agreements have been reached regarding wage increases.

"It's not a question of the right to strike, but at some point the country has to be able to function," Attal said on French television.

"What is certain," Attal added laconically, "is that you have some trade unions who give the impression of they are acting in the interests of millions of French people."
Former President John Dramani Mahama says Africa must look beyond the deployment of troops, hardware and drone technology to tackle insecurity on the continent.

According to him, it is necessary for Africa and its institutions to rather find the source of the regional insecurity, fire and extinguish the flames before they engulf the continent.

Presenting the State of Peace and Security in Africa 2021 report at the 10th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Mr. Mahama said Africa must consider the time tested spirit of entrepreneurship so that we can fight the trade war rather than simply expend our energies trying to put out the extremist fires - and behaving like a fire brigade, only reacting when is too late.

The former president who is the Chairperson of the Tana Forum Board noted that Africa seems unable to proactively prevent crises despite the availability of key institutions and mechanisms to pre-empt and resolve conflict.

He, therefore, argued that the degree of cross-border interaction and exchange, and the deepening reach of globalisation means we now need to frame Africas conflict situations as regional crises with national dimensions.

According to the report, Africa in 2021 witnessed a reversal of some of the democratic gains that were achieved in the 1990s and 2000, with the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government, contestation for state power, the regionalisation of violent conflict and return to authoritarian rule and the undermining of the rule of law, both of which are drivers of violent conflict.

Moreover, in 2021, limited economic growth, an immense youth bulge, and high levels of rural-urban conflict and forced migration have created conditions for extremism to spread into vulnerable countries, the report further noted.

Outlining some of the recommendations of the 2021 State of Peace and Security Report, President Mahama said Africa Union member states need to prevent the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government by reacting much more swiftly to ensuing crisis and develop continental-based pharmaceutical industries to manufacture and distribute their own Covid-19 vaccines to African citizens.

The report also recommends that the AUs Commission for Political Affairs, Peace and Security develop dedicated programmes of work with the AU Special Envoy for Youth and the African Youth Ambassadors to mobilize the continents youth to proactively work to prevent and resolve conflict as well as promote post-conflict reconstruction, peacebuilding and transitional justice.
The Boys Brigade Ghana has conferred an honorary award on the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for his service in leadership.

At its 70th Anniversary celebration in Accra on Saturday, October 15, 2022 the Boys Brigade lauded Dr. Bawumia for his "leadership, commitment and dedicated service, which has earned you this most esteemed office in Ghana."

The Vice President was a member of the Boys Brigade during his formative years at Sakasaka Primary School, Tamale, and the Brigade, which is a platform for grooming boys to uphold good behaviour, expressed pride in the Vice President for reflecting their credo all of these years.

Delivering his keynote address, Dr. Bawumia, who expressed gratitude for the honour, recalled with fondness, his membership of the Boys Brigade in primary school.

He commended the Boys Brigade Ghana, especially its founders, for the positive impact the group continues to make.

"I have been informed that, currently, the Boys Brigade has over 700 Companies and over 38,000 Boys. Together with the Girls Brigade, you are over 100,000 in seven Christian denominations of the Country, namely: the Methodist Church, Ghana, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Anglican Church of Ghana, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Ghana, Evangelical Presby Church, Jesus Generation Ministries and the Perez International Church with plans of getting to the other Christian groups and schools," Dr. Bawumia noted.

"At this point, I will like to pay glowing tribute to the officers and boys of the 1st Accra Company for their efforts at grooming boys to become Christian men for Church and Society. I am reliably informed that a number of persons have passed through the Company to be notable men of Church and Society."

The Vice President also urged the Boys Brigade to continue to uphold its principles in order to continue nurturing many future leaders.

"The principle of nurturing and equipping are very fundamental to the survival of every household, group, organisation and nation at large," Dr. Bawumia said. "It is our collective responsibility to nurture and train the next generation to be in a position to inherit the things we will leave behind since they are heirs to these things."

The first Company of the Boys Brigade Ghana was formed 70 years ago in August 1952.
16.10.2022 LISTEN

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) says it will force government to shut down health facilities nationwide in protest of a new tax system by the Ghana Revenue Authority to surchage them.

The president of GMA Dr Frank Serebour has disclosed that GRA is introducing a new tax system that will take taxes from the association's generated funds.

The Association believes GRA's move is unfair arguing that their members have already paid taxes on the salary they deduct their dues from.

Dr Frank Serebour has therefore threatened to lead the association to an unprecedented nationwide protest if GRA fails to rescind its decision to surcharge them.

Speaking on Pure FM on Saturday October 15, 2022, Dr Serebour said this was the first time GRA is calling on the Association to pay such tax since its inception in over six decades.

We wont sit down to allow anybody, whether it is a government agency or the government itself, to collapse the association. That will not happen under my watch, he fumes.

He stressed that there should have been more dialogue on the new tax policy by the GRA.

If anything at all, the first point was engagement. If something like that is going to happen, somebody should be engaging and not write that kind of letter, he emphasised.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has embarked on a four-day tour of the Ashanti Region which began on Sunday, October 16, 2022.

He commenced his tour with a church service at the Saint Cyprians Anglican Church at Fante New in the Kumasi Metropolis.

The President will on Monday October 17, 2022 visit the Kumasi-based OTEC 102.9 FM for an exclusive interview on the breakfast show "Nyansapo."

The regular host of the show, Andrews Korankye Akuoko, affectionately called Captain Koda will moderate the show.

President Akufo-Addo will later call on the Asante Otumfour Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace after which he will proceed to inspect the ongoing works at Boankra Inland Port Project.

The President will also Commission the long waited Konongo Municipal Hospital in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality.

He will among other things receive comprehensive briefings on the security situation in the region from the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC). He will hold a meeting with security officers at the headquarters of Central Command IDRIS Barracks.

One of the major highlights of the tour is the sod-cutting event of the four-tier Suame Interchange on Tuesday October 18, 2022.
President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described the Chief of Ejura Traditional Area in the Ashanti Region, Barima Osei Hwedie II as "a blessing to the nation" due to his immense contribution to development.

According to him, the developmental projects dotted across Ejura is a clear indication that Barima Osei Hwedie II is a true leader.

President Akufo-Addo eulogised the chief during the climax of the 2022 Ejura Yam Festival which was held at the forecourt of Ejurahene's Palace on Saturday, October 15, 2022.

The festival was celebrated under the theme "Let's Join Hands to Move Ejura Forward" aimed at completing the Ejura Divisional Police Headquarters which began last year and has reached roofing level.

Representing the President and his vice, Deputy Chief of Staff Emmanuel Bossman underscored the need to use festivals to showcase rich Ghanaian culture and initiate development projects.

"In times past such festivals were usually confided to performance of traditional rites, drumming and dancing.

"In recent years, beyond appreciating the good works of past compatriots, festivals have become a medium to fashion out strategies for the development of our communities.

"On behalf of the Presidency, i congratulate you for lining up activities in your weeklong celebration to fit modern practices," he noted.

For his part, Ejurahene Barima Osei Hwedie II who doubles as the Protocol Director at the Office of the Vice President commended government for consistently supporting Ejura's development.

He expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for swiftly compensating the family of the Ejura shooting victims.

He assured the people of Ejura, of his commitment to completing the Ejura Divisional Police Headquarters in due course.

Barimah Osei Hwedie II however urged the people to use the festival to unite as a prerequisite for developing the town.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akufo Dampare has pledged his support to Ejura Traditional Council for the ongoing construction of a Divisional Police Headquarters at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.

According to him, the Police administration is ever ready to post police personnel to the new division as soon as its completed and hand over to them.

Dr Dampare gave the assurance during the climax of the 2022 Ejura Yam Festival on Saturday, October 15, 2022.

COP Fred Adu Anim, Director General in charge of Human Resources who read a speech on behalf of the IGP assured Ejura residents and Ghanaians as a whole of the Ghana Police Service's readiness to ensure that peace and security prevail in the country.

COP Anim eulogized the Chief of Ejura Traditional Area Barima Osei Hwedie II for consistently fostering peace and unity among his subjects.

"This division is a testament to your vision for peace and security for your people, and we as police officers are solidly behind you.

"Once completed, the division will ease the pressure on Mampong police division while strengthening security in Ejura and its environs at the same time," he stated.

COP Anim said the police administration was grateful to Ejura Traditional Council for playing a pivotal role in the restoration of calm after the unfortunate shooting incident.

"We are all witness to the role you and your elders played in the Ejura shooting incident, now we can all go about our daily duties without fear, thanks to you," he said.
16.10.2022 LISTEN

In the past few weeks, the were some dark, violent acts and angry behaviours in an East African country. The kidnapping of young people, brutal killings, and gang-rapings, by security operatives, remain a major tool to coerce or silence opposition politicians in Uganda.

Ordinary people, journalists, politicians and businessmen either witnessed or were treated to an unbearable form of violence, which included: abductions, disappearances and torturing of innocent civilians in Uganda. (Watch Rafik Khan being abducted: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vq6yb6-mX4A).

Additionally, the semi-lunatic son of the Ugandan doctor, one Gen Muhoozi Keinerugaba, in his tweet, stretched beyond diplomatic circles and the country's borders and threatened to use "his own army' to carry out attacks and capture Nairobi the capital of neighbouring Kenya, 649 kilometres South-East of Kampala.

"It wouldn't take us, my army and me, 2 [two] weeks to capture Nairobi," the newly promoted Five Star Gen Muhoozi, tweeted early last week. In past recent Gen Muhoozi made several tweets, expressing support for rebels that are against the sitting government in the region.

November 2020, Lt Gen Muhoozi tweeted: I urge my great and brave brothers in the Tigrayan Defence Forces to listen to the words of General Yoweri Museveni! I am as angry as you and I support your cause. Those who raped our Tigrayan sisters and killed our brothers must be punished!

In a tweet the next day, he added: Our great Tigrayan brothers and sisters cannot be defeated. They have an unconquerable spirit!

The tweets, then created tension and caused unease within the Foreign Affairs ministry, which is the official state arm to conduct international affairs.

It was Uganda. It was Dr Kizza Besigye's wife Ms Byanyima, one of Ugandas top-ranking diplomats, that pleaded Muhoozi to delete the tweets: Please, delete this tweet. It is risking the lives of Ugandans working and living in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government was battling Tigrayan rebels from the north, who had captured key cities and are threatening to advance to the capital city, Addis Ababa. Apart from he has extra powers over a group of armed people who carry out some brutal abductions of citizens considered against the status quo. Many disappearances have connections to Gen 'Muhoozi's project.

Whilst, Gen Muhoozi's father, a dictator himself Gen Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, apologized to Kenyans on behalf of his son, he then as Commander-In-Chief, promoted the boy from the Lt General rank to a full General.

The genesis of Gen Muhoozi outburst remains speculative.

Whilst writing about Muhoozi's tweets, the former countrys Co-ordinator of all intelligence, Gen David Sejusa, claimed that, unpaid bribes after facilitating the rigging in the just concluded controversial Kenya general elections.

Unpaid bribe: Gen Sejusa, wrote and posted on his Facebook page claiming that, Muhoozi's threats to capture Nairobi, it was after President Ruto's men allegedly failed to pay Uganda, which allegedly helped him to rig the 9th August General Elections.

"Unpaid rigging bribe is linked to Muhoozi's threats against Kenya," reads Gen Sejusa post on his Facebook.

The former Military Intelligence chief, Gen Sejusa went on to write: "Let the world know that the just ended General Elections in Kenya, were rigged by the NRM /M7/Muhoozi military junta. This was made easily possible with the assistance of election technology company Smartmatic, which was responsible for the botched General elections in Uganda just one year prior," reads Gen Sejusa's post on his Facebook page.

Gen Sejusa, further claimed that: "Millions of $ cash was "promised," to individuals participating in the Kampala-based rigging apparatus by the beneficiary of the Smartic election rigging frenzy in Kenya."

Gen Sejusa explained that: "After the disagreements over how to divide the loot, the "investor " withdrew and ceased responding to the frantic calls of the UPDF's ravenous vultures."

"Those who were hoping to make millions from electoral bets are now turning to crude tactics of course with the approval of the Commander-In-Chief himself.

This briefly explains Muhoozi's recent mysterious war with Kenyan Government's silent silence confirms it."

Much of those mischievous were publicly displayed by the State machineries with impunity though, the government denied being the actors.

The outside world would have been left out on the menus of violence, but whilst, carrying out the brutalities, a foreign businessman, Sulaiman Jakana Nadduli, son of bush warfighter who also doubles as a lawyer and the three family members of renowned journalist, Remmy Bahati was caught up in the melee.

As the metonymic axiom: "The pen is mightier than the sword," was coined by an English writer and politician, Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1839), a Ugandan journalist, Remmy Bahati put up a spirited fight, forcing the Uganda government to forcibly spit Ms Bahati's brother.

Her brother Kelvin Katungi, had just arrived from South Africa but joined the long queue of disappearances of innocent citizens in Uganda under Gen Museveni, which steadily fractured the victims' lives in the past years.

The situation in Uganda not only wrecked the life of the victims but also vaporised several families.

At a certain point the relatives there and the next minute, gone and never to be heard of.

This kind of disappearance stretches back more than decades; families of big names in the history of Uganda include the late Chief Justice Benedicto Kiwanuka, whose remains have never been discovered.

Then Chief Justice Kiwanuka was abducted from his office in Kampala. At the time Kiwanuka, was the country's third powerful citizen, his remains have never be traced to-date.

Over fifty-years, the family and the country still live with unanswered questions and sometimes dream of his return since, they have never buried him.

These real-life abductions and disappearances stories remain in the memories for a very long time than necessary because of the reluctance to accept, the person gone without seeing the remains.

Many such stories have become part of several families in Uganda.

The families of two Ugandan legislators, Allan Sewanyana and Muhammad Segirinya maintain they're being persecuted. Both MPs remain in the dark as the Gen Museveni-controlled courts denied bail to the duo, despite the cooked-up charges.

Its the most noxious and crippling incident you can think of for the rest of your life, said 50-year-old, Jacent Nyirarutega, a sister to Alex Kayijamahe, who disappeared early this year.

Kayijamahe, 52, was everything to the family and when his sister narrates, it sounds as if the incident happened yesterday.

Speaking about Kayijamahe, formerly a bread winner of an eight (8) people's family, she said: "Not knowing, not having a clue where he is; virtually you get sleepless nights in anticipation of his knock on the door one day.

"My family has suffered the heaviest reverse of life," she added.

In reference to Remmy Bahati's situation, many victims, despite the extreme distress for not knowing the whereabouts of their relatives.

They have found psychological, physical ease and freedom from pain, when learnt that, a person [ like Bahati] with a voice has encountered what, they have gone through for the past three years. "Her voice will be heard, she may as well help to highlight our problems," another relative commented.

When Rammy Bahati's three relatives were abducted, she tirelessly tweeted and demanded to know their whereabouts and the accusations leveled against the trio.

As it has become a norm in Uganda; those with dirty hands pointing the finger to the victims to justify their wrong actions.

In Ms Bahati's scenario, the authorities comprised of police, the army and other security agencies paraded some people clad in army fatigues.

Unlike, in many other scenarios, Ms Bahati, a journalist, wasn't a pushover as many have suffered and endure the security agencies' indignity.

She put-up a spirited fight whilst demanding her brother Kelvin Katungi.

The individuals who were paraded, none had been picked from Bahati's home. The army spokesperson grappled with information, had to distribute fake photos of different suspects.

According to sources, the government believes, there's a lot of information out there that Ms Bahati could have divulged to the US authorities, which led to the sanctions that were slapped against Uganda government officials.

The abduction of her relatives also linked to her activism that potentially denied Gen Museveni from attendance to the UN African summit. She previously interviewed Kakwenza Rukirabashaija who was tortured by Gen Muhoozi before he escaped to Germany.

Ms Bahati was behind the Senate's recommendations to US President Joe Biden asking to exclude Gen Museveni to attend the African Summit.

In the essence, Ms Bahati's family had been targeted to blackmail her and silence her.

Much of the embedded and controlled media keep those horrible stories under the carpet, but Ms Bahati exerted force on the government in the search for her brother Kelvin Katungi.

"I demand to know the whereabouts of my brother, cousin & friend identified as Abala.

"It's strange that the new trend is to target people's families and spouses," she then tweeted in an exchange with Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye. Gen Kulayigye is the UPDF's spokesperson and had distributed photos of unknown suspects alleging, they were the people picked from Bahati's home. Kulayigye had also claimed that, Bahati's brother [Kelvin Katungi] was on a wanted list, though no charges were leveled against him when resurfaced.
The Women Economic Empowerment for Northern Ghana (WEE-NORTH) has launched a women-led and focused initiative dubbed "WEE-GROUP" to promote the participation of women in male-dominant trades in Ghana.

The WEE-Group is made up of one hundred and three (103) graduates of the WEE-NORTH training project who have undergone various training in different TVET trade areas and have been placed for industrial attachment and further training.

They are to serve as a motivation and encouragement for other young ladies to have the confidence of learning a trade in male-dominant industries like bricklaying, electrical installation, plumbing, carpentry, welding, and small engine repairs, among others.

At an event to inaugurate the WEE-GROUP on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, in Tamale, the Field Manager at WEE-North, Dr Nancy Drost, said the inauguration of the Group formed part of the organisation's strive to sustain the gains they have chalked over the years.

She encouraged the ladies not to give up on their quest to have reliable jobs for themselves and their families as it would help them live independent life without having to rely on anyone for survival.

She also expressed gratitude to Global Affairs Canada and other partners for supporting the WEE-North project.

The Gender Equality Coordinator at the WEE-North, Mrs Humu-Hani Adam, in a presentation on the inauguration of the WEE-Group by the organisation, said the Sagnerigu Group would serve as stars for other ladies who may desire to learn a trade in male-dominant professions.

She also appealed to the industry players especially those in the TVET area, to give opportunities to women who have acquired the skills and knowledge necessary to work in that area to help them realise their dreams.

She indicated that the WEE-Group was in five facet areas which include: WEE-Save, WEE-Train, WEE-Help, WEE-Make and WEE-Lead seeking to provide support to the ladies to benefit from mentorship and to start their businesses along with additional training, savings and loans and social support.

She encouraged men to support the ladies in putting the skills and the knowledge they have acquired to use to help the WEE-North from achieving its objectives.

The Northern Regional Girl-Child Education Coordinator, Madam Linda Amoah, encouraged women to take up roles and careers in make-dominant professions.

She also urged the graduates to apply good customer care services in their businesses to expand and employ others.

The chief of Gumo in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region, Naa Mathew A Ibrahim, in remarks commended the WEE-North and Global Affairs Canada for the initiative and urged the graduates to ensure that they put the skills and the knowledge they have acquired into good use.

The event was attended by family and friends, industry players, WEE-North partner organisations, TVET institutions, some governmental agencies, the media and the general public.

The WEE-North

The WEE-North is the first project in Northern Ghana to provide a comprehensive program in industrial trades training to young women.

It is a five-year project funded by Global Affairs Canada and Implemented by Alinea International in Northern Ghana and seeks to have 2,000 young women from ages 18-35 in male-dominated industrial trades.

The project works with families, technical training institutions, and industries to have young women from remote and underserved communities break gendered stereotypes by introducing them to trades such as bricklaying, electrical installation, plumbing, carpentry, welding, and small engine repair.

A total of 850 young women from all 55 districts in the five regions of Northern Ghana are to be trained by the organisation before the end of 2022.
The Deputy Communication Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Godwin Ako Gunn, has urged aspirants and members to engage in an issue-based campaign and avoid campaigns that will slur people.

He said the call was necessary in view of the fact that some supporters of aspirants are engaging in attacks on personalities which brings division after the election and delays the healing process when the loser might have suffered character assassination.

Our ability to hold ourselves together and campaign devoid of insults and personal attacks will let losers accept that they lost on fair grounds and they will also join the main campaign.

Most of the time, we spend too much time healing wounds and if that happens again, we may be hitting ourselves in the foot which may affect the fortune of the party at the 2024 polls, Mr. Ako Gunn said.

Mr. Ako Gunn said this at the launch of a welfare scheme and awards ceremony organised by NDC Okaiman East Ward under the Anyaa Sowutuom constituency in Accra.

The theme of the ceremony was Empowering the Grassroot, a driving force for Success in the 2024 Election.

Mr. Ako Gunn noted that the 2024 election will be a choice between leadership that comes prepared and ready to lead from day one or a continuation of the current disastrous NPP government.

He charged party faithfuls to remain united in rallying towards the success of NDC come 2024.

I want to call on all our party members in the various branches to exhibit more loyalty, dedication and commitment so that our party can be victorious in the 2024 general elections, Mr. Ako Gunn urged.

He further advised members not to deliberately demand access to the fund when they have no significant use for it. He encouraged other wards to emulate the leadership of Nii Okaiman East ward for introducing the welfare scheme that will cushion members.

The Ward Coordinator for Nii Okaiman East, Mr. Jerry Zodano stated that the welfare scheme is to address challenges at the branches and to reduce over-dependence on the constituency.

He said the leadership at the ward have constituted a seven-member management board, formed from among members in order to ensure prudent management of the funds.

These officers, Mr. Zodano explained, would attend to the welfare of members, based on the regulations and guidelines that had been developed.

He added that the welfare scheme would ensure that those who toiled for the party at their prime stage would be supported in times of need.
The Bono East regional minister Hon. Kwasi Adu-Gyan has paid a days working visit to Atebubu-Amantin to see at first-hand developments in the municipality.

The minister took the opportunity to interact with the two traditional councils, staff of the municipal assembly as well as inspect work on some development projects.

Accompanied by the Atebubu-Amantin municipal chief executive Hon. Edward Owusu, the minister was a guest on the morning show on Star 89.7 FM hosted by Nuhu Adams where he answered questions covering water, roads, and agriculture among others.

At a meeting with the Atebubu traditional council led by its Acting President Nana Kwabena Kyere III, the minister assured them of his resolve to find a solution to the perennial water problem faced by the people of Atebubu and its environs and also addressed various issues of concern to Nananom.

In an interaction with staff of the municipal assembly, the Hon. Minister underscored the importance of local government staff in the decentralization process and urged them to approach their work with discipline, honesty and commitment to ensure government objectives are achieved.

The minister later inspected work on a completed office complex earmarked for both a circuit and high courts in Atebubu, a rehabilitated bungalow for a circuit court judge, the newly completed regional office for the Department of Food and Agriculture at Patuda and a cassava processing factory under the one district one factory facility at Abour.

The minister and his entourage rounded up their visit with a courtesy call on the Amantin traditional council where he announced plans for the visit of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo to the municipality on the 30th day of this month.
Member of Parliament for Atiwa East in the Eastern Region Abena Osei-Asare (Hon) has donated mathematical sets and pens to 1,347 candidates ahead of this years Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E.).

The gesture was done on her behalf by constituency executives of the New Patriotic Party during a short ceremony on Friday, 14 October 2022.

The presentation forms part of measures to ensure that no candidate lacked the basic learning tools required for the BECE.

As part of my motivation to see them succeed, I have offered to provide them with one hot meal a day throughout the examination period, Osei-Asare said in a Facebook post shortly after the presentation.

The Deputy Finance Minister also cautioned candidates to study hard and refrain from cheating in the exams.

This is not the first time the legislator has provided such interventions. She was grateful to officials of the Ghana Education Service in the District for their continuous support for the students and myself."
Four major labour unions including the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in the countrys public universities have declared an indefinite strike, starting Monday, October 17.

This is due to the rejection of a suggestion by government as regards their demands at a meeting hosted by the National Labour Commission (NLC) last Friday, October 14.

The meeting was to settle the Fuel, Vehicle Maintenance and Off-Campus Allowances demanded by the four labour unions  UTAG, Teachers and Educational Workers Union-Ghana (TEWU-GH), Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG).

But in a notice to strike, the labour unions said the employer has, once again, failed to adhere to the directive of the NLC.

3news.com
Four Christian groups have stressed the need for effective collaboration among stakeholders to fight the illegal mining menace popularly known as 'galamsey.'

They said standing united to fight the canker was the surest way the nation would win the battle and restore the degraded environment to its original condition.

They made the call after touring some 'galamsey' sites at Apinamang, in the Eastern Region.

The groups included the Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference and the Independent Charismatic Churches Council.

The delegation was led by Bishop Dr Paul Boafo, the Immediate Past Chairman of the Christian Council; Rev Professor Paul Frimpong-Manso, President, GPCC; Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Pentecost Church; Rev Cyril Fayose, General Secretary; Christian Council; Rev. Father Dieu-Donne Kofi Davor, Director of Communications, Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference, among others.

The tour was to enable them to assess the level of devastation caused by 'galamsey' activities in the area to inform their decision.

Speaking to journalists, Bishop Boafo, said as religious leaders, they were appalled by the level of destruction that activities of 'galamsey' had caused.

He, therefore, called for a more emphatic approach to be adopted and for all stakeholders involved to enable the country to win the battle.

This is the approach we all have to go. This is the way we all have to approach this canker. its like COVID, so all should come on board. Let us all come on board, ministers, market women, traditional rulers, school children, the youth, the old and everybody, Bishop Boafo urged.

Going forward, Bishop Boafo said the Church would do its best to educate Ghanaians on the negative impact such activity had on the environment.

We will let them know that this is not the right way to go for wealth if indeed they are the people doing it. Yeah, for me, I believe that they would know better because we are the people who are to cater for creation.

In Genesis, God said, tend it, care for it, and in caring this is not the way to care for it. And I will say that this is not the right way to go for wealth and then to bring it to church, he said.

Bishop Boafo also called on the leadership to come up with policies that would address unemployment to help curb the menace.

Apostle Nyamekye, Chairman of the Pentecost Church, said strong leadership was required if the country was to make any significant progress in the fight against 'galamsey.'

He said the reason successive governments had failed to end the menace was due to a lack of political will and weak leadership.

God created human beings and he gave us leaders. Where there is no leadership, there will be no control. The human being has to be controlled. That is why we need leaders, Apostle Nyamekye said.

He added that If leaders are not doing what they are supposed to do, then people would take the law into their own hands, you see all this corruption everywhere. So for me, Im calling on our leaders to lead. Leaders must lead. Human beings have to be controlled, somebody will have to control these young men in their galamsey industry, somebody would have to educate them and they will stop, but where there is no leadership then things go wayward.

Rev Frimpong-Manso, President of the GPCC, who described the situation as a total disaster, challenged Ghanaians not to fail the future generation.

I am really overwhelmed and I need to weep, Ghanaians, we have only one Ghana. If all the systems will fail, Im challenging anyone who is hearing me not to fail posterity because we are in a total disaster, he said.

Rev. Father Davor, Director of Communications, Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference, said drastic measures must be taken to end the canker, saying: We cannot go on this way.

Osaberima Pinkro Oware Asare III, Apinamang Hene, called for assistance to fight the 'galamsey' menace in his community, saying I am helpless.

GNA
16.10.2022 LISTEN

Fiction is a function of the mind. And the wonder of the human mind is that it can be everywhere it wants to be. So, I invite you to come with me on a very unexpected journey.

I was in what used to be called Standard One, which changed to Primary Four, that I read a story, from the Oxford English Reader, lines in which began:

"See me Lakayana with my spear! The spear which (someone or other) gave me" And so on and so forth, with Lakayana narrating the story of various possessions he had acquired, and how he obtained them in exchange for other possessions he had got earlier.

Now, since I made the acquaintance of "Lakayana" in 1947, I haven't been able to ditch him! What do you think the author of the Lakayana story would say, if he were able to hear this testimony about his story today?

Writing fiction  Good Fiction -- is one of the most rewarding pursuits the human mind can engage in. Imagine loving, and being loved in turn, all through the air we freely breathe!

A year before I encountered Lakayana, I had read about Kwaku Ananse, from Kan Me Hwe Book 3.

Again, something from that book stuck in my mind, and has stayed there ever since. I had, of course, heard a lot about Kwaku Ananse from oral sources  older members of my extended family gathering round a fire, at night, and regaling us with stories so monopolised by Ananse that they were collectively called Anansesem, whether Ananse himself featured in any particular story that we were told or not.

The particular Ananse story that stuck in my mind, after I had read it in the scxhoo textbook, stayed with me perhaps because at one stage, our teacher, who spoke in the -- to us, quaint -- Akuapem dialect of Twi, took over and read to us in impeccable Akuapem, what Ananse said, as he struggled, unsuccessfully, to wriggle out of the grip of his own sons, led by Ntikuma. They had caught him, after smelling the scent of groundnut soup in his cloth. Groundnut soup?

Yes  a great famine had afflicted the land, and food was very hard to come by. In order to be able to obtain a greater share of whatever food was available than anyone else in his family, Ananse instructed his wife, Okonnore Yaa, to leave a sizable portion of every meal prepared by her, under a tree, in the deep forest. Hee claimed that a fetish, known only to Ananse, lived there and come and eat it. Ananse explained that when he ate the food, the fetish would be so filled with gratitude to the family that gave it to him that he would bless their farms to produce more food than anyone else's farms.

But Ananse was lying, of course. What he did, in fact, was to go out every evening to secretly eat the food left for the fetish. He slipped out in the evenings (he said) to smoke his pipe in the bush. Why smoke the pipe in the bush? Oh, to avoid the nasty smell of the tawa [native tobacco], offending members of his family who did not smoke. You know, he, Ananse was so considerate, and kind that e didn't want that the tawa's strong smell to nauseate non-smokers. Better to go into the bush, alone, at night, to smoke, and not risk annoying anyone, not so?

But Ananse's selfish motive for instructing Okonnore Yaa to leave the food in the forest became explicit when he reached where the food was. He smartly extinguished his pipe, and whacked the food to the last morsel.

Now, on the day, in question, Okonnore Yaa's groundnut soup had been particularly delicious. And so enthusiastically did Ananse set about consuming it that quite a lot of it fell into the folds of his cloth. But he didn't notice it.

Well, the next morning, when his children went to clean his bedroom, they detected a strong smell of groundnut soup there. Ananse's eldest, Ntikuma, who had the usual love-hate relationship with Ananse that oldest sons have with their fathers, got the picture at once.

And he hatched a plan. He got his brothers to go with him to waylay Ananse in the forest the next night. They held him down, despite his struggles, till daybreak. And then, just as the sun was rising, Ananse became desperate, and told the children, "Moannyae me a medan mo agya!" [If you don't let me go, I shall turn into your father!"]

Imagine the roars of laughter that greeted our teacher's enunciation of this stratagem by Ananse! I, for one, have never forgotten it.

I ask you: where are today's equivalent of the Kan Me Hwe series of primary school textbooks in our schools? Or the Oxford English Readers and the "Supplementary Readers" that went with the book for each class? Where are today's "Ingwe The Leopard"? Or The Woman And Her Son? Sinbad The Sailor? Rip Van Winkle?

I have no doubt that the educationists whose policy decisions led to the eradication of such books from the curriculum of our schools had very good reasons to do so. Well, over seventy years after I read the books I have mentioned, I have not needed to look up any of their titles before venturing to reveal my opinions about them. Can I say the same about any books in our schools today? The answer isSorry, No!

That indefatigable write and journalist, Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, I am sure, ABSORBED her love for the products of the craft of writing from the books she read as a child, Today, she has repaid, once again, her debt to her favourite writers, with the publication of a new book, New Currency.

Absorb? Yes! Good writers are not taught  they ABSORB the elements of good writing unconsciously, and -- sub-consciously. Then, they DISGORGE it all, again, unconsciously and sub-consciously.

"I can see traces of ----" (and a good writer's name is mentioned). The writer being praised for reminding readers of their favourite writers, might be surprised, for he or she might not even have read the particular author compared to himself or herself.

The reason is that good writing, when absorbed and disgorged, would have gone through invisible processes akin to what physicists call "quantum mechanics". From atoms to quarks to neutrinos: where are they? What is their relationship to us?

From physics, please allow me to transition you, as it were, to metaphysics! The story told by Ajoa Yeboah Afari in New Currency ISBN:978-9988-9094-2-0 [Smartline Publishing www.smartlinepublishers.com

] is akin to a seed for a novel in my own head! How come such a coincidence?

Well, when the Cedi Demonitization exercise which forms the subject-matter of Ajoa's book occurred in March 1979, distressingh Information reached me that the people of my home-town, Asiakwa were unable to chjange their money because there was no bank in the town, yet the old currency being withdrawn could only be changed at a bank.

There WAS a bank at Kyebi, only seven miles. But lorry drivers were not accepting fares in the old currency to take passengers to Kyebi to change their money!

I could see that this was a vicious cycle of a dilemma of the greatest proportions. If they had a humane lorry driver around, he would take passengers to the bank, wait for them to change their money and then collect his fare in the new currency they had just colleted. But where were drivers with a humanistic touch at a time (as the book makes clear)where queuing and chaos reigneds everywhere?

So I drove to the Bank of Ghana and told the authorities about the ;pain felt on nbehalf f myu townspeople. God willing, I'll reveal what happened in a work yet to come. Not only that: I shall also reveal how, by coincidence, my own wife and youngest child were marooned in Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast, because Kotoka Airport, in Accra, was closed for the exercise, without notice!

Did the Government of Ghana realise that there would be such difficulties for the populace when it embarked on what seemed to it to be the very good policy of demonitizing the CEDI currency of the time?

Ajoa's lovely story takes us into the heart of events that happened inside people's families; their neighbourhoods and within their inter-relationships.

Governments, in particular, should read and learn from books such as Ajoa's, to tread carefully whenever they contemplate taking action whose consequences could affect a whole lot of people.
Writing and reading fiction is a function of the mind. And the wonder of the human mind is that it can be everywhere it wants to be.

Now, let me share with you, from my personal experience, a little bit of what fiction can do. I think I was in what used to be called Standard One (which changed suddenly to Primary Four), that I read a story from the Oxford English Reader, lines in which began:

See me Lakayana with my spear! The spear which [someone or other!] gave me....

And so on and so forth, with Lakayana narrating the story of various possessions he had acquired and what he had to give up in order to be offered the new possessions. Now that I have grown up, I think it was an allegorical story, meant to convey to our minds that, as the maxim say, You cannot get something for nothing!

I am proud to say that since I made the acquaintance of Lakayana in 1947, I havent been able to ditch him! Are there other more, perhaps deeper, meanings to the story? The story in fact illustrates what good fiction should be: it should make you ask questions upon questions.

Anyway, what would the author of the Lakayana story say, if he were able to hear this testimony I have given about the relevance of his or her story in this age which he did not live to see? Yet another attribute of good fiction now raises its head  namely, good fiction should be ageless; it should challenge our imagination with its beauty in a manner that is timeless.

You can see from the little I have said, that, writing fiction  and, as I insist, Good Fiction -- can be one of the most rewarding pursuits the human mind can engage in. Imagine loving, and being loved in turn, all through the air we freely breathe and no matter what age, or era, we happen to live in!

A year before I encountered Lakayana, I had read about Kwaku Ananse, from Kan Me Hwe Book 3.

Again, something from that book stuck to my mind, and has stayed there ever since. I had, of course, heard a lot about Kwaku Ananse from oral sources  older members of my extended family gathering round a fire, at night, and regaling is with stories so monopolised by Ananse, that they were collectively called Anansesem, whether Ananse himself featured in the particular stories hat were told or not.

The peculiar thing about the word Anasesem is that it was created by people who did not read or write, as we know it. How did they know how to collective similar stories and give them a single name that enabled everyone to recognise what was coming when Anansesem was mentioned? In asking that question, I want you to ponder this issue: are we too quick to write off the verbal ingenuity of our ancestors who did not possess the craft of reading and writing, as we know it?

But let me go on and tell you about one particular Ananse story that stuck in my mind, after I had read it in my Class Three textbook. I remember vividly, how our teacher, who spoke the Akuapem dialect of Twi, read to us in impeccable Akuapem, what Ananse said, as he struggled, unsuccessfully, to wriggle out of the hands of his own sons, led by Ntikuma. They had caught him, after smelling the scent of groundnut soup in his cloth. Groundnut soup?

Yes  a great famine had afflicted the land, and food was very hard to come by. In order to be able to obtain a greater share of whatever food was available than anyone else in his family, selfish and greedy Ananse instructed his wife, Okonnore Yaa, to go and place a sizable portion of every meal prepared by her, under a tree, in the deep forest. A fetish, known only to Ananse, would come and eat it (Ananse said).

When he ate the food, the fetish would become so filled with gratitude that the family loved him so much that they had sacrificed food they couldnt really spare, to him, the fetish. And as a reward to them (Ananse explained) the fetish would bless the familys farms and the farms would produce more food than anyone elses farms.

But Ananse was lying, of course. What he did, in fact, was to slip out, every evening, to secretly eat the food left for the fetish. He did this in the late evening, , on the pretext of going to smoke his pipe in the bush. Why did he want to smoke his pipe in the bush? Oh (Ananse took the trouble to explain further) he went to smoke his pipe in the bush to avoid offending members of his family with the nasty smell of the tawa [native tobacco].

You know, (Ananse elaborated) he realised that members of his family didnt like the smell of the tawa. But out of respect for him as the head of the household, they suffered his smoking in silence. Well, the famine had brought him to his senses, you know  they were all now suffering from hunger together and it wasnt fair that when people were silently angry, because they did not get enough to eat, someone they respected should annoy them by smoking a pipe that emitted noisome fumes.

As a person who was widely renowned for being clever, as well as being the kindest of the kind, he was aware of the tawas strong smell, even though they didnt complain about it. So he would go into the bush, alone, at night, to smoke, and enjoy the pungent smell of the tawa, which was a cultivated pleasure, that was gifted to people of age and experience (Ananse concluded his elaborate explanation).

Of course, despite dispelling any suspicion that he might be a selfish motive, Ananse went alone to secretly gobble the food for Okonnore Yaa left for the fetish. Now, one day, Okonnore Yaa cooked a delicious groundnut soup. A good treat for the whole family on any day, let alone in a time of famine. So enthusiastically did Ananse set about consuming his secret portion of the soup that quite a lot of it dribbled unseen into the folds of his cover-cloth. And the next morning, when his children went to clean his bedroom, they detected a strong smell of groundnut soup there.

Ananses eldest, Ntikuma, who had the usual love-hate relationship with Ananse that oldest sons tend to have with their fathers, got the picture at once. And he hatched a secret plan. He and his brothers waylaid Ananse in the forest that night, and held him down, despite his struggles, they pinned him down till daybreak. Then, just as the sun was rising, he told the children: Moannyae me a medan mo agya! [If you dont let me go, I shall turn into your father!

I invite you to imagine the laughter that greeted our teachers enunciation of this stratagem by Ananse. The Akuapem dialect made it doubly amusing to us, who spoke the Akyem dialect.

I ask you: where are todays equivalent of the Kan Me Hweseries of primary school textbooks in our schools that contain such memorable stories? Where are the equivalent of the Oxford English Readers series and the Supplementary Readers that went with the book for each class? Let me now ginger the memories of my more senior readers: where is todays Ingwe The Leopard? Or The Woman And Her Son? Sinbad The Sailor? Rip Van Winkle?

I have no doubt that the educationists whose policy decisions led to the eradication of such books from the curriculum of our schools had reasons that seemed to them to be very good, when very threw out the books. Well, over seventy years after I read the books I have mentioned, I have not needed to look up any of their titles before venturing to reveal what effect they had on my mind. Can I say the same about the books in our schools today? I dont know, but I doubt whether they are holding their own against the challenge offered by cartoons on TV, and the like.

I have laboured to give you this long introduction to the book whose title is given above because I am sure Ajoa Yeboah-Afari ABSORBED her love for the products of the craft of writing from the books she read as a child. After reading her book, I can fully acknowledge that she has fully repaid her debt to her favourite writers.

Absorb? Yes! Good writers are not taught  they ABSORB good writing unconsciously, and -- sub-consciously. Then, they DISGORGE it all, again, unconsciously and sub-consciously.

Someone says, after reading ones book, I can see traces of ---- (and a good writers name is mentioned). The writer being praised might be surprised, for he or she might not even have read the author mentioned. The reason, you see, is that good writing, when absorbed and disgorged, would have gone through invisible processes akin to what physicists call quantum mechanics. From atoms to quarks to neutrinos: which were created first and why? What is their relationship to each other? How is it that certain combinations of such particles create forces too humongous for the ordinary human mind to fully comprehend? Above all, how do we human inter-relate with them?

From physics, please allow me to transition you, as it were to metaphysics! The story told by Ajoa Yeboah Afari in New Currency ISBN:978-9988-9094-2-0 [Smartline Publishing www.smartlinepublishers.com ] has awakened a seed for a novel in my own head! How come?

Well, when the Cedi Demonetization exercise (which forms the subject-matter of Ajoas book) occurred in March 1979, accurate Information reached me that the people of my home-town, Asiakwa had been placed in great distress by the exercise. There was no bank in the town, and yet the old currency being withdrawn could only be changed at a bank. (Or so the people believed). Now, there WAS a bank at Kyebi, only seven miles away. But lorry drivers were not accepting fares in the old currency to take passengers to Kyebi to change their money for the new currency!

I could see immediately that this was a vicious circle type of dilemma of the greatest proportions, as far as the people of Asiakwa and similarly-placed towns were concerned. If they had a driver with humane instincts around, he would take passengers to the bank at Kyebi, wait for them to change their money and then collect their fares in the new currency. But where were drivers with a humanistic instinct at a time of queuing and chaos everywhere? Ajoas book will tell you how callous some people became, given the powder to solve the problem of changing the old currency for the new one.

When heard of the problem, I drove to the Bank of Ghana and saw the authorities. I shall, God willing, reveal what happened, in a work of some sort, yet to come. Not only that: I shall reveal how two members of my own immediate family were marooned in Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast, when Kotoka Airport, in Accra, was closed for the exercise. They had gone there for a holiday. And the airport was closed behind them! Without notice!

Did the then Government of Ghana realise that there would be such difficulties for the populace when it embarked on what seemed to it to be the good policy of demonitizing the CEDI currency of the time? Ajoas lovely story takes us to the heart of the events that can happen inside peoples families in times of hardship; occurrences in their neighbourhoods; the development and, or, transformation, of their individual relationships. They can be very complex and indeed, almost unimaginable. Just read the book and see

Do Governments read? I dont know! But if they do, they should learn from such books to tread carefully whenever they contemplate taking action whose consequences affect the mass of the populace. Indeed, we know, from our own lives, that unexpectedconsequences can spring from our actions.

Yet we never learn from them!
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Sunday commissioned the 60-bed Asante Akim Municipal Hospital at Konongo in the Ashanti Region.

The hospital, constructed at a cost of US$35.86 million, is part of the Ghana Hospital Project, initiated by the Kufour Government in 2008.

Incorporated in the facility are several departments including administration; outpatient department (OPD); physiotherapy; pharmacy; radiology; laboratory; surgical suite (operation dep.); laundry; mortuary; medical waste department; general stores; ten (10) staff housing units; and a mini market.

It has also been equipped with modern medical equipment, such as x-ray machines, ultrasound machines, fully equipped operating theatre, medical gases, and patient monitors. It also has a medical waste treatment plant, a power station, a water treatment plant, a central air conditioning system and an anaerobic sewerage treatment plant.

Commissioning the hospital as part of activities of his 4-day working visit to the Ashanti Region, President Akufo-Addo reiterated the commitment of Government to improving access to essential and quality health services.

He said his administration would ensure that Ghana attains Universal Health Coverage through the provision of the necessary health infrastructure, equipment and logistics, including the deployment of appropriate technology.

This Hospital has been long awaited in Konongo, and it is good that, today, the demand for a Municipal Hospital of quality has been realised. Residents and surrounding health facilities will now gain access to improved healthcare, he said.

The Konongo Municipal hospital is the sixth such facility the President has commissioned under the Ghana Hospital Project.

The Ghana Hospital Project involves the design, construction and equipping of one Military Hospital, two Regional Hospitals, and six District Hospitals in Ghana, at a project cost of US$339 million. It falls under the broader objective of providing infrastructure for the delivery of effective healthcare to Ghanaians.

Other hospitals being constructed under the contract are the 250-bed Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua in the Bosomtwe District; the 60-bed Municipal Hospital at Salaga in the East Gonja Municipality; and the 500-bed Military Hospital, under the Ministry of Defence at Afari, also in Ashanti Region. They are all expected to be commissioned before the end of 2023.

President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that his government, since 2017, had embarked on the construction and completion of some 32 hospital projects in the Ashanti Region.

I am not referring to CHPS compounds and health centres, I am talking specifically about hospital projects, he stressed.

Under Agenda 111, the President noted that his government was constructing 16 district hospitals in Trede, Kokoben, Boamang, Nsuta Sekyere, Manso Adubia, Mankranso, Kwabenakwa, Barekese, Kodie, Asiwa, Akrofuom, Adugyama, Adansi Asokwa, Asokore Mampong, Bantama and Nyinahin, in addition to the construction of a psychiatric hospital in Onwe, in the Ejisu Municipality.

There are five (5) hospitals being constructed by VAMED Engineering in Manso Nkwanta, Twedie, Sabronum, Drobonso and Suame. Under the EUROGET Project, initiated by the NPP under President Kufuor, the Akufo-Addo Government has seen to the completion of the Ahafo Ano North District Hospital in Tepa, and the Asante Akyem Hospital in Konongo.

As I indicated earlier, the 250-bed Ashanti Regional Hospital in Sewua, and the 500-bed Military Hospital at Afari will be commissioned and completed next year, he said.

The President made reference to reactivation and steady progress of work on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternity and Children's Block, which had stalled for 41 years, and said his administration was also in the process of completing two district hospital projects in Fomena and Kumawu, that were inherited from the predecessor Government.

He indicated that very soon, work will commence on the construction of district hospitals at Offinso and Effiduase, as will work on the completion of Maternity Blocks at Tafo and Kumasi South Hospitals, and the construction of a residential facility at Abrepo for Kumasi South Hospital.

As part of my tour of Ashanti, I will, on Wednesday, inspect ongoing work on the construction of a Trauma Hospital at Obuasi, which is being undertaken by Universal Hospital Group, he stated.

GNA
Ministry of Communications and Digitilization has given a temporary moratorium for persons who have started but not completed the process to re-register their SIM cards.

The new grace period, according to the Ministry, is to encourage these individuals to complete the process

Initially, government intended to block all unregistered SIM cards by September 30.

However, the government has rescinded such decision to give people who have started but yet to be completed new deadline of October 31.

This is not an extension of the deadline but a temporary moratorium to encourage these individuals to complete the process, a statement from the Ministry of Communications signed by the Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful stated.

It further served notice that all other unregistered SIMs will also be blocked progressively.

Touching on progress made so far, the statement mentioned that 28,959,006 SIM cards have been linked to Ghana Cards, which is the first phase of the registration process, representing 67.28 percent of the 42,749,662 total SIM cards issued nationally.

It continued that 18,930,664 SIM Cards have been fully registered, representing 44.28 percent of the total SIM cards issued.

On the part of data-only SIMs, including those issued by Surfline, Busy Internet, Telesol, and any institution such as ECG, the users have been given up to the end of November to complete registration.

The Ministry however acknowledged that some of our citizens have had difficulties obtaining Ghana Cards to enable them to undertake their SIM registration.

It observed that 1.3 million Ghanaians have also been issued their Ghana cards but have not collected them, describing it as This is regrettable, and we will continue to engage the National Identification Authority to expedite the process.

DGN online
Ahmed Khalil scored twice as former African champions Club Africain of Tunisia trounced Kipanga of Zanzibar 7-0 on Sunday to reach the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs.

After a goalless first leg of the last 32 tie in the Indian Ocean island last weekend, the north Africans wasted little time establishing their superiority in Rades near Tunis.

Zouhaier Dhaouadi floated a free-kick over the defensive wall and into the net less than two minutes in.

Mohamed Ali Omri also scored to give the 1991 African champions a two-goal advantage by half-time at the 60,000-seat national stadium.

Kipanga collapsed in the second half, conceding goals at regular intervals until Khalil completed the rout with his second goal six minutes from time.

The seven-goal aggregate victory was not the biggest of the weekend, though, in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

On Saturday, Pyramids of Egypt also scored seven in their second leg against Al Hilal Alsahil of Sudan in Cairo to complete a 9-0 overall triumph.

Hearts of Oak from Ghana, winners of the 2000 CAF Champions League, bowed out despite beating Real Bamako of Mali 1-0 in Accra through a late Caleb Amankwah goal.

Real won the first leg 3-0 and their overall victory means Ghana will not have any representative in the group phase of the CAF competitions this season.

Daring Club Motema Pembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the 1994 winners of the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup, scraped into the play-offs.

After a shock away defeat by Saint Michel United of the Seychelles, the Kinshasa outfit won the return match 2-0 to secure a place in the play-offs draw on Tuesday.

Forced to play behind closed doors after crowd trouble in a CAF match last season, Pembe took an early lead through Jonathan Ikangalombo.

But the hosts had to wait until 13 minutes from time to score the crucial second goal, which Mpiana Mundindi netted.

Al Akhdar and Al Nasr of Libya, Diables Noirs of Congo Brazzaville, Future of Egypt and USM Alger of Algeria won other ties.

African debutants Future are a side to watch as they hammered Kallon of Sierra Leone 4-0 in Cairo, with Ayman Sfaxi scoring twice, to complete a 6-0 aggregate victory.

In the play-offs, Confederation Cup last 32 winners will play CAF Champions League last 32 losers in two-leg ties on November 2 and 9 with group places up for grabs.
'She Said' movie highlights the women who took on Harvey Weinstein
Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality Safe Drinking Water and Ground Water Management Program manager, Cmdr. Travis Spaeth, center, holds the Patriotic Employer Award as he poses for a photo with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Guam-CNMI Area Chair Rita A. Sablan, Ed.D., third left, Employer Outreach Coordinator Rose Igitol, second left, Environmental Specialist Aloysius Atalig, fourth left, BECQ Administrator Eli D. Cabrera, fourth right, ESGR Ombudsman Joann Aquino, third right, ESGR volunteer Joshlyn Blas, left, and other BECQ staffers.
Venezuelan migrants, expelled from the U.S. and sent back to Mexico under Title 42, walk near the Lerdo Stanton International border bridge, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Oct. 13, 2022.
HK schools hold various activities on 20th CPC National Congress

16:31, October 16, 2022 By Oasis Hu ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Secondary schools in Hong Kong on Sunday organized teachers to watch live broadcast of the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, as part of their planned activities, including holding quizzes, competitions and sharing sessions at regular morning assemblies, to help the students and faculties better understand the importance of the event.

School principals stressed that CPC's national congress is of vital importance for the development of the country and the world as it will affect the personal development of every young student, and schools should let students know the relevant content.

Wong Yik-kwan, vice-principal of HKFEW Wong Cho Bau Secondary School, located in Islands District, said the school had arranged for teachers and faculty members to watch the opening session of the congress so that the teachers will be better prepared to mull on how to integrate it into classes when teaching.

In addition, Wong said the school has arranged its principal to introduce the highlights of the 20th CPC National Congress to students at the morning assembly on Monday. The school will also introduce news materials about the 20th CPC National Congress in the class and hold quiz sessions in the following week to deepen the students' understanding of the congress.

Wong said it is important for students to understand the congress as it provides an important guideline for the nation's future development and Hong Kong's future is closely intertwined with that of the country's.

Wong Ching-Yung, principal of Scientia Secondary School located in Kowloon, said Hong Kong schools should be aware of the 20th CPC National Congress, as it is related to the future development of 1.4 billion compatriots and may even influence the global situation.

Ng Wun-kit, principal of Pui Kiu Middle School located in North Point, said the school has organized teachers to pre-study the material related to the 20th CPC National Congress and encouraged teachers and students to pay close attention to the congress.

Ng said he arranged teachers to learn about the congress in advance and encouraged the students and teachers to keep an eye on the event. The school is also considering holding relevant study session later.

Tang Fei, lawmaker and vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, suggested schools prep students' basic knowledge about the CPC, such as its organizational structure, before learning about the 20th CPC National Congress. Teachers can refer to the official news website of CPC to prepare lessons, Tang added.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Du Mingming)
Israel S. Fontanilla, area manager at Philippine Airlines says air travel is starting to pick back up to pre-Covid-19 levels with the lifting of travel restrictions in the Asian country.
By Conor Gallagher

As the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to deteriorate, its looking increasingly likely that NATO forces will return to the country as Washingtons answer to a problem it has created.

Questions over the integrity of the October 2 election are ratcheting up tensions in the ethnically-divided country. On top of that, US-backed changes to future elections were announced the day after polls closed, drawing widespread criticism from within the country.

The turmoil comes at a time when a bill is making its way through the US Congress that would lock in support for Bosnian Euro-Atlantic integration, and a real possibility exists that NATO troops could return to Bosnia in the coming months due to disagreements between Washington and Moscow over the mandate for European Union forces to remain in the country.

Election Changes

Just after polls closed on October 2 and as votes were still being counted, the High Representative for Bosnia, Christian Schmidt, imposed changes to the countrys election law and constitution. Heres Euronews on the changes:

Schmidt introduced a series of changes, with the most significant revolving around the number of delegates. They have been upped from 58 to 80. According to his decision, the new entity-level House of Peoples will now comprise 23 Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats each, along with 11 Others. The increase in seats now allows Others to select a representative from each canton, which was not the case earlier. However, the way the delegates are elected from cantonal assemblies has consolidated the three ethnic groups and their representatives and strengthened their power.

The 1995 Dayton Agreement that ended the fighting in what was formerly Yugoslavia divided the country into two highly independent governing entities: the Serbian-dominated Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is shared by Bosniaks and Croats.

The system has been wildly dysfunctional, but most observers inside and outside of Bosnia believe Schmidts plan, which was backed by the US and UK but not the EU, will only make matters much worse.

Here is Just Security on the changes:

The essence of the move  and its apparent motivation  remain the same: to appease a single ethnonationalist party  the BiH branch of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the hardline wartime political party that again has controlled neighboring Croatia in recent years and has agitated for this change for years as a singular foreign policy goal. Schmidts action not only represents a retreat from American policy to promote greater integration in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). It also demonstrates a continuity in U.S. policy toward the Balkans from the avowedly amoral and transactional approach of the Trump administration. Bosnias vibrant and progressive civil society leaders, who have pressed for a BiH constitutional system fully inclusive of people who dont identify with one of the three ethnonationalist groups, view Schmidts order, correctly, as a betrayal of U.S. support for ensuring individual rights (including as ordered in numerous European Court of Human Rights rulings). Instead, it cements the oligarchic status quo enshrined in the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the war of the 1990s but has gripped BiH in dysfunction for most of the time since then. Schmidts order and the way it was developed and rolled out also shows that, far from the theme of transatlantic unity of purpose that U.S. President Joe Biden had touted with his America is back message to allies, the real message to Europe in Bosnia is America calls the shots.

To make matters worse, Schmidts plan was not shared in advance with the other members of the international Peace Implementation Council, which oversees the Office of the High Representative.

More from Just Security:

The U.S. support of the Schmidt order is apparently led by mid-level rungs in the State Department pushing him to impose a package against the will of all EU PIC Steering Board members (with only Croatian support) and against his own German governments position.

Who Is Christian Schmidt?

Schmidt, a German, has been High Representative since August of 2021. Prior to assuming the post, he was most well-known for when as Agriculture Minister in 2017 he went against the wishes of the German government and voted in Brussels to extend the EUs use of the likely cancer-causing herbicide glyphosate for another five years.

The Dayton Accords created the Office of the High Representative, a body financed by the international community with a mandate to enforce the civilian aspects of the peace agreement.

Schmidt also served as Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Defense from 2005 to 2013 where he handled international outreach to the US, UK, Israel, and Croatia among others.

Schmidt took over as High Representative last year despite not being approved by Russia and the fact that according to the 1995 Dayton Agreement, the UN Security Council must approve each new High Representative for Bosnia. The US and EU simply ignored Russia and installed Schmidt anyways.

His election changes and the petulant manner he responds to anyone who questions his decisions has not endeared him to Bosnians.

Just astonishing to watch @OHR_BiHs abusive response to a simple question on  @VladaRHs involvement in his  Election Law changes. The damage Schmidt has done to @OHR_BiH will be beyond repair unless the int community quickly appoints a replacement.pic.twitter.com/u9AlKO1T5S  Jakub Bielamowicz (@KubaBielamowicz) October 9, 2022

By Schmidts standards hes doing a great job, as he told a Croatian news outlet that Emperor Franz Joseph I once said: I was a good ruler if all my people were equally dissatisfied.

Are Schmidt and Washingtons actions just a lethal mixture of hubris and incompetence that will make a bad situation worse? Or are they preparing the ground for NATO forces to return to Bosnia?

NATO Forces on the Horizon

Roughly 50,000 NATO forces were first deployed to Bosnia in 1996, to enforce the truce that ended the 1992-95 civil war between the countrys Serbs, Muslims, and Croats.

The EU took over in 2004 and its EUFOR mission has been there ever since, but its presence is looking increasingly fragile.

The announcement that 50 German troops will return the mission for the first time in ten years has drawn criticism. The stated reason for the small number of troops is fear of Russian meddling, but the return of German troops is highly symbolic for Serbs in Bosnia.

Bosnian-Serb separtist leader Milorad Dodik alludes to to World War II, during which Germany killed thousands of civilians in Serbia, and says German troops are not welcome.

Additionally, Croatia is lobbying to join the EUFOR mission. Heres Bosnias foreign minister on the prospect of that occurring:

Serious concerns about the intention of Croatias President to send Croatian troops to Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a part of the Althea EUFOR/NATO mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina, while at the same time denying the Genocide committed in Srebrenica. pic.twitter.com/hI6QQ3C5ZT  Bisera Turkovic (@BiseraTurkovic) September 16, 2022

The return of German troops and potential addition of Croatia to EUFOR is discrediting the mission just as its mandate is scheduled to end in November. Any extension would need to be approved by the UN Security Council, where Russia has a veto.

Due to the fact that the US is not agreement-capable and already ignored the Dayton Agreement to install Schmidt, it likely matters little whether Moscow approves of an extension of the EUFOR mission.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly mentioned Bosnia as a country that needs shoring-up of its security. And arguments for NATO to stabilize Bosnia are popping up as Dodik renews his threats to secede. Most follow the line of thinking presented in this War on the Rocks article:

Recognizing that the structural factors that gave rise to Dodiks secessionist moves are still present, the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom should take immediate action to transform this frozen conflict. Russias war in Ukraine has made sending NATO troops to Bosnia and Herzegovina vital for maintaining a safe and secure environment in the Balkans .

Dodik is friendly with Russia and has drawn the ire of the west, including US sanctions. The current election recount in Bosnia is focused on Republika Srpska where Dodik was again supported overwhelmingly.

Some are arguing NATO already has the authorization to deploy its forces to Bosnia under the Dayton Accords and reports in Bosnia are that the decision has already been made.

Additionally a bill is making its way through the US Congress (HR 8453) that is all about getting the Russians out of Bosnia and the Americans in. The bill states that it is US policy to:

support progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration; use sanctions against those who undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement and Bosnian democracy;

Expose Russias role in fueling instability in Bosnia and imperiling the Office of the High Representative and EU peacekeeping presence in Bosnia

Mandates sanctions on foreign persons who undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement or otherwise threaten the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Requires regular reporting to establish strong Congressional oversight over the Administrations use of sanctions to hold accountable internal and external actors undermining stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina

And despite all these issues in Bosnia, its EU candidacy got a minor lifeline on October 12 when the EU Commission advised member states to grant it candidate status.

It is in the EUs strategic interest and essential to their own stability and prosperity that all six Western Balkan states get into the EU as fast as possible, enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said.
(Natural News) Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was confronted by anti-war protesters during a Wednesday town hall event she hosted in the Bronx. The crowd at the sparsely attended event was dominated by her own progressive constituency, but who loudly voiced their anger and frustration over selling out on foreign policy, especially when it comes to her positions and votes on the Ukraine war, which has seen the US hand over an unprecedented tens of billions of dollars in weapons and aid. This has made her indistinguishable from her establishment colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including neocon Republicans and hawkish Dems.

(Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com)

One protester loudly denounced her for policy positions that will lead to a nuclear war with Russia as seen in a now viral clip. Indeed an article in Unherd observed starting last Spring: The Squad nowhere to be seen as Ukraine package sails through  a trend which has only continued. Though AOC and Democratic party leadership under her friend and mentor Nancy Pelosi have worked hard to protect her image as a leading young Progressive, she stood helpless on the stage as the crowd turned against her, calling her out as a fraud. Watch:

AOC humiliated at a Town Hall: You ran as an outsider yet you voted to start this war in Ukraine. Youre voting to start a nuclear war with Russia and China pic.twitter.com/dSldpyKVLT  Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) October 13, 2022

While discussing ongoing escalation among nuclear-armed powers over Ukraine, a protester had enough, yelling back at AOC: None of this matters unless theres a nuclear war, which you voted to send arms and weapons to Ukraine.

He then called her out for her initial outsider views on the campaign trail, which are now anything but. She was accused of playing with lives of American citizens by stoking proxy war in Ukraine, leading to nuclear showdown with Russia:

You ran as an outsider, yet youve been voting to start this war in Ukraine. Youre voting to start a third nuclear war with Russia and China. Why are you playing with the lives of American citizens?

Previously after the New York Democrat voted in favor of sending $40 billion in military and humanitarian aid in May, shes made multiple statements in favor of ramping up aid to the Ukrainians amid the Russian invasion. As Ukraine fights against the Russian invasion, we have a moral obligation to assist any way we can, Ocasio-Cortez had said.

Ironically this is the very week former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has come under mainstream media fire and an avalanche of online denunciations and attacks for her stance on Russia-Ukraine which runs deeply counter to Washington orthodoxy. She announced this week shell be leaving the Democratic Party, an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness  as she described in her own blistering video commentary.

In the viral AOC town hall clip, a second protester can be seen loudly asking why she cant be more like Gabbard. Tulsi Gabbard, shes left the Democratic Party because they are war hawks, he began.

Tulsi Gabbard has shown guts where youve shown cowardice, the second protester said. I believed in you, and you became the very thing you sought to fight against. That what youve become, you are the establishment! And you are the reason why everybody will end up in a nuclear war

AOC, 12/2020, on Antifa activists menacing politicians in public: Activists *should* be impolite. The whole point of protesting is to make ppl uncomfortable. AOC, last night, to protesters confronting her for funding Bidens proxy war: I wont answer you! Youre being ruude! https://t.co/iuy4GYOLdY  Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 13, 2022

And more from Greenwald below:

Ive gone back and watched the interview I did of AOC during her 2018 primary run, when few had even heard of her. @RyanGrim called me and said: theres this primary challenger in Queens I think youd really like. He was right. See if you recognize her: https://t.co/bdAxxiLSWi  Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 13, 2022

The pair of protesters later explained in a follow-up social media post, My friend @Noggatone and I confronted Congresswoman [Ocasio-Cortez] on her support for Nuclear War and Ukrainian Nazis, according to a Twitter statement by Jose Vega.

He added, I call her out for being a coward in the face of the party that will push us all into Nuclear war right now. Will she stand up like [Tulsi Gabbard] and fight for peace?

Meanwhile, a simple Google search of the AOC encounter with protesters turns up this curious notification urging users to check the source on whether it is trusted..

Read more at: ZeroHedge.com
(Natural News) United States President Joe Biden promised Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky that he would provide advanced air defense systems to the war-torn country after Russian missiles rained down on the capital city of Kyiv and other areas.

Biden spoke with Zelensky on Monday, Oct. 10, pledging to continue providing Ukraine with the support it needs to defend itself, including advanced air defense systems, as per a White House statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened more severe attacks against Ukraine after Russias most significant wave of strikes killed at least 11 and injured dozens in retaliation for an explosion that damaged the strategically important Kerch bridge that linked Moscow and Crimea.

Ukraine, which sees the bridge as a vital component of Russias sustained war effort, celebrated the blast. However, it did not claim responsibility for the attack.

Justin Crump, chief executive of security consultancy Sibylline, said Russia is seeking to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. While it is something that they tried throughout the conflict, it was never on such a massive scale.

After speaking with Biden, Zelensky went on Twitter to say that air defense is currently the top priority in their defense cooperation. We will do everything to strengthen our armed forces. We will make the battlefield more painful for the enemy, he said in a late Monday address.

Meanwhile, the White House statement did not specify what systems Biden was talking about. The Pentagon previously said it would start delivering the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) over the next two months or so.

Russian ambassador: More help to Ukraine raises risk of a wider war

Anatoly Antonov, Russias ambassador to the United States, said more help to Ukraine raises the risk of a wider war.

Such assistance, as well as providing Kyiv with intelligence, instructors and combat guidelines, led to further escalation and increased the risks of a clash between Russia and NATO, he told the press.

Kyiv, meanwhile, said that Russian forces fired more than 80 missiles on 10 cities across the country and that Russia used Iranian drones launched from neighboring Belarus.

The rush-hour attacks were deliberately timed to kill people and knock out Ukraines power grid, Zelensky said.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also reported 11 major infrastructure targets hit in eight regions, leaving parts of Ukraine without electricity, water or heat, although he promised to restore utilities as quickly as possible.

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations also planned to hold an emergency call with Zelensky to discuss their response.

The U.S. and its allies had been reluctant to provide sophisticated weapons to the Ukrainian military, partly to avoid direct conflict with Russia. However, Zelensky urged the allied nations to do away with the restraints in a series of calls with G7 leaders.

Biden said the world would face the prospect of Armageddon if Putin decides to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, asking what his off-ramp could be to avoid further escalation of the war.

However, officials said Bidens decision is not based on new intelligence and that the U.S. has no information indicating that Putin is seeking to use nuclear weapons.

Bidens comments indicate that the conflict could spin out of control and have drastic, deadly consequences for the continent and the rest of the world. (Related: The Ben Armstrong Show: Bidens interest in Russia-Ukraine conflict peppered with corruption and controversy.)

The Department of Defense will continue to work closely alongside our international allies and partners to support Ukraine in their fight to defend their country for as Kingdoms it takes, said Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder in a statement on Monday.

United Kingdoms Prime Minister Liz Truss, who took over the job from Boris Johnson just a month ago, urged G7 leaders to remain resolute in their support for Ukraine.

The overwhelming international support for Ukraines struggle stands in stark opposition to the isolation of Russia on the international stage. Their bravery in the face of the most brutal acts of violence has earned the people of Ukraine global admiration, she said. Nobody wants peace more than Ukraine. And for our part, we must not waver one iota in our resolve to help them win it.

Visit WWIII.news for more updates regarding U.S. involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Watch this video that talks about the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

This video is from the LifeSiteNews channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Report warns American military ammo and weapon stockpiles are dangerously low as Biden sends yet more weapons to Ukraine.

Putin places blame for Nordstream sabotage squarely on Biden after he threatened to shut it down over Ukraine invasion.

Biden wants to continue pouring tens of billions of dollars down the Ukraine money pit while Americans suffer.

Sources include:

SCMP.com

AlJazeera.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Anyone in their right mind knows that sleepy Joe did not get 80 million legitimate votes for POTUS in 2020, as tens of millions of mail-in ballots magically appeared after the polls closed. Video cameras captured thousands of mules loading and reloading ballots (for Biden) into machines and drop boxes, and most likely ballots that were counterfeit, counted multiple times, and even ones from dead folks and illegal immigrants.

Sounds like a very complicated issue to fix, but fortunately, it is very easy to fix. Consider that every paper money bill created has its own unique serial number, as well as every check written against a bank account. Why arent voting ballots created this way? Cash money bills also have water marks to protect them from counterfeiters. Are voting ballots just not that important? They seem even MORE important, as our entire constitution, democracy, economy, healthcare system, and national security are now falling apart at the seams thanks to counterfeit ballots. Its time to make that change, and right now.

Time to put serial numbers and water marks on every voting ballot so they can never be counterfeited or counted multiple times

Cash money bills each have their own unique eight-digit-long code on them, with other letters and numbers that denote the YEAR the bill was made and where it was printed. Think about that for a minute. A total of eleven numbers and letters on each bill that can be traced using the present system, to find a specific transaction that took place, from a certain customer, at a specific merchant, retailer or bank teller. Now imagine verifying every single voting ballot this way. That would almost entirely systematically end the fraud and stop the steal of future elections in this country.

Now, hold up money and passports to a bright light and you will see watermarks that are quite difficult to counterfeit. On a twenty dollar bill, theres a watermark of Andrew Jacksons face. That could easily be put on every voting ballot from now on. Watermarks like this help identify the grade of paper and the manufacturer of that paper. That means all of the counterfeit ballots made for Biden in 2020 would be traceable and could be tracked. Every ballot that was counted two or more times would be reduced to a single count in a matter of seconds, and the manufacturer surely busted for fraud, forgery, conspiracy, treason, and many other crimes.

Social security numbers on federal election ballots would ensure that non-American-citizens could not vote for our countrys leaders

Why would we ever want people from a foreign country helping decide who runs our country? Could it be because the Democrats are in debt (in more ways than one) to Communist China? Could it be because the Democrat Party is notoriously famous for giving free handouts, including money, food, housing, jobs, and drivers licenses to illegal immigrants, assuming they will vote accordingly, if given the capability?

Welcome to our amazing technological world, where we protect money with serial numbers, rare paper, and watermarks, but voting ballots can be duplicated easier than a middle school math quiz on a standard copy machine.

When will voting ballots, like money, have QR codes, patterned micro-perforations, interact with magnets, and bear watermarks, serial numbers, or even social security numbers on them? And why not already, in this ever-digitizing world? Wheres Bill Gates with all his billions of dollars now? He must be too busy working on funding more toxic vaccines and cutting American farmland deals with the CCP.

The first watermark on a bill dates back to Italy in the 1200s. The English used watermarks on money in the late 1400s, so that papermakers and mouldmakers could not counterfeit money for revolutionary governments. By the 1840s, the English were producing the first 3-D watermarks. Today, in the USA, we have watermarks bearing the portraits on every bill from $5 dollar bills on up to $100 bills. These are also embedded to secure authentic banknotes.

Social Security numbers were created in the USA in 1936 to track earning histories of US citizens, and to compute benefit levels and entitlements. Every citizen has a social security number, that you need to apply for a job, or credit card, or a bank account, or private insurance, or to obtain a home loan, but NOT to vote. Why not? We track everything else, but never voting ballots.

Do your own research and dont use Google. Try the search engine Brave BETA and get more truth news and real information. Bookmark VoteFraud.news to your favorite websites for truth news about the upcoming Midterms thats being censored from the rest of media as you read this. Oh, and make sure you get out and vote in November for politicians who will actually protect our constitution and the voting system of our Republic!

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

Investopedia.com

AmericanBanker.com
(Natural News) Croatian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Mislav Kolakusic blasted the European Unions purchase of excess Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine doses, calling it the biggest corruption scandal in history.

The purchase of 4.5 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for 450 million EU residents is the biggest corruption scandal in the history of mankind, he said in a video posted on his Twitter Wednesday, Oct. 12. Kolakusic directed his message at Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, whom he dubbed as Mrs. 4.5 Billion Doses.

According to the MEP, von der Leyen refused to disclose communications surrounding the EUs purchase of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses to him and other federal lawmakers.

Ten of us MEPs asked her the following question: When will she present to us, the members of the European Parliament, as well as the EU citizens whom she supposedly represents, the communication she had with Pfizer during the procurement of 4.5 billion doses of vaccines at a time when there was absolutely no proof of the effectiveness, and especially not of the harmfulness of that product? Kolakusic said.

Imagine  four and a half billion doses for 450 million people. [The U.K.] is no longer with us, so there are quite a few of us. Based on that calculation  each child, newly born, should receive ten doses of something that no one in the world, except maybe two or three people, knows what it contains.

Kolakusic commented that the deal between Pfizer and von der Leyen was all about secrets and protected patents, adding: Dont think that any kind of government or European agency knows exactly what is in that product. Nobody knows that, and nobody tells you that.

He further pointed out that the COVID-19 vaccine was approved just based on the statements of the pharmaceutical companies, without any medical research to back up the approval.

To date, no medical research has been handed over to the members of the EU Parliaments COVID committee or the European Medicines Agency. How is that possible? We are talking about corruption here, said Kolakusic.

The procurement of 4.5 billion [vaccine doses] with the intention of injecting them into people, without anyone knowing what is inside, is surely the biggest corruption affair in the history of mankind, not only in the history of the EU. (Related: European Parliament member says EU over-purchase of COVID jabs equates to biggest corruption scandal in the history of mankind.)

Kolakusic earlier compared vaccine makers to unscrupulous mafia

The Croatian MEP, formerly a judge in his home country, earlier compared COVID-19 vaccine makers to members of an unscrupulous mafia.

During a session of the European Parliament in February 2022, Kolakusic warned his fellow MEPs about the emergence of powerful, unscrupulous mafia-pandemic profiteers who are more dangerous than all previous forms of organized crime.

We are dealing with a mafia that uses the media, instead of weapons, for a fear campaign to sell billions of its products. Over the past year, virtually all mainstream media in Europe and worldwide have been spreading misinformation and publishing falsehoods.

The source of the misinformation, according to Kolakusic, is the COVID-19 vaccine makers that aim to sell several billions of their products annually by propagating fear campaigns.

There is no end to this fear campaign because they earn tens of billions a year. They are organized, spread fear and influence policymakers.

Kolakusic also pointed his finger at von der Leyen, blaming her COVID-19 policies for dividing citizens and violating their rights.

Fundamental human rights have never been more seriously violated in the past 80 years since Nazism  freedom to travel, the right to work, health care and the right to ban medical experiments performed on more than 500 million people, he said, emphasizing that every citizen has the right to self-determination.

Moreover, the Croatian MEP also blasted vaccine passports. The vaccination certificates that only allow the vaccinated to travel freely  while spreading the virus just as easily as the unvaccinated  are insane, he said.

Tens of thousands of citizens have died from the side effects of vaccines. Mandatory vaccinations represent the death penalty and will result in the execution of many citizens.

Watch Croatian MEP Mislav Kolakusic blast the EUs purchase of COVID-19 vaccine doses below.

This video is from the Prevent Global Genocide channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

WHO Pandemic Treaty will take away government oversight in the event of another pandemic, German MEP says.

Romanian lawmaker GRILLS Big Pharma executives over lack of accountability for dangerous COVID-19 vaccines.

Members of European Parliament push back hard against vaccine mandates and safety passports.

Croatian politician likens mandatory covid vaccination to death penalty.

German MEP demands answers: When will vaccine deaths be counted?

Sources include:

RAIRFoundation.com 1

Twitter.com

RAIRFoundation.com 2

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Horse poop as an energy alternative? Europeans are thinking about it.

Europe is expected to face energy shortages, blackouts and very high power bills this winter, leaving ordinary people panicking. Demand for firewood is off the charts and many are hoarding flammable materials to burn in their woodstoves for the cold months ahead.

Anyone who hasnt had the chance to purchase a woodstove yet may find it too late to get one for the beginning of winter as it could now take months to get delivered.

As much as 70 percent of European heating comes from natural gas and electricity. Wood, which was used by some 40 million people for heating, has now become the most sought-after commodity.

The demand comes with a price: Wood pellets nearly doubled to 600 euros ($583.26) a ton in France, and there are signs of panic buying for the worlds most basic fuel. Hungary has even gone so far as to ban the exports of pellets while Romania capped firewood prices for six months.

With wood and wood pellets being so expensive, some Europeans are now considering other options that normally would have been unthinkable: the possibility of burning horse poop in their stoves.

Some Europeans are now contacting their local chimney sweeps to inquire about the possibility of using horse manure and other obscure fuels.

Horse poop as energy source

Horse poop as energy source is not completely new. Italian researchers previously proved that it could be a clean and efficient biofuel as long as they are properly dried out first.

Stored feces and manure contain high quantities of water, which is far too much for them to burn well. However, when the raw material is dry, it becomes a high-producing energy source that might be worth investing the energy needed to dry them, said Luca Da Lio of the University of Padovas Department of Industrial Engineering in Italy.

Energetic balances and laboratory measurements demonstrate that the heat for the humidity extraction can be derived from the exhausts of horse manure combustion itself: The process is still thermodynamically convenient, Da Lio said. (Related: Biofuel challenges: Some green fuels can become contaminated with the wrong microbes.)

With nearly 800 million metric tons of horse manure produced in the world annually, Da Lio and his fellow researchers found that readings were high for both fuel potential and moisture content of the manure, so fresh horse poop has about as much carbon as wood shavings alone. Once dry, heating values of manure become equivalent to those of the promising new biofuel from elephant grass and only slightly lower than those of traditional wood logs.

Europeans cant rely on power grids this winter

Under normal conditions, the average person would not think of using horse poop for energy, but residents can now see that they may not be able to rely on their national power grids this winter.

European Union (EU) Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenar?i? even warned that energy shortages could lead to widespread blackouts in the months ahead as Russia continues its war with Ukraine.

Lenar?i? also said Brussels is preparing for worst-case scenarios, especially since it is likely that EU countries would need disaster relief due to the energy crisis.

German Federal Economy Minister Robert Habeck expressed concerns over their own energy crisis, as Germany may run out of gas. Citizens had to reduce their consumption ahead of the winter months even as the German government launched a new price break program to help them with the rising energy costs.

The Germans desperately need to cut back on consumption if they want to avoid rationing.

Moreover, the explosion at the Nord Stream pipeline ensured that even Russia cannot come to the rescue by providing much-needed natural gas at a critical moment.

The price of energy has gotten so high that some major European manufacturers have already been forced to shut down operations. The energy costs alone make it impossible for them to operate profitably, leading them to close shop until energy costs come back down.

Visit PowerGrid.news for more updates about energy sources this summer.

More related stories:

Scientists develop new technology that extracts valuable chemicals from biological waste.

Indian startup promotes cow dung logs for cremating coronavirus victims.

Biofuel challenges: Some green fuels can become contaminated with the wrong microbes.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

TheHorse.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The recently founded Australian Medical Professionals Society (AMPS), operating as an alternative to the Australian Medical Association (AMA), is pushing for medical transparency to protect patients and ensure open scientific debates.

Our AMPS members are refusing to be silent, even under threats to our registrations. We are fighting for law reform to provide our patients with evidence-based care rather than uncritical politically driven health practice, they wrote in a statement published in Spectator Australia.

The group was formed in response to the joint directive released in March 2022 by the Medical Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) that admonished healthcare providers who dare to question the mainstream Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) narrative.

The government directive warned against any promotion of anti-vaccination statements or health advice that contradicts the best available scientific evidence or seeks to actively undermine the national immunization campaign, including via social media. Such actions, it added, are not supported by national boards and may be in breach of the codes of conduct and subject to investigation and possible regulatory action.

It also included instructions to ensure doctors compliance with government guidelines for social media use. Moreover, it ordered doctors not to discourage their patient or client from seeking vaccination, even if the doctors themselves choose not to get injected due to conscientious objection.

APHRA also warned that anyone who shares false, misleading or deceptive information about COVID-19, including anti-vaccination material, may face persecution.

AMPS revealed that many healthcare providers have been disciplined or suspended for challenging the public health messaging despite having scientific shreds of evidence to support their professional view, including Drs. Mark Hobart, Paul Oosterhuis and Denes Borsos.

California doctors challenge law punishing dissent from the scientific consensus

Meanwhile in California, Los Angeles psychiatrist Dr. Mark McDonald and Orange County primary care physician Dr. Jeff Barke filed a lawsuit in the District Court for the Central District of California, in relation to the passing of Assembly Bill (AB) 2098.

AB 2098, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom into law on Sept. 30, authorized the Medical Board of California to pursue professional sanctions and even license revocation against doctors who decide against their COVID-19 narrative. (Related: California legislators are on a mission to de-license ALL doctors in the state who challenge covid dogma.)

[AB 2098] puts patients at risk. Requiring physicians to consider the states narrative when making a medical decision, is bad medicine and dangerous. Consensus in science only occurs when dissenting opinions are censored, said Barke, a founding member of Americas Frontline Doctors.

McDonald and Barke also filed papers seeking a preliminary injunction to protect their free speech rights as the case unfolds.

Reasonable minds disagreed then, and continue to disagree now, about any number of such topics, but the search for truth cannot be furthered by a government edict imposing orthodoxy from above, punishing those who disagree with the loss of their profession and their livelihood, the suit noted.

It also alleged that the new law intrudes into the privacy of the doctor-patient relationship by replacing the medical judgment of the government for that of the licensed professional and chilling the speech of those who dissent from the official view.

Attorney Daniel Suhr, who represents the doctors, said: We rely on our doctors to give us their best medical advice, yet the State of California is stopping doctors from doing just that. Thats not just wrong, its unconstitutional.

Visit MedicalCensorship.com for more about government directives that suppress medical practitioners freedom of speech and practice.

Watch the video below that talks about how Australia enforces mandatory vaccination.

This video is from the Midwest Information Network channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Australias COVID Medical Network: Aussie regulators, health officials LIED about COVID vaccines.

The dystopian vision of the health information police.

California warns doctors: tell the truth about anything and youll lose your medical license.

California legislators are trying to criminalize doctors who treat covid patients with anything other than remdesivir, ventilators and vaccines.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

Spectator.com.au

AHPRA.gov.au

AusDoc.com.au

LifeSiteNews.com

LegInfo.Legislature.ca.gov

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) A school board meeting in Michigan became chaotic as Muslim parents voiced out their opposition to sex- and LGBT-themed books.

The Oct. 10 meeting of the Dearborn Public Schools (DPS) officials originally centered around new procedures and resources for reviewing books removed from classrooms.

In September, the board temporarily removed seven books from circulation after parents complained of the titles having inappropriate content. The axed titles include This Book is Gay, The Lovely Bones and Red, White and Royal Blue.

DPS clarified at the time that it had not banned any books. The removal was done in order to evaluate the seven books if they are age-appropriate and present content in an acceptable manner. The school district said the seven titles will be returned to bookshelves if they pass the criteria. (Related: Keller ISD in Texas pulls several books  including the Bible  from school libraries.)

However, the meetings agenda did not sit too well with the attendees, particularly Muslim parents. Some of them even brought signs airing their frustration against the controversial books.

Niraj Warikoo of the Detroit Free Press posted pictures of the signs held up by both Christian and Muslim parents during the meeting on his Twitter.

One sign stated: Homosexual desires and actions were shameful and unnatural. It even cited a passage from the first letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, which said that sodomites were wrongdoers who will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Another sign emphasized that adultery and homosexuality are big sins and that marriage is a phenomenon arising from an innate sexual desire between a man and a woman. All divine religions are against this kind of [homosexual] relationship, it added.

A third sign written in both English and Arabic admonished school officials to keep [their pornographic] books to [themselves] and [their houses], not in [kids] hands. A fourth sign encapsulated the thoughts of the parents who attended: If democracy matters, were the majority.

Incensed parents call to vote out groomers on the school board

DPS School Board President Roxanne McDonald set a maximum limit of three minutes for every speaker, which did not sit too well with the crowd.

You have no right to sit there and tell us we cant talk, said one man who attended the meeting. He was met with cheers from the crowd, which then turned into boos against the school board. The community was reminded to calm down if they wanted the meeting to continue, but this possibility quickly evaporated.

A DPS official later took the podium and chided attendees that they were violating the fire code, adding that some people ought to leave the room.

Were not fighting the board. Were working with the board as parents and the public and taxpayers. We have to work together because the law supports the parents for the students education, the male official noted. However, in this case through the hallways, the setting right here, were breaking the fire code.

This prompted the crowd to shout at the official. Amid the commotion, one board member called for a recess  which was taken minutes later. As board members exited the room, the angry crowd chanted vote them out.

Issa Shahin, chief of the Dearborn Police Department, later informed attendees that the meeting was suspended and would continue on Oct. 13. He also pleaded with the community to calm down, saying that Dearborn is better than this.

DPS Communications and Marketing Director David Mustonen lamented the incident: It is disappointing that a few people created a disruption that prevented the many others from sharing their thoughts.

Head over to PublicEducation.news for more stories like this.

Watch this clip from the school board meeting that features outraged parents chanting vote them out as the board members exit.

This video is from the Beautifulhorizons2 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Books on gender transitioning recommended to kindergartners in Newsoms California.

Mississippi mayor refuses to distribute funds to libraries that display LGBT books for kids.

Oregon school district votes to keep pornographic LGBT materials available for young children.

California K-12 reading list includes books about transgender toddlers, how Trump and Founding Fathers are racist.

Texas, Florida governors accused of being anti-LGBT by mainstream media for pushing for age-appropriate materials in schools.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

MyNBC15.com

Twitter.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The war between Russia and Ukraine has broken away out of containment from regional conflict and things are getting out of hand as the West took out the Kerch Straight Bridge.

There had also been reports in retaliation to the explosion of the bridge that Western media refused to report on. There are now Russians chanting on the streets of Moscow saying that the Russian government should nuke Washington.

Without these news reports making it into Western mainstream media, Americans believe that the prospect of nuclear war is something inconceivable. It is not.

According to reports, Russians towed a nuclear missile right in front of the American Embassy in Moscow as they sent a message in the strongest language that they possibly can: Dont push the Kremlin into declaring nuclear war.

What is clear, however, is that Russian President Vladimir Putin believed the attack to be from Ukraine and he has targeted Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Lviv, Ternopil, Dnipro, Zhytomyr and Zaporizhzhia with deadly missile strikes in retaliation for its terrorist action against Russian territory. A total of 14 people were killed while dozens more were injured.

In his televised remarks, Putin said Moscow had launched long-range missile attacks against Ukraines energy, military and communications infrastructure on Monday, Oct. 10.

Putin said the strikes were in retaliation for the attack on the Kerch Bridge, which links Russia to the Crimean Peninsula. Moreover, Putin claimed that Ukraine tried to blow up the TurkStream natural gas pipeline. He also said at the meeting of Russias Security Council that if the attacks continue against Russia, the response will be harsh and that it will be of the same scale as the threats to Russia.

Ukraines Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said that the missile attacks continued on Monday afternoon in cities other than Kyiv, adding that around 45 of the 83 missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian forces, including nine kamikaze drones. The head of Ukraines law enforcement noted that Mondays attacks damaged 70 infrastructure sites, 29 of which are critical.

Andriy Yermak, a senior advisor to Zelensky, said the strikes had no practical military sense and that Russia simply wanted to cause a humanitarian catastrophe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video that the Russians want panic and chaos by destroying Ukraines energy system. The second target is people. Such a time and such targets were specially chosen to cause as much damage as possible, he said.

Ukraine also denied any involvement in the bridge attack.

Putin under pressure to take more aggressive action against Ukraine

Putin had been under intense domestic pressure to take more aggressive action to stop a largely successful Ukrainian counteroffensive and to react forcefully to the Oct. 8 attack on the Kerch bridge.

His increasing descriptions of terrorist Ukrainian actions could also portend more bold and draconian responses.

The European Union has condemned Russias attacks and said that targeting civilians amounted to a war crime, as Russias Defense Ministry confirmed the massive strike with long-range precision weapons. However, they claimed that the missiles only targeted objects of the military command and control, communications and energy systems of Ukraine and that all assigned objects were hit.

Some feared that Mondays attacks may just be the first salvo in a renewed Russian offensive, and Ukraine switched all schools to online learning until at least the end of the week. (Related: Russian lawmaker: Attack on Crimean Bridge a declaration of war without rules against Russia.)

In an ominous move that can be taken as another sign of possible escalation, Putins closest ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, announced that he and Putin have agreed to create a joint regional grouping of troops but offered no additional details. He only repeated his claims that Ukraine is plotting an attack on Belarus with its western backers, sparking fears that he would take preemptive actions.

Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin later issued a video warning Ukraine not to provoke Belarus.

Visit WWIII.news for more updates regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.

Watch the video below for more information about the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

This video is from the NEW PATRIOT channel on Brighteon.com..

More related stories:

Ukraine frantically tries to walk back Zelensky call for preemptive strikes on Russia.

Professor Sachs: Ukraine needs to stop bombing nuclear power plant and blaming it on Russia.

Ukraines Zelensky called for NATO strikes on Russia, raising new fears WWIII is on the horizon.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

News.Sky.com

CBSNews.com
(Natural News) As Big Tech firm Apple rakes in billions in revenue, figures revealed that it is now richer than 80 percent of countries around the world.

An article by Apple Insider pointed out that the companys revenue for the last four quarters came in at $387.5 billion. It easily surpassed the gross domestic product (GDP) of Malaysia for the same period of $372.7 billion. However, it fell just behind the Philippines $393.6 billion and Denmarks $395.7 billion.

The company, founded by Steve Jobs and two others, is not far from overtaking economic powerhouses such as Egypt ($402.8 billion) and the United Arab Emirates ($409.9 billion). However, it has a long way to go in beating the Netherlands $1.02 trillion GDP  the lowest in the trillion-dollar club.

Apples $35.9 billion gross margin for the third quarter (Q3) of 2022 alone easily put it ahead of Sudan ($35.15 billion) and behind Estonia ($36.3 billion). Its annual gross margin of $167.9 billion put it in between Algerias $164.6 billion and Qatars $179.6 billion.

Apples Q3 net profit of $19.4 billion put it ahead of the West African nation of Mali ($19.2 billion), while its annual net profit of $99.6 billion put it ahead of Ethiopia in the continents east.

Moreover, sales from Apples gadgets easily surpassed the GDPs of other countries.

The iPhones revenue for Q3 2022 alone amounted to $40.67 billion, putting it ahead of Bolivias $39.98 billion. Its total revenue of $201.7 billion for the past four quarters put the iPhone ahead of Ukraine, which recorded a GDP of $198.3 billion in 2021.

Annual sales of other Apple devices such as iPad tablets and Mac desktop computers also managed to surpass the GDPs of other countries. For instance, the iPads $30.4 billion beat the $29.9 billion GDP of the Macau special administrative region in China. The Macs $37.8 billion annual revenue easily surpassed Estonias $36.3 billion GDP.

Apples billions upon billions in revenue is large enough to make it more valuable than most countries, wrote Malcolm Owen, the author of the Apple Insider piece.

Apples power, influence growing alongside its monetary value

Writing for the Western Journal, conservative commentator Jared Miller pointed out the absurdity of Apple surpassing the GDP of many nations.

It is disturbing to find out that Apple, one of the largest tech companies to date, has an income that rivals most countries, he noted. The tech giants annual revenue dwarfs that of the majority of the worlds countries by a significant margin.

Given this, Miller remarked that the power and influence of tech companies such as Apple grows alongside their monetary value. He cited the California-based firms documented habit of removing and suspending apps it does not approve of.

In one instance, Apple promptly kicked out free speech social media platform Parler from its App Store following the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol siege. It was only allowed back into the App Store in late April 2021, albeit with enhanced content moderation infrastructure in place.

Apple later suspended the Russian VKontakte social media platform in line with Russias annexation of and referendum in four regions previously under Ukrainian control. During the early days of the Russia-Ukraine war, Apple heavily restricted other applications like Apple Pay and removed various other Russian-sponsored media outlets from the App Store. (Related: Google, Apple cut off access to ordinary Russians, meaning they can do the same to Americans at any time.)

It seems that Apple is more than happy to jump at the chance to suppress discourse in favor of whichever cause it deems righteous at the time, Miller noted.

Ironically, the conservative commentator noted that Apples actions toward Russia were a stark contrast with its approach toward China. Miller pointed out that the company almost completely turned over private control of its Chinese-based data centers to the Chinese government, citing a 2021 New York Times piece.

It would not be a stretch, then, to imagine Apple giving over the private control of their servers and data centers to a Biden-like government entity that allows censorship and monitoring of American citizenry.

TechGiants.news has more stories about Apple.

Watch this video that talks about how Apple and other American companies are funding Communist China.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Apple demands Taiwan suppliers use made in China labels.

Globalist corporation Apple pays virtually NO tax in any country.

In China, Apple censors LGBT apps, but in America, Apple censors anti-LGBT publishers.

Apple licks the boots of communist China, pulls 25,000 apps the communists dont like.

Sources include:

WesternJournal.com

AppleInsider.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) There is far too much food fraud to expose every company and corporation responsible, because just like going fishing, you cant catch them all  but you can get some. So, here are 5 of the most interesting cases of counterfeit foods and knock-offs that got busted for fraud already this year. These fraudsters and their products can be dangerous to consumer health or just a detriment to hard working folks who serve up the real thing.

The case of the wanna-be-Wonka chocolate bars

Everyone has heard of Willy Wonka and his famous chocolate. You may even want to try a Wonka chocolate bar to see what all the fuss is about, but watch out, as it could be an imposter, a fake, a fraud, an illegal copycat  as what recently popped up in the United Kingdom at retail outlets. The danger to consumers is that the knock-off-Wonka-wanna-be chocolate bars contained undeclared hazelnuts, so anyone with severe allergies to those could have been in grave health danger had they consumed them.

The cheap packaging is what got the Wonka-counterfeiters busted. It was the second time the same guy got busted in 2016 for counterfeiting food or candy. The real brand owner of the Wonka chocolate bars is Nestle, and not that any natural health advocates should support them, but fraud is fraud, so this example hits the list of top 5 fake food busts of 2022.

Next on the food fraud chopping block comes water-diluted milk

How often this fraud happens nobody knows, but somebody finally got busted. After passing quality control tests, a tanker-truck built in Italy for transporting milk was modified so the milk could be watered down inside the stainless steel tanks just before unloading, and prior to getting pumped into the holding tanks of the purchasers. This is some expensive fraud, so you can only imagine how badly purchasers were getting ripped off. The danger to consumers in this case is the water, believe it or not. If the water used to dilute the milk is contaminated, the whole tank could be, and then cleaning the tank with the modifications made could pose problems also.

From ocean to seafood smuggler to table

A massive illegal seafood smuggling ring was uncovered in China just last February. An estimated 10 percent of all seafood comes to market through smugglers who want to avoid tariffs, regulations, and taxes. Seafood smugglers have many reasons to do what they do, including fishing in illegal catch areas, exceeding catch quotas, and catching and selling fish that are off limits (even under threat of extinction). Then they just mislabel those fish and who knows whos getting what. It could be expired with the wrong date on it too.

Some grains and cereals from Eastern Europe labeled organic may just be conventional foods grown with pesticides

Faking an organic qualification saves fraudsters a fortune, that is, until they get caught. Some grain and cereal suppliers from Eastern Europe got busted this year making false claims about the organic and bio status of certain cereals and grains that were sold as bulk commodities. This was easier to slide under the radar with all the supply chain issues going on worldwide, but a shipment of conventional oats labeled as organic got seized by authorities in Italy, for example.

Fraudsters claim the wrong country of origin for certain foods to make extra money

Packaged retail products around the world suffer regularly from country of origin fraud. Lots of contaminated products from China will be labeled any other country to avoid the stigma and the extra-careful inspections. This year in Italy, a market operator allegedly committed country-of-origin fraud with some legumes, spices, and dried fish, saying they were from Japan and Africa, when in actuality they came from countries that were considered at risk, thus requiring official clearances that might have kept them from ever being sold.

There are food fraud databases and food forensic scientists with labs, including the Health Rangers lab and published book, where you can do your own research and find out the authenticity of all kinds of products from all around the world. Let your fingers do the walking, its a snap.

Tune your food news frequency to FoodSupply.news and get updates on more toxic foods and food shortages coming to stores near you.

Sources for this article include:

FoodFraudAdvisors.com

TexasAttorneyGeneral.gov

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) President Joe Biden last year reprimanded Americans who did not want to get Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, saying they were to blame for a pandemic of the unvaccinated. However, research data from around the world has proven that his claims are false.

Kaiser Permanente (KP), a well-known insurance company and healthcare provider, has commissioned a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine against the dominant omicron subvariants.

The KP study revealed that those who are triple-vaccinated are more likely to be infected with COVID-19. Shockingly, or maybe not, they were also more likely to suffer severe illness and die from coronavirus.

According to a report by investigative journalist Daniel Horowitz, one chart on page 30 of the KP preprint study found that vaccine efficacy against the omicron subvariants dropped significantly 14 to 30 days after vaccination.

The efficacy continues to fall in the following months until it reaches negative territory after five months. This suggests that the recipients are more likely to get coronavirus than the unvaccinated.

Additionally, the study results indicate that triple-vaccinated individuals are at greater risk of getting COVID-19 after five months than those who only received two vaccine doses. (Related: Study finds 84% increase in incidence of cardiac-related DEATH among men under 40 following mRNA vaccination.)

Horowitz, who has reported on the negative efficacy of the coronavirus vaccine for the past year, added that its possible that the vaccines prime the body to respond with a version of the virus that has long since changed, thereby making the natural immune response misfire.

Those who support COVID-19 vaccine mandates claim that this is the reason for the new bivalent shot for the BA.5 omicron variant that was approved after it was studied in only eight mice and no human volunteers, said Horowitz. But since a new variant is surging, the new shot is as irrelevant as the previous ones and may even be counterproductive.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the new BA.4.6 variant now accounts for at least 13 percent of all COVID-19 cases and is rising sharply. Other variants also continue to spread.

Dr. Meryl Nass, an epidemiologist and internal physician, featured Horowitzs article on her Substack page. Nass wondered if the KP study was conducted because the company was worried about the excess illness it was seeing.

She said Kaiser might be willing to do a little truth-telling as the company tries to determine who is going to pay for this unexpected hit, which presumably did not stop in 2021 but continues apace.

Adults who have received mRNA booster shots are twice as likely to be hospitalized

Meanwhile, British government data found that adults aged 40 to 74 who have received mRNA booster shots are twice as likely to be hospitalized as those who havent been boosted.

In June, an analysis of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trials by British Medical Journal Editor Dr. Peter Doshi and other medical experts revealed that people who received the mRNA vaccines were more likely to be in the hospital than get protection from a severe adverse event.

Still, Dr. Anthony Fauci has the gall to show up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS earlier this October and promote the new bivalent booster with the host.

Fauci and Colbert taped a sketch where they left the studio and walked down the street to a pharmacy after Fauci said during an interview that he was eligible for another booster. While at a Walgreens store, Colbert joked with Fauci as the latter got vaccinated.

Funnily enough, Fauci still tested positive for coronavirus back in June despite already receiving four doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

Visit Vaccines.news for more information about the adverse effects linked to COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots.

Watch the video below to know more about Carlos Tejada, a New York Times writer who died of a heart attack one day after getting a COVID-19 booster.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Study finds 29% of teenagers develop heart problems following second dose of Pfizers mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Zuckerberg warns that COVID-19 vaccines are experimental and unproven in a leaked video (but Facebook bans you if you say the same thing).

About 800,000 American children missed school due to adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines.

Sources include:

12FT.io

ConservativeReview.com

MerylNass.Substack.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) This is the question that seems to be on the minds of many these days.

(Article by Julie Ponesse republished from TheEpochTimes.com)

The attempt to reach zero-COVID was a colossal failure. Original claims of mRNA vaccine efficacy have reportedly been shown to be based on falsified data. Excess mortality is spiking across the globe. And the Canadian government has finally admitted they have a multi-million dollar contract (pdf) with the World Economic Forum for Traveler Digital ID. What was fiction and then conspiracy theory is now reality.

Many believe we are approaching a tipping point, that we are on the verge of a revelatory storm, that the truth is finally coming out.

And yet most people still believe in the narrative, still cling to the idea that lockdowns and masking were necessary and effective, that their questioning friends are unstable anti-vaxxers, that government is noble and mainstream media unimpeachable. And from the files of the truly unfathomable, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is now urging doctors to prescribe drugs and even psychotherapy to their noncompliant patients. The tipping point is hardly a sure thing.

What if we never reach it? What if the guilty are never held to account? What if we forget only to transgress again and again?

Anecdotes of the harms of the past two years are palpable but ignored. Patients complain of symptoms their doctors wont acknowledge. Citizens tell stories the media ignores. Family members try to open dialogue only to be shut down. The stories are told, but for the most part, they arent being heard.

I recently interviewed Trish Wood, who moderated the Citizens Hearing about the harms of our public health response to COVID-19. She wrote that, a week later, she still felt shaken by the magnitude of what she heard: the damage done to careers, families, and children by the blinkered approach of public health experts. She heard the stories of doctors who were silenced when trying to advocate for patients, people whose lives were forever changed by vaccine injury, and most tragically, stories of those like Dan Hartman, whose teenage son died following mRNA vaccination.

Wood wrote powerfully about the importance of taking account of embedding the acknowledgment of these harms in our collective moral conscience. Her words are, dare I say, reminiscent of Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesels.

In the aftermath of the Holocaust, at a time when the world was so morally injured, so eager for a new start, Wiesel saw it as his responsibility to speak for those who had been silenced. At a time when most couldnt bear to remember, Wiesel couldnt bear to forget. He wrote:

I believe firmly and profoundly that whoever listens to a witness becomes a witness, so those who hear us, those who read us must continue to bear witness for us. Until now, theyre doing it with us. At a certain point in time, they will do it for all of us.

Wiesels words are hauntingly poignant for our time.

Those who tell the stories of the injured knowing they will be ignored, who advocate for patients only to be censured, who highlight the children who have died by suicide rather than from COVID-19 only to be silenced do it because they believe that a cry in the dark will eventually be heard. And even if it isnt, they feel obligated to testify on behalf of those who cant speak for themselves.

I apologize if my reference to Nazi atrocities offends you. My aim in making the comparison is not to be irreverent but purposeful. True, the atrocities of our time arent identical to those of 1930s and 40s Europe. But they dont need to be to learn important moral lessons from them. Wiesels promise of never again wasnt just to past victims of atrocities but to all future victims as well.

This is how the battle will be fought now, whether the truth about the past two years will be dragged into the open or revised into oblivion. We are already seeing backpedaling among our officials, whose mishandling of the pandemic is undeniable.

But that is beyond my point. We have relied for too long on institutions to do the remembering for us, to generate moral responsibility on our behalf. In the era of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, personal accountability has been trained out of us. We were taught to believe that institutions would act as our surrogate moral conscience, taking account and making apology for us. I dont deny the importance of collective responsibility. But sometimes moral injury is personal, done by individuals to one another, and the accountability needs to happen in kind.

There are few who arent personally complicit in the harms of the past two years. And the temptation to put on the armor of the bystander is powerful, to say we werent involved, that we had no choice. But complicity is a form of moral action, sometimes the most powerful there is.

Wouldnt it be lovely if our moral slate could be wiped clean, if we could be absolved of all the hurt we have caused? But this doesnt honor the truth, and its not the way we exercise our humanity.

What if the truth never comes out?

It may not.

But if it doesnt, it shouldnt be because we ignored those crying out to us, because we stood behind a shield of compliance and deference. The road back to freedom, unity, and reconciliation starts with testimony and accountability, and we need to take those painful first few steps now.

Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com
(Natural News) Alex Berenson revealed to Tucker Carlson on Thursday that he had discovered the name of the person who worked so hard to get him banned from Twitter over his concerns about the Covid mRNA vaccine. Freedom of speech, does it exist anymore? Carlson asked. Not really. And theres a reason for that, because the federal government is trying to silence people who disagree with it, the Biden administration.

(Article republished from ThePostMillennial.com)

The mans name, according to Berenson, was Scott Gottlieb, a director of Pfizer, on the executive committee of Pfizer, which is made 10s of billions of dollars from selling these vaccines, Berenson told Carlson, went to Twitter and said this guy is a problem. And then they banned me. Denmark has since banned these vaccines for minors.

Heres one example, the Biden aministration silenced author Alex Berenson, former New York Times reporter, novelist, serious person, why did they do that? Because he asked unauthorized questions about the COVID shot, Carlson said.

So Twitter, turns out acting on orders from the Biden administration, banned his account. Now, no one really knew that, people only suspected it. But now we know for certain because Berenson did something that Twitter was not expecting: he sued and he won, Carlson continued.

And he found out the identity of the person who got him silenced and it turns out that person was not a White House staffer. Bigger than that.

Berenson revealed who it was who had gotten him banned from the platform, before he brought suit and a judge determined that Twitter was in violation of their own contractual obligtions.

What we know is that theres a guy named Andy Slavitt, who was in the White House as a senior adviser to the Biden administrations COVID Response Team.

And as early as April 2021, Slavitt was talking to Twitter about who I was, and that I was a problem for the White House and I was discouraging people from getting the vaccines which the White House wanted, and asking them why they hadnt banned me, so we know that.

And we know that in July, as vaccine efficacy was fading, the administration very publicly and privately, got upset and wanted the social media platforms, including Twitter, including Facebook, to start banning people. And President Biden said on July 16, 2021 that Facebook and other platforms are killing people, by allowing people like me, who were asking reasonable questions about the vaccines, on their platforms. Okay, he said.

Then Twitter struck out at me, Berenson said. In July they gave me three strikes, and I already had one previous strike, which I didnt even know about. So I was one strike away from being suspended at the end of July. And by the way, Andy Slavitt, who is no longer in the White House, but was still sort of at the center of this conspiracy and talking to Albert Bourla, who was the head of Pfizer, and talking to people inside the administration, on a practically daily basis, was very upset.

He was continuing to push Twitter secretly to ban me, Berenson continued. Still, when I came back on the platform last year in August, and was asking even harder questions about the vaccines, at a time when the Biden administration knew they were going to be pushing for mandates, knew they were gonna be pushing for boosters, they still wouldnt ban me. And then Scott Gottlieb, who is a director of Pfizer on the executive committee of Pfizer, which is made 10s of billions of dollars from selling these vaccines, went to Twitter and said this guy is a problem and then they banned me.

So you criticize his product in which he had a financial interest. And he got you censored. Scott Gottlieb, Carlson said. Then he invited Gottlieb on the show.

Read more at: ThePostMillennial.com
(Natural News) The boat was a beauty of a thing: some 500 tons across 171 feet of glass and steel as white as Santorini. All rounded edges, the five decks  one with a glass-bottom pool  were made for July on the Mediterranean, sunset dinners among the islands near Sicily, cocktails in the turquoise shallows off the coast of Ibiza. Her would-be captains showed off pictures of the $50 million vessel at parties, bragging that it would be bigger than all of the richest billionaires yachts in Singapore and describing plans to adorn the staterooms with projector screens, creating a waterborne gallery for their growing collection of digital art in the form of NFTs.

(Article by Jen Wieczner republished from NYMag.com)

No matter that they had originally told friends they were shopping for a $150 million vessel; the superyacht was still the largest by well-established boat builder Sanlorenzo ever to be sold in Asia, a triumph of cryptos nouveau riche. It represents the beginning of a fascinating journey, the yacht broker said in an announcement of the sale last year, saying it looked forward to witnessing many happy moments aboard. The name the buyers had in mind was cleverly chosen  an inside joke nodding to the cryptocurrency dogecoin that would both thrill their social-media acolytes and be intelligible to all the pathetic, poor no coiners out there: Much Wow.

Her buyers, Su Zhu and Kyle Davies, two Andover graduates who ran a Singapore-based crypto hedge fund called Three Arrows Capital, never got the chance to spray Champagne across Much Wows bow. Instead, in July, the same month the boat was set to launch, the duo filed for bankruptcy and disappeared before making their final payment, marooning the unclaimed trophy in her berth in La Spezia on the Italian coast. While she has not been officially listed for resale, the intimate world of international super-yacht dealers has quietly been put on notice that a certain Sanlorenzo 52Steel, the coveted Cayman Islands flag billowing above her empty balconies, is back on the market.

The yacht has since become the subject of endless memes and jokes on Twitter, the functional center of the crypto universe. Pretty much everyone in that world, from the millions of small-scale crypto holders to industry employees and investors, has watched in shock and dismay as Three Arrows Capital, once perhaps the most highly regarded investment fund in a burgeoning global financial sector, collapsed in excruciating and embarrassing fashion. The firms implosion, a result of both recklessness and likely criminal misconduct, set off a contagion that not only forced a historic sell-off in bitcoin and its ilk but also wiped out a wide swath of the cryptocurrency industry.

Crypto companies from New York to Singapore were the direct victims of Three Arrows. Voyager Digital, a publicly traded crypto exchange based in New York that once had a multibillion-dollar valuation, filed for Chapter 11 in July, reporting that Three Arrows owed it more than $650 million. Genesis Global Trading, headquartered on Park Avenue, had lent Three Arrows $2.3 billion. Blockchain.com, an early crypto company that provided digital wallets and evolved into a major exchange, faces $270 million in unpaid loans from 3AC and has laid off a quarter of its staff.

Among cryptos smartest observers, there is a widely held view that Three Arrows is meaningfully responsible for the larger crypto crash of 2022, as market chaos and forced selling sent bitcoin and other digital assets plunging 70 percent or more, erasing more than a trillion dollars in value. I suspect they might be 80 percent of the total original contagion, says Sam Bankman-Fried, who as CEO of FTX, a major crypto exchange that has bailed out some of the bankrupt lenders, has perhaps more visibility on the problems than anyone. They werent the only people who blew out, but they did it way bigger than anyone else did. And they had way more trust from the ecosystem prior to that.

For a firm that had always portrayed itself as playing just with its own money  We dont have any external investors, Zhu, 3ACs CEO, had told Bloomberg as recently as February  the damage Three Arrows caused was astonishing. By mid-July, creditors had come forward with more than $2.8 billion in claims; the figure is expected to balloon from there. Everyone in crypto, from the largest lenders to wealthy investors, seemed to have lent 3AC their digital coins, even 3ACs own employees, who deposited their salaries with its borrowing desk in exchange for interest. So many people feel disappointed and some of them embarrassed, says Alex Svanevik, the CEO of Nansen, a Singapore-based blockchain-analytics company. And they shouldnt because a lot of people fell for this, and a lot of people gave them money.

That money appears to be gone now, along with the assets of several affiliated funds and portions of the treasuries of various crypto projects 3AC had managed. The true scale of the losses may never be known; for many of the crypto start-ups that parked their money with the firm, disclosing that relationship publicly is to risk increased scrutiny from both their investors and government regulators. (For this reason, along with the legal complexities of being a creditor, many people who spoke about their experiences with 3AC have asked to remain anonymous.)

Read more at: NYMag.com
(Natural News) Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who has received significant pushback for challenging the prevailing narrative on COVID-19 and experimental vaccines, blasted the CDC on Monday as profoundly corrupt and bereft of any integrity for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Article by Ashley Sadler republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

Im not at the CDC, but from what Ive seen theyve just been incredibly corrupt, Ladapo said during an interview with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon on his War Room Pandemic show hosted by Real Americas Voice.



Dr. Ladapo, who earned his MD from Harvard Medical School and his Ph.D. from Harvard University, was appointed to lead Floridas health department last year. In his role, he has frequently spoken out about COVID-19 jabs, lockdowns, mask mandates, and other restrictions.

Last week, Ladapo generated controversy and was even temporarily censored on Twitter when he published the results of a study that found an 84% increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following mRNA vaccination.

NEW: Twitter has REMOVED @FLSurgeonGen Joseph Ladapos tweet announcing how a study into the covid mRNA vaccine found an 84% increase in cardiac-related deaths for men ages 18-39 pic.twitter.com/8nSXXOZfFk  Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 9, 2022

In his interview with Bannon, in which he broke down the studys findings and implications, Ladapo said the CDC has done just the most absurd things during this pandemic.

The top Florida health expert said the CDC has been so bereft of any integrity, arguing the agency engaged in cherry-picking of studies to promote mask mandates for school kids.

Dozens of studies have shown that forced masking is harmful, particularly for children. The CDC itself acknowledged in 2020 that that masks cant be relied upon to protect against COVID if a masked person spends 15 minutes or longer within six feet of an infected person.

Im sure they either dont ask questions they dont want to know the answers to, or if they get answers they dont like, those answers get shoved in a desk drawer, Ladapo told Bannon. I have no doubt. They are just profoundly, profoundly corrupt.

During the interview, Ladapo also praised Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis for bucking the federal governments directives on draconian pandemic response strategies, and suggested that unlike the CDC, he and DeSantis have acted with integrity with their freedom-centered pandemic approach.
(Natural News) Martinez, a Latino Democrat, issued this statement Monday morning:

I take responsibility for what I said and there are no excuses for those comments. Im so sorry. I sincerely apologize to the people I hurt with my words: to my colleagues, their families, especially to Mike, Sean, and your son. As a mother, I know better and I am sorry. I am truly ashamed. I know this is the result of my own actions. Im sorry to your entire family for putting you through this. As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognize my comments undercut that goal. Going forward, reconciliation will be my priority. I have already reached out to many of my Black colleagues and other Black leaders to express my regret in order for us to heal. I ask for forgiveness from my colleagues and from the residents of this city that I love so much. In the end, it is not my apologies that matter most; it will be the actions I take from this day forward. I hope that you will give me the opportunity to make amends. Therefore, effective immediately I am resigning as President of the Los Angeles City Council.

(Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com)

While Martinez did resign as Council President, FOX 11s Elex Michaelson noted: She hasnt resigned from the city council itself though.

#BREAKING@CD6Nury resigns as Los Angeles City Council President. She hasnt resigned from the city council itself though. pic.twitter.com/IUkSETQq3w  Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) October 10, 2022

* * *

Leaked audio posted anonymously on Reddit and then published by the Los Angeles Times (in the form of a transcript) of offensive and racist remarks made by three Latino Los Angeles City Council members and a top labor leader has sparked tremendous controversy, and the calls mount for their resignation.

Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez can be heard on the audio making racist comments about the child of Mike Bonin, the council member representing the 11th District.

Bonin is white and has an adopted Black son. Martinez described Bonins son as ese changuito, or that little monkey, and even called the council member a little bitch.

Martinezs comments were in response to Bonins adopted child several years ago, who almost tipped a float over during a Martin Luther King Jr. parade. She said Bonin is raising the child like a little white kid.

LA Times said the leaked audio was from an October 2021 meeting about the citys redistricting plans held every decade. It was reported Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon and Federation President Ron Herrera were in attendance.

On Sunday, Bonin and his husband, Sean Arian, tweeted a joint statement about the ugly and hateful news.

We are appalled, angry and absolutely disgusted that Nury Martinez attacked our son with horrific racist slurs, and talked about her desire to physically harm him. Its vile, abhorrent, and utterly disgraceful.

Our family statement about todays ugly and hateful news. pic.twitter.com/0fPPXwsS5B  Mike Bonin (@mikebonin) October 9, 2022

Bonin and Arian also said they were equally angry and disgusted by the ugly racist comments about our son from Kevin de Leon and Ron Herrera, who should also resign their posts, and by the tacit acceptance of those remarks from Gil Cedillo.

Martinez released a statement to CNN, apologizing for the racist remarks:

In a moment of intense frustration and anger, I let the situation get the best of me and I hold myself accountable for these comments. For that I am sorry, she said.

The secretly recorded conversation revolved around the councilors frustration that the growing Latino population wasnt resulting in more Latino council districts and concerns Black leaders were keeping some Black-majority ones, Axios said.

Meanwhile, Martinez and others are facing mounting calls to resign. This is just more evidence of the dysfunctional political environment in LA  who knew Latino Democrats could be racist too?

Read more at: ZeroHedge.com
(Natural News) Those who doubt that President Joe Biden is unfit for the presidency because he has full-blown dementia can stop doubting.

(Article by R. Cort Kirkwood republished from TheNewAmerican.com)

During an enviro-twaddle speech yesterday at Camp Hale Vail, Colorado, Biden claimed that his late son Beau died while serving in Iraq. In fact, Beau died of brain cancer.

The remarkable lapse of memory, along with other recent behavior such as wandering cluelessly on stages, or needing wife Dr. Jills direction, is sure proof that Biden is declining mentally and incapable of fulfilling the duties of his office.

President @JoeBiden incorrectly said his late son Beau lost his life in Iraq. https://t.co/oZ9GRyRjcIpic.twitter.com/8OvjbQgUaT  Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 12, 2022

Died in Iraq? Nope

The latest on the mentally unfit president surfaced when he detoured from the usual Birkenstock Babble to a history lesson about the U.S. Armys 10th Mountain Division. During World War II, the 10th trained at Camp Hale, about 115 miles south of Denver, where Biden spoke.

The 10th Mountain Division was stationed on the valley floor, surrounded by rugged boulders, forests, and mountains stretching 14 feet high  14,000 feet high, among the tallest mountains in America, Biden said. Facing high altitudes and harsh terrain, deep snow, bitter cold, soldiers at Camp Hale learned to scale rock, ski, and survive, preparing for the war they were about to fight.

Biden recalled that in February 1945, the Division scaled that 1,800-foot cliff at night, caught the Germans by surprise  captured key positions, and broke through the German defense line at a pivotal point in the war.

That provided the change to reminisce about Beau Biden:

Just imagine  and I mean this sincerely. I say this as a father of a man who won the Bronze Star, the Conspicuous Service Medal, and lost his life in Iraq. Imagine the courage, the daring, and the genuine sacrifice  genuine sacrifice they all made.

In fact, Beau Biden lost his life just outside Washington, D.C., at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in peaceful Bethesda, Maryland. He died of glioblastoma multiforme, the insidious, relentless brain cancer  called The Terminator in one medical journal  that killed U.S. Senators John McCain and Ted Kennedy.

As for Beau Bidens Bronze Star, why he received it is unclear. Biden was not a combat soldier, but instead was a lawyer with the Armys Judge Advocate General Corps.

Problem is, claiming his son received the decoration, and that he died in Iraq, suggests that Beau Biden died in combat. If he had, he would have received, at minimum, a V device for valor on the Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart, which is given to those wounded or killed in combat.

Other Cues

Misspeaking about his own son is a far more important lapse than calling upon a deceased congresswoman he barely knew to stand and be recognized at a White House event.

Speaking of GOP Representative Jackie Walorski of Indiana in late September, Biden asked, Jackie? Wheres Jackie. Jackie was buried in a grave in Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend, Indiana. She died in a car wreck on August 3.

Jackie, wheres Jackie?, Joe Biden asks where Rep. Jackie Walorski is. Walorski died in a car crash several months ago. pic.twitter.com/y149CZU6In  chef deplorable (@JasonDeRose5) September 30, 2022

Beyond the gaffes about his son and Walorski, Biden often wanders aimlessly after speaking at public events, and recently used a cheat sheet that said YOU take YOUR seat.

YOU take YOUR seat: Very specific cheat sheet reminds Biden how to act https://t.co/eGJGqRzzlYpic.twitter.com/lil708FVho  New York Post (@nypost) June 23, 2022

Aside from wife Dr. Jill guiding him like a seeing eye dog, Biden shakes hands with the air and was so lost at a White House Easter event the Easter Bunny had to point where he should go.

NOW  Jill to Joe Biden: You go down this way.pic.twitter.com/oOlys2oLW4  Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) September 28, 2022

Biden shakes hands with thin air after North Carolina speech https://t.co/oroPBiOjeQ pic.twitter.com/FBot0Lqo64  New York Post (@nypost) April 15, 2022

Watch the Easter Bunny Lead Joe Biden Away After He Mentions Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/p6MkRLS9gN  Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) April 18, 2022

Concerns about Bidens mental decline began during the 2020 presidential campaign, when even Trump-hating leftists recognized that he was not up to the job.

In March 2020, Ryan Grim, a writer for The Intercept, averred that Biden was sundowning, a symptom of Alzheimers disease. Freelance finance writer Matthew Stoller, a supporter of Bernie Sanders, tweeted that Democratic insiders know Biden has cognitive decline issues. They joke about it. They dont care.

Democratic insiders know Biden has cognitive decline issues. They joke about it. They dont care.  Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) March 6, 2020

Democrats are conspiring to gaslight the American people by engineering the election of a man clearly suffering from dementia, cartoonist Ted Rall wrote.

Read more at: TheNewAmerican.com
(Natural News) Republican senators have warned Attorney General Merrick Garland not to police speech against transgender surgeries on children.

In a letter sent to Garland Tuesday, Oct. 11, Senators Ted Cruz (Texas), Mike Lee (Utah), Ron Johnson (Wisconsin), Roger Marshall (Kansas) and Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee) said they are worried that the attorney general would repeat a pattern that played out in his handling of school board protesters.

In your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you promised that, under your watch, the Department of Justice (DOJ) would not be politicized or weaponized, the senators said. You have already broken that promise more than once, and we are concerned you are poised to do so once again.

They were referring to a memo from October 2021, in which Garland formed a coalition of federal and local law enforcement to address alleged threats of violence against teachers and school board members.

In response to the memo, the Federal Bureau of Investigations counterterrorism unit created the threat tag EDUOFFICIALS, and opened dozens of investigations into the activities of the protesting parents.

Garland said at the time that the memo was based in part on a letter sent to President Joe Biden by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) which characterized disruptions at the school board meetings as a form of domestic terrorism and hate crime.

Specifically, the NSBA urged the federal government to invoke counterterrorism laws to stop angry mobs of parents who sought to hold school officials accountable for race and sex indoctrination as well as for imposing harsh Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions on children. (Related: Schools are now encouraging children to transition without telling parents.)

The senators said they had to remind Garland of his promise because the DOJ has once again been asked to censor debates over the issue of children being put through irreversible transgender procedures.

While the senators noted that violence and threats are not protected speech and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, they quickly added that parents who voice their concerns about the health and safety of their children, or express opinions on matters of public policy more generally, are engaged in core First Amendment activity.

Pediatric care organizations promote dangerous gender-affirming healthcare

The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association and Childrens Hospital Association sent a letter to Garland on October 3, asking the DOJ to help them with alleged threats and harassment because of the gender-affirming healthcare that they provide.

In a language similar to that of the NSBA letter, the organizations said that they had been targeted and threatened for providing evidence-based healthcare, adding that the attacks have not only made it difficult and dangerous for institutions and practices to provide this care, [but] they have also disrupted many other services to families seeking care.

Our organizations have called on technology companies to do more to prevent this practice on digital platforms, and we now urge your office to take swift action to investigate and prosecute all organizations, individuals, and entities responsible, their letter went on.

The DOJ continues to get these requests because Garlands response to the NSBA letter set a very bad precedent.

The senators told Garland that his actions with regard to the NSBA letter sent an inappropriate message that federal law enforcement can and will be used to aid one side of the political debate and to either silence or stop the speech of the other.

We call upon you to reaffirm that you will faithfully protect the First Amendment rights of all Americans to peacefully debate this and all other policy questions, irrespective of viewpoint, the senators said. The weaponization of federal law enforcement agencies like the DOJ, in order to produce preferred policy outcomes, cannot continue  our democracy depends on it.

Visit IdentityPolitics.news for more stories like this.

Watch the video to learn more about how the DOJ is taking away the First Amendment rights of parents.

This video is from the Self-Government channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Parents in Canada can now be arrested and imprisoned for refusing to go along with the transgender delusions of their own children.

Students join protest against transgender teacher flaunting huge fake breasts in school.

Parents sound alarm over mad rush toward transgender children (and the progressivism that pushes this distortion).

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

News.Yahoo.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) It took awhile, but a few billion people are now able to confirm what they suspected since the beginning of the pandemic, namely that it is mostly a fear-based campaign that went viral, and the main goal was always simply pushing toxic vaccinations.

In other words, if you DO NOT have millions of spike proteins throughout your vascular system and flooding your vital organs, you have a better chance of fending off Covid. This is simply because your immune system, heart and cleansing organs are not being taxed, polluted and strained by millions of toxic prions that mimic the lab-concocted, gain-of-function SARS-CoV-2 virus.

This is a look into ADE, auto-immune disorder and how booster shots continue to weaken the immune system, a bit more each injection, because there are millions more spike proteins to invade vital organs, including the liver and pancreas, as we are seeing with science-backed evidence. Pfizer-Gate has been blown wide open, and the masses are starting to die off and disappear, almost like Nazi Germany, but this time throughout the world. Its a vaccine holocaust, and its not just lead by Pfizer, but Moderna and many more pharma conglomerates.

So if someone asks you what your vaccine status is, and you want or need them to know (even though its nobodys business), then simply say I am fully unvaccinated. This choice has enabled your immune system to do what its supposed to do, naturally and fend off viruses, bacteria and pathogens. This way you also avoid the horrific statistics of injury and death caused directly or indirectly by the Covid clot shots.

The fully vaccinated suffer while the fully unvaccinated enjoy strong natural immunity, best for avoiding or beating Covid-19

Whether someone has subjected themselves to just one gene therapy injection or several as a series with boosters, their body has been invaded by millions, if not billions, of toxic virus-mimicking prions that somehow attract heavy metals and create long, rubbery clots in the blood, around the heart, in the brain, and inside vital organs.

All of the fully unvaccinated in America know that these clot shots are the main cause of the massive uptick in cases of pericarditis, myocarditis, blood clots, cancer, miscarriages and stillbirths, and sudden unexplainable adult and infant deaths (SADS or SIDS). Its certainly not a syndrome, unless that syndrome is caused by mRNA technology creating a new cell syndrome that cant fight off viruses or bacteria anymore.

Do you suddenly have antibody-dependent syndrome? You must be fully vaccinated. Is your own immune system attacking your vital organs because they now contain toxic virus-mimicking spike protein prions inside them? You must be fully vaccinated. Got sciatica acting up badly or happening since you got the Fauci Flu jabs? Its not a coincidence.

The fully vaccinated are also suffering from out-of-the-blue cancer tumors at the site of injection (havent you seen the new warnings?), and these medical doctors cant seem to explain it away, certainly never pointing the finger at the clot shots, even though scientific evidence does point to the Wuhan virus injections.

Thats why remaining FULLY UNVACCINATED is proving to be the safest defense against contracting Covid-19 and its variants. Those who are bragging and feel safe because they are fully vaccinated are finding themselves dealing with new health events, exacerbated pre-existing conditions, and starting to regret what choices theyve made. Doctors and scientists around the globe are blowing the whistle on the clot shots, seeing the carnage right in their own labs and offices now.

Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental vaccines that cause blood clots, myocarditis and severe, chronic inflammation.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

Nature.com

Expose-new.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) PayPal Holdings, Inc.  the popular online payment processor  just gave the world a glimpse of what is to come with Central Bank Digital Currencies. PayPal quietly changed their user policy, giving themselves sole discretion to deduct $2,500 from user accounts for each and every instance an account holder transmits misinformation.

The new misinformation fine was set to roll out in November. It would have given PayPal frightening new powers to police content on the internet and steal from individuals who think or speak differently from the global elite. As the news broke out, PayPal received extreme backlash, with users terminating their accounts in droves. PayPals stock valuation fell over six percent in just one weekend, and is down 50 percent year-to-date.

We continue to catch glimpses of total financial tyranny and thought control conditioning

Over the past three years, Facebook and other social media giants have conditioned the population to accept extreme speech surveillance and thought control. Governments work with the social media giants to control speech and limit content they do not like.

These misinformation policies have made a mockery of the First Amendment and threatened democracy, leading to anti-competitive practices, election interference and the normalization of defamation and slander. These misinformation policies have given rise to an all-knowing vaccine dictatorship, canceling out the voices of millions who have been harmed by vaccines and the governments abusive Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) policies. These censorship tactics are so blatant and foul; people are no longer participating in the force-fed lies like they once have. Consequentially, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerbergs net worth has dropped by over $70 billion in 2022.

The authoritarians who lust for total power and control over the population MUST find a way to coerce populations into a system where no one can opt out. A central bank digital currency will ensure total control over each persons money supply, their purchasing habits, their online speech, and ultimately their thoughts.

Populations around the world have already seen glimpses of this dystopian thought control in recent years. For example, the Canadian government unilaterally seized the bank accounts of those who protested vaccine mandates. The Canadian government also seized the bank accounts of anyone who financially supported the protests. People who legally donated money via GoFundMe or GiveSendGo were targeted by Justin Trudeaus dictatorship. Notwithstanding, Western governments have unilaterally targeted innocent Russian civilians using banking sanctions that seize financial assets without due process of law. Moreover, banks in Lebanon have been freezing depositor accounts for more than two years in the midst of a banking system crisis.

Central Bank Digital Currency would threaten consumer autonomy, enforcing total control

The only reason total financial tyranny has not been fully realized, is because consumers still have a choice to reject it when it rears its ugly head. If the federal government completely destroys the value of the currency and introduces a mandatory Central Bank Digital Currency (complete with universal basic income), then consumers will face a much tougher choice. The PayPal misinformation fine fiasco is just a small taste of whats to come, as the global elite bait populations into new financial surveillance systems that seek total control over the individual.

Under Central Bank Digital Currency, banks would have to comply with centralized government surveillance and misinformation policies. The US Patriot Act has already proven that the government can dictate the daily operations of banks, putting limits on the amount of money an individual can withdraw per day, while flagging individuals as suspicious for taking moderate sums of their OWN money out of the bank.

A Central Bank Digital Currency will give the banks, the government and Big Tech the ultimate power to decide who says what, who does what and who thinks what. Populations will be goaded into the system with promises of receiving universal basic income and debt forgiveness plans. These baiting strategies have already been explored with PPP loan forgiveness, student debt forgiveness programs, and advance child tax credit registration systems.

The central bank digital currency will ultimately be merged with a CCP-style social credit score, which will inevitably be used to dictate individual purchases. For instance, an individuals meat and energy consumption can be limited as the government caps ones carbon footprint. As seen with vaccine passports and mandates, the central bank digital currency could be used to restrict an individuals buying, selling and work activity based on their vaccine status.

This system of total financial tyranny must be resisted at all costs.

Sources include:

BombThrower.com

MSN.com

NaturalNews.com

CBSNews.com

BBC.com
(Natural News) As cheap Russian energy runs dry due to Western sanctions, the people of Poland, the latest country to make energy crisis headlines, are now resorting to burning trash for heat.

Circulating images (see Great Game India) show large plumes of black and brown smoke bellowing from homes and filling the sky with stinky smoke as Poles struggle to stay warm with winter approaching.

Under normal circumstances, Poland would not allow the burning of trash like this because of all the pollution generated. The countrys leaders have created special exemptions, in this case, because this is their idea of sticking it to Vladimir Putin.

Instead of allowing Putin to clean up Ukraine with his special operation, Poland and its NATO bed-buddies are destroying themselves by refusing to buy Russian energy. In the end, it will be Poland that collapses, not Russia. (Related: Germany is now burning Chinese Virus face masks for warmth.)

To ease the biggest energy crisis in a generation, Poland has temporarily waived air quality regulations so that residents can burn coal for home heating till next April, Great Game India reports.

Polish houses are burning more coal and wood to counter the rising prices of electricity and natural gas, but some people are also burning trash to remain warm.

Early autumn temperatures in Europe are still fairly mild  what happens when winter arrives?

Polish citizen Paulina Mroczkowska told Bloomberg that the lack of Russian gas caused by Western sanctions against Russia have made it next to impossible to live apart from such drastic measures as the burning of trash.

Its so bad this season that you can smell trash burning every day, which is completely new, Mroczkowska, a resident of the capital city of Warsaw, said. Rarely can you smell a regular fuel. Its scary to think what happens when it really gets cold.

Keep in mind that this is just the beginning of Europes cold season. We are barely in autumn, after all, and temperatures are still fairly high. What happens once temperatures drop to freezing or below freezing in the coming months?

Law & Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is recognized as Polands most powerful politician, made the suggestion last month that Poles should find whatever they can to burn for heat.

He told supporters at a rally in Nowy Targ, located in southern Poland, that one needs to burn almost everything, except for tires and similarly harmful things.

A decision to ban the burning of coal and garbage has also been postponed until 2024, though it was supposed to come into effect more recently. NATOs hardline stance against Russian energy is changing all sorts of green policies in Europe that are now going on the backburner (no pun intended).

Seeing the writing on the wall, many Poles are desperately trying to snatch up firewood, pellets, coal, and anything else they can find that will burn and create heat this winter.

People are scared and they are collecting anything that can be used for burning, said Piotr Siergiej, a spokesman for an environmental network of activists called Polski Alarm Smogowy, or Polish Smog Alert in English.

There is also a trash panic, according to one local Polish mayor who said people are saving their trash for burning rather than throwing it away.

Were seeing a significant drop in garbage collection, especially when it comes to materials than could at least in theory be suitable for burning such as paper, cardboard and packaging, the mayor said.

Well fine those who are trying to poison us and our children.

Europe and the entire global economy are burning to the ground. To keep up with the latest, visit Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

GreatGameIndia.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) First, the shilling folks at Pfizer and the CDC promised the nation that getting the Fauci Flu jabs would flatten the curve, stop the spread, and end the pandemic. Remember? They said if 90 percent of the population got the Covid-19 vaccines, then that 90 percent would be safe from the anti-vaxxers who are a global menace living in denial and danger. Surprise; the global menace turned out to be vaxxers who are dying at an insane rate. Its true. The TRIPLE-VAXXED account for 94 percent of all Covid-19 deaths, revealing that the real global menace is the Fauci Flu jab itself and all those who got it, push it, and still believe it works.

The single worst thing a person could have done for their health in 2020  2022 is take the covid jabs

According to an official government report from UKs Office for National Statistics (ONS), about 18 months were tracked during the pandemic showing Covid-vaxxed children were 45 times MORE LIKELY to DIE from any cause than unvaccinated children. Let that sink in for a minute. So by simply saying no to the Covid jabs, a child is more likely to be able to survive the pandemic and a host of other life-threatening conditions.

Sign up everybody thats left and all the kids on the way for that plan. Sounds like the benefit of remaining fully unvaccinated far outweighs the risk of getting shot up with millions of toxic spike protein prions, but all the so-called anti-vaxxers and those labeled anti-science already knew that.

In the same ONS report, the conclusions tell us that vaxxed children are also 137 times MORE LIKELY to die from Covid-19 than those children who have natural immunity and never get the protein-prions stabs.

The covid-jabbed sheeple are jamming up the hospitals

Now we are witnessing Americans who got the Fauci Flu stabs seeking much more medical attention than the fully unvaccinated, natural health advocates. Remember when the hospitals and fake news media claimed all the un-vaccinated people were overcrowding the hospitals and the vaxxed masses couldnt get basic or emergency care in a timely manner? It was the other way around. The clot shots are causing many, many more critical health problems than just clots. Take a look.

They should call it the Vaccines Dangerous program, but instead its called the V-Safe program, where the jabbed up masses are supposed to all go to report health damages incurred by getting at least one Wuhan Flu shot. Now get this: over 70 million symptoms were reported from the 30 percent of people who got vaccinated who actually reported their problems to the V-Safe site (out of 230 million people that got at least one Covid jab). That means that statistic, though its already very scary, is most likely multiple times higher.

So its all the jabbed-up sheeple who are filling up the hospitals, in the waiting rooms, lying in beds, getting diagnostics run, and wondering why all of the sudden theyve got myocarditis, pericarditis, strange rubbery vascular clots, sciatica, Covid-19 multiple times, severe inflammation, allergies, and more.

The most common symptoms of vaccine-induced health damage that were reported to the V-Safe program included the millions of people saying they were suffering post-vaccination from the chills, swelling, joint pain, muscle and body aches, headaches, fatigue, and general pain, with over 4 million of these complaints marked as SEVERE. You cannot make this up.

The V-Unsafe Program, as it should be termed, was also chock full of complaints regarding 13,000 toddlers (under 2) with over 33,000 symptoms that included pain and loss of appetite. Sounds like a prescription that causes mal-nourishment and irritability.

In conclusion, were now approaching a million reported cases of Americans who, post-Covid-vaccination, rushed to get medical care, crowding up the hospitals, while the media and the vaccine industrial complex blamed all of the unvaccinated. What a hoax and a scam, now busted wide open. So it turns out that all those vax-fanatics are a menace to themselves. When will they ever learn?

So much for vaccine passports. It was all a lie to sell more toxic jabs. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental vaccines that cause blood clots, myocarditis, and the spread of more disease.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

Expose-news.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has launched a five-year research plan that aims to develop methods of reflecting sunlight back into space in order to cool the planet and save it from global warming.

Just a few years ago, the independent media was dubbed a pack of wild conspiracy theorists for warning that the climate cultists were shifting gears and taking direct aim at the sun for elimination. Now, the conspiracy theories we warned you about are becoming conspiracy facts.

The idea behind the new sun-blocking scheme is to regulate the level of ultraviolet (UV) exposure on earth. If enough of them can be blocked and reflected back into space, then perhaps temperatures will get a little chillier, which we are told will help the polar ice caps and prevent beachfront properties from flooding in the future.

One way the globalists plan to block the sun is through stratospheric aerosol injections, also known as chemtrails. You may recall that chemtrails were also dubbed a conspiracy theory before eventually being confirmed as another conspiracy fact.

There are also ideas swirling around about marine cloud brightening and cirrus cloud thinning, which the climate cult says may keep the sun from making the planet too warm during the daytime.

Stratospheric aerosol injection involves spraying an aerosol like sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, and because it has the potential to affect the entire globe, often gets the most attention, reported CNBC.

While arguments of moral hazard have handicapped research efforts, the idea is getting more urgent attention in the worsening climate crisis.

Climate tech investment funded praises Biden for paving the way for more global warming profits

Signed by fake president Joe Biden earlier this year, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy sun-blocking scheme will likely involve the spraying of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which even CNBC admits has harmful effects on the environment and human health.

It is worth it, though, at least according to scientists and climate leaders who live in constant fear about things like too-warm weather and other alleged changes to the climate that worry them.

Sunlight reflection has the potential to safeguard the livelihoods of billions of people, and its a sign of the White Houses leadership that theyre advancing the research so that any future decisions can be rooted in science not geopolitical brinkmanship, praised Chris Sacca, founder of the climate tech investment fund Lowercarbon Capital, which profits from this kind of climate lunacy.

Despite the obvious conflict of interest between Saccas business and the agenda of the Biden White House, Sacca insists that he has zero financial interests beyond philanthropy.

According to David Keith, a professor at Harvard University, the idea of blocking sunlight to stop global warming has been around since at least 1965. It is just that today it is taken much more seriously than it was back then, probably because society continues to be dumbed down into an absolute idiocracy controlled by deranged climate cultists.

That same year, a report given to then-President Lyndon B. Johnson called Restoring the Quality of Our Environment floated the idea of blasting particles over the ocean at a cost of $100 per square mile. In sum, using the value of dollars back then, it was estimated that reducing global temperatures in this manner would cost about $500 million per year.

Not everyone is convinced that blocking sunlight is the way to go, including Janos Pasztor, executive director of the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative. He says that solar radiation modification will never be a solution to the climate crisis.

The latest news about the climate cults efforts to eliminate sunlight can be found at Geoengineering.news.

Sources for this article include:

CNBC.com

NaturalNews.com
For a few more days, the Pacific Northwest region will continue to experience the toasty endless summer with potential record-high temperatures.

In the Pacific Northwest, summer has blown past the autumnal equinox and is still baking the area with a few more days of potential record-high temperatures and no rain even as the calendar flips to mid-October.

This weekend, temperatures are expected to rise once more, combining with a hot and dry offshore wind to produce dangerous fire weather conditions and send fresh wildfire smoke into the Seattle region, breaking more heat records in the process.

The Washington and Oregon Cascades are under several fire weather warnings because gusty and dry easterly winds will reduce humidity to just 20%, making it easy for fires to spread across the dry terrain. Since the beginning of July, most of the area has received no more than half an inch of rain.

Smoky Skies

Due to the dry weather, wildfires have been burning for months in eastern and central Washington. Frequent easterly winds have brought smoke into the Western Washington region and Seattle, and a new wave of dense smoke will move into the metro area during the weekend, worsening the already somewhat smoky air quality.

Jane Minar, a meteorologist from FOX Weather, said that as the heat begins to accumulate and the temperature rises, more pollutants are trapped at the surface. Burning eyes, a scratchy throat, and a runny nose are all indications that the air quality is irritating the body.

A large portion of Western Washington, including the Seattle metropolitan area, has air quality alerts posted, and unhealthy conditions are predicted to persist through the weekend and into Monday. Officials warn that even healthy people may experience smoke-related health problems and advise anyone with health conditions to avoid any unnecessary outdoor exposure.

Toasty in Seattle

With temperatures expected to soar past 75 degrees throughout both weekend days, Seattle has already experienced six days in October with temperatures above 75 degrees, breaking the previous high of five days set in 1991.

The predicted high temperature for any date on or after October 15 would be 79 degrees on Saturday. The previous record is at 77 degrees, set in 1991. On October 14, 1961, a temperature of 80 degrees was recorded for the latest time ever.

Since August 10, Seattle has not experienced a day that was over 2 degrees below average. As anticipated, Seattle will easily break the previous record for the hottest first two weeks of October, surpassing it by more than a full degree.

Red Flag Warnings in the Cascades this weekend.

Record breaking high temperatures +

dry easterly winds +

less than 10% of normal rainfall since July 4th =

about the worst conditions you can get for possible fire starts.

Going to the Cascades...be VERY careful! Please! #wawx  NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) October 15, 2022

Read also: Russia Heats at Faster Rate Than Any Places in the World

Baking in Portland

In Portland, where the mercury has already topped 85 degrees four times in October, the heat has been even worse; as a consolation, Thursday's close call of 84 degrees set a daily record.

With possibly at least four more days with temperatures in the 80s range on the horizon this weekend and the coming week, the nine days in the 80s range have already broken the October record of six days.

Portland is also about to break its record for the hottest 1st half of October in terms of the average high temperature, and it may do so by a full 3 degrees, putting the average at 80 degrees for a high during that time for the first time.

With only 0.48 inches of precipitation since July 1, Portland will have experienced the driest spell during that time, almost matching Seattle.

Incoming Rains

Though most of next week is anticipated to be dry and warm, there are finally indications of a shift in the long-term forecasts.

The omega block appears to disintegrate at the end of the following week, allowing the Northwest to experience a more typical late-October rainy pattern and, if it holds, bringing the area's first significant downpour in months.

According to NOAA's 8 to 14-day outlook, there is a high likelihood that a wetter-than-normal pattern will develop along the West Coast by the end of the week and continue through the weekend, FOX Weather reports.

Related article: Critical Fire Weather Puts Parts of Missouri Under Red Flag Warning
Parts of Australia suffered from major flooding due to heavy rains, damaging powerlines and prompting immediate evacuations to rescue operations.

Residents in southeastern Australia were forced to evacuate after the relentless rainfall rapidly flooded major streets, adding that the rivers reached alarming levels and affected the power lines.

According to AccuWeather's report, lead International Forecast Jason Nicholls said that the round of heavy rainfall was due to the slow-moving front with an associated storm, adding that parts of southeastern Australia could be this coming weekend and Tuesday.

Rescues have been ongoing for affected residents.

Snow is coming

The weather website noted that the end of rainfall in Australia is expected this weekend.

However, the report added that there could be another round of heavy rains for the eastern part of Australia next Wednesday.

Additionally, AccuWeather explained that forecasts showed flooding risks in affected areas as floodwaters and rivers recede.

Meanwhile, records showed that the water reached above-average rainfall in New South Wales, the island state of Tasmania, and Victoria.

Moreover, the Associated Press (AP) reported over 250 houses in New South Wales were advised to evacuate.

The report added that power lines were also affected in southeast Australia.

Furthermore, the report added that emergency crews helped and rescued at least 23 individuals affected by floodwaters in rural areas, with 10,000 homes in Victoria having no power.

According to The Guardian, the Bureau of Meteorology explained that major to record-high flooding happened or was forecasted.

The same report with AccuWeather said that the emergency teamed had over 1,850 calls for assistance in southeastern Australia.

Also Read: Jellyfish Washes on the Shore of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

The impact of the torrential rainfalls damaged the power supply in affected areas, highlighting to cause mudslides and landslides.

A nimals were also impacted by the bad weather in Australia.

Safety

The major flooding in Australia resulted in immediate evacuations of residents affected. Flooding might have damaged the power lines, houses' electrical wiring, and outlets.

As floodwaters slowly recede and evacuees could return to their homes later, it is essential to consider safety measures.

Here are tips as you return.

Wait for announcements

If you are one of many evacuees, listen and wait for national or local officials' announcements about the current flooding situation, noting that it would be safe to return home.

Medical assistance

If any of your family members or friends are injured, immediately seek medical assistance, especially if you are on medication or maintenance. As a result, having an emergency handbag would be helpful in case of evacuations as it could keep your important documents.

Fully charge your mobile phones

There could be nearby charging facilities in your area. Fully charge your mobile phone to inform your family that you are safe and if you may need immediate help.

Be careful with broken power lines

As you return, be wary of damaged power lines and debris from the flooding. Stay away from flooded areas. At home, check carefully for potential damage to your electrical supply from the wirings or outlets. If anything appears to submerge in water, an immediate call to a professional electrician.

Using generators

Many areas had no electricity, according to the report. Using generators, residents must be careful and keep away the generators from home.

Related Article: Iguazu Falls Records Unusually High Flow, 10 Times Greater than Usual

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Book review: Susan McKinney

Susan McKinney | 'Nine Lives' will have you at the edge of your seat
Film Critic

Chuck Koplinski is The News-Gazette's film critic. His email is chuckkoplinski@gmail.com and you can follow him on Twitter (@ckoplinski).
John Frayne hosts Classics of the Phonograh on Saturdays at WILL-FM and, in retirement, teaches at the UI. His email is frayne@illinois.edu.
This story contains original reporting by News-Gazette staff. If you are not a subscriber, please consider becoming one, because local journalism is only possible with your support. A subscription to The News-Gazette plays a vital role in making this reporting possible. Thank you for your support and helping us continue to connect our community.
Rich Warren, who lives in the Champaign area, is a longtime reviewer of consumer electronics. Email him at hifiguy@volo.net.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Having symptoms of COVID-19 has been associated with worse mental health and lower life satisfaction.

The study, which is part of the COVID-19 Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing National Core Study, is published today in The Lancet Psychiatry. The study is led by researchers from King's College London and University College London in collaboration with several UK institutions. The study looked at the impact of COVID-19 infection on subsequent mental health and wellbeing.

Data was taken from 11 longitudinal studies between April 2020 and April 2021, in which there were 54,442 participants with and without self-reported COVID-19.

Researchers found that rises in psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and lower life satisfaction were associated with prior self-reported COVID-19. The associations with poorer mental health did not lessen over time after infection, highlighting the potential enduring impacts of the disease and the need for a longer follow-up process from healthcare providers.

Self-reported COVID-19 was consistently associated with psychological distress, regardless of whether people tested positive for antibodies to the virus. These effects of infection were felt similarly in different groups of gender, ethnicity and socio-economic circumstances.

The study suggests that the infection of COVID-19 might impact mental health most in older people as people with self-reported infection aged 50 years and older showed a stronger association with poorer mental health. This might reflect that older people are more likely to experience more severe COVID-19 symptoms, greater worry around infection, and increased risk of blood vessel (microvascular) or brain (neurological) changes after infection. This contrasts to the effect of the pandemic overall on mental health, where previous studies have shown that women and adults aged 25-44 have had the greatest adverse impacts.

These findings suggest that there were prolonged mental health consequences of COVID-19 infection for some people at the beginning of this pandemic. Understanding why this is the case will be key to finding treatment strategies for those affected as well as preventing such effects in future pandemic waves." Dr Ellen Thompson, Joint First Author, King's College London

Senior author Prof Praveetha Patalay from University College London said: "This study brings together many of the UK's longitudinal studies to provide a comprehensive overview of the impacts of COVID-19 infection on population mental health. Compared to most studies to-date that have focussed on more severe and hospitalised cases, this study demonstrates the impact of infection during a pandemic on overall population mental health and wellbeing."
Oxygen levels in the Earth's atmosphere are likely to have "fluctuated wildly" one billion years ago, creating conditions that could have accelerated the development of early animal life, according to new research.

Scientists believe atmospheric oxygen developed in three stages, starting with what is known as the Great Oxidation Event around two billion years ago, when oxygen first appeared in the atmosphere. The third stage, around 400 million years ago, saw atmospheric oxygen rise to levels that exist today.

What is uncertain is what happened during the second stage, in a time known as the Neoproterozoic Era, which started about one billion years ago and lasted for around 500 million years, during which time early forms of animal life emerged.

The question scientists have tried to answer is - was there anything extraordinary about the changes to oxygen levels in the Neoproterozoic Era that may have played a pivotal role in the early evolution of animals  did oxygen levels suddenly rise or was there a gradual increase?

Fossilized traces of early animals - known as Ediacaran biota, multi-celled organisms that required oxygen - have been found in sedimentary rocks that are 541 to 635 million years old.

To try and answer the question, a research team at the University of Leeds supported by the Universities of Lyon, Exeter and UCL, used measurements of the different forms of carbon, or carbon isotopes, found in limestone rocks taken from shallow seas. Based on the isotope ratios of the different types of carbon found, the researchers were able to calculate photosynthesis levels that existed millions of years ago and infer atmospheric oxygen levels.

As a result of the calculations, they have been able to produce a record of oxygen levels in the atmosphere over the last 1.5 billion years, which tells us how much oxygen would have been diffusing into the ocean to support early marine life.

Dr Alex Krause, a biogeochemical modeler who completed his PhD in the School of Earth and Environment at Leeds and was the lead scientist on the project, said the findings give a new perspective on the way oxygen levels were changing on Earth.

The early Earth, for the first two billion years of its existence, was anoxic, devoid of atmospheric oxygen. Then oxygen levels started to rise, which is known as the Great Oxidation Event. Up until now, scientists had thought that after the Great Oxidation Event, oxygen levels were either low and then shot up just before we see the first animals evolve, or that oxygen levels were high for many millions of years before the animals came along. But our study shows oxygen levels were far more dynamic. There was an oscillation between high and low levels of oxygen for a long time before early forms of animal life emerged. We are seeing periods where the ocean environment, where early animals lived, would have had abundant oxygen - and then periods where it does not. Dr Alex Krause, Biogeochemical Modeler

Dr Benjamin Mills, who leads the Earth Evolution Modelling Group at Leeds and supervised the project, said: "This periodic change in environmental conditions would have produced evolutionary pressures where some life forms may have become extinct and new ones could emerge."

Dr Mills said the oxygenated periods expanded what are known as "habitable spaces"  parts of the ocean where oxygen levels would have been high enough to support early animal life forms.

He said: "It has been proposed in ecological theory that when you have a habitable space that is expanding and contracting, this can support rapid changes to the diversity of biological life.

"When oxygen levels decline, there is severe environmental pressure on some organisms which could drive extinctions. And when the oxygen-rich waters expand, the new space allows the survivors to rise to ecological dominance.

"These expanded habitable spaces would have lasted for millions of years, giving plenty of time for ecosystems to develop."
A study at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows that the coronavirus variant BA.2.75.2, an Omicron sublineage, largely evades neutralizing antibodies in the blood and is resistant to several monoclonal antibody antiviral treatments. The findings, published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, suggest a risk of increased SARS-CoV-2 infections this winter, unless the new updated bivalent vaccines help to boost immunity in the population.

While antibody immunity is not completely gone, BA.2.75.2 exhibited far more dramatic resistance than variants we've previously studied, largely driven by two mutations in the receptor binding domain of the spike protein." Ben Murrell, Study's Corresponding Author, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet

The study shows that antibodies in random serum samples from 75 blood donors in Stockholm were approximately only one-sixth as effective at neutralizing BA.2.75.2 compared with the now-dominant variant BA.5. The serum samples were collected at three time points: In November last year before the emergence of Omicron, in April after a large wave of infections in the country, and at the end of August to early September after the BA.5 variant became dominant.

Only one of the clinically available monoclonal antibody treatments that were tested, bebtelovimab, was able to potently neutralize the new variant, according to the study. Monoclonal antibodies are used as antiviral treatments for people at high risk of developing severe COVID-19.

BA.2.75.2 is a mutated version of another Omicron variant, BA.2.75. Since it was first discovered earlier this fall, it has spread to several countries but so far represents only a minority of registered cases.

"We now know that this is just one of a constellation of emerging variants with similar mutations that will likely come to dominate in the near future," Ben Murrell says, adding "we should expect infections to increase this winter."

Some questions remain. It is unclear whether these new variants will drive an increase in hospitalization rates. Also, while current vaccines have, in general, had a protective effect against severe disease for Omicron infections, there is not yet data showing the degree to which the updated COVID vaccines provide protection from these new variants. "We expect them to be beneficial, but we don't yet know by how much," Ben Murrell says.

The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers at ETH Zurich in Switzerland and Imperial College London in the U.K.

Funding was provided by SciLifeLab, the Erling-Persson Foundation, the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Daniel J. Sheward, Gunilla B. Karlsson Hedestam and Ben Murrell have intellectual property rights associated with antibodies that neutralize Omicron variants.
Why are cancers of the adrenal glands more common among women? Why are prognoses worse for them? A team of scientists led by a CNRS researcher answers these questions in an article published on 14 October 2022 in Science Advances.

They demonstrate that, in male mice, there is greater recruitment of immune cells known as macrophages, which can eliminate tumor cells. Hence, aggressive tumor progression is scarcely seen in male mice; while in female miles, macrophages do not slow the growth of tumors, which eventually metastasize. Through molecular analyses, the team determined that recruitment of tumor-fighting macrophages depends on testosterone. After simple administration of the hormone to females, macrophages able to eradicate tumor cells were rallied to battle.

On the basis of these findings, the scientists conducted another study using data on humans, which revealed the same difference in macrophage recruitment rates between men and women with adrenal cancers. This discovery suggests the potential of hormonal stimulation as a treatment for this type of cancer, whose five-year survival rate is less than 30%.
In the brain, our perception arises from a complex interplay of neurons that are connected via synapses. But the number and strength of connections between certain types of neurons can vary. Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University Medical Center Mainz and the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), together with a research team from the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt, as part of the DFG-funded Priority Program "Computational Connectomics" (SPP2041), have now discovered that the structure of the seemingly irregular neuronal connection strengths contains a hidden order. This is essential for the stability of the neuronal network. The study has now been published in the journal "PNAS".

Ten years ago, connectomics, that is the creation of a map of the connections between the approximately 86 billion neurons in the brain, was declared a future milestone of science. This is because in complex neuronal networks, neurons are connected to each other by thousands of synapses. Here, the strength of the connections between individual neurons is important because it is crucial for learning and cognitive performance. "However, each synapse is unique and its strength can vary over time. Even experiments that measured the same type of synapse in the same brain region yielded different values for synaptic strength. However, this experimentally observed variability makes it difficult to find general principles underlying the robust function of neuronal networks," says Prof. Tatjana Tchumatchenko, research group leader at the Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognitive Research of the UKB and at the Institute of Physiological Chemistry of the University Medical Center Mainz, explaining the motivation to conduct the study.

Mathematics and laboratory combined purposefully

In the primary visual cortex (V1), the visual stimuli transmitted by the eye via the thalamus, a switching point for sensory impressions in the diencephalon, are first recorded. The researchers took a closer look at the connections between the neurons that are active during this process. To do this, the researchers measured experimentally the joint response of two classes of neurons to different visual stimuli in the mouse model. At the same time, they used mathematical models to predict the strength of synaptic connections. To explain their lab-recorded activities of such network connections in the primary visual cortex, they used the so-called "stabilized supralinear network" (SSN). "It is one of the few nonlinear mathematical models that offers the unique possibility to compare theoretically simulated activity with actually observed activity," says Prof. Laura Busse, research group leader at LMU Neurobiology. "We were able to show that combining SSN with experimental recordings of visual responses in the mouse thalamus and cortex allows us to determine different sets of connection strengths that lead to the recorded visual responses in the visual cortex."

Sequence between the connection strengths is the key

The researchers found that there was an order behind the observed variability in synapse strength. For example, the connections from excitatory to inhibitory neurons were always the strongest, while the reverse connections in the visual cortex were weaker. This is because the absolute values of synaptic strengths varied in the modeling - as they had in the earlier experimental studies - but nevertheless always maintained a certain order. Thus, the relative ratios are crucial for the course and strength of the measured activity, rather than the absolute values.

It is remarkable that analysis of earlier direct measurements of synaptic connections revealed the same order of synaptic strengths as our model prediction based on measured neuronal responses alone." Simon Renner, Ph.D., LMU Neurobiology

Renner's experimental recordings of cortical and thalamic activity allowed characterization of the connections between cortical neurons. "Our results show that neuronal activity contains much information about the underlying structure of neuronal networks that is not immediately apparent from direct measurements of synapse strengths. Thus, our method opens a promising perspective for the study of network structures that are difficult to access experimentally," explains Nataliya Kraynyukova, Ph.D., from the Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognitive Research of the UKB and Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt. This study is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration between the lab of Prof. Busse and Prof. Tchumatchenko, who worked closely together, building on the computational and experimental expertise of their labs.
A study led by researchers at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM-Hospital del Mar) has determined the role that fibroblasts, the cells that contribute to tissue formation, play in a tumor's ability to generate resistance to the most common biological treatment for HER2.

The paper, published in the journal Nature Communications, demonstrates the ability of a new therapy, currently undergoing clinical trials, to promote a potent immune response by binding to the fibroblasts, enabling it to overcome resistance to anti-HER2 therapy in tumors with this cancer cell protection mechanism. To demonstrate this, the researchers created a 3D tumor model in which they were able to check the relationships between all the factors involved.

HER2+ breast cancer is one of the most aggressive and rapidly progressing cancers. HER2-targeted treatments have changed the outlook, but resistance continues to hinder the curative potential.

Research into cancer treatment resistance is yielding very encouraging results thanks to projects led by researchers from the IMIM-Hospital del Mar cancer research program.

The microenvironment surrounding tumors in HER2+ breast cancer protects them and helps them develop resistance to the most widely used treatment, the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab. And a particular type of cell in this microenvironment, fibroblasts, plays a key role in this process. These cells have the ability to block the immune system and thereby protect the tumor. Finding a way to overcome this boosts the treatment's capacity to kill tumor cells.

Specifically, it is the presence of TGF-beta-activated fibroblasts, which express a molecule called FAP, that protects the tumor from the action of immune cells. Trastuzumab has the ability to target cancer cells that present high levels of the HER2 protein, and when it binds to cancer, it activates a strong immune response, which is a major contributor to its efficacy against the tumor. However, in many tumors, the immune system is unable to break through the microenvironment surrounding the tumor to eliminate it. This leads to treatment resistance and increases the capacity of this type of cancer to evade the drug and proliferate further. This mechanism was discovered by a team of researchers from the IMIM-Hospital del Mar and the CIBER Cancer Research Centre (CIBERONC) in a study that has been published in the journal Nature Communications.

The authors have also identified a way to overcome the tumor's ability to protect itself and allow the immune system to act on the tumor cells. Using an ex vivo model, i.e., a model that includes living cells from breast cancer patients, the researchers have shown that by targeting the fibroblast-expressed FAP molecules with immunotherapy, this ability to prevent access by immune cells can be reversed. "When this molecule, FAP-IL2v, is added to a tumor recreated ex vivo that contains this treatment-resistant microenvironment, in contact with immune cells, trastuzumab's effectiveness is restored", states Dr. Alexandre Calon, senior author of the research and head of the Translational Research in tumor Microenvironment Laboratory at the IMIM-Hospital del Mar. It should be noted that the model generated uses human cells and is also applicable to other types of tumors.

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The study has validated the results with three cohorts of patients and more than 120 samples. In all of them, the levels of fibroblast activation were found to be directly related to the immune system's ability to act on the tumor. The higher the levels, the greater the difficulty in accessing and eliminating tumor cells despite the action of trastuzumab. Dr. Calon emphasized that this facilitates a better selection of patients who will benefit from FAP-IL2v treatment aimed at deactivating the action of the tumor microenvironment.

If we filter people based on these characteristics, we can isolate a population of treatment-resistant patients who can be targeted with this molecule to restore the effectiveness of the breast cancer therapy." Dr. Alexandre Calon, Senior Author

There are already drugs available that can be used to achieve this effect, although further studies must be carried out to evaluate their application in patients, as Dr. Joan Albanell, head of the Oncology Department at the Hospital del Mar, Director of the Cancer Research Programme at the IMIM-Hospital del Mar and co-author of the study, points out. "The study identifies tumors in which anti-HER2 therapy resistance is caused primarily by one type of fibroblast rather than other causes. This important discovery should be used to design clinical trials with drugs that overcome this resistance only for those patients in whom this resistance is operative. This is where we need to move towards precision oncology", adds Dr Albanell.

The work was carried out in collaboration with researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), as well as the INCLIVA Health Research Institute in Valencia, and with the support of the Cellex Private Foundation, the Carlos III Health Institute and the Spanish Association Against Cancer.

Cancer immunotherapy at the IMIM

The application of immunotherapy is one of the strategic lines of cancer research being carried out at the IMIM-Hospital del Mar. There are currently several projects underway, with very encouraging results, aimed at validating ways to increase effectiveness or to determine new approaches to facilitate their application.
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Commuters continue to struggle with traffic chaos across the country despite the authorities devising many strategies in search of a solution.

School day timings and bus departures were rescheduled last month by the authorities as part of easing the traffic that erupted after the reopening of schools across the Kingdom.

The move aimed at ensuring the interests of students, parents and commuters by implementing mechanisms to facilitate an easy flow of traffic across the Kingdom's road network.

As per the Education Ministrys decision, the school day now starts at 7:05 am at all public educational institutions and ends at 12:35pm at primary schools, 1:30 pm at intermediate schools, 1:45 and 2:15 pm at secondary schools and religious institutes.

Regarding technical schools, the school day timings remain unchanged from 7:05 am to 1:45 for morning period students, and from 2:00 pm to 7:30 pm for evening-period students.

"The traffic here is extremely bad, especially at Budaiya Road, which is the link to Janabiya Highway.

It is a big obstacle in reaching the office on time.

I cant afford to get late to work every day, a regular commuter, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Daily Tribune.

"The majority of commuters now take inner routes in order to travel on time.

But those routes are also filled with vehicles, which offer no respite.

"Previously, it only took 20 minutes to get anywhere from the Janabiya Flyover, but now it takes more than 45 minutes.

I used to leave around 6:50 am to drop my son off at school, but now I leave by 6:15 am.

"Construction to widen the road and turn it into a threelane highway is underway, but the work only began after the schools resumed, and the traffic police are not present where there is considerable traffic, he added.

Another commuter said the authorities have to effectively implement a mechanism including the boosting of the public transport network.

Every household has two to three cars and the roads remain the same.

The roads cant be widened every year with ever-increasing cars and private vehicles.

I believe one of the effective solutions remains in investing in the public transport network.

I live in Galali and every day I have to go to Isa Town for work. If I depend on Red Buses it will take atleast two hours.

Meanwhile, I can reach there in 20 minutes in my car. This difference has to be bridged by devising new strategies.

Polluted air from road transport vehicles contributes significantly to air quality problems through vehicle emissions, which have various harmful impacts on public health.

According to studies done by many researchers, Bahrain is choking on traffic fumes and traffic congestion is a bigger threat than heavy industry.

The studies carried out in Bahrain revealed that most pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide, were found to be heavily concentrated in areas with high traffic congestion, rather than industrial areas.

This shows the extent of the contribution of vehicles to increasing the pollution percentage in developed areas.

Earlier, the Ministry of Interior confirmed that efforts are being intensified to ensure the smooth flow of traffic across the Kingdom.
Bahrain bikers go on an expedition in Kashmir - the Paradise on Earth

Bahrain bikers go on an expedition in Kashmir - the Paradise on Earth

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

They were jonesing to do something different. Something that would excite and entice them.

And they chose Kashmir. The name made several eyebrows twist. But they stood resolute.

The group of 20 bikers, including two women, from Bahrain, Oman and Germany decided.

We are riding to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. And after getting on their bikes, Mehdi Hassan, the Captain of Bahrain Biker Group, said. We dont regret it at all.

'Our group has done so many trips. When we were thinking about doing something different, it came to our mind to do Kashmir.

Whenever we say Kashmir, we say why and the media portrays it as dangerous but we wanted to explore it ourselves and honestly.

The whole group loved it. We loved the landscape, the great food and the good people.

You can't imagine how people helped us. We were given free food and snacks from locals in villages.

The bikers started the journey from Ladakh exploring the roads of Leh, Kargil and later Sonamarg in the Kashmir region.

They went to South Kashmir's Pahalgam hill station as well.

The rally was flagged off in Srinagar by Secretary of Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez.

Paradise on Earth

ience, the bikers called Kashmir valley the Paradise on earth and described the valley as one of the best challenging terrains for bikers.

Now our friends also want to explore the valley themselves, Hassam said. "Our friends from Oman are interested and they will be visiting Kashmir soon as well.

Bahrain Bikers

Bahrain Bikers, he said, was started in 2012 and now has almost 130 members. On this trip, he said, we have only 18 of us travelling because everyone couldn't make it.

It is a bikers group and we do a lot of social work as well. "We have come from Bahrain to India.

To Leh and Kashmir, I cannot even say anything about Kashmir, It's in our hearts, we have loved Kashmir since our childhood. We never came before but always heard about it.

It is for real a paradise on earth. We went to the mountains and saw 4 seasons in a single day. We recommend and request people from across the world to come to Kashmir.

They are lovely people and have amazing food. Kashmir is the best and Kashmir is heaven," Abdul Jasim, Biker, in Bahrain said

Safe and extremely challenging

tmost joy over the great hospitality and welcome they received from people in Srinagar.

The female bikers said they found the place safe and extremely challenging regarding the terrain.

Priya Shankar, an Indian Biker settled in Bahrain, said: "I have been riding with these bikers for a very long time and it's been amazing.

When they said they are going to Kashmir, I said I am signing up as well. It's been fantastic.

I am a part of the group of Biker brothers and it's been quite safe they take care of us very well.

Dr Aziz has put together this whole event.

He had a crew behind us.

We were safe and biker brothers are extremely protective of the lady bikers so we didnot have a problem."

Positive sign for Kashmir

Secretary Tourism Sarmad Hafeez from San - garmal termed the biking expedition of Bahrain Bikers as a positive sign for Kashmir Tourism.

He said the expedition would open gates for many other such activities as Kashmir has much to offer in adventure tourism.

He also expressed his gratitude to Bahrain Bikers and KCCI for organizing the biking expedition.

Hafeez also expressed gratitude to Bahrain Bikers and KCCI for organizing the biking expedition and said the MoU signed between KCCI and Bahrain Small & Medium Enterprises Society (BSMES) in September this year is showing its fruitful results.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Alcohol consumption is surging among adults and the countrys alcohol market will grow at a steady pace of 6.1 per cent until 2026, a study has found.

The study carried out by market research consulting firm Industry Arc said new technologies in the distillation process encourage manufacturers to develop various types of distilled spirits drinks, which is the primary factor driving the growth of Bahrains Alcoholic Beverages Market.

The study titled Bahrain Alcoholic Beverages Market Forecast by the firm covers an indepth analysis of the following segments of the Bahrain Alcoholic Beverages Market.

The report also highlights the strict government policy to regulate alcohol products.

There is a surge in demand for Alcoholic beverages in Bahrain owing to changing lifestyles and consumption of alcoholic beverages for every celebration among adults.

As per statistics, in 2018, an average of 1.90 litres of alcohol was consumed per person in Bahrain.

The demand is likely to continue over 2021-2026, which is driving the demand for alcohol production among manufacturers. The Kingdoms parliament earlier backed a proposal to outlaw the sale of alcohol in the Kingdom.

A former parliament member was quoted by the media saying that alcohol was un-Islamic and encouraged inappropriate behaviour. The proposal demanded coming up with a timeline to phase out the sale of alcohol in the Kingdom. According to psychologists, alcohol and mental health are closely linked.

Drinking too much can affect a persons well-being. Some people may drink to try to relieve the symptoms of mental ill-health. People drink for many reasons: to celebrate, socialise, commiserate or drown our sorrows.

Alcoholic individuals may drink to try and change our mood: to feel more relaxed, courageous or confident. However, the effect of alcohol is only temporary.

As it wears off, they often feel worse because of how alcohol withdrawal affects our brain and body.

Alcohol is a depressant, which can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in your brain and affect your feelings, thoughts and behaviour.

Alcohol affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, so you may feel relaxed, less anxious, and more confident after a drink. But these effects quickly wear off.

The chemical changes in your brain can soon lead to more negative feelings, such as anger, depression or anxiety, regardless of your mood.

Alcohol also slows down how your brain processes information, making it harder to work out what youre really feeling and the possible consequences of your actions.

In the long-term, alcohol uses up and reduces the number of neurotransmitters in our brains, but we need a certain level to ward off anxiety and depression.

This can make you want to drink more to relieve these difficult feelings  which can start a cycle of dependence.

Consumption of alcohol can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.

Studies have found that regular consumption of alcohol can lead to cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.

Alcoholism can weaken the immune system and increase the chances of getting sick.

According to medics, the regular consumption of alcohol could even lead to learning and memory problems including dementia
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Inter-Parliamentary Union yesterday commended the commitment of Bahrain's Shura and Representative Council to submitting periodic reports and ensuring gender balance in both houses.

IPU officials hailed Bahrain's Shura and Representative Council as examples to emulate for observing gender balance.

The statements came during the 145th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held in Kigali, Rwanda, where Anda Flip, Advisor to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, talked about responsive parliaments with the Union's programmes.

All IPU statutory bodies, including the Governing Council, Standing Committees, Committees on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and on Middle East Questions, as well as the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young MPs, were present during this Assembly.

The 145th IPU Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda has adopted a resolution on Ukraine entitled Condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine and of the subsequent annexation of territories, in defence of the territorial integrity of all States.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, held the second annual Huawei Innovation Day with customers, partners and technology experts from the Middle East and Africa.

Held in parallel with GITEX GLOBAL 2022, the Huawei MEA Innovation Day 2022 was organized in partnership with the Arab ICT Organization (AICTO) under the theme of "Collaboration to Unleash Innovation for Sustainable Digital Future".

The annual event gathered the region's government leaders from different sectors, industry analysts, ICT ecosystem partners and international standardization, and Huawei's senior leadership team.

Jeff Wang, Global President of Public Affairs and Communications Huawei, delivered the opening keynote speech to highlight Huawei's commitment to supporting the MEA digital transformation and ICT sustainability future.

Dr. Jassim Haji, President, International Group of Artificial Intelligence, participated in a panel discussion that discussed the importance of open partnerships and collaborations for shared success in building the ICT Ecosystem in MEA, the role of Digital Power in telecom networks, and green solutions in cloud.

He said, With a plethora of AI policies and strategies, research, development and investments in the green transition and the circular economy introduced worldwide, we are seeing the real potential of transformative technologies such as AI for sustainable development goals.

The panel was hosted by Toni Eid, founder of Telecom Review Group & CEO of Trace Media, and attended by Dr Elsadig Gamaleldeen Elsadig Karar, Director General of the Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority of Sudan (TPRA) and Dr Ammar Al Husaini, Deputy Director General at Central Agency for Information Technology, Kuwait.

Mohamed Ben Amor, Secretary General of the Arab ICT Organization (AICTO), the event partner, delivered the keynote speech, highlighting the importance of collaboration between various regional stakeholders and global partners to build an integrated ICT ecosystem for a sustainable digital economy.

Steven Yi, President of Huawei Middle East & Africa, added: "We are hopeful the lessons we take from the event will help bring us closer to an open, intelligent world that has been our mission from Day 1."

Additionally, various keynotes were also delivered by Dr Fadia Kiwan, Director General of Arab Women Organization, Dr Khaled Wali, Director of the ICT Department at the League of Arab States, Dr Mohammed Al-Ohali, President of KFU (King Faisal University) and Jawad Abbasi, Head of MENA, GSMA.

The second-panel discussion moderated by Caroline Faraj, CNN VP and CNN Arabic Editor-in-Chief, shed light on the important topic of empowering the role of women in tech.

The panel was attended by Dr Fatma Taher, IEEE UAE Section Chair, Dr Eman Said Al Abri, Dean of the College of Computing and Information Sciences, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Oman, Dr Mardin Abdullah Anwar, Director of ICT and Statistics at Salahaddin University, Erbil, Iraq and Rania Halimeh, Regional Director, META, Logical Operations.

Panelists discussed the importance of public and private partnerships to nurture innovation, local female ICT talents and create ICT future leaders, improve university curriculums and programs in light of ICT accelerated innovation, and fill the talent gap in cybersecurity, among other topics.

Shunli Wang, Huawei's Vice President in the Middle East delivered the closing remarks during the event, and highlighted the need to lead new ways for public-private sector collaborations to drive shared success and "Unleash Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future in MEA region".

Wang also mentioned Huaweis focus on 5.5G which will soon become a reality, enabling a 10 Gbps experience and a hundred billion connections.
A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has expressed disappointment over a comment by the pres...





A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has expressed disappointment over a comment by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar that Northers dont need Igbo or Yoruba to be president.

Atiku on Saturday during an interactive sanction With Arewa Joint Committee held in Kaduna State, claimed that Northerners do not need Igbo or Yoruba presidency in the forthcoming election.

Atikus shocking utterance has been generating reactions from concerned Nigerians across the country.

Reacting on his verified Twitter handle, the former CBN Deputy Governor said the comment was a direct appeal to divisive ethnic sentiment and a denigration of the largest ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria.

I was very disappointed to view the video clip of H.E. Atiku Abubakar @atiku, a former Vice-President of Nigeria, telling an audience in Kaduna that what the North needs is a northerner to be President, and not a Yoruba or Igbo candidate.

All candidates in the 2023 presidential election must avoid ethnic or other divisive sentimental appeals.

He called on Atiku to withdraw the statement and tender apology to Nigerians who picked offence in his utterances.
With the 2023 general elections fast approaching, former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has disclosed the only party he belongs to. ...

With the 2023 general elections fast approaching, former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has disclosed the only party he belongs to.

Sanusi said the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu is aware that he belongs to the party called Nigeria.

He disclosed this while noting that hes not a member of any political party.

Sanusi spoke while addressing Tinubu and other guests in Kaduna during the seventh edition of KadInvest, an annual event organised by the Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency yesterday.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, also lamented oil theft, Nigerias rising debt profile, unbalanced subsidy payment and soaring foreign exchange, amongst other monetary and economic challenges facing Nigeria at the moment.

He called for transparency and credibility in the management of the nations resources and demanded the unbundling of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, saying the company is not a cash cow but should be run as an independent enterprise with high-level accountability.

Sanusi further urged States to free themselves from excessive reliance on the Federal Government.

I keep repeating, hope you remember that I lost my job at the Central Bank for this same problem.

It is not about a particular party. I have no party. My party is Nigeria. This is the problem we had in 2014. Asiwaju (Tinubu) knows my party is Nigeria, he said.
Some of the supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi popularly called Obidients have heaped criticisms...





Some of the supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi popularly called Obidients have heaped criticisms on activists, Aisha Yesufu and Rinu Oduala for continuously questioning Peter Obis security plans.

Recall that the duo are also frontline supporters of Mr Obi whose candidature has gained massive support from Nigerian youths.

The problem began when Rinu Oduala posed a question on how Obi intends to tackle police brutality.

Popular social activist, Aisha Yesufu also backed Rinus claim. @AishaYesufu tweeted It is!

Shocked by Rinus question and Aishas concurrence, some Obidients presumed the activists set out to ridicule Obis candidacy.

Notwithstanding, others feel theres nothing wrong with the aforementioned question.

Here are their reactions below:

Rinu and Aisha Yesufu saying PO must answer questions about Police Brutality (which he has already answered repeatedly) is ridiculous.@AishaYesufu is even on Peter Obi's campaign list.If you do not believe in his ability to tackle these issues what convinced you to support him ?  NKM #PeterObi2023 (@Nkemchor_) October 15, 2022

I don't have problem with Rinu or anybody asking Peter Obi good questions,but what I have problem with is asking questions that our principal has already provided clear answers to,just for you to massage your sanctimonious ego.  Karo Gizmo Jighere (@Gizmojigs) October 15, 2022





@Kaxablanca reacted: @AishaYesufu needs to be removed from the PCC so can face her activism and hold every candidate accountable.

She cannot represent the ObiDatti movement if she is asking such questions that have answers already.

@Nkemchor_ tweeted: Rinu and Aisha Yesufu saying PO must answer questions about Police Brutality (which he has already answered repeatedly) is ridiculous.

@AishaYesufu is even on Peter Obis campaign list.If you do not believe in his ability to tackle these issues what convinced you to support him ?

@Gizmojigs

I dont have problem with Rinu or anybody asking Peter Obi good questions,but what I have problem with is asking questions that our principal has already provided clear answers to,just for you to massage your sanctimonious ego.

@iam_solace

Every candidate should be questioned. Rinu and Aisha have the right to question whom they want to vote for. If I have the opportunity to ask Peter Obi some questions, I will ask him; even though I will vote for him. Its the Oh Yes mentality that kept us where we are.

@novieverest tweeted- Journalists ask PO difficult questions, and HE ANSWERS.

He had never shied away from questions. Rinu asked a question, all good.

@PeterObi will answer. He has that ability. He is not Atiku or Tinubu that run away. Even before he declared, I remember GO asked, he answered.
Kanye West, the controversial US rapper, has claimed the death of George Floyd, the African-American, was due to intake of fentanyl. F...

Kanye West, the controversial US rapper, has claimed the death of George Floyd, the African-American, was due to intake of fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a lethally potent drug used to treat severe pain. It is often used during or after an operation or a serious injury, or pain from cancer.

Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Derek Chauvin, the US officer, pinned him to the ground and knelt on his neck in an attempt to arrest him.

The video of the incident in which Floyd pleaded, I cant breathe, went viral and sparked widespread protests within and outside the United States.

An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of Floyds death was linked to pressure on his neck.

The protests, spearheaded by the Black Lives Matter movement, condemned cases of police brutality targeting black people in America.

In June 2021, Chauvin was sentenced to 22 years in jail after he was convicted of Floyds murder.

But speaking about the incident in an interview on the Drink Champs podcast, which premiered on Saturday, West claimed Chauvins knee wasnt even on his neck like that.

I watched the George Floyd documentary and one of the things that his two roommates said is they want a guy like me. On the day he died, he said prayers for eight minutes. They hit him with fentanyl. If you look, the guys knee wasnt even on his neck like that, he said.

Kanye West says George Floyd passed away because of fentanyl and that the cops knee wasnt even on his neck like that pic.twitter.com/sVKy3VK35O  Kurrco (@Kurrco) October 16, 2022





The rapper, known as Ye, has been in the news in recent times for controversial reasons.

He earlier had a heated face-off with Diddy after he called the Black Lives Matter campaign a scam and backed the White Lives Matter slogan.
BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- In its unprecedented stride toward modernization, China has worked the twin miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. While these achievements have amazed the global community, they have also made real differences to a world battling against headwinds from an unprecedented pandemic, flare-ups of regional conflicts and global economic stagnation. Observers worldwide believe that the Chinese path to modernization, especially its guiding philosophies, is inspiring other nations to seek their own development paths and the world to pursue a shared brighter future. PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST Modernizing a country home to 1.4 billion people is a profound event in human history. Global observers have attributed China's success to the people-centered philosophy of the Communist Party of China (CPC). This is well illustrated by China's massive poverty alleviation campaign. China announced in 2021 that the country had lifted the final 98.99 million impoverished rural residents living under the current poverty line out of poverty, and removed all 832 impoverished counties and 128,000 villages from the poverty list. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres once commented that China's great achievements in poverty reduction constitute "the biggest contribution for dramatical reduction of poverty." "China has a good experience in dealing with poverty," said Collen Vixen Kelapile, president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. "It's something that we need to congratulate the (Chinese) leadership for delivering for the Chinese people and hope that all of us can learn from that achievement," he said. And over the past four decades, people's lives in China have been dramatically improved. A primarily agricultural country about 70 years ago, China now boasts the world's most extensive social welfare system, the largest high-speed railway network and cutting-edge technologies in many sectors. The success of the CPC "comes from a constant adaptation of the party to the needs of the people and to the reality of the world at large," said Jean Christophe Iseux von Pfetten, president of the Institute for East-West Strategic Studies in Britain. The CPC is "a party of people," Pfetten said. "And the party evolves and moves with the evolution of the people." A COMPREHENSIVE MODERNIZATION China has been pursuing modernization in a comprehensive way. It has coordinated material and cultural-ethical progress, promoted economic, political, cultural, social and ecological development, and adhered to a new development philosophy that highlights innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing. When illustrating the features of China's modernization, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that the country's modernization benefits a large population. It features common prosperity, coordinated material and cultural-ethical progress, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development. China's modernization pursues prosperity for all. In this aspect, east China's Zhejiang Province has become an exemplar as the region is building a demonstration zone for common prosperity by launching pairing-up arrangement between the developed coastal areas and the underdeveloped mountainous areas so as to bridge the gap between rural and urban regions. "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." China's modernization drive also places high emphasis on seeking harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. The country has cut its carbon emission intensity by 34.4 percent over the past 10 years, and pledged to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Noting "environmental protection has been integrated into all of the country's socio-economic development plans," Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center, said, "with strong economic strength, advanced technological capability and high responsibility, China has played a leading role in combating global climate change." PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT Peaceful development has also distinguished China's modernization from that of the West. In contrast with Western colonialists who resorted to wars, and aggressions in the late 19th century, China has marched toward modernization through relentless hard work, and blazed a trail of win-win cooperation on the world stage. By following the path of peaceful development, China has grown into a global economic powerhouse, contributing to a steady eastward shifting of the world's center of economic gravity. "With peace, a country enjoys prosperity, just as with rain, the land can flourish," Xi quoted a proverb in Uzbekistan when addressing the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in September. Christopher Mutsvangwa, an official of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party, said what is valuable is that China's economic growth during the past four decades is accompanied by its adherence to a peaceful development path, which is different from the rise of a new major country in the past that was always characterized by warfare. In the eyes of Martin Jacques, a British scholar, instead of advocating the jungle law of nation-states, where the writ of the strongest reigns supreme, "China propounds new forms of global collaboration," as exemplified by the Belt and Road Initiative and the idea of a community with a shared future for mankind, as the way of the future. A SHARED FUTURE On its path toward modernization, China has also been sharing its development opportunities with the rest of the world, upholding true multilateralism and striving for a more fair and equitable global governance system, which offers Chinese solutions to pressing challenges facing humanity. That is because Beijing fully understands that China will do well only when the world does well, and vice versa. From initiating the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank to taking the lead in implementing the UN sustainable development agenda, China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods. Making the Chinese vaccines a global public good is a good example of China's efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind. China has provided more than 2.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations. Vinnie Molina, national president of the Communist Party of Australia, said China's development is in line with the interests of the world and that the CPC is committed to promoting peace, cooperation, mutual respect and development for a shared future. He also commended China for providing COVID vaccines to the world. "Millions of people could benefit out of the Chinese biotechnology." The Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), proposed by Xi, have further added to China's efforts to contribute to world peace and shared prosperity. The GDI and the GSI are crucial to building a more just and equitable global governance system, said Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh. "The two initiatives are also key to reinforcing multilateralism, international cooperation and solidarity in order to address global challenges and concerns," he said. "More than just achieving modernization, China is actually overcoming the mistakes and consequences of the Western type of modernization. That means China is offering an example to the whole world," wrote Boris Tadic, former president of Serbia, in a recent opinion piece. China's success serves the interests of the whole world and the CPC has offered the world a different model, which could be an option for developing countries, said former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf. Enditem (Xinhua reporters Yao Bing in Cairo, Bai Xu and Yue Dongxing in Canberra, Bai Lin in Nairobi, and Shi Hao in Moscow also contributed to the story.)
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has been criticized for saying the North does not need a Yoruba or...





The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has been criticized for saying the North does not need a Yoruba or Igbo president.

Atiku said Northerners needed to vote for him rather than a Yoruba or Igbo candidate because hes a Pan-Nigerian with a northern extraction.

Condemning his comment, a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, said Atiku would not be allowed to treat Nigerians the same way he did to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

In a series of tweets, Fani-Kayode said Atikus remark is unacceptable and despicable.

Fani-Kayode said Northerners in the All Progressives Congress, APC, believe that its time for power to shift to the South.

He wrote: The North does not need a Yoruba or Igbo President: she needs a Northern President  Atiku Abubakar.

Such tomfoolery is rarely seen even from the worst amongst us.

Atikus words are not only unacceptable but also insulting, irresponsible and despicable.

This is especially so given the fact that by next year we would have had 8 years of Northern/Fulani rule and now this man says we must have another 8 years of it because that is what is best for the North.

Most Northerners do not believe this and thankfully they, unlike Atiku and members of his divided party, do not see Southerners as slaves and they regard us all as being equal.

We will not allow Atiku to do to Nigeria what he did to Wike.

We will not be cheated or denied.

It is time for power to shift to the South and the overwhelming number of people in the North and certainly all the Northerners in the APC believe that.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing late. Low 34F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 40%..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing late. Low 34F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 40%.
If Switzerland is best known for cheese with holes, watchmakers and discreet banking practices, it may not come as a surprise that some Swiss folks wanted to sex up its image. Swissploitation may be the answer.

Actually, Swissploitation Films does its best to go over the Alpine top with its comedy horror Mad Heidi, a romp filled with cheese Nazis, womens prison scenes, castration shots, gushing blood and gratuitous inclusions of backdrops featuring the Matterhorn.

Mad Heidi is among the features in Screamfest, the horror film festival running Oct. 21-23 at The Prytania Theatres at Canal Place. There also is a slate of short films.

Mad Heidi depicts a Switzerland that is sort of familiar. The namesake Heidi is a bright-eyed young woman, based on the title character from the best-selling and never-ending childrens book series. This particular Heidi also lives in the Alps with her grandfather.

In the film, Switzerland is run by a cheese industry-based fascist party, and its jackbooted military police look like Nazis, though their red armbands display the Swiss flag. Their sadistic leader is set on producing and exporting even more cheese and crushing anyone who is lactose intolerant.

Heidi blissfully cavorts on her farm with her boyfriend, Goat Peter, who makes and sells contraband goat cheese. But she soon finds herself the target of the military police leader Kommandant Knorr, a reference to the German-founded global food company. Hes in league with a similarly cruel womens prison warden, Fraulein Rottweiler.

The chase is on, and the movie makes nods to a wide array of action and horror film genres as Heidi eventually seeks revenge and the oppressed Swiss villagers grab their pitchforks and rise up against their cheese masters. The film has a totalitarian regime, mad dairy scientists, martial arts, mind-control schemes, a mysterious green absinthe fairy, prison humor, gladiatorial combat, perverse use of sausages and fondue and more. Plus, there are a few jokes aimed at the French.

The freewheeling appropriation of film genres and movie references keeps it lively and unpredictable. It may not beat Hollywood in coining memorable phrases, but it tries.

The crowdfunded movie landed a great cast. Alice Lucy is excellent as Heidi. As the Swiss president, Starship Troopers veteran Casper Van Dien seems like hes trying to play a role meant for a smug and creepy Rob Lowe, but hes good enough.

Screamfest also has a few other recent features. The opening night film is Matriarch, about a British woman recovering from drug addiction. She goes home to her mothers remote town to try to rest and reconnect but discovers all new dark family secrets.

Also dealing with drug addiction is The Way Out, in which Alex is an abuse survivor and addict who gets help from a charismatic and ultimately controlling and manipulative roommate. Grimcutty is a film about an internet meme gone horrifyingly real, as a monstrous apparition is shared on smartphones and tries to convince teens to kill their parents, which they may want to do anyway.

The slate of short films includes four-minute to half-hour-films from the U.S., Australia and Europe. It includes Brian Imakuras black and white film Some Vile Beast, which is set in New Orleans East.

Screamfest was founded in 2001 and runs annual festivals in Los Angeles and New Orleans.

Mad Heidi screens at 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. Visit screamfestla.com for schedule and information.
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team and the Tunisian authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on the economic policies and reforms to be supported by a new 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with requested access of SDR 1
Plan a visit to the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City on Friday, Nov. 4, from 5-8 p.m., for the opening reception of their newest exhibition, We Are Us: The Human Condition! The exhibit highlights artists unique abilities to depict and document the human condition in all its varied forms. The work on display highlights the unique capacity of the arts as an accessible form of communication that exists beyond language and time, depicting and documenting the human condition. From the joy of everyday life and desires of connection, permanence, and betterment, to loneliness, marginalization, and the fight to survive, the artists in this exhibition make it clear that the personal is often universal. lubeznikcenter.org.

HAST Theater of the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology presents The Lost Boy, an exploration of the life of James M. Barrie, who, despite finding success and fame as the creator of Peter Pan, was dissatisfied with his work and life. Here he returns to his hometown in Scotland to visit his mother, who still blames him for the long-ago death of his older brother in a skating pond. Haunted by this tragic accident and his mothers harshness, James slowly begins to confront his familys tragic past with the help of an unexpected friendship and his own gift for storytelling. This heart-warming play will be staged at Beatniks on Conkey with performances on Nov. 4, 5 and 6. http://nietf.org/show/the-lost-boy/

Interwoven Expressions presents its 37th Annual Exhibit and Sale at Sand Creek Country Club, Chesterton, on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free. This highly awaited annual event includes 24 juried fiber artists from states that border Lake Michigan. Exquisite creations, all original and hand-crafted from hands that weave, dye, knit, felt, quilt, stitch and design contemporary and traditional fashions, home decor, and holiday gifts will be available for purchase. Start your holiday shopping here! Shop, dine at the Sand Creek Grill, then shop some more. interwovenexpressions.com/

John Cainthats me!is returning to the Center for Visual & Performing Arts on Tuesday, Nov. 15, for his 29th annual Holiday Reading, this year featuring a history of Christmas at the White House. From Jackie Kennedy selecting the first theme for a White House Christmas tree in 1961 to Michelle Obama tapping controversial Barney's designer Simon Doonan to oversee the tree in 2009, the White House holiday decor has always been a thing of interest. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine in the gallery beginning at 11 a.m. with lunch at noon and the reading to follow. Reservations are required. southshoreartsonline.org

As always, please visit the South Shore Arts Regional Calendar for organizational contacts and updates on current exhibits, concerts, plays, and other arts events at www.southshoreartsonline.org
UNION TOWNSHIP  A male subject was shot and killed by a female juvenile Friday night, according to Sgt. Benjamin McFalls of the Porter County Sheriff's Department.

Officers responded to a call of shots fired around 10:15 p.m. in the area of the 600 W block of County Road 100 North. When officers arrived, the male subject was found deceased on-scene.

The female juvenile was located and taken into custody without incident a short time later. The incident is isolated and does not present a threat to public safety, police said.

McFalls said the investigation is ongoing and no additional information is available at this time.
GARY  Cedrick Hodge has lived on Ellis Avenue for 66 years. He's lived there practically his whole life, he said.

As of 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Hodge is now a resident of Malcolm X Drive.

"I remember when these streets were dirt roads," Hodge said as residents gathered Saturday to watch the unveiling of the renamed Malcolm X Drive on the corner of 25th Avenue and the former Virginia Street. "This is history to me."

Members of the United Afrikan Movement and Black Lives Matter Gary welcomed the public to an afternoon of African music and speeches about the historic human rights leader Malcolm X before debuting the new street sign to honor his legacy and his impact on future generations in Black communities. Malcolm X's daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, was in attendance. Shabazz delivered an address about the life and legacy of her father and mother at Indiana University Northwest on Saturday.

Shabazz and Rasuli Malcolm X's daughter Ilyasah Shabazz, left, stands with community activist Kwabena Rasuli after the new 'Malcolm X Drive' street sign is unvei

The afternoon began with Kwabena Rasuli, a community activist who has advocated for the renaming of the streets since 2000, addressing the crowd. Rasuli said he thought Gary should start honoring Black figures, such as Malcolm X, because of extreme issues in Gary.

"Like Malcolm would say, extreme issues call for extreme solutions," Rasuli said.

Rasuli introduced multiple speakers, including Deputy Mayor Trent McCain, Black Lives Matter Gary member Akili Shakur and state Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, among others. The speakers emphasized the importance of a presence like Malcolm X in Gary.

"We talk about the life and legacy of Malcolm X, it's not just in the movie that we see," Melton said, referring to the eponymous 1992 film. "It opened our eyes to dig deeper, and the evolution of Malcolm X and his thinking as he came not just to our people and our culture but the entire world."

Todd McCain, dean of student for the Gary Community School Corp., said he believes Malcolm X's "evolution through revolution" shows he was a man who truly understood the human race. This, he said, makes him a martyr who should be celebrated.

"We're honoring one of our many martyrs," he said. "We hope when a child crosses 25th Avenue and Malcolm X Drive, the next $7 they get they'll go to the bookstore and buy the biography of Malcolm X.

Todd McCain Dean of Students at Gary Community Schools Corp. Todd McCain speaks to a crowd Saturday about why it is important to celebrate Malcolm X.

Todd McCain was inspired by Malcolm X's story after reading "The Autobiography of Malcolm X." After reading it, he bought it for his brother Trent McCain when Trent was fifteen.

"Next to Jesus Christ, no one's influenced me more than Malcolm," Todd McCain said.

The effort to rename Virginia, Georgia and Ellis Streets  which connect to form one street  began in 2000 and has been an arduous process for Rasuli. After starting a petition to get the streets renamed, he and a group of community members would go to local events or even knock on doors to try and get support for the petition. The streets were chosen because they run parallel to Martin Luther King Drive.

Dancer Malcolm X event A dancer performs for an audience as instrumentalists play traditional African music behind her Saturday.

In 2009, the Common Council gave the Plan Commission the authority to authorize street name changes. Then in 2019, after rejecting the name change three or four times, the Plan Commission unanimously approved it. On May 17, a Common Council meeting was held where it was determined that the Plan Commission action approving the name change in 2019 would become city law.

"Here we are, 22 years and over 4,000 signatures later, Malcolm X Drive is here," Rasuli said.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - More than 2 million students in the basic, middle and secondary cycles returned to school on Sunday for the new academic year 2022-2023, which started in all educational institutions, public and private, inside and outside the country
VALPARAISO  Carriage Hills residents will see their storm sewer system reconstructed next year, but nonprofits expecting an American Rescue Plan Act windfall from Porter County are still waiting with bated breath.

Councilmen Andy Bozak, R-at large, and Greg Simms, D-3rd, wanted the County Council to approve the entire funding package as approved by the Board of Commissioners following months of public input, but the other five council members overruled them.

One of the reasons cited by several of the council members was an op-ed column in The Times written by Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, who chaired the Nonprofits & Employers Subcommittee. In that column, Biggs noted the county has unresolved issues to address, including providing adequate funding for road maintenance and a permanent funding source for ambulance service.

Council President Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, asked Chelsea Gordon, staff engineer in the countys stormwater department, if the county could address drainage problems in the Carriage Hills subdivision yet this year.

The project involves not only complete reconstruction of the 25-year-old subdivisions storm sewer system, which is failing, but also reconstruction of the roadway, which is about a half mile long.

Asphalt plants close around Thanksgiving. We dont want to rip open the road and leave it with gravel for the entire winter, Gordon said.

It sounds like an ongoing problem for Carriage Hills. Its nothing new, Rivas said.

Infrastructure was on the commissioners original ARPA plan, but so was the Memorial Opera House project that included extensive renovations to the building and adding a connection between the opera house and the sheriffs residence next door. Controversy over the opera house project caused Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, to ask for a do-over that included extensive public comment.

More than $9 million was set aside for nonprofits in the plan passed by the commissioners in August.

But other county needs must be considered, too, Rivas said, including stormwater issues throughout the county. Weve come a long way in passing a fee and building a department and getting out there are tackling it, Rivas said. But I dont think anybody ever realized how big the problem was.

The county also has issues to address at the center garage, jail and opera houses.

In light of everything going on, I still find it hard to hand out the money to nonprofits at this point in time until we make certain were taking care of our infrastructure, we make certain were taking care of our facilities, Rivas said. To me, thats important that we cross this bridge.

The county is losing employees, including department heads, for jobs elsewhere. A wage study completed this summer found that employees are woefully underpaid.

How do we hand out $8 million to $10 million when our employees need to get a raise? Rivas asked.

We hand out $8 million to $10 million to nonprofits and we raise taxes? Is that what our commissioner is asking?

I never thought this council would be a rubber stamp for this, he said.

Council Vice President Mike Jessen, R-4th, agreed.

Jessen said, There should be a pause.

If theres anybody here who thinks those are the only issues we have throughout the county, theyre sorely mistaken. We have needs throughout the county in multiple areas. These are the most drastic, and of course they rise to the top because they are most urgent, he said, referring to infrastructure projects included in the ARPA plan.

Before we start writing checks, we have to be aware of theres one opportunity to do it right, he said.

Were dealing with things now that have been occurring for years. I think that the ARPA money was a great opportunity, Councilman Mike Brickner, R-at large, said. I think that our employees and the needs of most of the entire county need to come first.

These organizations do very good work, but I think as county elected officials we have to prioritize how we spend this money.

Bozak bristled. Were going back on what we said we would do, he said. I think we need to pass it all. I think were going back on our word if we dont.

When the council voted on approving funding for the recommendations from the County COVID Health Response and Infrastructure Subcommittee and Infrastructure and Facilities, Bozak cast the sole no vote. Bozak explained he wasnt voting against those projects but wanted the other recommendations to get funding as well.
Driving through Northwest Indiana  past the industry-laden shorelines and along the heavily trafficked highways  it's clear the Region produces a large amount of greenhouse gas. However, addressing the issue has been difficult as there was no clear dataset outlining exact emissions  until now.

In 2021, Earth Charter Indiana, NWI Region Resilience and the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission, or NIRPC, banded together and joined the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Cohort. Every year, the institute helps a cohort of Indiana communities create a greenhouse gas inventory. The next year, cohort participants use the emission data to craft a climate action plan.

Inspired by Gary and Michigan City's participation in the 2019 cohort, the three groups envisioned a regional inventory, encompassing Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.

The team was able to get funding for six climate fellows to conduct inventories for all three counties as well as Cedar Lake, Chesterton, East Chicago, Highland, Hobart, Lake Station, the City of LaPorte, Merrillville, Munster, Schererville and Valparaiso. The project was later extended, and they were able to inventory Hammond and Portage as well.

The project was Indiana's first regional greenhouse gas inventory, NIRPC Director of Environmental Programs Kathy Luther said.

Were a complicated region, Luther said, adding that the areas' heavy industry made it "hard for the Indiana University folks to really understand what Northwest Indiana looks like.

Using data from 2017, the team found that 83.5% of the Region's greenhouse gas emissions came from industry, and the next highest is transportation with 12.2%.

The data also shows Lake County accounted for the majority of the emissions with 34,706,179 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, or MTCO2e. In comparison, the City of Chicago, which has a population five times larger than Lake County, produced 31,035,000 MTCO2e in 2017.

In 2016 Indianapolis, which has 324,440 more residents than Lake County, produced 14,630,253 MTCO2e. Gary, which has a population that is about one-tenth the size of Indianapolis, produced 12,555,294 MTCO2e in 2017.

Kathy Sipple, regional resilience coordinator with Earth Charter Indiana, said industry is "the elephant in the living room in Northwest Indiana.

The elephant in the room

The greenhouse gas inventory's summary of results begins with the statement, Northwest Indiana is characterized by large amounts of industry that bolster local communities economies, but at the cost of increasing GHG emissions.

Industry was the top emitter in both Lake and Porter counties, East Chicago, the City of LaPorte, Valparaiso and Gary. Industry accounts for over 90% of Gary's emissions. Initially, the large slice of the emission pie dedicated to industry felt daunting because local leaders don't have much power over large industries, Sipple said.

U.S. Steels emissions are part of Garys emissions, but I think that U.S. Steel is regional employer and a regional taxpayer. People all over our three counties work there, and so I think its more fair to take those emissions and call them regional, Luther said.

Much of the industry in the Region is operated by large, international companies that are already being pressured to reduce their carbon footprints. As the fossil fuel industry becomes less economically viable and harder to sustain, shareholders are demanding companies develop emission reduction plans.

Though some corporate sustainability initiatives are really forms of greenwashing, a marketing tactic that falsely makes companies seem like they are taking meaningful climate action, Luther said it is still important to keep a watchful eye.

"At the very least, lets put some public attention on what theyre promising so we can hold them accountable, Luther said.

NIPSCO, the natural gas and electric distribution company that serves almost all of Northwest Indiana, is transitioning to renewable energy sources and aims to be coal-free by 2028. Luther said that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is harder in the steel industry because of how it is produced.

A piece of the pie

While it is important to monitor industrial emissions and start a dialogue with the large corporate owners, Sipple said, there are also plenty of ways local residents and elected officials can take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gases.

Were concentrating on all the things we actually can move the needle on, Sipple said.

To create the greenhouse gas index, climate fellows compiled electricity and gas-use data from NIPSCO, information on vehicle miles traveled and type from NIRPSC and industrial emissions reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Without industry, transportation accounts for most of the Region's emissions with 74%, followed by residential with 12.3%.

In Cedar Lake, Chesterton, Highland, Hobart, Lake Station and Schererville, residential accounted for the majority of emissions. Commercial was top in Merrillville and Munster, and in LaPorte County, transportation was the highest.

Over the summer, NIRPC, NWI Region Resilience and Earth Charter worked with IU to craft a comprehensive climate action plan. Because each communities' pie chart of emissions looks different, the team created a sort of "menu" with potential solutions.

Sipple explained that the menu of options will explain "if your pie chart looks like this, your top three choices for significant reduction are probably this."

"Ultimately it (the selected solutions) belongs in the cities' hand," Sipple said.

The team hopes to publish the climate action plan before the end of the year. To ensure the plans are effective, Sipple said she is also working to establish sustainability commissions in each community.

We feel that if it was difficult to engage cities throughout the greenhouse gas inventory project and they didnt really have the expertise to receive that information, its likely going to be just as difficult for them to receive this menu of options if they dont have a sustainability commission," Sipple said.

Michigan City and the City of LaPorte already have commissions, Gary has a Department of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs and Valparaiso and Highland both have citizen-led sustainability groups. NWI Region Resilience has an email template citizens can use to ask their elected officials to form a sustainability commission.

Gary has already begun pushing for some solutions, passing an ordinance encouraging small-scale solar in May.

Luther said solutions will look different across the Region; communities with a lot of new residential construction could incentivize green building practices such as good insulation, solar-ready homes, LED and motion-censored lights and maintaining a certain amount of green space. Cities and towns that aren't seeing as much new development can retrofit older houses, making them more energy-efficient.

Other solutions include building more pedestrian and bike-friendly infrastructure, installing electric vehicle chargers and buying municipal vehicles that run on alternative fuels. Luther said that planting more trees and native prairie can also help absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

Currently, Sipple is working to host Earth Charter's annual Climate Leadership Summit somewhere in Northwest Indiana. The summit brings together city, town and county officials to discuss community resilience in the face of climate change. Bringing the summit to the Region could help engage more elected officials and residents, Sipple said.

"Northwest Indiana has a lot going for it," Sipple said. "Its one of the most biodiverse places not just in the Midwest, not just in the country, but in the world,  and I think it's worth protecting.
INDIANAPOLIS  In 2019, Republican General Assembly leaders declined to pass legislation that would have created an independent redistricting commission. In 2021, they drew congressional and legislative maps that burnished the lop-sided GOP advantage that has them controlling 71 of the 100 House seats and 39 of the 50 Senate districts.

Last summer, they passed Senate Enrolled Act 1 that created the nation's most far-reaching abortion restrictions on a bill that had virtually no one testify in support.

And now, in the homestretch of the 2022 mid-term elections, many Hoosier Republican officeholders are refusing to debate, or even appear at non-partisan League of Women Voter forums.

Secretary of State nominee Diego Morales, 2nd CD nominee Rudy Yakym and U.S. Rep. Jim Banks have all refused to debate in recent days. The League of Women Voters of Hamilton Countys forum featuring candidates for Indiana Statehouse races became a one-sided affair after all five Republican invitees decided not to attend, according to the Current in Carmel website. This included State Sen. Jim Buck and Reps. Donna Schaibley, Jerry Torr and House nominees Alex Choi and Fred Glynn.

Hamilton County Republican Party Chair Mario Massillamany said that he told the Republican candidates not to attend. I feel like in the past, weve been treated unfairly, Massillamany told the Current. In the past, candidates have been attacked. I thought that its more important for us as Republicans to be knocking on doors and engaging voters one-on-one.

Democrat State Sen. J.D. Ford tweeted: My opponent was a no-show at a non-partisan (not even a debate) candidate forum last Tuesday. Its disrespectful to voters who use these forums to make an educated decision on who to vote for. Its also sad for democracy that these candidates would rather not show than face voters.

Rep. Banks, who heads the House Republican Study Committee, backed out of a WANE-TV debate scheduled for later this month. "Its a date we have a commitment," Banks explained. "Oct. 27th, I long ago committed to the Topeka Crisis Pregnancy Center up in LaGrange County and Im very much looking forward to speaking with them.

Independent 3rd CD candidate Nathan Gotsch responded, It is so important for voters to be able to see the candidates together so that they can compare them and make the best decision in November." Democrat nominee Gary Snyder added, If you cant come back and face the issues and face the voters, then you dont really need to be in Washington."

Morales, who has faced allegations of sexual harassment and reports that he is an election denier who has twice been fired by past Republican Secretaries of State Todd Rokita and Charlie White, declined to debate Democrat Destiny Wells and Libertarian Jeff Mauer. His campaign says that Morales is focused on appearing in all 92 counties.

"If your ideas are so bad that you cant even stand in front of a crowd of people, of your neighbors, to defend them, then somethings wrong," Mauer said. "You need better ideas."

What are they afraid of?

In 2012, Republican U.S. Senate nominee Richard Mourdock appeared at a debate with Democrat Joe Donnelly and said that when a woman is impregnated during a rape, Its something God intended. His support collapsed among independent voters, giving Donnelly an upset win. A similar thing happened to Missouri Republican Senate nominee Todd Akin.

A decade later, the mainstream Republican position on abortion restrictions is to press for a total ban, though Indiana's SEA1 signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb has exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. In January, it is expected that many legislative Republicans will seek to end those exceptions. This, despite the fact that many polls show wide support for abortion access. A recent poll for Indy Politics by ARW Strategies revealed that 51% of voters say theyre more likely to vote for a candidate in state Senate and House races this fall who support abortion rights, while 35% say theyre more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes abortion.

There are other cross-currents that are leaving a muddled picture. Tom Bonier, CEO of Target Smart, puts the Indiana post-Dobbs voter registration gender gap at 6% favoring females. Reporter Dave Bangert of the Based In Lafayette substack site, reports that absentee ballot requests have doubled in Tippecanoe County over the last midterm in 2018, with Clerk Julie Roush saying, The number of absentee ballots is unprecedented for an election like this."

Bonier observed on Oct. 1 of the Dobbs effect, saying, The red wave is no longer inevitable, and the notion that we are likely going to see a very close result in both the Senate and the House as younger voters and women engage in this election.

This is a continuation of what I believe is a disturbing trend in Hoosier politics where self-funding candidates like U.S. Reps. Trey Hollingsworth have refused to debate or even attend town halls in their districts.

Not all Republicans are refusing. U.S. Sen. Todd Young has accepted an Indiana Debate Committee event set for Oct. 16 where he will appear with Democrat nominee Thomas McDermott Jr. and Libertarian James Sceniak.

A final thought: If youre a nominee who fears debates or even appearing at public forums to explain your policy positions to voters, you should choose another line of work.
Its getting harder all the time to think that Kim Jong-un is just play-acting when he rams through a law saying North Korea can unleash a nuclear warhead whenever he feels threatened. And its also getting harder to assume the Americans and South Koreans will never translate the lessons of their war games into real live action.

Its as though war were creeping up slowly after wed been shrugging off the possibilities, not always paying much attention to missile shots and military exercises, dismissing them as just newspaper stories that many people dont bother to read.

Well, maybe all the test shots and the counter-tests are not for real, and maybe theres nothing to worry about, but werent people in Paris and London saying much the same thing in the 1930s before Adolf Hitler turned his Nazi regime against them and plunged the world  the Western world  into World War II?

On the other side of the globe, in the Far East, Japan had been acting up for decades, taking over South Korea, setting up its own phony state in Manchuria, and talking up the joys of co-prosperity to the multitudes in the rest of Asia.

The trouble is, every time we plunge into another crisis, we get closer to a showdown that will be much worse than the first Korean War. Now North Korea has fired a missile thats flown farther than any of its previous shots. Sure, it landed harmlessly in the northern Pacific, but its trajectory over the large northern Japanese island of Hokkaido sent the Japanese into panic mode for a few hours and inspired South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to issue one of his most vigorous denunciations of North Koreas nuclear-and-missile program.

The responses of South Korea and Japan wont bring them into a formal alliance considering the impossibility of resolving all their other problems, but it does mean they may cooperate closely on North Korea.

We can expect more exercises in which U.S., South Korean and Japanese forces participate. South Korea and Japan should also share intelligence on North Korea in accordance with the General Security of Military Information Agreement. Controversy over GSOMIA has intruded into never-ending issues between South Korea and Japan, but the Norths rising threat makes it more critical than ever.

Increasingly, were hearing talk about trilateral unity. A new word, trilateralism, has entered the lingo, implying a three-sided arrangement, not quite an alliance, binding the United States, South Korea and Japan in a common cause. Kim Jong-un is doing all he can, it seems, to compel his enemies to work together.

All sides are playing with fire. South Korean and U.S. strikes on a tiny islet in the West Sea no doubt was a great way to catch Kim Jong-uns attention after his latest missile test, which also may be seen as his own way of getting noticed. Is it not possible, however, that such shows of force will turn into acts of war in which all sides are firing on one another?

War can break out in any number of ways. What if the Japanese decided to try to shoot down the next North Korean missile that flew over their territory or even entered Japans Air Defense Identification Zone above the waters between North Korea and Japan? The Japanese may have every reason to fire on North Korean missiles, but might North Korea see that response as a pretext for firing missiles into, not over, Japan?

And what if Kim decided that South Korean and American bombing in the West Sea pretty close to North Koreas shores was the excuse he needed to unleash a nuclear strike in accordance with North Koreas newly enacted law empowering the North to open a nuclear war at any sign of a threat on its territory?

Indeed such speculation is pure fantasy. Kim wouldnt dare, would he?

Probably not, but then Korean history is full of shocks and surprises, especially the decision of Kims grandfather, regime and dynasty founder Kim Il-sung, to invade the South in June 1950. For that matter, who would have thought the assassination in 1914 of Archduke Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, would plunge Europe and then America into the first World War?

History doesnt work out the way national leaders, advisers, experts, soothsayers and fortune-tellers predict. Weve been worrying for years about a second Korean War and then a wider war including Kims friends, Chinas President Xi Jinping and Russias President Vladimir Putin. Just because it hasnt happened yet doesnt mean it will never happen while Kim tries to frighten everyone with his nukes and missiles.
This summer, as much of the world remained hunkered down at home amid the coronavirus pandemic, news of a series of mysterious explosions trickled out of Iran. The blasts, which took place at military or strategic locations across the Islamic Republic, including Irans Natanz nuclear complex, were attributed by many foreign policy experts to covert Israeli operatives participating in the continuing shadow war between Israel and Iran.

For Moshe Zonder, the creator of the new Israeli drama Tehran, which aired to immense popularity in Israel this summer just as those centrifuges were detonating, it was the kind of publicity money cant buy.

It was a bombing, and then an episode in our show, and then another bombing, and it kept going like this, Zonder said in a telephone interview from Tel Aviv. Everyone reacted and said, Oh, Tamar Rabinyan is working!

Tehran follows Tamar Rabinyan, an Iranian-born, Israeli-raised spy sent back into Iran on her first deep-cover mission to help coordinate an Israeli attack on Irans nuclear program. Apple TV+ picked up the series in June, partnering with Cineflix Rights and the Israeli network Kan 11, and began streaming it around the world on Sept. 25. New episodes premiere each Friday.
Colin Camac, a co-founder of Front of House, said the platform is simply expediting intimacy.

I think one of the best things in the world is going into a place just like Cheers, where everybody knows your name, where they know what you like, where your martini is sitting there as soon as you walk in, said Mr. Camac, who is also a regional director at Resy. Its an easier way to be part of that community if you dont have the time to really invest in it. In other words, anyone can be a regular, for a price.

Its kind of a trade secret in the concierge space that you have to build relationships, and spend a lot of time doing it, in order to deliver these very hard to get reservations, said Peter Adams, the founder of Table Concierge.

His start-up is for people with money but not time, and a would-be diner doesnt actually have to be a regular to get treated like one. You could do this on your own, he said, but he streamlines the process so you dont have to wake up at 8 a.m. or book at midnight.

For a price  usually $50 per reservation per person, but it depends on the difficulty  Mr. Adams works his connections to open doors that appear closed to the rest of us. (White glove service means he will go as far as going to a restaurant in person to negotiate on a clients behalf.)

With a week or so warning, he puts his success rate at 90 percent. You want Lilia? Hell get you Lilia, nevermind what Resy says. We can get you in anywhere other than Raos, he said of the exclusive Italian restaurant in East Harlem.

Though he added: But if you want to give me $10,000, I can find a way to get you into Raos.
Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of SpaceX, abruptly reversed himself on Saturday, saying that his company would continue to fund the operation of the Starlink internet service in Ukraine, where it has become a digital lifeline for both soldiers and civilians.

Mr. Musk, the worlds richest man, drew criticism on Friday when he said on Twitter that his company could not indefinitely fund Ukraines use of Starlink. The service has been crucial for the Ukrainian armys communication as it advances into territory occupied by Russia and defends against continued Russian attacks.

CNN reported that SpaceX had sent a letter to the Pentagon last month asking it to take over the funding of Ukraines use of Starlink, which is built and operated by SpaceX.
Still, when the musicians of the International Contemporary Ensemble and the organization Composers Now drew up the program for an evening focused on the Iranian Female Composers Association at NYU Skirball on Saturday, few could have anticipated how specifically this concert would connect with the moment: Anti-regime protests in Iran were entering their fifth week, following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been held in the custody of the morality police, accused of improperly wearing a required head scarf.

The association has posted statements of solidarity with the protesters on social media, and some of its composers have spoken directly about the events in interviews. But nothing was said from the stage on Saturday; after all, the connection between the groups mission and the events in Iran spoke for itself. So too did the concerts title, Peyvand, the Persian word for connectivity, a reminder of the connections among the featured composers in this revealing and essential evening.

Nourbakhshs three-movement C Ce See a commemoration of the contemporary music advocate Cecille (Cece) Wasserman  closed the program. And it employed a conceit reminiscent of the Fluxus movement, courtesy of a kinetic sculpture, by the artist Roxanne Nesbitt, that circled six instrumentalists and sometimes made sounds with them; picture small conical objects rotating, in Rube Goldberg fashion, among string players and percussionists, with all those elements connected by a long, single thread manipulated by the percussionist Ross Karre.

In the first and second movements, the result of that string-on-string interference was often a hazy yet interdependent din. But at the end of the second movement, when the conductor, Steven Schick, dramatically cut the wires snaking through the string instruments (and into the rotating mini-sculptures), there was a sense of release. The short third movement  featuring scalar, zigzagging, independent parts for flute, vibraphone and strings  heralded a brief but hard-won freedom.

Nourbakhshs music is something of a known quantity, not least because she is one of National Sawdusts recent Hildegard Competition winners. Less so is Nina Barzegar, whose world premiere Inexorable Passage was thrilling in its fusion of experimental, extended-technique effects, as well as melodic and chordal inventions.
Although its first two episodes avoided opening sketches that recreated news events, Saturday Night Live eventually found reality too irresistible: This weekends broadcast led with a parody of what was potentially the final meeting of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

As the hearing began, Kenan Thompson, playing the committees chairman, Representative Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi, offered some momentous remarks. Jan. 6 was one of the most dramatic and consequential moments in our nations history, he said. So to fight back, we assembled a team of monotone nerds to do a PowerPoint.

Summarizing the meetings agenda before holding up a tray of miniature cupcakes, he added, Were going to summarize our findings, hold a history-making vote, and then and only then, we all get to have a little treat.
Their voices are also included in the book, fulfilling Newmans desire that they buttress his accounts of events  or, when necessary, contradict his misapprehensions  and provide a fuller picture of who he was.

He was fascinated by this idea of how people viewed him versus how he felt about himself, said his daughter Melissa Newman. I always had this vision of my dad standing beside a giant billboard of himself. And hes waving at the bottom of the billboard, going, Im over here.

In late September, she was speaking from the rustic abode in Westport, Conn., that she called the hippie home, which her parents bought some 60 years ago (and she later bought from them), stuffed from top to bottom with mementos from their lives and careers: photos of her father with Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, and of her mother washing dogs in the kitchen sink.

On the other side of the Aspetuck River was another family dwelling, a wood-paneled barn home whose decor was dominated by a large portrait of Newman as Buffalo Bill. The path between the two properties went over a footbridge and past a treehouse that many years ago, Soderlund said, was where Woodward used to go and hide from all of us when she couldnt take it anymore.

It was in a laundry room on this estate that a family friend, the filmmaker and producer Emily Wachtel, found a locked cabinet containing a tranche of Sterns interviews with Newmans colleagues and confidants. Later, Wachtel discovered that a storage unit held the transcripts of Newmans own interviews with Stern.

There were these boxes that said P.N. history, and I opened them and it was like 5,000 pages, Wachtel said. The family hadnt seen them.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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Why might Jackson choose to speak more than her colleagues?

As the junior justice, Jackson has a special incentive to stake out her positions at arguments. When the justices meet at their private conferences to vote on cases after arguments, they speak in order of seniority, with Jackson going last. If there are already five votes for an outcome, her comments at such conferences will have little weight. The points she makes from the bench at least have a fighting chance of making an impact.

One of the points she made concerned a case about Alabamas new congressional map. A lower court ruled that the map had diluted Black voters power. To counter conservative suggestions that the Constitution is meant to be race-neutral, and thus doesnt offer special protections for those Black voters, Jackson made the case that the historical context of the 14th Amendment, to protect formerly enslaved Black people, was explicitly race conscious. Her comments got a lot of attention. Why?

Her remarks aligned with originalism, an approach that seeks to interpret the Constitution as it was understood at the time it was adopted. The theory is generally associated with the conservative legal movement. So it was striking to hear Justice Jacksons remarks in the Alabama voting-rights case because they were an avowedly originalist exposition of the meaning of the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868, during Reconstruction. I dont think that the historical record establishes that the founders believed that race neutrality or race blindness was required, she said.

The justices interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which many conservatives say bars all racial classifications by the government, will figure not only in the voting case but also in challenges to race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, which the court will hear later this month.
Image

Taxi Wisdom

Dear Diary:

Years ago, when I was in my mid-20s, I got a job as a nurse in New York City and moved into a modest fifth-floor walk-up apartment on East 87th Street between Second and Third Avenues.

One weekend, returning from a visit to my parents outside the city, I took a train to Grand Central, where I then stood in line with quite a few other people waiting for a taxi.

When it was my turn, I got into the back seat with my luggage and gave the driver my address. As we zigzagged through traffic and got closer to my neighborhood, I suggested to the driver that to save a little time he could take a left that was coming up.

Approaching the intersection, he assessed the situation and drove through without turning.

We got choices in life, he said. We dont gotta turn left.

 Carol Kerrigan Moore
Many housing advocates and more moderate Democrats, including President Biden and Mayor Adams, have called for a broad effort to build more housing as people nationwide struggle with homelessness and affording decent homes.

Leaders in other parts of the country, like Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, have more aggressively put in place policies to encourage the construction of housing and overcome resistance from local officials and activists.

The openness to more development among some in left-leaning circles in New York may signify that the political momentum behind the pro-housing movement is growing and may foreshadow significant changes to the citys landscape.

There is a shortage of homes available to a wide range of income levels, though the problem is most acute for lower-income New Yorkers. The New York metropolitan area needed more than 340,000 additional homes in 2019, according to a May estimate from Up for Growth, a Washington policy and research group.

The vacancy rate for apartments renting below the citywide median of $1,500 is less than 1 percent, while tight supply has helped send the typical asking rent on a market-rate apartment in Manhattan soaring past $4,000, according to the brokerage firm Douglas Elliman.

More than half of the citys tenants spend more than a third of their income on rent. The population in the citys main homeless shelter system broke a record last week, fueled partially by migrants coming to the city but also by a spike in locals seeking shelter.

If we postpone the types of actions and investments and courage that is needed to address our housing crisis, were not just undermining the well-being of families, but were undermining the recovery of our economy and long-term recovery as a city, said Maria Torres-Springer, deputy mayor for economic and work force development.
From what, you might wonder? In 2014, most of his then $20 million revenue came from selling supplements like Super Male Vitality, according to testimony Jones gave in a court case. After he was banned from major social media platforms in 2018, he expanded his sales, offering a 50 percent discount for at least one of his alleged testosterone boosters to push back in the fight against the globalist agenda  a bargain at $34.95. Also available at the time was Survival Shield X-2  Nascent Iodine, which Joness website describes as having been developed using thermodynamic pressure sensitive high energy sound pulse nano-emulsion technology. A newer version of the product is described as derived from ancient sea salts found thousands of feet below the earths surface and formulated with our fellow patriots in mind. Really, its a steal at $19.95, all major credit cards accepted.

During the Texas trial, a producer of his show testified that its online store generated over $165 million in revenue during a few months in 2015 and from 2016 through 2018 by selling survivalist gear, supplements, what-have-you. The trial also revealed that the families had pleaded with him for many years to stop airing lies about their murdered children, because they faced not just direct threats and confrontations but also people who said theyd defile their childrens graves. According to the families, Jones ignored them as those lies increased product and supplement sales.

One might think its just this one con man who found a lot of marks (a lawyer for Jones once called him a performance artist who is merely playing a character), but others have used the same approach.

Fox News required its workers in New York City to be vaccinated against Covid in the winter of 2021, and at least in the summer of 2021, even vaccinated workers were still required to put masks on in closed spaces with multiple people. You hardly would have realized that from watching all the antivaccine and antimasking content that was routine on Fox News.

Many viewers appear to have paid a huge price for that cynical disparagement of lifesaving vaccines.

A recent study in Scientific Reports found that areas with higher levels of Fox News viewership had lower Covid vaccination rates, which are associated with higher hospitalization and death rates. This impact of Fox News was independent of local health care capacity or even partisanship. Plus, much of this effect was concentrated on people younger than 65, who might have thought they were safer from Covid, the study authors noted, and perhaps more open to messages of vaccine hesitancy and refusal.

Even foot soldiers of the movement who sincerely bought into the antivax nonsense suffered. According to a report from The Boston Globe, at least five conservative radio talk show hosts who campaigned against the vaccines died from Covid-19 over just a few months in 2021.
The jobs site Indeed reported in 2021 that 61 percent of remote workers and 53 percent of on-site workers found it more difficult to unplug from work during off hours than before the pandemic began. Nearly 40 percent of all workers said they check emails outside of regular work hours every day. Derek Thompson made a compelling case in The Atlantic that despite all the talk of quiet quitting, its mostly a fad and a fake idea, the kind of thing the very online latch onto to have something to talk about. Worker productivity has not really decreased. Yet Thompson also says that the neologism is a stand-in for more essential chronic labor issues, such as the underrepresentation of unions or a profound American pressure to be careerist.

When a careerist culture meets a digital revolution that allows unlimited access to work, somethings got to give. And in America, that something tends not to be work demands but is instead the human soul. The rise of digital technology requires us, as a culture, to re-examine what it means for work to be humane. As we do so, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us in the labor movement. They offer us a model for how to begin this re-examination.

The Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries birthed the labor movement, which attempted to curb the excesses of capitalism and new technology. There was a time when hunter-gatherers and then farmers worked only as much as they needed to survive, which, according to a report by NPR, was often less than 40 hours a week. With the introduction of factories, work hours grew longer and less flexible. The labor movement fought to change both culture and policy to limit our work weeks, and the 40-hour week eventually became a norm. Whats clear is that people didnt suddenly become lazy and want to work less. Instead, a change in technology created a new way of work that demanded a response. We find ourselves facing this again with todays digital revolution.

In the early labor movement, a broad and diverse base of religious people found common cause around Sabbath laws. These laws (often called blue laws) are now usually seen as examples of antiquated, puritanical, even theocratic impulses: prim religious people running around trying to make sure no one enjoys a beer on a Sunday afternoon. Advocates of Sabbatarianism, however, saw their work as an act of resistance to greed and a fight for the laborer.

When Philip Schaff, a 19th-century Swiss German theologian, immigrated to the United States, he was impressed by the ability of ideologically disparate religious groups to collaborate politically to solve social ills. For Schaff and many others, a key issue in the burgeoning industrialist economy of the North was the preservation of time for worship, rest and family life to preserve the dignity of the worker. They looked to Sabbath laws, in part, to help achieve this. Schaff stressed that keeping the Sabbath wasnt merely a religious observance but served a civic function. It was a practical way, through time itself, to treat workers as valuable humans with whole lives to be lived.
About four decades ago, Chinese Communist Party officials scoured the world for best practices, which they cautiously piloted to create the economic miracle that their country showcases today. These days, though, the Communist Party champions Chinese solutions, and not just for China but also for the rest of the world. Xi Jinping, who is widely expected to receive an unusual third term at the helm of the worlds most populous country, embodies a far more confident China that has begun to portray itself as an alternative to the West.

Creating a Chinese version of the World Bank, Mr. Xi inaugurated the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Instead of the American dream, he speaks of the Chinese dream, which describes the collective pride that people feel when they overcome a century of disorder and colonial humiliation to reclaim their status as a great power. Gaining control over territories viewed as lost, including Taiwan, is considered key to the Chinese dream. So is ensuring that China, not the United States, calls the shots in Asia and beyond. Mr. Xi launched Chinas first aircraft carrier and its first foreign military base, in Djibouti.

While Mr. Xis China undoubtedly presents the most serious challenge to U.S. global leadership in my lifetime, it also gives Americans a chance to learn from the successes and failures of a radically different system. I asked half a dozen scholars who study China what lessons Americans should draw from Mr. Xis tenure so far. Heres a summary of what they told me.

Invisible Infrastructure Is the Most Important Kind

In the absence of elections, Communist Party officials in China rise up the ranks based on how well they deliver on the partys priorities, at least in theory. For years, the top priority was economic growth. Local officials plowed money into the highways, ports and power plants that manufacturers needed, turning China into the worlds factory. Under Mr. Xi, government priorities have shifted toward self-sufficiency and the use of industrial robots, something that Chinese leaders believe is critical to escaping the middle-income trap, in which a country can no longer compete in low-wage manufacturing because of rising wages but has not yet made the leap to the value-added products of high-income countries.
VOWS

Because of a production error, portions of two articles last Sunday  one about the wedding of Courtney Dec and Brett Lanham, and the other about the wedding of Joanne Wu and Jeffrey White  were omitted.

MAGAZINE

An article on Oct. 9 overstated the popularity of bidets in Europe. It is a staple in some European bathrooms, not most European bathrooms.

T MAGAZINE

An article on Page 82 about the artist Lynda Benglis contains several errors. It misstates when Bengliss mother fell into a depression; it was after Bengliss younger sister was born, not her youngest sister. The article also misstates Bengliss major at Newcomb College; it was painting, not ceramics. It misidentifies the family she visited on drives to Mississippi with her parents; it was her mothers relatives, not her fathers. And it misidentifies a 1969 sculpture; it was King of Flot, not Quartered Meteor. The article refers incorrectly to the product that Benglis purchased from a rubber maker; it was custom latex, not latex paint. And it refers incorrectly to the artists process for adding color to her 1971 installations. For those sculptures, she mixed pigment into the foam before pouring it; she did not apply lacquer or paint to the surfaces.

An article on Page 68 this weekend about the floral designer Millie Proust refers incorrectly to an Eastman camera; it is a large-format camera, not medium-format.
In July 2020, Stephanie Long, the school superintendent in Leland, Mich., wrote a heartfelt letter to her students and their families after George Floyds murder by Minneapolis police officers. Haunted by the images shed seen in the media, she wrote: Why be in a position of leadership, she asked herself, and not lead?

All people of color, Ms. Long typed, need us to stand with them to clearly state that we condemn acts of systematic and systemic racism and intolerance. She envisioned profound pedagogical changes in her school; she imagined creating illuminating discussions within classrooms and searching, transformative conversations in the community beyond. She hit send. A degree of support came in reply. A letter of praise signed by 200 Leland alumni was published in a peninsula newspaper.

But angry emails, phone calls and letters poured in from within the district and, because Longs message made the local news and spread over the internet, from across the country. They labeled her a disgrace, a Marxist, a traitor.
Eric Andre cleared security at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, gave the gate agent his boarding pass and was moments away from stepping onto a plane when he was stopped by officers with the Clayton County Police Department.

The officers questioned Mr. Andre, who is Black, about whether he was selling drugs and what drugs he had in his possession, he said in an interview and a court complaint.

They asked to inspect his bag. When he asked if he had to comply, the officers said no, and Mr. Andre was eventually cleared to board, he said.

During the interaction with the police, other passengers had to squeeze past Mr. Andre and the officers on the jet bridge, the narrow passageway that connects the gate to the airplane during boarding. He said he was allowed onto the plane but left shaken by the interaction.
Contraband cellphones are invaluable to inmates, but in the hands of Arthur Lee Cofield, who is serving a 14-year sentence for armed robbery at a Georgia state prison, a mobile phone turned out to be worth $11 million, federal prosecutors said.

From the prison in Butts County, about 45 miles south of Atlanta, Mr. Cofield called the Charles Schwab Corporation in June 2020 and impersonated a billionaire named S.K., who was later identified as Sidney Kimmel, according to a federal indictment.

Mr. Cofield spoke with a company representative about opening a checking account. After Mr. Cofield was told he needed a form of identification and a utility bill, a co-conspirator texted him a picture of Mr. Kimmels drivers license and a utility bill, prosecutors said.

Mr. Cofield was so convincing that he persuaded the financial-services giant to transfer $11 million from Mr. Kimmels bank account to a precious metals dealer in Idaho to buy 6,106 American Eagle gold coins, prosecutors said.
Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, on Sunday dashed any hopes that the zero Covid policy  which attempts to eliminate coronavirus infections with costly lockdowns  would end in the coming months.

Mr. Xi argued that the Communist Party had waged an all out peoples war to stop the spread of the virus. Chinas leadership has done everything it can to protect peoples health, he said, putting the people and their lives above all else. He made no mention of how the stringent measures were holding back economic growth and frustrating residents.

Mr. Xi emphasized that zero Covid had saved lives. To abandon it, he seemed to suggest, would be to disregard human life.

The message  delivered by Mr. Xi at the party congress  reinforced a flurry of recent propaganda published by the state media in the past week to counter mounting speculation that China might loosen its tough pandemic restrictions after the gathering.
TAIPEI, Taiwan  Xi Jinpings speech on Sunday broke little new ground on the question of Taiwan but struck a sharper tone, warning the world that China, and China alone, would decide how and when to bring about unification.

Referring to Taiwan earlier in his speech than he did five years ago  a sign of its taking on more importance, analysts said  Mr. Xi stressed that China would continue to strive for peaceful reunification, but he also said that China reserved the right to use force and all measures necessary.

This is directed solely at interference by outside forces and a few separatists seeking Taiwan independence, he said.

Declaring a firm line on Taiwan, Mr. Xi drew one of the speechs longest stretches of applause from delegates in the room. The focus on external forces signaled growing recognition by China that Taiwan has become more of a priority for the United States, as well as for an increasing number of countries around the world.
President Biden and other American officials have invoked fears that the risk of nuclear Armageddon is at its highest since the Cuban Missile Crisis. Russian officials have warned of Cuban Missile Crisis 2.0, blaming the West for the escalation.

It is a big part of the geopolitical backdrop to Chinas Communist Party Congress, which coincidentally opens 60 years to the day since the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Back then, China was an impoverished, isolated country, ruled by Mao Zedong whose revolutionary zeal appealed to leaders in countries emerging from colonial rule. Mao had fallen out with the leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, over ideology in the late 1950s.

The Cuban crisis made the split between the worlds two big Communist powers even worse. In Maos eyes, the Soviet leader caved to the Americans by agreeing to remove its missiles from Cuba in exchange for the secret withdrawal of U.S. missiles from Turkey.
Inevitably, some draftees have already been killed or captured, stirring ever harsher criticism of the mobilization effort announced on Sept. 21 and considered a shambles from the start.

In theory, the draft was of men in the reserves with military skills that needed refreshing, but in practice it pulled in virtually anybody, critics said.

The result of the mobilization is that untrained guys are thrown onto the front line, Anastasia Kashevarova, a military blogger who has supported the war, wrote in an angry post, one of several such broadsides.

Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, Moscow  zinc coffins are already coming, she added. You told us that there would be training, that they would not be sent to the front line in a week. Were you lying again?

Thus far, the Kremlin has tolerated criticism of the conduct of the war, while jailing or fining those who questioned any need for the invasion. But there were rumblings this past week that it should crack down on military critics, too.

On Friday, President Vladimir V. Putin confirmed at a news conference that 16,000 recruits had already been deployed to combat units, some with as few as five to 10 days of training. The recruits were sorely needed, given that the front in Ukraine stretched for nearly 700 miles, he said, adding that the training would continue there.
Struggling on the battlefield in southern and eastern Ukraine, Russia felt war on its own territory on Sunday as more than a dozen explosions ripped through a Russian border region, and a series of blasts severely damaged the offices of Russias puppet government in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

The strikes in the Belgorod region next to Ukraine and the destruction of the municipal administration building in Donetsk, a city firmly controlled by Russia and its proxies since 2014, sent a powerful signal that the mayhem unleashed by President Vladimir V. Putins invasion is spreading far beyond the front lines.

The blasts, which Russia attributed to Ukrainian shelling, came a day after another sign of disarray in Russias once-vaunted military machine: Two men opened fire on fellow Russian soldiers at a training camp in the Belgorod region, killing 11 and wounding 15 before being killed themselves.

The Russian Defense Ministry, in a statement cited by the state media outlets RIA Novosti and TASS, described the shootings as a terrorist attack. It said the two gunmen were from a former Soviet nation and had fired on the soldiers during target practice at a firing range.
KYIV, Ukraine  After months huddled in a basement to escape shelling, a surrogate mother named Viktoria was able to get her family, and the unborn child she carried for foreign clients, away from the fighting in northeastern Ukraine.

She could do so, she said, because her employer, a surrogacy agency, had offered financial aid and an apartment in the capital, Kyiv, to ensure her safety and the babys. And although she had initially been reluctant to leave her home, Kharkiv, even under artillery attacks, she is now glad to live in relative security.

I would not have left if the clinic had not persuaded me, she said.

Viktoria is one of hundreds of surrogate mothers who have brought pregnancies to term over seven harrowing months, running for safety as air-raid sirens sounded, surviving in bomb shelters, then fleeing from ruined towns to deliver children for parents abroad.

Before Russia invaded in February, Ukraine was a major provider of surrogacy, one of the few countries that allows it for foreign clients. After a pause in the spring, surrogacy agencies are resuming their work, reviving an industry that many childless people rely on but that critics have called exploitative and that, in peacetime, was already ethically and logistically complex.
Meri Brown's words of wisdom come days after it was revealed on the show that Kody suggested she move to Utah.
Newsy 25 Oct 2022

Watch VideoGermany's president arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday for his first visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion, as..
His performance in the Georgia Senate debate on Friday is a warning to Democrats whove found hope in the blunders of Republican candidates.
The mayor of a small town in northern Mexico near the US border and a group of officials have gone missing after they were abducted by armed men.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has called for faster military development and announced no change in policies that have strained relations with Washington and tightened the ruling Communist Partys control over society and the economy.
More than 1,000 Paddington bears and other teddies left in tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II in London and Windsor will be donated to a children's charity, Buckingham Palace said Saturday.
WASHINGTON  Two years ago, candidate Joe Biden loudly denounced President Donald Trump for immigration policies that inflicted cruelty and exclusion at every turn, including toward those...



#venezuela #migrants #nicolasmaduro #theassociatedpress #venezuelan
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - Staff of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Egyptian authorities have agreed to continued fiscal consolidation path in Egypt that will safeguard public debt sustainability and ensure a steady decline of the debt-to-GDP ratio over the medium term
New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General has expressed grave concern over the escalation of fighting in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, where government troops and separatist forces have been locked in conflict since November 2020
Government should look at blocking leakages in procurement contracts and the management of state resources to accumulate revenue to get the country out of the current economic challenges, Reverend Dr Samuel Worlanyo Mensah, the Executive Director, Centre for Greater Impact Africa, has said.



If the government wants to get more revenue, then we should be able to stop the leakages within the system, Reverend Dr Mensah said.



Dr Mensah, speaking at the Ghana News Agency Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue platform, emphasized, If the government is asking the citizens to tighten up their seatbelts to help rescue the country, there should be a corresponding initiative from the state to check all the loopholes in the procurement system to encourage the citizens to voluntarily tighten the belt.



He said, the nation can accumulate more money from identifying and blocking the loopholes within the procurement contracts, than relying on the electronic levy to develop the country.



The procurement process has been corrupted and resources for contracts are sometimes issued through the doubtful procedure, Dr Mensah stated while speaking on the topic: Probing the procurement of contracts: Blocking the leakages.



He said: The Center for Greater Impact Africa is entreating the government to strengthen the legal regime of the country to deal vigorously with people who misapply and mismanage state funds.



Dr Mensah while commending the governments pledge to support the pharmaceutical industry expressed concern that since the announcement nothing concrete has been done.



I think its a nice strategic agenda for the state and I believe that if we can take all these processes and policies as stated in the budget then it is going to be a nice platform to begin to have a good economy.



But if at the end of the day, we leave it or it is only draft work that we have done and implementation becomes a challenge then it is going to be more of a curse than a blessing, he said.



Dr Mensah urged the government to be proactive in the handling of economic issues, stressing the government must develop pro-poor models as well as ones that would bridge the gap between academia and industries.

Source: GNA









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The Trades and Industry Minister has paid a working visit to Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited located in the Tema Heavy Industrial Area.



Alan Kyerematen was to ascertain the status of work in the development of a 5 million tons/year refining project.



The project is part of the Ministrys Industrial Transformation Agenda in developing new Strategic Anchor Industries.



It is aimed at diversifying the Ghanaian economy beyond Cocoa and Gold.



The operationalisation of this and many such companies are part of efforts by the government to dampen the demand for foreign exchange for imports and grow our gross domestic product.



The Minister said in a social media post on Friday, October 15.



He was accompanied by one of his deputies, Michael Okyere Baafi.









Source: Myjoyonline









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Residents along the coast of Shama in the Western Region have expressed worry over the unending murky nature of the coastlines stretching several kilometres due to illegal mining activities (galamsey).



Debris from the heavily polluted Pra River as a result of illegal mining activities, aside from changing the colours of hitherto a good-looking blue sea, are deposited on the shore, making it highly unattractive to tourists and even members of the communities.



Unsuccessful clampdown



The Shama District, which is endowed with a beautiful coastline, an estuary and long Ramsar site toward the estuary, and creates a perfect ambiance for all manner of birds and breeding ground for fish species, is now muddy and not fit for purpose.



As the illegal mining activities intensify again after the unsuccessful clampdown, the source of the Pra River ends in the Shama.



Interestingly, the Shama is not really known for illegal mining, but quarry and agriculture (farming and fishing). Unfortunately, its coast is now bearing the effect of these illegal activities as the murky and heavily polluted river enters the sea.



Residents say the situation is denying them of the needed investment, as investors who have bought land in the area to develop into beach resorts are shying away.



At Anlo Village towards Komenda in the Central Region and also towards Aboadze direction, the beaches have lost their sparkle.



The resumption of illegal mining activities on the Pra River, which enters the sea at Anlo Village, has polluted the entire coastline, turning the blue sea into brown (high turbidity level).



Some residents who spoke to the Daily Graphic during a tour, said water from the Pra River, which enters the sea through the estuary, was once fresh and clean and served as a source of drinking water for the riverine communities.



The Pra River, which hitherto had clean and fresh water with active aquatic life, is now muddy due to illegal mining activities, according to the residents along it.



Muddy river/sea



Some told the Daily Graphic that because the estuary and part of the sea had become muddy, it was making it impossible for fishing in the Pra River and that shallow part of the sea.



This is attributed to the high turbidity level of the sea and the river, which has disturbed the natural habitat for river species; therefore, the river and the sea have lost their glory.



The residents opined that if the fight against illegal mining succeeded, the turbidity improved and the river and sea regained their glory, those who owned parcels of land at the beachfront in the area would move in to develop them into resorts.



That, the communities said, would lead to the opening of their settlements and create job opportunities. They said although they were not into mining, the activities of illegal miners had caught-up with them.



No more fishes



A fisherman in Shama, Godfred Egyir, said when they were young, the stretch from Shama Apo towards the estuary to Anlo Village where various types of fishes bred was a place they used to get great catches.



We got cassava fish and other types of fish there. We used hook and line to fish as well but today the story is different, we have lost it all, he lamented.



The other fishermen who do not venture into deep seas, he said, used drag nets and still got very good catches.



The sea was nice and blue but today the sea is thick brown, dirty and unattractive to aquatic life, he added.



Another fisherman, Egya Kwesi, said in its original state the river was giving us food, today we dont have the fish species anymore, apoofee which is a snail with a turreted spiky shell and all small fishes are all gone because of the current state of the river due to galamsey.



Daboase



From the coast of Shama, the team visited Daboase, where Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) takes its supply for processing and the situation was dire.



The quality of water from the Pra River is treated and supplied to residents in the twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi. The team found that even though the water level was up, it had high turbidity and still flowed with debris that created problems for the plants.



The current turbidity (cloudiness) of the Pra River from the records is about 3,000 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit) while the colour is 9,014 HU (Hezen Units), which is not the best, some officials said.



The acceptable turbidity value for drinking water is five NTU, while values of 80-150 NTU are acceptable for other water uses as appropriate, according to the Water Resources Commission.



Shutdown



The Communications Manager of the GWCL in charge of the Western and Central regions, Nana Yaw Barima Barnie, said if the current trend continued unchecked it would get to a point where the company would no longer be able to process the Pra River for drinking.



Very soon the water pumps will not even be able to abstract this kind of excessively polluted water, since they were designed to abstract water and not to de-silt it, the silt and others are too much for our operations, he said.



Nana Barnie explained that at a point water collected looked like mud, which is not meant for the pumps; and if it continued this way, the plant might be shut down.



He said: If those carrying out the illegalities are not aware of the dangers, and threat to water supply  reality will soon set in and we will feel the repercussions if the illegal activities force the system to shut down.



Imagine the needs and uses of water; let's ask ourselves if the system shuts down what will happen to domestic use, our hospitals, schools and other institutions that rely heavily on treated water supplied by Ghana Water, he asked.



Nana Barnie called for swift interventions and support from all stakeholders to deal with the galamsey menace, since it has dire consequences for the nation.



Other effects



Other experts are of the view that illegal mining activities release mercury and arsenic element into the environment, which accumulate in the water, where they convert into toxic methylmercury and enters the food chain.



Mercury contamination is said to be a significant public health and environmental problem because methylmercury easily enters the bloodstream and affects the brain.



Arsenic element is a naturally occurring metal found in the earth's crust as the miners agitate the riverbed in search of gold. It occurs in various forms: elemental (metallic) arsenic; combined with other elements such as oxygen, chlorine, sulfur (inorganic arsenic); or combined with carbon and hydrogen (organic arsenic).





Source: graphic.com.gh









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A documentary on the environment and climate change produced by Ghanaian youth videographers will be showcased at the upcoming climate talks in Egypt (COP 27)  the first in the history of the country.



The documentary consists of 12 separate films that highlight the impact of climate change on the environment and livelihoods, particularly among coastal communities hit by tidal waves and rising sea levels.



The film also captures climate change mitigation measures executed by individuals and organisations, including the adoption of climate smart agriculture systems to improve food production.



The films were produced as part of the Ghana Youth Videography Programme and facilitated by the UN Youth Climate Report, a platform that showcases actions being taken by youth around the world on climate change.



During a screening of the film at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) last Friday, Mr Mark Terry, Executive Director, Youth Climate Report, said the film would be shown to UN Policy makers at COP27 on November 9, 2022.



He said all 12 films were approved by the UN and had been added to the UNs Geographic Information System map of the world.



Mr Terry said the youth played an important role in the fight against climate change, adding that the documentary was one of the ways to ensure that the views of the youth were considered in the climate talks.



The idea is to amplify the voice of the youth particularly those in Ghana. We want to hear the stories of climate change and the impacts that they have here, he said.



Professor Magnus Mfoafo-MCarthy, a member of the Project Team, said policymakers must realize that the youth also had a voice because they also have something that they bring on the table.



He said the Film would create awareness on climate change and elevate Ghana to the world in terms of climate action.



It elevates Ghana to the point of having that conversation that Ghana is taking climate change seriously, Prof. Mfoafo-MCarthy said.



Africa will host the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27) in November this year, which will be the second time the continent is hosting global climate talks after hosting COP 17 in South Africa in 2011.



Although African countries have contributed to less than four per cent of global emissions, its citizens are the most affected by climate change.



The continent is increasingly battling with extreme drought, erratic rainfall, rising sea levels, flooding and other challenges that impact food systems and contribute to hunger and poverty.

Source: GNA









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Candidates sitting for the 2022 Basic Certificate Examinations (BECE) in the Senfi, Dominase, Adjamesu and Ofoase Kokobin communities of the Ashanti Region have had a sigh of relief as assorted stationery have been made available at no cost to the finalist who are scheduled start their examinations on Monday 17th October, 2022.



On Friday 14th October, 2022, a philanthropist Daniel Agyei Sarpong together with some persons of good will donated some items to various public basic schools in the selected communities ahead of the start of the examination. About 500 pieces of Mathematical sets were distributed. Also Pens and Pencils and other reqired items for writing the papers were handed over to schools heads for onward distribution to the students. Adressing the media on the sidelines of the outreach programme, Mr. Agei Sarpong noted that Students at that level also deserve our support and motivation to fully prepare to face the challenge ahead. I encouraged them to deal and wash away the fear that comes with exams and also remain positive minded and maintain a positive attitude.



Management of Ghana Education service (GES), in a statement released to the general public particularly Candidates, Parents, Teachers, Heads of Basic Schools and Directors of Education on Friday, October 14, 2022 stated that the Basic Education Certificate Examinations for 2022 will be written from Monday 17th to Friday 21" October 2022 at all the 2,023 designated Centres throughout the country.



In all, 552,276 candidates, comprising 276,988 males and 275,288 females are expected to sit for the examination. All Candidates and Stakeholders are assured that Management has worked very closely with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations throughout the country. The statement further indicated.

In the bid to ensure that students remain focused and also as a sign of encouragement, Daniel Agyei Sarpong remarked that he was hopeful that his gesture will serve as a further boost to the morale of the students to excel in the forthcoming papers. In his words; I have pledged two thousand GHc 2000 support to candidates who obtain aggregate six(6) with eight 1s in all 8 subjects in the upcoming exam.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A middle-aged man has died after he climbed an electricity transmission tower belonging to the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) which passes through Galilea, near Kasoa in the Ga South District of Greater Accra Region and committed suicide.



He then stepped on the transmission line and got electrocuted



It is however unclear what might have necessitated his action but eyewitness accounts suggested he was protesting the economic hardships.



In a viral video sighted by DGN Online the man was seen quickly climbing the high-tension pole as bystanders made many pleas in attempts to get him down.



Also in the video, a vehicle of the Ghana Police Service could be seen, creating the impression that the police officers were at the scene to persuade him to get off the pole before he endangered his life even more.



In the video, an onlooker, were heard running commentary in the background, saying that a man had climbed the pole because of the hardships in the country with someone joining him to get him down but failed.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has defended the former National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party, Freddie Blay, over the decision by his law firm to offer legal representation to some persons believed to be Chinese nationals arrested along with galamsey queen, Aisha Huang.



The immediate past National Chairman says that his law firm, Blay & Associates, is not offering any legal counsel to Aisha Huang and her accomplices in the illegal mining case before the Accra Criminal High Court 5.



According to him, Blay & Associates are only representing Shi Yang alias Philip, Li Wei Guo and Shi Mei Zhi, all Chinese nationals, and a fourth accused person, Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen, a Vietnamese national who he claims are wrongfully accused supermaket owners.



In an interview on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo" on Thursday, October 13, 2022, he explained his four clients "were arrested in their homes in Kumasi; one is even married to a Ghanaian and they operate a supermarket and so he pleaded with me to represent them. Per his (friend) explanation, there might have been a mistake or an issue of stereotyping and so I instructed my office to make a representation to defend them".



Freddie Blay has however come under intense criticisms with his critics strongly opining that he is defending illegal miners.



Responding to the criticisms, Mr. Pratt has sought to find out the crime that Mr. Blay and his law firm may have committed even if they were defending a criminal.



He noted that lawyers are bound by their legal code to defend every person no matter the crime he or she commits.



To him, Blay & Associates are not doing anything out of blue.



"I don't agree with them. I don't agree at all because every person who knows the law knows that even a murderer is entitled to legal defence. A person who we all can see has stabbed someone to death is entitled to legal defence."



"What crime do you commit in this world that you are not entitled to legal defence?", the Editor-in-Chief of the Insight newspaper queried.



He stressed; "Whatever crime you commit, you are entitled to legal defence and if you are entitled to legal defence, it means a lawyer must defend you."



"For a lawyer to refuse to defend your case, he must have sufficient reasonable grounds in law . . . everybody is presumed innocent until convicted," he expounded.



Kwesi Pratt made these submissions on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Friday morning.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The New Patriotic Party's headquarters, on Thursday October 13, 2022, hosted the Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mr. Samuel Awuku. His visitation was to strengthen the relationship between his outfit and the Party, thereby creating a fertile grounds for broader collaboration.



Mr. Awuku was received by Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary of the Party; Alhaji Massaudu Osman, 3rd National Vice Chairman; Dr. Charles Dwamena, National Treasurer; Alhaji Aziz Haruna Futa, Nasara Coordinator; Miss Mimi Duah, Deputy National Women Organiser; Safia Mohammed, Deputy National Women Organiser; and Mr. William Yamoah, Director for Finance and Administration.



In his welcome address, the General Secretary observed that the National Lottery Authority has become a household name under the leadership of Sammy Awuku (as he is affectionately called), and urged him to continue his revival of the Authority. He extolled Mr. Awuku for his dedication and support to the party and urged other government appointees to emulate his extraordinary examples.



Mr. Awuku, the erstwhile national organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), disclosed that following his entry into office as Director General, NLA, his outfit executed several initiatives to shore up the revenue of the Authority. This, he confirmed, has been instrumental in the Authority's ability to recruit hundreds of young Ghanaians. He announced that the National Lottery Authority has no malevolent intent towards the activities of private lotto operators. Nonetheless, it is determined to clamp down on the pursuits of unlicensed individuals operating various lottery schemes.



As a former national officer of the Party, Mr. Awuku was not short of advice for the incumbent executives of the Party. He entreated them to work in unity and collaborate with all stakeholders of the Party as it seeks a historic, third-consecutive electoral victory in 2024 to "break the eight". Mr. Awuku was accompanied by Miss Anna Horma Akaisi Miezeh, Deputy Director General, National Lottery Authority; Mr. Goodfellow Dei Offei, Mr. David Nkansah Anto; and other staff of the Authority.



It is worthy of note that Mr. Samuel Awuku is one of several government appointees to embrace the party's initiative to enhance party-government collaboration in the former's reorganisation ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Manso-Adubia, has called for the strengthening of the grass-root party structures to help retain power in the 2024 general elections.



He said building the capacities of the constituency executives, polling station executives, area coordinators and other local structures of the party was the surest way of strengthening the grassroots and galvanizing support for the party.



Speaking at a three-day capacity-building workshop for the constituency and polling station executives, area coordinators, womens wing and youth organizers, as well as other local actors of the party at Manso-Adubia, the MP said the initiative was to empower the officers to perform their duties efficiently.



He said it was important to provide the party structures at the grassroots with the needed communication skills and appropriate information to enable them to propagate the governments good works to win the party more support for 2024.



Mr Frimpong Addo, who is also a Deputy Minister of Agriculture, said leadership at the local levels of the party was key to the partys electoral victory and needed to be provided with support and logistics to perform.



He called on the NPP activists to embark on aggressive house-to-house campaigns to sell the good work of the NPP government to help sustain confidence in the party.



Mr Kofi Acheampong, the constituency chairman, said the training was to empower the participants to defend and uphold the values of the party while they canvass for community members support in the general elections.



He called for unity among the party members and urged them to work as a team to help break the eight-year rule.



Mr Acheampong said the training would be held regularly to ensure that the members stayed on top of issues in their political campaign activities in the constituency.



Mr Peter Atta Asenso, the constituency organizer, said the grassroots were committed to working to increase the electoral fortunes of the party in the constituency and called for material and logistics support to perform their duties.





Source: GNA









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All is set for the 2022 edition of the The King is Coming musical concert at the Church auditorium of the Bethel Seventh-Day Adventist Church (OSU) in Accra, on Saturday, October 29, 2022.



This year's edition of the concert is dubbed  Remember your creator and will feature some of the talented music prodigies within the Church.



According to a statement by the organizers, the primary aim of the The King is Coming musical concert is to herald the soon return of Christ as stated in Revelation 14:7 and Revelation 22:20 through music."



This years edition will feature the host choir Heavenly Strings, PESDAC Praise, New Vision Choir, The Manifest, Earl and Evelyn and a host of other surprise acts.



Personal Ministries Director of the Bethel-Osu, SDA Church, Elder Frank Aning said "We chose the theme "Remember your Creator" to highlight the fact that God is the creator of all things including ourselves and thus deserves our allegiance and worship, especially in these last days. In line with the Pink October initiatives, we will also take the opportunity to create awareness about breast cancer and so the dress code for the programme should have a touch of pink.



The King is Coming Concert will also be used to sensitize guests about breast cancer in line with the pink October initiatives. In this regard, the dress code for the event will be a touch of pink.



The musical concert will also be streamed live on social media (Facebook, Zoom and YouTube @bethelsdaosu)

It starts at 5 pm, and absolutely free that one cant afford to miss it.



About the King Is Coming



As Christians, particularly Seventh-day Adventist Christians, we believe in the second coming of our Lord Jesus. It is worth reminding ourselves that we are not in normal times and events happening all around us points to this great event. The King is Coming is a non for profit musical concert to remind the world of Christs soon return. The event is also to show the churchs appreciation to God for how far he has led the church and his goodness towards the members. The King is Coming concert will be a soul searching, heart-warming, inspiring and spirit-filled encounter.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
A total of 942 players registered for todays final flight of the $1,100 Mid-States Poker Tour Main Event at Firekeepers in Battle Creek, Michigan. It was just 130 that found their way to a bag for Day 2, meaning that the total number to make it to Day 2 is 303. The players will return at 11 a.m. to play for their piece of the $2,336,730.

Nothing seemed to be going right for defending champion Dan Bekavac for most of the starting flights. Firing multiple times in Day 1a and 1b, it seemed like 1c was panning out to be another bustout for Bekavac. He started the end of registration with just over 100,000 and chips with just three levels to go until bagging, then things started to go his way.

The chips began flying in the late levels of the night, and all of it was towards Bekavac. Player after player, pot after pot, the defending champion rose to the top of the overall tournament leaderboard and continued to build. He ended the night with a whopping 1,128,000, nearly two times the stack of the next closest opponent. The four-time MSPT champion flashed a five as the picture was taken at the end of the night, making it clear where his sights lie.

Top 10 Chip Counts Day 1c

Place Name Chip Count 1 Dan Bekavac 1,128,000 2 Soheb Porbandarwala 611,000 3 Joseph Curcio 489,000 4 Jonathan Johnson 458,000 5 Rahulinder Dhillar 402,000 6 Jacob Baumgartner 366,000 7 Jason Walker 360,000 8 Sean Syberg 359,000 9 David Kenniston 355,000 10 Richard Luth 354,000

Many other players ended the night with strong stacks as well. Last iterations fifth place finisher Jonathan Johnson (458,000) and seventh place finisher Timothy Mulroy (240,000) are eager to get back to the final table of the biggest midwestern poker tournament of all time, and both bagged fairly strong stacks. They will join Marquez Davis and CJ Peake into Day 2 as five of the nine final tablists from last MSPT Firekeepers final table still see their dreams remain alive.

WSOP bracelet winners Jean Prince Gaspard (183,000) and Joe Ebanks (140,000) both found their way to bags at the end of the night. Both looking to get a piece of this massive prize pool as well as make their mark in MSPT history. MSPT hall of famer Pat Steele (141,000) will be looking to add another title to his already illustrious resume, as well as other MSPT regulars like Kevin Berthelsen (206,000), Ralph Massey (180,000), Donnie Phan (94,000), Jake Bazeley (67,000), and Firekeepers champion Bobby Noel (39,000).

MSPT Hall of Famer Pat Steele bagged and is looking to add to an already stacked resume.

Not all were able to find bags on this final day of entry. Many great players fell by the wayside like Chris Tryba, DeJuante Alexander, Sarah Stefan, Angela Jordison, AJ Rudolph, Dhimitri Lleshi. Former MSPT champions Greg Himmelbrand, Ken Baime, and Rob Wazwaz will have to look to the next MSPT to get another title.

303 players will return at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 16th, with 32 minutes left on level 15 with blinds at 3,000/5,000. The blinds will return to 40-minute levels and players will play down until an MSPT Firekeepers champion is crowned. Stay tuned to PokerNews for all of the updates on the biggest midwestern tournament of all time.
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It feels a bit like the people surrounding Trump were lulled into thinking that they, too  as former members of the inner-Trump team, would get some Judge Cannon treatment with respect to the FBIs investigations. That is not happening because theres only one Judge Cannon (so far). Just as Mike Lindell did not win a motion to get his phone back, neither did John Eastman, who lost decisively yesterday in federal court in New Mexico, meaning the court did as it would with just about any case with such a motion.

From Politico:

A federal judge on Friday denied an effort by John Eastman, the attorney who helped devise Donald Trumps last-ditch effort to subvert the 2020 election, to reclaim his phone from the Justice Department.

New Mexico-based Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert Brack ruled that Eastman had failed to show that the governments seizure of his phone  by FBI agents who confronted him outside a restaurant in June  had caused irreparable harm.

Brack noted that Eastman had obtained a replacement phone and that his desire to bar the government from combing the contents of his seized phone was not a sufficient reason to reclaim it from the Justice Department. Eastman wholly fails to show and in fact disclaims any need for the actual phone,

Right.

Well, when you are claiming that you will experience irreparable harm without your phone back, its probably best to demonstrate why you need that phone in particular. Eastman didnt have any evidence or even an argument that he needed the phone that was seized.

He did make arguments about privileged material, as Trump did in Florida, but unlike Judge Cannon, this judge determined that the FBI had set up a process to avoid those concerns. The FBI has a team that reads everything and picks out the privileged material, then hands what remains on to the investigators, who will never know what was taken out. The judge ruled that the process cured any claim to privilege.

Last, Eastman said that the seizure of his phone chilled free speech, which is remarkably self-absorbed. A meth dealer could make the same argument. The judge in New Mexico punted it right back to Eastman and said to take up any First Amendment arguments with the DC District Court that issued the search warrant.

The FBI is investigating the alternate electors prong in attempting to steal the election. Eastmans phone is almost surely a treasure trove of texts about who did what and where which is surely the reason that Eastman wants it back. Unfortunately, there is only one Judge Cannon, and she wasnt sitting on the bench in the New Mexico courtroom. Eastman faced a normal senior district court judge who dealt with the issue easily.
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Trump tried to shake down the co-founder of his media company to get Melania Trump paid, but the guy said no, was booted off the board, and then gave evidence of fraud to the SEC.

The Washington Post reported:

Will Wilkerson, then an executive at former president Donald Trumps start-up Trump Media & Technology Group, was at a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., coffee shop with company co-founder Andy Litinsky last October when Trump called Litinsky with a question: Would he give up some of his shares to Trumps wife, Melania?

.

The email  one of hundreds of previously unreported company messages, documents, photos and audio recordings that Wilkerson has provided to the SEC in connection with a whistleblower submission  reveals a stunning portrait of the animosity that has built up inside Trump Media since its high-profile debut last year.

Trump tried to shakedown one of his business partners to get his wife what was described as a small fortune. The partner refused, so Trump kicked him off of the board. The business partner then went to the SEC as a whistleblower with a whole trove of evidence, and Donald Trump has a whole new problem.

Trump owns 90% of the shares in the media company, so if he wanted his wife to have an interest in the company, he could have given her some of his shares, but the media company was never about running a media company. It is a con that is designed to raise investor cash.

The shady company set up immediately got the attention of the federal government, and an investigation was launched. Thanks to Trumps business partner, that investigation now has a whole lot of evidence provided by someone on the inside.

All because the Trumps saw a new con and wanted a piece of the action.
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Has Trump finally started to eat his own tail? Is he the dog that caught the car? Are there ten million more cliches that imply Trumps ego has finally powered up the self-destruct process? Yes, it appears so, given that Trump nonchalantly tossed out the idea of answering the subpoena if he could testify live. The man who believes his life is a television show and that ratings matter more than facts wants to go Super Bowl in testifying live to the Committee. Except, the Committee wasnt really supposed to say yes. Somewhere deep in Trumps brain, he was surely counting on the Committee to be the adults who say No. Instead, the Committee might maturely hold him to account by granting his wish:

From ABC News, Adam Kinzinger drops a bomb:

The House Jan. 6 committee investigating last years Capitol riot would need to negotiate with former President Donald Trump if he were to offer to testify live in response to the panels subpoena, Rep. Adam Kinzinger said Sunday.

I think thats going to be a negotiation, Kinzinger, R-Ill., a member of the committee, told ABC This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos. Ill only address that when we know for sure whether or not the president has tried to push to come in and talk to us live.

Sounds like an open door, yes?

Video of Kinzinger:

Having already noted that Trump could seal his own demise by convicting himself on a dozen charges in his opening statement (He will go off-script within 20 seconds), there are reasons for the Committee to be cautious, and thats what Kinzinger means when he says negotiations.

There wont be a judge in command of the room, no one to shut Trump up, nor anyone to say, The witness will answer the question  with the threat of throwing him in jail in contempt if he doesnt. Trump could ignore the questions entirely and start spewing about unrelated topics. Granted, hes likely to convict himself of two dozen more felonies in doing so, but he will surely dodge questions. There is a well-known cure for such a hostile witness. One asks a very simple question, and when Trump takes 2:00 minutes or whatever to do anything but answer the question, the attorney or representative utterly ignores the answer and calmly asks the question again, same words, and same tone, and continues to do so for 20 minutes and then say I see that you cannot answer the question. If Trump testifies live, the examination should be done by a very experienced trial attorney, not the representatives themselves. Each question is too valuable and should go through someone who does this twice a month for high stakes.

Ultimately, though, so long as Trump is on a clock, the Committee stands far more to gain than Trump.

Trump is not smart. He is not well-educated. He will not see the trouble coming in certain questions. His arrogance is unbounded. His belief that he can persuade anyone of anything is one of his most dangerous characteristics. He is furious, beyond furious. He is not in control and will be grasping to get some control of the process this all adds up to the worst nightmare any defense attorney could have and most doom any defendant, even if unknowing.

Given that the Committee is made up of nine dispassionate members, all of whom are more centered, more fully evolved, intellectual, better educated, not there for their own glory, and committed to a noble cause, leaves one with the certainty that whatever the risks (which are real) they are outweighed by the dream opportunity granted by putting the worlds most prolific and horrific liar on the stand.

It is all in the negotiations. Get a clock to limit each answer to two minutes or one. Thirty seconds. It is the principle negotiation. Oh! And try to do it prior to the elections, please? The more the country is covered in a Trump-lit grease fire, the better for Dems.
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The Cleveland Plain Dealer endorses Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan in the Ohio U.S. Senate race while calling out JD Vances craven political cowardice.

The editors of The Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote:

Vance, by contrast, has not exhibited the astute judgment necessary to return the Senate to its former status as the worlds greatest deliberative body.

Exhibit No. 1 is Vances craven political cowardice in advancing Trumps Big Lie that Joe Biden is not the legitimately elected president of the United States. Thats disqualifying in itself. But Vance hasnt stopped there. His accusation that Biden is responsible for the fentanyl epidemic because of his immigration policies is equally irresponsible  and who can forget his initial reaction to the Russian invasion: I dont really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.

Unfortunately, Vance elected not to appear before our editorial board to explain his indefensible embrace of Trumps Big Lie or clarify where he stands on Ukraine, abortion restrictions, domestic violence against women or other matters.

With Tim Ryan, voters know what theyll get and who he is  a steady voice for the working class, a bipartisan collaborator, and someone laser-focused on manufacturing innovation to keep jobs and income in Ohio. Thats why Tim Ryan deserves your vote for U.S. Senate. Early voting in the Nov. 8 election has begun.

In a year of dangerous and terrible Senate candidates, JD Vance tends to get lost in the shuffle behind the holding guns to womens heads, Herschel Walker and dog serial killer/Hitlers car aficionado Dr. Oz, but JD Vance suggested that women stay in abusive marriages, supports Russia over Ukraine, wants a national abortion ban, and has an agenda that is every bit as extreme as Walkers.

Rep. Ryan is the sort of bipartisan, state, and district-first public servant that the nations corporatized political media claims dont exist anymore. Ryan has been able to run close in his election by being genuine with the people of Ohio. Ryans campaign is very similar to Lt. Governor John Fettermans in Pennsylvania. Both Ryan and Fetterman are well-known and popular blue-collar candidates in their respective states.

The difference between Fettermans lead and Ryan being tied is Pennsylvanias slight Democratic lean versus Ohios Republican tilt.

Ohio would be harmed if they were to replace outgoing Sen. Rob Portman with JD Vance. The candidate who is best suited to represent the Buckeye States interest is Rep. Tim Ryan.
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The man who beat the longtime local president of the International Longshoremen's Association in a membership election last fall thinks there's a good chance the union's labor dispute over work at the Port of Charleston's Leatherman Terminal could be resolved before a federal labor board takes up the matter.

Charles Brave, president of ILA Local No. 1422 in Charleston, said last week the union's national office "has told me to work along with them"  meaning port officials  "to try to resolve this."

"I think we can reach a common denominator," Brave said during an event featuring Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. secretary of transportation, and Congressman Jim Clyburn, who were visiting the port's Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant.

Brave  a longtime South Carolina labor leader and former worker at the Port of Georgetown  unseated Ken Riley in November for the top spot at the ILA's local chapter. The election was a referendum on several controversial moves Riley has made in recent years, including an effort to sell the union hall on Morrison Drive and his quarrel with the State Ports Authority over who will operate the ship-to-shore cranes at the Leatherman site in North Charleston.

Riley wanted the ILA to have those jobs, which are held by non-union SPA employees.

The ILA's national office in New Jersey has taken up Riley's fight, asking the National Labor Relations Board to rule in its favor. The SPA wants the labor board to affirm an earlier judge's decision that said the maritime agency was in the right.

The case has been before the full labor board for months with little movement.

The dispute has most container shipping lines unwilling to call at Leatherman, for fear of violating their contract with the union. Through the first quarter of this fiscal year, which started July 1, the terminal is operating at just 24 percent capacity.

Lost in the high-level dispute are the local ILA workers, many of whom would prefer to see the crane question go away so they can get on with the task of moving cargo boxes at the new terminal, which opened more than 1 years ago.

"We're trying everything we can for this not to have to run its course," Brave said. "The major sticking point is the cranes, and I think we can work through that."

Brave said he is working to get union members certified to run ship-to-shore cranes so, if the SPA has a shortage of operators, "would they allow us just to fill in, not to take anybody's jobs."

Even if the SPA disagrees, Brave said he's confident "there's a way to work around it."

But, first, the national headquarters has to be convinced to give up the fight, he said. ILA spokesman Jim McNamara indicated that isn't likely to happen, telling the The Post and Courier last month that the union prefers to have the NLRB rule on the case rather than negotiate a settlement.

Brave said Barbara Melvin, the SPA's president and CEO, has assured the union it will get most of the jobs at Leatherman.

"But she made it plain that the cranes are an issue," he said. "We understand that."

Melvin said she remains optimistic that both sides can come to a resolution.

"I think if we keep in mind that our job here at the port is to facilitate and move waterborne commerce and create jobs  we share that goal with the ILA," she said. "I feel like communication and collaboration can lead to something positive. This is larger than us locally, so there are broader conversations that have to take place as well. That collaboration also will be key if we're able to do something other than being in the court system."

Melvin did not discount the idea of union workers one day operating cranes at Leatherman, but for now wants to maintain the status quo of SPA workers moving cargo to and from ships while union members move the containers on the terminal. It's a practice the SPA has employed for decades at all of its terminals.

"That is certainly something they have asked the question about," Melvin said. "And again, that's going to be part of the much larger conversation as we continue to move forward and build trust in each other."

Meanwhile, Buttigieg and Clyburn said they prefer to stay on the sidelines rather than take an active role in mediating a resolution.

"That's with the NLRB and not with us, but I sense a strong commitment to getting to the other side of that from both parties," said Buttigieg, who's made finding a solution to solving the nation's supply chain crisis a key part of his tenure with the transportation department.

"I'm confident there'll be a resolution," Buttigieg said.

Clyburn said he's always available to talk to ILA members, "many of whom I have known for decades, and I have an open line of communication with them."

He added, "I don't have an official role to play."
Lissa Frenkel joined the Gaillard Center as president and CEO in the summer of 2021. The Boston native previously was managing director of the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan, a venue known for its innovative commissions and programming.

Now shes in Charleston, at the helm of the citys main performance hall, working toward a more accessible and inclusive agenda. The famed Dance Theatre of Harlem is performing Oct. 20-21, and the booking has provided Frenkel and her team with an opportunity to forward its mission.

If you go WHAT: Dance Theatre of Harlem WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 and 21 WHERE: Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St. COST: Tickets start at $24 (plus fees) MORE INFO: https://gaillardcenter.org/events/dance-theatre-of-harlem/

Q: The Dance Theatre of Harlem provides you and your team an opportunity to engage the community in creative ways. Tell me about the wrap-around programming youve prepared.

A: We will be offering three master classes with DTH at different levels, allowing multiple opportunities for access  a beginning dance class at Burke High School, an intermediate class for community members at Dance Conservatory of Charleston, and a professional development class for public school dance teachers.

On Wednesday, Oct. 19, we are welcoming a sold-out crowd of 1,500 local students to a special education performance. On Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m., I am moderating a panel discussion with DTH Artistic and Executive Directors Virginia Johnson and Anna Glass, and Dr. Tonya Matthews, President of the International African American Museum, at which we will discuss the process of commissioning new work, storytelling through dance, and Johnsons last tour with the company.

Finally, we are inviting all community members to join us for a free community dance class outdoors on the Gaillard campus lawn from 5:30-6 p.m. before the show on Friday, Oct. 21.

We are able to provide this depth of access due to the contributions of supporters of our local Dance Initiative, begun last summer with American Ballet Theatre.

Q: The Gaillard has recently expressed its commitment to elevating local and regional voices and partnering with Charleston institutions to reflect the citys diversity, both on stage and off. How might that play out?

A: This past summer, the Gaillard Center partnered with the International African American Museum and Emanuel AME Church to present four events marking the bicentenary of freedom fighter Denmark Veseys planned uprising. Through conversations, performances, and educational opportunities, the weekends programs provided a platform for both local and national artists and partners to recognize and engage with this important historical figure and issues around the legacy of slavery in the South.

This winter, we are bringing Charlestons first Spiegeltent to the Gaillard. This opulent mirror-tent which seats under 300 people, will afford us an intimate performance space in which to bring together artists and audiences, as well as opportunities to feature some Charleston artists.

As an organization, we know that an authentic commitment to equity requires us to actively create a more inclusive environment where all individuals feel a sense of belonging. To that end, the Gaillard is currently engaged in a multi-year effort to better understand and improve how equity manifests within our policies and practices, to expand community partnerships, to present and produce programming that features underrepresented artists, and to increase accessibility of our offerings to individuals from diverse lived experiences.

Q: How do you ensure the Gaillards financial stability and expand community outreach and engagement?

A: We are fortunate that Charleston is an extraordinarily appreciative and engaged arts community that supports the performing and visual arts. So many members of our community are expressing an interest in the innovative work we are doing  providing a platform for local, distinctly southern stories and histories on the stage, creating new theater for young audiences work, partnering with other local institutions to create bigger programs together, commissioning artists to develop new work both locally and nationally, and expanding our campus offerings. And this is just the beginning.

The generous supporters of the Gaillard are also invested in this mission and are energized in the direction we are going, and their support is crucial as we continue to build, whether homegrown companies or national foundations. And with their support, we are also growing our endowment to provide ongoing financial stability for the Gaillard.

Finally, we are fortunate to have an exceptional event space to rent that also brings new faces into the Gaillard on a regular basis.

Q: Back to the Dance Theatre of Harlem: The Gaillard and the International African American Museum co-commissioned a new dance work called Sounds of Hazel. Tell me more about that.

A: At the Gaillard, we are committed to supporting artists in the development of new work ... so when Dr. Matthews and I were looking for ways to deepen the partnership between the Gaillard and IAAM, we wanted to do something big to mark the museum's Road to Opening and to coincide with my first season as CEO at the Gaillard. Presenting Dance Theatre of Harlem was a homerun, but adding the new commission fulfilled the dream.

Both institutions are committed to telling untold stories, and using the arts as a platform to highlight the contributions of Hazel Scott was a perfect fit. Hazel was a superstar in the arts during the 1930s and 40s. She was the first woman, White or Black, to have a nationally syndicated television program, she was in major motion pictures and was a household name. She was also a brave, trailblazing voice in the civil rights movement  and it was this last contribution and the McCarthy-era response that left us with little knowledge of her accomplishments.

We are delighted to be working with IAAM, DTH and the other "Sounds of Hazel" commissioners to reestablish her legacy in 2022.

This interview was edited for space.
Discussion about the Union Pier redevelopment plan has largely focused on the buildings and such to be constructed on the 40 acres of high ground and ideas such as smaller lots sizes and buildings that reflect the granular and diverse character of the city. Read moreCommentary: What are unique challenges, opportunities at Union Pier?
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The fourth Thursday in November, designated as Thanksgiving Day, is an official American holiday. For many in the U.S., it marks the start of  Read moreKeeping Thanksgiving real
Tonight was American Experiments Fall Briefing, and, as Scott previewed, Tulsi Gabbard was our keynote speaker. I looked forward both to meeting and to hearing her, as she is one of the most interesting figures on our political scene. And, of course, the timing was fortuitous with Gabbard having just departed the Democratic Party.

So, what did I think of her? I was blown away. Our audience was, too. Some observations:

* Starting with first impressions, Tulsi (as she said I should call her) is a bit taller than I expected. She is friendly and professional. She is obviously an attractive woman, but glamour is not her style. She is a serious person.

* Tulsi is very smart. She is one of the best speakers I have seen in a long time. I expected her speech to be more or less a reprise of the 28-minute podcast she recorded, explaining why she left the Democratic Party. But, while of course the themes overlapped, her speech tonight was original and different. She delivered her speech extemporaneously and made great contact with the audience. It was a highly impressive performance.

* Tulsi does her homework. She read the American Experiment web site this morning, and worked several references to work we are doing into her speech, and into her answer to a question. Once again, smart.

* She is remarkably friendly and sociable. She chatted with everyone who came through the photo line and, after her speech, stayed to talk and pose for more pictures with a great many people. Her interest in people is obviously genuine, and I assess her as a highly authentic politician.

* After Tulsi finished her speech, I started off by asking her some questions, after which we turned it over to questions from the audience.

I began by asking about her plans for the future: does she plan to run for office again? Will she join the Republican Party? Not surprisingly, she wasnt ready to answer those questions. She said she has issues with Republicans, too, who support the same status quo in Washington that so many Democrats do. Between now and the election, she is criss-crossing the country on behalf of a number of candidates. She said she would send me a list of the candidates she is supporting, but I will be surprised if any of them are Democrats given her divorce from that party.

* We had an exchange about her characterization of Democrats as warmongerssomething that I said it is hard for those of us who came of age in the Vietnam era to wrap our heads around. Her view of war is largely shaped by her own tours of duty in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. She was eloquent about that. She is a skeptic about our role in Ukraine, and defended that position ably. And her commitment to our military continues, as she is now a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve.

* It is hard to overstate how positively our audience responded to Tulsi. I had thought her views might be a little too based for some of our people, but that didnt seem to be the case. I think her patriotism, intelligence and good will are so obvious that people are willing to cut her slack if they disagree on an issue or two. And maybe those disagreements are fewer than I thought.

* I should add that former talk radio host, House member and Senate candidate Jason Lewis introduced Tulsi, with whom he served in Congress. Jason, a good friend, was great as always. He has written a new book called Party Animal: The Truth About President Trump, Power Politics & the Partisan Press. I havent read it yet, but I am sure it is good, not least because I, and Power Line, merit a mention or two. Jason is an acute observer of the political scene and his thoughts on his time in Washington will be well worth reading.

So what is the bottom line? Based on the time we spent with her tonight, I would vote for Tulsi Gabbard for any office. I think my wife would, too. Tulsi is a serious politician in the same way that Ron DeSantis and Mike Pompeo are serious politicians, and in addition, she brings a warmth and likability that are a real asset.

I will likely have more to say about Gabbards views on specific issues in due course, but for now those are my big-picture impressions.

Postscript: Our Fall Briefing was held, as it was last year, at the Sovereign Estate Winery in Waconia, Minnesota. It is a gorgeous venue, and the owners are friends and allies. It is hard to imagine a more beautiful place to spend an afternoon and evening in October. This photo is of my wife Loree and me with Tulsi Gabbard; you can see Lake Waconia in the background.

American Experiment is the principal conservative organization in Minnesota, a key battleground state in which our countrys future is being fought out. We have funI am in favor of funbut we are deadly serious about changing the direction of our state and our nation.

If you want to support our efforts on behalf of our state and our country, please go here.
The police in Lagos said that four murder cases were reported and recorded in the state in the last seven days.

The Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO) in Lagos, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to journalists on Saturday.

Mr Hundeyin said that four persons were arrested in connection with the cases.

He said one of the cases happened at the Elemoro area on 8th October involving a 28-year-old, Patrick Kelvin, a member of the Legion, who allegedly stabbed an unknown man to death.

Mr Hundeyin said that the suspect was a security guard at a filling station located at Gulf bus stop, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

He said the incident happened during an altercation between the suspect and the deceased over alleged damaged stations fuel iron guard by the deceased.

Mr Hundeyin said that detectives from the Elemoro Division visited the scene and photographed the incident.

He said the corpse of the victim had been evacuated to Epe General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.

The suspect had been detained while investigation is ongoing, he said.

The PPRO said another murder case was recorded on 10 October at the Ajah area involving a 35-year-old, Isaac Akpan, who allegedly stabbed his neighbour, Godwin Otto, to death during a fight.

Mr Hundeyin said a group of people brought the suspect to the Ajah Police division to make the report.

He said the scene was visited by detectives from Ajah who removed the corpse to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) Mortuary at Yaba for autopsy, while investigation is ongoing.

The spokesperson, however, commended the people that brought the suspect to the police without taking law into their hands.

Mr Hundeyin said on 9 October, the Isokoko Police Division got a report at about 5.30 p.m. from a woman, who claimed that her five year old son was missing since 8 October.

He said that while the woman was making her complaint, an angry mob pursued one Elikana Lawrence to the station with intent to lynch him.

The PPRO said the suspect was alleged to have killed a minor in his room at Isokoko area.

The suspect was rescued by the men on duty and detained based on the report.

A team of detectives visited and photographed the scene.

The corpse of the missing boy was found in a canal with the throat lacerated. The suspect confessed to the act.

The corpse has been evacuated and deposited at IDH Moutuary Yaba for autopsy, he said.

The spokesperson said the last murder case was recieved by the Divisional Police Officer at Ikoyi on Tuesday at about 11.00 a.m.

He said that someone brought a 25-year-old, Desmond Gyudu, a security guard with a private security company attached to a house in Ikoyi.

Mr Hundeyin said the report revealed that on 10 October, around 11.30 p.m., the said suspect allegedly punched one Hakeem Nuhu, a 26-year-old motor boy of a water truck, on his face during an altercation.

He said that as a result, the victim became unconscious and was rushed to police hospital, Falomo, where he later died on 11th October at about 7.30 a.m.

Based on the report, a team of detectives visited the scene. Corpse was also inspected and photographed at the hospital.

The corpse was evacuated and deposited at the Federal Medical Centre morgue Ebute-Metta for autopsy.

Meanwhile, the suspect has been taken into custody and investigation is in progress, he said.

(NAN)

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The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) said the High Court dismissal of its N36 billion fraud case against a former governor of Jigawa State, Saminu Turaki, was not an acquittal and that it will return to court to continue with the trial.

A Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State, on Thursday, struck out the 32-count corruption case against Mr Turaki for lack of diligent prosecution by the EFCC.

The judge, Hassan Dikko, said the EFCC should do the needful when it is ready to proceed with the case.

In a statement denying it has been absent from the case, the EFCC vowed to prosecute the case again.

The October 13, 2022 ruling of the Federal High Court Dutse, striking out the money laundering charges brought against Saminu Turaki, a former governor of Jigawa State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC does not amount to an acquittal.

This clarification became imperative given widespread media reports purporting that the former governor had been discharged and acquitted of the charges preferred against him by the commission, the EFCC said in a statement Friday.

Justice Hassan Dikko in striking out the case on Thursday premised his decision on the absence of the EFCC prosecutor in court and stated that the commission is at liberty to proceed with the case when it is ready.

Without prejudice to the decision by his Lordship, his position was not premised on the weight of the evidence by the prosecution or the lack of it. The substantive issues have not even been canvassed before his Lordship.

The commission considers this ruling another unfortunate hiatus in the 15 years trial and will certainly return to court to conclude this case. Most of the delays that hallmark this trial had been at the instance of the defendant.

Turaki was first arraigned alongside three companies before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja on 13 July 2007. The case was transferred to the Federal High Court, Dutse in 2011 after Turaki successfully challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court Abuja to entertain the case. Then Turaki jumped bail and, from 2011 to 2017, failed to appear in court until he was re-arrested in 2017. Since the trial resumed in 2018, the case had stalled largely on account of Turakis absence in court.

It is however apposite to state that since Justice Dikko took over the trial in December 2021, the only time that the EFCC was not represented in court was Thursday, October 13, 2022. At the last adjourned date July 7, 2022, the Commission was in court with a witness but the defence objected to his testimony on the account that they had not been served with his statement. Consequently, the commission asked for an adjournment and the court fixed October 12 and 13, 2022, for the continuation of the trial.

On October 12, 2022, the commission was represented in court but could not present its witness who was ill and this was communicated to the court. Against this background, it is shocking that a case of such magnitude was dismissed, the EFCC said.

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The Zamfara State Government has ordered the shutting down of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Gusau and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)s Pride FM for allegedly violating government order and journalism practice.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, in Gusau on Saturday.

The commissioner said other media organisations sanctioned included Gamji TV, Gamji FM and Al umma TV which are privately operated.

Mr Dosara said the closure of the stations was approved by the State Security Council.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police has been directed to arrest and prosecute personnel of the affected stations caught violating the order.

In Nigeria, broadcast stations are regulated by the Nigeria Broadcast Commission, NBC, which has been accused of high-handedness in the past.

The Zamfara government is believed to have acted without NBC approval as its statement did not mention any consultation with NBC.

PREMIUM TIMES will provide more details of the Zamfara governments actions in subsequent news reports.

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On Saturday night, the government of Zamfara State announced the shutdown of some broadcast stations.

Two of the affected stations are owned by the federal government while the other three are privately owned.

In an announcement made on Zamfara Radio by the information commissioner in the state, Ibrahim Dosara, Mr Matawalle ordered the immediate shutdown of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Gusau, Federal Radio Corporation Pride FM Gusau, Alumma TV, Gamji FM and Gamji TV.

In the announcement that was repeated several times in the Hausa Language, Mr Matawalle also asked the state police commissioner, Kolo Yusuf, to ensure full compliance with the order.

There is no indication that the Zamfara government got permission from Nigerias broadcast regulator, NBC, to sanction the media houses.

Both the information commissioner, Mr Dosara, and the governors spokesperson, Zailani Bappa, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to them for further comments about the order.

The state government gave no reason for its action beyond saying the stations violated government order and journalism practice.

PREMIUM TIMES has now learnt from sources in the state that the affected media organisations were shut down because the governor of the state, Bello Matawalle, was irked that the stations broadcast the campaign event of the governorship candidate of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dauda Dare, on Friday.

How journalists incurred Matawalles wrath

Before the order banning the broadcast stations, the state government, through Mr Dosara, Friday issued a statement banning, amongst other things, all political gatherings in the state till further notice.

Mr Dosara said the decision was due to the resurgence of the activities of terrorists in the state.

He said the governor ordered the immediate suspension of all APC meetings and activities as part of his governments concern and sympathy with people and communities attacked by bandits.

Stakeholders invited for the Friday APC Stakeholders Meeting are hereby advised to hold on for a new date for the meeting.

Furthermore, the government has suspended all political activities in the state till further notice.

Political meetings and gatherings at individual residences are also banned with immediate effect.

READ ALSO:

Nigerias electoral commission, INEC, which regulates campaign and election activities, had earlier announced the commencement of campaigns for the 2023 general elections across the country.

Perhaps buoyed by the INEC guideline but in an apparent disregard of the Zamfara governments directive, the PDP candidate, Mr Dare, returned to the state from Abuja to receive thousands of supporters at a rally aired by the broadcast stations.

The governor was angry, a top source at the Zamfara Government House told PREMIUM TIMES.

If you know him you would know that he hates it when someone tries to belittle him. He can take any action, said the source who asked not to be named as he has no permission to speak to journalists.

He wanted to send a message to the opposition but this is a political season and I believe he is wrong.

He added that Mr Matawalle immediately directed his information commissioner to question the general managers of the stations about why they aired the PDP rally.

I dont know what happened during the discussion. Maybe the journalists didnt agree with the governments demands. But I knew that the decision to shut them was taken because of that action, he said.

APC, PDP clash

Meanwhile, the PDP rally welcoming its governorship candidate from Abuja, ended in violence as supporters of the ruling APC clashed with those of the PDP.

Following the violent clashes at the event, the APC accused the PDP of inciting violence by attacking innocent residents, but the opposition party accused APC supporters of attacking its members who attended the rally.

At least one person was confirmed dead while 14 others sustained various injuries, according to a statement by the State Anti Thuggery Committee boss, Bello Bakyasuwa.

He said the 14 wounded people have been taken to the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital fit medical attention.

Subsequently, in a statement, the publicity secretary of the APC in the state, Yusuf Idris-Gusau, said the government would not watch this matter rest because these criminals are trying to bring into the state capital what we always accused them of doing at the fringes.

He said the opposition party disrupted the monthly sanitation exercise. He alleged that members of the party shot some residents during the event.

The security agencies should also uncover how and where the PDP/Dauda boys secured such dangerous firearms which we believe they have more in their custody waiting to use them in the upcoming 2023 general elections, he added.

But in a swift reaction, the PDP claimed it was APC-sponsored thugs who attacked its members.

Mr Dare, in a statement, said Mr Matawalle is stifling the democratic process.

He argued that their rally was in tandem with the provision of the Independent National Electoral Commission announcing the commencement of gubernatorial campaigns.

Today, the thugs led by one Aliyu Alhazai Shinkafi, the former chairman of the Zamfara Anti-thuggery committee and Commandant of the Zamfara Road Traffic Agency (ZAROTA) attacked the residence of PDP gubernatorial candidate. Alhazai led thugs barricaded the road leading to Lawals residence and venue, setting parameter for the attack. In the renewed unprovoked attack, our campaign buses were vandalized and looted.

We know the APC and the Matawalle-led government intends to unlawfully use force to stop our campaign activities across the Zamfara. The hooliganism we were not praying for has returned to the state. The issue is a source of concern.

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Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of Nigerias ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, gave a long speech on his plans for Nigeria at the Kaduna Economic and Investment summit on Saturday.

Mr Tinubu, who had not been speaking on his plans in public since his nomination, gave a glimpse into the plan with his speech.

The speech touched on insecurity, judicial reforms, the economy and other sectors. However, the speech was overshadowed by a gaffe when he was speaking on host Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State.

Mr Tinubu, in his usual self-confidence, assured the audience that he is going to win the presidential election and urged Governor El-rufai to abandon any plans to retire from public service after his tenure as governor.

In the process, he dropped the bombshell that Mr El-rufai has the capacity to turn a rotten situation into a bad one.

I am openly begging Nasir El-rufai not to run away for additional degree and excuse. He is going to CairoPhD and everything. There are a lot of educated relics. We are not going to let you run away, your vision, creativity and resilience in turning a rotten situation into a bad one is necessary at this critical time. That is why we are here today, he said.

While political gaffe is common in any political speech, however, the speculation on the health status of Mr Tinubu could explain the extra attention and scrutiny of his speeches.

Aside from the gaffe, in the beginning, the speech was wobbling with several awkward stops in-between words, phrases and sentences.

In addition, Mr Tinubu has a history of making errors in his speeches and has become a source of many jokes on social media. There is the recruiting 50 million youths into the military, is it for Agbado and Ewa? and there is the corn, cassava and Agbado.

Last week, his tell them to shut up comment during the inauguration of the womens campaign council set tongues wagging on social media.

Mr Tinubu had asked APC women leaders to ask PDP members demanding a change of government to shut up. On social media, the statement was translated to Tinubu tells Nigerians to shut up.

Aside from gaffes, the APC candidate also has a history of making damaging comments when speaking off-script.

In 2018, during the gubernatorial election campaign in Osun State, Mr Tinubu, speaking at the palace of Ataoja of Osogbo, Jimoh Olanipekun, said he is richer than Osun State.

I am not being abusive and I will not look into the eyes of Kabiyesi (the King) to say this. People may be saying that Jagaban, Asiwaju has appointed someone to help him plunder Osuns funds, and all, and I ask them: How much exactly do you (Osun State) even have?

Kabiyesi I dont want to say this in front of you but, Osun is not as rich as I am, that one would steal. I only want to help this state.

Earlier this year, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the tussle for the APC ticket, Mr Tinubu went gun blazing against everyone in his Emi lokan rant.

Some of the victims of his diatribe included President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who got the infamous title of Eleyi.

Often, his media handlers have to clarify the error and make corrections after the speeches.

Shortly after the Kaduna speech, the APC campaign council, via Bayo Onanuga, issued a statement explaining what Mr Tinubu really meant.

The APC leader inadvertently said Governor El-Rufai turned a rotten situation he met on the ground in Kaduna into a bad one whereas he meant to say to a great one.

It was a mere slip, that is not unusual in life, even among leaders of nations. We recognise we are in a political season where everything is latched on for deliberate distortion and twisted mischief, Mr Onanuga had said.

Many believe that Mr Tinubu has avoided one-on-one interviews because of the constant gaffes. As those gaffes could take away attention from the core of his speech.

Luckily for Mr Tinubu, one of his main opponents, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who was also in Kaduna, had his own slip of tongue.

Mr Atiku, during an Interactive Session with Arewa Joint Committee, held on Saturday in Kaduna State, said This is what the Northerner needs, it doesnt need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate, I stand before you as a Pan-Nigerian of northern origin.

A glimpse in absence of manifesto

The APC candidate is yet to release his manifesto for the upcoming election, although, his handlers claimed that it has been presented to the joint meeting of the PCC, the Progressive Governors Forum and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party.

Mr Keyamo, the spokesperson of the PCC, had after the meeting, informed journalists that the governors and the NWC approved the content of the manifesto.

Therefore, the Kaduna Speech remains the closest glimpse into what is expected under Mr Tinubu in the event he wins the election.

Economy

The larger part of the speech dwelled on the economy. It was expected considering that the gathering was an economic one and the fact that Nigeria is on a fiscal cliff.

Mr Tinubu highlighted incentives for the private sector as one of the variables for driving growth. According to him, the organised private sector can help to provide jobs across states.

A vibrant private sector is a prerequisite for a functional economy. It plays a critical role in the mobilization of capital, expertise and innovation for the creation of economic opportunities and employment. This is why it is important for the government to give maximum support and incentive to the private sector.

Secondly, he said his government would target a double-digit growth rate by leveraging the potential of youths for economic development, adding that technology would be deployed to block leakages and achieve efficiency.

He also emphasised improving the ease of doing business policy of the present administration.

You (youths) are the path to achieving double-digit economic growth within a couple of years. We will do this through coordinated sets of policies in our key sector.

We will champion an efficient government that will eliminate revenue leakages across all federal government and leveraging technology which will be increasingly embedded in government operations, he said.

Building on Buharis legacy

There are speculations that Mr Tinubu will distance himself from the current administration to avoid carrying the burden of this government.

However, despite the challenges, Mr Buhari remains popular in the North and Mr Tinubu is banking on traditional Buhari voters in the North-west, hence, he has to take the risk.

In his speech, Mr Tinubu highlighted some of the legacies of the current administration he is hoping to build on.

He made the analogy that it is not that same day maize is planted that corn is harvested.

Mr Tinubu said his government will continue the judicial reforms embarked on by the current administration by ensuring that the judiciary arm is truly autonomous financially.

Whilst there must be active engagement between all the arms of government for the rule of law to prevail, it is critical for the judiciary to retain its autonomy and independence.

Therefore, under my stewardship, the federal government will build on the efforts of the current administration to review, amend and/or enact the relevant laws that will engender the rule of law.

My administration would ensure that the judiciary has true financial and administrative autonomy and strong disciplinary and integrity monitoring mechanisms.

On security

In this sector, Mr Tinubu did not give any specific action other than a general statement of recruiting, training and equipping the military and other security apparatus to protect the territorial integrity of the country.

He stated that no inch of this country will be ceded to banditry and armed robbery. We will fight it to a standstill.

We will be committed to introducing cross-sector initiatives that will address the economic and social constraints that prevent people from advancing or opting for crime.

Under my leadership, the government will place great emphasis on the use of a counter-insurgency doctrine and strategy by our military. We will continue to train and equip our gallant forces and security personnel with the resources, gear, and equipment that they need to hasten our inevitable march to a resounding victory against the enemies of our great nation. Where necessary, we will recruit and train more personnel to bridge any gaps in manpower, he said.

Expected cabinet El-rufai is the first recruit

Mr Tinubu promised to assemble some of the best talents to work with him if he is elected as president.

On Saturday, Mr Tinubu hinted that the governor of Kaduna State is very high on his list of likely recruits.

Mr Tinubu, after his speech, said he will not leave the stage until he gets a commitment from the Kaduna State governor on staying in public service beyond 2023.

Mr El-rufai, who will be rounding off his second term as governor in 2023, had vowed to retire after his tenure as governor.

The former minister had in May, during an interview on Channels TV, said he is physically tired of carrying on after his tenure as governor.

I am tired. Im not tired of serving the nation. Im just physically tired because I do take my work seriously and in the last seven to eight years, I have worked flat out.

I am not young anymore. I will be 63 next year so I prefer to look at other options to contribute to the development of my country.

In his speech, Mr Tinubu said his host should not run to Egypt or any other country for P.hD. He stated that the country needs him here.

After his speech, Mr Tinubu reiterated that Mr El-rufai must give him a pledge to continue to serve.

I want you to make a promise, we will not let you run away from this country. I am not leaving this stage, he said.

At that point, Mr El-Rufai climbed the stage and promised to carry on.

While this speech has offered the first rare glimpse into the plan of the APC candidate,

however, issues like the growing debt profile, subsidy regime, climate change and the devastating environmental impact, state policing, restructuring and others are some of the burning issues candidates are expected to elaborate on

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A former defence spokesperson, John Enenche, has reacted to outrage from Nigerian youth over his inclusion in the 2023 campaign council of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Mr Enenche, retired major general, in a statement on Friday, said the countrys youth are right to criticise his past comment on Lekki Tollgate shootings but urged them not to waver in their support for the candidate.

The youth, on Wednesday, singled out Mr Enenche from the list of the 1,234-member appointed to be removed from Mr Obis campaign following his denial of the killings of protesters by personnel of the army in October 2020.

He said in an interview at the time that the video evidence of the killings reported across different platforms were photoshopped.

Following the controversy trailing his inclusion in the LP campaign team, PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported the resolution of the party to drop the ex-army spokesperson and update the list.

Dear countrymen and women, following my appointment on the campaign council of the Labour Party, there were reactions on the social media about my pronouncement concerning a video shot at the scene of the ENDSARS incident at Lekki toll gate on 20 October 2020.

Everyone that commented in any way was right based on the information at their disposal and individual analysis. Personally and professionally, I worked with the overriding interest of Nigerians at heart based on the oath of allegiance I swore on commission into military service which is sacrosanct.

I sincerely shared in the pains of that breaking news through the social media as it were. On this note, I want to assure all that more effort will be put in, so that all assertions can be cleared convincingly from appropriate sources, Mr Enenche.

Mr Obi, earlier in a Twitter post, also admitted to the error of inclusion of the ex-Army officers name among other persons. He vowed to do the needful and urged his supporters to exercise patience.

Ive received several calls of concern following the release of the Labour Partys Presidential Campaign Council list. Admittedly, there were some omissions and erroneous entries in the list, hence the concerns expressed. In response, the Labour Party Chairman in the presence of members of the NWC addressed the issues during a press conference. In keeping with our commitment to accountability, responsiveness and transparency, an updated list will be issued in due course. I plead for patience, the presidential candidate said in a Twitter post.

However, Mr Enenche, in his statement, did not indicate whether he has resigned from his membership in the campaign team or not.

He, however, reiterated his support for Mr Obi and enjoined Nigerians to do the same in the best interest of the country as it braces for the 2023 polls.

I believe that all Obidient Nigerians among others that believe and are working towards a new Nigeria and taking our country back have the same conviction like me.

In this regard, I appeal to all in this endeavour to allow us to maintain focus to achieve this all important mission, he said.

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The newly inaugurated Ekiti Airport will open up the state to partake actively in global commerce and tourism, if fully harnessed and managed, Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, has said.

Mr Sirika, who performed the official inauguration of the airport, was among the personalities on board of the aircraft, which flew all the way from Abuja to make the historic landing on Ekiti soil.

However, the project was a dream come true for the people of Ekiti as the State Agro-Allied International Airport, Ado-Ekiti, was inaugurated for public use, shortly after the first aircraft landed at the facility on Saturday.

With its inauguration and landing of the first flight, Ekiti has joined the elite club of states in Nigeria that could boast of functional airport, which is expected to boost export of agricultural produce, service educational and health institutions as well as abundant tourism potential in the state.

The first aircraft, ATR 42 Nigeria Air Force plane piloted by E.A. Balogun, a flight lieutenant, landed at the airports runway at exactly 10.20 a.m. amidst cheers and excitement by eminent guests, government officials and members of the public who came to witness the historic occasion.

Shortly after the plane landed and taxied to the tarmac, the excited crowd of residents and guests were seen taken pictures of the moving aircraft and enthusiastically welcomed the Aviation Minister and officials of the agencies, who disembarked from the aircraft.

Mr Sirika announced to the excited audience that the federal ederal government vernment would site a cargo facility at the airport.

He described the Ekiti Airport as an extremely very important project which would in turn facilitate import and export of goods and commodities.

The minister recalled that when he was on the site for groundbreaking in October 2019, there were divergent views as to the viability of the project, saying airports are being used as one-city nation-states in the world to drive their economy.

According to him, I use to make an assertion, that one mile long road leads to nowhere, but one mile runway leads to everywhere.

You see, I came here today through the runway of this airport provided by Gov. Fayemi. There is future with this project- market and trade can drive everybody here.

I was at ABUAD, I saw the university, the farm, the industrial park and the hospital,  he said.

The minister said that with an airport here, it would connect people to this facility and reduce foreign medical tourism.

Airports are by no means the best catalysts for economic growth of any state or nation.

35 per cent of global trade by value is moved through airports and 18.6 dollar billion of cargo is moved daily through air transportation.

The wealthy among you should take to agriculture for example and begin to produce things that you will be exported to other parts of the world.

You can be land-locked, but you cannot be sky-locked. We can all see the importance of having a facility like this.

Thank you, Mr Governor, you have provided this facility for the people of Ekiti; they should own it, Mr Sirika said.

My job is done

An excited outgoing Governor, Kayode Fayemi, who could not hide his joy, said: My job is done.

Mr Fayemi expressed satisfaction that the project eventually saw the light of the day 10 years after its conception during his first administration in 2012.

A fulfilled Mr Fayemi said: My job is done, Ekiti Kete, and this drew a thunderous applause from the crowd that thronged the tarmac to be part of the occasion.

He also used the occasion to give an assurance to the people of the state that the federal roads that now in dilapidated condition would be given attention to bring relief to their users and complement the newly inaugurated airport project.

READ ALSO: Ekiti farmers barricade access road to airport project

We acquired 4,017 hectares of land from nine communities: Ago Aduloju, Aso Ayegunle, Bolorunduro, Igbogun, Araromi, Obbo, Afao, Orun, Igbemo and Ijan, covering three local government areas in the state, Mr Fayemi said.

Landmark project

Earlier, in his remarks, Zhang Zichen, the Chairman, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which handled the project, praised Mr Fayemi for the vision which would change the face of the state economy.

Mr Zichen explained that the airport was not just a project, but the engine of the economy of the state .

He said that it would open up Ekiti to more development and investment to the benefit of the state and business community.

The CCECC chief, describing the airport as a landmark project, said it was among notable projects completed by his corporation.

He commended the Aviation Minister for being part of history and making the airport a reality.

(NAN)

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Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has pledged to postpone his 2023 retirement plan after the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu asked him to make a public pledge.

Mr Tinubu, after his speech at the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit on Saturday, said he will not leave the stage until he gets a commitment from the Kaduna State governor on staying in public service beyond 2023.

Mr El-Rufai, who will be rounding off his constitutional-allowed second term as governor in 2023, had said he would retire after his tenure as governor.

The former FCT minister had in May, during an interview on Channels TV, said he was physically tired of carrying on after his tenure as governor.

I am tired. Im not tired of serving the nation. Im just physically tired because I do take my work seriously and in the last seven to eight years, I have worked flat out.

I am not young anymore. I will be 63 next year so I prefer to look at other options to contribute to the development of my country.

In his speech, Mr Tinubu said his host should not run to Egypt or any other country for PhD. He stated that the country needs him here.

I am openly begging Nasir El-Rufai not to run away for additional degree and excuse. He is going to CairoPhD and everything. There are a lot of educated relics. We are not going to let you run away, he said.

After his speech, Mr Tinubu reiterated that Mr El-Rufai must give him a pledge to continue to serve.

I want you to make a promise, we will not let you run away from this country. I am not leaving this stage, he said.

At that point, Mr El-Rufai climbed the stage and promised to carry on.
The Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a surveillance company, has discovered another illegal pipeline attached to Trans Forcados Export Trunk line.

The security company is operated by a former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.

The illegal oil pipeline was reportedly discovered close to a military security post less than one kilometre from the Forcados Export terminal in Ogulagha, a community in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, South-south Nigeria.

The Federal Government in August awarded a pipeline surveillance contract reportedly worth N48 billion per year (N4 billion per month) to Mr Ekpemupolos company to check massive oil theft in the region.

Mele Kyari, the chief executive officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, would later explain that the government was not dealing directly with Mr Ekpemupolo, but with the security company, in which the former militant leader has an interest.

The latest discovery comes less than one week after at least 58 illegal oil pipelines were discovered by Mr Ekpemupolo in Delta and Bayelsa States where crude oil was being stolen.

The Vanguard newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying that oil companies, oil bunkers, NNPC, and security officials jointly steal crude oil.

The stealing is reportedly carried out through the illicit pipeline connected to the trunk line via a pipeline abandoned by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), and linked to a location in the high sea, where they load crude oil into vessels and sell overseas.

The Oil Spillage Victims Vanguard has threatened to sue NNPC and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over the illegal pipeline connections used to steal Nigerias crude oil.

Oil Spillage Victims Vanguard is a group dedicated to the fight for compensation for victims of oil spills, health hazards of gas flaring and accountability in Nigerias extractive industry, among others.

The SPDC operates the Forcados Terminal in Ogulagha, which has a capacity to export 400,000 barrels per day.

There are many reports of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, but we are particularly interested in the theft of crude oil from the Forcados Terminal, Harrison Jalla, the executive director of the victims Vanguard, told reporters in Warri.

They have been stealing our national heritage for the past nine years and no one can say for sure where it began or where it ended. We want to start by holding the NNPC and SPDC accountable for the oil theft and the atrocities committed against the Niger Delta people, he added.

The director said the planned lawsuit against NNPC and SPDC would serve as a deterrent to others involved in the illegal activity in the region.

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So many international oil companies have to account for this heist, but we want to start with the Shell Group because there is no way they could pipe crude oil from those terminals without the involvement of those running the terminal, Mr Jalla said.

We do not know if other areas where pipelines traverse the region are involved. We can now see there is a massive approach to stealing crude oil in the Niger Delta region.

It was gathered that the oil bunkers usually ferry crude oil to the sea for loading and onward movement abroad through the abandoned NAOC pipeline.

The two organisations should let the court know what they know about the massive oil heists since 2003, Mr Jalla said of NNPC and SPDC.

If we have a court where everyone will recount what they know, it is fair and good for us. We want to take them to a proper court of competent jurisdiction to unravel what is happening in the trunk lines.

Our interest is to unravel what has been happening in the oil sector. So, whether they claim it is at Forcados Terminal is not our business. Our concern is that some people have perpetrated the crime of massive oil theft and the resources pocketed by those we do not know, he stated.
The newly sworn-in Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has rolled out a six-point agenda to further bring economic prosperity and good governance to the people of the state.

Mr Oyebanji, shortly after he was sworn in by the Chief Judge of Ekiti, John Adeyeye, said his six-point developmental agenda would focus on youth development and job creation.

Others are human capital development, agriculture and rural development and infrastructure, industrialisation, arts, culture and tourism as well as good governance.

The governor said his vision for the state was for it to be a land of prosperity, opportunity, peace, and progress and land which transformed people and for communities to reap the fruits of their labour in dignity, good health and safety.

Mr Oyebanji said the six-point agenda was carefully selected based on his experience in the public and private sectors, coupled with the yearnings of the masses to improve the status of the state.

He said for the vision to be actualised, there was the need to focus on a roadmap to get there, urging the people to be partners in progress.

Mr Oyebanji said that creating employment and income-generating opportunities for residents of the state would be a critical component of his administrations agenda.

We have identified some of the drivers, markets and industries that create these opportunities within the system and intend to nurture them and give them the enabling structures and support required to deliver the jobs we need, he said.

The governor promised that his administration would ensure that all eligible students have access to free and qualitative basic education up to the Senior Secondary School (SS3), with curricula that prepare them adequately for further learning or the job market.

He also promised to further develop the agriculture sector by attracting more investment in agri-business to deepen the processing capacity of both the staple and cash crops, which would not only provide food security but help the country to grow its non-oil exports.

We have a responsibility to support our farmers with facilitated adequate financing, value chain support, access to markets, skills and technology to increase productivity within the sector.

Giving practitioners the ability to provide food for the state and exports, while creating much-needed jobs and opportunities.

Priority will be given to strategic crops, including cassava, rice, cocoa, cashew, maize, yam and vegetables.

Accelerating the development of key infrastructure that is critical to our economic development will have a vast impact on our progress.

Power and transportation are two key priority sectors that will improve our competitiveness and generate positive economic and social impact.

We are committed to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure that we boost these underdeveloped core sectors, he said.

Mr Oyebanji said his administrations modus operandi would be the establishment of numerous platforms for widespread participation, interaction and inclusiveness of all stakeholders in actualising the set goals.

We intend to ensure robust dialogue and uncensored expression and consultations across the length and breadth of the state, thereby ensuring the interest and participation of all in the welfare of Ekiti Kete.

We assure the people that we will hear you and truly see you. Our outlook is a government of the people, for the people and by the people through active involvement.

On this platform, I hereby pledge my accessibility to you all, he said.

The governor thanked his predecessors in the state, especially the immediate past Gov. Kayode Fayemi and his wife, for laying the solid legacies on which the new administration would stand upon.

Though the Fayemis are leaving behind very huge shoes for me and Olayemi to fill, we are confident that with their support, we will assuredly grow into them.

I am enthusiastically counting on the generosity of spirit of the Adebayos, Fayemis, Fayoses and other past leaders, to continue in the service of our homeland by constantly affording us their enormous goodwill, expertise, and experience, he said.

In his remarks, Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress party (APC), urged the people of the state to continue to vote for the party, especially during the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Mr Tinubu expressed optimism that the legacies left behind by the past administration of Governor Fayemi would be sustained by the new administration of Governor Oyebanji.

He urged the people, particularly APC members in the state, to guide their Permanent Voter Cards jealously and ensure that they vote for APC for continuity and good governance to continue to flourish in the state.

Present at the event were Governors of Kebbi, Jigawa, Edo, Lagos, Ondo, and Plateau, former Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti and the Deputy Governor of Ogun.

The major highlight of the event was the administration of the oath of allegiance on Deputy Gov. Monisade Afuye and Gov. Biodun Oyebanji, who were later sworn in to pilot the affairs of the state for the next four years.

A colourful parade was also mounted by members of the Nigeria Police Force, Ekiti Command to add colour and glamour to the occasion.

(NAN)

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) says Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) presidential candidate, is only paying lip service to national unity.

Bayo Onanuga, director, media and publicity of the council, stated on Sunday in Abuja that Atiku had resorted to ethnic jingo in the face of imminent defeat at the 2023 election.

He stated that Atikus recent statement to the effect that northern Nigerians did not need a Yoruba or Igbo president was the worst expression of ethnocentric opportunism ever uttered by a former vice president.

This clearly demonstrates how low a man once honoured with the second highest office is willing to sink in search of a perennial wild goose chase after the highest office in the land.

It confirms that Abubakar feasted on such base, cheap primordial sentiments to use the masses and northern elites as ladder to ascend to power in 1999 without any dividends to show, Mr Onanuga stated.

Mr Onanuga quoted Atiku as having said: what the average northerner needs are somebody from the north who understands that part of the country and has been able to build bridges across the country.

This is what the northerner needs; he doesnt need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate. I stand before you as a Pan-Nigerian of northern origin.

He argued that with the statement, Atiku had cast himself as a northern candidate that should solely be supported by the people from his region.

He stressed that Atikus public declaration which framed him as an ethnic and regional champion was unbecoming of a man who was once a former vice-president of Nigeria.

He added that the PCC was not surprised at Atikus desperate position, stating that he resorted to whipping up ethnic sentiments, knowing that his chances in 2023 had become a mirage.

He has himself and not anybody else to blame for his expected electoral misfortune. First, he broke the fundamental rules of power rotation in his party and the country.

As if this cardinal sin was not enough, the PDP candidate has remained defiant in the face of pressure by preserving the two topmost posts in his party for people from his region.

The Nigerian public now knows better that a man who has been campaigning as a so-called unifier of our disparate groups is a tribal jingoist.

He has now totally eviscerated all pretensions to being a detribalised Nigerian. He is demonstrably the anti-thesis of a pan-Nigerian politician, Mr Onanuga stressed.

He added that Nigerians of goodwill, who daily seek a united and prosperous nation, should reject Atiku and his party at the polls in February 2023.

Abubakar only pays lip service to national unity in spite of the fact that it features as one of the five cardinal points of his so-called covenant with Nigerians.

The facade has been blown. He is now fully naked before the Nigerian people, the APCs PCC Director of Media and Publicity stressed.

(NAN)
As election campaigns at both presidential and governorship levels get underway throughout the country ahead the 2003 general elections, the Zamfara State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Dauda Lawal, Saturday protested an attack on the members of his partys campaign team in Gusau, the state capital by thugs allegedly sponsored by the state government. Photos of vandalized vehicles and torched buildings were provided as evidence of the attacks.

Lawal described the attack as the height of lawlessness, brigandage, and provocation capable of heightening the tension in the state. A statement issued by the Dauda Lawal Governorship campaign media centre in Gusau said the PDP candidate and his entourage were attacked by heavily armed thugs, on Friday night while entering Gusau.

The attack took place as the fate of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle remains uncertain following a pending court case challenging his eligibility for the 2023 governorship election. Matawalle is seeking re-election for second term of four years on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State. The pending case is at the Federal High Court, Gusau where the plaintiffs are seeking Matawalles disqualification from the race over perjury charges arising from alleged certificate forgery and age falsification.

Saturdays statement condemning the attack of PDP political gathering by suspected thugs read in parts: We are in a critical time. Unfortunately, we found ourselves in this mess. We thought thuggery and hooliganism had become a thing of the past in the state, but it has been resurrected by the APC and state government.

The Peoples Democratic Party has been known to be law-abiding, we are a party that strictly works and abides by the law of the state. That is the reason why we waited for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to lift the ban on the governorship campaign before organising any politically related activity in Zamfara State.

The PDP has fixed today, 15 October as a day to receive thousands of APC decampees to the PDP as well to inaugurate the 2023 governorship Campaign Council.

Our entourage was attacked on our way to Gusau, by thugs sponsored by the APC and the state governor. Many of our vehicles were smashed and burnt during the attack.

Today, the thugs led by one Aliyu Alhazai Shinkafi, the former chairman of the Zamfara Anti-thuggery committee and Commandant of the Zamfara Road Traffic Agency (ZAROTA) attacked the residence of the PDP candidate. Alhazai led thugs and barricaded the road leading to Lawals residence and venue of the gathering with two vehicles, setting up a parameter for the attack. In the renewed unprovoked attack, they used deadly weapons on our supporters and our campaign buses were vandalized and looted.

We know the APC and the Matawalle-led government intends to unlawfully use force to stop our campaign activities across Zamfara State. The hooliganism we were not praying for has returned to the state. The issue is a source of concern.

Zamfara people are fed up with the All Progressive Congress (APC) and leadership style of Governor Mohammed Bello Matawalle; A reason why the APC and the governor were tensed by the wide acceptance and popularity attracted by the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Dauda Lawal. Hence, they resorted to violence.

We are appealing to the Inspector General of Police, Director General of Department of State Service, and all relevant security to intervene and stop the APC and Governor Matawalle from unlawfully using state apparatus and thugs to attack our campaign activities.

Governor Matawalle is trying to stifle the electioneering activities of the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Dr. Dauda Lawal.

In an exclusive interview with one of the national dailies, last Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, disclosed that the Commission is in tandem with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election campaign by political parties as provided in Section 94 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022. The INEC, therefore, warned state governments not to prevent other political parties from campaigning in their domains.

Few days ago, a concerned group, Zamfara Alternative Forum raised the alarm over the unlawful activities of some overzealous supporters of the Zamfara State governor who were accused of launching offensives against the opposition including those suspected to have anything to do with the alleged certificate forgery and age falsification case against the state governor.

According to Mr Tanimu Salihu Mafara, the Chairman of the Forum, the governor and some of his avid supporters have set out to deploy state power against the opposition especially the dissenting voices suspected to pose a threat to his quest for the realisation of his second term ambition. He alleged that even some well-meaning patriots in the state who are not active political players have not been spared as they have fallen victims of the unwarranted onslaught.

It is public knowledge that Mr Matawalle has been dragged before the Federal High Court, Gusau on account of suspected false affidavit sworn to by him as it relates to Constitutional requirements of eligibility and in contravention of Electoral Act as amended in 2022. The case was instituted by Muazu Mannir Haidara and Incorporated Trustee of Majalisar Matasan Arewa Association.

Since the filling of the said suit, the Governor has become restless and irritant and has ordered the Chief Security Officer to track and deal with any threats against his second term bid, the forum stated.

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Tragedy struck at Hawan Jaki village on Alkaleri-Gombe Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Saturday as 11 persons were killed in an auto crash.

Yusuf Abdullahi, sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Bauchi State told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that eight other persons sustained serious injuries in the crash.

He said the accident involved one commercial vehicle belonging to Yankari Express and a Dangote articulated vehicle.

Mr Abdullahi attributed the cause of the accident to dangerous driving.

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Twenty male adults were involved in the fatal road crash. Nine of them lost their lives on the spot while two were later pronounced dead by medical personnel at the Alkaleri General Hospital.

Eight others sustained various degrees of injuries and are receiving treatment at the Alkaleri hospital where corpses of the dead were deposited, he said.

Mr Abdullahi advised motorists to always observe traffic rules and regulations while plying the roads.

(NAN)

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By SA Commercial Prop News

Artist impression showing Lanseria's smart-city, Gauteng.



The Gauteng Provincial Government plans to forge ahead developing R500 billion mega smart cities including a new university over the next 10 years.

President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed in his state of the nation address on Thursday on 13 February that a new smart-city is taking shape in Lanseria, Gauteng.



The process is a joint project between the Investment and Infrastructure Office in the Presidency and the Gauteng and North West provincial governments.

The cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Madibeng and private partners will also help to make the smart city a reality.

According to a new report published by Gauteng Provincial Government, construction will be implemented along five development corridors that have distinct industries and different comparative advantages. The corridors split into five are:

The Central Development Corridor  anchored on the city of Johannesburg as the hub of finance, services, information and communication technology, and pharmaceutical industries;

 anchored on the city of Johannesburg as the hub of finance, services, information and communication technology, and pharmaceutical industries; The Eastern Development Corridor  built around the economy of the Ekurhuleni metro as the hub of manufacturing, logistics and transport industries;

built around the economy of the Ekurhuleni metro as the hub of manufacturing, logistics and transport industries; The Northern Development Corridor  anchored on Tshwane as the administrative capital city and the hub of the automotive sector, research, development, innovation and the knowledge-based economy;

 anchored on Tshwane as the administrative capital city and the hub of the automotive sector, research, development, innovation and the knowledge-based economy; The Western Corridor  encompassing the economy of the West Rand district and the creation of new industries, new economic nodes and new cities; and

 encompassing the economy of the West Rand district and the creation of new industries, new economic nodes and new cities; and The Southern Corridor  encompassing the economy of the Sedibeng district and the creation of new industries, new economic nodes and new cities.



In the centre and in all four corners of the province, the development of economic corridors was underway, the authors state.



This monumental strategy had forever altered sole reliance on a skewed capital-intensive productive base, dominated as it had been by large enterprises principally operating in only three of Gautengs metro areas.



Regional economic inclusiveness was now showing signs of breaking past the dismal employment status quo and opening up the possibility of keeping up with future demands for jobs.

The Northern Development Corridor will unlock over R60 billion in investment

The Menlyn Maine development.

A new high-tech special economic zone;

The Automotive special economic zone;

The development of the Rosslyn Auto City;

The continued development of Menlyn Maine;

Consolidating and regenerating existing areas (CBD, Centurion and Silverton);

Investing in infrastructure to revitalise townships and create economic opportunities.

The Eastern Development Corridor will unlock over R200 billion worth of investment

OR Tambo International Airport.

The construction of the new OR Tambo University of Science and Innovation;

The development of the OR-Tambo logistics gateway;

The Prasa-Gibela rail manufacturing hub in Nigel;

The expansion of the OR Tambo International airport;

A new industrial development zone for jewellery manufacturing;

The development of new agro-processing and fuel-cell technology;

Major private sector developments taking place along R21 highway.

The Central Development Corridor will unlock over R200 billion in investments

Johannesburg CBD.

The revitalisation of the Joburg inner-city;

The development of new mega-projects in the south from Soweto to Orange Farm;

A number of major new projects in Rosebank, Sandton, Midrand and Fourways;

The revitalisation of townships.

The Western Development Corridor will unlock over R25 billion worth of investment

Lanseria Smart City.

The Lanseria Airport expansion and the new Lanseria Smart City development;

The expansion of the Busmark bus manufacturing plant;

The Agro-processing Mega Park & Logistics Hub on the N12 highway and other private sector mega projects.

The Southern Development Corridor will unlock over R20 billion investment

Vaal City development.
Global Anthology research study reveals accessibility barriers and technology needs in higher education

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthology , a leading provider of education solutions that support the entire learner lifecycle, today announced the results of its 2022 global research study: Comparing Global University Mindsets and Student Expectations. The study surveyed more than 5,000 higher education leaders and current students from countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, India, Japan, Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Findings revealed that student expectations following the pandemic do not fully align with what university leaders are envisioning for the future, indicating an opportunity for higher education institutions to make adjustments to the learner experience in support of better outcomes.

"As universities continue to drive digital transformation, they're faced with new hurdles around everything from course delivery and support services to accessibility and how they equip their students and staff with technology," said Jim Milton, Chairman and CEO at Anthology. "We believe that technology plays a vital role in shaping the future of higher education across the globe, and results from this study validate that viewpoint as leaders consider the impact of technology and data on the overall student experience."

Financial Barriers and Lack of Technology Access

Outside the pandemic, the economy continues to have the most significant impact on learners across all regions (73 percent), followed by a lack of access to technology (35 percent). Lack of technology access was significantly higher in the Middle East and Africa, where 54 percent of students indicated this was a challenge. University leaders in most regions are largely in sync with these challenges but only 30 percent of higher education leaders in the Middle East and Africa felt that technology access was a concern for their students, indicating a discrepancy between their perception and the student experience.

Hybrid Instruction for the Foreseeable Future

More than 80 percent of students globally now prefer that at least some of their courses or instructional meetings take place online. Leaders are moving their universities in the right direction, with more than a third (38 percent) indicating that a mix of online and in-person course delivery would be the model at their institution by 2025, increasing from 16 percent currently.

Nearly a quarter of North American leaders (24 percent) stated that courses would still be offered in an entirely in-person format by 2025  a significantly higher percentage than any other region. The highest percentage of students interested in fully asynchronous courses were from North America, representing the largest gap compared to student preferences for how courses are offered.

Investing in Holistic Technology

Learners globally want  and expect  technology to be more prevalent in their higher education experience and university leaders agree, with 60 percent stating that their university currently lacks the appropriate digital learning tools to help students succeed. While only 26 percent of university leaders have significantly increased the number of digital learning tools utilized over the past two years, more than half are considering additional investments in technology moving forward.

The majority (94 percent) of university leaders agree that a holistic view of learner data pulled across multiple systems would benefit their team and help more students achieve their goals. The same percentage indicate that their university is actively looking for new opportunities to aggregate and analyze data to drive more insights, ultimately seeking to use data to help improve outcomes for student populations through personalization.

For more information and to access the report, click here.

About the Survey

Anthology partnered with Thrive Analytics to execute its 2022 survey, Comparing Global University Mindsets and Student Expectations. The survey targeted student respondents who are currently enrolled at a higher education institution pursuing a degree or diploma. University leader respondents are currently senior leaders (Dean, Provost, Rector, etc.) at a higher education institution. In total, 2,572 current university leaders and 2,725 students completed the survey.

About Anthology

Anthology offers the largest EdTech ecosystem on a global scale for education, supporting more than 150 million users in 80 countries. With a mission to provide dynamic, data-informed experiences to the global education community through Anthology Intelligent Experiences, we help learners, leaders and educators achieve their goals by offering over 60 SaaS products and services designed to advance learning. Discover more about how we are fulfilling our mission for education, business and government institutions at www.anthology.com.

Heather Phillips

Anthology

Heather.Phillips@Anthology.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1708867/Anthology_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Anthology
Global health in focus

BERLIN, Oct. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Health Summit 2022, the world's leading meeting for global health, began on Sunday morning in Berlin. For the first time it is co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Among the central topics are climate change and health, pandemic preparedness, sustainable health systems and the role of the G7 and G20 in global health. More than 300 speakers from all regions of the world and from all sectors of society are expected, including over 20 government officials.

The entire program is available for free online.

More on speakers and program

The official opening is tonight at 6:00 PM CEST. Speakers include German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russel, EU-Commission Director General for Health and Food Safety Sandra Gallina as well as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Senegal's President Macky Sall via video.

More info

Livestream of the opening ceremony: www.worldhealthsummit.org

Please find details on the use of video material below.

Information on special events during WHS 2022 and further press information is available in the press kit in the media center:

https://www.worldhealthsummit.org/whs-2022/media-center.html

The entire World Health Summit is open to the press.

Accreditation for on-site participation is closed.

Digital participation is possible without accreditation. Zoom links are available in the online program and during WHS 2022 at www.worldhealthsummit.org. Video and audio material can be used upon request. Source: World Health Summit

All recordings: https://www.youtube.com/worldhealthsummit

For on-site participation, wearing an FFP2 mask is mandatory.

World Health Summit

October 16-18, 2022

Hotel Berlin Central District

Stauffenbergstrae 26

Berlin, Germany & Digital

www.worldhealthsummit.org

#WHS2022

Twitter: @WorldHealthSmt

LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram: @worldhealthsummit

Press contact

Alida Tiekotter

+4930450572102

[email protected]

SOURCE World Health Summit
GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 132nd China Import and Export Fair started its online session on October 15, 2022, which is launching a virtual opening ceremony.

Up to now, a record-breaking 3.31 million exhibits were uploaded at the Fair to further its mission of "Canton Fair, Global Share". Among them, more than 140,000 smart products are on display, along with over 540,000 green and low-carbon exhibits, and over 280,000 products with independent intellectual property rights.

The latest edition of the Canton Fair has also enlarged the scope of exhibitors, attracting 34,744 enterprises, an increase of 40% over the previous session, with 416 overseas exhibitors from 34 countries joining the virtual event. A vast number of quality companies with both competitive strength and characteristics have gathered online, including 2,094 brand enterprises and over 3,700 companies with titles such as National Hi-tech Enterprises, time-honored Chinese enterprises, National Enterprise Technical Center and the high-level AEO certification by the China Customs.

Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of PRC and Wang Weizhong, Governor of Guangdong Province attended the virtual opening ceremony and delivered speeches via video. "With an enlarged scope of exhibitors, extended duration of virtual show, perfected website functions and enriched trade promotion activities, the 132nd Canton Fair will create all-weather convenient buying and selling experiences for businesses and traders around the world," said Wang Wentao.

The Fair will organize supporting activities, including 200 online new product debut events, and 10 theme forums on 6 major topics, such as international economy and trade, digital empowerment, and 8 live broadcasting events of "Discover Canton Fair with Bee and Honey".

A "Rural Vitalization" zone will be set up this session to help enterprises in formerly poor areas to develop international markets. The zone is open to all enterprises from formerly underdeveloped region, with no restrictions on quantity and no threshold conditions, in an effort to consolidate achievements made in poverty alleviation.

For more information regarding the beats from the Fair and business opportunities, please visit

https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US/register/index?utm_source=rwyx#/foreign-email

SOURCE Canton Fair
MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) today announces that the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) has approved an investigational new drug (IND) application to commence a pivotal Phase III registration study of TLX591-CDx (Kit for the preparation of 68Ga-PSMA-11), for the imaging of prostate cancer using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) that will bridge to the marketing authorisation granted to Illuccix by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The IND application was submitted in partnership with Grand Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Grand Pharma), Telix's partner in the Greater China region. The bridging study is required to provide data obtained in a Chinese population to establish that the diagnostic efficacy of TLX591-CDx is equivalent in Chinese and Western populations. This study will enroll up to 110 patients with suspected recurrent prostate cancer and is anticipated to commence in Q1 2023. Positive data from this Phase III bridging study will support a future marketing authorisation application for TLX591-CDx (Illuccix) in China.

Dr David N Cade, CEO Telix Asia Pacific, said "Each year 115,000 Chinese men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, which makes it the most rapidly rising cancer in terms of incidence and mortality in China. PSMA PET imaging has the potential to profoundly impact the management of this disease, enabling clinicians to detect prostate cancer right throughout the body. This new imaging modality is already recognised in leading clinical practice guidelines, and is being adopted as a standard of care in many parts of the world. We look forward to working closely with our partner Grand Pharma to bring this important product to market in China, where there is currently unmet medical need."

About Prostate Cancer in China

The Asia Pacific region comprises approximately one third of the world's male population and includes many nations whose populations are ageing or increasingly adopting a more affluent, "Western-style" lifestyle, the two main demographic trends driving increasing cancer incidence rates.

Consequently, the incidence of prostate cancer is increasing in many parts of the region.

In China, 115,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, increasing by approximately 6% each year.1

In line with government policy supporting wider geographic access to nuclear medicine, the number of PET/CT cameras installed in China is forecast to reach 1,110 by the end of 2022, compared with 133 in 2010.2

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with international operations in the United States, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland), and Japan. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical need in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX). For more information visit www.telixpharma.com and follow Telix on Twitter (@TelixPharma) and LinkedIn.

Telix's lead product, gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide (also known as 68Ga PSMA-11) injection, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),3 and by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA),4 and by Health Canada.5

Telix Investor Relations

Ms. Kyahn Williamson

Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

SVP Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

Email: [email protected]

This announcement has been authorised for release by the disclosure committee of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Legal Notices

This announcement is not intended as promotion or advertising directed to any healthcare professional or other audience in any country worldwide (including Australia, United States and the United Kingdom). This announcement may include forward-looking statements that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "outlook", "forecast" and "guidance", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix's business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix's preclinical and clinical studies, and Telix's research and development programs; Telix's ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; the commercialisation of Telix's product candidates, if or when they have been approved; estimates of Telix's expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix's financial performance; developments relating to Telix's competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix's product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix's actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. You should read this announcement together with our risk factors, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the ASX or on our website.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or a change in expectations or assumptions.

The Telix Pharmaceuticals and the Illuccix name and logo are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates  all rights reserved.

1 Ye Dingwei et al. Lancet Oncology, 2022.

2 Goetz Partners research 2020.

3 ASX disclosure 20 December 2021.

4 ASX disclosure 2 November 2021.

5 ASX disclosure 14 October 2022.

SOURCE Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gerald F. Hemphill, CIC, LUTCF, of Richmond, Virginia was installed as president of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents during the organization's September 22, 2022 board of directors meeting held in San Diego, California.

Hemphill was sworn in together with his four fellow national officers: Richard A. Savino, CIC, CPIA, of Warwick, New York, President-elect; Ariel Rivera, MBA, CIC, CPIA, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Vice President/Treasurer; Mark A. Suhr of Seward, Nebraska, CIC, CPIA, Secretary/Assistant Treasurer; and Anthony "Tony" Curti, CIC, LIC, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Immediate Past President. All the officers will serve one-year terms that begin on October 1, 2022 and run through September 30, 2023.

"PIA is constantly expanding its ability to be the preferred resource for independent agents," said Hemphill. "During my installation remarks in San Diego, I mentioned a quote that has made a significant impact on me and one that I keep at my desk, 'Change is inevitable, Growth is optional.'"

Hemphill pointed out that PIA is currently in the ascendency, the result of making significant advances in key areas in recent years. He said PIA adapted quickly to changes in the business environment prompted by the coronavirus crisis, having already invested in technology upgrades. He lauded PIA's aggressive advocacy on behalf of independent agents that has produced legislative and regulatory victories that have added to agencies' bottom lines.

"Our Association heads into 2023 in a position of strength, purpose and vision," he said. "With many initiatives, programs, products and services, there are a lot of exciting things happening within our Association, and I look forward to serving alongside our Board, Members, Staff, Affiliates and Carrier partners. I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity."

An independent insurance agent in the metro-Richmond, Virginia area since 1993, Gerald represents all lines of insurance, specializing in commercial and life insurance risks. He was an agent for a large domestic carrier for five years and has been principal of his own agency ever since.

In 1996, Gerald earned his LUTCF (Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow) designation, and in 2002, completed his CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) designation. He is a graduate of Campbell University and Fork Union Military Academy. In addition to his designations, he holds property and casualty, and life, health and annuity licenses.

Hemphill was President of the Professional Insurance Agents Association of Virginia/DC in 2010 and has served on the National Board of PIA since 2013. He was named the PIA of Virginia/DC Agent of the Year in 2012.

Gerald and his wife have two daughters, Ashley and Taylor, and three grandchildren.

Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. PIA's web address is http://www.pianational.org.

This press release is online at:

https://www.pianational.org/detail-pages/news/2022/10/07/gerald-f-hemphill-installed-as-president-of-national-association-of-professional-insurance-agents





SOURCE National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
NANJING, China, Oct. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Made-in-China.com, China's leading comprehensive third-party B2B e-commerce platform, will be holding its annual largest ever virtual sourcing expo from October 15 to October 31, 2022 via its website and mobile app. With over 5,000 suppliers registered as participants for the online event, the Sourcing Expo will bring global buyers a fantastic online sourcing experience and help seek new business opportunities.

With travel to China still remaining largely impractical, Made-in-China.com is working hard to ensure business continuity for global buyers.

This year's Sourcing Expo can be seen as an online carnival for the buyers, as four distinctive halls are arranged, "New Product Launch", "Select Factories", "Online Trading Center", and "One-Stop Shopping", which can bring fabulous sourcing experience to the buyers.

In the "New Product Launch" hall, the brand new products with latest design, technology and trend will be gathered there and showed in the live streaming. Selected great suppliers from 16 categories will gather in the live show rooms, do their new products launch, factories guide tour, and chat lively with buyers about purchasing demands.

If you would like to know about some superior Chinese suppliers in advance, you can visit Made-in-China.com Facebook official account to get their introduction and sharing videos.

While in the "One-Stop Shopping" hall, a tremendous sourcing experience can be expected. Made-in-China.com creates hotel, gym, home decoration material, auto parts and office these 5 common sourcing scenarios with advanced technology. Buyers can source in these scenarios with the smart guidance, enjoy the one-stop superior service of Made-in-China.com, shorten the sourcing period and raise the efficiency.

In the online trading center, buyers are able to place instant orders on a range of light industrial products. Great coupons are offered by Made-in-China.com and buyers can use once meets the demands. The whole trade process is under secured as Made-in-China.com offers STS guarantee service to protect money and products quality. The logistics process can be fully visualized if the products are shipped via Made-in-China.com's logistics services.

The Sourcing Expo starts from today to October 31. If you would like more information about this event, please call +86-25-6667 7777, or email [email protected], or click https://expo.made-in-china.com/expo/register/2022-Sourcing-Expo?uim_source=mic&uim_medium=open_s&uim_campaign=2022SourcingExpoRegister

SOURCE Made-in-China
Hero video from Hegra's Drone Show by AlUla Moments and SKYMAGIC, produced by Balich Wonder Studio KSA, courtesy AlUla Moments.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1922007/Royal_Commission_For_AlUla_1.jpg

An impressive drawing of light made by drones, creating an illusion of light at Hegra's Drone Light Show. The show took place in AlUla in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia on 13, 14, 15th of October 2022 to mark the end of AlUla Wellness Festival, the first of a series of festivals and events forming together AlUla Moments Calendar. Hegra's Drone Show is brought by AlUla Moments and SKYMAGIC, produced by Balich Wonder Studio KSA, courtesy AlUla Moments.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1922005/Royal_Commission_For_AlUla_2.jpg

A drawing of a flying falcon above the Tomb of Lyhian Son of Kuza at Hegra, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hegra's Drone Light Show explores the origins and beauty of light in its purest form through a performative artwork at the intersection of technology where luminous drones will fly in the dark sky of AlUla to create a flying sculpture accompanied with music. Hegra's Drone Show is brought by AlUla Moments and SKYMAGIC, produced by Balich Wonder Studio KSA, courtesy AlUla Moments.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1922004/Royal_Commission_For_AlUla_3.jpg

A celebration of light draws above Hegra, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hegra's Drone Light Show explores the origins and beauty of light in its purest form. Light is the cornerstone of wellness, powering minds and bodies. The light show marks the end of AlUla Wellness Festival, which is the first of a series of festivals and events forming together AlUla Moments Calendar. Hegra's Drone Show is brought by AlUla Moments and SKYMAGIC, produced by Balich Wonder Studio KSA, courtesy AlUla Moments.

About AlUla Moments:

AlUla Moments is AlUla's new home of events. The brand was launched at the end of 2021 and introduced four new festivals to celebrate and unlock AlUla's stories, uncover its secrets and celebrate local and international cultures. With 7000 years of civilisations and home to some of the most sophisticated ancient Kingdoms of antiquity, AlUla is no stranger to social gathering and cultural celebrations.

The four festivals introduced were Winter at Tantora, which returned to celebrate heritage, culture and music, in addition to the AlUla Skies, AlUla Arts and AlUla Wellness Festival.

The festivals offered a selection of experiences in art, culture, music, nature, wellness, equestrian, food and astronomy. All of which were celebrating the culture, history and legacy of AlUla and the civilisations that once called the land of AlUla their home.

This year, AlUla Moments presents five Major festivals and five distinct events, including the return of Winter at Tantora and AlUla Wellness Festival, The return of AZIMUTH and for the first time The Ancient Kingdoms Festival will be introduced, to bring the past into the present with experiences inspired by the significance of 7000 years of successive civilisations on the Arabian Peninsula and the famed incense road trading route that cemented AlUla as the bustling commercial and cultural crossroad.

For more information please visit experiencealula.com/en/alula-moments

About AlUla:

Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km, includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.

The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is comprised of 111 well-preserved tombs, many with elaborate facades cut out of the sandstone outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement.

Current research also suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of the Roman Empire after the Roman's conquered the Nabataeans in 106 CE.

In addition to Hegra, AlUla is also home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and considered to be one of the most developed 1st millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula, and Jabal Ikmah, an open air library of hundreds of inscriptions and writings in many different languages. Also AlUla Old Town, a labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes developed from at least the 12th century, and Hijaz Railway and Hegra Fort, key sites in the story and conquests of Lawrence of Arabia.

For more information, please visit: www.experiencealula.com

Connect with us on social media platforms:

#experiencealula

#alulamoments

#alulawellnessfestival

@ExperienceAlUla

@AlUlaMoments

SOURCE The Royal Commission For AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Bhavnagar, Oct 16 : A 23-year-old girl was murdered by a youth in Bhaniyavad village in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district after she rejected his marriage proposal, police said.

The Police is searching for the accused, who had fled away from the village after committing the crime.

Khuntavada Police Sub-Inspector Y.P. Vyas told IANS that the girl Chandrika Gohil with her sisters and friends were going to a farm on Saturday morning when the accused Ashwin Chudasama approached her and inquired why she was against marrying him.

The victim replied that she was not ready to marry him irked the accused, who picked up a wood and started hitting the girl on her head.

The girl's sisters and cousins tried to intervene and protect Chandrika, but the accused beat them too with the wood and they suffered injuries.

However, the victim in critical condition was rushed to the hospital where the doctor declared her dead. A penal doctor has conducted a post-mortem of the body.

The Sub-Inspector said that Ashwin's mother had approached Chandrika's mother and shown interest that she was ready to accept Chandrika as her daughter-in-law. However, the request was turned down by Chandrika's mother, which hurt the youth and the latter took revenge by murdering the girl.

According to a local, Ashwin had a crush on Chandrika for a year now and had asked her to marry him but the girl did not reply back.

However, the accused did not budge and sent the girl's mother a marriage proposal to her daughter which was rejected too, though both belonged to the same caste.
Tehran, Oct 16 : The spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) has said that uranium enrichment constitutes only part of Iran's nuclear activities, but the "enemies" seek to solely highlight it.

Making the remarks in an address to a meeting, Behrouz Kamalvandi on Saturday added the country has done good work in the field of producing radiopharmaceuticals and agriculture, according to the AEOI's website.

He noted that the "enemies" do not want Iran to enter the nuclear industry at all and as a result, they seek to make the world believe that Tehran is after other objectives through its nuclear activities, Xinhua news agency reported.

The AEOI spokesman said the US claim that foodstuff and medicine are not in the list of sanctions on Iran is a "lie".

The radiopharmaceuticals and even an Iranian producer of radiopharmaceuticals are sanctioned, he added.

In September, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a report that it was "not in a position to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively peaceful" and that "no progress" has been made in resolving questions about the past traces of nuclear material in Iran's "three undeclared sites".

Slamming the IAEA for the report, Kamalvandi added at the time that it was a repetition of previous "baseless cases" with "political purposes".

In June, the IAEA's Board of Governors adopted an anti-Iran resolution proposed by the US and three European countries, Britain, France, and Germany, accusing Iran of non-cooperation with the agency.

Following the move, Iran began injecting uranium gas into advanced centrifuges and disconnected some of the IAEA's cameras monitoring its sites.

Iran signed a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, accepting to put some curbs on its nuclear activities in return for the removal of the international sanctions on Tehran. In May 2018, however, the US pulled out of the agreement and reimposed Washington's sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to reduce its commitments under the deal.
Tehran, Oct 16 : Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said Tehran will not tolerate the continued presence of "armed terrorists" in Iraq's Kurdistan region as well as their actions and movements against Iran's security.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with Chairman of the Iraqi National Security Council Qasim al-Araji in Tehran, state news media reported.

Highlighting the necessity of expanding the already growing relations between Tehran and Baghdad in all areas, the Iranian Foreign Minister called for the two sides' cooperation in the security field and confronting "armed terrorists" in the Kurdistan region.

Qasim al-Araji said the Iraqi government would take measures to stop any activity intended to jeopardise Iran's security, Xinhua news agency reported.

Over the past years, Iran's western and northwestern borders with Iraq have been the scene of clashes between the Iranian security forces and Kurdish fighters.
Prayagraj, Oct 16 : The Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal Baithak, the three-day national executive committee meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will begin on Sunday at the Vasishtha Vatsalya Public School premises in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat along with several top office-bearers of the Sangh, union leaders, workers and campaigners from every province are scheduled to participate in the meeting.

RSS's Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Sunil Ambekar, told reporters, "The issues to be deliberated include population imbalance and population control, environment conservation, challenges to family unit due to increasing urbanisation and spread of western influences which promote individualism, steps for social harmony, imparting education in mother tongue and extension work." Under the leadership of Bhagwat, top officials of the Sangh besides office bearers of all 45 prants (provinces) of the organisation will also deliberate on the issues raised by the RSS Chief in his speech delivered on Vijay Dashami during the meeting.
Moradabad, Oct 16 : The Moradabad police has arrested Zafar Ali, a member of the mining mafia and a wanted criminal, in whose pursuit a team of Uttar Pradesh Police personnel had conducted raids in Uttarakhand leading to the death of a 28-year-old woman in firing.

He was arrested after a brief encounter in which he sustained a bullet injury in his right leg. He was carrying a reward of Rs one lakh.

Moradabad Senior Superintendent of Police, Hemant Kutiyal said, "We had deployed several teams to nab Zafar. During a routine check, we managed to arrest him in the Pakbara area of the district when he was trying to escape to Delhi. He has been admitted to district hospital as he sustained a bullet injury during a brief gunfight with police. One constable also sustained injuries in the operation." In September, Thakurdwara SDM Parmanand Singh and Mining officer Ashok Kumar had seized four dumper trucks carrying sand near Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand border in Thakurdwara area of Moradabad. The sand was mined without permission in Uttarakhand and was being brought to Uttar Pradesh illegally.

While the officials were completing their paperwork, Ali and nearly 150 others charged at the officials and fled with the trucks.

Following the incident, an FIR was registered and a reward of Rs 50,000 was announced on Zafar.

On October 12, police attempted to arrest Zafar but he managed to escape and took shelter in the farmhouse of a local BJP leader, Gurtaj Singh Bhullar, in Uttarakhand village near Kashipur town.

The Uttar Pradesh Police officers entered the farmhouse and when the occupants of the house resisted, a scuffle took place between the two sides and there was firing.

A bullet hit Bhullar's wife, Gurpreet Kaur. According to police, five policemen also sustained bullet injuries and are currently admitted at a hospital in Moradabad.

Another FIR was registered against Zafar at Thakurdwara police station after the incident on October 13.
Kolkata, Oct 16 : A recent report titled "Farmers' Welfare: An analysis across states of India," by the National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) has pointed out that West Bengal's farming sector is lagging behind other states on two crucial counts.

The first area is that of the average monthly income of a family in the state totally dependent on farming. As per the NABARD report, the average annual income of such a family from farming is Rs 92,072 which means the average monthly income is Rs 7,573. As per the NABARD report only six other states -- Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh -- are behind West Bengal on this count. Punjab with an average monthly figure of Rs 23,133 is the topper among all Indian states, followed by Haryana at Rs 18,496 and Kerala at Rs 16,927.

The second area as pointed out in the NABARD report is the quantum of agricultural loan granted per hectare of farmland in the state. West Bengal's rank among all the states on this count is 15th with the agricultural loan per hectare of land standing at just Rs 55,000, which when translated into loan per acre is Rs 22,000. Kerala is the topper with the per hectare agricultural loan there standing at Rs 3,68,000, which when converted into acres is Rs 1,47,200.

The Trinamool Congress leadership has expressed doubts over the authenticity of the findings of the report. According to state agriculture minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, although he is yet to study the report in detail, he has doubts over its findings. "As per the records of the state government, the average annual income of a farming family has increased three times since the Trinamool Congress came to power in the state in 2011. In 2018 the annual figure on this count was around Rs 3,00,000. Agreed that there might be some decline in the last two years because of the pandemic, but the situation cannot be so alarming," he said.

Economic observers and experts in the field feel that lack of administrative efforts to reduce over-dependence on agriculture for livelihood is a major reason for this pathetic picture in West Bengal.

According to economics professor Santanu Basu, in a state like West Bengal with extremely fragmented land holdings which means that extremely small plots of farmland are owned by farming families, the average monthly income of each such family is bound to decline gradually considering the rising cost of farming. "This happens when too many people are dependent on a single plot of fragmented land. I have not gone through the NABARD report but I am sure that states where the average monthly income of a family from farming is high, there the average income of a family from non-agriculture avenues is also high. So, the West Bengal government should take the initiative for improving the sources of non-agriculture income and for that what is necessary is to create a proper ambience and infrastructure for industrial development both in manufacturing as well as the services sector," Basu said.

In fact, the NABARD report itself has findings that complement Basu's logic on non-agriculture income reducing dependence on agricultural income. The report states that Kerala, which has the third highest average monthly income figure of Rs 16,927 per month per family from agriculture, has the highest average per family monthly income of Rs 14,863 from non-agriculture sources. In the case of Punjab, which has the highest average monthly income figure of Rs 23,133 per family from agriculture, the average figure of non-agriculture income per family is also quite high at Rs 10,935.

In the case of West Bengal, the figure is barely Rs 6,383.

As regards the extremely low figure of agricultural loan granted per hectare in West Bengal, former national secretary of the State Bank of India Staff Association, Ashoke Mukherjee, said that because of the fragmented nature of farmland in the state, traditionally the Kisan Credit Card ticket size in the state has been quite low at around Rs 47,000 which is well below the national average of around Rs 62,000. In almost all meetings of the State Level Bankers' Committee, the representatives of the state government had been emphasizing on the improvement of the ticket size. But there had not been any improvement on this count, he said.

In fact, as per the records of SLBC, West Bengal, in most districts, including those considered as granaries like Hooghly, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and East Burdwan, the credit to deposit ratio is either below 50 per cent or has barely crossed the 50 per cent mark. In fact, in Hooghly district, which is considered as the rice-cum-vegetable belt of West Bengal, the ratio is just around 39 per cent.

Economist PK Mukhopadhyay feels that big ticket investment both in the manufacturing and services sectors is the answer to both improving the credit to deposit ratio as well as supplement agriculture income with non- agriculture income. "But that needs a thorough overhaul in the existing state government policies on land acquisition for industry as well as a special economic zone policy. But whether the political goodwill and courage to bring about those policy changes are there or not remains to be seen," he said.
Noida, Oct 16 : The spread of mosquito-borne diseases starts alongside the festive season around Diwali. Dengue cases have been rising in recent years and many families in Noida and Ghaziabad have lost their loved ones to this disease.

Even after facing the onslaught of dengue every year, the administration and the health department of both the districts do not seem to be paying any heed. On paper, in both the areas, there is a fierce fight against dengue with the government taking steps like anti-larvae spraying, fogging, cleaning the parks, drains and roads.

If fogging and anti-larvae spraying is done even once a month in their neighbourhood, the citizens consider themselves lucky. So far, 300 dengue cases have been reported in Ghaziabad and 50 in Noida.

The anti-malaria department issued a notice to the primary health centres (PHC) in-charges of Ghaziabad after the larvae of dengue mosquitoes were found in 20 PHCs during a recently conducted survey. Fines were imposed on the in-charges for negligence.

What do the Residents Welfare Associations (RWA) say? Talking to IANS, Noida Sector 51 RWA office-bearer Sanjeev Kumar said, "The residents of this sector and the people of the RWA are very aware of dengue. That is why we constantly remain in touch with the district administration, health department every week, through messages and phone calls. We ask them to ensure constant fogging, anti-larvae spraying, and cleanliness and maintenance of parks, which is why people from the health department are often seen doing the same in this sector." Arjun Singh, a resident of Nithari village situated next to the district hospital of Noida, told IANS that there has been no fogging or anti-larvae spraying in his village for the past several weeks. His village lies right in the middle of the most posh sectors of Noida. But despite that, the people of the health department, district administration and authority are not seen taking any action due to which the risk of the spread of dengue has increased.

This village is surrounded by societies on all sides and whatever work is done by the Noida Authority or the health department, ends in the societies itself.

What do the officials say? Talking to IANS, Rajesh Sharma, District Malaria Officer (DMO), Gautam Budh Nagar, said, "Our department has already been alerted, we are getting anti-larvae spraying and fogging done at all the identified places. A survey has been conducted where the first cases were reported. About 50 teams of the authority and of the health department are getting anti-larvae spraying done at all these places. Along with this, cleaning of parks, cleaning of drains is also being done to prevent breeding of mosquitoes." Appealing to the members of the RWA, the DMO said that they should not allow water to stagnate anywhere in their areas. If water has been stored, then clean it within a week, empty and refill it or put some kerosene in it to prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes that spread dengue.

He added that last year, 657 cases were recorded in Gautam Budh Nagar. So far this year,the figure has reached near 50.

Why can't one find the correct figure? In both Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad, the health department itself does not have the correct data. Since most people get treated in private hospitals, by the time the data reaches the health department, the patient recovers and gets discharged. This is the reason behind the inaccuracy in the data.

The health department remains unaware of this or perhaps it is negligence and lack of coordination between the private hospitals and the health department.
Mumbai, Oct 16 : Hours before the Indian National Congress (INC) Presidential elections scheduled on Monday (October 17), theres palpable excitement in the party from top to bottom - and palpitations among the two candidates vying for the top post of 'saviour of the 137-year-old Grand Old Party born in Mumbai on December 28, 1885.

After a gap of around 22 years, the Congress is now huffing and puffing for an internal election for the post of President with senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, 80, and Shashi Tharoor, 66, in the fray, both enjoying a close rapport with the Gandhi family.

Probably for the first time, the Gandhis have not raised an eyebrow either in favour or against both the contenders, and the elections are widely perceived as being 'independent, free and fair, with nobody a blue-eyed boy of anybody'.

But, to many of the 9,300-delegates (voters) for the party polls, a grim dilemma wracking their conscience is - 'whose victory could make the Gandhi family smile and the Congress party grin'.

Without 'seeking blessings' from the family, both Kharge and Tharoor, each waving a meritorious curriculum-vitae, giddyapped into the horse-race earnestly, to make a 'faithful' bid for a historic win.

Wily old fox Kharge started with a bang and a show of strength compared to the suave and sophisticated Tharoor, who made a relatively low-key entry but has earned dollops of silent goodwill among many Congressmen all over, particularly the younger lot.

Some senior delegates in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and certain other states suspect Kharge is aiming towards bettering Sonia Gandhi's record - getting over 97 per cent of the party mandate compared to her then rival Jitin Prasada, who secured just 99 votes in the 2000 INC Presidential elections.

On the other hand, Tharoor is studiously wending his way, often encountering shades of hostility bordering on contempt, some even ridiculing him for certain past indiscretions, yet many harbour a secret desire that he should give a tough fight and attempt to pick up the beleaguered Congress' "ashes trophy".

From the approximate 9,300 voters across the country, UP accounts for around 1,200 and Maharashtra around 793 - the two largest chunks - which can prove to be crucial for both the candidates.

Incidentally, this is the first time in 25 years when there is no Gandhi family member in the fray for the Congress Presidential polls.

Nevertheless, the current scenario indicates that though Kharge may have an edge here, Tharoor won't exactly gift him a cakewalk, with many delegates fervently hoping that the voters heed their 'conscience' at the polling boxes on Monday.

In the past few days, many apparently cold-shouldered Tharoor in the splintered Maharashtra party unit, but a significant chunk warmed up to him in the fissured Mumbai unit, while the rest managed to portray a neutral stance before him and Kharge when they canvassed here.

A couple of Congressmen referred to certain comments of Kharge that managed to ruffle the minority delegates - accounting for nearly 10 per cent of the total voters - that could prove advantage Tharoor.

Plus, there are murmurs over the prospects of whether Kharge can galvanise the party in the next 18 months for the 2024 general elections, and old-timers remember how he had tread on the toes of some veterans when he was the AICC General Secretary in-charge here, etc.

Several delegates privately vented their reservations over a 'contest' vis-a-vis a 'unanimous' election, many more openly expressed their dismay "why Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stands on the fringes, reluctant to revitalise the INC or play a more wholehearted national political role".

In 1997, Sitaram Kesri - 'blessed' by the Gandhis - had won hands down bagging nearly 7,500 of the 8K-plus votes, with Sharad Pawar getting around 890 and Rajesh Pilot securing some 350 votes.

Two years later, Pawar quit the party to form the Nationalist Congress Party (1999) as Sonia Gandhi led the INC to a defeat vis-a-vis the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that year, and Pilot was tragically killed in a road accident in 2000.

Though the Congress bounced back to rule from 2004-2014 with Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister, it tumbled under the BJP's juggernaut unleashed by Narendra Modi who became the PM in 2014, and repeated the feat in 2019.

A worrisome situation exists today as an ogre-like BJP is out to gobble up everything - state governments, institutions, parties, families and legacies - posing a tough challenge for the next Congress President who will have to wield the political swords adeptly, much like the mythical Zorro.

Delegates from different states claim that whether Kharge or Tharoor is elected as the next Congress President, the Gandhi family's institutional grip over the organisation may not slip easily and the next incumbent would have to keep all 'groups' in good humour - for the sake of the party.

The big challenge for the incoming INC chieftain would be to curb the rampant egoistic infighting - the traditional hallmark of Congress since inception - restore the faith of the rank and file, spur the grassroots workers to 'wake up', and prepare in right earnest for the 2014 political mega-battle to avoid a wipe-out...

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Jaipur, Oct 16 : Even at a time when tourism is rebounding strongly post pandemic times in India with people thronging national parks and heritage properties spread across the country, veterans in the industry have requested the government to adopt a 'carrying capacity' formula in tourist circuits, saying that the Bhutan model should be followed partly in an Indianised way to ensure our economy gets a boost while protecting ecology.

"This is the best time for tourism in India as we are seeing a big rise in domestic tourists. We are not dependant on international tourists, as our domestic tourists have emerged as the best paymasters just like European or America tourists," said Lalit K. Panwar, former Tourism Secretary to government of India, who is now serving as the vice chancellor of the Government Skill University (RISU) run by the Rajasthan government.

"However, as tourists are visiting different destinations in big numbers, our request to the government is to decide on carrying capacity at these places," he added.

For example, it needs to be decided how many gypsies and cantors should be allowed in Ranthambore National Park which has 60+ tigers but lakhs of tourists visit there each month in the peak season, he said.

"Earlier, tourists came to see tigers, now tigers come to see tourists," he quipped, adding that the ecosystem of wildlife gets disturbed in such cases.

"My request to the government is decide how much you can carry biologically and ecologically," he said.

Panwar praised the Bhutan model of tourism, saying, "It is a classic case study." "Suppose you want to visit Bhutan. You might not be able to go there as per your wish as the country has only 'X' number of planes and seats. And hence tourist numbers stay limited and the ecology is taken care of," he said.

Undoubtedly, 'carrying capacity' is a buzz word in tourism in the present times.

"In fact, we should also follow the Butan model partly in an Indian way as people here are now keen to spread out and go to offbeat places as part of experiential tourism," he said, adding, "Partly we need to follow the Butan model... Those areas which are frugal and ecologically sensitive should be taken care of. We should not boost the economy at the cost of ecology, it should be the other way round - boost ecology and economy will get a boost." Former royal Gaj Singh of Jodhpur also emphasised on the carrying capacity formula, saying, "Our destinations have their own carrying capacity. It needs to be focused upon how the tourists visiting one place can be spread out in nearby areas. For example, if there is a wedding in any heritage property, it needs to be spread out among guests in nearby places." "We need to create clusters which can become tourist circuits at a later stage. Also, we should integrate with the local villagers, they should feel stakeholders in their own enterprise. We should launch training programmes and train the locals. We must create jobs scripting the story of sustainability," he added.
New Delhi, Oct 16 : While Delhi and many other states including Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have seen a sudden spurt in dengue cases in the last couple of days, government data showed that the number of dengue cases has recorded a significant rise in the last few years.

Moreover, states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan witnessed the maximum number of cases of dengue during 2021 among all the states.

Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan recorded 29750, 23389 and 20749 dengue cases respectively during 2021. Delhi also recorded a significantly higher number of cases at 13089 during the same year. A total of 1.93 lakh cases were reported from all across the country in 2021.

Government data revealed that 2020 had witnessed a remarkably lower number of 44,585 cases probably due to the Covid related restrictions in most parts of India as against 1.57 lakh cases in 2019.

This year, a considerable number of dengue cases have been reported from Delhi and many cities of Uttar Pradesh. As per reports, UP has so far registered over 2,200 dengue cases, with the state capital Lucknow reporting over 300 cases. Similarly, Delhi has also recorded nearly 1000 cases. Officials said that October can be the most vulnerable period for the spread of dengue in Delhi and recent spells of rain have only added to the woes. Recently, the Delhi government asked hospitals to reserve 10-15 per cent beds for patients of vector-borne diseases.

Government data showed that 346 deaths were reported across the country due to dengue in 2021 as against 56 deaths in 2020 and 166 deaths in 2019.

The central government intervenes whenever there is a sudden rise in dengue cases. Reports said that a six-member team has been sent to Uttar Pradesh very recently by the Union Health Ministry to collaborate with the state authorities in taking public health measures for dengue management in the districts of Firozabad, Agra and Etawah.

The National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) is the nodal agency under the umbrella of the National Health Mission for Vector Borne Diseases (including dengue) prevention and control in the country.

The NCVBDC has issued multiple advisories to the States/UTs for detection and control of outbreaks, preparedness and capacity building to take effective measures for vector control, involvement of the non-health sector, ensuring availability of drugs, diagnostics, insecticides, equipment and to fill up the vacant positions of entomologists. Moreover, training has been imparted to doctors on case management and to entomologists on integrated vector control at the central and state level.

As per a parliament reply on August 2, 2022, free diagnostic facilities through 769 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals and 17 Apex Referral Laboratories have been made functional. 1.92 lakh IgM tests have been provided by the Centre. It said that the NCVBDC provides technical guidelines for prevention, control, and management of dengue cases in States/UTs. Under the National Health Mission, budgetary support is provided to States/UTs for dengue control activities including dengue case management, vector control activities (provision of domestic breeding checkers, insecticide, fogging machines etc.), training support, awareness activities etc.
Panaji, Oct 16 : Facing uncertainty over charter flights coming to Goa due to the Russia-Ukraine war and visa issues, the tourism sector in Goa has focused on domestic tourists, with the hope of a revival.

As the coastal state's tourism sector is predominantly dependent on the United Kingdom and Russia, and some parts of Europe, Goa is facing difficulties this season to woo them due to the war in Europe and visa related issue with the UK.

In 2019, about 71,27,000 domestic tourists arrived in Goa, while 9,31,000 were foreign tourists. But this number dropped in 2020 and 2021 as the Covid pandemic struck the coastal state. This number came down further to a mere 3 lakh domestic tourists and 32,000 foreign tourists.

Around 80,000 to 90,000 people from Russia come to Goa for holidaying every year, while around 50,000 people from UK also prefer Goa.

Now when the Covid pandemic is subsiding and the state had hopes that high spending foreign tourists will arrive in Goa, the war between Russia and Ukraine has dashed the hope.

Sources at Goa airport informed that some flights from Russia were cancelled which were scheduled for October. "Yes, some flights from Russia are cancelled. However we have hopes that from November things will improve," an officer said on condition of anonymity.

Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Nilesh Shah told IANS that because of the war between Russia and Ukraine bookings have come down and cancellations have also happened.

"However people from Russia are willing to come Goa. From November three charter flights (per week) will arrive in Goa," Shah said.

"We have got feedback that they (Russians) are willing to come to Goa, though there are restrictions in their country," he said.

Speaking about UK tourists, Shah said that if the visa issue gets resolved as assured by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant then it will be good for the tourism industry.

"From November one flight from UK will arrive in Goa every week. If the UK visa issue is resolved then the flights will increase from 1 to 5. They may increase even more," Shah said.

"The last two years have been bad, compared to that this is a good start. We are hopeful that things will improve. But our focus will be on domestic tourists as they will come to Goa," he added.

He said that if the visa issue gets resolved then the number of tourists from the UK will go up from December and January.

According to Goa Forward president and MLA Vijai Sardesai earlier 35 to 40 per cent tourists from Russia used to arrive in Goa every year. But now due to the Russia and Ukraine war these tourists will not come. "Hence now we need to fill this space from England," he said.

Sardesai claimed that the state will face a loss of Rs 500 crore if tourists from the United Kingdom don't arrive on account of hindrances in getting a visa.

Sardesai had said earlier that Goa is facing cancellation of 7 to 8 bookings per day in small and medium hotels, due to the new visa restriction by the Ministry of External Affairs, where British tourists have to seek a visa from nine centres (Visa Processing) in England.

"This (lifting restriction) is important because in Goa annually minimum 40,000 to 50,000 tourists arrive from the UK. As per statistics of pre pandemic period each tourist spends around Rs 98,000, which means around a Rs 500 crore turnover takes place from this area," Sardesai had said.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the Union Home Ministry has given an assurance to resolve the issue of the United Kingdom visas as soon as possible.

"I have discussed UK visa issue with Home Minister Amit Shah. It will be sorted out soon. There were some foreign ministry related issues, hence it was getting delayed. But he has assured to resolve it as soon as possible," Sawant said.

Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had also said during the last assembly session that Goa is predominately dependent on two markets, UK and Russia, and some parts of Europe.

"Today predominately we are dependent on two markets, UK and Russia, and some parts of Europe. Are we on the right track? Are we looking at the same tourists coming in? How do we look at domestic tourists coming in? For this we need to see how we go ahead," Khaunte had said.
Hyderabad, Oct 16 : Desperate to regain lost ground in the Telugu states, the Congress has huge expectations from Rahul Gandhi's ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.

Conscious of the huge odds in Andhra Pradesh where it does not have a single MP or MLA, the party has planned the Yatra in such a manner that it will cover less than 100 km.

However, the coverage will be extensive in Telangana, where the party sees a real chance for itself in the Assembly elections scheduled next year.

The Congress leaders in Telangana are eagerly waiting for the Yatra to enter the state as they believe that it will infuse new enthusiasm among the party cadre and help gear up the organisation for the poll battle ahead.

The Yatra, which has received good response in Kerala and Karnataka, briefly touched Andhra Pradesh on the evening of October 14 before re-entering Karnataka. Rahul Gandhi along with hundreds of supporters walking with him reached Obulapuram in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district to a warm welcome by state Congress chief Sailajanath, working president N. Tulasi Reddy, senior leader Raghuveera Reddy and others.

Large number of party workers from Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa districts joined the Yatra. After covering 5.4 km in Andhra Pradesh, the Yatra re-entered Karnataka's Ballari district.

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to reach Aluru in Kurnool district on the night of October 16. There will be a break on October 17 for the AICC presidential elections. The next day the Yatra will cover the Aluru constituency. According to Tulasi Reddy, the Yatra will pass through the Adoni constituency on October 19, Yemmiganur on October 20 and Mantralayam on October 21. The long march will then re-enter Karnataka.

Andhra Pradesh Congress leaders believe that Rahul Gandhi's Yatra will help lift the morale of the party cadres.

"The Yatra will definitely draw huge public support in the state. The party leaders and workers are all waiting eagerly for it," said Tualsi Reddy.

During the Yatra in Andhra Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi is likely to reiterate the promise that if Congress is voted to power at the Centre in 2024, it will accord Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh.

SCS to the residuary state was promised by the Congress-led UPA government at the time of bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh in 2014 and this commitment was part of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014. However, the BJP-led NDA, which came to power at the Centre in 2014, declined to grant SCS to Andhra Pradesh on the ground that this would lead to similar demands from other states.

The Congress leaders say both the previous Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government and the present YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) regime failed to mount pressure on the Centre to get the SCS to the state.

Political analysts say the Congress still faces a huge challenge to make a comeback in Andhra Pradesh. In the 2014 elections, it was virtually wiped out due to public anger over bifurcation of the state. It drew a blank in both Assembly and Lok Sabha and there was no improvement in 2019.

"People of Andhra Pradesh are still reeling under the after-effects of bifurcation, and it is evident the people there blame the Congress for this situation. The party has lost its leadership and cadres to other political outfits and does not have enough base to put up a decent show if the Bharat Jodo Yatra enters the state," said political analyst Palvai Raghavendra Reddy.

Compared to other states, the Yatra will cover a small part of Andhra Pradesh and the route map has been deliberately planned in this manner.

"While Congress wants to showcase an upwards trend with the Yatra, entering Andhra Pradesh might prove counter-productive for the party. It also suggests that Congress is in no hurry to revive itself immediately in Andhra Pradesh," he said.

Telangana is the state where the Congress wants to focus. Though the party had hoped to politically benefit by carving out the Telangana state, it landed in a situation of neither here nor there. All its hopes were dashed when people voted Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to power in 2014 and since then the Congress' graph has been on the decline with exodus of its leaders and cadres.

Despite joining hands with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 2018, the Congress suffered another defeat at the hands of TRS, which retained power with a huge majority. The Congress finished a poor second in the 119-member Assembly with just 18 seats and within a few months at least a dozen of its MLAs defected to TRS and the party lost even the status of main opposition in the Assembly.

The performance of the Congress in Assembly by-elections has also been disastrous. It failed to retain Huzurnagar which was vacated by Uttam Kumar Reddy after he was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2019.

With the BJP emerging stronger by winning two Assembly by-elections, the Congress is further demoralised. Infighting in the party following change of state leadership last year left the organisation in disarray.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra is entering Telangana at a time when Congress is facing an acid test in the Munugode Assembly by-election, caused by the resignation of its legislator Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy who switched loyalties to BJP. The November 3 by-election is the last chance for Congress to regain some lost ground before the next year's Assembly polls.

It is in this context that Rahul Gandhi's Yatra has assumed significance for the grand old party in its former stronghold. The party's state unit is looking to draw maximum mileage from the Yatra to shape up well to take on both TRS and BJP.

"While the response in Kerala and Karnataka has been overwhelming, the Telangana state unit has to work hard to ensure people connect with the Yatra, and the message of Rahul Gandhi reaches every village across the state. In a state where regional sentiments are a big factor, it would be interesting to see how crowds respond to the Congress scion's Yatra and meetings. Will the people of Telangana respond sympathetically towards the party which played a big role in the formation of the state is something which only time will tell," said Raghavendra Reddy.

He also pointed out that the Bharat Jodo Yatra will touch only a few locations in Telangana, while completely ignoring Andhra Pradesh.

The route map of Bharat Jodo Yatra in Telangana is yet to be finalised. It is still not clear if the Yatra will cover the state for 15 days as originally planned.

The state leadership impressed on the high command to include Hyderabad in the Yatra. As per the revised schedule, Rahul Gandhi will visit the historic Charminar and the Necklace Road where he will address a meeting after garlanding his grandmother Indira Gandhi's statue on October 31 on the occasion of her death anniversary.
Guwahati, Oct 16 : Since Rahul Gandhi embarked upon his ambitious Bharat Jodo yatra from the Southern part of India, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has started firing salvo against him. Sarma said that India was divided under the Congress regime in 1947 and the Congress leader should go to Pakistan for doing his Bharat Jodo.

Congress leaders came down heavily on Sarma after his remarks with Jairam Ramesh announcing an Assam version of Bharat Jodo yatra which is scheduled to commence on November 1. The state unit of the party has been gearing up for this and a few committees were also formed to look after all preparations for the yatra.

But, the question doing the round in the political spectrum of Assam remains whether people have an interest in the Congress campaign.

Though it is now early to assess, the grassroot party workers are not looking rejuvenated with the concept of the yatra. There is still confusion among cadres regarding this and the state unit has so far failed to galvanize them due to a lack of activities.

On the condition of anonymity, a district Congress president said that the decision to conduct the Assam Jodo yatra was taken in a hurry, and hence there was very little time to convince the party workers. Moreover, the Assam Jodo yatra will not cover the whole state, rather it will commence from the Dhubri district and will end in Sadiya.

However, three-time MLA and working President of Assam Congress, Kamalakya Dey Purkayastha is very optimistic about Assam Jodo yatra. He told IANS, "Congress leaders will traverse 800km distance from Dhubri to Sadiya. We had done a similar yatra in 2011 and Congress retained the power in that assembly election in the state with a thumping majority. I am very hopeful that history will repeat this time." Purkayastha was a youth Congress leader then and he recalled the enthusiasm among people at that time.

"When we embarked upon the padayatra, thousands of people came along us. I could see a similar vibe in the ongoing Bharat Jodo yatra also. The people of India still connect with the Congress and this is evident from Rahul Gandhi Ji's campaign," he added.

The morale of Congress party workers in Assam is not at its very best now and news of infighting is coming from different district units of the party. A couple of weeks back, at a meeting to discuss the Assam leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, two groups of Congress workers clashed in Assam's Dhubri district.

Later the local Congress MLA Wazed Ali Choudhary said, "A group raised allegations against the Congress district President. When they raised their issues some of our party workers opposed it & such an untoward incident happened." Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah is also in the midst of a controversy starting from allegations of illegal construction at his house to secretly helping BJP in the state. Some of the ruling party leaders even claimed that Borah will be soon joining the saffron camp. Though the Congress leader refuted this claim, the controversy around him refused to die down.

Apart from that, Congress party in Assam has been in serious trouble since last year with the breaking away from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) to some of its MLAs crossing over to BJP, while a few others were suspended due to anti-party activities.

The Presidential election in July brought more woes for the Congress as it was alleged that many of the party members cast their votes in favour of NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu, the current President of India. The top brass warned of stern punishment against those 'traitors', yet after three months, the party could hardly take any action.

At this juncture, the party leaders are expecting that the Assam version of Bharat Jodo yatra will infuse new lease of life in Congress and will rejuvenate the organisation, however, this may be gauged only after November.
Bengaluru, Oct 16 : Karnataka had mourned the death of a two-year-old, who was found unconscious in a sugarcane farm and later succumbed at the hospital. It was suspected that the toddler was a victim of black magic. The incident was reported from Halyala village in Belagavi district in October 2021.

Two grandchildren of former MLA Hampaiah Nayak, who was elected twice from the Manvi constituency in Raichur district, were found dead in March 2021, triggering suspicion of witchcraft.

In 2018, 60 families belonging to a nomadic tribe in Chikkamagaluru district abandoned their homes where they lived for 15 years, fearing the prediction of an astrologer who told them that a black magic practitioner had cast a spell on them due to which they would soon start dying.

Karnataka -- a state known as progressive -- reports suspected cases of human sacrifice. Though the cases are reported rarely, the fear of black magic and witchcraft still haunts a large section of the people.

The Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, which is in force since January 2020, is effectively dealing with black magic, sorcery and other superstitious practices in the state, the authorities claim.

However, professor and activist Muzaffar Assadi told IANS that no law is effective as people try to see how it can be defeated, whether it is a law on GST, the Anti-Cow Slaughter Bill or Anti-Conversion Bill.

"The state must encourage rationalists who challenge those practising black magic or those who indulge in witchcraft in the name of religion. They should not be denounced or branded as anti-religious. Rationalists must be encouraged by the state government," Assadi said.

"As far as Karnataka is concerned, by and large we don't have obnoxious practices such as human sacrifice. However, though the law was enacted in this regard by the Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah, black magic practices are still prevalent. The Devadasi system is also practised in north Karnataka till date, despite the law," he said.

"We need to have more rationalists who can challenge the black magic practitioners. There is a need to educate the civil society and children on black magic. No temple or mosque should be allowed to follow any such practice. There should be no provision to sacrifice goat, chicken or other animals," Assadi added.

However, the law is catching up with the people who are involved in foul play and carry out the obnoxious rituals, he said.

Four persons in Karnataka were awarded life imprisonment for killing a woman in the name of black magic on Sept 15, 2022 by the Madikeri District Sessions' Court.
14 year old girl killed by father and uncle fearing she was influenced by evil spirit in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat. Image Source: IANS News

14 year old girl killed by father and uncle fearing she was influenced by evil spirit in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat. Image Source: IANS News

14 year old girl killed by father and uncle fearing she was influenced by evil spirit in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat. Image Source: IANS News

14 year old girl killed by father and uncle fearing she was influenced by evil spirit in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat. Image Source: IANS News

Ahmedabad, Oct 16 : In the first week of October, a father and uncle murdered a 14-year-old girl, fearing the influence of an evil spirit on her in the Gir-Somnath district.

In October 2021, a mother of three children was beaten to death after a black magician (Bhuva) termed her a witch in Devbhumi Dwarka district.

In November 2021, a woman was strangulated by her husband and father-in-law in Kawant Taluka of Chotaudepur district after branding her as a witch.

These are not isolated cases, such incidents keep on occurring in the rural and urban areas, even after the increase in the literacy rate. However, most people are barely literate, still far away from understanding science. They are surrounded by Bhuva, religious people, who instead of taking a person to the right path, mislead them with false information and show shortcuts to achieve their goal, is the experience of a rationalist, Rohit Shah.

He was organising a lot of awareness programmes along with another person, Chetan Chauhan, so that people do not get influenced by black magic, superstition. However, his experience was that the hard work of the programmes gets washed away with just one movie that spreads misbelief, shows some sadhu's wrong preaching.

To create awareness among the people, he has written many books in Gujarati like "Mujko Yaro Maaf Karo", "Ro - Hitupdesh", and "AA AB lot Chale". Unfortunately with the decreasing reading habit such books have few readers, so creating awareness is difficult.

According to rationalist-activist Piyush Jadugar society can only get rid of such superstitions if science is promoted. According to the Constitution's article 51 (A) (h), it is the duty of the state to promote and develop a scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform, which is being done on a very small scale.

Jadugar says that people like him are just five percent of the population, creating awareness, 90 percent blindly follow what others do, they hardly apply their mind. Five percent are literate but not educated, they too prefer to follow the rest 90 percent.

Both the rationalists believe the solution is in spreading awareness by educating people for which social media is the best tool. The government should prepare short video clips, memes and circulate them on social media.
As grisly details came to light regarding the Kerala incident of three people 'sacrificing' two women in the name of 'ritual' for the purpose of gaining wealth and prosperity, a similar case was reported from Gujarat wherein a man, along with his brother, killed his 14-year-old daughter in the name of black magic remedy because she was believed to be possessed by a ghost. Preliminary investigation revealed that the father was a loner and a recluse.

Added to these is another recent incident of an eight-year-old girl who was immolated in a tantric ritual in West Bengal.

Largely rooted in religious or cultural beliefs, a blanket enforcement of prohibition regarding such fatal practices could arguably amount to infringement of one's right to freedom of religion by way of beliefs and practices. However, the problem happens only when major financial losses are incurred from such engagements, or worse, when lives are lost, as in the recent cases reported.

Several local and cultural beliefs exist that may not qualify as scientific. The fact about resorting to local health remedies, both physical and mental, instead of approaching a certified medical practitioner is testimony to the common Indian's - arguably of those away from the glamorus advancements of big cities - inclination towards quick fixes and validation of such methods by the local people.

General mental make-up and health are crucial aspects of witchcraft-like practices to prevail, persist and take disastrous effect. It is widely agreed that in historical times, witchcraft was deliberately portrayed in an intensely negative light for the purpose of eliminating influential women, particularly those who wielded power by way of their knowledge and wisdom, and to effect, their ability to 'heal' people. Essentially a product of patriarchy, in the several smaller, lesser-known parts of India, the phenomenon exists - and in all its wickedness.

Legal provisions In the absence of a nationwide legislation to deter superstitious practices (like black magic and human sacrifice) from escalating to detrimental levels, certain sections of the Indian Penal Code apply to such cases.

Section 302 (punishment for murder) takes cognizance of human sacrifice, but only after the murder is perpetrated. The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 is a Central law that regulates advertising by way of prohibiting ads of drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties, thereby tackling debilitating impact of various superstitious activities prevalent in India.

State-specific legal framework Only few states have prohibitive provisions in dealing with cases pertaining to witchcraft and black magic.

Bihar was the first state to come up with a specific law to deal with this matter in 1999 with Prevention of Witch Practices Act. The law provides for effective measures to prevent witch practices and identification of a woman as a witch and her oppression. It also seeks to eliminate torture, humiliation and killing of women by the society for any other matter connected with or incidental to the said concern.

Then followed the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013, banning the practice of human sacrifice in the state. Interestingly, a section in this legislation specifically has a provision for 'godmen' claiming to have supernatural powers. Within two years of enactment of this law, more than 150 cases were registered under it.

The Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act came about in 2017.

Jharkhand's Prevention of Witch (DAAIN) Practices Act, 2001, similar to Bihar's law, provides for effective measures to prevent witch practices and identification of a woman as a witch and her oppression, humiliation, torture, and killing. This largely happens to be prevalent in tribal areas of the state.

As reported by IANS, witchcraft and superstition are prominent reasons for atrocities against women in Jharkhand, with about 30-40 per cent cases going unreported.

While the recently-reported incidents renew calls for anti-superstition laws in more states and stricter enforcement in those states where they exist, a glaring fact is that wrong-doings in the name of supernatural tend to target the vulnerable sections of the society -- women, children, and the poor.

Commenting on the recent incident, Kerala's Health Minister Veena George had said that the government would take stern action against using children for such heinous activities, adding that "the government has taken serious note of the issue. The entire society must jointly fight against such practices." These seemingly isolated incidents are not entirely individual-centric but have some bearing on the prevalent social structure, overt steps directed at cultural beliefs, and local practices may not be the best approach to address the matter. It is necessary to provide for a check, should a person be harmed, whether out of ignorance or malicious intent.

While IPC's Section 295A (deliberate and malicious intent to outrage feelings of any class by insulting their religion or religious beliefs) holds adding to the sensitivity and complexity of the matter, Article 51A (h) of the Constitution makes it a fundamental duty for Indian citizens to develop a scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.

It is the collective responsibility of both the state and the society to realise this Constitutional ideal to the greatest extent possible. The first step is essentially education and awareness.
Birubala Rabha, a 62-year-old resident of Thakurvila village in Goalpara district and a relentless crusader against superstitions specially the ones that lead to witch-hunting in various tribal-dominated areas of the State being felicitated with Assa Image Source: IANS News

Guwahati/Agartala, Oct 16 : Till eight to 10 years back, nearly 14-15 people were murdered or lynched annually in the name of witch-hunting in Assam. Tripura also reported two to three such cases.

Besides witchcraft and witch-hunting, black magic was also prevalent, mostly among the tribals, who constitute around 28 per cent of the 45.58 million population (2011 Census) in the northeastern states.

However, such cases come down sharply in the last few years, thanks to a massive campaigns by many organisations, individuals and enactment of law by the Assam government in 2015.

The Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act, 2015, which received the assent of the President on June 13, 2018, says that it would prevent and protect persons from witch-hunting, torture, oppression, humiliation and killing by a section of the society with punishment by trial of offences relating to witch-hunting.

The law also provides punishment of the accused with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but can extend up to a term of seven years and with fine, which shall not be less than Rs 50,000 but which may extend up to Rs 5,00,000.

Assam's leading activist Birubala Rabha's unyielding efforts not only helped reduce such superstitious beliefs surrounding witchcraft, but also forced the Assam government to enact the law.

In recognition of the septuagenarian activist's crusade against the superstitious practice, she was awarded with Padma Shri last year.

Rabha has been relentlessly fighting against witch-hunting as such social menace is prevalent in Assam, especially among the tribal communities and Adivasis.

"I have devoted my life for the cause of my community and other hapless women. My efforts and work are to some extent successful, but I am not going to rest till my last breath. I urge others to take up the mission to prevent superstitious beliefs and victimisation of innocent people, especially women," said Rabha, who is now ailing.

A resident of Assam's Goalpara district, Rabha is a force who fights and strongly raises her voice against social evils.

Her struggle against witch-hunting began in 2000 when her mentally challenged son was branded as a witch and diagnosed to die within three days. This diagnosis was her initial trigger to fight for people's rights.

After her first public meeting against witch-hunting on September 15, 2001 in Dodan Manch (Goalpara), Rabha's family was isolated by the villagers in Thakurvilla for three years. She faced life threatening attacks and was chased many times at night by angry mobs forcing her to run through the jungles to save herself.

Rabha formed the 'Mission Birubala' in 2012 and launched a massive awareness campaign against witch-hunting and superstitious beliefs besides providing rehabilitation to the victims.

"Rabha's efforts promote women's education and scientific temperament. The mission has been successful in saving 55 victims till now in Majuli, Kokrajhar, Goalpara and Tinsukia districts," an official document said.

Rabha received numerous awards and honours for her work. She was honoured with International Prize For Women's Creativity in Rural Life by the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF), Geneva, in 2018.

According to Natyabir Das, an associate of Rabha, the 'Birubala Mission' now has around 600 members across Assam and has saved the lives of at least 200 people, mostly women.

Witch-hunting is a form of superstitious faith prevailing mostly among the tribal community in which women are usually blamed and targeted for deaths, disease, financial crisis, family troubles or even crop damage by their neighbours, fellow villagers or the trouble-ridden people.

Sometimes such women are often isolated, forced to leave villages, tortured by kangaroo courts, and in many cases lynched or killed or provided severe punishment.

Studies conducted by various organisations also found that witch-hunting cases sometimes involve grabbing land and other property due to personal rivalry.

According to Assam government's official data, 107 people, mostly women, were killed between 2011 and 2019 in different parts of Assam in witch-hunting incidents.

Since 2004, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), the apex student body of the Bodos, also organised awareness campaigns to eradicate the superstition of witch-practices in the tribal dominated areas of western Assam though such incidents happened in eastern Assam too.

The ABSU also rehabilitated a large number of innocent persons who were forced to leave from their native villages on the suspicion of witch practices.

Though no law has been enacted yet in Tripura, massive campaigns by various organisations and improvement of literacy rate among the tribals helped tame witchcraft, witch-hunting and black magic to a large extent.

"Many NGOs involving both tribals and non-tribals have been in the forefront against the superstitious belief of witchcraft, witch-hunting and black magic. In the last more than one decade, such incidents have hardly been reported in Tripura," former principal scientific officer to the state government, Mihir Lal Roy, told IANS.

He said that with the expansion of both health services, education facilities and their infrastructural growth in the tribal and remote areas, many disbelief and superstition among people, including tribals, have been eradicated.

Roy, who authored many books on science, superstition and societal issues, said that with the literacy and awareness campaign launched by the Tripura Upajati Ganamukti Parishad since 1945, many disbelief, false notion, unscientific practices among the tribals and non-tribals have been successfully eradicated.

He said that a New Delhi-based organisation - Human Rights Defence International - has proposed to the Central and state governments to enact laws against witchcraft, witch-hunting and black magic.

"The law cannot alone solve such unscientific and age-old practices; holistic approach and constant campaign, improvement of education and health services are also essential to prevent any kind of unscientific practice," said Roy, who's also a senior lawyer.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
Mumbai, Oct 16 : 'Uttaran' actress Sreejita De, who recently got evicted from 'Bigg Boss 16', revealed a number of secrets about her co-contestant and 'Naagin' fame Shalin Bhanot on the Krushna Abhishek-hosted show 'Bigg Buzz'.

Shalin is often seen on the show talking about his health condition and requirement for more protein for his body than normal and thus he keeps fighting for getting more chicken. But Sreejita does not believe him.

Sreejita said: "I feel Shalin is just putting up an act all the time, and that shows what a good actor he is. He may have a medical condition but that medical condition doesn't make you behave like an insane person." She added that he makes all the excuses whenever he breaks the rules inside the house or has an argument with anyone.

"He gets these palpitation attacks all of a sudden and says that his head isn't working and he can't think straight, he breaks house rules, throws his weight around, and gets aggressive or gets into heated arguments, attributing all of this to his health condition. I feel all of this is just an act and it's not a medical condition per se." 'Bigg Buzz' is hosted by Krushna Abhishek where the evicted contestants from 'Bigg Boss' play interesting games and give their opinions about the housemates without any biases.

'Bigg Buzz' streams on Voot.

Latest updates on Bigg Boss Season 16
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16 : When Kerala Police came searching for Bhagaval Singh, 68, and his wife Laila, 59, in Elanthoor, a sleepy village of Pathanamthitta district, the local people were in for a shock. The duo is very popular in the local community through their political activism and Bhagaval Singh being a popular traditional masseur with his father Vasu Vaidyar being a highly-respected person in the area.

The shock turned into a gory story of human sacrifice in which die-hard criminal Mohammed Shafi aka Rasheed, with more than 10 cases of rape, theft and assault against him, befriended the couple through social media and forced them to be part of a cruel, brutal human sacrifice of two women.

Police took into custody the three and on interrogation, found that two women -- Roslyn Vargheese, 49, and Padma, 52, were brutally killed in two incidents of human sacrifice. While Vargheese, a lottery seller, was missing from her home since June 8, Padma went missing on September 26 and it was a missing complaint filed by her sister Palani Ammal that led to the unravelling of the brutal murder and human sacrifice over money and wealth.

The sequence of events commenced after Shafi befriended Bhagaval Singh, a CPI-M party member and worker who is a traditional healer and therapist and a haiku poet who used to take classes in haiku. Shafi, got in touch with Bhagaval Singh under a pseudonym, Sridevi, and lured Singh and his wife Laila into his trap of raising wealth through occult practices and witchcraft.

Talking to IANS, social activist and former journalist Roy Mathew said: "Kerala society is now in the grip of religion and people are doing anything and everything for money. The lure for easy money and comfortable living is the reason behind these religious beliefs... Religion is taking hold over the gullible people by offering heaven and a point has reached wherein we are hanging our heads in shame over human sacrifice." A state that witnessed a renaissance with social reformers like Sree Narayana Guru, Chattambi Swamigal, and Mahatma Ayyankali had worked hard to bring up a revolutionary mindset among its people. This has led to the state turning into a progressive one with high health index, top-class education, and very low child mortality rate. However, all that has gone for a toss with this incident - and more taking place in many places of the state for long.

In Idukki district, more than 10 cases of sorcery and witchcraft were registered. Locals people protested in front of a sorcery centre "Vasanthi Madam" a couple of days before and the police arrested Shobhana, and her live in partner Unnikrishnan for reportedly practicing sorcery at that place.

In Kozhikode also, local people damaged the property of a sorcerer after the human sacrifice in Pathanamthitta came to fore.

Senior Congress leader and former minister Pandalam Sudhakaran told IANS that "Elanthoor is a place near my hometown and this sleepy village was a blessed place as Mahatma Gandhiji had come there. Such a gory tale from that village.... I feel that the rot has set in society with people believing in sorcery to accumulate easy wealth." "Regarding this I need to say that the Kerala Police was very active in the first phase of the investigation and has brought to book all three prime accused. However with the accused being aligned to CPI-M and Bhagval Singh being a local leader of the ruling CPI-M, there can be intervention and it has to be seen as to how things are moving ahead." Interestingly, a Latin Catholic Bishop had once openly told the laity that purifying a church with the menstrual blood of a local woman would drive all the negative forces and bring prosperity to the church and the local people. The Bishop was later removed from the service due to his affair with a woman.

The Latin Catholic Church in Alapuzha is also mired in controversy over a prayer group, 'Kripasanam' functioning under the church. The prayer group that is in the name of Virgin Mary has claimed several supernatural powers. There were instances of a woman mixing pieces of written material on 'Kripasanam' with breakfast and feeding her son to bring him out of alcohol addiction.

Meanwhile, newspapers in the state are flooded with advertisements seeking a supernatural cure in the name of 'Arabic Tantric', Occult worship, 'Kuttichathan', Kripasanam, and whatnot.

It has to be seen whether the revulsion against witchcraft and occult worship in the Kerala society that has gripped it after the news of human sacrifice has come out will continue or will things will become the same after the initial furore is over.
San Francisco, Oct 16 : Tech billionaire Elon Musk says his rocket firm SpaceX will continue funding its Starlink Internet service in Ukraine, a day after he said it could no longer do so.

On the microblogging site Twitter, Musk wrote that "the hell with it... Even though Starlink is still losing money and other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we'll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free".

According to the BBC, Starlink has been vital for Ukraine's military and people to stay online.

Ukraine says it helped to reboot key infrastructure after Russian attacks.

Energy installations were among the facilities targeted by more than 100 Russian missiles this week. Starlink consists of thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit and ground terminals.

Last month, Musk asked the Pentagon to fund the Starlink programme instead of him, according to the US media.

And on Friday, he tweeted: "SpaceX is not asking to recoup past expenses, but also cannot fund the existing system indefinitely". That move drew strong criticism.

Earlier, Musk provoked Kyiv's ire by suggesting Ukraine could cede territory to Russia.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Washington, Oct 16 : NASA aeronautical innovators are poised to break the sound barrier again, this time in a very different way that could make it possible for all of us to one day travel by air just as fast as any of the X-1 pilots who flew supersonic.

NASA's X-59, the centerpiece of the agency's Quesst mission, will enable commercial supersonic travel over land.

Lockheed Martin has designed, built and conducted initial flight tests with the aircraft and the first flight is targeted for 2023.

"That first supersonic flight was such a tremendous achievement, and now you look at how far we've come since then. What we're doing now is the culmination of so much of their work," said Catherine Bahm, an aeronautical engineer at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California.

Through Quesst, NASA plans to demonstrate the X-59 can fly faster than sound without generating the typically loud sonic booms that led to supersonic flight over land being banned in 1973.

The plan includes flying the X-59 over several communities to survey how people react to the quieter sonic "thump" it produces - if they hear anything at all.

"Their responses will be shared with regulators who will then consider writing new rules to lift the ban," said NASA.

"And when that happens it will mark another historic milestone in flight, potentially opening a new era in air travel, where airline passengers might hop on a supersonic jet at breakfast time in Los Angeles to make a lunch-time reservation in New York City," it added.

Seventy-five years ago, a sonic boom thundered for the first time over the high desert of California, when the thunder came from the Bell X-1 rocket plane flying faster than the speed of sound.

It was October 14, 1947, and the joint X-1 team of NACA, Air Force (newly formed that year), and Bell engineers and pilots had broken the sound barrier -- an imaginary wall in the sky some said was impossible to penetrate.

"With the X-59 flying on the Quesst mission, I think weaAre ready to break the sound barrier once again," said Peter Coen, NASA's mission integration manager for Quesst.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16 : Five days after rape charges were filed against him based on a complaint by a woman, opposition Congress MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly remained untraceable and incommunicado, according to police.

The second-term legislator from Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district is accused of rape by a private school teacher.

Kerala Police have registered a rape case against the MLA following the complaint.

The woman had charged that Kunnappilly had taken her to several places and physically abused her and promised to marry her. The MLA is already married and settled in Perumbavur.

Kunnappilly in a social media post immediately after he absconded said that he was innocent and that he was being framed. The MLA has already moved for anticipatory bail and the case is coming for hearing on October 20. The court has directed the police not to arrest the MLA before the hearing of his anticipatory bail petition is completed.

According to sources close to him, the MLA will continue in hiding till the hearing is over. The MLA camp is also planning to move the Kerala High Court if Thiruvananthapuram additional sessions court rejects his anticipatory bail plea.

The CPI-M and BJP have stepped up their agitation against the MLA in Perumbavoor. The posters of the MLA as a missing person are pasted across the constituency by the youth wing of the CPI-M, DYFI. The BJP youth wing, Yuvamorcha also conducted a protest march on Saturday towards the MLA office and burnt the effigy of Kunnappilly.

The Congress party in Kerala, which was about to take up the issue of human sacrifice and the failure of Kerala Police to curb such issues, is on the backfoot after the rape allegation against the MLA surfaced. The Congress party was also planning a series of agitations against the European visit of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan along with his family members and cabinet colleagues.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President, K. Sudhakaran and leader of the opposition, V.D. Satheeshan had said that the party will take action against Kunnappilly after his version of the accusations and reply to a letter given to him for an explanation.

Organisationally, Kunnappilly is a KPCC member, a two-term MLA and is credited for wresting the sitting seat of the CPI-M.
MBABANE  Is there a hidden hand?

United States Ambassador to Eswatini Jeanne Maloney is leaving the kingdom in December in what she says is a personal decision to take retirement. This would be exactly two years since she took office on December 9, 2020, before presenting her credentials to His Majesty King Mswati III on March 4, 2021. Her retirement is premature in the sense that the compulsory retirement age for United States diplomats or members of the Foreign Service is 65 and it is believed that Ambassador Maloney has not reached that number of years. According to the US State Department, under the Foreign Service Pension System, Foreign Service Officers who have reached the age of 50, and who have served for 20 years or more, are eligible for retirement with a full annuity.

Officers who have served for 10 years and are at least 57 years of age (55-56 years of age under certain conditions) are eligible to retire with a reduced annuity. Ambassador Maloneys retirement is almost similar to that of John J. Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, who left Moscow on September 4, 2022 and announced that he was retiring from public service after serving under five American presidents. Sullivan oversaw the operations of the US diplomatic mission in Russia during its most difficult period in decades  after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting the United States and partner nations to impose economic sanctions on Russia and give Ukraine weapons and humanitarian aid.

Ambassador Maloney is leaving at a time when Eswatini is faced with a political unrest and she has not been shy to express herself about this situation. Of all the statements she has made, perhaps the most controversial or prominent one, was when she asked leaders of the Political Parties Assembly (PPA), who had led a march of around 10 000 people to deliver a petition to the US Embassy on October 1, 2021, how they would run the country and how they planned to take the country forward if their demands were to be met.

government service

The ambassador, through the embassys Public Affairs Officer Stephanie Sandoval, confirmed that she was retiring from government service and would be finishing her tour in Eswatini in December 2022. This, she said, was a personal decision. After serving in the State Department for over 30 years, the time is right for me to retire and move onto other endeavours. I have communicated the decision to colleagues and friends in DC and Eswatini, and it was well received. The government of Eswatini has also been made aware, Maloney said. Indeed, Eswatinis Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Thuli Dladla confirmed the developments. Yes, she (ambassador) sent me a message and came to see me in the office. I am yet to communicate same to the head of State, the minister said. The ambassador, as she leaves, has listed a number of achievements but also lists two areas she believes presented the most challenges.

address the pandemic

When I think of challenges, the civil unrest in 2021 and the COVID-19 pandemic take centre stage. Working together with the Government of Eswatini and many partners across the country, we were able to address the pandemic and all the challenges that came with it head on. Many lessons were learnt along the way. The civil unrest was a difficult time for Eswatini and we are looking to the government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to develop a process that will promote healing for the entire country, she said. At the peak of the unrest, the embassy issued a statement on July 8, 2021 urging His Majesty the King and the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and SADC to listen to the concerns of all stakeholders and to facilitate genuine dialogue to open the space for reform and to resolve the situation peacefully and productively.

The embassy said it was engaging contacts at all levels of government and civil society, and would continue to do so, arguing that the calls for reform were legitimate and genuine.

The statement said the US Embassy was distressed by the violence, fatalities, human rights violations, and intimidation of journalists that they were witnessing in Eswatini, and called for all incidents to be fully and transparently investigated. All perpetrators, regardless of affiliation, must be held accountable according to rule of law, said the embassy. The US Embassy was also part of a joint statement with the European Union and United Kingdom High Commission issued on July 1, 2021 through which the missions said they were concerned and deeply saddened by the violence and civil unrest across the country.

exercise restraint

They urged the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to exercise restraint and to respect human rights; and also urged protesters to demonstrate and voice their concerns through non-violent means, and highlighted that looting and destruction of property were harmful to all. We call on both sides to refrain from violence and we urge leaders to act at once on calls for peace, calm, and dialogue. Dialogue, respect for civil liberties, and the rule of law should be the guiding lights for all stakeholders as they work to resolve the situation peacefully and productively, said the three foreign missions. Despite the challenges, the ambassador said he has loved every minute of her time in this beautiful kingdom and that she was going to miss the warmth and kindness of emaSwati. We have accomplished much together, and I expect more great things to come. Even though I have announced my retirement at the end of the year, I am fully committed as US ambassador to this great country until the moment I step on the plane to depart, Maloney said.

When listing her achievements, she said when the US Government, through the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), began its partnership with the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to combat HIV; the life expectancy in the country had plummeted to 42 years. She said over 3 300 infants were being born with HIV each year and it was estimated that there were 160 000 people living with HIV, yet fewer than 500 of them  less than one per cent  were on antiretroviral therapy.

strong partnerships

Today, thanks to U.S. support and our strong partnerships, over 97 per cent of people who know their HIV status are benefitting from life-saving antiretroviral therapy. Life expectancy has returned to pre-HIV epidemic levels of over 60 years. This is a tremendous accomplishment and worthy of celebration, and Im glad to have played a role in this success, the ambassador said. She also listed that the US Government (USG) gave more than 500 640 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for emaSwati to keep the country safe and healthy during the pandemic. Also, she mentioned that laboratory systems and staff supported by PEPFAR plus reagents procured by USG were leveraged to rapidly roll-out decentralised COVID-19 testing nationally. The U.S. Government also supported the expansion of oxygen supplies and oxygen generation capacity which were pivotal to turning the tide of COVID-19-related deaths downwards, Maloney said.

She further stated that they worked with the Ministry of Health and partners to strengthen capabilities in the health sector, including launching new cooperation initiatives in border health and health security. Through the ambassadors Special Self Help Grants, we have supported schools, community water projects, agriculture, health, infrastructure, and more to help communities improve living standards for themselves and for the next generation, she further pointed out. The ambassador said they also facilitated focused training, capacitation, and leadership for journalists, law enforcement professionals, civil society, and others.

rights to land

She went on to state that they helped find the Financial Technology Innovation Challenge which will support banking needs of small entrepreneurs; and also provide training to paralegals and women on their rights to land and land tenure. We welcomed 11 Peace Corps volunteers back to Eswatini, and more are coming; we supported initiatives to address gender-based violence and improved access to justice for victims; and we engaged on a diplomatic level and with civil society on issues of national importance and facilitated platforms for exchange of views, the ambassador added. Before being deployed to Eswatini, Maloney, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counsellor, served as the Foreign Policy Advisor to US Army Africa in Vicenza, Italy. Previously, she was the Director of the Office of Security Affairs in the Department of States Bureau of African Affairs.

Earlier assignments

Earlier assignments in the Department include service as Career Development Officer, Bureau of Human Resources; Director of the Office of Terrorist Screening and Interdiction, the Bureau of Counterterrorism; and Deputy Political-Military Counsellor, US Embassy Baghdad, Iraq. Before that, she was Director of the Office of Fraud Prevention Programmes, Bureau of Consular Affairs; Senior Adviser, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism; Angola Desk Officer, Bureau of African Affairs; and Consul, US Embassy Brasilia, Brazil. She also served as Consular Officer, US Embassy Lisbon, Portugal; Desk Officer for Portugal and the Vatican; Watch Officer, Operations Centre; and Consular Officer, U.S. Embassy Kuwait.

Ambassador Maloney earned her B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary and her M.B.A. from the University of Tulsa. Her foreign languages include Portuguese, Spanish, and some Arabic.
Chennai, Oct 16 : Accolades for director Rishab Shetty's critically acclaimed Kannada film, 'Kantara' continue, with actress Anushka Shetty being the latest to shower praise on the film.

Taking to Instagram, Anushka Shetty, who is among the top actresses in the Tamil and Telugu film industries, wrote: "Watched 'Kantara'.. Totally totally loved it. Congratulations to each and every actor, producer, technicians." "Team 'Kantara', you all were amazing, and thank you all for the experience. Rishab Shetty you were amazing. Please watch the movie in the theatres. Don't miss it", she added in her Instagram post.

Only a day before, Tamil star Dhanush and Telugu star Prabhas had praised the film.

Dhanush said: "'Kantara'...A Mind blowing!! A must watch... Rishab Shetty, you should be very proud of yourself. Congratulations Hombale Films. Keep pushing the boundaries. A big hug to all the actors and technicians of the film. God bless." Prabhas, for his part, had said: "Watched 'Kantara' for the second time and what an extraordinary experience it has been! Great concept and a thrilling climax. A must watch film in theatres!!!" The film features Rishab Shetty and Sapthami Gowda in the lead and has been written and directed by Rishab Shetty himself.

Produced by Vijay Kiragandur, 'Kantara' has music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath.
Beijing, Oct 16 : During his opening speech Sunday morning at the start of the Party Congress, Chinese leader Xi Jinping vowed to speed up efforts to build the People's Liberation Army (PLA) into a "world-class military", local media reported.

To achieve that, the Chinese military should uphold the party's "absolute leadership", modernise its theory, organisation, personnel and weapons, Xi was quoted as saying by the CNN.

He pledged to improve the PLA's ability to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to "effectively fulfill the mission of the people's army in the new era." To do this, the military must build a strong system of strategic deterrence, increase the proportion of combat forces in new areas and deepen military training for real combat, he said.

Xi also raised the possibility of confrontation when discussing democratic Taiwan -- which the Communist Party claims as its territory, despite never having controlled the self-governing island, CNN reported.

"We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest of sincerity and the upmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary," Xi said.

Xi gave a stern warning on Taiwan during his speech on Sunday, saying China would achieve reunification with the self-governing island by force if necessary.

He added that his words were "directed solely at interference by outside forces and a few separatists seeking Taiwan independence".

China's ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as its territory, despite never having controlled it.

Xi's remarks on Taiwan drew the greatest level of applause through his speech, which ran just short of two hours, CNN reported.
Ahmedabad, Oct 16 : At least 12 people were arrested during a raid on a flat where a liquor party was going on in Ahmedabad's Vastrapur area, police said on Sunday.

The police raided the flat on Saturday night after getting a complaint.

According to the Vastrapur police station officer, the city control room received a call from Deputy Commissioner Zone-5 Baldev Desai informing that a liquor party was going in an adjacent flat of his apartment in Anik Society complex in Vastrapur.

The Vastrapur police carried out the raid and arrested 12 persons, including four females.

The police recovered four empty bottles, one hookah, and also seized material worth Rs 9 lakh used in the crime, including mobile phones.

The flat was on rent in the name of a Zankhana Maheshwari since the last one year. Those arrested are Nirav Shah, Anand Sinha, Zenil Sayara, Pankaj Keshwani, Kisan Desai, Hetal Golwas, Muskan, Deval Rupani, Richa and Chirag Bhatt.

Gujarat is a dry state and manufacture, consumption and sale of alcohol are banned.
Washington, Oct 16 : The stage for a dramatic showdown has been set between ex-President Donald Trump and the Jan 6 Congressional panel probing the capital hills insurrection of 2021 which led to nine deaths and arrests of over hundreds of Trump supporters.

The last meeting of the January 6 committee did not conclude its ninth and possibly final public hearing by referring Donald Trump to the US justice department for criminal conduct - a move many, including some members of the panel, had urged, The BBC reported.

Instead, all nine members of the bi-partisan panel, including democrats and republicans, voted to issue a subpoena to Trump to appear before the panel and testify to the events of the attack by his supporters on capitol.

The decision of whether to indict the president for crimes relating to the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol rests with the justice department, not Congress. And the committee's formal subpoena of the former president, while historic, is almost certain to be ignored by Mr Trump, The BBC said.

Reacting angrily to the subpoena, Trump, in a 15-page letter to the Chairman of the Jan 6 panel Bennie Thompson, Democrat from Mississippi, said the "committee was a total BUST" and filled with "political hack and thugs". But apparently in a rethink following an advice by fellow republicans close to him, he decided to reconsider his decision to appear before the committee, The Independent of London reported quoting authoritative sources close to Trump.

While the committee could vote to hold the former president in contempt of Congress, the clock is ticking towards next month's midterm elections and what could be a Republican takeover of the House of Representatives in January, when the committee would be unceremoniously shuttered, The BBC said.

Still, the vote to call Trump to offer his defence made for a dramatic flourish at the end of what was another stinging round of accusations directed at the former president - one that included some never-before-seen footage from the Capitol attack and recently acquired documentary evidence from speaker Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Alexandra Pelosi, a documentary filmmaker.

The January 6 committee has laid responsibility for the attack at Donald Trump's feet, but one of the challenges it has faced has been tying the former president directly to the violence. Investigators have said Trump created an atmosphere that led to violence and that he was aware that trouble was possible, but they have yet to directly link Trump to those who attacked the Capitol.

In her presentation on Thursday, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren suggested that longtime Trump confidante Roger Stone was that missing link. Stone was in contact with members of the right-wing militant groups Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers - individuals who have been charged with seditious conspiracy by the justice department for their involvement in the Capitol attacks.

Lofgren showed photographs of Stone with leaders of the Oath Keepers the day before the Capitol attack. She also noted that Stone was in touch with Trump in late December and that the president wanted to talk with Stone in the days leading up to January 6, 2021.

Still, however, the committee has been unable to fully document interactions between Stone and the president. "We don't yet have all the relevant records of Roger Stone's communications," Lofgren said. If Stone is the missing link, it is one that remains in the shadows.

Congressman Adam Schiff was tasked with presenting new evidence that the select committee had received from the Secret Service detailing their agents' communications during and before the Capitol attack. He read one email from an anonymous tipster warning that groups were planning violence. In texts and emails on January 6, the agents noted the large crowds lingering outside Trump's morning "Stop the Steal" rally and speculated that it could be because they were armed.

Other reports, of sightings of handguns, assault rifles, riot shields and pepper spray, back this up.

All this, the congressman continued, was evidence that the White House - and its security teams - knew that violence was not only possible but probable as the crowd moved up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. He even suggested agents may have lied to congressional investigators.

"Despite this, certain White House and Secret Service witnesses previously testified that they had received no intelligence about violence that could potentially threaten any of the protectees on January 6, including the vice-president," Schiff said. "Evidence strongly suggests that this testimony is not credible." Congressman Pete Aguilar later added that the committee is reviewing testimony and will consider whether some witnesses were pressured not to tell the full story about what the White House and the Secret Service knew in advance.

The Committee v Donald Trump After the hearing concluded, Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland told reporters outside the room that he thought Trump ought to take the committee up on its offer to testify. "I would consider it a great honour and a privilege to testify if somebody accused me of trying to overthrow a presidential election and subvert the government of the United States," he said.
New Delhi, Oct 16 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday dedicated 75 digital banking units (DBUs) across the 75 districts to the nation through video conferencing, stating that it will further financial inclusion and enhance banking experience for the citizens.

"DBU is a big step in the direction of Ease of Living for the common citizens", he said.

The Prime Minister informed that in such a banking setup, the government aims to provide maximum services with minimum infrastructure, and all of this will happen digitally without involving any paperwork.

It will also simplify the banking procedure while also providing a robust and secure banking system, he said.

"People living in small towns and villages will find the benefits like transferring money to availing loans. Digital Banking Units are another big step in that direction, which is going on in the country to make the life of common man of India easier," he added.

Modi said that the aim of the government is to empower the common citizen and make them powerful, and as a result, policies were made keeping in mind the last person and the entire government moving in the direction of their welfare.

He pointed out the two areas on which the government worked simultaneously. First, reforming, strengthening, and making the banking system transparent, and secondly financial inclusion.

Despite initial misgivings in certain sections, the Prime Minister said, "today the entire country is experiencing the power of Jan Dhan Bank accounts".

He informed that these accounts enabled the government to provide insurance to the vulnerable at a very low premium.

"This opened the way for loans for the poor without collateral and provided Direct Benefit Transfer to the accounts of the target beneficiaries. These accounts were the key modality for providing homes, toilets, gas subsidy, and benefits of schemes for farmers could be ensured seamlessly," he said.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the global recognition for India's digital banking infrastructure.

"The IMF has praised India's digital banking infrastructure. The credit for this goes to the poor, farmers and labourers of India, who have adopted new technologies, made it a part of their lives", he commented.

Referring to the announcement of the launch of a digital currency based on blockchain technology, the Prime Minister pointed out that "Be it digital currency in the coming times, or digital transactions in today's time, apart from the economy, many important aspects are associated with them".

He listed the savings, elimination of the hassle of physical currency and environmental benefits as key advantages.

Modi said that paper and ink for currency printing are imported, and by adopting a digital economy "we are contributing to a self-reliant India while also benefiting the environment by reducing the consumption of paper".
Los Angeles, Oct 16 : Prithviraj Sukumaran was approached for his 'Salaar' role more than 18 months ago, but he nearly could not do the film because he was busy with the Jordan and Algeria shoots for critically acclaimed Malayalam director Blessy's pandemic-delayed magnum opus 'Aadu Jeevitham', reports 'Variety'.

As luck would have it, 'Salaar' was also delayed and the dates finally aligned. Sukumaran began shooting for the film in September.

"There are multiple reasons why 'Salaar' would be a no-brainer for anybody to say yes to -- it's a Prashanth Neel film, a Hombale Films [of the K.G.F. franchise] production and it is Prabhas's film," Sukumaran told 'Variety'. "It is Prabhas's return to mainstream mass commercial cinema after a while. His films post 'Saaho' have been slightly away from the mass action genre." Sukumaran is not at liberty to divulge much detail, but he says a lot of 'Salaar' revolves around Prabhas and his own character, named Vardharaja Mannaar.

"The crux of the story is very much between Prabhas's character and mine," Sukumaran told 'Variety'. "I deem it a privilege that somebody like Prashanth Neel post 'K.G.F: Chapter 2' thought it was worth waiting for me to be able to join the film. And I'm glad I made that decision to finally say yes to it, because having shot for a few days, I think it might just be one of those epic cinematic experiences. So, I'm really looking forward to 'Salaar' as much as an actor and as a film lover." Sukumaran, a lead actor with more than 120 credits, primarily operates in the Malayalam cinema industry, notes 'Variety'. Barring a blip in the early 2000s, the industry is known for its consistently excellent output. Sukumaran is at the forefront of it with his production and distribution company Prithviraj Productions, which he runs with his wife Supriya Menon.

Sukumaran has a raft of projects coming up in various capacities. As an actor, 'Salaar' is due a September 28, 2023 release, while 'Aadu Jeevitham' is in post production and aiming for a major film festival slot in 2023, reports 'Variety'.

'Gold' by Alphonse Puthren ('Premam') is due in the next few months and Shaji Kailas's crime thriller 'Kaapa', a film put together to raise funds for the Writers' Union of Kerala, has just wrapped. 'Vilayath Budha', the unrealised dream of late writer-director Sachy, will start next.

The actor debuted in Bollywood with 'Aiyyaa' (2012) and also had roles in 'Aurangzeb' (2013) and 'Naam Shabana' (2017). He is returning to the industry in 2023 with a project that has been greenlit, but not yet announced.
New Delhi, Oct 16 : 7,500 stakeholders from more than 50 nations attended Cosmoprof India, a B2B event for India's constantly expanding and diversifying beauty business. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the USA have all registered significant involvement.

The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) attended with 15 Italian companies, displaying the best ideas of Made in Italy beauty at the show, significantly enhancing the exhibition's appeal to foreign visitors. Nine exhibiting firms from the Skincare, Wellness, and Nutraceuticals industries in Australia were invited by Investment NSW to participate at the Cosmoprof India 2022. The platform was used to organise more than 1,500 meetings, demonstrating the exhibition's importance as a critical centre for business and networking.

For the first time, Cosmoprof India and Cosmopack India were conducted together, providing beauty industry stakeholders with a thorough overview of each. Leading suppliers in raw materials & lab, contract and private label manufacturing, and packaging were on display at Cosmopack while top finished product brands were highlighted at the event, particularly in the categories of perfumery, cosmetics & toiletries, beauty & spa, hair care, nail care, and accessories. One of the key components of the Cosmoprof international platform events is the pairing of the two shows, which encouraged networking opportunities and the formation of new business alliances.

Special Events and Initiatives Cosmoprof India, which was put on by BolognaFiere Group and Informa Markets in India, provided attendees with a high-performing experience by giving them exclusive access to brand-new suggestions from top brands, unique trends and market research, live demonstrations, and cutting-edge beauty treatments, all under one roof.

With 427 attendees in 12 sessions over the course of the three days of the exhibition, highly regarded international trend agencies participated in the CosmoTalks calendar and shared their perspectives on future trends, emerging dictates for the Indian market, and new approaches to sustainability.

Cosmo Onstage hosted live performances and demo sessions by exhibitors, showcasing innovative beauty innovations from both regional distributors and global companies.

The Cosmoprof India Awards, a unique initiative of the network organised by the global trend agency BEAUTYSTREAMS, ran concurrently with the three-day show and honoured the top creations, designs, and innovations from Cosmoprof and Cosmopack India. Among the exhibitors for the 2022 edition, a prominent jury of international specialists chose the best in Indian beauty. The Awards Ceremony, an event with Colorbar as the Makeup Partner, Beauty Garage as the Hair Partner, Kewin Murphy as the Associate Partner, and Vaishali S as the Couture Partner, took place on October 6th at the Hotel Sahara Star.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
Chennai, Oct 16 : Dismissing various names doing the rounds on social media as being just rumours, the team of 'NBK107' rubbishes speculation about title Chand Malineni's upcoming film, tentatively being referred to as 'NBK107', has clarified that the actual title of the film will be released on October 21.

The film, which features Natasimha Nandamuri Balakrishna in the lead, has generated a huge buzz, thanks to the massive response for the first look and the teaser.

The shoot of the movie is presently underway in RFC, Hyderabad.

A source close to the unit of the film said: "There are some titles doing the rounds on social media platforms. These have been put out by fans. However, the actual title that the team has finalised will be revealed on October 21." Shruti Haasan plays the female lead in this film which also features Duniya Vijay, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar in important roles.

Music sensation S. Thaman, who is in superb form off late and delivered blockbuster albums to both Balakrishna and Gopichand Malineni for their last respective films, is scoring the music of NBK107.

Rishi Punjabi is taking care of cinematography.

Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar of Mythri Movie Makers are producing the film on a massive scale. Acclaimed writer Sai Madhav Burra has provided dialogues, while National Award-Winning craftsman Navin Nooli is handling editing.
Gurugram, Oct 16 : Three persons of the same family succumbed to their injuries on Sunday, days after they got injured in firecrackers explosion in their house in Gurugram.

The victims succumbed to their injuries during treatment at Safdarjang hospital in Delhi, while the condition of three others is still critical.

Six persons were injured in the explosion in a house located in Nakhrola village on October 12.

The explosion took place in the house of a person named Jai Bhagwan at Kherki Daula police station, where firecrackers were illegally stored in huge quantity.

The deceased were identified as Jai Bhagwan (48), his son Manish (17) and daughter Chavi (11). All the victims were undergoing treatment at Safdarjang hospital since October 12.

The other three victims Satish Kumar (45) and his relative and Tanuj (10) are still critical.

The explosion was so intense that roof and walls of the house blew off following which the victims got trapped, while cracks appeared in more than two adjoining houses.

Fire personnel, police and forensic teams and Civil Defence personnel rushed to the site and rescued the victims. The victims were rushed to the Gurugram civil hospital from where they were referred to Safdarjung hospital for further treatment.
Chennai, Oct 16 : The Salem city police in Tamil Nadu have invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against two activists of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political arm of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).

Police had arrested Syed Ali (42) of Onthapillai Kadu near Kitchipalayam who is the district president of SDPI and K. Khader Hussain (33) of Tippu Nagar in Ponnammapet who is the 34th ward president of SDPI. The duo was arrested for hurling a kerosene-laden lit bottle at the residence of RSS leader, K. Rajan in Salem district in the wee hours of September 25. The hurling of the kerosene-laden bottle which did not explode was in protest at banning the Popular Front of India and the arrest of its leaders across the country.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Salem, N. Madasamy had recommended the Salem City Police Commissioner, Najmul Hoda to invoke the provisions of the National Security Act against the duo. Police have recommended NSA over the fact that the actions of the duo led to usurping communal amity in the area.

The police also charged that the actions of the two resulted in creating enmity between the two religions and disrupting national and state security, integrity, and public order. The commissioner issued the order on Sunday based on the recommendation from the Deputy Commissioner and will be served to those who are serving their sentence in judicial custody at Salem Central Prison.
MBABANE  The future of paperless money is here!

If you thought digital currency was a far off thing for the Kingdom of Eswatini, you have been wrong. Digital currency is any currency thats available exclusively in electronic form.

The Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) has partnered with international technology group Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) to research and explore the development of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). There are three main varieties of digital currency; cryptocurrency, stablecoins and central bank digital currency, known as CBDCs. Mandla Luphondvo, the CBE Head of Strategy and Communication, yesterday revealed to the Times SUNDAY that the appointment of G+D stemmed from the competition of the 1st Phase of the CBDC Diagnostic Study conducted in 2020, which found that a retail CBDC presented the strongest and direct opportunity for the adoption of a digital currency in Eswatini.

digital currency

According to an article updated by Forbes Magazine on October 13, 2022, digital currency has the potential to change how society thinks about money completely. The article states that the rise of Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and thousands of other cryptocurrencies that exist only in electronic form has led global central banks to research how national digital currencies might work. Luphondvo said the CBE has joined other central banks and regulators around the world, who are exploring the potential of CBDCS to address challenges such as payment efficiency, interoperability, financial inclusion and payment system resilience. He said as part of its mandate, the CBE has been providing emaSwati with banknotes and coins they can trust to make payments for nearly five decades.

While cash remains a dominant means of payment, technology and the increasing demand for instant and fast payments are changing the way businesses and consumers transact. As such the bank will be investigating the possibility of issuing a digital Lilangeni as a complement to cash capable of providing a technologically advanced platform that can catalyse Eswatinis digital ecosystem and realise other potential benefits such as governance, improved accessibility, regional interoperability, security and programmability, Luphondvo explained. He said overall, the project will enable the CBE to make an informed decision about the implementation of a CBDC in Eswatini.

design paper

He said it is envisaged that at the end of the project, the CBE will have crafted a design paper for a digital Lilangeni. We are delighted to have engaged D+G as a technical consultant to walk is in our journey while we explore and formulate the foundational policy considerations and use cases of a localised CBDC, Luphondvo stated. He added that the CBE was confident that G+Ds technological expertise and strong regional presence in the African continent would allow the bank to realise all possible advantages of a Digital Lilangeni and ensure that the central bank was fully equipped to issue a CBDC in the future. According to Forbes, electronic versions of currency are already predominant in most countries financial systems.

The magazine explained that what differentiates digital currency from the electronic currency that is already in peoples bank accounts is that digital currency never takes physical form.

You can go to an ATM right now and easily transform the electronic record of your currency holdings into physical dollars. Digital currency, however, never leaves a computer network, and it is exchanged exclusively via digital means, the magazines article states.
Mumbai, Oct 16 : Actor Jitendra Shastri, who played the role of Usmaan in the hit streaming crime-drama streaming show 'Mirzapur', has passed away.

His co-actor in the series, Rajesh Tailang, informed his followers about his friend's unfortunate demise through a tweet. Rajesh wrote: "Can't believe Jitu Bhai is no more, what an amazing actor, what a wonderful human being, amazing sense of humour, got the opportunity to spend time working with him. It was my good fortune. #JitendraShastri Jitu Bhai Regards" Actor Sanjay Mishra also took to his social media handle to share the sad news. Uploading an old video where he can be seen alongside Jitendra, the senior actor captioned the video in Hindi, which loosely translated into: "Jitu bhai had you been here, you would have said something like 'Mishra, sometimes what happens is that a name stays in the mobile's contact list and the person goes out of network'. You are out of the world, but will always remain in the network of my mind and heart Om Shanti." 'The Family Man' actor Manoj Bajpayee also tweeted: "So sad to hear the passing away of my senior and initial mumbai days friend Jeetu shastri! A great actor and an exemplary human being!"

Jitendra was an accomplished theatre actor. He had appeared in films like 'Black Friday', 'Lajja', 'Charas'.
New Delhi, Oct 16 : A man was killed while two of his friends sustained severe injuries after two groups clashed in Centre Delhi's Ranjit Nagar, police said on Sunday. The deceased, identified as Nitesh, is said to be a Bajrang Dal worker.

BJP leader and Supreme Court Lawyer Prashant Umeao alleged on Twitter that Nitesh was killed because he was a Hindu and a Bajrang Dal worker.

The police have, however, dismissed his claim and said that it was a fight between two groups and there was no communal angle in the matter.

A senior police official said that two groups clashed in the Shadipur area on Friday. The official said that Nitesh, Alok and Monty were in one group while three other young men were on another side.

"They had an argument which got heated up and soon a fight ensued. Nitesh and Alok sustained severe injuries in the incident. Initially, the victims did not give any statement before the police. We lodged an FIR under sections 308 and 34 of the IPC at Ranjit Nagar Police Station," the official said.

A police team was formed and an investigation was taken up. Meanwhile, during the course of treatment victim Nitesh succumbed to injuries.

Police have got the CCTV footage of the incident.

The police said that they have identified the accused involved in the matter. The accused were identified as Ufiza, Adnan and Abbas. All the accused are said to be on the run.

The police said that Nitesh and Alok have previous criminal records.

Further investigation in the matter was on.
Visakhapatnam, Oct 16 : Visakhapatnam police on Sunday issued a notice to Jana Sena leader and actor Pawan Kalyan directing him not to hold any rally or meeting in view of the prohibitory orders in the east zone of the city in Andhra Pradesh.

The notice was issued as Pawan was to conduct a meeting in the city under 'Janavani' programme aimed at receiving grievances from people.

The notice blamed Pawan Kalyan for Saturday's incident at Visakhapatnam Airport where convoys of ministers and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders were attacked by a mob.

The actor accepted the notice in protest and made it clear that he was no way connected with the gathering of people at Visakhapatnam Airport as his flight from Hyderabad landed at 4.40 p.m.

Showing the notice to the media persons, Pawan Kalyan said this was the award for standing by the people. He said he was ready to face cases, go to jail and receive lathi blows in the fight against "criminalisation of politics".

"We are here to take a very firm stand against crimiminalisation of politics and YSRCP is epitome of criminalisation of politics," he said.

Pawan Kalyan said that he take the notice in his stride as he is here for a continuous and long battle. He said when he decided to enter politics, he knew very well that it would be a long battle.

"I know there is no politics without facing cases, going to jail and receiving the blows. We are accepting the challenge. We are prepared to go to jail and face cases but we will not stop questioning the wrongdoings of those in power," he said.

Pawan said 28 leaders and workers of Jana Sena were arrested for the airport incident and they were booked for attempt to murder and other serious offences.

He said the police notice was an attempt to implicate him in the case and reiterated that Jana Sena was in no way connected with what happened at the airport.

It was mentioned in the notice that orders under section 30 of Police Act are in force since October 1 in West Zone limits of Visakhapatnam city prohibiting the gatherings, meetings, processions, rallies, among others.

"Inspite of the promulgated orders in force, you being the leader of Jana Sena Party led a group of more than 500 people gathered at Airport, Visakhapatnam around 16.30 hours and conducted a huge rally via Nad junnction to Novotel Hotel, Beach road. The mob consisting of followers of JSP under your leadership attacked ministers, civilians and police officials and caused disturbance to public order and committed grave offences in which public representatives, some civilians and police officers sustained grievous injuries. Further, it caused disturbance to the public peace and tranquility," read the government's notice.

The police directed not to organise any meeting or rally and warned that in case of any violation, legal action will be taken against him.
Mehsana : , Oct 16 (IANS) An army jawan serving in Jammu & Kashmir was booked for assaulting his wife in the presence of his friends on suspicion of having an extramarital affair, police said.

The Vadnagar police on Saturday booked the jawan and three of his friends for criminal force, disrobing or compelling a woman to be naked and hurting her with a dangerous weapon.

Victim Amarben Thakor in her complaint with the Vadnagar police station stated, "On Saturday morning, my husband Dilip Thakor took me to a guest house in his friend Pintoo's car, along with them was Kalpesh and an unknown person. In the presence of Kalpesh, my husband asked me to unclothe in a guest house room. When I refused, my husband disrobed me, bit me on the lower lip and tore it. Then he bit me on the chest and on the ear. As I was bleeding, they took me to doctor Jigar Patel's private hospital, who refused to treat me, being a criminal case." "On the private doctor's suggestion, they took me to Vadnagar government hospital, where the doctor conducted surgery on her lip," the woman said.

She alleged that her husband was misinformed by his friends that she had an affair, because of which he started suspecting her and acting violently.
New Delhi, Oct 16 : After Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that he has been summoned by the CBI on Monday, CM Arvind Kejriwal compared him with freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and termed this as the "second fight for freedom".

"Prison bars and the threat of noose could never deter the spirit of Bhagat Singh. This is the second fight for freedom. Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain are today's Bhagat Singh," the Delhi Chief Minister said, retweeting Sisodia's tweet about the CBI's summon in the excise policy case.

The CBI has asked Sisodia to be in its headquarters on Monday at 11 a.m. for questioning in the excise policy scam case.

"After 75 years, there has been an education minister who is giving hope to the poor with better education. The prayers of crores of people are with you," Kejriwal further said in the same tweet.

Meanwhile, while addressing a press briefing, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said that the probe agency, CBI will arrest the Deputy CM on Monday. "Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has been summoned by the CBI for interrogation tomorrow. I can say this with confidence and responsibility that we are all certain that he will be arrested at the behest of the BJP by the CBI being controlled by their Central Government," he said.

"CBI has summoned Manish Sisodia tomorrow. This whole conspiracy is premeditated and planned; CBI summon has nothing to do with excise, they will call him to their office and arrest him. CBI-ED have raided 500 locations across the country so far in the case; they haven't found a single strand of proof," he alleged.

"The CBI will be arresting Sisodia just to halt the month-long campaigns he has scheduled in Gujarat. But I want to make it clear to the BJP -- the AAP stands here in front of you unfazed by your tactics," the AAP spokesperson further said.
Mexico City, Oct 16 : At least 12 people were killed and three others injured after unidentified gunmen opened fire in a bar in Mexico's Irapuato city in Guanajuato state, local media reported.

Around six men and as many women were killed in the incident that occurred on Saturday evening, CNN reported , quoting city's Secretary of Citizen Safety statement.

Search is on for the unidentified gunmen.

This is the second mass shooting in less than a month in the state of Guanajuato.

In the earlier incident, 18 people, including a city mayor, were killed and three others wounded when gunmen opened firing at a town hall in San Miguel Totolapan city in Mexico.
Raipur, Oct 16 : The political temperature in Chhattisgarh has risen due to raids by central agencies, but the question that still remains is whether Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who has created an image of 'Mr. Clean' for himself, will be affected by it.

Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had raided 12 places, including the premises of IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi and Raigarh Collector Ranu Sahu, in connection with an alleged coal scam. After the raids, the ED arrested Vishnoi, businessmen Sunil Agarwal and Laxmikant Tiwari and their interrogation is still in going on.

The ED conducted another search operation in which it seized about Rs 6.5 crore in the form of unaccounted cash, gold etc.

Earlier, the Income Tax Department had raided the premises of some administrative officers and seized a large amount of cash. The ED action followed the I-T raids.

Leader of opposition in Chhattisgarh Assembly, Narayan Chandel, has attacked the Baghel government over the raids, saying the agency actions have exposed the corruption racket in the state, in which senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen are involved, adding that Chhattisgarh is making an illegal recovery of Rs 25 per tonne of coal being transported in the state.

Everyday, two to three crore rupees are being extorted. In this way, thousands of crores of rupees are being recovered and used for wrong purposes, Chandel said, as he asked the Congress government to reveal the amount of money that this corruption racket involving officials, politicians and businessmen "sends to 10 Janpath".

Hitting back at the BJP leader, state Congress communication cell chief Sushil Anand Shukla said that those who ran a government of 'corruption commission' for 15 years are now seeing corruption everywhere.

"The people of Chhattisgarh have not forgotten how there was an atmosphere of administrative anarchy in the state for 15 years. The CM himself used to ask the BJP leaders to stop the practice of taking commission," Shukla said.

"The multi-crore Nagrik Apurti Nigam scam surfaced in 2015 during the previous BJP government in Chhattisgarh. The name of former Chief Minister's (Raman Singh) son was revealed in the Panama Papers leak. The AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, the DKS Hospital scam are all like blots on BJP's forehead which can never be washed away," Shukla added.

He also said that the Central government constantly harasses the Congress, but as far as Chhattisgarh is concerned, Bhupesh Baghel will emerge from these raids unaffected and victorious.

"No matter the amount of lies the BJP leaders spread, till date they have not been able to level any authentic allegation of corruption against the Chief Minister, or any other Congress minister for that matter. If the previous BJP government is subjected to a fair probe, the entire cabinet, including former CM Raman Singh, will be behind bars," Shukla said.

Political analyst Rudra Awasthi believes that after the Income Tax and ED raids, the picture is not completely clear so far, but it is also true that neither Bhupesh Baghel, nor his ministers have been directly accused of corruption.

He also said that Bhupesh Baghel seems to be completely relaxed despite the raids, and his statements and body language are testimony to that.

"This is because Baghel is confident that the people of the state are with him. The farmers, villagers and the poor are happy with his schemes, so the raids are unlikely to affect his political standing," Awasthi said.
New Delhi, Oct 16 : Elon Musk, the world's richest man, who made Pune-based student Pranay Pathole a Twitter celebrity, is now looking to make more Indian followers famous among his over 108 million fans on the micro-blogging platform he aims to buy, and another Pune-based student Vaibhav Balghare has caught his attention.

Musk recently responded to Balghare, a 22-year-old computer engineering student, who is into coding and cloud computing.

A student of Suman Ramesh Tulsiani Technical Campus -- Faculty of Engineering, Balghare told IANS that he never thought Musk would reply to him.

"That was a sweet moment for me," said Balghare, who aspires to become a cloud engineer in the future.

Everything changed for Balghare when he, with a Twitter handle @NASAEarthMars, asked Musk how he caught "that employee who leaked the confidential data of Tesla and sold it to the news outlet?" in 2008.

Responding to the tweet, Musk said: "That is quite an interesting story. We sent what appeared to be identical emails to all, but each was actually coded with either one or two spaces between sentences, forming a binary signature that identified the leaker." A Twitter user reacted: "U did not take any legal action?"

"Too busy trying to survive at the time," Musk replied.

Another follower asked Musk what finally happened to those employees.

"They were invited to further their career elsewhere," Musk replied.

To date, Balghare tweet received 614 likes and 31 retweets.

"I have been a fan of Elon Musk for a long time. If I get a chance to meet him, I will surely be there," Balghare said.

(Ayushi Jain can be reached at ayushi.j@ians.in)
New Delhi, Oct 16 : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has called a Chintan Shivir of Home Ministers of all the states on October 27-28 at Surajkund, Haryana.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Rajasthan counterpart Ashok Gehlot have also been invited to join the meeting. Banerjee and Gehlot also hold the Home portfolio in their respective states. However, Banerjee's presence in the meeting has not been confirmed yet, sources said.

The two-day brain storming session has been convened to discuss the issues and problems related to internal security. The MHA believes that some problems related to internal security can be eliminated on the basis of mutual coordination among the states.

Apart from this, issues related to policing, public security, fire fighting etc. in the states will also be discussed.

According to sources, along with the Home Ministers, the Home Secretary and Director General of Police of all the states will also take part in the meeting.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reportedly stay in Surajkund for both the days.
Chennai, Oct 16 : Reacting strongly to the news of a 20-year-old student being pushed to her death by her stalker in Chennai, actress Sakshi Aggarwal has expressed the opinion that the stalker, identified as Sathish, should be hanged to prevent such incidents from recurring again.

Taking to Twitter, Sakshi Aggarwal said: "Sathish should be hanged then only this kinda incidents won't happen again! Women safety is important for a good society." Sakshi isn't the only celebrity to have raised her voice seeking death penalty for the stalker.

Actor and music director Vijay Antony too had expressed a similar opinion a couple of days ago.

Taking to Twitter, Vijay Antony had in Tamil placed a request to the judge who would be hearing the case.

Vijay Antony said that instead of patiently investigating the case for 10 years and then hanging Sathish, who had killed the victim and was responsible for the suicide of her father, the case must be immediately investigated and Sathish must be punished by being pushed in front of a moving train in the same manner he killed the victim.

Antony said that he was making this humble request on behalf of the victim and as a member of the general public.
FBI Warns Voters on Election Crimes Ahead of the November 2022 Midterm Election

Voter Suppression

Intentionally deceiving qualified voters to prevent them from voting is voter suppressionand it is a federal crime.

There are various methods which can be used to spread disinformation about voting. Such methods are social media platforms, texting, or peer-to-peer messaging applications on smartphones. Additionally, bad actors may provide misleading information about the time, manner and place of voting. This includes inaccurate election dates or false claims about voting methods like, voting by text, which is not allowed in any jurisdiction.

Do you know when, where, and how you will vote? If not, there are many reputable places you can find this information, including eac.gov and usa.gov/how-to-vote. However, not all publicly available voting information is accurate, and some is deliberately designed to deceive you in order to suppress turnout.

Always consider the source of voting information. Ask yourself, Can I trust this information? Look for official notices from election offices and verify the information you found is accurate.

Help defend the right to vote by reporting any suspected instances of voter suppressionespecially those received through a private communication channel like textingto your local FBI field office and ask to speak to an election crimes coordinator.

This story has been published on: 2022-10-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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LAMGABHI  Important documents, which included a computerised accounting system for LaMgabhi Inkhundla, were destroyed by a petrol-bomb yesterday.

Also known as a Molotov cocktail, the bomb, which caused massive damage estimated at E2.6 million, was caused by unknown people. It has been alleged that the hand-thrown incendiary weapon was constructed from frangible containers filled with flammable substances, which shattered on impact after the arsonists had thrown them into the inkhundla building.

Neighbours could only hear a loud explosion, but did not see the people who ignited the petrol bomb. Police reportedly arrived at the scene at around 4am with the Eswatini National Fire and Emergency Services personnel. The firemen returned to the scene at around 10am yesterday as it appeared the fire had not been completely put out.

fire destroyed

Daniel Shiba, the Constituency Headman, said the fire destroyed conference room furniture, computers, photocopier machines and other equipment valued at E800 000. He said loan applications for the attention of the Rural Development Fund (RDF) were burnt and the associations would have to reapply. By the look of things, Shiba said, government would have to set up a new structure as the affected one developed serious cracks. The ceiling was severely damaged. He said the building cost around E1.6 million. The headman explained that officers from the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development made the evaluation. These are estimates which were made by professionals, Shiba said in response to questions from this newspaper. He said the security officer was not present when the arsonists arrived as he reported to have attended a funeral. The headman said he was not aware that the security officer was not at work, but had doubts if he could have stopped the arsonists from throwing the bomb into the building.

did not burn

They did not burn the guardhouse and water tanks. The pit latrine was also spared. Shiba is not certain where and how they would execute their duties tomorrow. He pointed out though that they would travel to Manzini to officially report the case to the Regional Administration Office (RA). Its not easy to fill in the loan applications forms, which they also burnt. We are very disappointed and disheartened by the destruction of the building we utilise for public service, the headman said. There are theories that a car was parked at a distance from the Inkhundla building. It is alleged that the arsonists might have walked to the building carrying the flammable substances. Some bottle containers were reportedly found inside the building, which allegedly contained the flammable substances.

cash reward

On September 8, 2021, police offered a cash reward for information that would lead to the arrest and subsequent prosecution of people behind the burning of structures in the country.

The National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, William Dlamini, in a press release, said the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) was noting with deep concern and dismay the ongoing acts of sabotage being perpetrated around the country. He said the acts of sabotage were targeting various government structures, key community social services facilities such as schools, Tinkhundla centres and chiefs royal kraals (imiphakatsi). In the aftermath or during the civil unrest, unknown people burnt Tinkhundla centres at Kwaluseni, Ndzingeni, Ngwempisi, and Kukhanyeni. Last year, government estimated the costs of damaged business structures at E3 billion. Police were still investigating the LaMgabhi incident at the time this report was compiled last night.

Tinkhundla centres

Tinkhundla centres are under the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development whose objectives are 

* To facilitate the implementation of all government policies at national, regional and tinkhundla levels.

* To improve the capacity of regions, tinkhundla and chiefdoms to plan, implement, manage and monitor development programmes and the delivery of services for their communities.

* To coordinate and facilitate an integrated approach of all developmental programmes, projects, activities and other initiatives by development agencies, government departments and non-governmental organisations at regional, sub-regional, tinkhundla and chiefdom levels.

* To facilitate and implement the decentralisation of all basic services from the central government to the grassroots level.

* To build and strengthen community capacities and skills to participate in the countrys socio-economic development for the attainment of sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

* To establish mechanisms to develop, coordinate and disseminate information on regional and tinkhundla activities and programmes.
Chennai, Oct 16 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin on Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi claiming that "there are continuous efforts of the Central government to impose Hindi under the 'one nation theory' in non-Hindi speaking states".

Stalin in the letter said that "the efforts to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking people would destroy the feeling of the brotherhood of people of different languages and cultures..." "The recent attempts to impose Hindi are impractical and divisive in character and puts non-Hindi speaking people in a very disadvantageous position in many respects," he added.

In the letter, he further said that "this was not acceptable; not only to Tamil Nadu but also to any state that respects and values its mother tongue".

The Chief Minister said that approach of the Union government should be to include all languages including Tamil in the Eighth schedule of the Constitution.

He also referred to a report of the parliamentary sub-committee on official languages, which had reportedly recommended that Hindi should be the compulsory medium of instruction in educational institutions administered by the Union government such as the IITs ,IIMs, AIIMS and central universities.

Stalin further said that it was also recommended (by the sub-committee) that Hindi should replace English.

He also asserted that several youths in Tamil Nadu had sacrificed their lives in 1965 in the anti-Hindi agitations that erupted in part of the state.

"Jawaharlal Nehru respected the sentiments of the people and assured that English would continue to be one of the official languages as long as non-Hindi speaking people want," Stalin added in the letter.
New Delhi, Oct 16 : A Bajrang Dal worker was killed while two of his friends sustained severe injuries after two groups clashed in Centre Delhi's Ranjit Nagar, police said on Sunday.

After Nitesh's demise, his family members staged a massive protest in Ranjit Nagar demanding justice leading to traffic snarl.

More than 200 people assembled on main road which worsened the traffic situation. The police personnel somehow convinced the family to sit on a corner of road so that traffic could be managed.

Extra police force, along with Rapid Action Force, has been deployed to avoid untoward incidents.

Nitesh's family also alleged that he was killed as he was associated with Bajrang Dal and RSS.

BJP leader and Supreme Court Lawyer Prashant Umeao alleged on Twitter that Nitesh was killed because he was a Hindu and a Bajrang Dal worker.

However, police dismissed his claim and said that it was a fight between two groups and there was no communal angle in the matter.

A senior police official said that two groups clashed in the Shadipur area on Friday. The official said that Nitesh, Alok and Monty were in one group while three other young men were on another side.

"They had an argument which worsened and soon a fight ensued. Nitesh and Alok sustained severe injuries in the incident. Initially, the victims did not give any statement to the police. We lodged an FIR under sections 308 and 34 of the IPC at Ranjit Nagar Police Station," the official said.

A police team was formed and an investigation was taken up. Meanwhile, during treatment, victim Nitesh succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

Police have got the CCTV footage of the incident.

The accused identified as Ufiza, Adnan and Abbas are on the run, the police said.

The police said that Nitesh and Alok have criminal cases booked against them.
Bellary : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the injured who were admitted at Civil Hospital after getting electrocuted during Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Bellary on Sunday, October 16, 2022. (Photo:IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Bellary : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the injured who were admitted at Civil Hospital after getting electrocuted during Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Bellary on Sunday, October 16, 2022. (Photo:IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Bellary : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the injured who were admitted at Civil Hospital after getting electrocuted during Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Bellary on Sunday, October 16, 2022. (Photo:IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Bellary : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the injured who were admitted at Civil Hospital after getting electrocuted during Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Bellary on Sunday, October 16, 2022. (Photo:IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Oct 16 : Four Congress workers in Karnataka were hospitalised on Sunday after they suffered electric shock during Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Ballari. The mishap occurred when they were tying flags to a pole.

The injured workers were rushed to the Civil Hospital in Ballari where they are undergoing treatment.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the injured party workers at the hospital and took stock of their condition.

"I am happy to see that they have not suffered any major injuries, and their morale continues to remain high," Rahul Gandhi wrote on his Facebook page.

AICC General Secretary and the party's Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala said that all the four persons are out of danger and the Congress has announced a compensation of Rs one lakh for each of them.

Rahul Gandhi also advised party workers involved in the Bharat Jodo Yatra to take safety precautions while going about their duties.
San Francisco, Oct 16 : Tech giant Google has announced that its 'Pixel Tablet' and the awaited 'Pixel foldable phones' will use side-mounted traditional sensors from next year.

Recently, Google, in its Pixel 6 series, moved the fingerprint sensor from the back of the phone to the front (in the display), which caused users to complain about it.

With the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, Google has improved the reading experience and added face-unlocking support.

Even with those improvements, Google's upcoming Pixel devices, the 2023 Pixel Tablet, and the foldable Pixel 'Notepad' seem to be returning to traditional fingerprint sensors.

As reported by 9to5Google, the reason for switching from an under-display sensor to a traditional one on the foldable Pixel is to ensure that unlocking the phone works regardless of whether it's folded or unfolded.

Next, there's a test for an "X-aligned" device - meaning the fingerprint sensor would be along the top or bottom edge. We believe this code is intended to cover the upcoming Pixel Tablet, presumably placing its sensor on the upper power/lock button, similar to the Pixel Slate, 9to5Google added.

However, Samsung's foldable phones have seen decent success with under-display fingerprint sensors, and Google's hardware ecosystem may begin to rival that of Samsung with the introduction of foldable phones and tablets.
Tehran, Oct 16 : At least four inmates died and 61 others were injured in a fire at Tehran's Evin prison.

"Following last night's fight between some prisoners of the special ward for theft and financial convictions of Evin prison and the fire breakout in the sewing workshop of this prison ... a significant number of prisoners were saved ... unfortunately, 4 prisoners died and some were injured," official news agency IRNA reported on Sunday.

The four prisoners, who died of smoke inhalation, were convicted of theft and serving their sentences in Evin prison, Xinhua news agency reported quoting IRNA.

Among the 61 injured, 51 were treated in outpatient clinics and 10 were hospitalised, four of whom were reported to be in critical condition.

More than 70 prisoners at risk of injury were saved, according to the report.

During the conflict and fire, a number of prisoners convicted of violent and dangerous crimes tried to escape, but failed thanks to security measures, said the IRNA.

Earlier reports said that the fire was ignited following clashes among a number of inmates in the wards which spread to the prison's clothing storeroom.
Chennai, Oct 16 : Stating that "mysterious efforts" were on to keep his film 'Kayattam' and any talk about it away from the public, well-known Malayalam film director Sanal K Sashidharan has said that the reason why these "unholy efforts" were not completely successful was because of the "significant height of the art work we have created." Taking to Instagram, the director, best known for his award-winning film 'Sexy Durga', wrote, "FB reminds me that on this day last year, Chandru Selvaraj, the cameraman of the movie 'Kayattam', got the award for best cinematographer.

"Mysterious efforts are still going on to keep the film and any talks about it away from the public. But the reason why these unholy efforts are not completely successful is the significant height of the art work we have created.

"All those who watched 'Kayattam' at IFFK will secretly agree on this but not say it out loud. This may be because of the shady stories spreading across against me.

"Kayattam has been shot entirely on a smartphone. But nobody who watches the film can tell that the film was completed with such a very minimal set-up.

"Kayattam is the film in which I have used all my experiences I gathered in experimenting with minimalism from my first film 'Oralpokkum' onwards.

"Even though the star cast of Manju Warrier in the film opened up the possibility of shooting the film with easiness and convenience, I was clinging to my own rough path.

"It has also been my habit since my first film to give opportunities to as many new talents as possible. But as all my films faced unreasonable opposition one way or the other, none of the new talents got the accolades despite their merits.

"Indrajith, cameraman of 'Oraalppokkam', Ajith, cameraman of 'Chola', Basil CJ, who did the music for my first three films, Nisthar Ahamed and Byju Netto, who acted as Dharman and Dasan in 'ODK', are talents worth mentioning.

"As it was extremely difficult to completely blind their eyes on these talents, the juries escaped from their prick of conscience by giving one or two major awards to the films and thus washing their hands.

"In 'Oraalppokkam' they gave award to me and in 'Ozhivudivasathe Kali', it was for the film. Exceptions were Sandeep's and Jiji's awards for sound recording in 'Oraalppokkam' and 'ODK'. The deserving people who worked with me were totally upset on me in this, even though I was innocent.

"Although I am happy that 'Kayattam' has changed that routine, everyone who worked for the film is disappointed that it did not release. If the films are released, then the myths spread about me will collapse in no time and that is why this nasty game."
Los Angeles, Oct 16 : US-based Colombian actor John Leguizamo, who starred as Aurelio in 'John Wick, is miffed with the makers of animated film 'Super Mario Bros.

The actor has criticised the all-white cast of the new film and the distinct lack of 'Latinx leads', reports Mirror.co.uk.

According to Mirror.co.uk, Leguizamo (62), who was cast as Luigi in the live-action 'Super Mario Bros' released in 1993, wasn't impressed with the casting choice when Chris Pratt was announced as playing the iconic Italian plumber Mario.

John expressed his concerns regarding the film after the release of the first trailer. He also praised the colour-blind casting decisions of the original that he starred in.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote: "So glad #superMariobros is getting a reboot! Obviously it's iconic (enough). But too bad they went all white! No Latinx in the leads! Groundbreaking colour-blind casting in the original!" The term Latinx is used as a gender neutral description of those in the Latin community, inclusive of all gender experiences.

The 'Mirror' further states that he went on to say that he was the only person who could make the movie work 'script wise', writing: "Plus I'm the only one who knows how to make this movie work script wise!" The movie is due to come out in 2023 and sees Chris Pratt play the iconic role of Mario, with Charlie Day being cast as his brother Luigi.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16 : The first accused in the Kerala human sacrifice case, Mohammed Shafi convinced the second accused Bhagaval Singh and his wife Laila that the flesh of the victims could be sold to some people who eat human flesh.

According to sources in the investigation team, the accused had told the second accused and third accused that "some people who do certain pooja eat human flesh and that the demand is very high for it". He had also told them that 10 kg of the flesh be stored in the freezer and that the buyer would reach the home.

Investigating officers have said that Shafi told Bhagval and Laila that Rs 20 lakh could be earned on the sale of the victims' flesh.

He, according to police, also had taken an amount of Rs 6 lakh from the couple.

The police have said that Shafi had borrowed around Rs 6 lakh from Bhagval and Laila and when the couple was putting pressure on him, he suggested the idea of human sacrifice for prosperity.

Two women Rosyln and Padma were brutally murdered as part of a human sacrifice ritual at Elanthoor in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala.

The news came to the fore on October 11, during an investigation of case relating to missing of a Tamil woman, Padma, whose sister Palaniammal complained that she was missing from home since September 26.

The Ernakulam police during the probe found that the missing woman was in touch with Shafi.

On further investigation, Shafi spilled the beans and told the investigation team of the twin murders. He told the team that another woman, Roslyn was murdered in the name of human sacrifice at Elanthoor home on June 8. The family of Roslyn had registered a complaint with the police a few days after her disappearance.

Shafi, Bhagaval, and Laila are remanded to judicial custody for fifteen days and are now handed over to the Ernakulam special police team for 12 days.
San Francisco, Oct 16 : Tech giant Google has announced that Meet calls can now be transcribed into text, and users can further save them in a Google Doc format.

According to Android Central, the saved file can be accessed from Google Drive.

Google Meet is one of the most popular apps, especially after replacing the Google Duo app for iOS and Android devices. However, Google has stated the new feature that can be accessed in Google Meet for desktop or laptop clients and is available only for the English language.

Google said the transcribed file can be stored in the same "Meeting Recordings" folder of the Google Meet app from the accompanying Google Drive storage.

Before joining the Google Meet call, attendees will be notified that the call is transcribed.

These transcripts are intended to capture the meeting's discussion, serves as a record, and is helpful as a follow-up to attendees or host if they want to recall a particular segment or point in the whole discussion.

Another nifty feature is that the "transcript will automatically be attached to the associated calendar invite for the meeting".

And for meetings involving more than 200 attendees, the transcribed file will be shared with meeting organisers, hosts, co-hosts, and individual users who initiated a transcription.

The new feature is expected to roll out starting October 24. It will be available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers.
Chandigarh, Oct 16 : Presenting the report card of seven months performance of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, Cabinet minister Aman Arora on Sunday said the government has ushered in a new era of politics by eliminating the corruption and mafia culture patronised by previous governments in the past seven decades.

Addressing the media here, Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Arora slammed the previous Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP governments for pushing Punjab into debt, saying that most of their leaders were indulged in malpractices, filling their own coffers.

The AAP government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against corruption to bring back lost glory of the state.

Listing the achievements of the government, he said the Bhagwant Mann government took historic decisions in seven months which the previous governments had failed to take in the over past 70 years of their regime.

He said the AAP is generating employment as promised during poll campaigns. The government has regularised services of 9,000 teachers and a process initiated to regularise the services of remaining 28,000 contractual employees.

The government has also started the process for 26,000 posts lying vacant in various government departments in boards along with filling the 2,500 posts of various cadres filled in the Police Department.

He said an anti-corruption helpline has been launched to combat the corruption. "The one of biggest achievements of the Mann government is cracking down on corrupt leaders. In the past seven months, the state government has arrested over 220 influential people, senior politicians and bureaucrats who had looted the Punjab and were being patronised by the successive governments," the minister said.

Replying to a media query over ongoing inquiries against opposition leaders, Arora said unlike previous governments, AAP is not doing vendetta politics and actions will only be initiated against them after investigation team found them guilty in the probe.

Arora said the government has also taken a myriad of pro-farmers decisions including giving MSP on moong as third crop after procuring it at an MSP price of Rs 7,275 per quintal.

The subsidy of Rs 1,500 per acre has been given for direct seeding of rice to save groundwater from depletion.

Likewise, the price of sugarcane enhanced by Rs 20 per quintal from Rs 360 to Rs 380. The area under summer 'moong' has increased from 54,363 acres to 1,28,495 acres.

The government also sanctioned pending compensation to farmers affected with inclement weather and floods.

All pending arrears of cane-growers have been cleared.

Arora said to provide free and best health services at the doorsteps of the common man, 100 Aam Aadmi clinics dedicated to the people of the state, while 16 new medical colleges have been announced to be constructed in the state.

The government has also inaugurated Dr Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Mullanpur near Chandigarh to offer best quality treatment to cancer patients. Besides, the government has cracked down on illegal encroachments and freed panchayat land worth crores and these funds will be spent on the welfare of common people.
MBABANE  A group of students at the University of Eswatini came together in July 1983 to form the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) to protect Queen Regent Dzeliwe.

The protection and re-installation of the deposed Regent was among a list of other demands that the students made in their earlier marches, dubbed the Dzeliwe Demonstration in August 1983. The gathering of the students was conducted behind the scenes, and it later transpired that the group, though formed at the backdrop of Queen Dzeliwes deposition as Regent, was actually the foundation of PUDEMO. More demonstrations followed as the Queen Regent Dzeliwe challenged her removal by filing an urgent application at the High Court. PUDEMO was eventually launched on January 1985, it already had a working Constitution, a programme of action and a manifesto.

Manifesto

While the first goal of the manifesto indicated that the organisation was calling for a Constitution of a multiparty democracy system, goal number nine indicated that the organisation intends to promote and develop the rich heritage of Eswatini culture. The clause further highlights that Eswatini law and custom would be codified and published for general information of the public and cultural institutions would be open for all. The political stand of the movement regarding the monarchy has always been a subject for debate over the years, as different leaders gave different versions of their interpretation of the manifesto.

proclamation

The latest stance by the current National Executive Committee (NEC), regarding the issue of the monarchy was a proclamation that the people were the ones to decide on what to do with the institution and its traditional structures after the attainment of democracy. Current PUDEMO Secretary General (SG) Wandile Dludlu said as much as PUDEMO was formed in 1983, they were consistent in their call for democracy. He said they were calling for power to return to the people and the rest would be decided by consensus after attaining democracy. The first march led by students from university, most of whom were members of the first generation of PUDEMO, should never be reduced to monarchical reform but dignity of the Swazis particularly the respect of rule of law and our customary law.

Strategy

Remember Liqoqo gravely violated that as they maintained royal grip whilst tearing each other so badly apart. PUDEMO through her policy titled The Strategy and Tactics of PUDEMO argues that one of our salient principles proclaims that we shall strive for a constitutional multiparty democracy. This is the official position of PUDEMO. We want freedom through a multiparty system of democratic arrangement, he said. Dludlu stated that it was wrong to reduce the core objectives of his organisation to the protection of the monarchy. He said they were calling for political changes that would ensure a future for the country and its children.

fully dedicated

This answers everything, who said what and where is immaterial. Lets not make anyone or any institution too important than or above the Swazi nation the democracy we want seeks to correct exactly that. As a democratic movement we are fully dedicated to creating a democratic Eswatini by giving power to the people and to bringing oppression and exploitation, nepotism and political favouritism and the growing fascism to an end, he added.

constitutional

During the May Day Celebrations in 2011 at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium in Nhlangano, the late President of PUDEMO, Mario Masuku told thousands of workers and the world that PUDEMO wanted a constitutional monarchy. Masuku, who was among the speakers said the King should not be involved in the running of the country. Masuku, who had the crowd of workers listening attentively to him, implored the police at the stadium to take notes of his message so that they could deliver an accurate version to the late Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, who was the countrys Prime Minister (PM) at the time. Write down the following because we know there are police officers hiding in the crowds. You police officers must carefully highlight the following in your notes: No one wants to overthrow the King.

elected

Go and tell Barnabas Dlamini that we said we dont want to overthrow the King. We want the King to be a constitutional Monarch; we want a government of the people to be elected. The King will have his own role as the King of Swaziland (Eswatini), but running the country will not be one of those roles, said Masuku. The crowd exploded into cheering and whistling as he made the statement. Subsequent to that, there was a backlash and some members of the organisation felt Masuku was deviating from the stand of the organisation on such a matter. He was later defended by the then SG Sikhumbuzo Phakathi, who stated that the president was pronouncing a policy position of the organisation at that time. In a letter addressed to the Editor of the Times of Eswatini dated May 9, 2011, Phakathi stated categorically that when the president of the organisation proclaims on policy issues he speaks the views of the movement.

compatibility

In the last General Congress of 2011, while the discussion document raised sharply the relevance of the institution of the monarchy in modern Swaziland and its compatibility with democratic institutions, delegates did not finalise the discussion, save to say there must be scientific research into the popularity and relevance of the institution. This being the case, positions held by the movement prior to the congress stands. Until PUDEMO resolves otherwise, the official position of the movement will remain that which the president proclaimed.

The first NEC meeting of February 2011 sitting after congress reiterated that PUDEMO calls for a constitutional monarchy, wherein this institution will not play any part in the politics of the country; with governance left in the hands of a democratically elected government. Therefore Mr Editor, President Mario Masuku speaks for PUDEMO and what he says in public are never his views but those of PUDEMO, unless he expressly indicates they are his views alone, said Phakathi in the letter.

He said PUDEMO was fully behind the statement made by Masuku regarding the Monarch. A large number of members criticised Masukus speech and some wrote letters to the editor sounding their dissatisfaction. PUDEMO, known as Insika Yenkhululeko YemaSwati in siSwati, grew to become an opposition party after unbanning itself. The organisation is currently under the leadership of Mlungisi Makhanya. Former UNESWA Lecturer Joshua Mzizi, in his study reflected that the formation of PUDEMO was the turning point for local politics and it influenced other organisations to come to the light.

objectives

The rise of PUDEMO in 1983 was followed by the formation of other smaller parties. The Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) was founded by an exiled prince in London and later aligned its objectives with those of PUDEMO. It is historically correct that the formation of PUDEMO was precipitated by the factional fighting in the royal palace, and especially the role of Liqoqo. It is significant to note that the founding members of PUDEMO were students and members of the intelligentsia and the working class. Mass protests against the Liqoqo system of governance and the quick response of state machinery to condemn PUDEMO by rounding up its key leaders, resulted in the popularisation of PUDEMO, he said.

In our last week publication, veteran activist and founding member of PUDEMO Mphandlana Shongwe made a startling revelation that the country was running a risk of losing its identity if the King was to be totally deposed with culture, traditions and the institution of the monarchy. Shongwe advised that the Monarch should lead the political reforms to protect the nations cultural heritage and traditions. If there is one issue that has been left unattended or explained in our pursuit for democracy, it is the issue of culture and its traditional apparatus.

foundations

We have been preoccupied by the ever changing paradigm shift and left some issues in deep grey areas. In PUDEMO we believe in culture and traditions and in our founding documents and principles, we acknowledge the significance of this. We are, therefore, on record and we are saying it clearly that our stance and position on this issue is that culture and tradition shall be subjected to democratic principles. Cultural and traditional practices that are not in line with democratic foundations shall be done away with, said Shongwe. Shongwe mentioned that his political organisation, PUDEMO, was not against culture and tradition but was calling for the identity of emaSwati to be preserved so the country could have a lasting image in the world. However, his organisation responded in our daily publications and said they were waiting for him to return from Canada so he could explain properly what his statement meant.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16 : The Kerala unit of CPI has called for an open alliance with the Congress at the national level during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Kerala delegation was speaking at the 24th All India Congress of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Vijayawada.

The delegates from the Kerala unit, including Agriculture Minister P. Prasad and the editor of the party's mouthpiece 'Janayugam', Rajaji Mathew Thomas, called for an alliance with the Congress at the national level during the 2024 Lok sabha elections.

Stating that the alliance must take place much before the elections are announced, the delegates said that alliances with regional parties must also be stitched up ahead of the polls.

Thomas said a credible alternative to the BJP can be formed only through such measures. The CPI leaders also said that there should be open alliances and not hide-and-seek games which the CPI-M was playing.

Meanwhile, the organisational report of the party has pointed to the low presence of youth in the CPI.

The CPI is also taking steps to enforce strict measures on the upper-age limit for party office-bearers, pitching for 75 as the cut-off age.
Bhopal, Oct 16 : Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and the state Congress chief Kamal Nath on Sunday joined 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Karnataka's Bellary on Sunday.

The former Chief Minister was accompanied by his son Nakul Nath, who is a Member of Parliament from Chhindwara.

At Bellary airport, Kamal Nath was welcomed by Congress workers and later he joined the yatra led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Kamal Nath walked with Rahul Gandhi for the yatra and later he met Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, who is one of the convenors of the yatra.

After participating in the yatra, the Madhya Pradesh Congress chief said, "I am overwhelmed to see the enthusiasm, love and the affection of thousands of people present for this journey." The ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' would reach Madhya Pradesh tentatively by end of November or in the beginning of December, for which the state Congress has made an elaborate plan to welcome the participants of the yatra.

The Madhya Pradesh Congress has planned to carry as many as 17 sub-yatras from all 230 assembly seats in the state, and these sub-yatras would meet with the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' when it reaches Burhanpur district in the state.

The state Congress leadership is all set to use the opportunity to launch its assembly poll campaign. The state elections will be held in December 2023.

Though the yatra would cover seven districts (around 66 assembly seats), the state unit of the party has planned to make the presence of the yatra felt in all the 230 assembly seats.

The 17 sub-yatras will cover a total of 6,440 km in 35 days.
London, Oct 16 : Jeremy Hunt has insisted that Liz Truss is still in charge despite her premiership looking increasingly in peril, as he warned of further public spending cuts and failed to rule out more U-turns on her disastrous mini-budget, a media report said.

The new UK chancellor, now widely seen as the most powerful man in the government since he took over from the sacked Kwasi Kwarteng, has buried a series of flagship policies that brought Truss to power, The Guardian reported.

"The Prime Minister is in charge," he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, even though her authority has been seriously undermined by her decision to allow him to tear up her economic agenda in a bid to calm the markets and mutinous Tory MPs, the report said.

Hunt claimed that the Prime Minister had changed, as he defended her credibility as leader.

Asked why people should trust what she or the government said, he replied: "Because she's listened. She's changed. She's been willing to do that most difficult thing in politics, which is to change tack. What we're going to do is to show not just what we want, but how we're going to get there." However, the former health secretary appeared to rule out any future tilt at the Tory leadership, saying his desire to lead the party had been "clinically excised" thanks to previous failed attempts.

"I think having run two leadership campaigns, and by the way failed in both of them, the desire to be leader has been clinically excised from me," he said. "I want to be a good chancellor. It's going to be very, very difficult. But that's what I'm focusing on." Hunt and Truss are meeting in her Chequers residence on Sunday with tax rises and spending cuts on the horizon, and the new chancellor admitting that "difficult decisions" are coming over the next two weeks, before the new budget on October 31.

"Actions speak louder than words," he said, as he promised to reassure the markets, The Guardian reported.

Truss has already been forced into a humiliating climbdown on her plans for a top 45p rate tax cut and a freeze in corporation tax, which will now go from 19 per cent to 25 per cent.
Bengaluru, Oct 16 : BJP General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh said on Sunday that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is nothing more than Rahul Gandhi's 'morning and evening walk', which is being used to attack the ruling BJP in Karnataka.

Speaking to the media in Hubballi, the senior BJP leader said that instead of uniting India, the Yatra is more about uniting Karnataka Congress leaders D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.

Singh also shot down Congress' '40 per cent commission' campaign against the BJP government in Karnataka as a political stunt.

"Let them complain to the Lokayukta if they have any evidence of corruption," he said.

Complimenting Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's government for its pro-people approach to development, Singh said that the state had witnessed teacher recruitment scam, killing of Hindus, and the rise of the PFI during Congress rule.

He also said the BJP would fight the 2023 Assembly polls in Karnataka on the development issue and the benefits of a double-engine 'sarkar' at the Centre and in the state.
Gujarat makes up mind to give mandate to AAP, says Punjab CM Image Source: IANS News

Gujarat makes up mind to give mandate to AAP, says Punjab CM Image Source: IANS News

Gujarat makes up mind to give mandate to AAP, says Punjab CM Image Source: IANS News

Bhavnagar : , Oct 16 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday asserted that the people of Gujarat have made up their minds to give mandate in favour of AAP by ousting BJP from power.

Addressing a gathering in Gujarat's Bhavnagar, the Punjab Chief minister said that the winds of change blowing in favour of AAP have transformed into storm.

Lashing out against the Congress, Mann said that the party vociferously raising the issue of change in Gujarat but "this party has been reduced to 'MLA Exchange Party' as most of its MLAs are being pouched by other parties".

Slamming the BJP for the "miserable condition of the common man" in the state, Mann said that the saffron party is "responsible for plundering the wealth of the people".

The Chief Minister added that the people of Gujarat are confronting same problems as were witnessed in Punjab prior to 2022 polls.

He said that Gujarat is facing severe agriculture crisis; schools and hospitals are in shambles and the situation of roads are in pitiable situation, a situation which was in Punjab before 2022 polls.

Mann said that the situation can change only if the AAP is voted to power.

Further, listing several initiatives of the AAP government in Punjab, he said that from July 1 onwards, the Punjab government has provided 600 units of free power to people in every bill cycle.

As a result of this around 50 lakh households out of total 72.66 lakh (in Punjab), which was roughly 68.71 per cent of total, have got "zero power bill" in the month of September.

Likewise, Mann said that more than 17,000 government jobs have been given to the youth in last six months.

The Chief Minister said that his government is against the exploitative contractual system of jobs and they had started process of regularising services of more than 30,000 contractual employees in Punjab.

Mann said that he has launched anti-corruption helpline after which corrupt elements are being put behind the bars. He asserted that "only an honest government can take such path-breaking and pro-people initiatives".

Further to tackle the menace of stray cattle efficaciously, the Punjab government is strengthening the Gau Sewa Commission, Mann added.

He elaborated that the motive is to reduce the fatalities due to the accidents caused by stray cattle and to ensure proper upkeeps of cows.

Mann said that efforts are afoot to ensure judicious utilisation of cow cess for welfare of cattle.
Washington, Oct 16 : Chinas rollout of thousands of 5G base stations throughout its far-western Xinjiang region has raised suspicion that the technology will not be used for economic development but for enhanced digital surveillance of Uyghurs and other Muslims, experts say, media reports said.

The build-out in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is part of a nationwide expansion of the fifth-generation, or 5G, technology standard for broadband cellular networks that mobile phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019. China is rolling out 5G to further digitize its economy and society, RFA reported.

With an area of 642,800 square kilometers (248,200 square miles), Xinjiang has the largest land area of all the provinces and autonomous regions in China, though most of the vast region consists of uninhabited deserts and mountains.

Xinjiang's regional capital Urumqi (in Chinese, Wulumuqi) was one of China's first cities to adopt 5G technology in October 2019, followed by a network rollout that covered other urban areas in prefecture-level cities.

The 5G network rollout across the entire region will augment an existing pervasive digitized system that monitors the movement of residents through surveillance drones, facial recognition cameras, mobile phone scans as part of China's efforts to control the predominantly Muslim population, experts said, RFA reported.

China has built more than 30,000 5G base stations in Xinjiang, adding another roughly 10,000 this year at a cost of 1.65 billion yuan (U.S. $230 million), according to an October 10 report by state-run Tianshan Net-Xinjiang Daily, the official news website of Xinjiang.

There are nearly a dozen 5G base stations for every 10,000 people in the region with a total population of roughly 12 million, the report said. All prefecture-level urban areas and county urban areas, and 90.5 percent of townships and towns, now have 5G network coverage.

"The 5G network will further deepen the coverage of counties and townships, and 'county and county access to 5G' will further consolidate the foundation of digital Xinjiang," the report said.

China has used digital technology to monitor and censor Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in Xinjiang, amassing huge amounts of data from cell phones, personal computers, and security cameras to impose political and social control of the Muslim groups.

For years, Chinese authorities have subjected Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Xinjiang to arbitrary arrests and restrictions on their religious practice and culture, RFA reported.
New Delhi, Oct 16 : The Indian Premier League (IPL) has asked the ten franchises to submit their list of retained players by November 15 with the upcoming mini-auction likely to be held in the third week of December.

Unlike the mega auction last year, when two new franchises were added and the old teams could retain a maximum of four players, there is no such cap for the mini-auction ahead of IPL 2023.

During the upcoming mini-auction, the teams will get extra Rs 5 crore, in addition to the money left over from the previous auction, to spend which will make the overall auction purse Rs 95 crore, an ESPNcricinfo report said.

Notably, Punjab Kings had the largest purse left - Rs 3.45 crore - after last year's auction, while Lucknow Super Giants had exhausted their entire purse. Chennai Super Kings had Rs 2.95 crore remaining, followed by Royal Challengers Bangalore (Rs 1.55 crore), Rajasthan Royals (Rs 0.95 crore) and Kolkata Knight Riders (Rs 0.45 crore).

On the other hand, defending champions Gujarat Titans were left with Rs 0.15 crore while three teams - Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals - had Rs 0.10 crore.

Despite franchises having smaller purses, mini-auctions have produced some of the most expensive buys in the past seasons and the likes of Ben Stokes along with his England team-mate Sam Curran and Australia all-rounder Cameron Green are some of the overseas players, who are expected to attract the biggest bids if they enter the auction this year.

Meanwhile, three teams - CSK, DC and LSG - bought only seven overseas players at the previous auction, so they could be on the lookout to fill up the last spot while other teams could release one or more of their overseas players to create vacancies and increase their purses.

A total of six franchises had brought in injury replacements -- Adam Milne replaced by Matheesha Pathirana (CSK), Tymal Mills replaced by Tristan Stubbs (MI), Nathan Coulter-Nile replaced by Corbin Bosch (RR), Mark Wood replaced by Andrew Tye (LSG), Alex Hales replaced by Aaron Finch (KKR) and Jason Roy replaced by Rahmanullah Gurbaz (GT) during IPL 2022.

All these teams will now have to decide whether to retain the replacement player or the original player, or both provided the player limit allows.
Visakhapatnam, Oct 16 : The situation in the port city of Visakhapatnam remained tense for a second day on Sunday as the police barred Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader and actor Pawan Kalyan from holding meetings or rallies.

The JSP leader, who was issued notice by the police, remained in Novotel hotel near the beach while a large number of his followers gathered outside the hotel to catch a glimpse of the star.

Pawan Kalyan waved at the crowd from the sixth floor of the hotel where he is staying.

"Hope, AP police won't tell me not to greet from my room's window," tweeted Pawan, who posted a video of the view from his room.

"Our beloved AP police under the Eminent Leadership of CM Sri Thanos barred me not to hold Jana Sena programs, no rallies, no meetings. Left me with this option only... from my room window," read another tweet by the actor.

"A thought just crossed my mind... am I allowed to go for an evening walk on RK beach to take some fresh air," he wrote.

Tension gripped the city since Saturday evening when convoys of state minister R.K. Roja and some other leaders of ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) were attacked by a mob at Visakhapatnam airport. The incident occurred when a large number of Jana Sena supporters gathered to welcome Pawan Kalyan who was landing in the city while YSRCP leaders were leaving after attending a rally organised by the ruling party in support of three state capitals.

Pawan Kalyan, who is for development of Amaravati as the only state capital, arrived in Visakhapatnam on a three-day visit for a 'Janavani' programme aimed at receiving grievances from people of north Andhra region.

After landing at the airport, Pawan Kalyan left for the hotel in a rally attended by hundreds of his party workers and fans. The police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the participants and allegedly forced Pawan Kalyan not to stand on his vehicle to wave at the crowd.

Since Saturday evening, Pawan Kalyan remained confined to the hotel. Large number of policemen were deployed outside the hotel to control JSP workers and the actor's fans who had reached there.

The actor-politician was served a notice by the police on Sunday directing him not to address any meeting or rally in view of the prohibitory orders. The police also blamed him for the incident that occurred at the airport.

Pawan Kalyan, however, denied this and slammed the police for their high-handed behaviour.

The police have booked 28 leaders and workers of Jana Sena in connection with the attack on the minister and YSRCP leaders. On a complaint by minister Roja's assistant, the police registered a case. He alleged that 300 workers of Jana Sena resorted to the attack.

The police registered another case for the damage caused to government vehicles and property.

Tata Rao, Shiva Prasad Reddy and other leaders have been arrested. S. Vijay Kumar and P.V.S.S. Raju, who were staying in Novotel hotel, were also arrested. The police also searched the sixth floor of the hotel where Pawan is staying.
Islamabad, Oct 16 : PTI chief Imran Khan was leading on six out of the seven National Assembly seats he is contesting after polling concluded on Sunday, as per unofficial results, media reports said.

Results continue to pour in after the end of polling for by-elections on eight National Assembly seats and three Punjab Assembly seats amid reports of sporadic violence and clashes across the country, The News reported.

According to unofficial results received so far, PTI was in the lead on six NA seats -- Mardan, Charsadda, Karachi-Lorangi, Peshawar, Nankana Sahib and Faisalabad -- while PPP was leading in Karachi's Malir and Multan.

Meanwhile, Khan's party was ahead in two constituencies of the Punjab Assembly - Khanewal and Bahawalnagar - while PML-N was in the first position in Sheikupura.

The country witnessed intense political activity as the polling started at 8 am and continued peacefully in some constituencies, with sporadic clashes in others. Scores of candidates contested for the seats up for grabs across the country.

Among the contenders is former Prime Minister Khan who is running for seven of the eight seats in the by-election.

The vote, he says, is a "referendum" on his popularity, The News reported.

As the polling process started, Khan asked the people in relevant constituencies to come out in large numbers to vote.

"This is a referendum for Haqiqi Azadi from the cabal of crooks. We are contesting against all of PDM, the Election Commission and 'namaloom afraad'," Khan said in a tweet.
San Francisco, Oct 16 : Meta said on Sunday that the video shared by The Wire, which purportedly shows an internal Instagram system, appears to have been "set up specifically in order to manufacture evidence to support The Wire's inaccurate reporting".

In an update, the social network said that the video, which The Wire claims is evidence that their false allegations are true, in fact depicts an externally-created Meta Workplace account "that was deliberately set up with Instagram's name and brand insignia in order to deceive people".

Meta said in a blog post that this is an ongoing investigation and "we will update as it unfolds".

"We have located the Workplace account in question, and found that it was created on October 13 - after The Wire's news reports were initially published," claimed Meta.

The account was set up externally as a free trial account on Meta's enterprise Workplace product under the name 'Instagram' and using the Instagram brand as its profile picture.

"It is not an internal account," said the company.

Meta said it locked the account because it is "in violation of our policies and is being used to perpetuate fraud and mislead journalists".

Earlier, Meta (formerly Facebook) said that while it is legitimate for them to be held accountable for their content decisions, "the allegations made by The Wire are false" and the screenshots of two emails from Meta employee used in the story are "fake".
MBABANE  Members of Parliament (MPs) can address His Majestys powers.

They can only amend the Kings powers through a Bill introduced at a joint sitting of Senate and House, with three-quarters of the membership passing it. After passing the Bill, the King is not allowed to assent it unless it has been taken to a referendum for voting. There are 103 parliamentarians, meaning 68 MPs would have to pass the Bill before referring it to the people. According to Section 245 of the supreme law, Parliament may amend any provision of the Constitution by introduction of a Bill expressly providing that it shall be altered as proposed in that proposed legislation.

powers

However, it is provided in law that the Monarchs powers should be treated as specially entrenched provisions. These are Sections 4, 5, 7 (2), 7 (3), 8(2), 9, 10 and 11. Specially entrenched clause or entrenched clause of basic law or Constitution is a provision that makes certain amendments either more difficult or impossible to pass. Overriding an entrenched clause may require a supermajority, referendum or the consent of the minority party in cases where there is partisan democracy. On Tuesday, the Times of Eswatini quoted Prince Mhlabuhlangene to have said that the Monarch is a no-go area for parliamentarians as their powers are limited to government matters. Legal experts advised this newspaper that the chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) meant the Monarchs powers or prerogatives could not be addressed or altered, if not amended, through motions, speeches, oral questions, statements, point of privileges or point or clarifications or be criticised in the chambers in violation of the Constitution, which has prescribed procedure for MPs to raise royal issues.

immunity limited

The prince is said to have told chiefs at a meeting held at Piggs Peak Hotel and Casino that government was separate from the Monarch, with the authority of the MPs ending at government level. He reportedly pointed out that the lawmakers could say anything about government, but not the Monarch, as their immunity was limited. He also talked about certain treasonous statements. He said it was wrong of the MPs to use the forum in Parliament to criticise the King. In an interview yesterday, the prince said he was not individualising the issue but was simply referring to the institution of the monarchy. I was also talking about the institution called government, not individuals in government, he said. Prince Mhlabuhlangane was talking about the Monarch with a y (monarchy), referring to its institution, not necessarily delving into the King.

He said the institution of the monarchy is not the King, but His Majesty is part of the institution of the monarchy, which he also happens to lead. The EBC chairman advised emaSwati to draw a line of demarcation between popular sovereignty (mostly republics) and monarchical sovereignty (kingdoms). He said these two sovereignties functioned differently. He said power in a popular sovereignty was constituent-based (bottom-top) wherein the president derived it from the masses. In a monarchical sovereignty, he said it was top-bottom as guided by Section 12 and 79 of the Constitution. Reads Section 12: The King and Ngwenyama shall upon his installation as King and Ngwenyama take and subscribe an oath for the due execution of his office in accordance with Swazi law and custom. On the other hand, Section 79: The system of government for Swaziland is a democratic, participatory, Tinkhundla-based system which emphasises devolution of State power from central government to Tinkhundla areas and individual merit as a basis for election or appointment to public office.

strengthened powers

The Times SUNDAY has learnt how the MPs can address the Kings powers. They can even reduce or strengthened his powers. Pertaining to the powers of His Majesty and Her Majesty, Section 246 of the Constitution requires three-quarters of all the members of the two chambers to pass the Bill. Reads Section 246 (1): Where a Bill in terms of this chapter contains provision for amending any of the specially entrenched provisions of this Constitution as set out in subsection (2), the Bill shall not be passed at the joint sitting unless it is supported on its final reading by the votes of not less than three-quarters of all the members of the two chambers. Say both chambers pass the Bill, the presiding officers shall not present it to the King for assent until it has been approved by a majority of all votes validly cast at a referendum. Only people registered as voters at the time of the referendum are eligible to cast the votes.

Reads Section 246 (3); Where a Bill in terms of this section has been duly passed at a joint sitting, that Bill shall not be presented to the King for assent unless it is approved by a simple majority of all votes validly cast at a referendum in such manner as may be prescribed, at which every person who at the time of the referendum is registered as a voter for purposes of the elected members of the House shall be entitled to vote. It must be said that the royal prerogatives which MPs can amend through the tabling of the Bill refer to the office of the King and Ingwenyama as enshrined in Section 4. This is the section in which the King and Ingwenyama of Eswatini is lawfully declared as a hereditary Head of State. His powers and prerogatives as commander-in chief of the defence force, commissioner-in-chief of the police service and commissioner-in-chief of the correctional services are contained in Section 4 of the Constitution.

succession

Section 5 is about succession to the Throne, while Section 7(2) refers to the powers of Indlovukazi as Queen Regent, with Section 7 (3) as read with Section 8(2) address powers of the senior prince (umntfwanenkhosi lomkhulu). Section 9, which the MPs could amend through the Bill, refers to the Kings civil list, wherein it is provided that the King and Ingwenyama shall be paid such emoluments and shall have such civil list as may be prescribed. It is stated that any remuneration prescribed under Section 9 shall be charged or paid out of the Consolidated Fund and shall not be reduced during the continuance of King and Ingwenyama.

According to legal experts, Section 9 (2) can be amended through the Bill, but the MPs or nation at large cannot reduce the Monarchs pay as long as he is the King and Ingwenyama.

Lomahasha MP Ndumiso Masimula said were to embrace what the EBC chairman talked about in Piggs Peak if he was referring to the Head of State in his capacity as Ingwenyama.

MP Masimula, a teacher by profession, said Ingwenyama is above law; hence it could be really impractical to alter his powers in that capacity. Nonetheless, he mentioned that the institution of the monarchy, in his understanding, is different from Ingwenyama; meaning that they could address it in Parliament. He said the institution of the monarchy, in actual fact, referred to the people whose welfare should be addressed by Parliament. One MP who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity said the King should not be elevated to the status of a dictator as the Constitution made it clear how his powers should be amended. In November 2021, Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation talked about the importance of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

mandate

In his statement which he made after meeting His Majesty King Mswati III at Lozitha, Ramaphosa said: The process towards the national dialogue will take into account and incorporate structures and processes enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini, including the role of the Parliament of the Kingdom, and the Sibaya convened by His Majesty King Mswati III. Benedict Xaba, the Clerk to Parliament, said the mandate of Parliament was clear as it bordered on representation, oversight and legislation in line with the Constitution.

Xaba said Parliament procedures and Standing Orders did not allow the parliamentarians to criticise the King inside and outside the chambers in his capacity as Ingwenyama. However, he mentioned that the Parliament worked in conjunction with His Majesty the King in enacting laws and governance of the country. In a nutshell, he said Parliament is guided by the Constitution and Standing Orders in passing laws.
Chandigarh, Oct 16 : The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Sunday arrested former state minister Sunder Sham Arora, who recently switched loyalties from the Congress to the BJP, for offering Rs 50 lakh bribe to an assistant inspector general (AIG) of the bureau.

A trial court later sent him to police remand till October 19.

The VB also recovered Rs 50 lakh from his possession.

Arora, who has been facing charges of disproportionate assets and irregularities during his tenure as industries minister in the previous Congress government, is the third former minister of the last regime to be arrested after the AAP came to power in Punjab.

Earlier, the VB had arrested former ministers Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and Bharat Bhushan Ashu in different cases.

Vigilance Bureau Chief Director Varinder Kumar told the media that an FIR under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered on Saturday against Arora based on the statement of AIG Manmohan Kumar.

He said the AIG lodged a complaint that Arora met him on October 14 and offered him Rs 1 crore for getting favour in a vigilance enquiry registered against him.

The vigilance chief said the former minister had offered to pay Rs 50 lakh on October 15, while the balance amount was to be paid at a later date.
Bengaluru, Oct 16 : Reacting to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement that only people having money will get jobs in Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Sunday that details of corruption during the Congress regime in the state will be sent to him along with full statistics.

Talking to reporters at KR Pet in Mandya district, Bommai said Rahul Gandhi may either be suffering from selective amnesia or the state Congress leaders have not briefed their leader properly.

"The amount of corruption in recruitment that took place during the Congress regime has never happened in any other state. The incumbent government has ordered inquiry into the leakage of question papers pertaining to the recruitment of police constables and PU exams. Details of the probe will be sent to Rahul Gandhi. Let him see the amount of corruption that took place when his party was in power in the state and then talk," Bommai said.

Reacting to Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah's statement that the Congress will return to power in Karnataka after next year's elections, Bommai said, "In 2018, Siddaramaiah had said that his party would certainly come to power. But what happened? The total number of seats won by the Congress came down to 79 from 127. The former CM had said B.S. Yediyurappa and H.D. Kumaraswamy would not become Chief Ministers, but both of them served as the CM for one term. We will request Siddaramaiah to repeat his remarks as it will help the BJP," Bommai said.

Karnataka will go to the polls in the first half of 2023, and the two principal parties -- Congress and BJP -- have begun their preperations in earnest.

Rahul Gandhi is currently traversing through the state as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, while the ruling BJP has launched its Jana Sankalpa Yatra.
Guwahati, Oct 17 : A leopard was beaten to death in Assam's Golaghat district after it attacked three villagers, officials said. The incident happened on Saturday at Dusutimukh village in the Khumtai area of the district.

The villagers claimed that the leopard was causing terror for the last few days and on Saturday it attacked three locals while they were going to a paddy field to feed their cattle.

The injured persons have been identified as Bitopan Doley (15), Lalit Doley (45) and Malay Medak (20).

According to the forest department, the officials went to the village to catch the leopard but before that, a few villagers launched an attack on the animal with machete, axe and sticks, which caused the death of the leopard.

Later, the forest officials recovered the carcass of the leopard.

The body of the dead leopard has been sent for post-mortem to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC).

Notably, a few days ago, another leopard had caused rampage in the Mahbandha tea estate in Jorhat district. That time, following complaints by the locals, the forest department was able to capture the leopard and release it into the forest.
New Delhi, Oct 17 : In what could be a Diwali bonanza for millions of farmers, the government will release Rs 16,000 crore under the 12th installment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on Monday through direct benefit transfer, which is expected to benefit 10 crore farmers.

The installment amount will be released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday during the inauguration of the "PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022" at Indian Agricultural Research Institute here.

IANS had reported on October 13 that the government could release the 12th instalment amount within a week.

"In a reflection of the continued commitment of the Prime Minister towards welfare of the farmers, during the event, Prime Minister will release the 12th instalment amount of Rs 16,000 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) through Direct Benefit Transfer. Under the scheme, eligible farmer families are provided a benefit of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each. So far, eligible farmer families have received benefits of more than Rs 2 lakh crore under PM-KISAN," a statement issued by the Prime Minister's office said.

The Prime Minister also tweeted about this on his Twitter handle late on Sunday evening.

Till now the government has disbursed 11 installments to farmers under the scheme.

Farmers however have often complained that the amount doesn't reach them due to several technical glitches related to online transfer of installments.

To ensure that the amount reaches them, the farmers have to complete e-KYC formalities.

The installments are transferred to Aadhar linked bank accounts of farmers.

Meanwhile during the event, the Prime Minister will launch 'Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana - One Nation One Fertilizer' scheme. Under the scheme he will also launch Bharat Urea Bags, Bharat Urea Bags, which will help companies market fertilizers under the single brand name "Bharat".
New Delhi, Oct 17 : The Forum of Academics for Social Justice has urged the Delhi University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh to not charge admission and tuition fee from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students during the time of admission process.

According to the forum, DU's Academic Council had on June 12, 1981, decided to waive the tuition fee, admission fee and other fee for those students belonging to SC and ST community taking admission in various departments and colleges affiliated to the university, whose parents do not come under the category of paying income tax. Despite this, the rule is not followed by any college department in DU at the time of admissions.

All SC and ST students are still charged tuition fees, admission fees etc at the time of admissions. Special cells as well as grievance committee are formed in colleges only for the sake of it, however no work is being done in the interest of such reserved category students.

The teachers' forum has also demanded that the data of the last five years should be provided by all DU colleges to see that how many colleges have waived the admission fees and tuition fees of SC and ST students.

Forum Chairman Hansraj Suman has told that this decision of the Academic Council of DU in 1981 was implemented by the colleges and various departments for several years, but later this scheme was scrapped. The colleges and departments did not give any information to the university about when and why the colleges closed this scheme or why SC and ST students are not availing benefits under this scheme.

Suman said that the Special Cell of DU had sent a circular regarding admission fee, tuition fee to SC/ST students on September 9, 2015 to the heads of all departments, principals of colleges and deans of faculties. But for the last seven years, no college takes this letter seriously and in every academic session, fees and other charges are taken from such reserved category students at the time of admission.

By writing a letter to the DU Vice-Chancellor, the Forum has demanded that the circular should be issued in the academic session 2022--23 in the same way as the letter was sent to the colleges on September 9, 2015 and after that on June 15, 2018 so that SC/ST students will not be charged any admission or tuition fee during admissions.
Ankara, Oct 17 : Five prosecutors were appointed to investigate an underground coal mine explosion that killed 41 workers in northern Turkey, the country's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said.

"I would like to express clearly to the public that this incident will be investigated and clarified in all its aspects. No matter how many questions there are, they will all be answered," he added on Sunday.

Eleven others were injured and hospitalised in the explosion, which occurred 300 metre below ground on Friday at the Amasra Hard Coal Enterprise in Amasra town, state and local officials said.

If there is any negligence, fault, or deficiency, the law will do what is necessary, the Turkish Minister emphasized.

Bozdag said it was not possible to detect evidence inside the mine at present as the cooling works have not yet been completed, but promised that all requirements of the investigation will be meticulously fulfilled in the next period, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, all the operations at the mine have been suspended until further notice and the teams continued to fight the fire in parts of the site, the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez told reporters.

Initial findings indicate the blast was caused by firedamp, he said.
Tehran, Oct 17 : An Iranian commander has said that Iran has increased the operational range of the Bavar-373 surface-to-air missile defence system to 300 km, state media reported.

The upgrade to the homegrown system was proportional to threats and Iran has tested the system at the new range, Iranian Army's Air Defence Force Commander Alireza Sabahi-Fard said on Sunday at a military academy in the capital Tehran.

In August 2019, Iran unveiled the domestically designed and manufactured mobile defence system with an operational range of 200 km to intercept incoming hostile targets, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We are monitoring the enemies at their bases. The range of our radars is thousands of kilometres," the Iranian commander was quoted by state media as saying.

The missile system has two detection and engagement radars that can withstand electronic warfare and electromagnetic bombs. In addition, the radars are capable of detecting anti-radiation missiles that are used to confront air defences.

Employing missiles that have a maximum range of 300 km, the system is capable of detecting and targeting the enemies' aircraft beyond the Iranian borders, detect up to 300 targets at the same time, track 60 targets, and engage six targets.
Tehran, Oct 17 : The Iranian Foreign Ministry has said that US President Joe Biden meddled in Iran's "state matters" by supporting "riots" in the country, state media reported.

"On Saturday, Biden interfered for the umpteenth time in Iran's state matters by supporting the riots as he has done ever since the outbreak of recent developments in Iran," the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani was quoted as saying by state media on Sunday.

Iran has not given in to the US "cruel sanctions and idle threats" and will be unfazed by its interventionist policies and the futile campaign, Kanaani added.

Earlier on Saturday, Biden said he "was surprised by the courage of the people taking to the streets in protest in Iran." Protests broke out across Iran following the death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini on September 16 at a hospital in the capital Tehran after police custody, Xinhua news agency reported.

"You (US officials) are accustomed to fishing in troubled waters. Since the 1953 coup until today, the anti-Iranian policies by the US government have been well recorded in our minds," Kanaani said.
Tyler Weitzman, Co-Founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app on iOS and Google Chrome, has been accepted into the Forbes Business Council, the foremost growth and networking organization for successful business owners and leaders worldwide.

Tyler Weitzman was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

We are honored to welcome Tyler Weitzman into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Business Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.

As an accepted member of the Council, Tyler Weitzman has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum and at members-only events. Tyler Weitzman will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

Finally, Tyler Weitzman will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team.

Im grateful for the invite to Forbes Business Council, said Tyler Weitzman, Im looking forward to joining a vibrant community of founders and thought leaders.

ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive.

To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com.

ABOUT SPEECHIFY

Speechify lets users listen to documents, articles, PDFs, email, and various other formats using text-to-speech, changing the way the world consumes information by letting people listen to anything they normally read on their phone, desktop, or paper book.

For more information, visit speechify.com.
Courtney Poulos ACME Real Estates visionary founder Courtney J.E. Poulos has been making her mark on the industry since 2005.

ACME Real Estates visionary founder Courtney J.E. Poulos has been making her mark on the industry since 2005, and each year, she either breaks another record, earns another award, or smashes another glass ceiling. But like many dynamic leaders, Courtneys success has grown in proportion to two things: her dedication to her craft and her devotion to others. Whether pairing people with the perfect buyer or seller, mentoring her team, or sharing her insights with the world, Courtney turns real estate into a life-transforming experience.

When Courtney founded ACME Real Estate in 2011, she set out to create something unique  a design-savvy lifestyle firm. Backed by a nine-year career in marketing and PR, she began offering a comprehensive service, replete with remodeling, staging, and a full suite of marketing solutions. ACME quickly grew into a phenomenon, attracting top Los Angeles talent and earning Courtney numerous industry awards. She has since become one of the most in-demand Realtors in the country. And now, in partnership with Broker Heather Unger, ACME has expanded her LA-based brokerage into the Florida market, ACME Florida.

Courtney currently co-hosts the real estate podcast Under All is The Land, hosts Season 2 of The American Dream TV, is a former member of the Forbes Real Estate Council, and is a recurring panelist at Inman Connect, Awesome Females in Real Estate, and the California Association of Realtors WomanUP! initiative (where she also emcees). She has even appeared on televisionboth as the host of FYIs My Citys Just Not That Into Me and in season 12 of Bravos Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles. In 2020, Courtney was recognized with the HousingWire Woman of Influence Award. In addition to running ACMEs powerhouse teams in Los Angeles and Florida, Courtney focuses on her main mission, which is empowering women to achieve financial independence through real estate. If she has her way, every woman on the planet will have the tools they need to do just that. Courtney maintains a full slate of speaking engagements and has written the premier book on the subject, Break Up! With Your Rental: The Professional Womans Guide to Building Wealth Through Real Estate, available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and reputable booksellers nationwide.

Visit Courtney Poulos's Haute Residence Profile: https://www.hauteresidence.com/member/courtney-poulos/

ABOUT HAUTE RESIDENCE

Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the worlds most extraordinary residences on the market, and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners. The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts. HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number-one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more.

Access all of this information and more by visiting http://www.hauteresidence.com
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Economy and Planning on Sunday launched a novel economic analysis index, known as MEPX, to monitor the performance of the kingdoms private sector.

MEPX is a leading indicator that has been designed and developed by the ministrys economic analysts to track 10 economic factors classified into four categories, consumers, firms, and the financial and trade sectors. It provides regular, in-depth analysis of the kingdoms private sector business cycles through advanced econometrics techniques.

The insights and analysis gathered by MEPX will enable the ministry to further support the kingdoms economic policymaking and strategies based on emerging data, market trends and fluctuations.

Commenting on the launch of the innovative economic tool, Faisal F Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning, said: The first MEPX business cycle composite index marks an important milestone in our mission to provide accurate, trusted, and transparent economic data and statistics in the kingdom.

As the kingdom records its fastest economic growth in a decade, increasing access to emerging data is crucial to informing pro-growth policymaking as we look to enhance the private sectors contribution to 65 percent of Saudi Arabias GDP by 2030.

He added: MEPX will allow economists, policymakers and business leaders to not only analyse and predict emerging trends but proactively identify short and medium-term growth opportunities to ensure we continue to progress sustainably on our journey of social and economic transformation.

According to the latest World Economic Outlook Report issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October 2022, Saudi Arabia is set to become the worlds fastest growing major economy in 2022, with a growth rate of 7.6%, said the statement. - TradeArabia News Service
Representatives from leading Japanese universities and tertiary education institutions are currently visiting the UAE in efforts to enrol some of the UAEs brightest high school and university graduate students to continue their education in Japan.

The institutions will be participating in one of the UAEs largest higher education events, NAJAH, and will be present at the event in Abu Dhabi held from 16  18 October, 2022 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

Five universities will be participating in person at the event:

 Hiroshima University

 Joshibi University of Art and Design

 Kyoto University of Advanced Science

 Kyushu University

 Nagoya University of Commerce and Business

An additional three universities will be participating online:

 Ritsumeikan University

 The University of Aizu

 Waseda University

The promotional drive is spearheaded by JICE (Japan International Cooperation Center), which has the goal of encouraging Emirati students to develop their academic acumen in Japan, and JICE will be hosting the Japan pavilion at NAJAH Abu Dhabi.

Prospective students and their families will be able to meet with representatives from Japanese educational institutions, both in person and online through dedicated Smart Stands, that connect the students directly to the representatives in Japan.

Emirati students who have previously studied in Japan will also be present at the Japan Pavilion to offer hands-on information and details of their own experiences of studying in Japan, along with JICE Abu Dhabi Office staff members to offer consultation for prospective students and their families.

All eight participating universities at the Japan Pavilion not only provide undergraduate and postgraduate education in the Japanese language, but also offer courses in English, especially in fields that tend to be most popular among UAE students such as aeronautics and space engineering, international relations, biotechnology, robotics, social welfare and commercial science.

Shigeto Aoki, General Manager, JICE Abu Dhabi Office, said: Since the opening of the JICE Abu Dhabi office in 2013, JICE has been supporting Emirati youth to further their education in Japan, where many fields of study are available. Japans leading universities are keen to welcome the UAEs brightest students. Currently 74 Emirati students are studying in Japan, and we hope to increase this number further.-TradeArabia News Service
Export Bahrain can be found representing Bahrain at Gitex 2022, which is currently taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre. It is based at the Bahrain National Pavilion, which is showcasing some of the Kingdoms IT innovations.

The organisations attendance is in accordance with Export Bahrains desire to showcase their services and solutions at the global technology event.

For the second year in a row, Export Bahrain is exploring global IT and technological developments.

According to the company, by keeping abreast of these developments, it can evolve the export solutions it provides to the business sector and explore innovations within technical fields such as e-commerce, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, applications, systems and many others.

Rabab Khalaf, Planning and Market Intelligence, Export Bahrain, said: That their attendance at the Bahrain Pavilion at GITEX is in line with the vision to provide new solutions that contribute to the Kingdoms economy.

These include strategies for increasing exports thereby encouraging growth within the consumer and services industries and plans to raise the competitive quality of Bahraini products and services  to increase their chances of accessing regional and global markets. This is in addition to creating new opportunities for companies based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, being open to global export opportunities and developing unique opportunities for both consumers and corporations, Khalaf added.

Khalaf concluded, That she is working to implement the export solutions drawn up by Export Bahrain. These solutions concern export credit insurance, export shipping and logistics, international retail sales initiative, export consultancy, international trading, international tenders, export facilitation services and export market research. Export Bahrain will also be developing many other ideas with the aim of enabling exporters to benefit from improved export opportunities for various target markets.

The Bahraini delegations participation at GITEX is sponsored by the Tamkeen Labor Fund.

Thirty Bahraini startups and SMEs who specialise in IT and tech are in attendance as well as the Information and eGovernment Authority, the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Bahrain Development Bank and the Hope Fund.

This participation of Bahrani businesses and agencies has been organised by the Bahrain Technology Companies Association (BTECH) for the sixteenth consecutive year. -TradeArabia News Service
Kempinski Hotel Muscat has signed with Oman Food Bank: Dayma to minimise the wastage of food and help create better awareness on the importance of food management, especially within hotels.



It is at the core of Kempinski Hotels to create a sense of responsibility towards a sustainable yet luxurious guest experience that is respectful of the environment. One of the partnerships that Kempinski hotels has formed is with BE Health, which brings hotels under one corporate social responsibility vision: a world where health is contagious.



BE Health's mission is to care for people's health from the workplace to the local community by establishing individual hotel health prevention programmes under the name of BE Health. In this programme, individual hotel objectives are achieved by building capacity through health promotion and prevention and empowering people at the workplace and in local communities through health awareness and promotion so that each will be able to protect themselves.



Oman Food Bank is a non-profit organisation that seeks to help indigent families and meet their food needs. The organisation's vision is to provide a decent life for those in need through successful projects and initiatives within a system that operates efficiently.



Kempinski Hotel Muscats General Manager, Carsten Wiegandt said: Through this partnership and many other similar projects that the team has been involved in, we hope to raise better awareness on how local businesses can contribute to the community that they are operating in.



Five-star hotels produce large quantities of food, especially with a property of our size and the number of outlets, there is much to be donated to people who are in need in different parts of the country. As Oman Food Bank is also looking for additional support, we are delighted to have some of our team members volunteer as well.  TradeArabia News Service
The Georgia midterm elections take place on Tuesday, Nov. 8. All polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day. Early voting begins on Monday, Oct. 17 at 8 a.m and closes on Friday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m., although times may vary depending on polling location.
For incoming freshmen, the list of things necessary to live comfortably in a dorm room can be overwhelming. Some students take the opportunity presented by the plain, albeit often tiny, room to create a new space that they can look forward to coming home from class to every day. For those students who go above and beyond when setting up their living spaces, the University of Georgia's University Housing department organizes an annual Room of the Year competition.
Photographer / Multimedia Editor

Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer.
On Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, a large group of people gathered on the Arch Bridge in Williamsville for a ceremony marking the official opening of the new bridge over the Rock River.
Cairo, Oct 16 (UNI) A new international airport was opened on Sunday in the city of Kirkuk in north Iraq, media reported.

The first plane to land on the runway of the new airport was a government aircraft, carrying Iraqi Transport Minister Nasser al-Shibli and Acting Finance Minister Hayam Nemat, who arrived in Kirkuk for the official opening ceremony, Kurdistan 24 broadcaster reported.

Kirkuk airport meets all international standards and requirements, and will start accepting international flights starting Sunday, according to the Iraqi news agency IRNA.

The airport in Kirkuk was built in the 1970s but was used as an Iraqi military airbase. The airport was actively used by American troops from 2003 to 2011.

Reconstruction of the airport began in 2018 after the Iraqi government forces regained control over Kirkuk, which was previously under the control of Kurdish armed groups.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
The 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which convened in Beijing on Oct. 16 for a week, is expected to grant an unprecedented third five-year term to Xi Jinping, the CCP general secretary and state president. In the run up to the congress, RFA has examined the 69-year-old Xi's decade at the helm of the world's most populous nation in a series of reports on Hong Kong, foreign policy, intellectuals, civil society and rural poverty.

Ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping touted his record in fighting COVID-19 and suppressing political protests in Hong Kong on Sunday, as he launched the CCP's 20th National Congress amid a heavy focus on security and a renewed threat of military force against democratic Taiwan.



Xi, 69, is widely expected to be endorsed by congress delegates for a third term in office, breaking recent party norms and becoming China's most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong.



Xi told delegates to "prepare to stand the major test of turbulent, even stormy waves," warning the nearly 2,300 delegates inside the Great Hall of the People that the next five years would be critical to his attempts to build a "self-confident" China that could hold its own on the world stage.



"Faced with rapid changes in the international situation, particularly external blackmail, containment, blockades, and extreme pressure, we continued to make our national interests and domestic politics the priority," Xi said. "We will maintain strategic focus, carry forward the spirit of struggle, and ... safeguard this country's dignity and core interests."



Xi gave no indication that the centralization of power in the hands of the party leadership would ease any time soon.



"We must uphold and strengthen party leadership in all things," Xi said. "We must take political security as the foundation, economic security as the foundation, and military, technological, cultural and social security as the guarantee," he said.



Xi hailed as successes Chinese policies that have caused friction with the United States and other Western countries, such as the crushing of Hong Kong's democracy movement after 2019 protests in the city, and the intensification of military threats to underscore Beijing's claim of sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan.



He appeared to signal that the authorities would continue to rein in political expression in Hong Kong, saying the Beijing-backed political system installed by the CCP in the now tightly controlled city is still "incomplete," and to insist to the 23 million inhabitants of democratic Taiwan that "unification" under the CCP was the only option.



Ethnic minority members wave national flags as they watch the opening session of the 20th Chinese Communist Party Congress on a screen in Danzhai, in Chinais southwestern Guizhou province, Oct. 16, 2022. Credit: AFP 'Wheels of history'

The Chinese government had turned Hong Kong from chaos to governance, and carried out major struggles against independence forces in Taiwan, Xi said.



Meanwhile, there was more work to do to ensure everyone accepted Xi's personal brand of ideology, he said.



"Some deep-seated systemic ... problems have become apparent; some people lack self-confidence in the socialist political system with Chinese characteristics," Xi told delegates.



"There are many people within party ranks who still have a hazy conception of party leadership ... leading to weak ... implementation," he said.



"Party leadership is the highest political principle," he said, saying the CCP must ensure "unity" among its 96 million members.



He said China would strive for peaceful reunification  but repeated a longstanding threat to the democratic island.



We will never promise to renounce the use of force and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary.



The wheels of history are rolling on towards the unification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Complete unification of our country must be realized, Xi said to long, loud applause from the delegates.



A spokesman for Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen said the island, which has never been ruled by the CCP, nor formed part of the People's Republic of China, is a "sovereign and democratic country."



Attendants serve tea for delegates before the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Oct. 16, 2022. Credit: Reuters 'Lack of new thinking'

Tsai's national security team is closely monitoring the congress, and that the island's 23 million citizens had rejected China's proposed "one country, two systems" model for ruling Taiwan.



"The consensus of the Taiwanese public is that territorial sovereignty, independence and democracy cannot be compromised and that military conflict is not an option for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait," Xavier Chang said in response to Xi's speech, repeating Taiwan's offer of peace talks amid growing military tension. Beijing is unlikely to respond, as it insists on treating Taiwan as a "regional government" rather than agreeing to government-to-government negotiations.



Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) lamented a "lack of new thinking and proper judgment" in Beijing's Taiwan policy.



"The Taiwanese people alone have the right to determine their future, and they will never accept China's proposals ... as outcomes," the MAC said.



Xi used the terms "security" or "safety" 89 times during Sunday's report, up from 55 times in 2017, while his use of the word "reform" declined to 48 from 68 mentions five years ago, Reuters news agency reported.



Analysts told RFA that Xi's keynote speech effectively pointed to a reversal of previous policies and toward harsher political controls.



"This report has only talked about reform and opening up a few times--indeed very few. It mainly replaces reform and opening up with the words of self-confidence and self-improvement," said independent scholar Wen Zhigang.



"Struggle and security are included in this so-called self-confidence and self-improvement," he said Wen. "Struggle seems to have replaced reform, and security has replaced openness.



The congress is widely expected to reconfirm Xi as party general secretary, China's most powerful post, as well as chairman of the Central Military Commission, as well as ushering a new generation of leaders into the 25-member Politburo and its all-powerful standing committee.



Xi's position as president would then be renewed at the annual session of China's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), in March 2023.



A man holds a banner as a small group of exile Tibetans mark the 20th National Congress of China's ruling Communist Party in Beijing with a protest in Dharamshala, India, Oct. 16, 2022. Credit: AP Security

Commentator Hong Lin said Xi's report stressed three dimensions of security.



The first is political security, the second is the state-owned economy, and the third is military-first politics, said Hong.



The content is stark contrast to previous reports, which were typically dominated by economic development, he said.



"How to ensure that their ruling status is not threatened: This is his only direction and the only consensus within the party," added Hong.



Feng Chongyi, associate professor in China Studies at Sydney's University of Technology, agreed.



"The point of all of this talk and propaganda is to get him another term and lifelong tenure," Feng told RFA. "[In reality], he has made a mess of the country's domestic affairs and foreign affairs."



"He is asking the party to give him a chance to do what others couldn't, namely, to bring Taiwan [under Chinese control]," Feng said.



"That's why he insists on taking military risks and making China stronger in the face of opposition from the rest of the world."



Chao Chun-shan, China expert at Tamkang University, said China will always deploy both hard and soft tactics against Taiwan.



"The hardline part is the part about battling so-called Taiwan separatists and external forces [who aid them]," Chao said. "The soft power part is aimed at the people of Taiwan, and consists of economic and cultural exchanges, to win hearts and minds, and offer material incentives."



Chao said there is little in Xi's report to suggest Beijing has decided on a timeframe for a military operation to annex Taiwan.



"He puts unification on the agenda ... but doesn't specifically propose a timetable for it ... so it won't necessarily be during his third term," he said.



Delegates applaud as Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of China's ruling Communist Party held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Oct. 16, 2022. Credit: AP 'Bridge Man'

In a speech that critics said glossed over the economic damage and public anger sparked by the CCP's "zero-COVID" policies of lockdowns and quarantines, Xi reiterated his intention to stay the course.



"We have adhered to the supremacy of the people and the supremacy of life, adhered to dynamic zero-COVID ... and achieved major positive results in the overall prevention and control of the epidemic, and economic and social development," Xi said.



Beijing saw a rare public protest against Xi's leadership, with a man nicknamed "Bridge Man" detained after posting banners on a traffic overpass calling for his removal and protesting lockdowns and mass COVID-19 testing under the zero-COVID policy.



Photos published to Twitter by U.K.-based rights activist Wang Jianhong on Sunday showed toilet graffiti in the northern city of Xi'an calling on Xi to step down, with similar scrawls protesting the zero-COVID policy on a bus top, a bicycle recharge station and on the windows of vehicles in the city.



"Xi Jinping, your dad wants you to get off at the next stop," one message read, in a satirical reference to Xi's father, veteran revolutionary Xi Zhongxun.



RFA was unable to verify the existence of the graffiti, which social media comments said were inspired by the Bridge Man's protest, independently.



U.S.-based rights activist Zhou Fengsuo, who founded the group Humanitarian China, said the Sitong Bridge protest was "inspiring."



"The most inspiring thing about it was that this act took place, despite all of China's digital totalitarianism and hierarchical monitoring, right at the heart of things, in Beijing, a place of huge influence and historic significance," Zhou said.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie and Paul Eckert.
KYIV -- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared that Ukraine cannot be broken as he cited his countrys fight against the Russian invasion and marked the anniversary of the famine regarded by Ukrainians to be a deliberate act perpetrated by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

"Ukrainians went through very terrible things...Once they wanted to destroy us with hunger -- now, with darkness and cold," Zelenskiy said on November 26 in a video message.

"We cannot be broken," he declared.



The prime ministers of EU and NATO members Belgium, Lithuania, and Poland were in Kyiv to mark the day and to attend a summit hosted by Zelenskiy to press the Grain From Ukraine initiative designed to get crucial supplies to world markets. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those speaking through video addresses.



Zelenskiys remarks came amid widespread cuts in power and water supplies in his country after weeks of Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and as temperatures plunge with the beginning of winter.



Zelenskiy and other leaders commemorated the victims of the Holodomor famine, which took place in 1932-33 as Stalin's police forced peasants in Ukraine to join collective farms by requisitioning their grain and other foodstuffs.

Historians say the failure to properly harvest crops in Ukraine in 1932 under Soviet mismanagement was the main cause of the famine.



It is estimated that up to 9 million people died as a result of executions, deportation, and starvation during the Stalin-era campaign.

Many Ukrainians consider the famine an act of genocide aimed at wiping out Ukrainian farmers.



Along with Ukraine, at least 16 other countries have officially recognized the Holodomor as genocide.

In October 2018, the U.S. Senate adopted a nonbinding resolution recognizing that Stalin and those around him committed genocide against the Ukrainians in 1932-33.



German lawmakers are preparing to recognize the Holodomor as genocide, according to a draft text seen by the AFP news agency of a joint resolution from Germany's ruling coalition and opposition.



Moscow has long denied any systematic effort to target Ukrainians, arguing that a poor harvest at the time wiped out many in other parts of the Soviet Union.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that he "honored the memory of the Holodomor victims" at a memorial in the Ukrainian capital.



Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, on his first visit to Kyiv since the Russian invasion, said on Twitter that "after the heavy bombing of recent days, we stand with the people of Ukraine. More than ever before."



"With the cold winter months ahead, Belgium is releasing new humanitarian and military aid," he added.



Zelenskiy told the grain summit that Kyiv is one of the guarantors of world food security and will fulfill its duties despite the Russian invasion, citing the new Grain From Ukraine initiative.



He pressed world leaders to support the initiative aimed at feeding about 5 million people in poor countries, particularly Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Congo, Kenya, and Nigeria.



Speaking through video statements to the summit, Scholz and Macron unveiled new financial packages designed to aid Ukrainian grain exports, which have been hit hard by the war, causing food shortages in many of the worlds poorer nations.



"The most vulnerable countries must not pay the price of a war they did not want," Macron said.



Zelenskiy said the Black Sea Grain Initiative -- brokered by Turkey and the UN and agreed to by Russia and Ukraine -- is not operating at full capacity, blaming what he called Moscow's efforts to delay the movement of ships, leaving many vessels trapped at Ukrainian ports.



The deal took effect in August, aimed at unblocking grain shipments to countries in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.



Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil, and other food to those countries, and Russia was the world's top exporter of fertilizer before it launched its ongoing invasion of Ukraine in February.



Many in the West have accused Russia of weaponizing the shipment of crucial food-related supplies to world markets. Moscow denies the accusations.

Meanwhile, throughout Ukraine, millions of people are still without heat or electricity after the recent devastating Russian air strikes on infrastructure sites.



Authorities on November 26 were gradually restoring power in many cities -- helped by the reconnection to the grid of the nations four nuclear plants.



Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces was reported in the east and south of the country, as Kyivs troops continue their counteroffensive, which has recaptured thousands of kilometers of territory seized by Russia early in the war.

In the recently liberated southern city of Kherson and its environs, authorities said at least 32 people have been killed by Russian shelling since pro-Kremlin forces withdrew two weeks ago and moved to the eastern bank of the Dnieper River.



"Daily Russian shelling is destroying the city and killing peaceful local residents. In all, Russia has killed 32 civilians in the Kherson region since the de-occupation," Ihor Klymenko, chief of the National Police of Ukraine, said on Facebook.



"Many people are evacuating to seek refuge in calmer regions of the country. But many residents remain in their homes, and we need to provide them with the maximum possible security," he added.

With reporting by AFP and AP
Four people were killed in a blaze at a notorious prison in the Iranian capital that houses political prisoners and anti-government protesters, the Iranian judiciary said on October 16.

Irans President Ebrahim Raisi accused his U.S. counterpart of inciting chaos after President Joe Biden for voicing support for the protests that have rocked Iran since a young woman was killed in police custody.

Flames and smoke rising from Tehran's Evin prison had been widely visible in the evening on October 15, as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini entered a fifth week. In online videos, gunshots and explosions could be heard in the area of the prison.

State media originally reported nine people were injured but the judiciary website Mizan.news on October 16 said four inmates died of smoke inhalation and 61 others were injured. It said all four who died were in prison on robbery convictions.

Mizan added that 10 inmates were hospitalized, with four in serious condition. Some prisoners had tried to escape but failed, the website said.

A reporter from Radio Farda was told a riot began on October 15 in Ward 7 of the prison, which is famous for holding political prisoners and was blacklisted by the U.S. government in 2018 for being a place with "serious rights abuses." The ward is next to another area where those detained during the unrest over the death of Amini are being held.

On October 16, state-run TV aired video of what it said was the fire's aftermath, showing scorched walls and ceilings in a room it said was the upper floor of a sewing workshop at the prison.

Tehran Governor Mohsen Mansouri said the fire was caused by a "fight between some prisoners in a sewing workshop."

But many Iranian social media posts challenged state media claims over the cause of the fire and apparent explosions at the prison.

The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell expressed the "most serious concern" and called for "maximum transparency on the situation" following the prison blaze.

Borrell said in a tweet on October 16 that Iranian authorities are responsible for the lives of "all detainees, including human rights defenders and EU nationals.

Some prisoners had called their families on October 16, relatives and lawyers said.

Prominent filmmaker Jafar Panahi on October 16 managed to call his wife from Evin to let her know that he and fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof are fine and that authorities had used tear gas during the unrest, Radio Farda reported.

A lawyer representing Siamak Namazi, an American-Iranian held at Evin said on October 16 that Namazi had contacted his family.

Namazi "is safe and has been moved to a secure area of Evin prison," lawyer Jared Genser said in a tweet.

Namazi has been sentenced for more seven years on espionage-related charges rejected by Washington as baseless.

Several other dual-national Iranians and foreign citizens are held in Evin prison mostly for dubious security-related charges.

Families of inmates gathered on October 16 near the prison hoping for news of their loved ones inside.

Former inmate of Evin and rights activist Atena Daemi said relatives of prisoners in the women's section had gone to Evin for visiting hours, but authorities denied them access, resulting in a standoff.

According to Daemi, the relatives were told that prisoners were "fine, but the phones are broken."

Protests Continue

Speaking in the western U.S. state of Oregon on October 15, Biden said he was surprised by the courage of the people taking to the streets in protest in Iran.

Biden said the Iranian "government is so oppressive" and that he had an "enormous amount of respect for people marching in the streets."

Tehran said the remarks amounted to interference in Irans internal affairs.

Raisi accused Biden of "inciting chaos, terror, and the destruction of another country."

"The enemy's plot must be countered by effective measures to resolve people's problems," Raisi added, according to a presidency statement released on October 16.

Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests -- one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic government since the 1979 revolution -- sparked by Mahsa Amini's death on September 16.

The 22-year-old Amini was detained by morality police for "inappropriate attire" with regard to her head scarf, or hijab. Eyewitnesses say Amini, who comes from the country's Kurdish region, was beaten while in custody, but the authorities gave the official cause of death as "underlying diseases."

On October 16, Iran's parliament published a statement claiming Amini did not die from any physical blow but that she fell and police waited too long to get treatment for her. It urged police to offer an apology and provide more training to its staff. It suggested police wear cameras on their uniforms and install them in cars used to transfer detainees.

Human rights organizations have said at least 201 people have been killed in the crackdown by security forces.

The unrest has continued despite what Amnesty International called an "unrelenting brutal crackdown" that included an "all-out attack on child protesters" -- leading to the deaths of at least 23 minors.

Demonstrations took place at several universities on October 16, including in the cities of Tabriz and Rasht. Riot police were deployed nearby.

Videos posted on social media purportedly showed students at a Tehran university chanting: "Iran has turned into a big prison. Evin prison has become a slaughterhouse."

The authenticity of the footage cannot be independently verified.

The Iranian authorities repressive response to the protesters has drawn international condemnation and sanctions on Iran from Britain, Canada and the United States.

With reporting by IRNA, Reuters, AFP, and AP
The Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has proved to be of little value for some of its members recently. The regional alliance failed to come to the aid of member state Armenia when it was attacked by non-member state Azerbaijan in September. Days later, the CSTO failed to play any meaningful role when two other members -- Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan  engaged in a brief conflict. With major CSTO partner Russia mired in the war it started in Ukraine, does the organization have a future?
TURKMENBASHI, Turkmenistan -- Military service is mandatory in Turkmenistan for many conscription-age men, who must serve up to two years.

But many men aged between 18 and 27 try to evade conscription. The Turkmen Army is notorious for bullying and appalling conditions.



To fill the ranks of the national army, officials have now ordered university students studying abroad to return home to perform their service. That is despite university students being exempted from military service by law.



Several parents in the western province of Balkan told RFE/RL's Turkmen Service that they had received "warning letters and threats" from the local military enlistment office to comply with the new order. In some cases, police officers have visited their homes unannounced, the parents said.

In the Caspian port city of Turkmenbashi, a woman said police officers visited her home and threatened that the authorities would seek her son's deportation from the country where he was studying if he did not return voluntarily.



She told the Turkmen Service the police officers told her that "your son will get a university diploma only in his dreams."



The Turkmen Service did not disclose the names of the woman and other interviewees to protect their identities. In the authoritarian Central Asian nation, the government does not tolerate criticism and free speech.

The effort to draft university students in the army comes amid the autumn military call-up season.



The authorities have also targeted university students who have returned to Turkmenistan from abroad to renew their passports. Some have been taken to local enlistment centers and forced to enroll in the army, according to their families.

Hundreds of Turkmen students studying abroad only returned home this summer because the government had banned most international flights due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ashgabat has prohibited its embassies from issuing new passports for Turkmen citizens residing abroad.



Turkmen authorities did not respond to RFE/RL's requests for comment.



Last month, in a one-off, the government offered exemptions from mandatory military service to high-school graduates.



But many graduates in Balkan Province have been told by local authorities that they will be drafted in the army regardless, some parents told the Turkmen Service. In Turkmenbashi alone, dozens of graduates have been denied an exemption, according to locals.



Local military officials have said each administrative area must meet their conscription quotas. They also said each area has a limit on how many exemptions it can grant.



Hefty Bribes



The military call-up season in Turkmenistan is from October 1 to December 31.



During the twice-a-year enlistment campaigns, recruiters often patrol streets, airports, and schools for conscription-age men.

In June, dozens of graduating students who came to school for their final exams were hauled off by military recruiters hunting for mandatory conscripts, eyewitnesses told the Turkmen Service.



Many Turkmen soldiers are from impoverished families. In a country where corruption is rampant, families who can afford it pay hefty bribes to exempt their sons from military service. Some parents told the Turkmen Service they paid around $5,700 to get deferrals for their children.



A source familiar with the matter told the Turkmen Service that some parents in Turkmenbashi have paid 40,000 manats (around $11,500) in bribes to have their sons spared from military service.



"Most people here can't afford the 40,000-manat bribe," the source said. "The young men whose parents can't raise this amount are going to the army."

Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by RFE/RL's Turkmen Service local correspondents
Russian forces continue to target civilian infrastructure in towns and villages across Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian troops are fending off repeated Russian attacks on the strategic eastern town of Bakhmut and after reports of a deadly Russian military range shooting.

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said early on October 16 that Russian forces had targeted more than 30 towns and villages across Ukraine, launching five missile and 23 air strikes and up to 60 rocket attacks in the past 24 hours.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

In response, Ukraine's air forces carried out 32 strikes, hitting 24 Russian targets, it said.

Russias Defense Ministry said on October 16 its forces had repelled efforts by Ukrainian troops to advance in the Donetsk region in the east and Kherson and Mykolayiv regions in the south.

Russia was also continuing air strikes on military and energy targets in Ukraine, using long-range precision-guided weapons, the ministry said.

RFE/RL cannot independently verify claims by either side in areas of intense fighting.

Russia has lost ground in the nearly seven weeks since Ukraine's armed forces opened their counteroffensive in the northeast, east, and south.

This week, the Kremlin launched what are believed to be its largest coordinated air and missile raids since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

The intensified Russian air strikes came after the Crimea Bridge, which holds important strategic and symbolic value to Russia in its faltering war in Ukraine, was hit on October 8 by what Moscow says was a truck bomb.

The positions of Ukraine's southern forces were attacked several times on October 15 and a small "shooting battle" took place near the village of Tryfonivka (in Kherson), Ukraine's Armed Forces southern command said on October 16.

Russian forces also fired nearly 20 Russian-made Grad rockets on the right bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region, it said.

An administration building used by Russia-backed separatists in the city of Donetsk was damaged on October 16 in what the Russia-backed separatist said was Ukrainian shelling.

Photos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke swirling around the building, rows of blown-out windows and a partially collapsed ceiling. RIA Novosti and local media also reported that three cars parked nearby had burnt out as a result of the strike.

Kyiv didnt immediately claim responsibility or comment on the attack.

In his evening address on October 15, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian troops were still holding the strategic eastern town of Bakhmut despite repeated Russian attacks while the situation in the larger Donbas region remained very difficult.

Russian forces have repeatedly tried to seize Bakhmut, which sits on a main road leading to the cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. Both are located in the Donetsk region.

Zelenskiy also said Russian missiles and drones had continued to hit Ukrainian cities, causing destruction and casualties.

"We hold our positions," Zelenskiy said. "In general, in the east and south, we do everything to make the occupiers feel that they have no prospects. No matter who they send to fight against us, it will only end in defeat for them."

Zelenskiy said almost 65,000 Russians had been killed so far since the February 24 invasion, a figure far higher than Moscow's official September 21 estimate of 5,937 dead. In August the Pentagon said Russia has suffered between 70,000 and 80,000 casualties, either killed or wounded.

Ben Hodges, the former commanding general of U.S. Army Europe, said he believes Ukraine can retake the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula by next summer.

"When I look at the situation, I see that the situation of the Russians is getting worse with every week. They say war is a test of will and logistics -- and on both counts Ukraine is far superior," the former commander told the FAZ newspaper.

The reports of increased fighting came as two men fired at soldiers on a Russian military firing range near Ukraine on October 15, killing 11 and wounding 15 before being slain themselves, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said in a statement that the shooting took place in the Belgorod region in southwestern Russia that borders Ukraine. It said two men from an unnamed former Soviet republic fired on volunteer soldiers during target practice and were killed by return fire.

The ministry called the incident a terrorist attack.

"A terrible event happened on our territory, on the territory of one of the military units," the governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said early on October 16.

"Many soldiers were killed and wounded.... There are no residents of the Belgorod region among the wounded and killed," Gladkov said in a video post on the Telegram messaging app.

The shooting comes amid a hasty mobilization ordered by President Vladimir Putin to beef up Russian forces in Ukraine -- a move that has triggered protests and an exodus from Russia of hundreds of thousands, mainly to neighboring countries.

Putin said on October 14 that over 220,000 reservists already had been called up as part of an effort to recruit 300,000. He promised the mobilization would be wrapped up in two weeks.

With reporting from AFP, AP, and Reuters
Abuja, Oct 16 (UNI) At least 11 people died and another nine sustained injuries when a van crashed into a truck in Nigeria's northeastern state of Bauchi, local road authorities confirmed to Nigerian media on Sunday.

The deadly road accident occurred on Saturday evening, regional Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Yusuf Abdullahi, told the Punch newspaper. Rescue services arrived at the scene within 15 minutes after the crash and took the victims to the hospital.

"It was at the hospital that a medical doctor confirmed nine people dead while 11 others sustained various degrees of injuries A few hours later, the additional report indicated that two more people who were injured died in the hospital while receiving treatment," Abdullahi was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

In total, 20 male adults were involved in the crash, the official added.

According to Abdullahi, the incident was caused by "dangerous driving."

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
Copper is among the most actively used metals and has a very wide range of consumption, that is why the change in copper prices quite clearly reflects the state of the global economy as a whole, correlating well with the world GDP dynamics (Fig. 1) and correlating even better with the manufacturing PMI and oil prices (Figs. 2, 3).

Over the past decade, the copper prices have zigzagged and varied widely. After the global financial and economic crisis of 2008-2009, the copper prices at the London Metal Exchange (LME) recovered very quickly and upsurged until 2011 when the average annual price was $8,821/t. After that, a lengthy period of decline was recorded until 2016 amid a slowdown in the development of the Chinese economy (the largest consumer of copper). In 2016, the average annual price for copper dropped below $5,000 per ton followed by a moderate increase, and in 2017 through 2020, the average annual price varied within the range of $6-$6.5 thousand per ton. In 2021, the copper market began its rapid growth (the average price for the year was $9,315/t), which continued in early 2022, but at a more moderate pace.





Fig. 1. The dynamics of the average annual prices for grade A refined copper at the LME in 2010-2021 and the first half of 2022, ($/t, left) and the global GDP in 2010-2021, ($ trillion, right)

According to LME, The World Bank

Fig. 2. The dynamics of average monthly prices for grade A refined copper at the LME ($/t, left) and the global manufacturing PMI (right) from January 2019 to August 2022.

According to LME, Statista, S&P Global

The copper price is very sensitive to changes both in the industry and in the economy of individual countries and the world as a whole. Let us consider in more detail the influence of various events and factors on price changes in 2019 through 2022, one of the most interesting and dynamic periods for the world red metal market (Figs. 2, 3, 4).





Fig. 3. The dynamics of average monthly prices for grade A refined copper at the LME ($/t, left) and average oil prices ($/barrel, right) from January 2019 to August 2022.

According to LME, World Bank

Quiet 2019

In January 2019, the global copper market experienced a moderate uptrend amid the announced ban imposed on importing the low-quality copper scrap from July 2019 by the Chinese authorities resulted in the increased copper concentrate imports. In February, the growth was supported by the suspension of a number of large copper mines in Chile (the worlds largest producer of mined copper) due to heavy rains. Until the beginning of May, prices were at the level of $6,500/t, then they returned to $6,000/t, which was their level in early January. The reason was the beginning of trade wars between China and the United States, and on May 10, 2019, Donald Trump announced a 2.5-fold increase in duties on goods from China to a value of $200 bn. In August, the USA announced another increase in duties on Chinese goods, to a value of $300 bn this time. As a result, the copper price remained at the level of $5,700 to $5,900 per ton, and the inventories at the LME in August were the highest for the period under review amounting to about 300,000 tons.





Fig. 4. The dynamics of average monthly prices for grade A refined copper at the LME ($/t, left) and its inventories (thousand tons, right) from 01.01.2019 to 09.15.2022.

According to LME

Tough 2020

After the stabilization of the relations between China and the United States in December 2019 - early January 2020, the copper market began to strengthen, but in mid-January, the copper price declined again, by 10% in 10 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Further, the copper price continued to decline due to the spread of the COVID-pandemic to other countries of the world, and in April, it dropped to its minimum, amounting on average to $5,048/t for the month. The average oil price also dropped to its minimum in April, to $21.04/barrel.

By that time, the peak of the COVID-pandemic in China was already over, the countrys economy began to recover, the market revived, and the copper price began to grow steadily, and in September, it exceeded an average of $6,700/ t, and the copper inventories at the LME decreased to 86.3 thousand tons. In November 2020, copper prices saw a rapid growth. In December, the average monthly price increased by 10% compared to November, up to $7,755/t, and after that, the prices soared. This growth is based on the active climate agenda, which implies an increase in the copper consumption in low-carbon and carbon-free green technologies (mainly for electric vehicles), as well as a rapid recovery of the Chinese economy and the expectation of a shortage of copper amid the reduced copper production in Peru, one of the main copper suppliers to the world market. In 2020, the production of mined copper in the country declined by 12.5% due to suspension of work due to the coronavirus restrictions.

Buoyant 2021

In February 2021, the first forecasts were made (by Citigroup and Bank of America) about a possible increase in the copper price to $10,000/t by the end of the year, but they came true much earlier. In March, the average monthly copper price exceeded $9,000/t, and in early April, the rally in copper prices was accelerated by the announcement of the Bidens infrastructure plan that involved investing $174 bn in the development of electric vehicle markets. At the beginning of May 2021, the copper price hit $10,000/t, and averaged $10,184/t for the month. Fig. 2 shows that the boom in the copper price was accompanied by strong growth in business activity in the manufacturing sector, expressed by the manufacturing PMI. After reaching the peaks in mid-May, the copper prices began a corrective decline and in July, they did not rise above $9,800/t, and by August-September, they dropped to the level of April 2021.

In October 2021, another rise started amid the emerging energy crisis in the Asian countries and the expectation of a shortage in the metal production as one of its consequences, since copper smelting is an energy-intensive process. To meet the demand for copper and to stabilize prices, the Chinese authorities brought 150 thousand tons of copper from their state reserve to the market, announcing that such measures would be applied in the future, however, the price at the LME continued to grow and jumped to $ 10,500/t in mid-October. In November, the high price level was supported by the expectation of a shortage due to the suspension of work at the Perus largest copper mine, Las Bambas, where a strike began earlier in the month. By the end of 2021, the price corrected and averaged $9,550/t for December.

Unpredictable 2022

In January 2022, an article by A. Usmanov about the upcoming shortage of copper in the global market was published on the World Economic Forums website. Subsequently, the article was deleted, but it was actively quoted in the media, especially in the Russian ones. In this article, the owner of USM Holdings Ltd, one of the assets of which is the Udokan copper deposit, the largest in Russia and one of the largest in the world, called copper new gold, new oil and the metal of the future. Around the same time, a study by the consulting company Rystad Energy was published (interestingly, it was also removed from the official website of the company), which predicted a copper shortage of about 6 mn tons by 2030. Along with the reduction in copper production in Chile in January by 7.5% compared to January 2021 and negative forecasts for the year, as well as rapidly declining inventories of copper at exchanges, all this led to another increase in prices.

At the end of February, this growth continued amid the shutdown of the large Perus mine Cuajone due to a strike, the beginning of the special military operation and the emerging concerns about a ban on the supply of the Russian copper to the EU countries. On March 7, 2022, the price of copper renewed its historical high and reached $10,730/t. The LME copper price was above $10,000/t for most of March and the first two decades of April, and then it began to fall as rapidly as it had risen in the first half of 2021. From April to July 2022, the average monthly copper price dropped by 26%, from $10,183/t to $7,530/t, and it declined even to $7,000/t in mid-July. Such a sharp drop is mainly attributed to a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China in late March - early June 2022, which was much more severe in terms of the number of cases than the first COVID-wave in early 2020. This time, the Chinas economic recovery was slower than it was expected; however, in August, the average monthly price rose by almost 6% compared to July, up to $7,961/ton. In the first two weeks of September, the average copper price remained at about the same level, having decreased by 1.5%.

Based on the above, a conclusion can be made that the copper price is mainly determined by the following factors:

 the state of the Chinas economy, the main consumer of copper and producer of refined metal,

 the socio-political state of Chile and Peru, the main producers of mined copper,

 the development of low-carbon and carbon-free green technologies, primarily, the production of electric vehicles.

Interestingly, the analysts put the last of these factors at the forefront when calculating the expected demand for copper in the future, and the energy crisis in Europe put the planned decarbonization and scaling of these carbon-free technologies into question. In this regard and also taking into account the unstable geopolitical situation and very high volatility, it seems too early to talk about copper as new gold. At the same time, it seems obvious that a wide range of copper applications in industry will not allow it to be left out, and the price trend for the metal in the future will be upward.



Anastasia Smolnikova, expert analyst at the Institute for Natural Monopolies Research for Rough&Polished
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a 1,000-square-mile wilderness that straddles three counties and is a popular destination for wildflower enthusiasts, hikers and campers.

Its also severly unstaffed.

Last year, there were eight to 10 rangers on staff, plus two supervising rangers and a superintendent.

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Today, there are no supervising rangers. The superintendent position has been eliminated. And there are only four rangers patrolling the largest park in California.

The lack of coverage for the 600,000-acre desert, coupled with the exodus of a number of rangers after the suicide of a beloved ranger, has led former park employees to sound the alarm.

They say their warnings are not being taken seriously enough in Sacramento. State park officials said there are staffing shortages at all the parks, not just Anza-Borrego, and they are trying to fill the vacancies.

The retired park workers fear those hiring efforts may come too late.

People will die, said Mark Jorgensen, a Borrego Springs resident who was the superintendent of the park for many years before retiring in 2009.

There is no doubt in my mind that people will get themselves in trouble out there in the desert this summer, he said. Under a full staff, you would have people patrolling the entire park by vehicle and aircraft. They are the ones that discover people in trouble.

Not long ago, rangers would be assigned specific 80,000-acre parts of the park to patrol. But with only four rangers now working (one of them is a pilot), Jorgensen and others say huge swaths of Anza-Borrego are being ignored.

If you wait until some loved one at home says, my son was due home yesterday, and its 118 degrees out there, your son probably died yesterday or last night, Jorgensen said. If you wait for dispatch in Perris, Calif. to call down here and say we got a cell phone call from a person stuck out in the desert, then youre just reacting and your not going to come in contact with those people in trouble on a timely basis.

Mike Wells, a former Colorado District District Superintendent who oversaw operations at Anza-Borrego and the other parks in the district including Palomar and Cuyamaca Rancho before his retirement eight years ago, was a young ranger in Anza-Borrego for four years in the late 70s and early 80s.

During that time,we had nine patrol rangers and two seasonal rangers assigned to patrol (specific districts) in the park, Wells said. There were two supervising rangers, a chief ranger and an area manager. They were all peace officers. There were 14 badged employees there. And Im guessing that the visitation was well less than half of what were getting now.

Wells said he fears there are parts of the park that dont get regularly patrolled.

Rangers now go to where the visitation is heaviest, he said. But there are people in other parts of the park and those areas are not being as well covered.

A spokeswoman for the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Gloria Sandoval, did not dispute the current staffing levels at Anza-Borrego in written responses to questions.

Hiring diverse, qualified and talented people to help us serve our visitors and take care of the nations largest state park system has been a challenge, Sandoval said. All 280 park units have staffing shortages.

She said Sacramento has made arrangements for four new officers who graduated from the departments training academy this past week to join the Anza-Borrego staff in the fall.

Recently, the department launched a new recruitment effort called Live the Parks Life designed to reach potential candidates who are reflective of Californias diverse population. Because of attrition rates and a desire to attract more diversity to the professional classifications, Sandoval said, initial efforts are focused on the recruitment of lifeguards and rangers.

She also said Gov. Jerry Browns proposed budget includes funding for fixing state parks.

The 2018-19 budget allocates $1.5 billion to the park system, up from $846 million last year, and creates 54 new peace officer positions statewide.

Kathy Dice, who retired last year from her Anza-Borrego superintendent position, said public safety concerns are real, but for me its about damage to the resources.

The park is losing some of its pristine qualities because of the lack of presence out there in terms of staffing, she said.

Anza-Borrego features more than 500 miles of dirt road, 125 miles of paved roads, and it has always been a battle for the rangers to keep visitors in line. Dice said people will create new roads or hiking trails which, if left untreated, will become established areas where people will drive and hike through sensitive areas.

She said things such as ground fires and fireworks violations are not being addressed simply because there arent enough rangers to monitor the activity. Signs are going unrepaired, she said.

I know the existing staff is very dedicated and working really hard, she said. But government is very slow to overcome its shortcomings.Our hiring practices are archaic and very slow, she said.

Dice said the departments leadership seems to be lacking. Its like they are frozen in place in terms of what they want state parks to look like, she said.

The departure last year of a number of rangers was preceded by the death of Ranger Steve Bier, a highly respected and well-liked employee. It is not known why Bier killed himself in March 2017. Many of the rangers who left or transferred out were involved in the search and discovery of his body and Jorgensen said it had a major impact on the morale of the staff.

These people travel around on patrol with the thought of him every day, Jorgensen said. You cant go anywhere without thinking of him. When he died last year, it was a tremendous shock. He was an icon of the staff.

Living in the desert can be tough and the isolation, combined with the sometimes grim work that must be done, takes its toll.

Four rangers, two married couples that had recently purchased homes in Borrego Springs, decided to leave Anza-Borrego in the months after the suicide.

His widow, also a ranger, turned in her badge and gun to take an administrative position. Others retired. None of those position have been filled.

Jorgensen, Dice, Wells and others all wrote letters to Sacramento last fall detailing their concerns about what was happening.

The remaining rangers and maintenance folks have shown amazing resolve to do the very best they can under the circumstances, but the current situation has reached the level of being unbelievable and ridiculous, Jorgensen wrote.

Sacramento never replied.

Not one of us got a single word, Jorgensen said. Whats the message in that? Nobody cares. Our park system is going to hell in a hand basket. I really believe that.what Ive seen is a total loss of passion and love for the park system.

Im disappointed that the current generation of park staff and park leadership is not interested in our experience and our knowledge and our history, added Dice.

Sandoval on Friday said she could not verify the letters were sent to the directors office.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
HAUGHTON, La. - The Bossier Parish Sheriff's Department responded to reports of a pedestrian killed on Saturday. The body was found in the median of U.S. 79 and U.S. 80 in Haughton.

Louisiana State Police took over the investigation shortly afterward. Troopers told KTBS they were interviewing a person of interest in the case. An investigation determined the male victim was struck by a vehicle sometime Friday night. His body was discovered by a passerby shortly before noon on Saturday.

The victim's body was found alongside the eastbound traffic lanes. The area separates eastbound and westbound lanes of the road between the Hill Crest Cemetery and the Church of the Cross Assemblies of God.

A local resident told KTBS 3 News that pedestrians often cross the highway to get to the convenience stores nearby.

Anyone with information related to the collision is urged to contact State Police at (318) 741-7411.

Authorities will release the identity of the victim once next of kin has been notified.

This is a developing story.
Georgia: Meeting under Any Other Business

On Monday (15 August), Security Council members will discuss the situation in Georgia under any other business. Albania, France, Ireland, Norway, the UK, and the US requested the meeting to mark the 14th anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. A representative of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) is expected to brief.

Since its independence in 1991, Georgia has faced multiple internal secessionist movements, notably in South Ossetia, Ajaria and Abkhazia. The population in those regions had close historical links with Russia, and in 1992, South Ossetia and Abkhazia fought a war to break away from the newly independent Georgia. In July 1993, following international diplomatic efforts, the parties signed a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement. In August of that year, the Security Council established the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) to monitor the ceasefire.

On 8 August 2008, following a period of worsening relations between Russia and Georgia, Russia attacked Georgian troops in South Ossetia in response to Georgian military activity in that area. The conflict, which lasted for several days, came to an end on 12 August, when a ceasefire agreement was reached amid mounting international pressure. Since 2008, Moscow has maintained a military presence in the two areas and has signed a series of bilateral agreements with the de facto authorities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

To date, disagreements persist between Russia, on the one hand, and the US and several European countries, on the other hand, regarding the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. While Russia considers these entities independent states, other member states view them as part of Georgias sovereign territory. In November 2011, the European Parliament passed a resolution recognising Abkhazia and South Ossetia as occupied Georgian territories.

The Security Council has discussed the situation in Georgia on several occasions since the closure of UNOMIG in June 2009. On 6 December 2016, and again on 28 March 2017, Council members discussed the issue under any other business at the request of then-Council member Ukraine. On both occasions, Ukraine proposed issuing a Council press statement reiterating support for the territorial integrity of Georgia. However, both attempts were blocked by Russia.

Meetings on Georgia to mark the anniversary of the 2008 war have become an annual practice in the Council in recent years. On 8 August 2019, 5 August 2020 and 4 August 2021, Council members discussed the situation in Georgia under any other business, marking the 11th, 12th and 13th anniversaries of the outbreak of conflict in Georgia, respectively. On all occasions following the meeting, the US and European Council members held a press stakeout.

At Mondays meeting, the DPPA representative may refer to the 2021 Annual Progress Report of the UN Country Team in Georgia, published on 26 April, which states that the situation in and around Abkhazia and South Ossetia continues to pose political, military, economic, and security risks, including to regional stability. The report also notes that while the UN pursued peacebuilding initiatives in Abkhazia, it was unable to do so in South Ossetia since the UN does not have access to the region. Moreover, Abkhazia and South Ossetia have continued to deny access to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). In this regard, the DPPA representative may call for immediate and unimpeded UN access to these regions, as requested by Human Rights Council resolution 49/33.

Several Council membersincluding the US and some European membersare expected to draw parallels between the situation in Georgia and Russias war against Ukraine. They may point out that Russias actions in Georgia 14 years ago marked the start of what they perceive to be a trend of aggressive behaviour by Russia towards its neighbouring countries. In this regard, they may reaffirm their support for Georgias independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and condemn Russias continued military presence in, and steps toward the annexation of, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Since 2008, there have been several referendum proposals for South Ossetia to join Russia. On 13 May, then-President of the self-declared Republic of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov signed a decree to hold such a referendum on 17 July, citing South Ossetias historic aspiration to join Russia. However, after Bibilov lost his re-election bid to Alan Gagloev in May, Gagloev cancelled the proposed referendum over uncertainty of the legal consequences of the issue, according to media reports.

At Mondays meeting, some Council members may condemn Russias activities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including military exercises, arbitrary detentions, kidnappings, closures of border crossings, and movement restrictions at the South Ossetian Administrative boundary line. These members may also reiterate concerns expressed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding allegations of human rights violations in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and other districts, targeting ethnic Georgians. They are likely to express support for the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in and around South Ossetia during the conflict in 2008. On 30 June, the ICC issued arrest warrants for three individuals, including two Russian nationals, accused of committing war crimes in 2008.

Russia is likely to deny accusations of aggressive behaviour towards its neighbouring countries. It has previously argued that cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia is a stabilising factor in the South Caucasus. Instead, Russia may suggest that Western countries are to blame for the volatility in the region. At a press stakeout following last years meeting on the situation in Georgia (4 August 2021), Russias First Deputy Permanent Representative, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said that the Georgian military adventures in 2008, which prompted Russias military response, were directly or indirectly encouraged by some of our Western partners.

Russia is also expected to argue against any role for the Security Council in addressing the situation in Georgia. It has been suggested that diplomatic talks among Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia should take place under the auspices of the Geneva International Discussions (GID). Established in October 2008, the GID is chaired by the EU, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the UN. It consists of representatives of the parties to the conflictGeorgia, Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetiaand the US.

Following tomorrows meeting, Albania, France, Ireland, Norway, the UK, and the US, and incoming Council members Malta and Japan, are expected to deliver a joint statement at the press stakeout.
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featured spotlight

Environmental genes could be the problem solver of the century

If you want to get a scientist excited about the future, mention e-DNA.

Environmental DNA, or e-DNA, can now find fish in water after theyve swum away, detect an invasive species before it overtakes an ecosystem and spot harmful algae before it blooms.

In recent years, scientists have been taking genetic material found in soils, seas and sediments to capture a snapshot of a single organism or an entire ecosystem through genetic sequencing  a kind of 23andMe for the planet.

What happened is we realized all this stuff sheds  mucus and slime and (feces), said Steve Weisberg, executive director of the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority (SCCWRP), a research institute piloting several e-DNA projects. So maybe I dont actually have to sample the fish tissue; I can sample the water and pick up the remnants of what they leave behind.

How winemakers are saving California's Cabernet from climate change Researchers have spent the last six years looking for new ways to bolster wine grapes against extreme heat.

This is a paradigm shift. For decades, conservation science has relied on the physical identification of a given plant, animal, microbe or fungi  often an arduous and expensive process that involves trekking to remote sites or tediously trying to tally every fish in a pond. But in recent years, e-DNA has allowed scientists to cover more ground with fewer resources and identify more information about a given species in the process.

When you say e-DNA is having its moment, you are correct, said Michael Schwartz, a senior scientist with the U.S Forest Service at the Rocky Mountain Research Station. It is so powerful because its so cost-effective  its about 10 times more cost-effective than some of the field methods we were traditionally using.

Understanding biodiversity

E-DNA is also emerging as a compelling way to account for our shaky understanding of the planets biodiversity at a moment when its vanishing at a clip not seen since the last mass extinction 66 million years ago. The Biden administration has sought to address this through its 30x30 Initiative, intending to protect at least 30% of U.S. lands, freshwater and oceans by 2030.

But the challenge is immense. As climate change alters ecosystems, scientists are scrambling to account for what weve lost, in part because we never fully recorded what we had.

E-DNA is closing that knowledge gap. Recent studies show that within a single sample, DNA from entire communities across taxonomic groups can be analyzed simultaneously  like a polaroid of genes suspended in time.

A calculation that could solve  and pay for  the climate crisis Economists say the social cost of carbon is critical to solving the climate crisis

Right now, there are two key ways to analyze e-DNA, noted Schwartz, one of which most of us are already intimately acquainted: PCR or a polymerase chain reaction. Its the same method used to detect Covid-19 lurking in our nostrils.

A PCR test for the environment

But while PCR or quantitative PCR (qPCR) is good at spotlighting a single species (or virus), another method called metabarcoding paints with a broader brush, showing the array of organisms in the same sample.

On one end of the spectrum, we have what is called quantitative PCR, or qPCR  that technology is exquisitely sensitive for detecting very few copies of the organism, said Schwartz. QPCR is especially useful when it comes to detecting invasive species in a given ecosystem, he said. Think about like a New Zealand snail or a zebra mussel or a brook trout. We might need to find the one brook trout that is in a stream because we want to take action to prevent it from just exploding.

Californias high energy prices could cost the state its climate goals Researchers say a dramatic change in how we pay for electricity is needed

But on the other end, scientists may be more interested in the kaleidoscopic dynamics of an ecosystem  who is there and how they interact with the stuff around them. Thats where metabarcoding comes into play.

Imagine that if you had your whole genome lined up, said Schwartz. Metabarcoding looks at a very specific region of the genome that is oftentimes specific to mammals and birds or plants ... it makes many copies of that little section and lets us sequence it. And from that, we can put it into national databases and say, oh, thats species A, B, C or D.

Part of the work Schwartz and others are doing is creating a living library of data  samples that they can test now and into the future, freezing moments in time through the slime, cells and waste all organisms slough off and leave behind.

Yet e-DNA has some pitfalls. Contamination of samples is one example, and cross-contamination in the lab, studies found, is almost unavoidable. This can elicit false positive results, which can be disastrous if you are someone like Schwartz, who is looking to save bull trout in the Northern Rockies and then directs millions of research and conservation dollars to a stream based on bad data.

But the pandemic has helped usher e-DNA into our daily lives, proving especially valuable for epidemiologists and public health officials. As many grew weary of lockdowns and the constant jamming of cotton swabs up nostrils, scientists turned to wastewater, collecting e-DNA from sewage to detect surges of virus in a community, often preceding the onset of symptoms or lags in testing.

As California begins monitoring microplastics in water, experts brace for health impacts This September, the state took the first step in regulating microplastics in its municipal water supplies, the first government agency in the world to do so

In other places, e-DNA is being used to monitor for harmful algal blooms, like the one which overtook San Francisco Bay this summer, before they balloon out of control. And as blooms are projected to increase in a warming world, scientists have expressed hope about the ability to be proactive rather than reactive to such events in the future.
Lam Thu Hong places fourth at Miss Globe 2022.

Anabel Payano Pichardo of the Dominican Republic was crowned The Miss Globe 2022.



Anamaria Babau of the United Arab Emirates was named first runner-up while Drita Ziri of Albania and Thanawan Wigg of Thailand were announced as the second and third runners-up, respectively.

Lam Thu Hong who was named among the top five at the Miss Sea Vietnam Global 2018 beauty contest was chosen to represent Vietnam at the Miss Globe 2022 which will be held in Albania from September 30- October 16.

The 27-year-old man who stands at 1.73metres tall is living and working in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

Miss Global is an international beauty pageant that was first held in 1925 and is regarded as one of the 7th largest beauty pageants in the world. This years beauty contest attracted 50 contestants from countries and territories throughout the world.

Vietnamese contestant wins the Best National Costume '' title.





By Mai An  Translated by Kim Khanh
Extinction Rebellion protesters assemble in Adelaide

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A man has been charged after allegedly assaulting a police officer outside The Breakwater Tavern at Hillarys Boat Harbour on Saturday night.

It will be alleged about 8.50pm, a 44-year-old male police officer was on duty when he was approached by a 52-year-old man and punched in the jaw while attending to another matter.

The officer suffered head injuries and was taken to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment.

WA Police Union president Mick Kelly spoke to the victim Monday morning.
Overtime, spiralling workloads and missed breaks are leading nurses to increase alcohol consumption.

A recent study published in the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal found many treated alcohol as a reward for working under conditions where resources were stretched, with nurses who drank prior to the pandemic generally increasing their intake during COVID.

Nurses protesting wages and nurse-to-patient ratios in Perth last week. Credit:Cameron Myles

Drug and Alcohol Nurses of Australasia president Adam Searby said the sheer number of nurses drinking at high risk levels to reduce stress signalled alarm bells, and must be urgently addressed.

Many nurses are probably wondering whether nursing is actually worth it, and we know we have lost quite a few to retirement or other jobs, he said.
The Paris Review, a literary journal, presently publishes two interviews in each issue. If you scan the list of interviewees, stretching back decades, you find many of the great names of our times: Borges, Sontag, de Beauvoir, Hemingway.

In the most recent edition you will find, appropriately, an interview with Australian writer Helen Garner. All of it is interesting  there is a marvellous moment of stunned realisation about a cello  but because the topic was already on my mind I was particularly struck by her description of where the angels in her novel Cosmo Cosmolino had come from.

Illustration: Jim Pavlidis Credit:

At a time of great emotional distress  a strange presence would sometimes manifest itself behind me  I would feel something in the room, hovering behind my back  I used to call it to myself  the Mighty Force, because I felt that it was tremendously powerful but also benign. I knew that if I turned around and looked at it, if I acknowledged it, Id have to go down on my knees and bow to it, and I was too scared to do that, and too proud.

This recalled for me a passage in some ways its opposite, written by an author very different from Garner, the late Hilary Mantel. When Mantel was seven, she sensed something evil in a garden. How, she was not sure. There is nothing to see. There is nothing to smell. There is nothing to hear. But its motion, its insolent shift, makes my stomach heave  It is as high as a child of two. Its depth is a foot, fifteen inches. The air stirs around it, invisibly. I am cold, and rinsed by nausea. I cannot move  I beg it, stay away, stay away.
Fauxs 30 per cent estimate has been corroborated by Dr Tony Webber, a GP and former head of Medicare watchdog the Professional Services Review. While running the regulator for six years until late 2011, he estimated misuse of Medicare was costing Australians up to $3 billion a year. Ive read [Fauxs] PhD, and Id have to agree with what shes said, he said. Webber said that he saw egregious misconduct from within his profession, including the ordering of pathology tests which were inappropriate for the clinical condition and had a huge impact on the health budget. And many of these private radiotherapy clinics are run by corporations, where their shareholders are overseas, he said. Medicare was never designed to both reimburse the doctor and an overseas shareholder. Margaret Faux estimates there is about $8 billion in annual leakage from Medicare. Credit:Janie Barrett When Webber raised his concerns with health ministers from both sides of politics, or the federal health department, he was shut down.

The administration of Medicare is a very political creature to work with, and it can be very difficult for change to occur, he said. If one side of politics decides to make a radical change, the other side of politics can use it to beat them over the head in an election. A report by the Australian National Audit Office into Medicare compliance released in November 2020 estimated the cost of health provider non-compliance at up to $2.2 billion. For comparison, that is about double the ABCs annual taxpayer funding. Foreign aid costs about $4.5 billion a year, the Royal Australian Air Force about $7.8 billion and the CSIRO about $1.4 billion.

Faux has warned the 2020 estimate grossly underestimates the problem. The inappropriate billing occurs in all areas of the health sector including GPs, surgeons, pathologists, anaesthetists, radiologists and dentists who use the child dental benefit scheme. She said the doctor busted in February for billing Medicare for dead people in government-funded aged care facilities for consultations of varying lengths was not an isolated case. Aged care facilities have some of the greatest vulnerabilities to Medicare fraud, she said. Billing dead people, billing for ward rounds that didnt happen or billing residents who are cognitively impaired and dont have a recollection of what was discussed make it an area of concern, she said. Hundreds of millions of Medicare claims are made each year  many of them are under $100  but the high-volume, low-dollar transactions make it easy for fraud to fly under the radar.

Faux believes wrongful claims are being applied to millions of billings. We removed consumers and took them out of the transaction, she said of changes to the administration of Medicare by doctors a few years ago. Patients used to sign a piece of paper, so we knew they were there, now they dont even do that, so you dont know how much is billed when you walk out the door, and few check their Medicare records. Her business, Synapse Medical Services, is paid by doctors, hospitals and corporate medical practices to process their Medicare bills. Faux said she constantly finds problems in client billing practices and even her own personal Medicare records, which include services she never had and services that were recorded as having taken longer than they did to attract a higher Medicare fee. A bulk-bill GP consult of less than 20 minutes is $39.75 and a bulk-bill GP consult that lasts at least 20 minutes is $76.95. The bottom line is we dont know exactly how much is fraud, deliberate abuse and how much is errors. Whether its deliberate or unintentional, it has to stop, she said.

As long as a practitioner stays within the bell curve, they are very unlikely to come to the attention of Medicare, and be audited, even if 100 per cent of their claims are fraudulent. Faux said the government tells Australians we have the best health system in the world. But unfortunately the reality is very different. Medicare is actually haemorrhaging. It is very badly broken and in need of urgent reform. Some of the biggest offenders are corporate health clinics including pathology chains and GP super clinics, as well as public hospitals where errors and fraud have largely been left unchecked. Documents obtained by the Herald, The Age and 7.30 show an online telehealth company was charging some patients fees of $38 or $50 and also bulk-billing them, which is illegal under the Health Insurance Act. Some records show the GP had overstated the length of the consultation, which attracts a higher rebate. Separately, Tweed Health for Everyone in northern NSW, one of the countrys largest super clinics, alleged to have claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars  and possibly more than $1 million  for services that werent performed or potentially shouldnt have been claimed.

Patients were allegedly misdiagnosed with diabetes for extra Medicare billings, patient records falsified and targets set for a certain number of monthly wound debridements, a procedure for treating a wound in the skin that attracts certain Medicare reimbursements of more than $250. A former co-founder, director and GP at the clinic, Dr Austin Sterne, said that in 2015 he first discovered questionable Medicare billing. To support his suspicions, he pulled out the CCTV footage in the waiting room and compared it to the clinics appointment book, patient records and billings. He even called some patients, who denied they had seen the practitioner. He informed the clinic, but they were reluctant to act. In one email he wrote: The CCTV footage shows that [a health practitioner] bills 40 mins for each consult but typically spends only 10-15 minutes with the patient. Typically, [the practitioner] is billing $800-$900 per day but only legally should be claiming approximately $250 per day. On Monday, she should have claimed $50 but claimed $656 instead! Dr Austin Sterne uncovered incidences of some medical practitioners billing more than they were owed. Credit:Elise Derwin Months later an investigation was launched and the practitioner resigned but continued to see some patients. Sterne said after getting legal advice, the clinic eventually informed Medicare that some billings had been claimed incorrectly but did not inform Medicare of the suspected fraudulent billing.

Sterne was also concerned about the way the clinic was claiming wound debridements, which didnt fit Medicare criteria to qualify for the payment. He said the practice was billing between $123,000 to $266,064 a year in wound debridements alone. The service was attractive for the GPs as the debridements paid $277 for only a couple of minutes of the GPs time, with a wound care specialist nurse doing the debridement itself, he said. At one point in 2016, the clinics then-CEO prepared a spreadsheet for the wound business saying the clinic should double the number of wound debridements to make the numbers more profitable for the business. The CEO said 80 of the procedures a month should become the target because we do not wish to reduce GP income. Sterne left in December 2017 after legal action that culminated in him signing a deed of release. Since then, there has been a change in senior management and the board.

In response to a series of questions, the clinics spokesman, who joined the clinic in 2013, said the questions refer to a period before the change of ownership and management of the clinic. He said the clinic takes compliance extremely seriously and conducts regular training for doctors, providing them with continuous updates on compliance with the requirements of the Medicare Benefits Schedule. The Hawke government established Medicare (its predecessor, Medibank, was set up by the Whitlam government) in 1984 as a universal health system paid for by taxpayers through a levy that provides free or subsidised healthcare services to Australians. It was set up as an honour system with the hope that doctors would bill correctly for the service provided. However, armed with a patients name, date of birth and Medicare number, health practitioners can log into the portal and bulk-bill anything and patients are often none the wiser. The government would not ordinarily be alerted to any suspicious activity and patients dont know because they rarely check their Medicare records. Dr Tony Webber, a GP and former head of Medicare watchdog the Professional Services Review, corroborated Fauxs estimate. Credit:Brook Mitchell

A series of questions were sent to the Department of Health and Aged Care, including about Fauxs estimate that up to 30 per cent of Medicare claims were leaking from the system from fraud, errors and overservicing. A department spokesperson said it had a strong compliance program to ensure the integrity of Medicare, involving assessment of external tip-offs, analysis of claiming patterns and trends, and advanced analytics. It said it takes any allegations of non-compliance seriously. The fresh revelations about the rorting of Medicare have been aired at a time when medical bills are rising and health spending comes under pressure due to a deteriorating economy and federal budget outlook. Ambulances ramping, public hospitals cannot cope, general practices in tatters  its all part of the same problem, Faux said. So it is taxpayers who are paying for a system that they can no longer afford or access. Faux estimates more than $100 billion has been lost since 1974 from fraud and non-compliant billing. She estimates that Medicare has paid $400 billion to $500 billion since July 1975. She applied her estimate of a 30 per cent leakage, which is more than $100 billion. We could have built more than a couple of hundred state-of-the-art hospitals and given the whole of Australia free dental services for that money, she said.
In 2017, Xi Jinping, the man who would become the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong delivered a message of unity. In 2022, he delivered a message of dominance.

In the five years since thousands of delegates last gathered for the National Party Congress to elect Chinas leaders, Xi has asserted his authority over the party to such an extent that a third term in power  once controversial  is now a fait accompli.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during the opening session of the 20th National Congress. Credit:Getty Images

Before 2340 delegates on Saturday night, Xi sat alone on the stage as a sea of hands saluted him. They did the same again on Sunday as he delivered the Chinese Communist Partys work report, a speech that focused less on the achievements of the country and more on the strengths of the Party under his one-man rule.

In 2017, China was in the midst of profound and complex changes Xi said. The prospects are bright, but the challenges are severe.
New York: They made him at night, in the quiet hours after the bakery had closed. Together they worked, mother and daughter, mixing the materials that would give form to their creation: flour, water and sugar.

Slowly, he began to emerge as each feature was sculpted and placed into the oven to bake. First came the basic contours of his body, then the details: the anguished expression, lips contorted in pain, hands reaching out in desperation.

The 6-foot tribute to frozen-in-carbonite Han Solo, made from bread dough. Credit:Hannalee Pervan/The New York Times

Finally, after a month of work, he was ready: a lovingly wrought 1.8 metre recreation of Han Solo frozen in carbonite, made entirely of bread. The duo behind the creation, Hannalee Pervan and her mother, Catherine Pervan, called him Pan Solo.

On Sunday, the sculpture went on display outside their shop, One House Bakery in Benicia, California, about 60 kilometres north of San Francisco, next to an arrangement of seasonal gourds and a chalkboard that read, Our hero Pan Solo has been trapped in Levainite by the evil Java the Hut.
InfoComm Southeast Asia Back In-person

BANGKOK, Oct 14, 2022  (ACN Newswire)  InfoComm Southeast Asia which debuted in 2019 was a huge success. Now, after the Covid-resultant pause, the Show is back  as an in-person show, with access to new pre-show planning and engagement tools that will enhance the visitor experience. InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022 will take place from 2 to 4 November at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC).

InfoComm Southeast Asia is the region\-s premier Professional AudioVisual (Pro-AV) and Transformative Technology tradeshow, featuring trailblazing international and local solution providers. Powerful solutions on show and insightful learning sessions cater to a spectrum of industries, including the government sectors of transportation, public security and defense, education, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and others.

The Show specially caters to AV industry players as well as embedded technology decision-makers and business end-users. For these stakeholders who are serious about transforming their organization and growing their business in and beyond the post-pandemic landscape, this is a show not to be missed.

\After the 2-year hiatus due to the global pandemic, InfoComm Southeast Asia is happy to once again bring together Pro-AV technology providers and business users; technology experts, industry leaders and open minds ready to learn,\ said Richard Tan, Executive Director of InfoCommAsia. \Much has changed in terms of available tech-enhanced solutions and marketplace needs and trends. So, besides the opportunity for all stakeholders to reconnect face-to-face, InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022 is going to be an exciting space for visitors and delegates as they get up close and personal with exhibitors and experts  the drivers of tomorrow\-s technology and solutions. The Show is the place to seek out the most advanced Pro-AV ideas to-date, to create and deliver an exceptional customer experience in an increasingly hybrid world.\

THE EXHIBITION

Transformative Solutions for All Industries

The world has just begun to emerge from a painful yet revitalizing lesson. It has learnt the urgency of technology adoption and the importance of constant upgrading along with technological evolution, to be future-ready and disruption-proof. Increased technology implementation and integration lead to greater reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) to mitigate the consequent increase in security risks. This reality is already fast unfolding, driven by Pro-AV technologies, making InfoComm Southeast Asia an important show for AV and IT professionals and business decision-makers.

InfoComm Southeast Asia is where entrepreneurs, business leaders and technical professionals will discover the latest Pro-AV solutions that are transforming every industry. More than 130 exhibiting companies from over 20 participating countries will gather under one roof to showcase their innovations for the post-pandemic marketplace. These include brands like Epson, Lenovo, Microsoft, Panasonic, Philips, and more. Visitors can expect to see:

 Large screen, projection mapping, AR/VR solutions

for live events, museums, education and simulation training

 Security, flood and surveillance monitoring systems for network operations centers

 Control and automation solutions for smart city management

 Room automation and centralized systems for smart homes and offices

 Collaborative conferencing systems for in-person and hybrid meetings

 Smart classrooms

 Digital signage and display solutions for advertising and information

 Virtual and hybrid learning solutions

and more

DISCOVER SOLUTIONS WITH vBOOTH

Pre-Show Engagement for Better Show Experience

To enhance show experience for visitors, InfoComm Southeast Asia has introduced facilitative tools on the Show website. These tools will allow solution-seekers to identify exhibitors that have those solutions, and connect with them.

 An intuitive business matching system instantaneously presents visitors with a list of exhibitors, based on their industry and the solutions they seek.

 vBooth gives every exhibitor a dedicated page online, where visitors can explore the exhibitor\-s solutions via multimedia presentations. Information will include the exhibitor\-s range of solutions as well as products and solutions being presented at the Show.

 Business card drop facility lets visitors leave their details for callback by exhibitors, and appointment scheduler allows visitors to pre-arrange meet-ups with exhibitors at the Show.

All these will help visitors organize their visit way before the Show begins. Fully-utilised, visitors can look forward to a productive time at InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022.

THE SUMMIT

Insights into Developments and Trends for Informed Business Decisions

Concurrent to an exciting show floor is the InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022 Summit line-up. Multiple conference tracks cater to different industries and learner profiles. Delegates can look forward to more than 30 free-to-attend learning sessions in the form of keynotes, panel discussion and case studies.

Tracks for Vertical Market Solution-seekers and AV Professionals

 The two-day NIXT Summit focuses on end-to-end emerging tech solutions for businesses. Sessions delve into the successes and challenges of digital transformation practices in industries and enterprises.

Tracks for AV Professionals and Technology Decision-makers

 AVIXA Seminars help AV professionals stay in touch with technical updates, industry practices and trends across various industries and application scenarios.

 Asia AV Leaders Connect (By invite-only) gathers the AV industry\-s C-suite and directorate leaders across Asia for the exchange of intelligence; discussions on geopolitical and economic concerns as well as emerging technology trends and disruptions; and identification of growth opportunities.

 AV Managers Day sessions are designed for mid-level AV managers and use real-life case studies to delve into AV project challenges and how to overcome them.

There is also the AV Technical Tour which offers an opportunity to see Pro-AV solutions in situ. The \Smart Traffic Systems  Expressway Traffic Management Centre and Control Rooms\ tour will take delegates into the very heart of command and control scenarios, where condition monitoring, situational management, emergency response, etc are critical. Visitors can learn how advanced technologies and control systems enable the Expressway Authority of Thailand to effectively and efficiently provide the best experience for expressway users.

For the full Summit line-up and latest updates, please visit the official Show website at www.infocomm-sea.com.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Admission to Exhibition and Summit is Free

InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022 will be at BITEC from 2-4 November (Days 1 and 2: 10am  6pm; Day 3: 10am  4pm local time). Visitors can register to visit the Show at www.infocomm-sea.com. Admission is free.

About InfoCommAsia

InfoCommAsia Pte. Ltd. is the region\-s preeminent organizer of tradeshows for the Professional AudioVisual (Pro-AV) and Transformative Solutions industries. Through industry-leading shows in China, India and Southeast Asia, InfoCommAsia connects global and regional solution providers, vertical market end-users and the supply chain with the most important markets of Asia Pacific.

Additional information is available at:

infocomm-china.com | nixt-china.com | infocomm-india.com | infocomm-sea.com

For more information, please contact:

Rest of the World

Angie Eng

Marketing Director

InfoCommAsia Pte Ltd

angieeng@infocommasia.com

Thailand

Kanokwan Sukchaisri

Managing Director

Expo Inter Co., Ltd

kanokwan.infocommasia@expointer.net
My mother always used to say that you could tell the difference between an intern and a second-year resident by their sutures. One of the more common mistakes an intern makes is tying their sutures too tightly, which causes tension. The more tension, the longer it takes the wound to heal. It decreases blood flow, increases scar formation, and even necroses the skin. So even though they may have technically closed the wound, they may have opened the door to even more problems.

Episode two starts with another round on the interns life, we learn Simone lives with her father and grandma in Seattle (Im guessing she lived here her whole life), Mika is living in a trailer in the parking lot (Alex Karev much?), while Lucas is living in the on-call room, with the disapproval of his aunt Amelia, of course. Nick is officially the residency director - and I LOVE this title on him - and hes changing things around for both the interns and the attendings, sending emails to inform everyone of said changes, which makes Meredith feel bad because she OBVIOUSLY wanted him to talk to her in person. And I cant blame her.





Schmidt is confirmed chief resident, and hes clearly at his breaking point, and at one point in this episode we learn Taryn (Helm) is working as a bartender at Joes bar, and Schmidt begs her to come back.

In this episode, Simone and Jules have to face a mysterious case, where the patient is having short breath and a rash on his whole body, and consult both Chief Grey and Richard to help them. I think those two make a really great team.

To answer a question I made in the previous review, we learn Teddy and Owen ARE in fact, still married, although they spent probably 70% of the episode fighting. I get both of their points but, as always, Im #TeamTeddy. We all know Owen is a capable doctor, I think 10+ seasons of him established that, but the law is the law, and although sometimes it can be stupid to call another attending to perform an ultrasound, all this wouldnt have happened if he didnt screw up everything last season. I hope, though, they can repair this relationship because, whether you ship them or not, the writers spent WAY too much time focusing on their storyline to just let them break up on this. Theres too much history to burn them like that, so I hope theyll fix this, soon.

Same as I dont like Owen and Teddys storyline, Im not liking Maggie and Winstons AT ALL. I really hope they would give them a decent storyline - as a couple - but they spent the episode fighting? About patients? And ORs? What was the reason?

In the next scene, we see Meredith, Richard, and Teddy talking about the mysterious case Jules and Simone are working on, and come to a conclusion it is, in fact, a mysterious diagnosis, because the symptoms dont fit into anything they think about. So Meredith tells them to call all the other interns and start researching to find answers (another call-back to the past, in episode 1.01, Meredith and Cristina try to solve a case together)

Later we see Teddy discussing with Richard her relationship with Owen, thinking he sent Richard to her because shes starting drinking every night, and explaining to him how her relationship with Owen went in the past few monthshonestly, as Ive said before.

Meredith and Nick finally see each other, and she asks him about the kidney transplants - while we all know all she wanted to ask was how are you? - she asks him if he likes the new position, and where hes living now. Of course, she started with a professional question to end up with a personal one, its clear she doesnt know how to act around him because she loves him but doesnt totally understand if she can take a step toward him. Its been two episodes since this all thing started but it feels like a whole season, and as much as I like it, I cant wait for it to stop. Again, as Ive said over and over again, theyre adults, they love each otherand if getting closer means taking risksplease do!

Anyway, they get interrupted by Jules, asking her for help for the patient shes been treating, we learn they have to amputate the kid and Link says Jules has to do it. Can I just say I loved Adelaide Kane here?shes so good as Jules, she makes me feel all the feels, and in this scene, I felt the fear of a new doctor who for the first time in their life has no choice but to take a drastic measure to save someone's life.

In another scene we see Maggie and Winston fighting again because there are not enough senior residents and Winston has to postpone another surgery for the third time because Schmidt is assisting Maggie. And, as Ive said before, I get that they want to create angst or whatever butI dont see a real reason to do it. I dont agree with this at all.

Later we see Richard asking Nick for information about the way hes changing the residency program, and Richard apologized to him for the way he acted when Mer told him she was going to Minnesota, and he also expressed his support for him and Meredith's relationship AND the way hes running the program. I think it was very kind of him to apologize, and considering he has been Meredith's real father all these years, hearing him say he approves of them was a really sweet thing.

All this situation with Owen and Teddy finally got us something good: Mika learned how to intubate a patient. Its nice to see them learn stuff and to see all the interns paths, and its something they didnt focus on enough in later seasons (except for maybe some selected people). Talking about learning and solving, we switch to Simone running to Links OR to see Jules operating on the patient, and we see her learning how to operate following Links indications, while Simone tells them said patient hasnt been vaccinated. Case solved...and Im glad it was Jules and Simone (with Mika on another case) the focus of this episode. As I said before, I think theyre the ones with more potential than others.

Jo and Miranda meet each other for a moms-date at the park, with Prue and Luna, and we learn Miranda wrote a sex education program with a community clinic and she contributes to a womens organization. I love the path theyre taking for her because shes clearly back to her roots and I can see her a little bit more relaxed than she was as Chief. She says shes not ready to go back to the hospital. I mean we all know shes gonna come back once Meredith goes away, but I think she deserves to do what she wanted all along: help the community.

Almost at the end of the episode, we see Maggie and Winston reprise their discussion about her leaning on him to make everything and the fact she pulls him away from cases her to have him close (as a professional). Thankfully they made peace, and he explained to her she has to consider the residents and teach stuff to them too, and she cant lean on him forever.

Simone and Jules are definitely (or at least I hope so) the best friends of this new era, and Meredith is clearly pushing for it, asking Simone to help Jules get over the day shes been through. And Simone brought her to the tiny souvenir store of the hospital to buy a stuffed animal to give Jules comfort since shes not the comforting type.

While Mer and Nick are talking about the residency program in her office, Owen interrupts them to ask if he can be a teacher for the next 6 months. And if this is the direction theyre going to with himIm in. I like it. We can say hes not the best character on the show, HE WAS at one point years ago, but hes definitely not now. I think the teaching career could be good for him, hes good at it, and as I said, hes a good doctor. He was perfect with Mika in this episode sowhy not? Even I am excited about it.

Talking about Nick and Mer - the most important thing here - they went over the same discourse about their breakup all over again, while in the last episode we saw him explaining how he felt, now we got her point of view on the matter. She felt numb, and she felt like she had lost him, thats why she didnt call him for 6 months. She said that when she saw him in the corridor, she knew she could feel something again, she wasnt numb anymoreI loved this line so much because isnt that what love is like? Igniting us? Making us feel something we thought we couldnt feel anymore? Second chances are what this show, and this particular season, is about. And seeing Meredith feel something so intensely after the hell shes been through is yet another proof of what this couple is. Anyway, he asks her to dinner, and she said he could take her to Zolas presentation for the Pacific Northwest Scholars), and he accepts.

In this presentation we see Zola talking about her grandmother Ellis, her study in Minnesota, and the way she developed early Alzheimers symptoms. And not only do we see her grown up (shes SO BIG!), but we also learn shes afraid Meredith and Maggie are gonna develop those symptoms too and shes gonna be alone for the rest of her life. This scene seriously broke my heart because not only I felt her pain but I also realized she never healed from Dereks passing. Maybe she was too little, maybe she didnt have time to process it fully but its clear shes afraid to be abandoned again, involuntary.

What did you think of this episode? Did you like it? Let me know in the comments!
New York (United Nations), 15 October 2022 (SPS) - Algeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nadir Larbaoui, addressing the members of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) on Friday, stressed the legal and historical bases of Western Sahara issue, before deconstructing, with irrefutable evidence, Morocco's well-worn arguments about the issue and its allegations to distort the facts and mislead the international community.



In an address, Algeria's ambassador welcomed the number of statements made by several delegations and petitioners from various parts of the world in support of Western Sahara people's right to self-determination, including the grand-son of the iconic figure of struggle and freedom, the late leader Nelson Mandela.



Those statements are a reason for optimism and hope, given that the consciousness of free peoples is living and vibrant when it comes to human values, basic principles, the goals and the objectives of the United Nations, he underlined.



Ambassador Larbaoui regretted the United Nations' inability to carry out the missions they have been entrusted for the decolonization of 17 territories, including Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, at a time when the international community is mobilizing to reject and condemn the annexation of territories by force in other areas of the world, according to the reprehensible policy of double standards.



Ambassador Larbaoui recalled the legal nature of Western Sahara issue, mentioning the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council, all of which affirm Western Sahara people's legitimate right to self-termination.



He also cited the recent decision of the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights, which stipulated that Western Sahara people's right to self-determination and independence is an indisputable legal fact, and that African countries must apply the decision.



Regarding Morocco's attempt to propose a so-called autonomy plan as the only solution, Ambassador Larbaoui warned against this dangerous precedent that threatens the foundations of international law and the UN Charter.



The diplomat warned against lending credibility to such a proposal, which means, for the first time since the creation of the United Nations, legitimizing occupation and annexation of a territory by force.



He also denounced the policy of fait accompli adopted by Morocco, which is plundering the natural resources of Western Sahara people.



062/SPS/APS
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Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 42F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 42F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
In the address delivered at the end of the Te Deum service celebrated on Saturday in Alba Iulia to mark the Coronation Centennial, Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said that this landmark moment is an occasion to show gratitude to God and to everyone who contributed to the accomplishment of the Greater Union, told Agerpres.

"The 100th anniversary of the Coronation of King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria as sovereigns of Greater Romania is a moment of great celebration and an opportunity to show our gratitude to God and to all those who, by word and deed, have contributed to the accomplishment of the Greater Union of the Romanian people. We congratulate and bless all those who currently contribute through their multiple efforts to cultivating and promoting the importance of our national unity and dignity against the backdrop of present and future international cooperation," said Patriarch Daniel.

He went on to remark that this anniversary is also an occasion to recall the crucial role of the symbolic city Alba Iulia in the birth, fostering and passing on of the Romanian people's consciousness of unity and national identity, a mission confirmed by the enactment of the first union of the three Romanian principalities under the rule of Michael the Brave in 1600, and of the Great Union of Transylvania with Romania, on December 1, 1918.

"Collective memory, as we know, is short-lived, particularly when a nation goes through collective traumas: wars, totalitarian oppressive regimes, critical times, as was the communist period which manipulated consciences through aggressive atheistic propaganda in a bid to demolish faith and erase the historical truth of the contribution of the Romanian kings to the accomplishment of the ideal of the Romanian people's freedom and unity. Compared to other European nations, the Romanians have only few 'sites of memory' related to the historical past, in general. Alba Iulia is one of these sites! A visible, tangible landmark meant to keep alive in our and our descendants' memory the appreciation and gratitude for the sacrifice of the ancestors who laid down their lives for the fulfillment of the Romanian people's ideals of freedom and unity," the Patriarch said.

He also referred to the importance of the city's "Coronation" or "Reunification" Cathedral, as it is also known, as the place for the consecration of the crowns of the monarchs of Reunited Romania.

Several high Orthodox clergy were present at the Te Deum service: Metropolitan of Transylvania, Laurentiu; Metropolitan of Cluj, Andrei; Archbishop of Alba Iulia, Irineu; Bishop of Oradea, Sofronie; Bishop of Covasna and Harghita, Andrei; and Bishop of Deva and Hunedoara, Nestor.
Hundreds greeted the royal family of Romania as the royal train rolled on Saturday in the Alba Iulia station, in the city that, 100 years ago, hosted the ceremony of the coronation of King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria as sovereigns of the Greater Romania.

Crown Custodian Margareta, Prince Radu and Princess Sofia embarked on a symbolic journey by train from Cluj-Napoca to Alba Iulia on the occasion of the Coronation Centennial, in a nod to King Ferdinand and Queen Maria's historic trip to Alba Iulia on October 15, 1922.

Alongside the crowd, many of whom were dressed in folk costumes and carrying tricolor flags, representatives of the county and local administration were also present: Alba County Council president Ion Dumitrel, Prefect Nicolae Albu, Alba Iulia mayor Gabriel Plesa, and deputy Dan Barna from the Save Romania Union, according to agerpres.ro.

The members of the royal family were greeted with bread and salt, just like in Aiud and Teius, where the train stopped for 10 minutes each on Friday.

The royal procession then moved to the Nation's Reunification Cathedral, where they attended the Te Deum officiated by Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Christian Orthodox Church.

In the morning of October 15, 1922, King Ferdinand and Queen Maria arrived in Alba Iulia by train, as did representatives of royal or imperial houses, of governments, over 400 MPs, members of diplomatic missions and foreign press. The royal family was welcomed with bread and salt, after which the entire procession, with the King and the Queen in a closed carriage pulled by four horses, set off for the Orthodox cathedral.

Alba Iulia hosts October 13 through October 16 a string of events dedicated to the centennial anniversary of the "incorporation of Transylvania into Romania", which confirmed Transylvania's unification with Romania through the historical act of December 1, 1918.

Tens of thousands of people, including representatives of the diplomatic corps, special envoys from several countries and foreign journalists, participated 100 years ago in Alba Iulia in the coronation of King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria as sovereigns of Greater Romania in a ceremony conceived as an unforgettable spectacle.
European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Suica, and European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel visited on Saturday the Babes-Bolyai University (UBB) in Cluj-Napoca, in a bid to honor the institution's history, multicultural profile and academic leadership, UBB said in a release, told Agerpres.

"If in 2019 the Babes-Bolyai University celebrated 100 years of Romanian university, and in 2021 it celebrated 440 years of academic tradition (German tradition included), in October 2022 we mark 150 years of Hungarian higher education, as the University's multicultural profile with three official languages (Romanian/Hungarian/German) honors its past and projects it as one of the most complex European universities from this point of view, in accordance with the European language policies promoted through European university alliances,'' the Babes-Bolyai University said in the release.

UBB Rector, Professor Daniel David, presented the history of the institution, its multicultural profile and strategic projects as part of the Eutopia European alliance it is a member of.

The visiting European officials summarized, in their turn, the main lines of action of the European Commission and of their own portfolios, discussing them with the participants in the meeting.

"I am pleased with the attention shown by the European Commission to UBB's history, multicultural profile and academic leadership. This somewhat comes naturally, taking into account the University's academic profile and the fact that it is one of the social actors dedicated to European Romania and the EU. In essence, the key message of the EC Vice-President on democracy was that universities must train good specialists and good European citizens, something that UBB has stated in its mission and does well, and as far as the demographic part is concerned, that we must be careful with the circulation of talents. Through its multicampus structure (extensions) UBB is clearly part of this trend by which we avoid concentrations in certain areas to the detriment of others. The essential message of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel (...) was that through the various, extremely complex and dynamic initiatives and strategies, the European Commission wants to strengthen scientific research to become an engine of active education and innovation, in an academic context where new European institutions (such as European alliances) and innovative ecosystems organized in tiered networks (at local/regional/European level) are gradually being born," the UBB Rector said, as cited in the release.
The periodic review of International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) and Internet governance were two of the resolutions adopted on the penultimate day of the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organized in Bucharest, an event that ended on October 14.

Thus, the revised Resolution 146 on the periodic review of the International Telecommunication Regulations calls to continue consideration of issues relating to the ITRs, including their review, according to agerpres.ro.

The ITU Council is instructed to review and revise the terms of reference for the Expert Group on ITRs (EG-ITR) at its 2023 session, review EG-ITR reports at its annual sessions, and submit the final report of the EG-ITR to the 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference with the Council's comments.

According to an official statement from the organizers of PP-22, the final days of PP-22 saw delegates reach consensus on a number of resolutions on Internet governance following a series of long and complex discussions.

"Delegates agreed to update Resolution 102 on ITU's role in international public policy issues pertaining to the Internet, which says that ITU may assist member states to identify and access advice and support from other relevant entities and organizations, which include the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the regional Internet registries (RIRs), the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet Society (ISOC) and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), among others. Member states also resolved to strengthen the work of the ITU Council Working Group on Internet (CWG-Internet), so it can continue addressing international Internet-related public policy issues. CWG-Internet is tasked with contributing actively to implement the resolution and related international initiatives within the mandate of ITU," notes the cited source.

In addition, revised Resolution 102 instructs the ITU Secretary-General to participate in international discussions on the management of Internet domain names, addresses, and other Internet resources, taking the impact of new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs into account. The ITU SG is also tasked with the continued promotion of Internet connectivity for sustainable development, and to engage in other relevant UN activities on international Internet related public policy issues and to promote the work of ITU and its members.

Revised Resolution 133, which was also adopted in Bucharest, refers to the role of members states in managing internationalized (multilingual) domain names..

"A multilingual Internet can help build digital skills and literacy, especially for people in developing countries who have yet to be connected. In this context, internationalized domain names (IDNs) promote greater Internet use by all, and can contribute to sustainable development by promoting Internet accessibility and use in local languages. Member states and Sector members are invited to exchange information on IDN development, work on the further deployment and implementation of IDNs; to promote capacity building, information sharing, and the exchange of best practices among all stakeholders in IDN implementation and deployment; and to consider how to further promote the adoption of universal acceptance in respect of IDNs and to collaborate and coordinate with relevant organizations and stakeholders in enabling the use of IDNs in the Internet," the organizers said.

Romania organized between September 26 and October 14, at the Parliament Palace in Bucharest, the 21st Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (PP-22), with more than 3,000 leaders and delegates from 193 countries attending.

Alongside the National Communications Administration and Regulation Authority (ANCOM) and the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism, partners in organizing the conference were: the Senate of Romania, the Chamber of Deputies, the government's Secretariat General, the Finance Ministry, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Transformation, the Health Ministry, the Ministry of Culture, the Bucharest City Hall, the Special Telecommunications Service, the Protection and Security Service, and the Romanian TV Broadcaster.

The National News Agency AGERPRES was media partner of the event.

The next Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union will take place in 2026 in Doha - Qatar, a country that has previously hosted ITU's World Telecommunication Development Conference (2006), the Connect Arab Summit (2012) and ITU Telecom World (2014).

The International Telecommunication Union is the United Nations' specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), which promotes innovation in this field, together with its 193 member states and over 900 members from companies, universities and international and regional organizations.

Founded 157 years ago, the ITU is an intergovernmental organization whose main task is to coordinate the safe use of the global radio spectrum, promote international cooperation on the assignment of satellite orbits, improve communications infrastructure in developing countries and establish worldwide standards to encourage the seamless interconnection of a wide range of communications systems.
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Bay is pleased to announce that Emefa Kuadey, designer and founder of israella KOBLA, has been selected as the recipient The Bays Fashion Fund, an initiative built to mentor and support emerging BIPOC designers in Canada. Kuadey has been awarded a $25,000 grant coupled with a three-year mentorship program designed to tackle some obstacles new designers face when entering the competitive retail landscape.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221014005603/en/

Emefa Kuadey, designer and founder of isarella KOBLA. Image Credit: Sofia Guevara

Kuadey, British born of Ghanaian descent began her career as a civil engineer. In 2017 Kuadey left the engineering field to pursue her passion for design, enrolling at George Brown College. In 2019 she was invited to showcase her work at Vancouver Fashion Week. Following the success of VFW, Emefa released isarella KOBLAs debut collection, Freed from Captivity, that same year.

Inspiration for the Toronto-based brand comes from a juxtaposition of the designers interests - fashion and engineering. Each collection is designed to transcend time, re-imagining minimalism with focus placed on innovative construction and quality finishing.

Said Emefa, As a designer of African descent, it has been important for me to redefine what an Africa-owned brand looks like and what clothing produced on the continent can be like in terms of quality and style. I currently produce israella KOBLA in Toronto, and I have a goal of opening a secondary production facility in Ghana. My vision is to evoke the same feeling that Made in Italy brings to people, with Made in Ghana contemporary fashion.

There is so much creativity and ingenuity amongst the fashion talent in Canada, said Tyler Franch, VP and Fashion Director, The Bay. It is incredibly important to create equity in the industry and nurture this talent. Canadian fashion is inspired, diverse and world-class, and we need to celebrate that.

The review and selection process was led by the Fashion Funds advisory council, consisting of some of the countrys leading industry and societal change-makers.

ABOUT THE BAY

Through a digital-first, purpose-driven lens, The Bay helps Canadians live their best style of life. The Bay operates thebay.com featuring Marketplace, one of the largest premium life & style digital platforms in Canada, with a seamless connection to a network of 84 Hudson's Bay stores. The Bay has established a reputation for quality and style through an unrivalled assortment of products and categories including fashion, home, beauty, food concepts and more. Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

The Bay and Hudsons Bay operate under the HBC brand portfolio. Founded in 1670, HBC is North Americas oldest company. The signature stripes are a registered trademark of HBC.

ABOUT CAFA

CAFA was created to support and celebrate the Canadian Fashion industry. Through the recognition and promotion of outstanding achievement and emerging talent in Canadian fashion, CAFA is dedicated to generating a stronger appreciation and market for our artists both in Canada and abroad and to support the economic development of the Canadian fashion industry. CAFA is committed to further developing and cultivating our homegrown talent by creating mentorship and financial opportunities as well as establishing collaborative partnerships that strive to unite the fashion community and the various, existing, fashion initiatives around the country. Additional information can be found at www.cafawards.ca

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221014005603/en/

Media:

Tiffany Bourre

DVP, Communications and PR

The Bay

[email protected]

Suzanne Cohon

Principal

ASC Public Relations, Inc.

647-477-5909

[email protected]

Source: Hudson's Bay Company
Featuring world-renowned artists and the latest public art exhibition at a local landmark

HONG KONG & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- This autumn, Hong Kong will showcase a new series of arts and culture experiences to welcome travellers to discover the arts and culture hub in person. Arts and culture have always been among the citys key tourism appeals. With the development of world-class art venues in recent years, Hong Kong has continued to add new experiences to elevate its profile in the global arts and culture scene.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221016005039/en/

A three-story high Gummy Bear sculpture by American artist WhIsBe is part of the "Tick Tock, Tick Tock" art exhibition in Hong Kong this autumn. (Photo: Business Wire)

Not to be missed are the following exhibitions and happenings around town, ranging from world-renowned artists to the citys latest public art installation at a Hong Kong landmark.

The newest must-see art exhibitions around town

Giant 26-Foot-Tall Gummy Bear Sculpture coming to the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower brought by the First Initiative Foundation

Nov 17, 2022  Mid-Dec 2022 | Near the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower

First Initiative Foundation will hold a large-scale public art exhibition, called "TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK" next to an iconic landmark, the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, in mid-November. The exhibition will feature renowned American artist WhIsBe's largest art piece to date, a giant red sculpture that juxtaposes a modern form and prehistoric elements via the incorporation of dinosaur features with the well-loved gummy bear. A smaller teal sculpture, standing eight-feet high, will also be featured at the iconic Hong Kong harbor-front. The two sculptures will be complemented by playful digital elements such as AR effects and Instagram filters to further enhance the viewing experience and remind visitors of sweet memories.

Immersive Media Art Exhibition ARTE M at K11 HACC

Oct 2022  Dec 2023 | 2F K11 HACC K11 ATELIER Kings Road

Hong Kong welcomes ARTE M to K11 ATELIER Kings Road for a 15-month special temporary edition of the immersive media art exhibition ARTE MUSEUM in its first-ever overseas location. It is created by Korean digital design company dstrict, the team behind WAVE, a hugely popular public media art installation at COEX in Seoul. Bringing together six media artworks under the theme Eternal Nature, the exhibition will move permanently to 11 SKIES in late 2023 to early 2024, with more works added to the collection.

New experiences in West Kowloon Cultural District

M+ celebrates its first anniversary with Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now

Nov 14, 2022 May 14, 2023 | M+, West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD)

M+ will stage Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now opening on its first anniversary. The exhibition will be Kusamas largest retrospective in Asia outside Japan, featuring over 200 works from major collections from museums and private collections from Asia, Europe and the United States, the M+ Collection and the artists own collection. Visitors will be invited to dive into Kusamas over seven-decade career in the retrospective highlighting the core aesthetic elements of her work and foregrounding her recurring philosophical questions, and discover the transformative power of art. Three brand new works will be displayed across different levels of the M+ building.

Hong Kong Palace Museum presents Odysseys of Art: Masterpieces Collected by the Princes of Liechtenstein with Exquisite Treasures from the Liechtenstein Princely Collections

Nov 9, 2022 Feb 20, 2023 | Gallery 8, Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM)

The highly anticipated exhibition brings over 120 priceless treasures from the prestigious Princely Collection of Liechtenstein to Hong Kong for the very first time, and articulates the HKPMs mission of advancing dialogue among world civilizations. Divided thematically into eight sections, the special exhibition sheds new light on the Collection by diving into each princes unique art collecting practice, as well as the profound influence of Chinese art and culture on European decorative arts and architecture over the past 400 years. A major highlight will be the citys largest presentation of masterpieces by 17th century Baroque painters Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck, whose dramatic expression and vibrant palette made them highly sought-after by the European royalties.

West Kowloon Cultural Districtss Cultural Plaza brings masterpieces to life with En Voyage with Claude Monet

Oct 27, 2022 Jan 15, 2023 | Cultural Plaza, WKCD

Situated next to Xiqu Centre, the Cultural Plaza at the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) debuts the 360-degree sound and light show, En Voyage with Claude Monet, the first ever immersive experience of the French artist in Hong Kong. Curated by the Belgian creative studio Dirty Monitor and local art tech organizer ChillHoYeah, visitors will come across approximately 200 of Monets masterpieces in a 36-minute journey, walking through masterpieces like Impression, Soleil Levant (1872), the painting for which the Impressionist movement was named.

For latest travel requirements for inbound travellers, please visit https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/plan/traveller-info/boarding-and-testing-arrangements-upon-arrival.html.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221016005039/en/

For media enquiries:

Anne Gomm

Senior Manager, Public Relations & Marketing

Hong Kong Tourism Board US

[email protected]

Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board
CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eavor Technologies Inc. (Eavor), the leader in globally scalable geothermal technology, is pleased to announce that Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (CHUBU) has entered an agreement to make a direct investment in Eavor and support the commercialization of Eavor-Loop technology.

Along with CHUBUs investment they will have a representative on Eavors Board of Directors. CHUBUs presence and influence will be of paramount importance as Eavor completes first projects and enters its global commercialization phase.

The Eavor-Loop system differs from conventional geothermal solutions as it uses conduction to retrieve heat from the earths subsurface, resulting in a long-term, reliable, predictable and independent supply of renewable energy. This completely closed loop system provides a highly scalable source of heat and power without the typical exploration risk.

Mr. Hiroki Sato, Senior Executive Managing Officer at CHUBU, commented: A technology such as this is a true game-changer and represents a potential transformation to the worlds energy stack, addresses climate change as well as energy autonomy and independence issues simultaneously. CHUBU is excited to be working with Eavor and supporting a solution to some of the worlds most intractable problems. This is an important strategic step for CHUBU fully aligned with our Management Vision 2.0 which defines CHUBUs efforts to achieve sustainable growth.

John Redfern, President & CEO at Eavor, stated that: The opportunity and plan for global deployment of this technology requires partners like CHUBU. The involvement of CHUBU as one of our partners and Board members represents a fantastic endorsement of our technology, its commercialization and global scalability. Ultimately, when it lives up to its potential, Eavors solution is not only the missing element needed to fully decarbonize the worlds energy supply, it is also an opportunity for localized economies to obtain resilient, independent, autonomous, domestic energy resources. This changes everything.

Watch Our New Video: Eavor - The Complete Package: https://youtu.be/3cNO2cR5Azk

About CHUBU Electric Power Co., Inc.

CHUBU is one of the largest energy companies in Japan, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE: 9502). CHUBU Group has more than seven decades history consisting of energy value chain which includes power generation, power transmission/distribution and energy retail business. Aiming for a decarbonized energy company, CHUBU is expanding its business territory on a global basis with the optimal business portfolio, which consists of four domains of (i) "green" business centered on renewable energy, (ii) blue" business in relation to de-carbonization, (iii) retail, power transmission and distribution, and new services and (iv) new technologies. CHUBU is promoting decarbonizing business to create a synergy between domestic business in Japan and global business to enhance its corporate value. For more details, please visit https://www.chuden.co.jp/english/

About Eavor Technologies Inc.

Eavor (pronounced Ever) is a technology-based energy company led by a team dedicated to creating a clean, reliable, and affordable energy future on a global scale. Eavors solution (Eavor-Loop) represents the worlds first truly scalable form of clean, dispatchable, baseload capable, and flexible power. Eavor achieves this by mitigating or eliminating many of the issues that have traditionally hindered geothermal energy. Eavor instead circulates a benign working fluid that is completely isolated from the environment in a closed-loop, through a massive subsurface radiator. This radiator simply collects heat from the natural geothermal gradient of the Earth via conduction. Eavor has been supported by equity investments made by several leading global energy producers, investors, developers, and venture capital funds including Vickers Venture Partners, bp Ventures, Temasek, Chevron Technology Ventures, BHP Ventures, Helmerich & Payne, Precision Drilling, BDC Capital and CHUBU. [email protected]

Contact Data

Eavor Technologies Inc.John RedfernPresident & CEO[email protected]Tel: +1-650-269-2501

Source: Eavor Technologies Inc.
The project will allow windows to turn opaque and clear with little energy and low costs.

KENT, Ohio, Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, Dr. Clinton Braganza, the Manager of Research and Development and Principal Scientist at Kent Displays, Inc., visited co-researchers at Jeonbuk National University in Korea to continue research on the collaborative project, "Energy-saving bistable light shutters using carbon-based nanocomposites," with the Department of Nano Convergence Engineering at the University. Kent Displays is the maker of bestselling writing tablet, Boogie Board.

The "Energy-saving bistable light shutters using carbon-based nanocomposites" international joint research project commercializes carbon-based nanocomposites and furthers the economic prosperity of the United States and Korea. The ITECH research and development program under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology supports this collaborative work.

The research project is developing switchable light shutter on flexible substrates that allow windows to turn opaque to clear and back again using minimal electric power. This version does not need power to stay in either opaque or clear states, making it sustainable and potentially very cost-effective. The technology applications make it easier to sanitize than today's plastic blinds and will last longer. The electronic background also makes it possible to integrate with mobile apps for easier control.

The optical performance of these panels is unmatched in the industry, creating very high haze and opacity in the privacy state and high clarity at high angles in the clear state. In addition to constant improvement in research and development, Kent Displays also manufactured parts for the technology on their world class roll to roll manufacturing machines.

Braganza's visit to Korea was partly to visit his co-researchers, Prof. Seung Hee Lee, Dr. MinSu Kim (Principal Instructor) and DaYeon Lee (Graduate Researcher) from the Departments of Polymer Nano Science and Technology and Nano Convergence Engineering in Jeonbuk National University.

"This project allows our team [Kent Displays] to work on industry-leading research and to further our research team by hiring exceptional researcher David Starr," stated Braganza. "Kent Displays is located in what journalists call the new technical heartland of the United States, and we're excited to continue our work with Jeonbuk National University to commercialize this technology further."

Although more research is needed, Kent Displays and Jeonbuk National University are invested in supporting an international research opportunity to improve both the United States and Korean economy and technological prowess.

About Kent Display, Inc.

Founded in early 1994, Kent Displays has become the world leader in reflective bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display technology. Commercialized in the 1990s, this technology was globally licensed and continues to be licensed in applications for signage and instrumentation. In the early 2000s, Kent Displays made significant advances in extending the technology toward flexible materials and manufacturing.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kent-displays-principal-technologist-visits-jeonbuk-national-university-to-further-research-on-switchable-light-shutter-technology-301648694.html

SOURCE Kent Displays, Inc.
SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Willog, a leading cold chain monitoring solution provider, announced a strategic partnership with GBD Chile, a solution distributor in the agricultural and fruit sector in Chile. This new partnership will help organizations in South America improve efficiency within its field operations.

We're very excited to partner with GBD Chile in delivering innovative cold chain solutions to the South American market.

"We're very excited to partner with GBD Chile in delivering innovative cold chain solutions to the South American market." said Willog CEO and Founder Jihyun Yoon. "By combining GBD Chile's expertise in market intelligence, networked with Willog's innovative technology, and in-transit and item-level visibility data, customers in South America will get true insights on what is happening with their shipments."

Willog leverages a QR-code based monitoring device called OTQ (One Time QR-code). OTQ, with its cloud-based management console, helps companies gain end-to-end visibility throughout the cold chain. With customized visibility by shipping unit, this flexible integration helps companies gain insightful business insights and data, creating a reliable logistics environment.

Willogs monitoring solution enables businesses to seamlessly identify areas with repetitive issues and devise preventive measures to save time and money. "We were able to improve productivity by 200% and get rid of the time-consuming logistics process with Willog's solution." said Chong Kun Dang, a leading pharmaceutical company in Korea.

As of May 2021, Willog acquired 25 enterprise customers including MNCs like Hyundai Motor Group and DHL Express within a year. Willog is expanding its presence in various industries including bio-pharmaceutical and special logistics, where condition monitoring is key to business continuity. Strengthening its leadership position in Korea, Willog will accelerate global expansion with partnerships in America, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia.

Visit: https://willog.io and www.gbdchile.com.

About Willog

As a fast-growing startup, Willog provides a "cold chain data monitoring solution" that innovates the cold chain area, and its efforts are to create a transparent logistics flow. Willog owns 37 IPs including design and technology patents, PCTs, and copyrights.

Willog raised a series of funding last year, led by Hanwha Investment Securities with participation from IGIS Investment Partners, Shinhan Capital, and Aju IB Investment. Willog is currently preparing for the next round of investments to bolster its growth and accelerate next-generation solutions. Willog plans to meet global investors at TechCrunch Disrupt 2022 in San Francisco, California.

Media Contact:Mia ChoiEmail: [email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/willog-partners-with-gbd-chile-to-expand-cold-chain-monitoring-solutions-in-south-america-301646934.html

SOURCE KIC Silicon Valley
(Tribune News Service)  The U.S. military was conned into buying $20 million worth of fake, unsafe uniforms and gear by a man who is now going to prison, prosecutors say.

Tens of thousands of fake jackets, flame-resistant hoods that werent actually flame-resistant and more pieces of military apparel were issued to U.S. Air Force bases worldwide to be worn by deployed Airmen, according to the Justice Department.

While the gear and uniforms were passed off as genuine American-made products, they were made in China and put the service members who wore them in danger, prosecutors say. Many of the products lacked safety features and were not up to U.S. military standards.

Now a judge has sentenced the leader of the conspiracy, Ramin Kohanbash, 52, a Brooklyn wholesaler, to three years and four months in prison, according to an Oct. 13 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Rhode Island. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods in 2019.

Kohanbash was also ordered to pay back $20 million he made in sales, the release says.

McClatchy News contacted Kohanbashs attorney on Oct. 14 and was awaiting a response.

American servicemen and women risk their lives every day in defense of the nation, U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said in a statement. But the risks they face should never come from the uniforms they wear, and the equipment they carry.

Other victims of Kohanbashs conspiracy to sell counterfeit military apparel include several businesses that make clothing and gear for military clients, prosecutors say.

One included a family-owned Rhode Island company that lost more than $639,000 after distributing fake military products that were initially distributed to the business by Kohanbash, according to the Justice Department.

In court documents submitted ahead of Kohanbashs sentencing, his attorney wrote the unfortunate and harmful events that led him to a guilty plea are very much at odds with the honorable man described by his wife, children, friends and business associates.

The case

From 2013 to 2018, Kohanbash had counterfeit military gear created in China and imported into the U.S., court documents state.

Among the fake gear given to the Air Force were at least 13,332 fake jackets detectable by enemies night vision goggles and 18,597 non-flame-resistant hoods, according to the release.

Kohanbash worked with at least two other men  Bernard Klein, 41, of Brooklyn and Terry Roe, 49, of Burlington, North Dakota  and sent samples of real U.S. military uniforms and gear to makers in China so they could mass-produce the apparel as accurately as possible, prosecutors say.

McClatchy News contacted attorneys representing Klein and Roe for comment on Oct. 14 and was awaiting a response.

Chinese manufacturers copied the real military products, as well as tags and trademarks, and re-created them before shipping the pieces out to Kohanbashs warehouse in New Jersey where they would be stored, according to the Justice Department.

Kohanbash and Klein came up with a strategy to fool Chinese and U.S. customs, allowing the fake gear to enter the U.S., prosecutors say.

Then, the counterfeit garments would be sold to the U.S. military and its suppliers, including a North Dakota supplier where Roe was employed, the release states.

Under U.S. law, products sold to the military must be made in the country or another country thats permitted to make them, according to the Justice Department.

China is not one of those countries, the release says.

In a letter submitted to court, Maj. Gen. Stacey T. Hawkins, the Air Forces director of logistics, civil engineering, force protection and nuclear integration, wrote that he appreciates the court recognizing the Air Force as a victim and that he learned 30 different types of military gear given to the Air Force were fake.

Hawkins said thousands of these items failed to protect deployed United States Airmen, according to his letter.

These Airmen are our Nations fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, wives and husbands, Hawkins wrote. They deserve better than to be put at risk due to Mr. Kleins and Mr. Kohanbashs greed.

Klein was sentenced to one year and six months in prison in April 2021 and was ordered to pay a fine of $15,000 and restitution of $400,000, according to the release. Klein paid $348,000 as part of a civil settlement agreement related to the case.

Roes sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20, according to the Justice Department. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and traffic in counterfeit goods in February.

For them, it was just business. But it was much more than that to their victims, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

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HONOLULU (Tribune News Service)  The Navy says it does not yet have a timeline for when it will be able to fully repair a broken 36-inch water main, leaving the 93,000 people who depend on its water system to continue conservation measures and keep boiling their household water until further notice.

On Friday morning, the Navy responded to the main break at the Waiau Hawaiian Electric power station and two smaller leaks. Capt. Mark Sohaney, commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, on Saturday said more information on the complex site of the major break is required before a repair estimate can be provided.

We got our assessment team on site but we dont have an estimated timeline of repair, Sohaney said while speaking to reporters at the Navy Exchange parking lot, where personnel were distributing bottled water to residents. Its a complex site. Its in a community, its right next to a stream, its right on a bike path, its next to the water. ... I want to do this at the speed of safety.

He added later that new and old infrastructure in the water system at the area of the broken water main is adding to that challenge. That part of the system does not have a history of problems, he said.

The water main break has affected joint base facilities, housing, child development centers, schools, the Navy Exchange and some non-Department of Defense customers.

The Navy on Friday began distributing drinking water to residents of military family housing following the advisory telling them to boil their water before consuming it because of possible contamination. Residents are able to get 1 gallon of water per person, per day.

On Saturday, 23,500 gallons of water were handed out between the two distribution sites at Hickam Main Exchange and Navy Exchange. Sohaney said water also is being delivered to Iroquois Point, where more than 1, 450 homes on the Navys water system are located.

Water distribution is continuing from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice.

Sohaney said there hasnt been any indication the water coming out of household faucets is contaminated as a result of the main break and that no water outages had been reported.

All residents have water. Some have a little lower water pressure than others, but so far there are no known outages, he said. If you have a water outage or a decrease in water thats not sufficient, thats what I want to know.

On the JBPHH Facebook page, some residents complained about having little or no water, although Navy officials said most of those problems occurred soon after Fridays main breaks.

The disruption in water service also put a halt on the unpacking, or removal, of fuel from underground Red Hill fuel storage facility pipelines.

The Navy is removing the fuel as it moves to permanently shut down the facility. In November, fuel from the pipelines made its way into the Navys water system, leading to contamination that sickened hundreds of residents.

The three water main breaks currently identified by Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam impacted water pressure to many sites, including systems being used to prepare for unpacking operations at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, the Navy said in a news release Friday. Joint Task Force-Red Hill will adjust the start date of unpacking to early next week as a prudent step focusing on safety.

Sohaney said the unpacking wouldnt start until the Navy achieves full water restoration.

The Navy hasnt yet made a recommendation for child development centers and public schools that were closed Friday following the water main breaks and scheduled to resume Monday. Sohaney said his staff is surveying water users to better understand the effects of the main breaks before providing input.

The two smaller main breaks took place in the Salt Lake and West Loch areas. The second leak is believed to have been caused by a car crash near a Navy Exchange in Pearl City about 30 minutes after the main break in Waiau. The third leak was an expected result of containing the other main breaks and fluctuating water pressure.

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Widespread flooding, caused by extreme rainfall and the release of excess water from a dam in neighboring Cameroon, has left 1.4 million Nigerians displaced and claimed 500 lives, according to government officials.

The floods also injured 1,546 people, completely destroyed 70,566 hectares of farmland and "totally damaged" 45,249 homes, said Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, Nigeria's permanent secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

Floodwaters affected 27 of Nigeria's 36 states, officials said.

Satellite imagery from Landsat 9 showed major swelling of the Niger and Benue rivers in southern Nigeria, where NASA wrote floodwaters "inundated numerous communities." Where the rivers converged, the imagery revealed floodwaters overwhelming Lokoja, the capital of the state of Kogi.

"Flooding continued to the south, including a noticeably widespread area spanning southern Kogi and the northern part of Anambra state," NASA reported.

Last week, 76 people drowned in Anambra when their boat capsized as they tried to escape high floodwaters, according to multiple news organizations. Floodwater had risen as high as rooftops in Kogi and Anambra, CNN reported. Over 600,000 people have been displaced in Anambra due to floodwater.

"It's saddening. All of a sudden, people are left with no homes and turned to beggars in weeks. No matter how rich they were, the displacement has reduced them so much," Chiamaka Ibeanu, a registered nurse who lives in Onitsha in the state of Anambra, told The Washington Post.

Ibeanu's immediate family lives in Ossomari and Atani, nearby areas of Anambra close to the Niger River. She received word that her aunt and uncle had been displaced after their home was completely covered by water.

"The items she [her aunt] couldn't pack are in water . . . and she doesn't have any other home," Ibeanu said. "If not for the accommodation at the Primary Healthcare Centre, she would have been stranded."

Since the beginning of Nigeria's rainy season, which lasts from April to October, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), predicted flooding was imminent and that some parts of the country would witness increased rainfall paired with water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. They foresaw that the volume of water across Nigeria would increase.

"[C]ommunities must recognize that all disasters are local and they must take climate predictions and flood outlook warnings seriously," said Alhaji Ali Grema, Nigeria's director of humanitarian affairs.

Sani-Gwarzo said the scale of this year's flooding is similar to the last major flooding Nigeria experienced in 2012, which displaced 1.3 million people and claimed the lives of 431. In 2012, 30 of Nigeria's 36 states were affected.

"The scale of devastation can only be compared to the 2012 floods," said Sadiya Umar, the minister of humanitarian affairs, in a statement.

The submergence of farmlands has sparked fears of increased food insecurity and heightened food prices.

"Their farmlands are covered in the flood. This means that what was planted is swept away and there might be food scarcity next year," Ibeanu said.

The humanitarian affairs ministry said the federal government has committed to providing relief to all communities.

"We are taking all the necessary actions to bring relief to the people affected by the flood. All relevant agencies have renewed their commitment to strengthen their efforts in reaching out to the victims and bringing relief to them," Sani-Gwarzo said.

On Friday, the humanitarian affairs ministry announced that the Nigerian government had begun to distribute 12,000 metric tons of food and nonfood items to states devastated by the flooding.

Nigeria's national policy document on climate change, published in 2020, states floods have increased in recent years and that climate change is expected "to increase the frequency and intensity of severe weather events."

"Unfortunately, many States in Nigeria largely lack the infrastructure necessary to respond adequately to such events," the report states.
Iran is strengthening its commitment to supply arms for Russias assault on Ukraine, according to U.S. and allied security officials, secretly agreeing to send not only attack drones but also what some officials described as the first Iranian-made surface-to-surface missiles intended for use against Ukrainian cities and troop positions.

The increased flow of weapons from Tehran could help offset what Biden administration officials say have been huge losses in Russian military equipment since Moscow invaded in February, and a rapidly dwindling supply of precision-guided munitions of the kind used in last weeks strikes against multiple Ukrainian cities.

Independent news outlets in recent days published photos of the remains of what appear to be Iranian-made drones used in strikes against Ukrainian targets, calling into question Irans repeated denials that it has supplied such weapons to its ally Russia. Pentagon officials also publicly confirmed the use of Iranian drones in Russian airstrikes, as well as Ukraines success in shooting some of the drones down.

In an apparent sign of Irans expanded role as a military supplier to Moscow, Tehran dispatched officials to Russia on Sept. 18 to finalize terms for additional weapons shipments, including two types of Iranian surface-to-surface missiles, according to officials from a U.S.-allied country that closely monitors Irans weapons activity.

An intelligence assessment shared in recent days with Ukrainian and U.S. officials contends that Irans armaments industry is preparing a first shipment of Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar missiles, two well-known Iranian short-range ballistic missiles capable of striking targets at distances of 300 and 700 kilometers, respectively, two officials briefed on the matter said. If carried out, it would be the first delivery of such missiles to Russia since the start of the war.

The officials spoke on the condition that their names and nationalities not be revealed because of the extreme sensitivities surrounding intelligence-collection efforts.

In August, the same officials identified specific Iranian drones, the Shahed series and the Mohajer-6, that Tehran was beginning to supply to Russia for use in Ukraine. The remains of both types have been recovered, analyzed and photographed by Ukrainian forces in recent weeks. Russia appears to have repainted the weapons and given them Russian names.

The officials briefed on the planned missiles shipment said Iran also is preparing new deliveries of unmanned aerial vehicles for Russia, including dozens of additional Mohajer-6s and a larger number of Shahed-136s. The latter, sometimes called kamikaze drones because they are designed to crash into their targets, are capable of delivering explosive payloads at distances of up to 1,500 miles. Iranian technical advisers have visited Russian-controlled areas in recent weeks to provide instructions on operating the drones, the officials said.

U.S. intelligence agencies declined to comment on the reports of pending Iranian shipments to Russia. Russian and Iranian officials did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday on reports of Russian-bound Iranian missiles.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the Islamic Republic of Iran has not and will not provide any weapon to be used in the war in Ukraine, according to a Saturday readout of his call with his Portuguese counterpart. We believe that the arming of each side of the crisis will prolong the war.

On Oct. 3, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani repeated Irans persistent denials of any involvement with supplying drones to Russia. The Islamic Republic of Iran considers reports about delivering drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine war baseless and does not confirm them, he said. Kanani reasserted Irans claim of neutrality in the conflict and stressed the need for the two sides to solve their problems through political means free from violence.

The Kyiv government has been briefed on the evidence behind the new intelligence, a Ukrainian official told The Washington Post. Ukraine has separately assessed that the majority of drones recently deployed by Russia in the southern Ukraine are Iranian-made.

Ukraine recently downgraded its diplomatic ties with Tehran in response to the appearance of Iranian-made drones over the battlefield. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week cited Russias recent airstrikes in urging NATO countries to supply his country with advanced air-defense systems.

We need to protect our sky from the terror of Russia, Zelensky said Thursday in a speech to the Council of Europe.

Like Iran, Russia has pushed back against Western reports about the shipment of Iranian weapons for its Ukrainian campaign, with Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov deriding such accounts as bogus.

But Iranian drones already have made their mark, destroying several Ukrainian tanks and damaging civilian infrastructure in repeated strikes in the past three weeks, Ukrainian officials say. Missiles experts say the arrival of surface-to-surface missiles could give Russia powerful new weapons at time when Kyivs forces are reclaiming captured territory across large swaths of southern and eastern Ukraine, successes that are due in part to Western-supplied artillery.

The progression from drones to surface-to-surface missiles could give the Russians more options and a lot of punch, said Farzin Nadimi, an expert on Iranian weapons at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a Washington think tank.

Iran possesses one of the largest and most diverse arsenals of short- and medium-range missiles in the Middle East. While Iranian weapons designers have struggled with reliability problems, the newest versions of the Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar are considered by experts to be both potent and reasonably accurate at relatively short distances, Nadimi said. Some models come with electrooptic guidance systems that allow missile operators to guide them in their final approach to the target.

Iran previously provided the same missiles to proxy militia groups in the Middle East, most notably Houthi fighters in Yemen. Houthi forces have displayed Iranian-designed missiles in military parades and used them in attacks against oil refineries and other civilian targets in neighboring Gulf countries.

Russia already possesses an array of unarmed aerial vehicles, or UAVs, which are used mainly for surveillance and artillery spotting. But Moscow has not invested in large fleets of armed drones of the type that U.S. forces have routinely used in military campaigns in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Moscow did command a vast arsenal of precision-guided missiles and rockets at the outset of the Ukraine invasion, but U.S. officials say its stockpile has been dramatically reduced over the course of the war, now in its seventh month.

According to a presentation by a senior U.S. intelligence official on Friday, Russias growing reliance on countries like Iran and North Korea is evidence of the impact of sanctions and export controls imposed by Western countries in the wake of the Ukraine invasion.

According to the information presented by Deputy Director of National Intelligence Morgan Muir, Russia has lost more than 6,000 pieces of equipment since the start of the war and was expending munitions at an unsustainable rate.

Blocked by sanctions from obtaining Western electronics, Russia is turning to countries like Iran and North Korea for supplies and equipment, including drones, artillery munitions and rockets, Muir said, addressing a group of top international finance officials at the Treasury Department.

Muir also noted that Russias defense industry depends heavily on imports for material such as microprocessors and optical and thermal imaging technology.
A deployed Army sergeant built a program that could help troops defend themselves against deadly aerial drones in the Middle East.

Sgt. Mickey Reeve built a prototype training simulator on an 8-year-old laptop in a tent in the middle of the Arabian desert, the infantryman told Stars and Stripes.

His idea made him the winner Friday of U.S. Central Commands first Innovation Oasis, a Shark Tank-style competition that asked troops to pitch solutions to problems theyre facing.

About 160 troops submitted ideas that included the use of blockchain technology in the militarys supply chain and using Centcoms badging system to make daily accountability easier.

Irans aerial drones, among the most advanced in the world, have allowed that country to launch attacks and gain localized air superiority in proxy wars in Yemen, Iraq and Syria, experts and U.S. military officials have said.

Central Command currently only has one laptop that allows troops to train on anti-drone defense, Reeve said in a pitch document.

That laptop only allows training on one anti-drone system, said Reeve, who is currently deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia as a member of that bases Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) team.

This means that troops could be ill-prepared to work with the many disparate systems developed by different units and military branches, many of which do not communicate well together.

CENTCOM currently has severely limited training solutions for its operators and base C-UAS systems, Reeve said.

He hopes that operators can use his simulator to train teams on multiple systems.

Four other service members identified problems theyre facing and pitched their potential solutions in the final round of Central Commands ideas competition.

Army Maj. Matt Goyette pitched a military supply system based on the blockchain, a digital ledger where transactions are recorded in a way that makes it difficult for hackers to disrupt. If implemented, troops would have to spend less time on inventory, Goyette said.

Air Force Capt. Kendra Kirkland proposed streamlining Central Commands accountability system, which attempts to keep track of where troops are each day. The current system is inflexible and requires a laborious process of physically marking troops present, said Kirkland, who manages human resources programs.

It wastes time trying to reach members and does not serve a realistic purpose in the event of an emergency or evacuation to get an accurate count of personnel within CENTCOM, Kirkland said in a pitch document.

Moving the system to an unclassified network would allow troops to mark themselves as on leave or traveling, she proposed. The already existing badging system  which tracks when ID cards are used to scan into different areas  could be integrated into daily accountability, she added.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Stephen Larson, deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, proposed a fix to the difficulties he has seen when loading airplanes with cargo pallets.

The military uses rectangular pallets that must be rotated to fit on a C-17 cargo plane. Sometimes, if pallets are crooked or turn while loading, straps and brute strength are the only ways to push them into place, said Larson, who designed a bracket that would help guide the pallets.

Army Lt. Col. Ferdinand Bacomo compiled lessons from his deployment, where he helped establish a new type of medical unit for use in far forward missions. This was difficult due to the teams non-doctrinal and ever-changing configuration, Bacomo said.

One of our goals is to make sure no one has to go through that painful process again, he said, adding he hopes future surgeons will be ready before joining the new unit in the future.

Reeve, the winner of the competition, won a service award and a four-day pass.
SAN DIEGO (Tribune News Service)  A San Diego motorcyclist and Navy veteran who lost a leg in a 2019 chain-reaction crash started by a Navy sailor driving a military van has won a $10.8 million settlement against the United States.

Attorneys for the motorcyclist, Peter Arthur, believe the settlement is a record amount against the federal government in the San Diego area for a suit involving a vehicle collision.

Justice demanded that Peter get paid fairly, Robert Francavilla, one of Arthurs attorneys from the personal injury firm CaseyGerry, said. He suffered some really catastrophic injuries.

Arthur, a 49-year-old immigrant from the South American nation of Guyana who served 20 years in the U.S. Navy, had multiple surgeries following the Sept. 13, 2019, crash. Arthur was thrown from his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, causing the femur, tibia and fibula in his right leg to shatter. Doctors eventually had to amputate the leg above the knee.

He also suffered injuries to his right biceps and nerves in his elbow that required surgeries and resulted in severe ongoing dysfunction in his right arm, according to his lawsuit. His arm bears heavy scarring from the injuries and subsequent operations.

According to the civil suit, the crash occurred on north Interstate 5 near Mile of Cars Way in National City. Navy sailor Michael Stanley Reynolds was driving a large passenger van  a 2014 Chevrolet Express  in one of the right lanes of the freeway when he suddenly and without warning swerved into the next lane to his left, according to the lawsuit.

The van collided with a second vehicle, which collided with a third vehicle that was pushed into the path of Arthur, who was riding in the far-left lane, according to the suit. Arthur was thrown onto the freeway.

Reynolds did not face criminal charges in connection with the crash. A Navy spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Friday in time for deadline.

Arthurs civil lawsuit against the federal government alleges his injuries were permanent, disfiguring, and disabling and will require extensive future medical care, life care, and vocational rehabilitation.

Before the crash, Arthur was a biomedical engineer, repairing and supporting hospital equipment. Because of his injuries, he can no longer work in the field  but his attorneys believe he can and should become an inspirational speaker.

Hes an amazing guy, probably the strongest and most likeable guy I know, Francavilla said. He has this never-give-up attitude. He fought and continues to fight.

Arthur has embraced his disabilities, saying during an interview Friday in Francavillas office that I wouldnt go back to two legs again. He used to think that others felt sorry for people with disabilities, but now he believes his disabilities unlock a humanity in himself and in others that they dont get to freely and nonjudgmentally show to their able-bodied selves.

He also recalled a conversation he had with a young man while both were rehabilitating their injuries. He said the young man told him that he probably said a lot of things that were amazing, inspirational ... and very enlightening before the crash.

But he said, Now youre saying those same things, and I bet they get to people because youre in the body that youre supposed to be in, Arthur recalled. That helped him embrace his new body with its new imperfections.

Adam Levine, another of Arthurs attorneys, researched vehicle collision settlements involving the federal government in the Southern District of California. According to his research, Arthurs settlement is the largest of its kind. The settlement was agreed upon in May, and during a hearing late last month, the sides agreed theyd be able to dismiss the suit by the end of the year.

Francavilla said the case centered largely on what he called a phantom vehicle. The Navy sailor initially claimed another vehicle cut him off, forcing him to swerve and cause the crash. One other witness also mentioned seeing a vehicle that contributed to causing the sailor to swerve  but the attorney said their testimonies in depositions ended up disproving that theory.

Francavilla had previously won a similar case in 2014, when a judge awarded $5.4 million to his client who was struck by a Border Patrol agent speeding around a blind corner on an unpaved road in Otay Mesa. That client was also a motorcycle rider whose leg had to be amputated.

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SHAMED ex-cop and convicted drug dealer John Spud Murphy is now housed in the Midlands Prison in a cell close to a fellow disgraced Garda officer.

Sources have confirmed to the Sunday World that Murphys cell is on the E1 wing of the jail along with former garda Paul Moody.

Murphy (63) was sentenced to six-and-a-half years behind bars last week after pleading guilty to possession of 260,000 worth of cannabis at his Dublin home last year and is likely to face further charges in relation to confidential information being passed onto the Hutch gang.

Paul Moody, another ex-cop, was jailed for three years and three months over a four-year campaign of harassment, threats, assaults and coercive control against his cancer-stricken ex-partner.

The abuse came to light when Moody voluntarily handed in his mobile phone to gardai after making a false allegation against one of the womans relatives.

Paul Moody is serving sentence in the Midlands Prison. Picture by Collins Photo Agency

Another ex-garda on E-wing is Stephen Cooper (37), who got a six-year sentence earlier this year for assaulting two women  including one in which he inserted his fingers internally into his victim after accusing her of stealing his drugs.

In 2014, he got a three-year sentence for offences when he was a serving garda.

One of the offences arose from his allowing another man to be wrongfully prosecuted for possession of drugs found during a search at the Electric Picnic music festival in 2009.

Cooper was also charged with stealing a bag of cannabis worth 560 from Sundrive Garda Station on May 27, 2010, but the charge was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Former garda Stephen Cooper leaving court after a hearing

Sources indicate there are at least two other ex-gardai currently serving time for sexual offences who cant be named to protect the anonymity of their victims.

Murphy was jailed earlier this month after being caught holding cannabis resin worth nearly 260k has been jailed for six and a half years.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that John Murphy (62) had built up financial debts of 855,000 due to poor business decisions made in the 10 years after he retired from the force.

Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, said that Murphy had whatever the opposite of the Midas touch is and that any investments he made went down the drain.

John Murphy

Counsel said that Murphy was consuming large amounts of alcohol every day for as long as anyone could remember and was a functioning alcoholic. He said his drinking had clouded his judgement and brought him to this sorry pass.

Sentencing him on Tuesday, Judge Martin Nolan said that Murphy was holding the drugs for some type of financial reward in order to alleviate his debts but that he should have known better.

Murphy came forward to the circuit court on signed guilty pleas entered at Dublin District Court to an offence of possession for sale or supply of cannabis at his home in Clontarf, north Dublin on September 29, 2021.

Garda Inspector Brian Hanley from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation told Maddie Grant BL, prosecuting, that in September 2021, gardai acting on foot of confidential information obtained a warrant to search Murphy's home.

During the search they found eight bags of cannabis herb in a bag in the walk-in wardrobe of an upstairs bedroom. Seven vacuum packed bags of cannabis were found hidden in a coal bunker at the back of the house and another five bags of cannabis were found in Murphy's car.

The court heard that CCTV footage was harvested from an industrial estate in Co. Meath showing Murphy collecting the bags of cannabis and putting them into his car.
Thomas Murphy (42), originally from Ballyagran, was found dead inside a house on Beverly Road, south Manchester on the evening of Saturday, September 24.

The funeral of a Limerick man killed in a fatal attack in Manchester last month took place earlier today.

Thomas Murphy (42), originally from Ballyagran, was found dead inside a house on Beverly Road, south Manchester on the evening of Saturday, September 24.

Mr Murphy had been living in Manchester for several years but regularly travelled back to Ireland for visits.

He is survived by his parents Rose and Joe, brothers Darragh and Padraigh, daughters Darcey and Lily and their mother Sarah, as well as other relatives and friends in both Ireland and the UK.

The father-of-two reposed at O'Malley's Funeral Home in Charleville this Saturday evening ahead of his funeral Mass, which took place at St Michael's Church, Ballyagran this morning at 11am.

Following the ceremony, a burial took place at Colmanswell Cemetery.

Police in Manchester launched an investigation following Mr Murphys death and a 22-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged with his murder.

Stephen Owusu, with an address on Beverly Road, appeared at Manchester Crown Court a few days after Mr Murphys death.

Mr Owusu was remanded in custody and will stand trial in March next year.
The images show Jake Merriman armed with fireworks at an anti-lockdown demonstration in February 2021  while stills from footage show the moment he fired it point blank at gardai, leaving one officer with a perforated eardrum.

Merriman can be seen throwing the firework at gardai

These are the shocking images that aided in the successful prosecution this week of the thug dubbed Rocket man.

The images show Jake Merriman armed with fireworks at an anti-lockdown demonstration in February 2021  while stills from footage show the moment he fired it point blank at gardai, leaving one officer with a perforated eardrum.

The firework Merriman fired at gardai was a Hot Eight Cannon, described by sellers as containing eight monster shots with four different effects and colours  with users advised to stand well back after ignition.

Jake Merriman

In another video clip obtained by the Sunday World, Merriman, who was dressed in a clearly identifiable cream hoodie, can be heard screaming at gardai: Ill rock yiz to bits you fat b*****d.

Tell your wife you love her  Im going to smash your face in.

The videos and images were gathered by online activists in the wake of the protest as they successfully sought to identify Merriman.

On Tuesday, the 31-year-old was jailed for 20 months after he pleaded guilty to endangerment on Grafton Street, Dublin on February 27, 2021.

Additional charges of assaulting two gardai were taken into account after the court heard that Merriman also punched a garda in the face and kicked another garda in the testicles.

Merriman, of Meadowlands Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, later told gardai that he had no intention of causing trouble that day.

He said he had been drinking the night before and had decided to head into town for the protest.

It was meant to be a bit of a laugh, he said.

]Merriman has minor previous convictions that were dealt with in the District Court.

Detective Sergeant Patrick Traynor accepted that a juvenile handed Merriman the firework, lit it and then Merriman threw it into the crowd.

It landed close to Garda Mark Walsh, perforating his right eardrum.

The garda has since fully recovered, but his hearing was affected for some time.

Merriman can be seen throwing the firework at gardai

Judge Martin Nolan said Merriman took a very active part in the demonstration and behaved in a very violent manner.

He noted from a victim impact statement, which was not read out in court, that Garda Walsh was in considerable pain and distress and lost his hearing for some time.

He worried for some time that he would not be able to return to his role, but thankfully his hearing has recovered, Judge Nolan said.

He [Merriman] was violent, aggressive and hostile on the day. He aggravated the situation and caused considerable difficulties for the demonstrators and the gardai, the judge continued, before he said Merriman deserved a custodial sentence.

Gardai at the anti-lockdown demonstration in February 2021

He kicked, punched and discharged a weapon, Judge Nolan said, while acknowledging that Merriman had not intended to cause the damage he did when he threw the firework.

He sentenced Merriman to three years in prison with the final 16 months suspended on strict conditions including that he hands over 5,000 for Garda Walsh, should he choose to accept it.

The court heard that Merriman, who runs his own power washing business, had 10,000 in court as a token of his remorse.

Gardai have a difficult time, particularly on that day. He brought his fair share of hostility and anger, Judge Nolan said.

Det Sgt Traynor told John Moher BL, prosecuting, that Merriman had been vocal and abusive and had been throwing glass and plastic bottles at gardai earlier that day before he punched and kicked the two gardai.

He later told gardai it had been his intention to cause a disturbance and make noise.

Det Sgt Traynor agreed with Keith Spencer BL, defending, that his client told gardai in interview that it had been a moment of madness following a night of drinking.

He accepted that Merriman said he had been foolish to go in that day and he repeatedly called himself a fool when being questioned.

It was further accepted that Merriman had demonstrated sincere remorse and regret and had written a letter to the garda.

Mr Spencer said his client had received hate mail in the aftermath of the demonstration.

He suffered the fall-out from it being shared in the media, counsel said.

He said Merriman had been struggling with alcohol and being out of work at the time due to the pandemic.

He knows he took the wrong choice and pledges to take the right choice in the future, Mr Spencer submitted.

It is an incident that caused him deep regret and remorse and he is trying to put things right, he said.
With interesting dishes, the finest quality ingredients and a warm atmosphere, this stylish Scandi eatery in Kerry gets it just right, writes Grub Spy Alan Kelly

I really love Kerry, Irelands Shangri-La for foreign tourists, especially wealthy Americans and Germans. And who can blame them? Once seen, never forgotten. For rugged scenery, pastoral beauty and communion with nature on a grand scale, few places can match it.

GOM 36 Henry St, Kenmare, Co Kerry Five star Food: 92; Drinks: 26

My own first encounter, as a craic-hungry teenager on a camping weekend in Ballybunion, hooked me forever. Mind you, it had little to do with experiencing picture-perfect bucolic splendour  it was a trip entirely centred around packed bars and merriment with bells on. Since then, any chance I get to wax lyrical about the temptations of the county, I grab it. And Lagom Restaurant & Townhouse in Kenmare is a temptation easily surrendered to.

As soon as we enter the Scandi- influenced dining room filled with clean lines, functional beauty and natural light, we are mightily impressed and know we are in safe hands. Equally impressive, throughout our entire stay, is the genuine warmth and friendliness of the staff. In fact, in my opinion, it is what Irish hospitality is all about.

Owners Brendan and Liz Byrne

From an interesting menu, we go for the crispy smoked ham-hock and cabbage croquette, on mildly pickled kohlrabi, a splash of house hot sauce (and I do mean hot) and some parsley pesto. Theres also a gorgeous leafy salad with chunks of Sneem black pudding and a baked cheese crisp, all neatly tossed in a smoked tomato dressing. Simple dishes using the finest quality ingredients are assembled with style and precision that will please the fussiest of eaters.

The Boss loves her vegetarian main course of roasted garlic and pesto gnocchi with smoked cauliflower steak, king oyster mushrooms and dabs of buttermilk curd. And while the well-cooked nicely arranged herby gnocchi are delicious, they might look even more appealing if shaped like traditional gnocchi. Still, its a clever take on a classic Italian dish.

The Iceberger

It would take a cranky old so-and-so not to love Lagoms pan-fried Dover sole with smoked mussels, garlic-caper butter, leek fondue (which works amazingly well with the fish) and a grilled lemon wedge on the side. Supremely fresh, cooked to perfection and prettily arranged; its one of those dishes that will always work.

Unexpectedly its the desserts that are the stars of the evening. I could not resist the Iceberger. With its syrupy dressing and super-creamy filling, not only does it taste amazing, it really does look like an Iceberger. I seriously doubt Ill be lucky enough to bag a better dessert anywhere else in the country. The Boss likes the look of the cheese board so much on the next table, she gives it a go. A soft blue, a nutty cheddar and a semi-soft Durrus, with wafer-thin sourdough and a tart relish. Both dishes are simple and blissful.

According to the web, Lagom is a Swedish word that means just the right amount. Lagom in Kerry is exactly that with a pleasant bit of Irish thrown in. Its one of those restaurants that helps you forget lifes annoying little problems  for an evening at least. The rooms too in the Townhouse are especially relaxing, and the breakfast also hits all the right notes. In short, close to perfect.
Brazilian Bum Lifts have the highest risk rating of cosmetic surgery in the world, Michelle Furey Lawlor says.

A top beauty consultant estimates that as many as 8,500 Irish women are in the process of getting repair jobs done here after botched operations abroad.

And Michelle Furey Lawlor reveals that her own clinic has so far this year had to help 30 women whose Brazilian Bum Lifts (BBLs) went haywire.

Brazilian Bum Lifts have the highest risk rating of cosmetic surgery in the world, says Michelle, who owns JeJuve clinic in Dublin.

With BBL, you take fat anywhere in the body, it is put into the bum and what happens if it is put in a certain way under the muscles, near the veins and artery, they can actually pierce the veins and arteries and cause an embolism.

"These people can die. Thats why its the highest risk surgery at the moment.

She says most of the women travel to Turkey to have the operation.

If you go to Turkey for a BBL you are talking about maybe up to three grand, if you go anywhere else in the world to have a BBL filler in a proper hospital youre talking about eight grand, she says.

Her own clinic has carried out BBLs on over 600 women this year.

We have trained staff to do what is known as BBL fillers, where we can train to put fillers anywhere in the bum and give them more fullness, but its above the muscle away from the veins and arteries.

Its a non-surgical BBL. We have had the guts of 600 women had this done this year, but we have had 30 women whove come in whove had botched BBL surgery done abroad.

So, theyve come in to us where theyve had dents in their bum, or one side isnt round like the other, or one side is flatter than the other and its causing massive body dysmorphia and we have to go back in and rebuild that side using dermofillers.

Plastic surgery. Stock image

Michelle, (41), who explains the situation on Virgin Medias Lucy Investigates special on cosmetic surgery tomorrow, confirms that many women want a bum like Kim Kardashian.

Its because of the Kardashians that my industry has gone so big. People are familiar with the big round hips with the cheeks. Looking at her latest pictures, it looks like she has had it reduced and had liposuction to take half it out of her bum.

Michelle says its not just botched bum jobs she deals with.

A woman rang me this morning and she had surgery done in Turkey and her face is destroyed, she notes.

Michelle herself has personal experience of how devastating a botched operation can have as she was a victim herself.

The mum-of-two says that she was always overweight, and four years ago decided to get something done about it in Turkey.

I flew over and I had my surgery done. I woke up and all my fat that was cut off was left in a biohazard bag beside the bed. I had a tummy tuck and a sleeve done. I was bleeding profusely, nobody wanted to help me.

When she arrived back in Dublin, her husband noticed how grey she looked and how ill she was and rushed her to St Jamess Hospital, where she had six weeks of surgery to repair her body.

They gave me a gastric sleeve and removed all the scar tissue, internally fixed my body. They gave me breast implants, a new nose and also gave me new gluteal muscles in my bum, she points out. I spent a year recovering, it was horrendous. I had to rebuild my body.

Lucy Kennedy

Michelle, who is a daughter of Eddie Furey from the famous Furey brothers band, started out in the industry as a skin therapist and specialist before training in England in aesthetics.

She has since helped for free victims of domestic violence, and also has a huge interest in aiding members of the transgender community.

In seven years of looking after domestic violence survivors Ive saved 67 souls, she reflects. Theyre from all walks of life, white collar, blue collar, Travelling community, immigrants, [including]some men that have been gay-bashed.

Lucy Investigates, tomorrow, Virgin Media One, 9pm
I was hoping for a Titanic moment, arms outstretched and staring out at the horizon from the bow of the ship  but I couldnt gain access.

Instead, Im standing watching the sunset from one of the top decks of the Norwegian Prima cruise ship, and find myself peering through a Perspex barrier at a fiery orange ball in the distance. Its light glows across the undulating water below.

I can feel the motion of the boat and the rhythm of the sea. Its calm this evening, despite being a little choppy the night before: a fact I quite liked, as it reminded me that I was indeed sailing.

Such is the size and opulence of the Norwegian Prima, its easy to forget youre on a ship at times. You could be in a five-star hotel in Dubai, an upmarket restaurant in France, or a lively casino in Vegas. But then you remember that youre on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, a novelty in itself.

The Norwegian Prima has lots of exciting on-board activities

This is my first ever cruise and its nothing like I imagined. I thought of cruises as holidays for the elderly, and in particular, wealthy Americans. Images of bad cover bands and outdated decor sprang to mind.

Literally from the moment I walk the gangplank and board, however, I realise I was wrong. People of all ages and nationalities are milling around and the decor is more akin to a luxurious modern hotel than a ship.

The Norwegian Prima was only built this year and features elegant lighting, comfortable furnishings, and artwork by the Italian graffiti artist Manuel Di Rita. Sitting in the Atrium on Deck 6, you look up to see the balconies of different levels, each lit with soft lighting and with different bars and lounging areas. The ship seems to sparkle and the sheer romance of being at sea is not lost on me.

Its the latest ship in the Norwegian cruise line fleet and its sheer size is breath- taking. It has 20 decks, 1,600 staterooms, and can carry 3,099 guests and 1,506 staff at any one time.

One of the ships well-appointed bedrooms

A moment for my cabin, which opens onto a balcony with a table and chairs and overlooks the sea. It has an ensuite bathroom and is more like a hotel room than cramped nautical quarters. An extremely comfortable double bed, a dinky dressing table and an ample wardrobe complete the set-up.

This particular cruise started in Iceland and sailed the Norwegian Fjords before landing in Rotterdam, where I board. It will take us to the delightfully picturesque town of Bruges in Brussels, where we dock for a day, and then to Le Havre in France, before sailing to Southampton and on to New York.

Luckily, the September weather is good for our voyage, being sunny enough to take a dip in the outdoor pool or lounge in a hot tub during the day, sipping cocktails.

But theres more than lounging on offer. Theres no shortage of activities to keep you occupied on board, including a brand-new fitness centre and state-of-the-art spa. This is the first ever cruise liner with a three-level racetrack for go-karting, as well as a number of slide experiences. In addition, theres a games centre for children.

While you could have a fabulous holiday on the ship alone, the beauty of the cruise is that you get visit other countries. The ship sails at night, so you wake up each morning in a new destination. You disembark, spend the day there and board again each evening before it sets sail.

The ship has 18 different dining venues. Each is different and features food from various parts of the world. I breakfasted each morning in the Surfside cafe on deck 17, where I could choose from a vast array of impressive buffet-style food. This offers breakfast, lunch and snacks, and is included in your package.

The speciality restaurants on offer include the Mexican-themed Los Lobos, the Italian fine dining experience, Onda by Scarpetta, a seafood speciality restaurant called Palomar, and a Japanese-themed food experience called Hasuki. My favourite was Le Bistro, serving up the finest French cuisine in a sparkling setting, designed around massive chandeliers.

Part of the appeal of a cruise is, of course, the nightlife, and the Norwegian Prima did not disappoint. There are a total of 17 bars and lounges on the ship, and each has a completely different atmosphere. You can therefore choose to dress up and go full-on glamour at night or opt for a more relaxed, casual experience.

Sunbeds on the deck

Take the Metropolitan, the first sustainable bar on a cruise liner. Here, soft lighting and elegant seating makes for an upmarket Manhattan atmosphere. Syd Normans bar, a casual haunt with rock music vibes, is an altogether different experience. If karaoke is your thing, check out the Karaoke bar, where the atmosphere is second to none and you can croon along with the other passengers.

Theres also a three-storey transformational theatre-nightclub, the Prima Theatre and Club, with the type of shows youd see on Broadway or the West End. The Donna Summer Musical was showing on our trip, which was a highlight in itself.

In addition, there are a number of different live music shows every night, and yes, some of these feature cover bands. But even these are top of the range. Comedy gigs, DJs and even an art auction take place during my cruise.

The ship also has a casino with roulette, blackjack, and slot machines. This is a major lure for those who like to gamble. Indeed, I talked to one couple who had met whilst gambling on a cruise ship and come back each year to spend their days in the casino.

For those who prefer to go VIP, The Haven is a reserved area at the top of the ship with luxurious, well-appointed accommodation as well as a 24-hour butler service, concierge service and a private sundeck, swimming pool and hot tub.

A cruise is a great option, too, for those travelling alone. There are solo cabins with staterooms and communal areas specifically for single cruisers, which makes it easy to meet other single people. There are shore excursions, dinners, and even on-board activities specifically for solo travellers.

In general, I found both staff and the other passengers to be friendly on board, perhaps because of the shared camaraderie of being at sea together. I disembarked in Southampton, which I realised is where the Titanic first set sail on April 10, 1912  so I got my Kate Winslet moment after all.

TRAVEL FACTFILE

NORTHERN EUROPE CRUISE See sunway.ie

 DESTINATIONS include: Northe Cay and Cozumel; Mediterranean  Italy, France, and Spain; and many others.

 THE 10-day Northern Europe  Iceland and Norway cruise is priced from 2,417, with a fly/cruise special offer of 2,988.

 FOR more information call 01-2311800.
Blessing Nkencho with a photograph of her son George Enkencho, who was shot dead by gardai outside his home in December 2020. Picture by Gerry Mooney

The Garda watchdog investigation into the shooting of George Nkencho has been completed.

Mr Nkencho (27) was shot dead in December 2020 on the porch of his home in Clonee, west Dublin, following a stand-off with gardai, during which he refused to drop a knife.

In line with protocol, An Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) was assigned to investigate the circumstances of his death.

Gsocs draft investigation report has now been submitted for external peer and legal review before it is submitted to the watchdogs three commissioners to evaluate.

Several options will be available to Gsoc: it can recommend no further action be taken if it finds gardai have no case to answer; it can send a file to the office of the DPP, which could consider criminal charges; or it can make recommendations that some officers should be subject to disciplinary proceedings handled internally by An Garda Siochana.

While good progress has been made towards its completion, this investigation remains open. As the investigation remains ongoing, Gsoc does not intend to comment further at this time, a spokeswoman for Gsoc said.

The watchdog had said it would complete its investigation by last December, which was the first anniversary of Mr Nkenchos death.

Some of his siblings witnessed the shooting as they were at the front door when an armed officer opened fire. Moments before, Gloria Nkencho tried to tell gardai she could help and that her brother had a mental illness.

However, as officers tried to contain the potential for violence, she had to retreat inside. Mr Nkencho was fatally shot at 12.35pm.

Blessing Nkencho with a photograph of her son George Enkencho, who was shot dead by gardai outside his home in December 2020. Picture by Gerry Mooney

Before the shooting, gardai had tried to disarm him using a graduated policing response after he had allegedly attacked a shopkeeper at a Eurospar 23 minutes earlier.

Garda units arrived and followed him, repeatedly asking him to drop the knife. He refused and threatened officers when they tried to approach him.

By the time he reached his house, two members of the Armed Support Unit were at the scene and took over.

Armed officers were unaware it was his home, and feared he could take the people inside hostage.

He was pepper-sprayed and there were two attempts to Taser him.

Mr Nkencho remained in possession of the knife and continued to threaten officers. Gardai then opened fire.
Investigating gardai are now appealing for witnesses.

A woman was found unconscious with unexplained injuries on a rural road in Co Mayo this morning.

The woman, aged in her late 50s, was discovered by a passerby shortly after 4am on Sunday, 16 October, on the N5 at Cloggernagh, Islandeady (about halfway between the towns of Castlebar and Westport).

She is now understood to be in a critical condition after being rushed to Mayo University Hospital by ambulance.

Gardai have not yet established the cause of her injuries and have sealed off the scene for forensic examination with local traffic diversions put in place.

Investigating gardai are now appealing for witnesses.

A garda spokesperson said: They are particularly appealing to motorists with camera footage (including dash-cam) who travelled through the townland of Islandeady on the N5 in the early hours this morning, to make it available to them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Castlebar Garda Station on 094 90308200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Hato Hone St John wants Kiwis to play their part and help prevent 1800 New Zealanders dying from a cardiac arrest every year.

Hato Hone St John Head of Community Education Jacci Tatnell says its an unsettling and scary statistic.

The scariest part is that most of these deaths are preventable and only occur because bystanders do not know the three key steps to intervene a cardiac arrest: CALL. PUSH. SHOCK, Jacci says.

On world Restart a Heart Day, Sunday 16 October, Hato Hone St John, together with the Council of Ambulance Authorities, are joining forces to raise awareness about out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the importance of CPR and knowing how to use an AED.

A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency and can strike anyone, at any time, at any age, anywhere, with three quarters occurring at home.

It can happen to a small child in bed, a young parent mowing the lawns, or an athlete on the field. Whats even more alarming, is our most recent Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Reports have shown survival rates have declined year on year since 2020.

This is why we are strongly the public to undertake vital CPR and AED training to potentially save their loved-ones life.

Jacci says having a bystander or family member willing and confident to start CPR can make the difference between life and death.

A patients chance of survival falls 10 percent for every minute a patient is in cardiac arrest and does not receive CPR or shock from a defibrillator.

Bystander CPR in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest is imperative especially when the average response time for an ambulance to reach these critical patients is eight minutes. Time is crucial.

Learning how to restart a heart. Photo: NZ Resuscitation Council.

For Restart a Heart Day and for the first time since 2019, there will be public events held across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea to help share the message, helping educate the public in CPR and how to use an AED.

Hato Hone St John events planned on and around the day but is also dedicating the entire month to training 10,000 people in its 3 Steps for Life programme to equip as many people as it can in how to do CPR and use an AED.

Restart a Heart Day will also be running its social media challenge called, #9for9challenge. To pay respect to the 9/10 people who dont survive cardiac arrest, social media users are being asked to film themselves performing nine compressions on a pillow, teddy or stuffed toy and tag nine friends to take part.

Remember to the 3 Steps for Life: CALL. PUSH. SHOCK. To save a life.

Facts and figures:
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In context: Apple started an unfortunate trend of omitting the charger from the box when it announced the iPhone 12 in 2020. Brazil has fought to have the charger back for three generations of iPhone now but has only levied fines that are a drop in the bucket for the world's most valuable company.

The Sao Paulo state court handed down a R$100 million ($19 million) decision against Apple on Thursday. It ruled, for the third time in Brazil, that Apple had violated consumer law by selling iPhones without chargers and ordered the Cupertino company to reverse its unpopular policy. Apple said that it was planning to appeal the verdict.

"It is evident that, under the justification of a 'green initiative,' the defendant imposes on the consumer a required purchase of charger adapters that were previously supplied along with the product," the court said.

Sao Paulo consumer protection agency Procon-SP was the first to open an investigation into Apple's practices in late 2020. It announced in March 2021 that its investigation had stalled after Apple had stopped responding to its requests for information. It fined the company R$10.5 million (then $1.9 million) and told it to put the chargers back in the box for the first time.

Credit: Steve Johnson

"Apple needs to understand that in Brazil, there are solid consumer protection laws and institutions. It needs to respect these laws and these institutions," said the executive director of Procon-SP, Fernando Capez.

Brazil went after Apple again this year in September. The Ministry of Justice and Security fined the company $R12.28 million (about $2.34 million) for omitting the charger from the box on the basis that Apple is selling an incomplete product. It ordered the company to put the chargers back for the second time. Apple obviously hasn't done that yet.

Apple defends its stance by saying that it's friendlier to the environment. Apple executives said on stage during the iPhone 12 announcement that the switch to smaller and lighter packages was predicted to prevent two million tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere each year. It was also meant to reduce the number of unused chargers that become e-waste but analysis after the fact has found that the impact of the change was likely minimal.

Brazil's National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon) has argued against Apple's claims about environmental concerns. It says that Apple could employ more effective measures to protect the environment, like replacing the Lightning port with USB-C. Brazil announced a proposal to make USB-C mandatory in all phones starting on July 1, 2024, earlier this year.

Masthead: Will Porada
(Photo : MARYNA MOISEYENKO/AFP via Getty Images) TOPSHOT - Rescuers gather past a residential building damaged after a strike in Zaporizhzhia, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine on October 9, 2022.

Russia's latest attacks on Kyiv have included a combination of kamikaze drones and missiles. The southern city of Zaporizhzhia, which hosts the largest nuclear facility in Europe, was the target of these recent strikes.

The attacks add to the growing concerns about a nuclear disaster. The fighting between Russian and Ukraine forces near the plant has previously raised a "suicidal nuclear explosion" alarm from the UN's nuclear watchdog.

Suicide Drones

Ukrainian officials confirmed to CNN that the city was attacked early in the morning of Saturday by kamikaze drones and missiles.

The acting mayor of Zaporizhzhia, Anatoliy Kurtev, also made a post on Telegram about an "insidious attack on Zaporizhzhia with kamikaze drones."

Oleksandr Starukh, the head of Zaporizhzhia's regional military command, claimed that the city had been targeted by "ten or more" C300 missiles on Saturday morning following four "kamikaze" drone assaults during the previous night.

Suicide drones, or kamikaze drones, are a class of aerial weaponry. According to Interesting Engineering, they are referred to as loitering munitions since they can wait a while in an area that has been flagged as a possible target before launching an attack if an enemy asset is discovered.

During World War II, a Japanese plane carrying explosives intentionally crashed into an enemy target; this gave birth to the term "kamikaze."

In essence, kamikaze aircraft-either specifically designed or modified regular aircraft-are pilot-guided explosive missiles.

According to US officials who spoke to CNN in July, Iranian kamikaze drones from the Shahed series were presented to Russian authorities at Kashan Airfield, south of Tehran.

Russia has used Iranian suicide drones in Ukraine since September. These drones have a payload capacity of roughly 50 kg and can transport precision-guided missiles weighing 110 pounds (110 pounds).

Read also: Ukraine's IT Sector Bear War Brunts as Russia Continues its Missile Attacks

"Deeply Worrying Development"

On Wednesday, the largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine-which is encircled by Russian troops - lost all external power required for critical safety systems.

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog called it a "deeply worrying development." The International Atomic Energy Agency's Rafael Grossi issued the warning amidst a flurry of unrest in Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Hundreds of cities and villages across Ukraine lost power when Russia conducted a huge missile attack on Monday in revenge for a truck bomb explosion that damaged a bridge connecting Russia with Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

While the missile barrage this week claimed several Ukrainians' lives, the Western allies of Ukraine gathered at NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss their response.

On Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance would proceed with long-anticipated nuclear drills called "Steadfast Noon" the following week.

The exercise, which was organized before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, would include 14 of the 30 NATO member nations. According to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, most of the drills would take place more than 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) away from Russia.

Related Article: IAEF Chief Announces Mission to Ukraine After A 'Suicidal Nuclear Plant Explosion' Alarm Was Raised at Europe's Largest Nuclear Facility

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NASA's aeronautical innovators are gearing to break the sound barrier once more, but this time in a totally different fashion that may one day allow all of us to fly at speeds equal to or faster than any of the X-1 pilots who flew supersonically.

"That first supersonic flight was such a tremendous achievement, and now you look at how far we've come since then. What we're doing now is the culmination of so much of their work," Catherine Bahm, an aeronautical engineer at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, said in a press release statement.

All About the X-59

Bahm manages the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project. Her crew is in charge of creating the X-59, a NASA experimental aircraft that serves as the centerpiece of Quesst.

NASA hopes to show through Quesst that the X-59 can fly faster than sound without producing the generally audible sonic booms that led to the 1973 moratorium on supersonic flying over land.

According to the space agency, the X-59 will be flown over a number of communities as part of the plan to see how residents respond to the softer "thump" it makes, assuming they notice anything at all. Regulators will be informed of their responses and may then write new regulations to lift the restriction.

NASA claims that when this occurs, it will be yet another historic turning point in aviation, which could usher in a new era where travelers could board a supersonic plane at breakfast time in Los Angeles to book a reservation for lunch in New York City.

Read also: [WATCH] NASA Successfully Launches a Robotic Balloon That Will One Day Explore Venus

A Sonic Boom from the Past

It is worth noting that a sonic boom erupted over California's high desert for the first time 75 years ago.

It has been reported that a small team of scientists from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which was NASA's predecessor organization, were the first to hear the thunder crack coming from the Bell X-1 rocket plane as it was traveling faster than the speed of sound on the ground below.

On October 14, 1947, the joint X-1 team of NACA, the Air Force (which had just been founded that year), and Bell engineers and pilots broke the sound barrier, which some had claimed was impossible to crack.

And after more than seven decades, NASA hopes that with its Quesst project, they will be able to break the sound barrier for the second time but in a completely different way.

The targeted date for X-59's first flight will commence early next year, according to NASA.

Related Article: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Finds Odd Molecules in Supermassive Black Holes

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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Nvidia CEO, Jen-Hsun "Jensen" Huang, and his wife, Lori, have given $50 million to Oregon State University (OSU) to build an innovation complex on campus, said the school on Saturday, Oct. 15.

The university has previously raised a total of $100 million in gifts to start a research and education center that will cost $200 million and have one of the most powerful supercomputers in the country.

The Nvidia supercomputer based on NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD and OVX SuperPOD systems will be available at the facility. It is meant to aid professors in solving difficult computational challenges.

The OSU supercomputer, powered by next-generation Nvidia CPUs, GPUs, and networking, is anticipated to be one of the world's fastest university supercomputers, with the ability to train the most significant AI models and run complicated digital twin simulations.

OSU Is Huangs' Alma Mater

Jensen Huang started and now runs Nvidia. He and his wife Lori both went to OSU and met in the College of Engineering.

OSU President Jayathi Murthy expressed her gratitude to the couple and their exceptional generosity and devotion to advancing research discovery and problem-solving.

In a report by VentureBeat, the couple said that OSU sparked both of their interest in computer science and engineering. They are generous to fund the AI-driven project, hoping to inspire future generations to fall in love with technology and its power to alter the world.

They described AI as the most revolutionary technology of our time. "This new AI supercomputer will enable OSU students and researchers to make very important advances in climate science, oceanography, materials science, robotics, and other fields," the couple stated.

Read Also: Nvidia RTX 4050 Packaging Spotted at the Galax Event: Is this a Leak or Not?

About the Upcoming Innovation Center

According to Murthy, the three-story, 150,000-square-foot facility is now being planned and is scheduled to open in 2025 at the campus in Corvallis, Oregon. It will include cutting-edge clean rooms and other advanced laboratories for scientific study.

Artificial intelligence (AI), materials science, and robotics will be studied at the center to help solve global problems in areas like climate science, oceanography, sustainability, and water resources.

The complex will also help OSU do research and teach classes that support the semiconductor and technology industries in Oregon and elsewhere.

Murthy said that the innovation center is a part of Oregon State's larger push to increase diversity, equality, and inclusion in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) classrooms and labs.

To supplement private donations and institutional funding, the university plans to apply for $75 million in state-funded bonds during the 2023 Oregon legislative session to construct a collaborative innovation center.

OSU Foundation's Second Fundraising and Engagement Drive

The Huangs' donation coincided with the OSU Foundation's second university-wide fundraising campaign.

The institution has received four $25 million or more campaign donations to date.

In 2021, it received a $50 million anonymous donation to finish Reser Stadium. Alumnus Gary Carlson gave the institution its first $50 million donation to designate the Gary R. Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018.

Read Also: NVIDIA Retracts the Launch of Its 12GB RTX 4080 GPU After Backlash: Graphics Card to Return but with a New Name

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Trisha Kae Andrada

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NASA's spacecraft Lucy is scheduled to return to Earth on Sunday, Oct. 16, as part of its 12-year mission to visit a record number of asteroids in space. The event will be broadcast live online.

Observations of Lucy will begin being live-streamed from Italy by the Virtual Telescope Project 2.0 at 7:00 PM EDT (23:00 GMT). Here, astronomy fans can access the stream without cost.

Gianluca Masi, an Italian astronomer who also served as the project's founder, said to Space.com that the team is delighted to share this thrilling moment of Lucy's fly-by with the rest of the world.

"It will be possible for our viewers to spot something made by humans on its journey of discovery. This spacecraft will help us understand the origin of our solar system by visiting asteroids," Masi stated.

Read Also: Japan's Commercial Moon Launch to Overlap With NASA's Artemis Mission; Will This Create Conflict?

Lucy's Fly-By

Lucy will make a quick stop at the planet to get a gravitational boost that will catapult it into a new orbit in order to get it ready for its journey to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, which have never been explored before. The return trip will take place this Oct. 16, which is the same day that marks the first anniversary of Lucy's debut in 2021.

Lucy has come closer to Earth by approaching it from the sun's direction, where it cannot be seen. The spacecraft will, however, pass over the terminator line on Sunday at 6:55 AM EDT (1055 GMT), which is the line that divides night and day on Earth.

On the other hand, it will continue to be lighted by the sun until 7:02 AM EDT (1102 GMT). At that time, it will be momentarily visible with the naked eye from North Western Australia, Timor-Leste, and portions of Indonesia.

After making its closest approach at 7:04 AM EDT (1104 GMT), Lucy will pass into the shadow of Earth and vanish; it will reappear at 7:26 AM EDT (1126 GMT). From this vantage point, Lucy will continue to be visible via a telescope for anywhere between 12 and 24 hours. Check the NASA Horizon System app to get the exact coordinates, and make sure to have clear viewing conditions.

It is at this stage of Lucy's visit to Earth that the Virtual Telescope Project 2.0 will broadcast its view, permitting skywatchers not located in favorable areas, lacking equipment, or simply not keen to endure the chilly October weather to watch Lucy pass the planet.

The Lucy Mission

In two years, Lucy will make another visit to Earth to get a second gravity assist and continue its journey toward six other Trojan asteroids Leucus, Orus, Eurybates, and Queta, as well as Polymele and its as-yet-unnamed satellite companion.

Lucy will return to Earth in the year 2030 for a third gravity assist, which will send it hurtling into an impact with the Patroclus-Menoetius binary asteroid pair.

Read Also: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Finds Odd Molecules in Supermassive Black Holes

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Written by Trisha Kae Andrada

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
China's Shenzhou 14 crew, the group staying at the Chinese space station, shared their stunning photos of space.

#TechnologyandInnovation  Space class begins! Shenyang students learned from the third live class from China's space station by Shenzhou-14 crew members on Wednesday afternoon. This is the first science lecture from the Wentian lab module. pic.twitter.com/58DmQcbOwO  Shenyang (@ShenyangChina) October 13, 2022

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) released the images captured by the Shenzhou astronauts.

"The China Manned Space Engineering Office has officially released photographs taken by the crew of Shenzhou 14 in orbit," said China's human spaceflight organization via its official press release.

China Shenzhou 14 Crew Shares Their Space Photos

According to Space.Com's latest report, Shenzhou's 14 astronauts were the ones who personally captured the new stunning space images.

(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @ChenMingjian_CN)

China Shenzhou 14 Crew Shares Photos Captured Aboard Tiangong Space Station

So splendid pictures featuring the spectacle of space! China Manned Space Agency released a selection of pictures sent back by #Shenzhou14 astronauts. pic.twitter.com/oJYM5OAarV  Chen Mingjian  (@ChenMingjian_CN) October 12, 2022

Also Read: China's First Solar Observatory Will Dive Deep Into the Sun's Mysteries

Now, here are the things that these Chinese astronauts decided to focus on:

Commander Chen Dong (Captured a photo of himself inside the Tiangong space station. He also took photos of Earth, airglow, as well as the moon.)

China's Shenzhou-14 taikonauts are delivering the third live session of the Tiangong Classroom lecture series from China's Tianhe #spacestation to the young students on Earth. pic.twitter.com/Wfg9TXQvD3  Caoli  (@Cao_Li_CHN) October 12, 2022

Cai Xuzhe (Snapped a photo of the Hainan island. He also captured an image of a tomato plant aboard the Tiangong space station.)

Taikonauts of the Shenzhou-14 crew, who are currently living and working onboard the China Space Station combination, will give the third edition of Tiangong Classroom lecture on 3:45 pm Beijing Time Wednesday: CMSA pic.twitter.com/fHV6DMpGqS  Zhang Meifang (@CGMeifangZhang) October 11, 2022

Liu Yang (Also captured a photo of herself holding the Chinese flag while inside the new space station. One of her photos includes the moon, while the remaining two shows the Earth's elegance.)

If you want to see the exact images that these Shenzhou 14 astronauts captured, you can visit this link.

Shenzhou 14 Crew Conducts Experiments

Of course, capturing stunning images of outer space, Earth, and the moon is not the only thing done by the Shenzhou 14 crew members.

CGTN reported that these Chinese space experts also conducted 15 essential medical experiments as part of their six-month mission.

They explained that the conducted space experiments include studying the bone, blood vessels, heart, muscle, and immune system.

They also focused on the astronauts' biological rhythms, as well as physical behaviors.

Aside from these, they also observed the physiological system of the human body and conducted fatigue grading based on brain load.

Li Yinghui proudly announced that they had already completed three-quarters of their tasks.

They are expected to complete their remaining experiments before they leave the Chinese space station around December. You can click here to learn more about their medical experiments at the Tiangong space station.

Previously, we reported that a new Chinese satellite tech was used to calculate the overall Nord Stream pipeline damage.

Meanwhile, three Chinese spy satellites were launched into outer space.

For more news updates about Shenzhou 14 crew's space activities, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Japan's Commercial Moon Launch to Overlap With NASA's Artemis Mission; Will This Create Conflict?

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Written by Griffin Davis

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From six-figure theft to bungled Apple investment, robbery, and burglary, Apple products have proven to be effective in tracking down the perpetrators of these crimes.

A Series of Apple-related Crimes

In a comprehensive Apple Insider report, a 30-year-old Illinois man was handed down five years in prison in mid-October for his role in a scam labeled as theft. This man stole $500,000 to $1 million by purchasing iPhones with his company's cash and then selling them. During the thefts between 2019 and 2021, the individual worked in IT for a facilities support services firm. In September, he pled guilty.

Apparently, it's not only common folk who have been caught doing things unlawfully. According to the same Apple Insider article, a rookie New York Police Department officer was caught on CCTV snatching a pair of AirPods from the management of a Manhattan eatery. The cop, 36, was eventually convicted of petit larceny and illegal possession of stolen items. An internal affairs investigation led to the arrest.

Consequently, in a CBS 17 story, investigators in Durham, N.C., are seeking a guy who they believe executed an armed robbery of an AT&T Store in June. According to the news source, the guy pulled a pistol on staff and stole 65 iPhones from the store. He made staff lie down on the floor and even had one store employee assist him in carrying the seized iPhones to the car. In the warrant, the man allegedly had his car observed at the scene of a separate robbery of a T-Mobile store days ago.

And who could forget the iconic "Baby Bee" balloon Joelly, which was stolen in early October? Fortunately, an iPad assisted in the balloon's recovery. According to KOAT, the vehicle transporting the balloon was taken from an Albuquerque hotel. However, because an iPad was left in the vehicle, authorities could locate it in southwest Albuquerque.

Also Read: Apple AirTags Help in Recovering $16,000 Worth of Stolen Goods from Airport

How Apple Products Solved Crimes

With all of these Apple crimes, you'd think the company would just sit back and let the law take its course. But it goes beyond that. When a 51-year-old guy was caught in Georgia in early October on suspicion of breaking into automobiles in Kentucky, the AirPods he stole were traced across many states.

Per Yahoo News, the man's actions also involved the theft of an Enterprise rental automobile in Tennessee, which he repainted and replaced the keys on. He was apprehended following a pursuit in the woods after being spotted at a Walmart and convicted of public drunkenness.

Then, through a Twitter thread, an iPhone taken from someone in the United Kingdom was discovered in Nigeria. The best part is that it was also found that whoever now has the phone has been messaging friends of the owner, requesting information on how to unlock it. Apple Insider reports that the individual sending the SMS is most likely not the initial thief but rather someone who later purchased the phone.

Lost me phone in town like a month ago, just got back into my iCloud to find out its went on holiday to Nigeria  pic.twitter.com/xdn7ut9E29  Darren (@_DL96) October 10, 2022

Perhaps the only instance when Apple products failed to prove useful is in the case of a 30-year-old Illinois man, whose scheme comprised purchasing iPhones using company funds and then reselling them. Although pleading guilty in September, the iPhones he bought didn't exactly help Apple and the company he used to work for.

The bottom line is that some of the cases of crimes that hit the headlines are never pleasant for Apple customers. But the products they buy from the tech giant more than makeup for it.

Related Article: Is It Illegal To Share Apple Anti-theft Tips? iPhone Maker Allegedly Threatens Employee With Termination Over Viral Anti-iPhone Theft Tips TikTok Video

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Written by Thea Felicity

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Phillip A. Washington, the chief executive officer at the Denver International Airport, stands at the podium on Tuesday, Oct.11, 2022, as to his right Shawn Wilson, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development, and the heads of other public agencies sign the Equity Infrastructure Project in Washington, D.C.
US film studio giant NBCUniversal will give the majority of its programs and films to pay TV and streaming company Foxtel as incumbent streaming partner Stan looks to alternative ways to acquire content from Hollywood for subscribers.

Multiple media sources, who spoke anonymously because the talks are confidential, said Foxtel is on the verge of securing a long-term deal for the majority of NBCUs programs, including content from Sky Studios, online streaming service Peacock and a back catalogue of programs such as Parks & Recreation and Brooklyn 99. The deal was being finalised and could be completed within the week, the sources said.

Gangs of London is one of several programs in NBCUniversals slate. Credit:Stan

Other media sources said Seven West Media is expected to pick up the free-to-air rights for some of the content slate, including reality TV content which typically runs on Hayu. Foxtel, Seven and NBCUniversal declined to comment.

Incumbent Stan, which has a contract that expires this year, was involved in talks to secure programming for its subscribers, but sources said the service and its parent company Nine Entertainment Co walked away several weeks ago over concerns of price and clauses that give NBCUniversal the power to terminate and launch its own service, Peacock, at any time. Nine, the owner of this masthead, declined to comment.
The Night of the 12th 

(M) 115 minutes

In the French mountains near Grenoble, a team of homicide detectives tries to solve a vicious crime, the murder by fire of a young woman called Clara Royer (Lula Cotton-Frapier). A title tells us the French police open files on about 800 new murders each year and 20 per cent remain unsolved.

Although clumsily worded, they are telling us this story will remain unsolved at the end. Thats fairly radical for a whodunnit, but Dominik Moll is one of the most proficient directors in France of mystery thrillers (Only The Animals, Lemming, Harry, Hes Here to Help). This one does not disappoint. The film is about the impact of the case on those who try to solve it - from the dour head of the team, Captain Yohan (Bastien Bouillon), to the six or seven men, and eventually one woman, who work under him.

Captain Yohan (Bastien Bouillon) and Marceau (Bouli Lanners) investigate a vicious murder in The Night of the 12th. Credit:Potential Films

After the jolt of seeing the crime, which is horrible even when filmed in long shot, we notice one unusual thing: French detectives habitually eat together in the office like firemen. That may seem oddly French - and it is - but it underlines the collegiate approach. In a British or American police, the investigator is more often a lone wolf, perhaps with a partner.
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on November 1, 1985

Action. Cameras. Take one. This is a hold-up. Really

A bank robber with a terrible sense of timing has had his latest hold-up video-taped by bank staff.

The robber enters.

On October 17, the Westpac bank in Great North Road, Five Dock, was making a training film to help its staff cope with armed robberies.

The actor was waiting outside the bank for his cue, the tellers were ready and the camera was rolling.
All Australian schools should have access to a bank of lesson plans under a radical proposal to reduce teacher workload, boost results and stop educators having to plan classes from scratch.

A report by independent think tank the Grattan Institute has found 15 per cent of almost 2250 primary and high school teachers across the country have access to a common set of high-quality curriculum materials for all classes, and teachers in disadvantaged schools are half as likely to have access to shared lesson plans than those in advantaged schools.

A new report by independent think tank the Grattan Institute found 15 per cent of almost 2250 teachers across the country had access to a bank of common high-quality curriculum materials for all their lessons. Credit:iStock

Jordana Hunter, the Grattans education program director and the reports lead author, said teachers often planned classes alone and spent hours scouring social media searching for materials.

This creates a lesson lottery, and it undermines student learning and adds to the workload of our overstretched teachers, she said.
Queensland police are investigating the sudden death of a woman who was found unconscious at a home in Brisbanes bayside region.

Police said they were called to a property on Swan Street in Capalaba about 7.30pm on Saturday to conduct a welfare check.

They found a woman in her 50s who was unresponsive and she was declared dead at the site.

A crime scene was established and detectives launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Police said a 42-year-old man was helping officers with their investigation.
More Australians than ever are taking up apartment living. At the 2021 census, apartments accounted for 16 per cent of the nearly 11 million private dwellings. Apartments accounted for almost one-third of the increase in private homes since 2016. RMIT urban researcher Dr Louise Dorignon recently published research examining the trend of hotel-like apartments in Melbourne, which she said had come in response to the perception in Australia that apartments were inferior to suburban homes. A gym overlooks two spa baths. Developers had to differentiate new buildings from poor-quality, high-density structures, such as those with flammable cladding issues, Dorignon said. The elevation of the home-hotel to the status of desirable housing product casts a shadow on the traditional great Australian dream as provincial, unsociable, high maintenance and restricting mobility, her research says.

Dorignons research showed residents  downsizers, city professionals and, increasingly, young families  enjoyed hotel-like features because they felt exciting and cosmopolitan. Loading Many participants thought it reminded them of experiences of New York and Hong Kong, she said. However, she said that while this trend was promising because Australian cities needed more well-designed high-density living to limit unsustainable suburban sprawl, these apartments were not helping to solve the affordability crisis. Two-bedroom units can cost more than $1 million and yearly body corporate fees can be more than $10,000. Residents could also be disappointed by a sense of lifelessness or unmet promises when moving into apartments, Dorignon said.

Rhodes said his main issue was that despite his proximity to parks, he felt he had a lack of green space. Still, he said he would happily live permanently in a hotel-inspired apartment, especially given he wants to live in the inner-city. Where people might feel like their environment is a little bit stifled in a hotel, you dont really have that problem because your apartment is still your own, he said. Samantha Surfield, 48, left the outer suburbs and moved into an inner-city luxury apartment last year to be closer to work after her two adult children moved out. She said she loved the lifestyle offered by the amenities, location and social community. Being an empty-nester I suddenly had this new life, Surfield said.

Cbus Property chief executive Adrian Pozzo, who has luxury developments on Melbournes Spring Street and above Sydney CBDs former David Jones building, said it had become a given for new apartment buildings to copy hotels. Pozzo said having 24/7 concierge staff, who often had a hotel background, fostered a sense of comfort and security. The lobby concierge desk at Cbus Propertys 35 Spring St development. If I want to go away, I know that when I come back my apartment is still there in one piece, said Pozzo, who made the switch to an apartment five years ago. Ten or 15 years ago people might never have dreamed of buying an apartment, but now they arent just a stepping stone to something else, he said. People see it as, This my home, and it can be for the next 20, 30, 40 years, he said.

Cheryl Wong, sales administrator for the Yarra One tower, said bringing hotel experiences to apartment developments just makes sense. At her building, apartments lock digitally instead of with a physical key, and there is a butler service for tasks such as cleaning and dog walking. Loading Its that feeling of being taken care of and having that feeling in your own home is another step up, she said. A lot of people would probably think that they dont need this, that they just want something simple ... [but] there is a market out there that really craves something like this. Blake Schulze, national director for residential marketing at property group Colliers, said high-end hotel-like amenities were among the main deciding factors for apartment buyers. He said wealth was returning to cities, particularly in luxury apartment developments, after the easing of COVID restrictions.
Russian media reports said some of those who were mobilised were sent to combat without receiving proper training and were quickly killed. Authorities have acknowledged the mobilisation was often poorly organised and promised to improve the situation. Russias defence ministry said two men fired at troops at a Russian military firing range near Ukraine. Credit:AP During a firearms training session with individuals who voluntarily expressed a desire to participate in the special military operation (against Ukraine), the terrorists opened fire with small arms on the personnel of the unit, Russian news agency RIA cited a defence ministry statement as saying. Oleksiy Arestovych, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said in a YouTube interview that the attackers were from the Central Asian nation of Tajikistan and had opened fire on the others after an argument over religion.

Tajikistan is a predominantly Muslim nation, while around half of Russians follow various branches of Christianity. The Russian ministry had said the attackers were from a nation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, which groups nine ex-Soviet republics, including Tajikistan. Reuters was not immediately able to confirm the comments by Arestovych, a prominent commentator on the war who appears in the media on an almost daily basis. The attack took place a week after a blast damaged a bridge in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. Earlier in the war, Russias flagship in the Black Sea blew up and sank. Russia has lost ground in the nearly seven weeks since Ukraines armed forces opened their southern counteroffensive. This week, the Kremlin launched what is believed to be its largest coordinated air and missile raids on Ukraines key infrastructure since Russias invasion of Ukraine on February 24. In the continuation of those attacks, a missile strike Saturday seriously damaged a key energy facility in Ukraines capital region, the countrys grid operator said. Following mounting setbacks, the Russian military has worked to cut off power and water in far-flung populated areas while also fending off Ukrainian counterattacks in occupied areas.

In the Zaporizhzhia region, Governor Oleksandr Starukh said the Russian military carried out strikes with suicide drones from Iran and long-range S-300 missiles. Some experts said the Russian militarys use of the surface-to-air missiles may reflect shortages of dedicated precision weapons for hitting ground targets. Dmytro Pocishchuk, a hospital medic in the Zaporizhzhia regions capital who has treated dozens of people wounded during Russian attacks in recent weeks, said people sought safety outdoors or in his buildings basement when the familiar blasts started at 5.15am on Saturday (Ukraine time). Loading If Ukraine stops, these bombings and killings will continue. We cant give up to the Russian Federation, Pocishchuk said several hours later. He put a small Ukrainian flag on the broken windshield of his heavily damaged car. Kyiv region Governor Oleksiy Kuleba said the missile that hit a power facility on Saturday morning didnt kill or wound anyone. Citing security, Ukrainian officials didnt identify the site, one of many infrastructure targets the Russian military tried to destroy after an Oct. 8 truck bomb explosion damaged the bridge that links Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Ukrainian electricity transmission company Ukrenergo said repair crews were working to restore electricity service, but warned residents about further possible outages. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidents office, urged residents of the capital and three neighbouring regions to conserve energy. Putin may hope that by increasing the misery of the Ukrainian people, President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy may be more inclined to negotiate a settlement that allows Russia to retain some stolen territory in the east or Crimea, said Ian Williams, a fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a policy organisation based in Washington. A quick look at history shows that the strategic bombing of civilians is an ineffective way to achieve a political aim.  This weeks wide-ranging retaliatory attacks, which included the use of self-destructing explosive drones from Iran, killed dozens of people. The strikes hit residential buildings as well as infrastructure such as power stations in Kyiv, Lviv in western Ukraine, and other cities that had seen comparatively few strikes in recent months. Putin said Friday that Moscow didnt see a need for additional massive strikes but his military would continue selective ones. He said that of 29 targets the Russian military planned to knock out in this weeks attacks, seven werent damaged and would be taken out gradually. The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank based in Washington, interpreted Putins remarks as intended to counter criticism from pro-war Russian bloggers who largely praised the resumption of strikes against Ukrainian cities, but warned that a short campaign would be ineffective.

In the southern Kherson region, one of the first areas of Ukraine to fall to Russia after the invasion and which Putin also illegally designated as Russian territory last month, Ukrainian forces pressed their counteroffensive on Saturday. Loading Kyivs army has reported recapturing 75 villages and towns there in the last month, but said the momentum had slowed, with the fighting settling into the sort of gruelling back-and-forth that characterised Russias months-long offensive to conquer Ukraines eastern Donbas region. On Saturday, Ukrainian troops attempted to advance south along the banks of the Dnieper River toward the regional capital, also named Kherson, but didnt gain any ground, according to Kirill Stremousov, a deputy head of the occupied regions Moscow-installed administration. The defence lines worked, and the situation has remained under the full control of the Russian army, he wrote on his messaging app channel.
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low around 35F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low around 35F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
3 Murder Suspects in Custody, One Involved in Fatal Carjacking

LOS ANGELESA man died after being dragged by his own vehicle during a carjacking in the South Los Angeles area, authorities said Oct. 15.

Larry Walker, 63, of La Habra was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the coroners office.

A suspect in a July killing was in custody in connection with Walkers death, caused when he attempted to flee police serving a murder warrant.

Joshua Reneau, 31, of Los Angeles, who was hospitalized following Oct. 13s crash, was arrested on suspicion of murder, and booking was pending, the Los Angeles Police Department reported.

The events leading to Walkers death began earlier on Thursday when police arrested Derek Hall, 28, of West Covina, and Miracole Brown, 20, of South LA. Both were booked on suspicion of murder and robbery in the July case, with bail set at $2 million each.

After those arrests, police obtained a murder warrant for Reneau, and they went to his home in the 5900 block of Seventh Avenue in an effort to effect an arrest, police said.

About 5 p.m. Thursday, detectives saw Reneau get into the passenger side of a vehicle, and officers chased it when it was driven from the scene.

During the pursuit, the sedan collided with another vehicle and became disabled, police said in a statement.

Reneau exited the sedan and carjacked Walkers vehicle. As he attempted to forcibly remove the Walker from the car, the driver became entangled in the seatbelt. Reneau got into the drivers seat and drove away in the victims car. The victim was dragged alongside his own car for over two miles.

The pursuit continued for approximately three miles, police said. Reneau collided with several police vehicles and ultimately flipped the car on its side in the area of Praire and Florence avenues, in the city of Inglewood. The victim of the carjacking was located on the street about three houses south of where the car flipped and came to rest on North Osage Avenue, police said.

The victim now identified as Walker was pronounced dead at the scene.

Reneau barricaded himself inside the disabled car and initially refused to surrender, police said. The Los Angeles Police Department SWAT officers responded to the scene and Reneau surrendered.

The driver of the vehicle, 34-year-old Jamal Sutherland of Los Angeles, was booked on suspicion of felony evading and was held without bail.

A woman riding in the vehicle, 33-year-old Neosha Reneau of Los Angeles, was booked on a misdemeanor warrant, with bail set at $1,000.

According to police, Joshua Reneau, Derek Hall, and Miracole Brown were involved in crimes including homicide and assault on July 29.

About 12:01 a.m. that day, West Valley Division patrol officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon radio call in the 18500 block of Sherman Way, police said. Upon arrival, officers located two victims with gunshot wounds.

Paramedics took the pair to a hospital, and they were treated and released.

There were numerous shell casings inside the crime scene, which were fired from different handguns, police said. Officers determined that a street robbery occurred. It was believed the victim was targeted for his jewelry.

At around 12:50 a.m., West Valley officers responded to a call in the 18300 block of Saticoy Street in Reseda, where they found a man with a gunshot wound, police said. Paramedics took 32-year-old Earl Hunter to a hospital, where he died.

Detectives  learned that the victims were confronted by three males  who exited a gray, four-door sedan, police said. Two of the suspects were armed with handguns. One of the suspects grabbed the victims two large necklaces. During the incident, the victim was shot.

Detectives determined that the two shootings of the three victims involved the same suspects.
Australians are seen evacuating a pet dog through flood water In Rochester, Victoria, on Oct. 14, 2022. (AAP Image/James Ross)

34,000 Homes Could Be Lost as Rivers Set to Peak in Victoria, Australia

Hundreds of residents along several swollen Victorian rivers are bracing for the worst, with record-breaking flooding predicted in the states north.

Emergency warnings remain in place for multiple areas, including Shepparton, Murchison, Echuca, Kialla, Mooroopna, Orrvale, Charlton Barnadown and Elmore.

Early on Monday in Echuca, residents and holidaymakers were being told to leave immediately amid concerns people could become stranded by the floodwaters.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said about 34,000 homes could be inundated or isolated by floodwaters.

He warned the flooding of agricultural properties in Victorias north could lead to a food supply shortfall and rising prices, as seen after the northern NSW and Queensland floods earlier this year.

I met farmers in the last couple of days who were getting very close to bringing in bumper crops of canola, and theres dairy farmers who have been affected and have been having trouble milking their cows, he told ABC TV on Monday.

The Goulburn River at Shepparton has risen overnight to 12.05 metres (41 feet), with major flooding expected on Monday morning at 12.1m.

That is higher than the 1974 flood level of 12.09m, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Images show buildings in the middle of town surrounded by a vast inland sea of brown muddy water and residents using sandbags to protect properties.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said 56 requests for rescues were made overnight in Mooroopna and Shepparton, some of which are yet to be completed.

Hundreds of homes in the area have been flooded, along with another 800 to 900 homes in Rochester.

I had the opportunity to fly over Rochester yesterday. To be frank, its depressing, Crisp told ABC TV.

A 71-year-old man was found dead in floodwaters in the backyard of his Rochester home on Saturday.

Floodwaters have receded in Maribyrnong, where police confirmed an unoccupied house was looted on Monday morning.

It is believed a man wearing high-vis and a face covering entered the flood-hit home and stole several personal items before fleeing in a car with another two men waiting inside.

Melbourne Water has been directed to carry out a review of Flemington Racecourses levee wall to determine whether it contributed to the flooding of properties in Maribyrnong and Kensington.

The Loddon River at Kerang is expected to peak on Tuesday and into Wednesday, with levels similar to the record-breaking January 2011 floods.

A warning has also been issued for the Wimmera River, with Horsham residents warned major flooding is possible on Monday and into Tuesday.

The Campaspe River at Barnadown, Rochester Town and Echuca peaked on Monday morning with major flooding occurring  higher than in 2011.

The Victorian State Emergency Service has received more than 4750 calls for help, including more than 500 flood rescue requests, since Wednesday when heavy rainfall lashed the state.

Disaster recovery payments have been made available to residents in 23 local government areas, and a 250-bed camp for displaced people will open at the former COVID-19 quarantine facility in Mickleham.

About 100 ADF personnel have been deployed to help with evacuations and sandbagging.

Major flood warnings are also in place for the Broken, Avoca and Loddon rivers and the Seven and Castle creeks.

The Avoca River could peak about eight metres on Monday morning around Charlton.
The Apple logo at an Apple Store in Brooklyn, New York, on Oct. 23, 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Apple Workers Vote to Unionize 2nd US Store

NEW YORKApple Inc. retail workers voted to form a union at an Oklahoma location, the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said on Friday, making it the tech giants second U.S. store to organize.

Employees at the Apple Penn Square store in Oklahoma City voted 56 to 32 in support of joining the Communications Workers of America Union (CWA), securing the needed majority, according to a tally by the NLRB.

The move to organize spread to new industries during the pandemic, sparked by concerns about workplace safety. Momentum has continued at companies including Amazon.com Inc. and Starbucks Corp., and others.

The workers, who call themselves the Penn Square Labor Alliance, sought to join the CWA to address concerns including fair compensation, career development, and COVID-19 health and safety concerns.

The NLRB did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.

The thing that really did it for us was seeing our peers at other Apple stores, our peers with Starbucks, and other companies start to demand better for themselves, said Kevin Herrera, a part-time Apple specialist and one of the lead organizers at the Oklahoma City location.

The CWA filed in early October an unfair labor practice charge alleging that Apple managers at the Oklahoma location informed workers that support for the union was futile, threatened to withhold benefits from workers supporting the union, engaged in unlawful surveillance, and interrogated workers, according to a press release from the CWA.

Apple declined to comment on the allegations.

We believe the open, direct, and collaborative relationship we have with our valued team members is the best way to provide an excellent experience for our customers, and for our teams, Apple said in a statement.

Were proud to provide our team members with strong compensation and exceptional benefits. Since 2018, weve increased our starting rates in the United States by 45 percent and weve made many significant enhancements to our industry-leading benefits, including new educational and family support programs, the company added.

Apple workers near Baltimore, Maryland, voted in June to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

The CWA in May withdrew an election petition on behalf of Apple workers in Atlanta, Georgia, claiming that Apple had repeatedly violated federal labor law and the rising number of COVID-19 infections among store employees made a fair election impossible, according to the CWA.

A regional NLRB office accused Apple on Sept. 30 of illegally attempting to stymie a union campaign at a New York City retail store by interrogating workers and barring them from leaving pro-union flyers in a break room.

Some current and former Apple workers last year began criticizing the companys working conditions online, using the hashtag #AppleToo.

Apple has 272 stores in the United States, according to the companys website.

By Doyinsola Oladipo
Arctic Blast to Impact Eastern Half of US

A blast of cold air will affect the midwestern United States and the eastern part of the country this week, forcing Americans to start using their heaters and stoves, forecasters say

It will feel more like November for many, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

The National Weather Service said on Oct. 16 that an increasingly cold and unsettled weather pattern is forecast to develop across the Upper Midwest and spread east across the East Coast over the next couple of days.

The cold air surging into the Great Lakes behind an intensifying low-pressure system will lead to mixed precipitation to expand eastward into the interior Northeast by [Oct. 18], according to the update. Interior New England may see a quick round of heavier rain as a warm front lifts through the region on [Oct. 17] before colder air arrives from the west later in the day.

Currently, freeze warnings and watches are in effect for Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas, and they are likely to spread.

A major snow event is not anticipated by any means across the interior Northeast, but this will serve as a reminder that winter is not too far off, AccuWeathers Brandon Buckingham told the website, adding that people should consider remaining fall cleanup or winterizing projects for their homes due to the early cold arrival.

The best chance for accumulations between a dusting and perhaps an inch or two will reside in the typical lake-effect snow belts in northwestern Pennsylvania and western and northern New York, Buckingham added.

The cold could spark an increased demand for power as millions of Americans turn on their heaters in a bid to offset the temperatures. U.S. natural gas prices have declined for the past several months despite elevated prices across Europe and elsewhere.

Globally, were feeling better about ourselves and about the natural gas storage levels that we have now, Gary Cunningham, the head of market research at risk management firm Tradition Energy, told Bloomberg News last week.

If theres a cold snap, Cunningham noted that prices could surge in the United States.

All of that can change very quickly and dramatically if we have a cold start to winter, he said.

In March, President Joe Biden committed to delivering 15 billion cubic meters more of liquefied natural gas to Europe following Russias invasion of Ukraine and has already surpassed that goal.

The price of natural gas, which heats about 50 percent of U.S. households, is expected to increase about 34 percent compared with last year, and up 66 percent from the winter of 202021, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association said in a recent report. Some power companies that rely on natural gas in the U.S. northeast are warning consumers that electricity bills could soar by 60 percent this winter.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Arizona Democrat Sentenced to 30 Days in Jail for Ballot Harvesting

An Arizona Democrat has been sentenced to 30 days in jail because of her involvement in a local ballot harvesting scheme during a 2020 municipal election.

Guillermina Fuentes, a 66-year-old school board member and former mayor of the border town of San Luis, was ordered on Oct. 13 to turn herself in to the Yuma County Jail, according to the office of Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. She was also placed on two years of probation.

Fuentes, alongside her associate Alma Juarez, earlier this year pleaded guilty to one count each of ballot abuse. Fuentes was accused of illegally collecting early ballots from four individuals who werent her family members during the August 2020 primary. Investigators reported at that time that she was using her position in the San Luis community to persuade local voters to allow her or her acquaintances deposit their ballots.

According to the report (pdf), the Arizona attorney generals office started investigating Fuentes following a complaint of a potential case of voter fraud. Video evidence provided to investigators apparently shows her collecting and filling out ballots at a table outside a polling place.

A group of subjects, lead by Guillermina Fuentes were seen on video manning a table and appearing to be supporting particular candidates, the report reads. A female identified as Alma Juarez approached the table and made contact with a second female identified as Guillermina Fuentes. Fuentes is ultimately observed taking a ballot from Juarez.

In the video, it is clear that the ballot envelope was unsealed, the report continues. Fuentes was observed to pick up a pen or pencil and write on the ballot envelope. She then pulls the ballot out of the envelope and makes three marks consistent with the filling in of spaces on a ballot to make a candidate selection. Fuentes put the ballot back in the envelope and sealed it. She then retrieved several more ballot envelopes from a folder on the table and handed them to Juarez. Juarez then walks toward the polling location.

The video was recorded and sent to the Yuma County Sheriffs Office by Gary Garcia Snyder, a Republican who ran for the San Luis City Council in 2020 as a write-in candidate. Snyder is now running for the state Senate.

In a separate proceeding on Oct. 13, Juarez was sentenced to a 12-month term of probation for her ballot abuse offense, the attorney generals office stated.

Arizonas 2016 anti-ballot harvesting law, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2021, makes it a felony for someone to turn in the early ballots of other people unless theyre a family member, household member, or caregiver. Sixteen states currently allow a voter to designate a non-family member to return their ballot for them, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
People take pictures of rare banners of political protest from an overpass in Beijing on Oct. 13, 2022. (Screenshot of Fangshimins Twitter account via The Epoch Times)

Beijing Hastily Recruits More Security, Ups Censorship of Bridge Man Protest Before Party Congress

In front of all cameras monitoring Beijing, a man dressed as a construction worker unfurled two banners on an overpass on Oct. 13, demanding an end to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) draconian zero-COVID policies and the removal of Xi Jinping as Chinas top leader.

The man was later identified by China Change, which is an information platform on human rights, the rule of law, and civil society in China. Yaxue Cao, a China Change founder, posted on Twitter on Oct. 14 that the man is Peng Lifa, also known as Peng Zaizhou online.

Peng wrote on one of the banners: We dont want PCR tests; we want to eat. We dont want lockdowns; we want freedom. We dont want lies; we want dignity. We dont want the Cultural Revolution; we want reform. We dont want a leader; we want votes. We dont want to be slaves; we want to be citizens.

Identity of the Man Who Pulled Off Protest on Beijing Overpass Amid Unprecedented Security Before the CCP Congress https://t.co/RpaUuRzrfo # #  Yaxue Cao (@YaxueCao) October 14, 2022

On the other banner, Peng advocated strikes by students, teachers, and workers. He also demanded the removal of Xi Jinping, whom he called a dictator and traitor.

Video clips and photos of Peng putting up the banners and using a loudspeaker to broadcast what he had written on the two banners soon went viral in China and overseas. Smoke could be seen billowing from Sitong Bridge, as Peng burnt what looked like tires to generate smoke to attract the attention of passers-by.

The bridge is located in the northwestern downtown Haidian District of Beijing, which is home to several prestigious Chinese universities, including Peking University and Tsinghua University, and is close to ZhongguancunChinas silicon valley.

Peng was soon arrested by Beijing police. Since then, there has been no information on his whereabouts or well-being, triggering concerns in China and overseas over his safety.

Censorship

The Chinese regime acted swiftly to block information on the protest spreading online, which happened just days before the CCPs 20th national congressan event that takes every five years when the CCP makes political reshuffles and decisions on the policies for the coming five years.

Additional sensitive words have added to the regimes already expansive online censorship efforts.

In addition to the words and phrases on the banners, expressions such as Sitong Bridge, Beijing, Haidian (the district), banners, brave man, and courage have been censored from Chinese social media platforms.

People sharing photos and videos of Pengs protest have found their social accounts terminated or banned.

The phrase I have seen it! has also been banned on Chinese social media, after people started using it to refer to the protest.

According to China Change, a journalist said his account has been suspended for 60 days for merely saying Ive seen it.

A song with the title Sitong Bridge has also been removed from Chinese online music platforms, according to The Associate Press on Thursday.

Recruiting Bridge Security Guards

Beijing authorities responded to the one-man protest by immediately further tightening its security around the national congress on for Oct. 16.

In addition to police patrolling and checking people in the areas near Sitong Bridge, the local authorities in Beijing urgently put up advertisements to recruit temporary security personnel for the sole purpose of keeping an eye on bridges in Beijing. The job title for these security guards is bridge watchers, as translated directly from the Chinese phrase.

The Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times viewed the recruitment ads and contacted several of them for comment.

One of the HR agencies told The Epoch Times that they only want male bridge security guards.

According to the job posts, the daily wages of the bridge security guards range from 240 yuan ($33) to 360 yuan ($50). Applicants should be at least 5.5 feet tall and aged between 18 and 45. They are provided a tent on or below the bridge where they are assigned to work. There are normally two guards working together, who can take turns resting.

Another recruitment agency told The Epoch Times that they wanted people for watching the bridges for the whole month of October. He said that his agency needed about 20 people, but he knew some other agencies that want to recruit at least 100 people.

Online posts show that these security guards wear fluorescent vests on which are written Chinese militia.

One staffer of a recruitment agency told The Epoch Times that they recruit temporary security guards all the time, not just for the CCPs 20th national congress but for a routine maintenance of social stability as required by the regime

The Chinese regime deems dissidents, religious groups, rights activists, veterans, and petitioners as elements destabilizing China, whereas critics point out these groups are just destabilizing to the regimes tyrannical rule. The regime spends a huge percentage of its budget on police, state security, armed civil militia, courts and jails, and AI monitoring technology and equipment every year to crack down on these people in China.

The Epoch Times reported in 2018 that the CCP spent more on domestic security than on national defense in 2009, 2011, and 2013 and that the regimes Ministry of Finance stopped including such budgets in its annual total budgets disclosure. In 2013, the regime spent $121 billion on domestic security compared to $114 billion on national defense.

Li Dayu, a former Chinese journalist turned YouTuber, now based in the United States, said in a recent post that it is stupid for the communist regime to recruit bridge watchers, as banners can also appear in other places including on walls, tree branches, and utility poles. How many more people does it [the communist regime] have to hire? Li said in his latest program, Maybe they need to hire wall watchers and utility pole watchers in the future as well.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Haidian District Urban Administrative and Law Enforcement Bureau, and a female staffer replied that it was the sub-district office that was recruiting bridge security guards. The Epoch Times reached out to the Haidian sub-district office and had received no reply as of press time. Xisanqi Sub-district Office, one of the offices in the Haidian district, denied recruiting any security guards to monitor bridges in its jurisdiction.

Radio Free Asia posted on Oct. 14 that governments of Beijings various districts were urgently publishing recruitment advertisements for bridge watchers to stand guard on bridges 24 hours a day in two shifts.

Wang Dan, a former student leader of the peaceful student protest in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, lauded the protester Peng Lifa as Chinas new tankman or bridge man for his courage to speak up and his quest for liberal democracy.

Pengs online name Zaizhou means holding up the boat literally in English, and it originates from an ancient Chinese saying, The water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it upthat advises rulers to treat their people well, as they are the ones that will otherwise overthrow them.

The 1989 student protest ended in a massacre by the Chinese regime, which sent tanks and soldiers with live ammunition to squash the peacefully protesting students in Beijings Tiananmen Square. It is estimated that thousands died.

Xiao Luysheng, Hong Ning, and Zhang Ting contributed to this report.
Former Manson family member and convicted murderer Patricia Krenwinkel listens to the ruling denying her parole, at a hearing at the California Institution for Women in Corona, Calif., on Jan. 20, 2011. (Reed Saxon/AP Photo)

California Governor Blocks Charles Manson Followers Parole

SACRAMENTO, Calif.Californias governor blocked the parole of Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel on Friday, more than five decades after she scrawled Helter Skelter on a wall using the blood of one of their victims.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Krenwinkel, now 74, is still too much of a public safety risk to be freed.

Ms. Krenwinkel fully accepted Mr. Mansons racist, apocalyptical ideologies, Newsom said. Ms. Krenwinkel was not only a victim of Mr. Mansons abuse. She was also a significant contributor to the violence and tragedy that became the Manson Familys legacy.

A two-member parole panel for the first time in May recommended that Krenwinkel be released, after she previously had been denied parole 14 times. Newsom has previously rejected parole recommendations for other followers of Manson, who died in prison in 2017.

Krenwinkel became the states longest-serving female inmate when fellow Manson follower Susan Atkins died of cancer in prison in 2009. Her attorney, Keith Wattley, said he understands Krenwinkel is the longest-serving woman in the United States.

She and other followers of the cult leader terrorized the state in the late 1960s, committing crimes that Newsom said were among the most fear-inducing in Californias history.

She was convicted in the slayings of pregnant actor Sharon Tate and four other people in 1969. She helped kill grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary the next night in what prosecutors say was an attempt by Manson to start a race war.

Newsom agreed that she has been well-behaved in prison, has completed many rehabilitation and education programs and has demonstrated effusive remorse. But he concluded that her efforts have not sufficiently reduced her risk for future dangerousness.

She still doesnt have sufficient insight into what caused her to commit the crimes or her triggers for antisocial thinking and conduct during bad relationships, Newsom said.

Beyond the brutal murders she committed, she played a leadership role in the cult, and an enforcer of Mr. Mansons tyranny. She forced the other women in the cult to obey Mr. Manson, and prevented them from escaping when they tried to leave, he said.

Wattley did not immediately respond to telephone and email messages seeking comment on Newsoms decision.

But Anthony DiMaria, nephew of Jay Sebring, one of Krenwinkels victims, had urged Newsom to block her release due to the rare, severe, egregious nature of her crimes. He said her actions incited the entire Helter Skelter legacy that has caused permanent historical scars and inspired at least two ritualized killings years later.

New laws since Krenwinkel was last denied parole in 2017 required the parole panel to consider that she committed the murders at a young age and is now elderly.

Also, for the first time, Los Angeles County prosecutors werent at the parole hearing to object, under District Attorney George Gascons policy that prosecutors should not be involved in deciding whether prisoners are ready for release.

She and other participants were initially sentenced to death. But they were resentenced to life with the possibility of parole after the death penalty in California was briefly ruled unconstitutional in 1972.

Krenwinkel was 19 and living with her older sister when she met Manson, then age 33, at a party during a time when she said she was feeling lost and alone.

He seemed a bit bigger than life, she testified in May, and she started feeling that somehow his take on the world was the right, was the right one.

She said she left with him for what she thought would be a relationship with the new man in my life who unlike others told her he loved her and that she was beautiful.

Manson had answers that I wanted to hear  that I might be loved, that I might have the kind of affection that I was looking forward to in my life, she said.

Instead, she said Manson abused her and others physically and emotionally while requiring that they trust him without question, testimony that led the parole panel to conclude that Krenwinkel was a victim of intimate partner battery at the time.

It took about two years of traveling and drug use until he began emerging as the figure who was leading the cult who began talking about sparking a race war and asking his followers, would you kill for me? And I said yes.

Krenwinkel talked about during her 2016 parole hearing how she repeatedly stabbed Abigail Folger, 26, heiress to a coffee fortune, at Tates home on Aug. 9, 1969.

Sharon Tates sister, Debra Tate, the last surviving member of her immediate family, was among victims who dismissed Krenwinkels explanation that she was led to Manson by alcohol use and a non-supportive family while growing up.

We all come from homes with problems and didnt decide to go out and brutally kill seven strangers, Tate told parole officials.
The back bay area of Newport Beach, Calif., on May 23, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Coastal Commission Approves Newport Bay Dredging Plan

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.The California Coastal Commission Oct. 14 approved a permit for plans to contain contaminated sediment in Lower Newport Bay.

The commission voted 81 for a confined aquatic disposal facility, which is akin to digging a hole for the unwanted sediment and capping it off with clean sand.

The project includes removing some contaminated sediment and keeping it in the facility, which could hold about 112,500 cubic yards of the dredged material. The plan is to dredge about 282,400 cubic yards of sediment.

Commission staffers said it was the least damaging feasible alternative for disposal of contaminated sediments.

The sediment contaminated by DDT, mercury, and other chemicals would be covered by clean sand to keep it from leaching out.

Commission staffers said the project would also improve public access and recreational opportunities due to the placement of approximately 282,400 cubic yards of clean and grain-size compatible sand along a stretch of eroding beach immediately upcoast of the Newport Harbor entrance.

Chris Miller, the citys public works director, told the commission the sediment in question was deemed not toxic.

The EPA has informed us it is not toxic or threatening and can remain in place, Miller said. It is not toxic or hazardous.

The Army Corps of Engineers also signed off on the project.

Orange County Coastkeeper opposed the project. The organization claimed city officials misrepresented the projects danger.

We were hopeful that the Coastal Commission would deny the project and push the city to develop a safer plan to address the hazardous sediment, Coastkeeper President Garry Brown said.

Brown added he was comforted that the commission addressed some of the organizations concerns.
Rescuers secure a bus from falling down a ravine after an accident on the Pan-American Highway in Altos de Penalisa, near the city of Pasto, in the Colombian department of Narino, on Oct. 15, 2022. (Leonardo Castro/AFP via Getty Images)

Colombian Bus Crash Kills at Least 20

BOGOTAAt least 20 people were killed and 14 more injured on Saturday when a bus crashed on a road between the southwestern Colombian cities of Pasto and Popayan, police said.

Images on Colombian television showed the bus flipped over in the early morning accident, which authorities said may have been caused by a mechanical fault.

Local media said the bus had been close to tumbling down a mountainside, but had come to a halt against a barrier.
Jeff Younger with his sons James and Jude. (Courtesy of Jeff Younger)

Courts Could Allow Chemical Castration of 10-Year-Old Son But Not Haircut: Texas Father

Texas father Jeff Younger is prepared to file a federal lawsuit if his ex-wife moves to California in an attempt to chemically castrate their 10-year-old son under the states new transgender sanctuary law.

Younger made the announcement concerning his high-profile custody battle on Saturday at the Patriarch Convention, a conference on fatherhood and family issues held as part of the 21 Summit in Orlando, Florida, this weekend.

The Patriarch Convention is one of three conventions being held simultaneously under the 21 Summit umbrella, which includes the anti-feminist 22 Convention to make women great again, and the 21 Convention to improve views about masculinity and make men alpha again.

In a text to The Epoch Times, Younger added he would take his fight to save his son, James, to the U.S. Supreme Court.

You need to stop looking for leaders that talk  you need to start looking at people who have done things, he told the audience.

Younger, an orthodox Christian, said psychology and medicine have been weaponized against conservatives, who do not have a strategy to stop the progressive left from their decades-long push to take over democratic institutions.

They are going to take your children; theyre going to educate them to destroy everything that youve builtthat is the goal, he said.

Younger told the audience that conservatives should use their voice and stage a coordinated push back to reinstate traditional American values.

We want to reestablish a previous social order, he said for his support of traditional family values.

To do that, he suggested that conservatives must avoid setting up large organizations run democratically. Instead, we should use swarming tactics 10,000 small groups, he said.

Conservatives must launch coordinated, spontaneous campaigns similar to GamerGate, where conservatives challenged feminists and their ideology, who couldnt destroy the campaign because there was no top-down leadership.

He said that society will have to take sides because only two outcomes are possible now.

He said that America would return to its traditions or morph into one big university with speech codes, single-payer health care, and lunch cardsall orchestrated by bureaucrats.

What are you going to do to carve out the space of liberty  so you raise your sons in a traditional way? he asked the audience.

Fighting for His Son

Younger explained the background of his case to save his son from chemical castration, which has led him to speak out against bias in the legal system.

His ex-wife Anne Georgulas, a pediatrician in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, began dressing James as a girl when he was around 2 years old.

During the ongoing custody battle, Georgulas argued that James chose to identify as a female, wear dresses, and go by the female name Luna.

On the other hand, Younger accused his ex-spouse of leading their young son to socially transition his gender before he could understand the concept or its implications. He said that James rejected the female identity and did not wear dresses at his home during visits.

The court issued a gag order against Younger, forbidding him from talking to the media, which he has ignored.

Shes completely socially transitioned him, and I could not get the courts to stop the fact, he told the audience.

The fight for James even extended to how he wore his hair. Younger said he kept cutting it military style, which drove his ex-wife to seek an injunction against it.

Cutting his hair is considered abuse by the court, but cutting his penis off isnt, Younger said. And this is where you are as a father today.

Younger blames Republicans in Texas for not using their political muscle to pass a bill he championed last year to ban medical transitions for children.

Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan gavels in the 87th Legislatures special session in the House chamber at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on July 8, 2021. (Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images)

This Spring, Younger ran unsuccessfully for Texas House District 63 to stop youth gender transitions. He told the audience the Republican establishment backed his opponent.

Should my sons be moved to a foreign jurisdiction and lose the protection of Texas law, I will exact political reprisals against the Texas official responsible, Younger told The Epoch Times via text.

Younger said Dallas District Judge Mary Brown, a liberal Democrat sitting on the bench for the Texas 301st District Court, ruled on Sept. 21 that Youngers ex-wife could move James and his twin brother Jude anywhere in the continental United States.

The judge said her ruling was for the safety and welfare of the twins.

Jeff Younger with his sons James (left) and Jude (right). (Courtesy of the website SaveJames.com)

The order said that Younger would have to schedule supervised parental visits in the county and state where the children reside. Also, the judge ordered his ex-wife not to reveal her and the childrens address, and allowed her to apply for new passports.

In 2021, Brown stripped Younger of most parental rights, giving full custody in a temporary order to Georgulas. Younger is seeking to roll back that ruling to a previous jury verdict in 2019, allowing 50-50 custody and no child support.

His ex-wife indicated during the Sept. 21 hearing that she wanted to move to California. She recently posted online that she will be closing her local practice on Oct. 31.

Younger is concerned that his ex-wife will transition James medically because documents show that she took James to a therapist who recommended the family explore gender transitioning at the Dallas-based Genecis medical clinic.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Sept. 29. giving the state authority over transgender minors.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a bill signing ceremony at Nidos Backyard Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco on Feb. 9, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The law enacts various safeguards against the enforcement of other states laws that would penalize individuals from obtaining gender-affirming care that is legal in California.

Younger believes the new California law will be a workaround for a previous Texas court order, preventing either parent from treating the child with hormonal suppression therapy, puberty blockers, or transgender reassignment surgery without both parents consent or a court order.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, during a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 14, 2022. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Ex-FBI Agent Uses Baseless Assertion to Reject Testimony Request: House Republicans

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee who sought the cooperation of a former FBI agent into allegations of abuse and misconduct within his agency, particularly surrounding the Hunter Biden investigation, say theres no rationale or legal basis for him to refuse a request for testimony.

Timothy Thibault, who left the FBI in August, is being accused by Republican senators of having a partisan bias against former President Donald Trump and slow-walking the agencys investigation into Hunter Biden in 2020. In late September, three Judiciary Committee Republicans sent a letter to Thibault, requesting the former agent submit to a transcribed interview, saying that his testimony was necessary for their oversight of the Justice Department and the FBI.

Whistleblowers have come to Congress alleging that you were part of a scheme to undermine and discredit allegations of criminal wrongdoing by members of the Biden family. Accordingly, we believe that you possess information relating to our investigation and we request your assistance with our inquiry, the September letter says.

On Oct. 15, the three lawmakersRep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the committees ranking Republican member; Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.); and Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.)announced that Thibault had rejected their request and that they had sent a new letter to Thibault one day earlier.

In the new letter, the lawmakers explained that Thibaults refusal to testify was baseless and their interview request remains outstanding.

Your baseless assertion that sensitive law enforcement information and/or pending investigations prevents your cooperation with our inquiry ignores the importance of congressional oversight as well as the Committees past practice in examining misconduct at the FBI, the three lawmakers wrote, citing a letter from Thibaults attorney.

There is no rationale or legal basis for your refusal to cooperate with our inquiry for the reasons articulated in your attorneys October 7 letter.

The lawmakers also suggested that Thibault might have contradicted his own public statement in August. At that time, Thibaults attorney released a statement, saying that their client welcomes any investigation and any investigation will conclude that his supervision, leadership, and decision making were not impacted by political bias or partisanship of any kind.

Next Congress

Thibault also rejected the lawmakers request to preserve documents in his possession.

Your attorney asserts that you cannot comply with our document-preservation notice because you have left federal service, the letter says. Notably, this assertion ignores that our notice includes both official and personal records that may be responsive to the topics we are investigating.

The lawmakers requested that Thibaults attorney provides assurance that his client preserves any personal records or copies of official records in his possession.

If you posses no personal records about the topics addressed in our letters to you, or any copies of official records, in your personal possession, we ask that your attorney make such a representation to us on your behalf, the letter says.

The lawmakers ended their letter with a vow that they will not stop seeking answers from Thibault.

Your testimony is necessary for our oversight, and you can be assured that Committee Republicans will continue to pursue this matter into the 118th Congress, the letter says.

The 118th Congress starts on Jan. 3, 2023, with Republicans optimistic about their chances of taking back the House following the midterm elections.

Thibaults attorney Charles Duross, in a statement to the New York Post, said his client had continuing obligations related to his prior work, which impacts his ability to voluntarily provide such information, and it is not the case that our client is unwilling to cooperate.

Before leaving the FBI, Thibault was an assistant special agent in charge at the bureaus Washington Field Office.

FBI Director Christopher Wray, speaking at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in early August, said that allegations against Thibault were deeply troubling.
Russian analyst Igor Danchenko walks to the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria, Va., on Oct. 11, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

FBI Officials Blocked Investigation Into Dossier Source With Russian Links: Testimony

ALEXANDRIA, Va.An FBI supervisory agent and former bureau analyst both say they were prevented from opening an investigation into a longtime Democratic operatives relationships with Russians and key players in assembling the anti-Donald Trump dossier authored by former British spy Christopher Steele.

FBI special agent Amy Anderson and former FBI counterintelligence expert Brittany Hertzog wanted to probe Charles Dolan, a longtime Clinton family associate who did business for years with top Russian officials and also provided information to Igor Danchenko, a key source for Steeles dossier.

But special agent Joe Nelson, Andersons boss, blocked her efforts, Anderson testified.

Hertzog said she was blocked by Brian Auten, another official, who worked on special counsel Robert Muellers team.

Anderson and Hertzog testified on Oct. 14 during the trial of Russian business analyst Igor Danchenko before U.S. Eastern District of Virginia Judge Anthony Trenga.

Danchenko, a Russian national and Virginia resident, is charged with five counts of making false statements to FBI investigators during three January 2017 interviews. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which could carry a 25-year prison sentence if convicted.

Danchenko was the primary sub-source in funneling salacious accusations in 2016 about then-presidential candidate Donald Trump to former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, who went on to compile a dossier while being paid by Democrats such as Hillary Clinton, Trumps rival for the presidency.

Dolan

Danchenko was charged with lying about his contact with Dolan, a longtime Democratic operative, Clinton family associate, and billionaire founder who is now senior vice president of a Virginia-based public relations firm, though the charge was tossed on Friday.

Dolan himself testified Oct. 13 that he worked for Ketchum PR for 13 years and was frequently in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia working with the companys clients.

Among those clients was the government of the Russian Federation and among those he worked most closely with was Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putins press secretary, who Hertzog described as overseeing Russian propaganda and misinformation.

Dolan in his testimony acknowledged that he had a close working relationship with Peskov as well as Olga Galkina, who came from the same town as Danchenko in Russia and was living in Cyprus.

Through Dolans decade-long connections with Danchenko, Dolan was able to secure a public relations contract with her employer, service.com.

Dolan and Danchenko also were in Moscow together in June and October 2016. The latter visit was for a business conference they helped organize.

Dolan and Galkina are among those suspected of helping Danchenko compile most of the information contained in the dossier written and published in 17 reports by Steele. Galkina denies she was involved, but FBI agents and Danchenko say she was.

Drew Attention

The connectivity between the three drew the attention of FBI investigators involved in the Crossfire Hurricane probe of the Trump campaigns alleged collusion with Russian officials that in the spring of 2017 morphed into the Mueller investigation.

Anderson, a specialist in Russian counterintelligence who has been with the agency for 12 years, was involved in the investigation from April 2017 to January 2018 and was attempting to either verify the reports or determine they were not accurate.

In the course of that research, she became aware of the active connection between Danchenko, Dolan, and Galkina.

When asked by prosecutor Brittany Shaw if she believed further steps needed to be taken to investigate Dolan, Anderson said, I did.

I wanted to look into him, she said, lobbying for the agency to explore the DolanPeskov connection.

Anyone who had access to the Kremlin would be important to look into, she said, maintaining looking into Dolans activities was imperative in validating or debunking the dossier.

Anderson said it would be important for Russian actors like Peskov to know someone was looking for rumors and allegations against a presidential candidate and that it would be of interest to investigators to ascertain links between those seeking the information and officials in Russia.

In August 2017, Anderson and FBI supervisory counterintelligence analyst Auten went to Cyprus to speak with Galkina, a meeting arranged by Danchenko.

Over the span of the three days, she seemed mostly forthcoming but was hesitant in talking to us about Dolan, Anderson said.

On the last day, Anderson said, she directly asked Galkina if Dolan was involved in the dossier and other activities related to their investigation.

We were in a car and she asked me to remove my sunglasses so she could look me in the eye and say, Yes,' Anderson recounted.

That comment induced objections from Danchenkos defense team that Trenga sustained, advising the jury to disregard everything after Anderson said, she removed her sunglasses.

Attempts to Investigate

On the return flight, Anderson said she wrote a type of report the FBI uses to open investigations and submitted it to her supervisor, special agent Joe Nelson.

The report sat for approximately three, four weeks, she said, before her supervisor, special agent Joe Nelson, told her to close it.

Hertzog, a Russian counterintelligence specialist for 11 years before leaving the agency in 2019, under questioning from prosecutor Michael Keilty, recounted how Dolan was making multiple trips to Moscow and numerous trips to Cyprus in 2018.

Dolans connectivity to Galkina was important, she said, especially considering his relationship with Peskov.

I was concerned, Hertzog said. She wanted to take investigatory steps against Dolan, noting both Anderson and Auten shared her concerns.

She prepared a report that outlined Dolans connections with the Russian government, Danchenko, and Galkina and serialized it to three case files.

I wanted others to see it, especially the agencys inspector general division, Hertzog said, because she wanted the FBI to act on the gathered intelligence.

I believed further action was needed for Dolan, Hertzog said.

However, she said, she was instructed by Auten not to take further action relative to Dolan.

John Haughey Follow John Haughey has been a working journalist since 1978 with an extensive background in local government, state legislatures, and growth and development. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, he is a Navy veteran who fought fires at sea during three deployments aboard USS Constellation. Hes been a reporter for daily newspapers in California, Washington, Wyoming, New York, and Florida; a staff writer for Manhattan-based business trade publications.
Reaching Within: What traditional art offers the heart

Daniel was a devout Jew during the time of King Dariuss reign. Darius, the king of Persia around the sixth and fifth centuries B.C., was friendly toward the Jews and even played an important role in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonians destroyed it.

King Darius admired Daniel and sought to give him more power as an administrator, which inflamed the jealousy of other administrators in the area. As a result, the other administrators wanted to defame Daniel, but they could not find fault with his character.

To discredit Daniel, the administrators came up with a manipulative scheme. They convinced King Darius to create a law stating that anyone who prayed to any unrecognized god would be thrown into a lions den. The law would be enacted for 30 days and could not be altered after it was created. King Darius agreed. The administrators knew they could harm Daniel only if they attacked his relationship with God.

Daniel heard about the new law, but he didnt let it influence his actions at all. He continued to pray to God as he did before. The administrators went together to catch Daniel praying to God, and they reported to King Darius that Daniel had broken the new law. King Darius was distressed by this information, but there was nothing he could do to protect Daniel.

The administrators ordered Daniel into the lions den and mocked him before locking him inside.

King Darius worried about Daniel all night, and at the first light, he ran to see if Daniel was harmed. Darius found him unharmed. He explained to the king that God had sent angels to close the mouths of the lions because he was innocent according to the law of God.

King Darius rejoiced and freed Daniel. Then he threw the administrators who caused trouble into the den, instead. The lions devoured them.

Daniel in the Lions Den by Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens, considered one of the greatest painters in the Western canon of art history, painted during the Roman Catholic Churchs Counter-Reformation. This was a time when the Church, in its struggle against Protestantism, celebrated early Christian martyrs so as to arouse the faithful from spiritual slumber.

Rubens, a devout Catholic, played his own role in the Counter-Reformation. Painting Daniel in the Lions Den was one opportunity he took to inspire other Catholics by the spirit of the biblical martyrs.

Rubens painted Daniel as the lone human figure in the composition. He sits to the right, with his legs crossed and his hands clasped together in prayer. A subtle light shines from the left side of his head, and he looks up in awe at the dens opening.

A detail of Daniel in the Lions Den, circa 16141616, by Peter Paul Rubens. Oil on canvas, 88 1/4 inches by 130 1/8 inches. National Gallery of Art, Washington. (Public Domain)

Nine lions surround Daniel, but they dont seem interested in him. Some of the lions sleep, others rest, two seem to play, and one yawns. The least of their concerns seems to be Daniel, who, despite the human bones strewn around the den, is safe.

The Righteousness of Gods Law

On the surface, the story about Daniel and the lions den simply represents the power of faith in God. Daniel kept his faith in God despite being attacked by those in positions of power. His faith brought about a miracle, saving him from a gruesome death. But there might be other meanings in this story as well.

First, lets begin by investigating two types of laws. The king is the most powerful and wealthiest person in the region. He has the power to create laws when he finds them agreeable and dismantle them when he finds them disagreeable.

Yet the administrators easily manipulated King Darius to create a new law with the sole purpose of hurting Daniel. The law, in fact, was founded on jealousy of the righteous, and built into this law was the decree that it was immutable. As a result, the king could not stop an innocent human being from being harmed. The law blocked the king from acting as a good person.

But there is another, higher law: the law of God.

Although the kings law does not clearly appear in the painting, Gods law does. The truth of Gods law seems to be bound in compassion toward the righteous. Daniels faith was strong; it was so strong that the kings lawa human law that attempted to obstruct the law of Goddid not affect Daniel.

Instead of following a human law, Daniel chose to follow the law of God. Gods law was able to reach where the power and wealth of the king could not. And it kept Danielan exemplar of righteous charactersafe.

The Master of Animalistic Desire

Lets return to the painting to investigate a potential, second meaning.

The lions may represent our animalistic desires, that is, our desires of the flesh. These lions are like lurking temptations waiting to devour us the moment we are not steadfastly righteous.

By definition, prisoners are not free, and the lions den was where prisoners were sent to die. The bones strewn across the dens floor relay to the paintings viewers the fate of previous prisoners.

A detail of Daniel in the Lions Den, circa 16141616, by Peter Paul Rubens. Oil on canvas, 88 1/4 inches by 130 1/8 inches. National Gallery of Art, Washington. (Public Domain)

If the lions do represent animalistic desires, then Daniel must make a choice. If he chooses the temptations that the lions represent, he will join their previous victims. If he chooses the law of God, however, he will transcend the world and be free no matter where he is.

Daniel looks up and out of the lions den with awe. Has he kept his mind and heart on God and thus transcended the den that imprisons him? Does this mean that he is truly free despite being imprisoned?

The lions behave as if they arent even aware of Daniel. Does temptation dissipate in the presence of a heart and mind that reflect on God, and is this the true source of his freedom?

Interestingly, the king is not free to stop his law from being carried out, yet Daniel seems free despite being locked in a lions den. Sometimes, our human laws permit things that may not befit righteous behavior. Does this illusion of freedomthat is, the idea that were free when we give in to temptation simply because our laws allow itobstruct us from being really free?

We cant be moral without being free, for moral action implies our innate ability to choose between what we believe to be right and wrong. Are we, like King Darius, creating laws that prevent us from being good to our fellow human beings? Must we, like Daniel, master our animalistic desires with the law of God if we wish to experience true freedom?

Have you ever seen a work of art that you thought was beautiful but had no idea what it meant? In our series Reaching Within: What Traditional Art Offers the Heart, we interpret the classical visual arts in ways that may be morally insightful for us today. We try to approach each work of art to see how our historical creations might inspire within us our own innate goodness.
Fire, Gunshots at Irans Evin Prison Holding Political Prisoners, Dual Nationals

DUBAIA fire broke out on Saturday in Tehrans Evin prison, where many of Irans political and dual-national detainees are held, and witnesses reported hearing gunfire.

State news agency IRNA said eight people were injured in the unrest, which erupted after nearly a month of protests across Iran over the death in detention of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman.

The protests have posed one of the most serious challenges to the ruling Islamic regime since the 1979 revolution, with demonstrations spreading across the country and some people chanting for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

An Iranian judiciary statement said a prison workshop was set on fire after a fight among a number of prisoners convicted of financial crimes and theft. Tehrans fire department told state media the cause of the incident was under investigation.

The prison, located in the foothills at the northern edge of the Iranian capital, holds criminal convicts as well as political detainees.

Roads leading to Evin prison have been closed to traffic. There are lots of ambulances here, said a witness contacted by Reuters. Still, we can hear gunshots.

Another witness said families of prisoners had gathered in front of the main prison entrance. I can see fire and smoke. Lots of special forces, the witness said.

A security official said calm had been restored at the prison, but the first witness said ambulance sirens could be heard and smoke still rose over the prison.

People from nearby buildings are chanting Death to Khamenei from their windows, the witness said.

Early on Sunday, IRNA carried a video it said showed prison areas damaged by fire. Firemen were seen dousing the debris with water, apparently to prevent the blaze from re-igniting.

The prison mostly holds detainees facing security charges, including Iranians with dual nationality. It has long been criticised by human rights groups and was blacklisted by the U.S. government in 2018 for serious human rights abuses.

Siamak Namazi, an Iranian American imprisoned for nearly seven years on espionage-related charges rejected by Washington as baseless, returned to Evin on Wednesday after being granted a brief furlough, his lawyer said.

Other U.S. citizens held in Evin include environmentalist Morad Tahbaz, who also has British nationality, and businessman Emad Shargi, according to human rights lawyer Saeid Dehghan.

He added that several other dual nationals are held at Evin, including French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah and Iranian-Swedish Ahmadreza Djalali, a disaster medicine doctor.

Asked about the prison fire, U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters during a campaign trip to Portland, Oregon: The Iranian government is so oppressive.

He said he was surprised by the courage of people and women taking (to) the street in the recent protests and had enormous respect for them. Its been really amazing, he added. Theyre not a good group, in the government.

U.S. State Department Spokesman Ned Price tweeted, we are following reports from Evin Prison with urgency. We are in contact with the Swiss as our protecting power. Iran is fully responsible for the safety of our wrongfully detained citizens, who should be released immediately.

Human Rights Watch has accused authorities at the prison of using threats of torture and of indefinite imprisonment, as well as lengthy interrogations and denial of medical care for detainees.

No security (political) prisoner was involved in todays clash between prisoners, and basically the ward for security prisoners is separate and far from the wards for thieves and those convicted of financial crimes, an unnamed official told the Tasnim news agency.

Clerics Get Lost

Members of the Iranian community and their supporters rally in solidarity with protesters in Iran, after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody for allegedly improperly wearing a hijab, in Ottawa on Sept. 25, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

The unrest at Evin prison occurred after nearly a month of protests across Iran since Aminia 22-year-old woman from the countrys Kurdish regiondied on Sept. 16 while being held for inappropriate attire.

Although the unrest does not appear close to toppling the system, the protests have widened into strikes that have closed shops and businesses, touched the vital energy sector and inspired brazen acts of dissent against the rule of Irans Islamist regime.

On Saturday protesters across Iran chanted in the streets and in universities against the countrys clerical leaders.

A video posted by the Norway-based organisation Iran Human Rights purported to show protests in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Irans second-most populous city, with demonstrators chanting Clerics get lost and drivers honking their horns.

Videos posted by the group showed a strike by shopkeepers in the northwestern Kurdish city of SaqezAminis home town. Another video on social media showed female high school students chanting Woman, Life, Freedom on the streets of Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan province.

Reuters could not independently verify the videos. Phone and internet services in Iran have been frequently disrupted over the last month and internet watchdog NetBlocks reported a new major disruption shortly before Saturdays protests began.

The Iranian activist news agency HRANA said in a posting online that 240 protesters had been killed in the unrest, including 32 minors. It said 26 members of the security forces were killed and nearly 8,000 people had been arrested in protests in 111 cities and towns and some 73 universities.

Among the casualties have been teenage girls whose deaths have become a rallying cry for more demonstrations demanding the downfall of the Islamic Republic.

Protesters called on Saturday for demonstrations in the northwestern city of Ardabil over the death of Asra Panahi, a teenager from the Azeri ethnic minority who activists alleged was beaten to death by security forces.

Officials denied the report and news agencies close to the Revolutionary Guards quoted her uncle as saying the high school student had died of a heart problem.

By Parisa Hafezi
A GMC Hummer EV truck is shown at General Motors Factory Zero in Detroit, Mich., on Aug. 5, 2021. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

GM Signs Landmark Agreement With Australian Company for Critical Minerals

Aims to 'support GMs goal of 1 million units of EV capacity in North America by the end of 2025'

General Motors (GM) has signed a landmark agreement with an Australian company for the production and supply of critical minerals for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

The agreement is critical to secure all battery raw material to support GMs goal of 1 million units of EV capacity in North America by the end of 2025, GM said in an Oct. 11 statement.

This new collaboration builds on those commitments as we look to secure supply through the end of the decade, while also helping continue to expand the EV market, said Jeff Morrison, GM vice president of global purchasing and supply chain.

The agreement is conditional on the commitment of $69 million, which will grant GM the right to purchase uncommitted nickel and cobalt sulphate produced by Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM) over 15 years from its proposed Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub in Northern Australia.

According to GM, the nickel and cobalt will help power a broad portfolio of trucks, SUVs, vans, and luxury vehicles from the carmaker, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV Pickup and SUV, Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer EV, and Chevrolet Equinox EV.

The collaboration with Queensland Pacific Metals will provide GM with a secure, cost-competitive, and long-term supply of nickel and cobalt from a free-trade agreement partner to help support our fast-growing EV production needs, Morrison said.

He said the agreement demonstrates GMs commitment to building strong supplier relationships and is aligned with our approach to responsible sourcing and supply chain management.

QPM has obtained the right to use a process that recycles chemicals used in the extraction process, providing a more environmentally conscious method for extracting nickel, cobalt, and other precious metals, according to the GM statement. It also generates less waste than traditional extraction processes.

The Australian government will also support the deal, with QPM receiving a nonbinding letter of support from Export Finance Australia for up to $154 million in debt funding for the project.

Reliable Supply Chain

The deal has been welcomed by Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell and Minister for Resources Madeleine King.

Farrell said in an Oct. 13 statement that the agreement was another example of Australia developing mutually beneficial critical minerals partnerships with major trading partners.

Australian and U.S. businesses understand the need to ensure reliable supply chains as the world transitions to net-zero emissions, he said. We are very supportive of commercial efforts to attract international capital and offtake contracts to develop Australias critical minerals sector and value-added capacity.

Critical minerals are essential inputs for many so-called renewable technology products, including those being backed by governments such as Australia and the United States as they drive their countries economies to adopt carbon-neutrality targets.

Renewable Energy Superpower

King said the agreement was an example of Australia using its innovation, technological know-how, and resource expertise to become a global renewable energy superpower.

There are huge opportunities for job creation and economic growth in Australias growing critical minerals capability, she said.

Director of Climate Energy Finance (CEF) Tim Buckley told The Epoch Times in April that he believes Australia has the potential to become a world leader in the green revolution.

Buckley said he believes that given Australias resource wealth in lithium, rare earths, copper, cobalt, nickel, wind, solar, and hydro, the country has everything needed to benefit from the U.N.-led push for decarbonization, which Buckley says will see massive investment, employment, and export opportunities in new industries.
Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano speaking at the Assemble for Freedom Rally on Sept. 24, 2022. (Serena Shi /The Epoch Times)

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Warns of October Suppression Polls Ahead of Midterms

Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano warned this weekend of October suppression polls designed to reduce turnout during the 2022 midterms.

While Mastriano did not cite any specific polls for Pennsylvanias races in 2022, he told Newsmax that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiswho is backing his election campaignwarned him weeks ago.

DeSantis in August when he came here to campaign for me in Pittsburgh, hes like, Doug, stay away from the polls in October, because theyre going to show you behind, just like they showed him behind, Mastriano told the outlet. This time last year they had [Virginia GOP Gov. Glenn] Youngkin, there was no chance he was going to win in Virginia.

Mastriano said that he is not seeing signs of trailing Democrat candidate Josh Shapiro in his own internal poll numbers.

Its kind of weird; what were seeing on on the ground is record crowds, and in fact, Rasmussen says theyre projecting Pennsylvania is going to break plus-five Republican, Mastriano continued. Thats more like were seeing. My own, were looking like more plus R-9.

A recent poll carried out by the Trafalgar Group shows Mastriano is trailing Shapiro by about 10 percentage points.

Further, the Republican candidate asserted that the crowds attending his events are large.

Never before have this been happening, you know, in a gubernatorial race, Mastriano said. Wherever I go, our crowds are actually growing. Meanwhile, my opponent cant draw flies. Hell go to a city and have a dozen people show up.

One of the chief pollsters with the Trafalgar Group, Robert Cahaly, told the Daily Wire that Republican voters might be undercounted again, noting recent trends seen in 2016 and 2020.

These submerged voters arent answering polls, they arent putting stickers on their cars, or signs in their yardtheyre not even posting on social media, Cahaly said in a Daily Wire podcast. They are underwater. Theyre not saying a word to anybody until election day.

Cahaly, whose Trafalgar Group issued a poll (pdf) showing Mastriano is trailing Shapiro by about 10 percentage points, said that voters shouldnt trust most polls.

Polls have two purposes, he said. Theyre either to reflect the electorate, or theyre to affect the electorateand too many of these media and university-based polls are designed to affect the electorate and are trying to create a false narrative quite often when theres not one.

The Epoch Times has contacted Shapiros campaign for comment. The Pennsylvania governors election will be held on Nov. 8.
Newly mobilized Russian reservists train at a shooting range in the course of RussiaUkraine conflict in the Donetsk region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on Oct. 10, 2022. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

Gunmen Kill 11 at Russian Army Base; Moscow Opens Investigation

Russia has opened a criminal investigation after gunmen shot dead 11 people at a military training ground near the Ukrainian border, authorities said on Oct. 16.

Russias RIA news agency, citing the defense ministry, said two gunmen had opened fire on Oct. 15 during a firearms training exercise, targeting a group who had volunteered to fight in Ukraine. The terrorists themselves were shot dead, it said.

Russias defense ministry said the attackers were from a former Soviet republic, without elaborating. A senior Ukrainian official, Oleksiy Arestovych, said the two men were from the mainly Muslim, Central Asian republic of Tajikistan and had opened fire on the others after an argument over religion.

Reuters wasnt immediately able to confirm the comments by Arestovych, a prominent commentator on the war, or independently verify casualty numbers and other details.

As a result of the incident at a shooting range in Belgorod region, 11 people died from gunshot wounds and another 15 were injured, Russias Investigative Committee said, announcing the criminal investigation. It gave no other details.

Some Russian independent media outlets reported that the number of casualties was higher than the official figures.

The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said no local residents were among those killed or wounded.

Two witnesses later told Reuters they had seen Russian air defense systems repelling air strikes in Belgorod. Gladkov said two people had been wounded after the shelling, according to preliminary reports.

Putin said on Oct. 14 that Russia should be finished calling up reservists in two weeks.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a strong Putin ally, said last week that his troops would deploy with Russian forces near the Ukrainian border, citing what he said were threats from Ukraine and the West.

The Belarusian defense ministry in Minsk on Oct. 16 said just under 9,000 Russian troops would be stationed in Belarus as part of a regional grouping of forces to protect its borders.

Attacks

In the 24 hours leading to early Oct. 16, Russian forces targeted more than 30 towns and villages across Ukraine, launching five missile and 23 air strikes and up to 60 rocket attacks, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said.

In response, Ukraines air forces carried out 32 strikes, hitting 24 Russian targets.

Fighting has been particularly intense over the weekend in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, and the strategically important Kherson province in the south, three of the four provinces Putin proclaimed as part of Russia last month.

Shelling by Ukrainian forces damaged the administration building in the city of Donetsk, the capital of the Donetsk region, the head of its Russian-backed administration said.

It was a direct hit, the building is seriously damaged. It is a miracle nobody was killed, said Alexei Kulemzin, surveying the wreckage, adding that all city services were still working.

The city administration building hit by recent shelling in the course of the UkraineRussia conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on Oct. 16, 2022. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

There was no immediate reaction from Ukraine to the attack on Donetsk city, which was annexed by Russian-backed separatists in 2014 along with swathes of the eastern Donbas region.

Russias defense ministry said on Oct. 16 its forces had repelled efforts by Ukrainian troops to advance in the Donetsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions, inflicting what it described as significant losses.

Russia also said its continuing air strikes on military and energy targets in Ukraine, using long-range precision-guided weapons.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the battlefield reports.

The spokeswoman for Ukraines Southern Military Command said Russian forces were encountering severe shortages of equipment including ammunition as a result of the damage inflicted last weekend on the Crimea Bridge.

Almost 75 percent [of Russian military supplies in southern Ukraine] came across that bridge, Natalia Humeniuk told Ukrainian television, adding that strong winds also stopped ferries in the area.

Putin blamed Ukrainian security services for the bridge blast and on Oct. 10, in retaliation, ordered the biggest aerial offensive against Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, since the start of Russias invasion on Feb. 24.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his forces were still holding the strategic eastern town of Bakhmut despite repeated Russian attacks while the situation in the larger Donbas region remained very difficult.

Russian forces have repeatedly tried to seize Bakhmut, which sits on a main road leading to the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Both are situated in the Donetsk region.

Although Ukrainian troops have recaptured thousands of square kilometers of land in recent offensives in the east and south, officials say progress is likely to slow once Kyivs forces meet more determined resistance.
Any 401(k) can help you save for retirement. A great 401(k) allows you to save a whole lot more.

The difference between a mediocre plan and a great one could translate into tens of thousands of dollars in future retirement money. Plus, a 401(k)s quality can show how serious a company is about attracting and retaining good workers.

Thats not to say you should leave or turn down a job if it doesnt offer a great 401(k). But knowing how to spot a best-in-class retirement plan can help you evaluate job offers, negotiate a raise to compensate for what youre missing and perhaps encourage your employer to make its plan better.

Here are three features of great 401(k)s.

1. A Great 401(K) Doesnt Make You Wait to Start Saving

A good 401(k) comes with a company match, plenty of low-cost investment options and low fees. A great 401(k) doesnt make you wait to take advantage of those features.

Many plans now allow participants to begin contributions immediately, with no waiting period. Others have waiting periods of one to six months. Some require people to wait a full yearthe maximum allowed under federal lawand that delay can be expensive for workers.

Lets say youre 25, earning $50,000 a year and able to contribute 10 percent of your pay. The $5,000 you cant contribute the first year, plus a typical $1,500 match you wouldnt earn, could mean about $106,000 less in your retirement account by the time youre 65, assuming 7 percent average annual returns.

If you change jobs in the futureas you almost certainly willevery waiting period you encounter could compound the damage.

2. A Great 401(K) Lets You Keep the Match

Plans offer a number of different matching formulas, with some of the most common being 50 percent of the first 6 percent of earnings and 100 percent of the first 3 percent to 6 percent of pay.

The more generous the match, the better for participantsto a point. Many plans have long vesting periods for employer contributions. You might not have a right to any matching funds until youve worked for the company for three years, for example. After you hit the three-year mark, you would own 100 percent of any match youve earned and 100 percent of any future matches.

Another common approach is a six-year graded vesting schedule. You might have to work two years before you get 20 percent of the match. You would get another 20 percent after each year of service until you were 100 percent invested in past and future matches after year six.

But long vesting periods have come under fire because of their negative impact on todays more mobile workers. A 2016 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found if a worker left two jobs before vesting, at ages 20 and 40, the matches they forfeit could be worth $81,743 at retirement.

A growing number of plans give employees immediate ownership of matching funds, 44.2 percent in 2021, up from 38.5 percent in 2017, according to Hattie Greenan, director of research and communications for the Plan Sponsor Council of America.

Youre always 100 percent vested in your own contributions, but its important to understand any restrictions imposed on your employers contributionsand perhaps push for shorter vesting periods.

3. A Great 401(K) Gives You More Ways to Save

Most plans today offer a Roth 401(k) option that allows participants to put away money that wont be taxed in retirement.

Contributions to a regular, pre-tax 401(k) give you an upfront tax break, but withdrawals are taxed as income. Contributions to a Roth 401(k) dont reduce your current tax bill, but withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. Financial planners often suggest clients have money in both pre-tax and tax-free accounts to better manage their tax bill in retirement.

The IRS limits pre-tax and Roth 401(k) contributions to $20,500 in 2022 for people under 50 and $27,000 for people 50 and older. But total contributionsby participants and their employerscan be up to $61,000 for people under 50 or $67,500 for those 50 and older, if the plan allows it.

Some plans offer the option to make additional, after-tax contributions, which can help you stuff a whole lot more money into your retirement plan.

Lets say youre under 50 and max out your pre-tax contributions. Your company contributes a $6,000 match, for a total of $26,500. If your plan allows, you could contribute as much as $34,500 to the after-tax option to meet the combined employer and participant contribution allowance.

Money in after-tax accounts can grow tax-deferred, which is a nice perk, but some plans offer something even better: in plan conversions that let you quickly move the money into Roth accounts, minimizing the potential tax bill. This combination of after-tax contributions followed by conversions is known as a mega backdoor Roth, and it can be mega-helpful in piling up future tax-free funds.

By Liz Weston of NerdWallet

The Epoch Times Copyright  2022 The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
Photo of what remains of Hope Lutheran Church on the flooded street in the community of Gulf Cove in Port Charlotte, Florida in the aftermath of hurricane Ian on Sept. 29, 2022. (Courtesy of Michelle Chacon)

In the Aftermath of Ian, Floridians Share their Stories of Fear and Survival

'It sounded like the roof was falling apart and would fly off at any moment. We could hear things breaking all around the house.'

On Wednesday, Sept. 28, hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm. With maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, much was destroyed and many lives were lost. In the aftermath, Floridians share their stories of fear and survival.

Monday, Sept. 26

Family and friends used to laugh at Monica Cody. They called her a prepper. But as hurricane Ian barreled toward Floridas Port Charlotte Peninsula her critics quickly came to realize that in her determination to be ready for anything this definitely was a time that it paid off.

The day before the storm we made sure we had everything accessible, Cody told The Epoch Times.

The hurricane shutters were up. She had a battery-operated radio, flashlights, and candles. She prepared a big pot of chicken noodle soup and a big pot of pasta and meatballs and hunkered down with her 11-year-old son Ayden because power going out was guaranteed. Her boyfriend stayed with them just in case something horrific happened.

As Ian made its approach toward southwest Florida, Michelle Chacon began to worry. The home she and her husband purchased a little over a year ago did not come with hurricane shutters. So, while her husband Camron searched for shutters, Michelle spent a few days rushing around collecting cases of water, food, and other supplies she saw recommended on a community hurricane prep webpage.

My husband didnt think the shutters would be needed because our house had been standing for 20 years without any hurricane damage, Michelle told The Epoch Times, explaining how he instead decided that fixing the carburetor on their generator was a higher priority. But as the forecast became grimmer and grimmer, her husband decided that it may be a good idea to get shutters after all.

Luckily, through a neighbor who had a friend who happened to sell metal hurricane shutters and a trip to Home Depot where they acquired one of the last sets of the hardware to hang them, another neighbor helped hang the shutters just as it began to get dark.

Rocky and Annette Cantalupo of Sanibel Island, Fla. (Courtesy of Annette Cantalupo)

Rocky and Annette Cantalupo live on Sanibel Island, which was placed under emergency evacuation. While residents were not forced to flee their homes, they were warned that emergency responders would not be able to help them if they got into trouble. The Sanibel Causeway would be too dangerous to cross so EMS and firefighters would be leaving the island by 10 pm.

Tuesday, Sept. 27

By now, Monicas familywho all lived within 15 minutes of each otherstarted a group text. We were all starting to get a little worried, she confessed. But they tried to make each other laugh by sending funny GIFs.

For Michell, culverts in her area were starting to fill with water. That was their job. Then the grass in the lowest parts of the yard and the street began to flood. The wind, which had been pretty mellow up to this point, was starting to kick up. Emergency alerts warned it was time to close the garage and hunker down.

On Sanibel Island, a curfew was issued from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The Cantalupos decided it was time to leave.

We went off the island in a hurry with very little clothing and wound up in a Fairfield Inn on 41 in Fort Myers, Rocky told The Epoch Times.

Wednesday, Sept. 28

Around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28, packing winds of 150 mph, Ian struck Floridas Gulf Coast.

At 11:45, Monica Cody lost power. The voices on the battery-operated radio advised finding a safe place in the house and staying there.

I set up a chair a bean bag and a bunch of pillows in my hallway and told my son, if I tell you to get in the hallway you do it immediately, Monica said. He understood.

One of the sliding glass doors had been left without shutters in case they needed to flee. As she stood at the glass doors, looking outside, she heard what sounded like a freight train. Ian had arrived.

I screamed for Ayden to get into the hallway, Monica recalled. Her son Ayden, was startled out of his sleep. He ran, He was so scared he vomited. It was terrifying, the radio told us the eye would be coming over us at 2:30. So we waited and prayed for a break from the sounds of destruction.

Photo of the aftermath of a roof collapse at the home of Alan and Jonathan Edson on Pendleton Road in Port Charlotte, Fla., in the aftermath of hurricane Ian on Sept. 30, 2022. (Courtesy of Monica Cody)

At 2:30 p.m., Monicas adult sonsAlan and Jonathan Edsoncalled. They were crying, terrified. The roof of their house had just collapsed in on them. Monica felt helpless. She could not help them. Ian was raging outside.

Then cell service went down.

For Michelle and Cameron, Ians winds started around 12:00 p.m. and grew in intensity very quickly.

We could hear the sound of metal clanking against our metal shutters, and we were thanking God we had them, Monica recalled. It sounded like the roof was falling apart and would fly off at any moment. We could hear things breaking all around the house. Our two kids and two dogs were huddled with us in the center of the home. I was crying for them to get their helmets and life jackets on.

Photo of the destruction in the community of Gulf Cove in Port Charlotte, Fla., in the aftermath of hurricane Ian on Sept. 30, 2022. (Courtesy of Michelle Chacon)

Then everything went dead. Electricity, water, cell phones, internet service. It was all gone.

We were trapped in our home surrounded by water, she said. We had only ourselves to rely on for survival.

As the wind continued to pound the house, they prayed.

All we could do was hold each other and hope that it was in Gods plan to keep us safe, Monica said.

Over at the Fairfield Inn on 41 in Fort Myers, power and water went out, plunging the Cantalupos into darkness.

The Aftermath

As the sun began to rise on Sept. 29, Monica saw that the water had receded enough to see a bit of the road. The screened pool cage was destroyed as were her shed and fence. Trees came down. But she still had a roof under which people can stay. Alan and Jonathan had come home and were safe with her. Then reports came in from other family members.

A photo of what remains of the home of Monica Codys uncle, Patrick Skrip, in Holiday Lakes, Port Charlotte, Fla., in the aftermath of hurricane Ian on Sept. 30, 2022. (Courtesy of Monica Cody)

Her mother, Collen Cody, had major damage to her home in South Gulf Cove, as did the home of her sister Melissa Zebley in Englewood. But thankfully, both are still standing. Her unclePatrick Skripwas not so lucky. He lost his house completely. Monicas five-month pregnant niece and husbandArielle and Michael Newmanhad flood waters up to their waists in their home. All of their home furnishings, including all of their new baby furniture, is in ruins. Her adult boysAlan and Jonathanare now living in her little house, as is Levi, their dog.

Levi, the 16-year-old pup belonging to Alan and Jonathan, all now living with Monica Cody in the aftermath of hurricane Ian. (Courtesy of Monica Cody)

Her uncle and nephew Austin Richard are living with her mom. Arielle and Michael are living with her sister. Being the prepper, Monica is the only person in her family with a generator and food. Two days after the storm she cooked the first hot meal her family had eaten in days off her grill: four pork loins, rice and green beansand coffee.

In the days that passed, the National Guard swarmed every intersection and were posted at the one gas station that opened with hours-long lines. Blackhawk, Chinook, and Coast Guard helicopters patrolled the skies. Rays Stadium was opened to provide water, ice, MREs, and tarps. With the hotels and rentals bought out by FEMA, locals who lost their homes had nowhere to go. Power and cell service werent restored until Sunday, Oct. 9.

Photo at sunrise in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, as seen from the home of Monica Cody on Drysdale Avenue in Port Charlotte, Fla., on Sept. 30, 2022. (Courtesy of Monica Cody)

Its been rough, we are all exhausted, Monica said, adding that she actually got to speak to her insurance company yesterday.

I am one of the lucky ones, she said, explaining how her sons had to salvage through the wreckage of what little was left of their belongings. For now, there are five people, a dog, and a cat living under her roof. They are hoping to find a place to rent for them for under $2,000 per month. In the meantime, she has a gofundme account to help cover the cost of supporting her family.

Photo of devastation wrought by hurricane Ian on the senior living community of Gasparilla Mobile Estates in Placida, Fla., on Sept. 29, 2022. (Courtesy of Bobby Beaumont)

For Michelle Chacon, what trees Ian left standing in her neighborhood were stripped of their leaves. Mangled metal was wrapped around structures or laying in piles on the ground. Roofs were ripped apart leaving homes vulnerable to the elements, and piles of insulation, mushy sheetrock, and home goods sat by the road awaiting trash pickup with no known collection date.

A community that took years to build was broken and crumbled in just a day, she lamented, saying there were more trees down on the ground than remained standing.

A flooded road in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in the Gulf Cove community of Port Charlotte, Fla. (Courtesy of Michelle Chacon)

We saw roof after roof with significant damage, she recalled further. Sheds, garages, fences, and lanais were completely mangled. The roads were still flooded. Entire cars were submerged. Power lines were down and almost every street sign and stop sign were down. We all just stood there for a time simply saying, What a mess. Had we known just how bad this would be even days or weeks later, she said, we would have done some things differently and prayed a little harder.

Over at the Fairfield Inn, Rocky said the power and water had gone out, leaving the Cantalupos in the hotel without water, electricity, or food for the next four days.

From there, they fled to Tampa, where they managed to find another hotel. Once there, they called their daughter in North Carolina.

Were up here in North Carolina now, outside of Raleigh, Rocky said.

Asked about the condition of his property back on Sanibel Island, Rocky said he hadnt been back there yet.

A neighbor who lives across from them on the island had stayed. His daughter had actually gotten a boat and went to go look at the house.

It seems the inside is fine, Rocky said, adding that they didnt get water in the house or garage but some roof tiles are missing and the pool cage was destroyed. But as far as I know, we did pretty good inside. When they open the bridge well get down there. Theyll be opening it up on the 21st. Well probably go back on the 23rd and talk to the insurance company then. Thats when it gets scary.

He Is With Us

In the days since Ian, neighbors came together to help each other start the arduous process of cleaning up. They share supplies and offer each other moral support. They show up at each others houses unannounced to see how folks are doing. They listened to each other, finding out who needed help. They rely on each other for tips on where to get gas, where to get a cell signal, where to get more water, or where to find a free hot meal, and they celebrated the moment they finally got a signal from a local radio station which became their only lifeline to the outside world.

Photo of what remains of Hope Lutheran Church in the community of Gulf Cove in Port Charlotte, Fla., in the aftermath of hurricane Ian on Sept. 29, 2022. (Courtesy of Michelle Chacon)

Every church in the area sustained significant damage, Michelle Chacon said. The one closest to us had the entire chapel wall ripped out and the Jesus on the cross statue lay atop the pile of rubble. It was a sign telling people that He is with us even in the chaos and destruction. Seeing this left me with the feeling that we will overcome this even though it is hard right now.

She said the aftereffects of this storm are far-reaching. Looters have been sneaking through neighborhoods taking what little is left from people who have already lost too much. But there is still so much hope.

Southwest Florida has already begun to rebuild and repair, Michelle said. I hope people will still come as things open back up. Tourism is an important facet of our economy. I also hope that the children will continue to play and explore the outside world and that neighbors will still check on each other and sit and chat in the driveway for an hour or two.
Police officers check the identification cards of people visiting Tiananmen Gate ahead of China's 20th Communist Party Congress in Beijing on October 13, 2022. (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)

IPAC Calls for Tough Stance Against the CCPs Authoritarian Rule and Oppressive Policies

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) issued a statement on Oct. 14, two days before the CCPs 20th national congress, calling for global democracies to take actions to safeguard human rights, democracy and the international rules based order.

Founded on June 4, 2020, the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the IPAC is comprised of over 200 lawmakers from 28 countries who seek to shape policy and discussion on the threat posed by the CCP.

The CCP convened its 20th national congress on Oct. 16 (local time), a key political event in China that determines the political layout for the coming five years. The congress is expected to last a week.

The IPAC said that the opening of the CCPs 20th national congress reveals the determination of Xi Jinping and the CCP to consolidate its authoritarian rule of China.

On Oct. 13, three days before the CCPs national congress, a Chinese citizen named Peng Lifa unfurled two banners on a bridge in Beijing, demanding democracy, an end to the zero-COVID policies, and the removal of Xi as top leader. He was soon arrested by police. Local governments in Beijing immediately put up recruitment ads for more security personnel to guard bridges in Beijing.

The IPAC believes that Xi, the current leader of the CCP, is expected to secure his third term. The international parliamentarians are concerned that Xis anticipated reelection reveals a concentration of power not seen since the Mao era and is a clear signal that the CCP has no intention of moderating its belligerent policies at home or abroad.

The CCP under Xis leadership has perpetrated industrial scale human rights abuses in the Uyghur Region, violated international agreements on Hong Kongs autonomy and provided tacit support to Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine while ramping up military threats against Taiwan, the IPAC stated.

By securing a third term, the CCP has given licence for Xi to continue his repressive political agenda indefinitely, reads the IPACs statement.

The IPAC calls for action from the democratic states, including imposing sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for human rights violations in the Uyghur Region, Tibet, Hong Kong and elsewhere in PRC (Peoples Republic of China), building diverse and resilient supply chains, increasing political and economic engagement with Taiwan, and repealing extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong.

With the CCP becoming ever more authoritarian at home and assertive abroad, the IPAC regards the CCP as a defining challenge for the worlds democratic states. The purpose of the establishment of the IPAC is to promote a coordinated response among democratic states to challenges posed by the present conduct and future ambitions of the Peoples Republic of China.

Lin Yan contributed to this report.
Smoke rising from Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran, on Oct. 15, 2022, in this still image take from a video obtained by Reuters. (Reuters)

Iran Prison Fire Kills 4, Injures 61 as Protests Persist

DUBAIA fire at Irans Evin prison late on Saturday killed four detainees and injured 61, state media reported, as anti-government protests sparked by a womans death in police custody continued on Sunday, including at several universities.

Iranian authorities said on Saturday that a prison workshop had been set on fire after a fight among a number of prisoners convicted of financial crimes and theft. Evin also holds many detainees facing security charges, including Iranians with dual nationality.

Irans judiciary said four of those injured in Saturdays fire were in critical condition and that those killed had died of smoke inhalation, Iranian state media reported.

Protests sparked by 22-year-old Mahsa Aminis death on Sept. 16 have turned into one of the boldest challenges to Irans clerical rulers since the 1979 revolution, with protesters calling for the downfall of the Islamic Republic, even if the unrest does not seem close to toppling the system.

Demonstrations continued at several universities on Sunday, including in the cities of Tabriz and Rasht, to a heavy deployment of riot police. Videos posted on social media showed students at a Tehran university chanting: Iran has turned into a big prison. Evin prison has become a slaughterhouse.

Other videos showed fires being lit at road intersections in several cities, including the capital and Piranshahr in the west of the country, where car drivers honked their horns and anti-government slogans could be heard.

Dozens of protesters were also seen in a poor neighborhood of Tehran, before being dispersed by security forces mounted on motorbikes and shooting tear gas canisters in the air.

Reuters could not independently verify the videos.

Families of some political detainees took to social media to call on the authorities to ensure their safety at Evin prison, which in 2018 was blacklisted by the U.S. government for serious human rights abuses.

Footage of the prison aired on state television hours after the fire apparently showed that calm had returned to the facility with inmates asleep in their wards. It also showed firefighters inspecting a workshop with fire damage to the roof.

Atena Daemi, a human rights activist, said that relatives of prisoners in the womens section had gone to Evin for visiting hours, but authorities denied them access, resulting in a standoff. Prisoners were fine, but the phones are broken, they were told, according to Daemi. She later wrote on Twitter that some women prisoners had called their families.

The husband of Iranian journalist Niloofar Hamedi, who broke the news of Aminis hospitalization and was arrested last month, also wrote on Twitter that she had telephoned him on Sunday.

A lawyer representing an American Iranian held at Evin, Siamak Namazi, imprisoned for nearly seven years on espionage-related charges rejected by Washington as baseless, said on Sunday that Namazi had contacted his relatives.

SiamakNamazi has now spoken to his family. He is safe and has been moved to a secure area of Evin Prison. We have no further details, lawyer Jared Genser said in a tweet.

Several other dual national Iranians and foreign citizens are held in Evin prison mostly for security-related charges. Some Twitter posts by their friends and relatives said they had contacted their families on Sunday.

Violent Crackdown

Asked about the prison fire, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Saturday he was surprised by the courage of Iranian protesters. He earlier called on Iran to end the violence against its own citizens simply exercising their fundamental rights.

Irans President Ebrahim Raisi said Biden was inciting chaos, terror, and destruction  [and] should be reminded of the eternal words of the founder of the Islamic Republic who called America the great satan, referring to Irans late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Frances foreign ministry said on Sunday it was following with the utmost attention the situation at Evin prison, where several French nationals are being arbitrarily detained.

Protests have been met with a brutal state crackdown. Rights groups said at least 240 protesters had been killed, including 32 minors. Over 8,000 people had been arrested in 111 cities and towns, Iranian activist news agency HRANA said on Saturday. The authorities have not published a death toll.

Among the casualties have been teenage girls whose deaths have become a rallying cry for more demonstrations across the country.

Iran, which has blamed the violence on enemies at home and abroad, denies security forces have killed protesters. State media said on Saturday at least 26 members of the security forces had been killed by rioters.

By Parisa Hafezi
LA City Council Goes Virtual Due to COVID Case Amid Audio Leak Scandal

The Los Angeles City Councils next two meetings will be conducted remotely due to possible COVID exposure after Councilman Mike Bonin tested positive Oct. 12 for COVID-19. Bonin was present at the council meeting earlier that day.

With the possibility that there will be more positive cases, out of an abundance of caution we will hold both Tuesday [Oct. 18] and Wednesdays [Oct. 19] meetings virtually, as we did for over a year during the height of the pandemic, Acting Council President Mitch OFarrell said in a statement.

Bonin wrote on Twitter Oct. 15 that his most recent COVID test, taken on the morning of Oct. 15, was negative.

The Oct. 14 council meeting was canceled due to multiple protests in the Council Chamber regarding a recorded October 2021 conversation leaked a week ago involving four elected officials that included a series of racially charged remarks and discussions over the citys redistricting process.

Protestors demonstrate outside City Hall calling for the resignations of L.A. City Council members Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles on Oct. 12, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Two of themformer Council President Nury Martinez and former LA County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrerahave resigned, but Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo have resisted the growing calls. Currently, the council is functioning under an acting presidentOFarrellafter Martinez resigned.

The situation is fluid right now, Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson told City News Service on Oct. 14. Were in a period where were in a holding pattern, waiting for these resignations.

OFarrell said the previous day, the peoples business cannot be conducted until de Leon and Cedillo resign, but Dan Halden, OFarrells communications director, said Friday that we do have to conduct business after planning the virtual meetings for next week.

Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch OFarrell speaks during a council meeting in Los Angeles on Oct. 11, 2022. (Screenshot via YouTube/LACityClerk)

The council is set to take up several major items Oct. 18, including electing a new council president, considering placing a measure on the 2024 ballot to create an independent redistricting commission for the city, and a motion to explore expanding the number of council seats.

Martinezwho was the most vocal on the released recordingresigned Oct. 10 as council president, took a leave of absence on Tuesday, then resigned her seat altogether on Wednesday under intense pressure.

It is unclear what will happen if de Leon and Cedillo do not resign by Oct. 18, the councils next regular meeting.

At least two council membersHarris-Dawson and Boninand Councilwoman-elect Eunisses Hernandez said the council should not meet without the pairs resignations.

Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin speaks during a council meeting in Los Angeles on Oct. 11, 2022. (Screenshot via YouTube/LACityClerk)

Harris-Dawson expects to meet that day because they will have already resigned, he told City News Service, though he did not have any knowledge of the two embattled councilors decisions.

Protests will be expected again in the Council Chamber in the upcoming meeting if the council met in person without their resignations.

When asked by City News Service if the potential for another disruption factored into the decision to hold the meetings virtually, Halden said the move was about the COVID-19 diagnosis.

Halden later said it was important for the council to move forward and have a meeting. Halden added that the pain and anger Angelenos feel from the release of the recording comes from a real place, but at the same time, we do have to conduct business.

De Leon and Cedillowho attempted to attend Oct. 11s meeting but were asked to leave after protesters voiced objections to their presence, would be able to attend the virtual meetings without facing the public face-to-face. Their attendance would not be appropriate, no matter the format in which we are meeting, Halden said.

Harris-Dawson sought a bit of empathy for de Leon and Cedillo, noting the intense media focus on the scandal and the potential that they might feel like theyve been misunderstood.

Los Angeles County Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson speaks onstage at an event at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles on March 31, 2019. (Rachel Murray/Getty Images for NEON)

They all, particularly Gil Cedillo, they have a body of work that sort of gets overlooked in the heat of this particular moment, Harris-Dawson said. So, I just think it takes a moment emotionally and logistically to get to the place where you can step up and do the right thing.

Harris-Dawson, who is black, was mentioned in the leaked recording. He said he hasnt spoken to either councilman.

You always know that theres anti-black racism all around you, Harris-Dawson said. You dont realize that theres anti-black sentiment sitting right next to you. So I think its going to be a while before we get to the stage where there can be regular interaction.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) told CNS that the council cant have an actual, calm meeting unless these two resign.

The feelings are too raw in the city, Chu said, So people are angry, people are outraged, people are feeling that anger right in the soul of their bodies, and so thats why I think they cannot have a LA City Council meeting until these two resign. Then we can start the process of healing.

Despite no meeting on Oct. 14, a couple of dozen protesters showed up at City Hall to demand de Leon and Cedillos resignations, blocking off Main Street until around 11 a.m.

After the Oct. 9, 2022, leak of a racially charged conversation between council President Nury Martinez and three other local officials, protesters flooded the Los Angeles City Hall during the City Councils regular meeting in Los Angeles on Oct. 11, 2022. (Screenshot via YouTube/LACityClerk)

George Hurod, one of the protesters, was at City Hall this week during the disrupted meetings. Hurod, a member of the Los Angeles Community Action Network, told CNS he had planned to return to the chamber to shut down the upcoming meeting again, echoing several others who have attended the meetings since the scandal broke.

Of course, Hurod said. Until theyre out, Ill be here.

A group of protesters showed up outside de Leons home on the morning of Oct. 15 dressed as sanitation workers, making noise with a bullhorn and leaf blower.

NOTICE OF MAJOR CLEANING: Kevin De Leon is getting a wake-up call this morning since he still hasnt decided to resign, the left-wing group Peoples City Council-Los Angeles wrote on Twitter. Looks like LA SAN and crew are here to give him the same treatment that our Unhoused neighbors get in his district every day.

Los Angeles City Council member Kevin de Leon speaks during an event in Redondo Beach, Calif., on May 22, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Later that day, hundreds of members of local indigenous communities marched in downtown Los Angeles, demanding the councilors resignations. Some of the demonstrators wore traditional Oaxacan outfitsreferencing the leaked recording, in which Martinez can be heard calling Oaxacans little short dark people.

I dont know what village they came [from], how they got here, but boy theyre ugly, the former council president says at one point.

De Leon, 55, has been on the council since 2020 and made an unsuccessful run for mayor this year. Prior to the city council, he was in the state Senate and Assembly from 2006 to 2014. Cedillo, 68, has been in office since 2013 but was defeated by Hernandez in the June primary.

Boninwhose young black son was targeted by some of Martinezs racial slursagain called for the two councilors to resign on Oct. 15.

[D]e Leons and Cedillos refusal to resign is another deep wound theyre inflicting on us all. Let Los Angeles heal. Resign today, he wrote on Twitter.

Sophie Li and Joyce Kuo contributed to this report.
Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis rises during question period in Parliament in Ottawa on Sept. 27, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

MP Leslyn Lewis Calls for Inquiry After Pfizer Exec Says COVID Vaccine Not Tested on Preventing Transmission

Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis is calling for a public inquiry after a Pfizer executive conceded that the company didnt test its COVID-19 vaccine for its ability to stop transmission before it went on the market.

We need an inquiry. Politicians and health experts promised Canadians that the vax would prevent transmission. Pfizer admits it never tested for that. [Its] executives sat in silence while trusted officials gave incorrect info to the public. Thats just wrong, Lewis wrote on social media on Oct. 15.

We need an inquiry. Politicians and health experts promised Canadians that the vax would prevent transmission. Pfizer admits it never tested for that. Its executives sat in silence while trusted officials gave incorrect info to the public. Thats just wrong. https://t.co/b9BD0H0YFI  Dr. Leslyn Lewis (@LeslynLewis) October 15, 2022

In her tweet, Lewis included a video from Rob Roos, a member of the European Parliament, who asked during a parliamentary session on Oct. 10 whether the Pfizer vaccine was tested on stopping the transmission of the virus before it entered the market?

Janine Small, Pfizers president of international developed markets, said in response: Did we know about stopping immunization before it entered the market? No. We had to really move at the speed of science to really understand what is taking place in the market.

Roos, of the Netherlands, said in his video posted on Twitter on Oct. 11 that Smalls admission removes the entire legal basis for the COVID passport.

If you dont get vaccinated, youre anti-social, this is what the Dutch prime minister and health minister told us. You dont get vaccinated just for yourself, but also for others. You do it for all of society. Thats what they said, he said.

Today, this turned out to be complete nonsense.

Roos said the vaccine passport, a measure widely implemented by governments around the world, led to massive institutional discrimination, as those who chose not to be vaccinated lost access to essential parts of society.

I find this to be shocking, even criminal, he said.

On Jan. 13, 2021, Pfizer said in a social media post that the ability to vaccinate at speed to gain herd immunity and stop transmission is our highest priority.  Our focus is on supporting points of vaccination, as thats key to increasing the volume of people getting vaccinated every day.

In another tweet on March 11, 2021, the company referenced the Israel Ministry of Healths national vaccination program that gave emergency authorization for the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the country on Dec. 6, 2020.

The Israel data demonstrate that the vaccine may be able to prevent continued transmission of SARS-CoV-2, which is vital to helping to bring an end to the pandemic, the tweet said.

A video leaked in September suggests Israeli health officials had covered up serious long-term side effects associated with Pfizers vaccine. The video shows that researchers had warned the Israel Ministry of Health about the problem in June. However, health officials released a report in August saying that serious side effects were rare and short-term, reported The Defender.

Jack Phillips and Suzanne Burdick contributed to this report
A man crosses a flooded street following heavy thunderstorms, in the village of Agia Pelagia, on the island of Crete, Greece, on Oct. 15, 2022. (Harry Nakos/AP Photo)

Man Drowns as Storms Batter Greek Island of Crete

ATHENS, GreeceA man drowned and there are reports of missing people as storms batter Crete, causing rivers to overflow and flooding locations across Greeces biggest island on Saturday.

The worst damage seems to have been done in the seaside town of Agia Pelagia, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) northwest of Iraklio, Cretes largest city. This is where firefighters found the 50-year-old man, whose car had been swept up by raging waters.

The state-run Athens News Agency said that a woman who was reportedly in the same vehicle is missing. Divers from the coast guard and the fire departments Special Disaster Unit are searching for her.

Gale force winds are also blowing across most of the island.

Footage showed at least 10 cars floating in the turbulent sea off Agia Pelagias narrow beach and other debris, including a refrigerator. Firefighters rescued a woman trapped inside her car before it was swept into the sea. Authorities said they were investigating more reports of missing people and fear others may have been trapped in their cars.

Workers try to clear an area following heavy thunderstorms, in the village of Agia Pelagia, on the island of Crete, Greece, on Oct. 15, 2022. (Harry Nakos/AP Photo)

Inhabitants in the area of Lasithi, on the east side of the island, have been warned by SMS text messages not to leave their homes. In the city of Chania, on the western end of the island, houses have been flooded, according to regional officials.

A view of an abandoned car near the sea after torrential rainfall in the village of Agia Pelagia, on the island of Crete, Greece, on Oct. 15, 2022. (Harry Nakos/AP Photo)

In the city of Sitia, on the eastern end, about 265 kilometers (165 miles) from Chania, four people were trapped in two vehicles and nine otherseight tourists and a guardwere trapped inside the towns archaeological museum, local police said.

In Iraklio itself, several roads are flooded and the citys international airport has closed, because its runways are underwater.

No one can tell when flights will resume, airport manager Giorgos Pliakas told a local news site.

A woman saves a bird on a beach following heavy thunderstorms, in the village of Paliokastro, on the island of Crete, Greece, on Oct. 15, 2022. (Harry Nakos/AP Photo)
Marine Corps Halts Surf Use of Combat Vehicle After Mishap

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.The Marine Corps has halted some operations of its new amphibious combat vehicles after one of the armored vehicles rolled over in surf during training off Californias Camp Pendleton.

The eight-wheeled vehicle flipped over at about 7:45 p.m. Thursday at the Marines Assault Amphibian School at the base north of San Diego, authorities said.

The three crew members werent injured, a Marine Corps statement said Friday.

The vehicle had a mechanical malfunction, according to the Marine Corps, which banned the vehicles from going into or out of surf zones, except for testing, while more analysis is performed.

The vehicles can still be used on land, in protected waters and in the open ocean.

It was the second time this year that restrictions have been placed on the use of amphibious combat vehicles. Open water operations were halted after one of the vehicles rolled onto its side and another was disabled in unusually high surf on July 19 during another training exercise. The pause was lifted last month.

The new vehicles, which are being tested and used in California, are designed to transport troops and their equipment from Navy ships to land. They are being rolled out to replace the Marines aging amphibious assault vehicle, which is lighter, slower and runs on tracks instead of wheels.

Eight Marines and one sailor died on July 30, 2020 when an amphibious assault vehicle sank in 385 feet of water off San Clemente Island in Southern California.

A Marine Corps investigation found that inadequate training, shabby maintenance and poor judgment by leaders led to the sinking.
Dr. Stephen Levine, a clinical psychiatrist who founded an Ohio gender clinic in 1974, is concerned about hormones being used to treat distressed transgender children. (Courtesy: Dr. Stephen Levine)

Meet the Gender Clinic Founder Who Supports Banning Puberty Blocking Drugs

In 1973, the same year that the American Psychiatric Association stopped calling homosexuality a mental illness, Dr. Stephen Levine finished his residency in psychiatry. Within a month, an unforgettable patient crossed his path.

The man was sitting in his backyard, under an oak tree. He had shoved a gun in his mouth and was threatening to pull the triggerunless he could surgically transition to appear as a woman, Levine said in a recent podcast interview.

That was Levines first contact with a person suffering a disconnect between perceived gender and apparent biological sex, which was then called transsexualism. Its now called gender dysphoria.

In 1974, a year after the crisis intervention, Levine continued helping the formerly suicidal patient. He also founded a gender identity clinic at Ohios widely respected Case Western Reserve University, where Levine had earned his medical degree before completing his residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland. The clinic later separated from the university and has been renamed a couple times.

Today, after almost five decades in his profession, the 80-year-old clinician continues working in private clinical practice. He also keeps adding to his knowledge base; a chunk of it became Exhibit 1 in an attempt to stave off a court challenge to an Arkansas law.

Court Showdown Looms

In that 113-page declaration supporting the Stop Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, Levine says: Science, not politics, needs to drive trans care. There has been a rush to treat, and a remarkable absence of ethical concern based on obvious scientific limitations.

Levine may take the witness stand when the law goes on trial starting Oct. 17 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. State Attorney General Leslie Rutledge did not respond to an email seeking confirmation.

Based on Levines understanding of the literature, no solid studies have adequately investigated the so-called gender-affirming treatments long-term effects on a persons overall well-being, he said in court records. The general state of research about gender-dysphoric children has been called low quality in professional literature, he said.

Thats why Levine recommends that other states consider following Arkansas lead in putting a halt to hormones and surgeries for such youths.

The Arkansas law has been on hold since shortly after its passage in April 2021. A month later, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the SAFE Act. Representing four gender-dysphoric youths and two doctors, the ACLU wants Judge James Moody Jr. to declare the law unconstitutional.

Chloe Cole, an 18-year-old woman who regrets surgically removing her breasts, holds testosterone medication used for transgender patients, in Northern California on Aug. 26, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Lightning Rod For Controversy

To detractors, the author of Exhibit 1 might as well be Public Enemy No. 1.

Even though Levines experience and credentials fill 23 pages, and he received lifetime achievement awards for his work, some LGBT activists have denounced him as a disgrace to the medical community. They called for him to be stripped of his licensure and accused him of a horrible legacy.

Levines defenders, however, publicly praise him for a careful, measured, compassionate approach to caring for transgender people. And, on his website, Levine says he has dedicated his work to helping people navigate one of lifes strongest desires: the ambition to love and be loved.

Although The Epoch Times was unable to secure an interview with Levine, online sources and court records provide insights into Levines research, his understanding of the science, and his opinions about the issues facing clinicians, their young patients and their families.

Multiple sources document a tragic end for Levines 1973 suicidal patient. The patient went through feminizing surgery, as desired. Nevertheless, the patient ended up committing suicide about a decade after Levine first intervened.

Levine has stated that the suicide of that patient did affect him. Nevertheless, the tragedy didnt stop him from recommending other people to undergo gender-transition surgeries, he said.

Dueling Perspectives

In the Arkansas court declaration, Levine retraces his history as a clinical psychologist. He explains how professionals responses to transgender care dramatically shifted. He also criticizes the currently touted gender-affirming care model, which calls for automatic acceptance when a child declares, I am trans.

That can begin a progression toward changing into the opposite gender, at least in appearance. A persons sex, programmed into DNA, cannot be changed.

Social transition, includes encouraging children to start using a new name to match perceived gender identity, along with pronouns, clothes, hairstyles and other adjustments. The next steps can be pubertal-blocking hormones, cross-sex hormones and ultimately surgeryalteration of body parts associated with the other sex.

Jack Turban, a fellow in adolescent and child psychiatry at Stanford University, is among the experts backing the ACLU who dispute Levines conclusions. Turban, who also holds degrees from Yale and Harvard universities, is a relative newcomer to researching care for transgender-identifying youths. His first such study was in 2015, records show.

But Turban says Levine and other experts for Arkansas harbor outmoded, outlier views. Their views are not supported by any of the leading medical organizations, Turban said.

Turban says all existing evidence indicates that gender-affirming medical treatments improve mental health outcomes for gender-identifying youths. Another absolute: There is no evidence that gender affirmation makes persistence in a transgender identity more likely.

Further, Turban states: It would be dangerous and unethical to prohibit those medical interventions.

Experts on both sides accuse each other of omitting important, relevant research findings from the treatises they filed in court. And they disagree over the recent implications of some European companies discontinuing or curtailing some of the medical interventions for gender-dysphoric youths.

In late 2020, the High Court of London ruled that puberty-blocking hormones were forbidden for children younger than 16a widely cited decision. I was the only American to submit a report in that case, Levin said.

Politics and Ideology Dominate

As Levine sees it, the core issue in the Arkansas court case is: Hormonal and surgical treatments spread internationally well before the objective-reliable-scientific appraisal of the consequences to gender-dysphoric children.

For nearly three decades, Levine belonged to the precursor of the often-cited World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). He even chaired a committee that sets the groups international standards of care.

But in 2002, Levine parted ways with the organization. He had concluded that politics and ideology had overtaken proper, reliable scientific methodologies.

The group began opening its biennial meetings to trans individuals who are not licensed professionals, Levine said. The intent, apparently, was to allow those people to contribute opinions about the care they think they should receive.

As a result, WPATH began taking a very narrow and ideologically driven view of controversial issues, Levine opined.

The group says its mission is To promote evidence-based care, education, research, public policy, and respect in transgender health.

But, in Levins view, WPATH has donned a mantle of advocacy. And that is incompatible with the pursuit of valid scientific findings.

Skepticism about hormones and surgeries that have been done for 50 years is also not warmly welcomed by those whose careers and expertise are based on their continued use, Levine said.

A bathroom is set aside for transgender students at the University of California Irvine, in Irvine, Calif., on September 25, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Does The Fix Work?

Many proponents of gender-affirming care now seem focused on fixing the patients dysphoria with medical intervention without first attempting to understand the factors that may have helped to form it, Levine said. Nor is there much of an effort to identify and address other pathologies affecting the patient, and to consider the person as a whole.

He noted that a number of studies, including one from 2021, have shown that the vast majority of grade-school-aged children will desist by adolescence, or revert to the gender identity corresponding with their sex. However, Levine acknowledged that some people who strongly believe in prompt affirmation and social transition insist that transgender children very rarely desista significant, unexplained change from years past, he said.

If children are immediately affirmed in the questioning of their own gender, then fast-tracked to hormones, theres no way to know how many of those children would have been helped with a watchful waiting approach, Levine said.

Some gender-affirmers dismiss the possibility of social contagion, spreading among peers and across the internet. But there are multiple reports of children coming out as transgender in groups; Levine said that theory offers a plausible explanation for recent surges in numbers of young people self-identifying as transgender.

Further, Levine stated: Every transgender-identifying adolescent he knows of has spent countless hours surfing transgender internet sites.

Chloe Cole, an ex-transgender teen, speaks in support of the Protect Childrens Innocence as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) looks on outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sept. 20, 2022. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times)

More Than a Time-Out

Meanwhile, Levine worries about the possible unintended effects of puberty blockers, calling them a major hormonal disruption of basic human development. These drugs are usually given to early-stage adolescents.

Freezing these childrens stage of development while their peers are changing cannot be considered a mere time-out, or pause, he wrote, because it has psycho-sexual-social implications. Yet proponents of these drugs minimize the potential harm by declaring their effects as reversible, without good studies of the long-term effects, he said.

Therapy for young children that encourages transition cannot be considered to be neutral because it alters the childs life path, Levine said, with highly unpredictable effects on mental and physical health, suicidality and life expectancy.

Claims that a civil right is at stake do not change the fact that what is proposed is a social and medical experiment on vulnerable patients.
Mel Gibson arrives at the 89th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2017. (Jordan Strauss/Invision via AP)

Mel Gibson Can Testify at Harvey Weinstein Trial, Judge Says

LOS ANGELESMel Gibson can testify about what he learned from one of Harvey Weinsteins accusers, a judge ruled Friday in the rape and sexual assault trial of the former movie mogul.

The 66-year-old actor and director was one of many witnesses, and by far the best known, whose identities were revealed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The judge and attorneys had taken a break from jury selection for motions on what evidence will be allowed at the trial, and who can testify. The witness list for the trial is sealed.

Judge Lisa B. Lench ruled that Gibson can testify in support of his masseuse and friend, who will be known as Jane Doe #3 at the trial. Weinstein is accused of committing sexual battery by restraint against the woman, one of 11 rape and sexual assault counts in the trial against the 70-year-old.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty, and denied any non-consensual sexual activity.

Former film producer Harvey Weinstein (L), interacts with his attorney Mark Werksman in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles on Oct. 4 2022. (Etienne Laurent via AP)

Weinsteins attorneys argued against allowing Gibson to testify, saying that what he learned from the woman while getting a massage from her does not constitute a fresh complaint by the woman under the law by which Gibson would take the stand. A fresh complaint under California law allows the introduction of evidence of sexual assault or another crime if the victim reported it to someone else voluntarily and relatively promptly after it happened.

Prosecutors said that when Gibson brought up Weinsteins name by chance, the woman had a traumatic response and Gibson understood from her that she had been sexually assaulted. Gibson did not remember the timing of the exchange, but the prosecution will use another witness, Allison Weiner, who remembers speaking to both Gibson and the woman in 2015.

Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 2, 2014. (Jordan Strauss/Invision via AP)

Judge Lench said Gibsons testimony will depend on how the accuser describes the exchange with him when she takes the stand, and she may choose to rule against it at that time.

Weinstein attorney Mark Werksman then argued that if Gibson does take the stand, the defense should be allowed to cross-examine him about widely publicized antisemitic remarks Gibson made during an arrest in 2006, and about racist statements to a girlfriend that were recorded and publicized in 2010.

Lench said a wider discussion of Gibsons racism was not relevant to the trial, but she would allow questioning of whether he had a personal bias and animus toward Weinstein.

Werksman argued that Gibson had such a bias both because Weinstein is Jewish, and because Weinstein published a book that criticized the depiction of Jews in the Gibson-directed 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ.

Any evidence of Mr. Gibsons racism or antisemitism would give rise to a bias against my client, who challenged him, Werksman said.

The lawyer briefly, and mistakenly, said he thought the movie won a best picture Academy Award, but Weinstein, whose films once dominated the Oscars, shook his head as he sat at the defense table.

Sorry, my client would know better than I would, Werksman said. But it was an award-winning movie.

The defense also argued that Gibson was trying to whitewash his image by focusing on Weinsteins wrongdoing.

The prosecution argued that Gibson had made no such suggestions about himself, and that at the time of the conversation with his masseuse he said he was discussing getting into a business deal with Weinstein, showing there was no such bias.

Deputy District Attorney Marlene Martinez called Gibsons past comments despicable, but said they had no relevance for the narrow purposes he would be called to the stand for.

An email seeking comment from a representative for Gibson was not immediately returned.

In one of several similar rulings Friday, Lench also found that Melrose Place actor Daphne Zuniga could testify in a similar capacity for a woman known at the trial as Jane Doe #4, whom Weinstein is accused of raping in 2004 or 2005.

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused.

Weinstein is already serving a 23-year sentence for a 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault in New York. The states highest court has agreed to hear his appeal in that case.

He was subsequently brought to Los Angeles for a trial that began Monday.

Fridays arguments came a day after the premiere of the film She Said, which tells the story of the work of the two New York Times reporters whose stories brought Weinstein down.

Weinsteins attorneys previously sought to have the Los Angeles trial delayed because publicity from the film might taint the jury pool, but the judge denied their motion.

The trial is expected to last eight weeks. The judge and attorneys will return to the jury selection process on Monday morning, and opening statements are expected to begin on Oct. 24.
The Iowa mom who donned a drag queen outfit and verbally ripped into members of Ankeny Community School District said the stunt was designed to spark awareness about inappropriate sexualized content in schools. The protest came after a drag show that happened at Ankeny High School in May.

Footage of the costumed ambush blew up online as the mom had hoped.

On Oct. 3, Kimberly Reicks, 40, founder of parent rights group Iowa Mama Bears, demanded answers regarding the outcome of a school board-led investigation involving the drag showhosted by the Gay Straight Alliance clubthat took place after-hours in the school auditorium.

She and two other parents had complained to the board right after the show. The board responded that the performance was unauthorized by the building administration, did not follow the correct protocols, and was currently under investigation.

They did not follow up, Reicks told The Epoch Times. And thats why I dressed the way I did, right in front of the school board, 130 days later.

According to Reicks, certain authorization must have been obtained for the dancers and attendees to gain access to the auditorium, lighting equipment, and sound system; she added that two teachers were in attendance along with several students, including one 12-year-old.

I as a parent cannot even go into a school and eat lunch with my child without a full background check, but some guy can just walk in the back door without any background checks, Reicks said. And because hes part of the LGBTQ community he somehow is not held to the same standard as I am as a parent with a child.

(Courtesy of Kimberly Reicks)

She explained that her demonstration was tailored to evoke an emotional response from the school board members, adding that equipment failures were a fixture of previous board meetings where parents wanted to speak. The footage, titled: A taste of their own medicine Ankeny School board meeting, was posted on Rumble.

I wanted them to feel a certain way because I found the tendency to be like: people go on emotions rather than fact, she told the newspaper. And that definitely is the reaction I got, and thats what I wanted. I wanted them to feel like thats wrong, thats disgusting, Why is she in here like that? Because if they felt [like] that as adults, just imagine what a minor child felt like watching that man, dressed like that, performing the way he did in front of our children.

Showing up in her regular clothes, Reicks is heard admonishing the board for lacking transparency and calling for an apology and assurance that it wont happen again. Disrobing, she then revealed the costume underneath, similar to one worn by a male performer in the show.

She further castigated:

Does this outfit make you turn your head? Does this outfit seem appropriate for anybody here to see? This is what the man dressed like in front of our kids. So if this makes your head spinif this pisses you off in any way, shape, or formit should. Because Im embarrassed to stand here in the outfit that I am in today, but I have a point to provethat this outfit should not be ever accepted in our schools anywhere.

She added: I will do whatever measures I have to, to make sure events like this are addressed and resolved, even if that means wearing the exact same outfit as the 21-year-old drag queen performer to prove my point.

After the video went viral, Reicks received a swell of media requests and accusations. I have been swamped, really, said Reicks. From Charlie Ward to Newsmax to Fox. I was just on with Michael Knowles.

The mom of four, who home-schools her three youngest children, now encourages concerned parents to dial up the heat vocalizing their grievances against haughty school boards. We have to be on top of it, and I always say to parents, like, You need to go to so many school board meetings, go to PTA meetings, go to whatever, you can, do so much of it that they think that youre on the payroll, she said.

Parents have gotten increasingly organized in resisting policies promoting transgenderism, inappropriate sexual content, and critical race theory in classrooms across the country. In July, a group of 11 parents served a lawsuit against Loudoun County Public Schools for its policy stifling parents from knowing if their children express different genders at school.

Parent protests were galvanized in May 2021 when a female student was raped by a 15-year-old male in a girls bathroom at Stone Bridge High School in Loudoun County, and later again when state prosecutor Buta Biberaj tried to have the girls father jailed for speaking out at a school board meeting.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
The city of Tromso, its surroundings and its airport are seen from a passenger plane window, in Tromso, Norway, on Aug. 2, 2020. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images,)

Norway Police Arrest Russian for Flying Drone Amid Heightened Security

OSLONorway police arrested a Russian man at the airport in the arctic town of Tromsoe and charged him with flying a drone, they said on Saturday, marking the second such arrest in one week.

Police seized a large amount of photographic gear, including a drone and several memory cards, during Fridays arrest of the 51-year-old, who had admitted to flying a drone in Norway, police said.

Sanctions laws forbid Russian companies or citizens from operating aircraft in Norway.

Among the seized material we have reviewed, we have seen pictures from the airport in Kirkenes and pictures of the defence forces Bell helicopter, police prosecutor Jacob Bergh said in a statement.

The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) has also been involved in the case, Bergh said.

Police are seeking a court order to detain the man for a four-week period, they said.

The accused told police he entered Norway via the northern border point of Storskog on Thursday and was on his way to the arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

It marks the second arrest in one week of a Russian citizen for flying drones in Norway, with another man detained for an initial two week-period following an arrest at the Storskog border crossing.

Norway has increased its alertness levels following a number of drone sightings close to its oil and gas infrastructure in recent weeks and in response to the Sept. 26 leaks on the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.

Norway is now Europes largest gas supplier after a sharp reduction in flows from Russia.
Police check cars at a road block north of Port Augusta, South Australia, on June 28, 2002. (ADELAIDE ADVERTISER/AFP via Getty Images)

Outer Australian Suburbs Missing Out in Federal Jobs Push

Australian workers living in the outer suburbs of cities need roads to get to work and business hubs developed closer to where they live.

One in five Australians who live on the outskirts of major cities are missing out, according to an alliance of councils from across the country.

With a labour force of more than 2.2 million, industrial land ready to develop and freight and transport facilities that keep Australia moving, outer urban areas only need investment in roads and services, they say.

Were trying to go to this new government with what works, rather than go in with a shopping list, National Growth Areas Alliance chief executive Bronwen Clark told AAP.

Research commissioned by the organisation found modest federal spending in growth areas would significantly increase local employment and stimulate economies.

We really need investment in business hubs, small business support and industrial support and we also need to get people to those jobs, Clark said, adding the group wasnt talking about billion-dollar projects.

For example, fully upgrading and extending Thompson Road in the south-east of Melbourne would open up access to zoned employment land.

The Picton bypass in the south of Sydney in the shire of Wollondilly would link the Hume and Princes Highways, ease accidents and traffic jams, and get people to employment areas.

The former federal coalition government committed $95.6 million in funding for the bypass and Clark hopes the pledge will be retained in the Albanese governments Oct. 25 budget.

Councils are also concerned draft laws for Jobs and Skills Australia before parliament will restrict the new federal agency to helping regional, rural and remote communities, with no mention of the outer suburbs.

Australians living in outer city areas have an average jobless rate of 5.7 per cent, compared to national unemployment at 3.5 per cent, and in some suburbs the jobless rate is as high as 10.7 per cent.

Young peoples disengagement from work or study is also higher at 11.6 per cent compared to 8.3 per cent.

Many people living in these communities are also bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis.

Now is the moment for the federal government to show it sees and recognises the outer suburbs, alliance chair Matthew Deeth said.

In particular, the national coordination of outer suburbs infrastructure planning and investment would be a powerful step forward.
Australians are seen evacuating a pet dog through flood water In Rochester, Victoria, on Oct. 14, 2022. (AAP Image/James Ross)

Proposed Dam Would Have Prevented Flood Damages, Says Hydrology Expert

A hydrology expert has said that hundreds of Melbourne homes would have been protected from the recent floods if the former Labor government had agreed to build a dam at Maribyrnong River.

The former Victorian Bracks government previously dismissed the suggestions on the basis that it was not worthwhile because they believed climate change predictions indicated there would not be enough water flowing into the dam, the water minister said back in 2019.

The comment comes as floods have ravaged thousands of home in northern Victoria, cut power off overnight, and damaged highways.

Hydrology and flood warning specialist Geoff Crapper told The Sunday Age that if the Maribyrnong dam had been built, it would have saved hundreds of people evacuating and billions of dollars in bills, and the floods wouldnt have ruined peoples lives.

Not only wouldnt have they had any houses flooded this time, the racecourse wouldnt have needed a wall either, Crapper said, referring to Flemington Racecourse.

Government Rejected Dam Proposal

Water Minister Lisa Neville previously turned down the proposal to build the dam, saying water in the rivers in Victoria will lower by half by 2065.

The dams we have already are in the best places to collect a high yield of waterany new dams would mean less water for all and would be unlikely to capture enough water to be worth it, she told The Australian in 2019.

Neville criticised then federal Minister for Water Resources David Littleproud for lacking understanding when it comes to water and climate change, especially in Victoria.

New dams do not create any new water. They simply take it from somewhere else: either from farmers who currently rely on it or from the environment.

She argued that the funding should instead be directed at augmenting the states energy-intensive desalination plan, which she said would increase the yearly production capacity of 150 gigalitres to 200 gigalitres, although this water would be more expensive than that coming from the proposed dam.

Floodwaters Continue to Rise

The comment comes as the flood has destroyed and subsided a significant portion of Victorias road network, with reports showing up to 10,000 potholes having been found and fixed.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Oct. 17 announced that the government will deliver a $351 million package to support regional Victorian communities, including a $165 million emergency road repair blitz.

About 6,000 properties were left without power on Oct. 16. Meanwhile, farmers downstream at Goulburn are anxious that the flood could obliterate large crops of grain.

Were preparing, shifting sheep and carting hay and getting everything out of the way, Barry Hinchcliffe, a Bunbartha farmer, told the ABC.

Its just a worrying time. Its just a pity. The crops will just be knocked over and ruined. There is no escaping it.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt warned that the flood could potentially inundate up to 34,000 homes in Victoria, describing the situation as very serious. Nearly 4,000 properties were isolated or indundated in Shepparton and Mooroopna as of Oct. 17.

Its quite likely well see a flood peak happen and waters recede, followed by another peak, as different river systems come together, Watt told the ABC.

The water level at the Goulburn River reached its peak at 12.06 metres at Shepparton on the morning of Oct. 17 and is expected to stay high for four or five days.
Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) at the Protect Children's Innocence press event outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sept. 20, 2022. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times)

Rep. Harshbarger on Gender Confusion and Surgeries for Minors: Key Issue for Midterms

Gender confusion generated among young children and the promotion of life-altering transition treatments are motivational factors going into the upcoming midterms, said Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), as the social issues have spread across the country, including the Bible belt, leading parents to take matters into their own hands.

When you see the words pediatrics, transgender clinic, all that in one sentence  those two words should never be used together, said Harshbarger during an interview on NTDs Capitol Report. She said when the children are confused and questioned about their gender, that would cause agitations within the family.

As for them wondering what their gender identity is: Do you really think youre a boy? Do you really think youre a girl? That is really an abomination.

Harshbarger said that the gender-affirming market was a moneymaker.

According to Clifford Alan Hopewell, a Fort Worth neuropsychologist, gender dysphoria is a relatively new diagnosis, made up so insurance companies will cover the costs of so-called gender-affirming care. Its all bogus, Hopewell told The Epoch Times in a previous interview.

The current market for transgender surgery is expected to increase to $5 billion in 2030 from $2.1 billion in 2022, an 11 percent compound annual growth rate, according to Grand View Research, a market research company.

Hopewell cited a recently exposed 2018 Vanderbilt University video in which a hospital representative said that top surgeries could bring in $40,000 per patient. Harshbarger referenced the video in the interview.

Harshbarger also talked about the widespread prevalence of the issue. You think that youre sheltered from that, because we were part of the Bible Belt here in East Tennessee. But youre not. The gender-related problems have crept in.

Harshbarger then pointed to the Department of Justices stifling of debate regarding gender transition surgeries. The head of the DOJ to go after those parents and call them terrorists or a threatits unbelievable.

Senators Confront Garland On Politically Weaponizing the DOJ

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) warned Attorney General Merrick Garland, head of the DOJ, not to target U.S. citizens speaking out against transgender surgeries on children.

They accused the DOJ of patterned abuse of investigative authority to police the speech of Americans and stifle the ongoing policy debate over whether minors should receive experimental gender reassignment procedures.

The senators wrote on Oct. 11 about Garlands actions in regard to the NSBA letter, which sent an inappropriate message that federal law enforcement can and will be used to aid one side of a political debate, and to either silence or chill the speech of the other.

The Senators were referring to the National School Boards Association (NSBA) letter, which asked President Joe Biden for invoking counterterrorism laws to quell angry mobs of parents who were angry at school officials indoctrinating their children on sex and race.

Garland subsequently issued a memo and brought together law enforcement to counter the alleged threats of violence against teachers and school board members. The FBI counterterrorism unit created the threat tag EDUOFFICIALS, and opened investigations into the activities of protesting parents.

Now, in a remarkably similar fashion, medical associations have written to you asking you to again treat any speech critical of their position on a sensitive matter of public policy as a physical threat warranting a law enforcement response, said the senators in the latest letter, and called upon Garland to protect First Amendment rights, and resist from politically weaponizing federal law enforcement agencies.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, and Childrens Hospital Association sent a letter (pdf) to Garland on Oct. 3 requesting help with alleged threats and harassment for offering gender-affirming healthcare.

From Boston to Akron, [Ohio], to Nashville, [Tennessee], to Seattle, childrens hospitals, academic health systems, and physicians are being targeted and threatened for providing evidence-based healthcare, the organizations wrote in language similar to that of the NSBA letter. These attacks have not only made it difficult and dangerous for institutions and practices to provide this care, [but] they have also disrupted many other services to families seeking care.

Darlene McCormick Sanchez contributed to the report.

Steve Lance Follow Steve Lance is the host of Capitol Report, a political news show based in Washington aimed at providing a direct channel to the voices and people who shape policy in America. Capitol Report features all of the political news of the day with expert interviews and analysis.
Patients are seen inside a psychiatric hospital in Xian in Shaanxi Province, China, on Oct. 8, 2006. Reports of sane people being forced into mental hospitals in China after complaining to authorities are increasing. (China Photos/Getty Images)

Chinese Activist Recounts Torture, Forced Medication During Detention at Psychiatric Hospital

A desperate suicide attempt was the only thing that spared a Chinese rights defender from ongoing torture at a psychiatric hospital in Chinas megacity of Shenzhen.

Jie Lijian was in his 30s when he was forcefully hospitalized by police for the third time in 2018, suffering again at the hands of the Chinese regime for calling for the release of jailed workers and students who were advocating for the protection of labor rights in the Guangdong Jiashi community.

The activist was detained for three days, and after being tortured in prison, was sent to a modern Kangning Hospital in Shenzhen for forced hospitalization and treatment for 52 days. He described it as the largest Auschwitz terror concentration camp made in China in the 21st century.

His account was reported by SafeGuard Defenders, a human rights organization.

Jie, now exiled in California, recalled that the most horrendous torture he was subjected to in the psychiatric prison was electric shock treatment.

Electroshock

The young dissident was given electroshock treatment (ECT) three times without an anesthetic.

When the power is turned on, you feel like you are dead. Your brain seems to be fixed, bound by constraints, and your wrists, legs and wrists, stomach, and neck are all fixed. As soon as the power is turned on, your body will jump up and your eyes will widen, he recounted.

Before applying the shock, staff restrained him by placing belts around his neck, chest, arms, and legs. His shackles got tighter the more he fought them. To prevent him from biting his tongue, they put a rag in his mouth.

His body would jerk violently as they applied two electrodes, one on either side of his head. He would periodically lose consciousness.

The electric shock lasted for an houreveryone who suffered this treatment would faint. I dont know how I survived, he exclaimed.

The staff also forced everyone to watch the painful experience as a method to generate intimidation, according to Jie.

The activist was also forced to take seven to eight types of unknown drugs each day in the hospital.

The medicine made him sick, sometimes dizzy, and blurred his sight, Jie said.

He recalled that there were about 30 people in the same ward, 80 percent of whom were peaceful petitioners, dissidents, Falun Gong practitioners, and Christians.

The ward, he remembered, went to great measures to prevent suicides among detainees. Most of the harsh edges of tables and benches, as well as other hard surfaces, were coated in a plush, sponge-like material. There were no locks on the bathroom door, so staff could always enter, and the light fixtures were inaccessible due to the very high ceilings.

I would have preferred to die than carrying on living there. There was no way to leave and I wanted to die, he said.

Attempted Suicide

In desperation, the activist resorted to an attempted suicide by smashing the top of the toilet tank and slashing his wrists with the jagged pieces of porcelain.

But his attempt failed. The staff discovered him bleeding, and shocked by his act and to avoid being implicated, they freed Jie but placed him under police custody.

Fearing being sent back to the Chinese Communist Partys concentration camp, the dissident was determined to leave China.

And even now in the safety of the United States, the terrified experience still haunts him. Jie continues to have health problems, including excruciating headaches and uncontrollable shaking.

According to SafeGuard Defenders, it has knowledge of 99 people who were locked up in psychiatric wards from 2015-2021 in 109 hospitals across 21 provinces, municipalities, or regions in China.

Some were detained more than once, sometimes even more than a dozen times, while others were kept for years or even more than a decade.
Southeast Asia Needs More SubmarinesNot Fewer

Commentary

It is a common cliche that the Asia-Pacific is somehow in the grip of a regional arms race. Every few months, there appears an article in the press that Asian militaries are in a missile race or a naval arms race or some kind of action-reaction arming. Much of this is driven by rising regional tensions and enabled by steady increases in Asian military spending, which, in turn, have fueled a veritable shopping spree for advanced conventional weaponry.

The point of these stories is that such arms purchases are subverting regional stability. The action of acquiring such arms, which is supposed to increase a nations security, is actually undermining it, as countries view with alarm and suspicion the apparently aggressive arming by their neighbors and react accordingly. As a result, these acquisitions have the unintended consequence of actually increasing regional insecurities and tensions, often leading to a destabilizing spiraling effect known as the security dilemma.

However, calling something an arms race is a bit of an intellectual cheat. In the first place, an arms race is instinctively seen as something bad. An arms race is, by definition, an irrational, counterproductive, and even futile act. It is, by its very nature, only detrimental to security and stability.

The problem with this, however, is that we habitually throw out the term arms race without really defining what it means to be in one. Too often, arms races are ascribed to any kind of active-reactive arming without weighing whether such arming really undermines regional security.

A CH-148 Cyclone helicopter and a CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft fly over HMCS WINNIPEG as part of a photo exercise in the Asia-Pacific Region during Operation NEON on Nov. 15, 2020. (Sailor 1st Class Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services/CAF Combat Camera via Flickr)

One of the more common themes is the submarine arms race, especially when it comes to Southeast Asia. To be clear, Southeast Asian navies have acquired a sizable number of diesel-electric submarines over the past two or three decades. Moreover, this proliferation of submarines has been both quantitative and qualitative: more navies are buying submarines, or they are buying more of them, and the capabilities of these submarines have grown. But whether this constitutes an arms race or even a destabilizing situation is open to debate.

For a long time, few countries in Southeast Asia operated submarines. Indonesia owned two boats acquired in the early 1980s. In the mid-1990s, however, several countries in the region that had never before owned submarines began to purchase them.

Singapore became the first new country in Southeast Asia to acquire a submarine. The Republic of Singapore (RSN) bought six used submarines from Sweden: in the late 1990s, four ex-Sjoormen-class (built in the late 1960s but upgraded for the RSN), and then, in the early 2010s, two ex-Vastergotland-class (renamed the Archer-class). In 2014, Singapore closed a deal with the German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine for four brand-new Type-218SG submarines; all these boats should be delivered by 2024.

Malaysia followed on by acquiring two Scorpene-class submarines from France in the early 2000s. In the early 2010s, Vietnam placed an order with Russia for six diesel-electric Kilo-class submarines.

Indonesia is in the process of replacing its obsolete German Type-209 submarines (one of which tragically sank in 2021, with the loss of all hands) with modern subs acquired from South Korea. Three boats have already been deliveredincluding one built in Indonesiaand a follow-on order for three more subs was signed in 2019.

Most recently, Thailand in 2017 closed a deal with China for three Yuan-class diesel-electric submarines. However, this program has been held up by Germanys refusal to supply the diesel engines to power the boats.

Her Majestys Australian Ship Stuart sails in company with the Republic of Singapore Ship Supreme and Kapal Diraja Brunei (Royal Brunei Ship) Daruleshan through the Pacific Ocean as they prepare to take part in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2020 on Aug. 17, 2020 (Australian Department of Defense)

Not only are more Southeast Asian navies operating more submarines, but these subs are generally among the most modern types to be had. Singapores newest submarines, for example, are outfitted with technology for air-independent propulsion (AIP): the Stirling engine for the Archer-class and fuel cells for the Type-218SG boats. AIP technologies permit these submarines to remain submerged for much longer periods of time than conventional battery-powered diesel-electric submarines, greatly expanding their usefulness. Modern submarines also contain more advanced sonar, fire-control systems, and torpedoes; some can even launch cruise missiles.

Moreover, these new submarines are highly automated, reducing the number of sailors required to run them. A Type-209 submarine built in the 1970s or 1980s requires a complement of 36 personnel, and the Russian Kilo-class needs more than 52 sailors. A modern submarine like the Type-218SG requires only 28.

However, this proliferation of submarines in Southeast Asia does not necessarily add up to a more unstable regional environment. In the first place, the numbers involved here are still quite small. Vietnam might possess six submarines, but the Chinese navy has over 58 diesel-electric submarines, plus six nuclear-powered attack subs. South Korea has 18 submarines, and Japan has 22.

Second, most of Southeast Asias submarines are rarely at sea. It is a rule of thumb that only one out of every two or three boats is on patrol at any given time. Large navies, like the United States, often have two full teams for each vessel (blue and gold crews), but smaller countries probably cannot afford this. In any event, diesel-electric submarines must frequently return to base for fueling and resupply, along with maintenance and repairs.

Submarines can be especially critical in countering Chinas growing (and increasingly belligerent) military presence in maritime areas close to Southeast Asia (like the South China Sea). Surface ships are fine for showing the flag, but submarines have special qualities. They are stealthy and usually oriented toward offensive operations, such as reconnaissance, anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare, minelaying, inserting special operations forces, and even land-attack (using cruise missiles).

Regarding submarines, therefore, numbers count, and the more, the better. This is why Taiwan is in the midst of constructing eight indigenous submarines. The quantity has a quality all its own, which is particularly important when trying to deter or counter Chinas growing military might. Countries bordering on the South China Sea should buy more submarines, not fewer.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 17, 2022. (Shawn Thew/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

States Seek to Depose Fauci, Other Top Officials in Big TechGovernment Censorship Case

Plaintiffs in a high-profile case thats uncovered evidence of collusion between Big Tech and government officials to censor users are seeking to depose 10 top officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri and other plaintiffs asked a U.S. court in a recent motion to allow them to depose Fauci, President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser; FBI special agent Elvis Chan; former White House press secretary and current MSNBC pundit Jen Psaki; Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, a Biden appointee; and Rob Flaherty, deputy assistant to the president.

They also want to question five other officials, including Carol Crawford, chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Digital Media Branch.

While emails and other documents uncovered in discovery have revealed an enormous and far-reaching censorship enterprise, the discovery makes very clear that federal officials have frequently engaged in their most telling and probative communications with social media companies orally, not in writing, plaintiffs said in a joint statement with defendants.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the more senior the federal official involved, the more likely they appear to have been to rely on oral, rather than written, communications to pressure social-media platforms to censor, the statement also said.

Fauci, for instance, communicated in a long-shielded phone call with some scientists who went on to write a paper castigating others who were open to the theory that the COVID-19 virus came from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, where the first COVID-19 cases were detected.

Fauci was also in touch with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, although the content of oral communications between the two is yet to be revealed, the new filing, dated Oct. 14, says.

Fauci hasnt made any statements under oath about his communications with big tech firms such as Facebook, despite that the judge overseeing the case ordered the government to provide answers from Fauci to questions, plaintiffs said.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, the lead plaintiffs and both Republicans, announced recently they planned to seek depositions but hadnt identified any officials who they would seek to depose.

Proposed Schedule

Plaintiffs want U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, a Trump appointee overseeing the case, to greenlight the 10 requested depositions. If Doughty agrees, the depositions would take place during a 30-day window.

Doughty already agreed to the plaintiffs request to expedite discovery. That led to the production of hundreds of pages of documents, which bolstered plaintiff claims of Big Techgovernment collusion.

In that order, Doughty said plaintiffs could alert defendants to any depositions plaintiffs wished to take, and that the parties would then meet to confer on any deposition requests.

If the parties didnt agree on the depositions, a joint statement would be submitted to outline their differences.

Doughty has seven days to rule on the new filing, which included objections from the government.

Department of Justice lawyers said that plaintiffs usually take no more than 10 depositions during normal discovery, and taking that many during expedited discovery would be too burdensome.

Although a plaintiff is rarely entitled to expedited discovery, Plaintiffs here have received a substantial amount. Defendants produced more than 15,000 pages of non-privileged responsive e-mails, and they answered numerous interrogatories. Plaintiffs cannot demonstrate that still more discoveryparticularly burdensome depositionsis warranted at this stage of the case, they said.

If any depositions are authorized, Doughty should exclude officials who werent originally served with discovery requests, high-ranking officials, and certain other officials, the government lawyers said.

Plaintiffs said the arguments in opposition are meritless and should be rejected.

The descriptions of some officials as too high-level to be deposed is outweighed by the officials all having firsthand knowledge of the matter and the information they hold cant be obtained elsewhere, plaintiffs said, referring to a ruling in a separate case, United States v. Newman.

Even if the arguments had merit, Psaki is the only person who would fit the high-level designation, and she no longer holds an administration position, the plaintiffs said.

10 Others

Plaintiffs originally wanted to depose 20 current and former officials, but after discussions, pared their request to 10.

The initial request had included Eric Waldo, senior adviser to Murthy; Max Lesko, chief of staff at the Office of the Surgeon General; Jay Dempsey, a CDC social media team lead; Robert Silvers, a Department of Homeland Security official; Matthew Masterson, a former senior adviser at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); and Nina Jankowicz, former head of the shuttered Disinformation Governance Board.

Also included were Jennifer Shopkorn, a Census Bureau director; Zachary Henry Schwartz, a senior adviser to the secretary of commerces chief of staff; Samaruddin Stewart, a former adviser for the State Departments Global Engagement Center; and Laura Dehmlow, a top FBI official.

Plaintiffs still want to depose four others in addition to Fauci, Chan, Psaki, Murthy, Flaherty, and Crawford.

They are CISA Director Jen Easterly; Lauren Protentis, an official at the security agency; Andrew Slavitt, a former White House COVID-19 adviser; and Daniel Kimmage, acting coordinator for the State Departments Global Engagement Center.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman speaking during the Conservative Party annual conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham on Oct. 4, 2022. (Jacob King/PA Media)

UK Announces Plans to Crack Down on Climate Protests

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has unveiled plans for a major crackdown on disruptive protests by climate activists, whom she described as thugs and vandals trying to hold the public to ransom.

Climate activists from groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, and Insulate Britain have staged various protests and demonstrations in recent months, causing widespread disruption.

Braverman said: I will not bend to protestors attempting to hold the British public to ransom. Preventing our emergency services from reaching those who desperately need them is indefensible, hideously selfish, and in no way in the public interest.

Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London, on Oct. 10, 2022. (Jonathan Brady/PA Media)

This serious and dangerous disruption, let alone the vandalism, is not a freedom of expression, nor a human right. It must stop.

In an op-ed for The Mail on Sunday, she wrote: Enough is enough. Getting in the way of ambulances, fire engines, and cars carrying babies to hospital isnt just illegal, its monstrously selfish.

She said the public expects the police to do a better job of cracking down on these thugs and vandals.

If they think theyre above the law, theyre sorely mistaken, she added.

More Police Powers

The home secretary said she will give the police new powers to take a more proactive approach to some protests.

Accusing protesters of draining police resources, Braverman will use the governments Public Order Bill to allow secretaries of state to apply for injunctions in the public interest where protests are causing or threatening serious disruption or a serious adverse impact on public safety.

The Home Office said the proposed public order legislation would create a new criminal offence of interfering with infrastructure such as oil refineries, airports, railways, and printing presses.

Such an offence would carry a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

Locking on or going equipped to lock-on to other people, objects, or buildings to cause serious disruption could see people imprisoned for six months or hit with an unlimited fine.

A new criminal offence of tunnelling to cause serious disruption is also being created, which will carry a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment as well as the potential for an unlimited fine.

An offence of going equipped to tunnel will also be created.

Oil Protests

Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of two protesters who have thrown tinned soup at Vincent Van Goghs 1888 work Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London, on Oct. 14, 2022. (PA Media/Just Stop Oil)

More than 350 Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested in London since the start of October, according to Home Office figures.

Over the past fortnight, the group has caused disruptions in central London by blocking key roads, including The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

On Friday, 2 members of the group were arrested in the National Gallery in London after throwing tinned soup at Vincent Van Goghs Sunflowers, one of the Dutch artists most famous paintings.

PA Media contributed to this report.
UN Human Rights Commissioner Shocked by Juveniles NSL Conviction

Seven members of the Returning Valiant group, aged 16 to 26, were charged with conspiracy to incite subversion of state power under the Hong Kong national security law (NSL) for organizing street booths and posting on social media. They had all pleaded guilty earlier and it is the very first-time minors under the age of 21 are convicted under the prevailing NSL.

Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said she was shocked by the prison sentence.

On Oct. 8, Kwok Wai-kin, a judge designated to adjudicate national security cases, ruled that the five defendants under the age of 21 will be detained at a correctional facility, while the sentences of the other two were adjourned. According to the case, the seven defendants repeatedly organized street booths, spoke during interviews and live broadcasts, advocating an armed uprising to overthrow the government and providing financial assistance to protesters.

Ms. Shamdasani said that although the UN Human Rights Commissioner had clearly recommended the Hong Kong government to repeal the NSL in July this year, the Human Rights Commissioner regrets that the NSL Law is still being executed in Hong Kong to date. Now it is even targeting young people including minors. She would like to remind the Hong Kong government that the administration of justice and law enforcement in Hong Kong should be in line with its obligations under international human rights law.

Hong Kong Governments Response

On Oct. 13, the Hong Kong government issued a statement in response, expressing strong dissatisfaction with Shamdasanis remarks. It stressed that as the legal process of the case has not been fully concluded, it considers the other partys comments on the case at this moment as inappropriate.

On the contrary, the statement further claimed that the National Security Law was designed to allow Hong Kong residents to regain the rights and freedoms that they lost during the anti-extradition movement from June 2019 to early 2020. It described further the National Security Law is achieving its intended objectives, rapidly and peacefully, and at the same time effectively restoring stability and security.

Scholar: Hong Kong Government Failed to Tell the Good Story of Hong Kong

Dr. Chung Kim-wah pointed out that whenever foreign media criticizes Hong Kong, government officials will send letters to refute the comments. For example, it had always claimed that Hong Kong people are guaranteed all rights under the Basic Law, so the National Security Law will not violate human rights, and likewise, all countries around the globe also enact national security laws for themselves. All these responses from the Hong Kong government simply reflect its wolf warrior mentality which is meant for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to see. At the same time, in so doing, the government thinks that if it sends these vicious letters or statements a few more times, others will shut up for fear of getting into trouble.

Chung described all such government responses as merely repeating the same rhetoric again and again, with no new ideas at all. Everyone is well aware that the Hong Kong government continues to violate human rights and deprive freedom. This bare fact is clearly visible to everybody, so no one will care too much about all the governments rebuttals. In addition, he also believes that the government can never tell the good story of Hong Kong because the success of that depends more on doing it well rather than telling it well. The international community is fully aware of the objective reality that is happening in Hong Kong daily.

UN Human Rights Commissioner Urges Repeal of the NSL

On July 27 this year (2022), the UN Human Rights Commissioner issued a review report on the Hong Kong governments implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, criticizing the arrest of citizens, the dissolution of trade unions and student unions since the implementation of the NSL in 2020. The Commissioner urged the Hong Kong government to repeal the National Security Law as a result.

The Commissioner is deeply concerned that the National Security Law was passed by the CCP without consultation with the Hong Kong public, stressing that the law itself is flawed. The concept of national security in its context also lacks a clear definition, and the relevant laws are interpreted too broadly. Consequently, there exists the possibility that cases could be transferred from Hong Kong to mainland China, which is not a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, for investigation, prosecution, trial, and enforcement of penalties.

As a conclusive remark, the Commissioner urges the Hong Kong government to repeal the National Security Law, refrain from any action that might restrict freedom of association, and ensure that members of civil society are not prosecuted for participating in the deliberations at the UN Human Rights Committee. The report also criticized the police for its excessive use of force during the 2019 anti-extradition movement, and the Hong Kong governments labeling all those demonstrations as violent. It urged the Hong Kong government to establish a completely independent police complaint investigation mechanism and called for the withdrawal of prosecutions against illegal assemblies, as well as making amendments to the Public Order Ordinance.
Special counsel Robert Mueller (L) arrives at the U.S. Capitol for closed meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee June 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. The committee meets with Mueller to discuss the firing of former FBI Director James Comey. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Will James Comey and Robert Mueller Be Prosecuted for Lies John Durham Uncovered?

News Analysis

While special counsel John Durhams prosecution of Steele dossier source Igor Danchenko appears to be headed toward acquittal, Durham has used the trial to make public a number of revelations that cast the entire TrumpRussia collusion narrative in a fresh light.

Most prominently, Durham revealed that on Oct. 3, 2016, the FBI had offered dossier author Christopher Steele up to $1 million to provide any information, physical evidence, or documentary evidence that could back up the claims in his dossier. But despite the huge reward offer, Steele didnt provide any such information.

Crucially, despite Steeles failure to back up his dossier, a mere 18 days later, the FBI proceeded to obtain a FISA warrant against Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign adviser Carter Page. In its application to the FISA court, the FBI used the Steele dossierspecifically, its claim that Page was acting as an agent of Russiaas evidence.



Then, after Trump won the presidential election on Nov. 8, 2016, the U.S. intelligence community, which included the FBI, began drafting an intelligence community assessment (ICA) on Russian interference in the election. The ICA was issued in early January 2017, claiming that Russia had helped Trump win the election.

The assessment included a summary of the dossier, claiming that it had been partly corroborated. The inclusion of Steeles dossier in an official U.S. intelligence community product gave it the credibility it had lacked up until that point.

It also gave the media, which had held back from reporting on the dossier between July 2016 and January 2017, the excuse it needed to start doing so. For the next several years, the dossier and its lurid claims became the centerpiece of the medias campaign against Trump. As Durham has now made public, the inclusion of the dossier in the ICA was based on a lie.

Danchenko on FBIs Payroll

Another major revelation exposed by Durham in a pre-trial motion was that Danchenko had been on the FBIs payroll between March 2017 and October 2020 as a confidential human source (CHS). By bestowing this coveted status on Danchenko, the FBI was able to conceal his existence from congressional and other investigators. This was crucial, as he had told FBI investigators in January 2017 that the dossier was based on rumors and gossip made in jest. The admission that the Steele dossier was nothing more than bar talk needed to be concealed if the FBI was to continue its investigation of Trump.

Appointing Danchenko as a CHS had another benefit for the FBI. As Danchenkos handler, FBI agent Kevin Helson, confirmed in court last week, because he was an incoming CHS, Danchenko was directed to scrub his phone. Conveniently, that also meant scrubbing evidence of Danchenkos alleged lies to the FBI, evidence that Durham now lacks.

Comeys Lies

In March 2017, then-FBI Director James Comey briefed congressional leaders, the so-called Gang of Eight, on his investigation of the Trump campaign. As Comeys briefing notes reveal, members of Congress werent told about Steeles failure to back up his dossier, despite the huge reward offer, nor were they told that Danchenko had disavowed the dossier.

Comey also told congressional leaders that the dossier was derived primarily from a Russian-based sub-source and that the FBI has no control over the Russian-based sub-source. The same wording was also used by the FBI in the Page FISA warrant application. And it was entirely false. Danchenko wasnt Russian-based; he was a former Brookings Institution analyst based in Virginia. And not only did the FBI have control over him, but he was working for them.

Comeys lies successfully ratcheted up the pressure and in May 2017, Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate claims of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Muellers Lies

Mueller has denied having investigated the Steele dossier. In congressional testimony on July 24, 2019, he repeatedly said the dossier was outside his purview. However, evidence elicited by Durham last week from two counterintelligence agents, Brittany Hertzog and Amy Anderson, paints a very different picture.

Hertzog and Anderson were assigned to Muellers special counsel office in the summer of 2017. Hertzog testified last week that she was assigned the task of investigating the Steele dossier, a task that Mueller claimed was outside the purview of his investigation. According to Andersons testimony, Muellers dossier team was made up of at least five agents.

As part of their assignment, Hertzog and Anderson investigated two of Danchenkos alleged sub-sources, Olga Galkina, a Russian national living in Cyprus, and Charles Dolan, a public relations executive with decades-long ties to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Illustrating the depths to which Muellers team went to investigate the dossier, Anderson flew to Cyprus to personally interview Galkina.

According to Andersons testimony last week, Galkina admitted that Dolan was a source for the dossier. Given Dolans longstanding ties to the Clintons, this presented a huge problem for Muellers team. When Anderson also found out that Dolan was well connected in the higher echelons of the Russian government, she recommended that an investigation into Dolan be opened. However, according to her testimony, the team blocked the investigation from going forward and destroyed her memo on the matter.

Muellers false statements dont end there. A central alleged figure to the dossier, Sergei Millian, now claims on Twitter that he was in touch with Muellers office from 2017 to 2019. Muellers report claims that Millian refused to meet with investigators. Millian claims that he offered to meet Muellers team in various locations, including in the UK and Switzerland. Muellers team could have easily arranged such a meeting if it had wanted to, as illustrated by the fact that it was willing and able to interview Galkina in Cyprus.

It appears that the reason Mueller didnt want to talk to Millianand later lied about this factis that Millian is central to the dossier. According to Steele, Millian was the originator of the dossiers key allegations, including that there was a well-developed conspiracy of cooperation between Trump and the Kremlin, the infamous pee tape story, and that Russia had helped Trump by passing hacked Democratic National Committee emails to WikiLeaks.

However, there was a snag. Millian never spoke to Steele or Danchenko. Danchenko later admitted to the FBI that he had told Steele otherwise. This wasnt only a problem for Danchenko, but also for Mueller and the FBI. Without Millian, the dossiers main allegations would have collapsed. Thats why Mueller couldnt afford to talk to Millian.

While Durhams revelations explain crucial aspects of the false witch hunt against Trump, they dont amount to much unless those responsible are held to account.

Durham himself has shown a marked disinterest in pursuing key government actors such as Comey or Mueller, focusing instead on private actors. A possible reason for this may be that Durhams hands are tied by U.S. President Joe Bidens Department of Justice. If thats the case, Durhams final report, which will likely be issued in the next few months, should detail instances of such obstruction.

Whatever the reasons for Durhams failure to pursue FBI leadership and Muellers team, he has now left a trail of evidence for others to pursue.

For instance, Muellers untrue statement that he didnt investigate the Steele dossier is still within the statute of limitations until 2024 for charges to be brought. The concealment of Danchenko behind CHS status carried on until 2020, meaning that the statute of limitations on related charges doesnt expire until 2025. Durham may be nearing the end of his work, but theres plenty left for others to pick up.
This combo of images provided by the Connecticut State Police, show (LR) Bristol, Conn., Police Department Sgt. Dustin Demonte, Officer Alex Hamzy, and Officer Alec Iurato. (Connecticut State Police via AP)

Wounded Connecticut Officer Shot, Killed Suspect Who Killed 2 Colleagues

BRISTOL, Conn.A Connecticut police officer who was wounded in an apparent ambush that killed two of his fellow officers fired the shot that killed the attacker, police said.

In a Facebook post Saturday, police in Bristol said Alec Iurato was shot and returned fire on Wednesday, killing Nicholas Brutcher. The state medical examiners office said Brutcher, 35, died from a gunshot wound to the neck with spinal cord injuries.

Sgt. Dustin Demonte and Officer Alex Hamzy were gunned down outside a home where they had responded to a 911 call about possible domestic violence that authorities said appeared to be a deliberate act to lure police there.

Iurato was released from the hospital on Thursday. Brutchers brother, Nathan Brutcher, was wounded in the shootout. Nathan Brutcher hasnt been accused of playing any role in the attack.

The bodies of both officers were brought to funeral homes in separate processions Friday, as hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil outside the Bristol police station. In New York, the New York Yankees held a moment of silence in the officers honor before Game 2 of their American League Division Series game against Cleveland at Yankee Stadium.

Police officials said all three officers were respected and had received commendations.

Police officers from Bristol gather with other towns at the scene where two police officers killed, in Bristol, Conn., on Oct. 13, 2022. (Jessica Hill/AP Photo)

Demonte, 35, was a 10-year veteran officer and co-recipient of his departments 2019 Officer of the Year award. His wife is expecting their third child.

Hamzy, 34, worked eight years for his hometown police force. Like Demonte, he was an adviser to a police cadet program.

Iurato, 26, joined the Bristol department in 2018 and has a bachelors degree in government, law and national security.

Nicholas Brutcher was a divorced father of two and a hunting and fishing enthusiast, according to his social media pages.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping gives a speech during the opening session of a 5-year Chinese Communist Party political conference in Beijing on Oct. 16, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

Xi Says China Will Never Renounce Right to Use Force Over Taiwan as CCP Political Conference Opens

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will never renounce the use of force on Taiwan, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said at the opening on Oct. 16 of an important Party meeting.

Held every five years, the CCPs 20th Party congress kicked off in Beijing amid public frustration fueled by escalated COVID-19 restrictions at home and international criticism of the CCP aggression toward Taiwan.

During the weeklong meeting, the next round of the Partys top leadership will be announced, while Xi, 69, is likely to secure a record third five-year term in office, cementing his place as the Partys most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the gathering, Xi touted the CCPs achievements during what he called an extremely uncommon and abnormal five years.

Xi defended the CCPs zero-COVID policy and argued that the approach protected peoples lives and economy, but made no mention of how the strict policy has damaged the countrys economy and inflicted pain on its people.

Reaffirming the Partys hard stance, Xi said China would never promise to renounce the use of force on Taiwan, angering the self-ruled island, which vowed to defend its sovereignty and democracy.

Xis roughly two-hour speech was considerably shorter than his remarks in 2017, which lasted more than three hours.

During the speech, the words security and safety appeared more frequently than five years ago. According to a transcript published by the official news agency Xinhua, Xi mentioned the two words 73 times on Oct. 16, up from 55 times in the 2017 meeting. While he mentioned food security and supply chain security, the emphasis was given to national security.

The pivotal political event is occurring amid growing international criticism of the CCPs human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, as well as its harassment of Taiwan. In the lead-up to the conference, lawmakers from across the world called for democratic countries to hold the CCP accountable for its human rights abuses.

In an Oct. 14 statement, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China stated that the meeting reveals that the CCP will consolidate its authoritarian rule over the country, which means that China will continue to be a threat to human rights and the peace and stability of the international rules-based order.

A security member keeps watch on Tiananmen Square, ahead of the opening session of a five-year Chinese Communist Party political conference in Beijing on Oct. 16, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

Taiwan

The loudest applause came during the meeting when Xi emphasized the CCPs opposition to Taiwans independence.

Taiwan, a self-ruled island that the CCP claims as its own territory, has endured escalated military, political, and economic pressure from Beijing in recent months. Beijing launched live-fire drills and launched 11 ballistic missiles into the waters around Taiwan after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taipei in August.

Speaking in Beijing, Xi touted the CCPs provocations as a demonstration of its determination and ability to fight against separatist forces.

The complete reunification of our country must be realized, and it can without a doubt be realized, he said.

In response, Taiwan stated that its a sovereign country and that it wont back down from defending its democracy and freedom.

Taiwans position is firm: no backing down on national sovereignty, no compromise on democracy and freedom, and meeting on the battlefield is absolutely not an option for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, Chang Tun-han, spokesperson of Taiwans Presidential Office said in an Oct. 16 statement. This is the consensus of Taiwans people.

The statement also noted that Taiwans national security team would be closely watching the developments during the weeklong Party meeting.

Zero-COVID Policy

During his address at the opening ceremony, Xi said the CCP prioritized the people and their lives above all else and tenaciously pursued [a] dynamic zero-Covid policy in launching all-out peoples war against the virus.

Xis remarks appear to dash the hopes of Chinese people who are looking for signs of the loosening of the policy. The draconian approach aims to eliminate every infection among communities through strict lockdowns, repeated testing, and mass surveillance.

Weeks ahead of the conference, CCP officials across China ratcheted up travel restrictions and lockdowns, although only a handful of cases were reported. At least 36 Chinese cities have been placed under some level of restrictions or lockdown, affecting about 196.9 million people, according to an Oct. 10 estimate by Japanese bank Nomura.

Such curbs have frustrated the public and led to rare protests in the country. Two big banners bearing slogans, including one calling for Xis ouster and another calling for an end to the draconian zero-COVID policy, were unfurled in the political center amid tight security.

People take pictures of banners of political protest from an overpass in Beijing on Oct. 13, 2022. (Screenshot of Fangshimins Twitter account via The Epoch Times)

Chinese activists suggested that the COVID-19 restrictions are aimed at strengthening the CCPs control rather than containing outbreaks.

The epidemic is less severe than influenza, Zhao Changqing, a human rights activist, told The Epoch Times on Oct. 16.

There are more tragedies as a result of strict curb measures than from the virus itself, he says. In Tibet, where some cities endured a 50-day lockdown last month, the inhuman lockdown led to at least five people killing themselves, according to the International Campaign for Tibet, a human rights advocacy group.

Zhao said the rare protest in Beijing demonstrates the rising desire among the public for the removal of measures of social control.

Through fascist-style pressure and control, the CCP is preventing the fight against its tyranny from spreading, Zhao said.

Reuters and Luo Ya contributed to this report.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is applauded by senior members of the Chinese Communist Party as he walks to the podium before his speech during the opening ceremony of the Party's 20th National Congress at the Great Hall of People in Beijing on Oct. 16, 2022. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Xi Times 3? Its a Done Deal

Xi Jinping is riding high despite intractable problems in communist China

Commentary

Xi Jinping is transiting through shoal waters in his quest for a third five-year term as paramount leader.

The 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) convened on Oct. 16 in Beijing. Party congresses are held every five years and provide a glimpse into the rigid workings of the CCP, as well as its priorities for the future. In this congress, three main topics have been incorporated into the carefully choreographed schedule.

The first major event was a presentation of the Chinese equivalent of a U.S. presidential State of the Union Address by Xi at the beginning of the congress. His speech consisted of a dreary dissertation on his past accomplishments, future goals, and priorities leading to the 100th-anniversary celebration of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, and his usual favorite topics folded into his vision for Chinas future (an update of his Chinese Dream).

China Daily quoted him as saying, The essential requirements are upholding the leadership of the [CCP] and socialism with Chinese characteristics, pursuing high-quality development, developing whole-process peoples democracy, enriching the peoples cultural lives, achieving common prosperity for all, promoting harmony between humanity and nature, building a human community with a shared future, and creating a new form of human advancement.

Weve heard Xi pontificate on those topics many times before!

He also included remarks on communist Chinas core interest, such as the inevitable annexation of Taiwan. After claiming that the situation in Hong Kong has achieved a major turning point from chaos to governance, he declared that the CCP continues to stand firm in strengthening national sovereignty in the face of separatist activities of the Taiwan independence forces and the severe provocations of external forces interfering in Taiwan affairs. He also said the CCP has an overall strategy for resolving the Taiwan issue in the new era, leading to the complete reunification of the country.

In short, Xi was signaling that Taiwan is next, for all practical purposes.

A man walks past a propaganda poster welcoming the 20th Communist Party Congress meeting along a street in Beijing on Sept. 21, 2022. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images)

The bottom line of the speech was that there were no real surprises, and Xi appears to be in firm control of the congress, the CCP, and the country at large. Some observers thought he might have announced a relaxation of the CCPs draconian zero-COVID policy, but that didnt happen.

[Note: The delegates will have an opportunity to tweak his report by making change recommendations developed during various working groups throughout the week, but any changes are expected to be perfunctory and insignificant.]

The other two major events of the week include the following.

The election by the more than 2,000 delegates of paramount leader Xi to a third five-year term as general secretary of the CCP is expected. The election will be a farce, as zero no votes or abstentions will be permitted. This is a true reflection of democracy with Chinese characteristics. [Note: He also holds two other titles: chairman of the Central Military Commission and president of communist China. The former position will likely be extended to him during this congress.]

The election of the new Central Committeethe rest of the CCP leadership teamthat will govern the nation for the next five years is also scheduled for the congress. The process will be perfunctory, as Xi and his allies in the Politburo Standing Committee have doubtlessly already made the 370-odd selections (which include 170 alternates), and the congress will merely rubber-stamp those choices. Hes responsible for administering the vast CCP bureaucracy, including the various ministries, departments, commissions, and offices that govern and regulate the Chinese economy. No public input is needed (or desired), as the Politburo will make that choice in secretmore democracy with Chinese characteristics.

Another administrative task will be executed during the congress, this one consisting of developing and approving an amendment to the CCP charter that will authorize Xis third term as general secretary. The charter has heretofore limited Chinese leaders to two five-year terms. That amendment will also likely enshrine some of his ideological malarkey to guide Marxist development.

To Xi or Not to Xi

For a variety of reasons, over the past year, there has been much speculation in world media about whether Xi will, in fact, be elected to serve an unprecedented third term or will be replaced because of his failure to resolvewhile actually exacerbatingsignificant problems that persist in China.

China watchers have pointed to a considerable list of seemingly intractable problems, including a long-term financial and debt crisis (getting ready to explode), a declining demand in the domestic residential housing market (possibly due to social changes resulting in fewer Chinese marriages), a wave of mortgage boycotts at 340 locations in 190 Chinese cities, a declining birth rate (due considerably to a government-dictated one- then two- and now three-child policy), a crackdown on the Chinese tech industry (the most vibrant sector of the Chinese economy).

Theyve also noted the plunging profits of local state-owned enterprises, the continuing gaokao conundrum, the international focus on the CCPs genocide against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, rising violent crime and gang activity in central China, the inability of domestic food production to feed Chinas 1.4 billion people (China is the largest importer of foodstuffs in the world), youth unemployment (ages 19 to 24) setting a new record at 19.3 percent, foreign condemnation of Beijings implementation of its national security law in Hong Kong, an increase in foreign businesses exiting China, and the general disruption of the Chinese economy due to the arbitrary lockdowns and quarantines associated with the CCPs draconian zero-COVID policy.

People hold banners and chant slogans during a protest at the entrance to a branch of Chinas central bank in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, on July 10, 2022. A large crowd of angry Chinese bank depositors faced off with police, some reportedly injured as they were roughly taken away, in a case that has drawn attention because of earlier attempts to use a COVID-19 tracking app to prevent them from mobilizing. (Yang/AP Photo)

Gordon Chang, a preeminent China expert, has even predicted that Chinas economy is collapsing because of a combination of the aforementioned factors.

Then there are the periodic protests over the past couple of years by the following people: farmers in Guangdong Province, Shanghai and Shenzhen residents protesting COVID-19 lockdowns, bank depositors in Zhengzhou in Henan Province, and anti-Xi protesters just last week in Beijing.

Based on the above, is Xi in political trouble, and is there any chance hell step aside in favor of a consensus replacement at the 20th Party Congress? After all, factional infighting is standard practice within the Chinese communist leadership, as whoever leads determines patronage jobs and monetizes positions within the government bureaucracies. The factional infighting is speculated upon in this Oct. 8 video from China Uncensored, which provides a historical summary of CCP factional infighting and argues that theres a continuing political struggle between the political camps of Xi and former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin.

There was even a Twitter post from an account in India in September that claimed Xi was displaced during a military coup: Xi is rumored to have undergone a military coup. #PLA special forces gathered at Shenyang Military airport under the orders of Li Qiaoming. Newsweek picked up on that post in an article, with editors possibly wishing and hoping that the rumor was true. Alas, it was a false rumor, and the preparations for the congress proceeded without incident or interruption to the present day.

Concluding Thoughts

The likelihood of Xi being displaced from power during the CCPs 20th Congress is practically zero. The CCPlike all communist partiesis a conservative entity that abhors major and rapid changes. The Party seeks continuity, legitimacy, and perpetual political control above all things. Party congresses are carefully orchestrated events that are intended to persuade domestic and foreign audiences of the legitimacy of the CCPs rule, and a public power struggleespecially a major change in CCP leadershipwould expose the farce that is democracy with Chinese characteristics to everyone, as well as damage communist Chinas prestige on the world stage.

Xis third term is a done deal. The Congress will rubber-stamp Xis updated Chinese Dream. And the rest of the world will determine whether pushback on that dream or accommodation is in order.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
No fewer than six people have been confirmed dead, while five others are still missing after a boat accident occurred at Gbara area of Mokwa LGA (River Kaduna) in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Niger State Management Agency (NSEMA) Director General, Ibrahim Inga, who confirmed the incident in a statement, disclosed that the boat had 48 passengers on board before it collapsed.

It was learnt that incident which happened on Saturday, occurred due to a heavy downpour of rain that came with a wild windstorm

According to Inga, 37 people survived the accident, while six dead bodies were recovered.

He said NSEMA gathered that the passengers were returning from Danchitagi village market in Lavun local government.

However, he said the agency have embarked on search and rescue operations to find the remaining five missing people.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs had disclosed that more than 500 people have died from Nigerias floods in a decade, adding that another 1,500 people have been reported injured during this period while a total of 1.4 million people have been generally affected.
Mercy Foundation, a non-governmental organisation in the Netherlands, has lifted a persecuted Ebonyi-based gospel Evangelist, Ignatius Nkwuda, and commenced training of hundreds of Ebonyi women and youths on entrepreneurship skills.

Evangelist Ignatius Nkwuda of Nigeria Reformed Church, Otam-Nwogba is being persecuted by his people of Ndubovu in Ndieze-Echi Community, Ominyi Development Centre, of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State for refusing to worship their community deity. The villagers came to the preacher's home on ..,.. and packed household property belonging to the preacher and his wife which the community people have continued to detain because the preacher and his wife refused to contribute funds for the procurement of sacrificial items needed to conduct sacrifices and rituals to a deity in a community shrine known as Edukfu-Onwe. Entreaties to the ward councilor and other community leaders yielded no results as the community people have continued to withhold the property of Evangelist Nkwuda and to allegedly issue threats on him if he refuses to change his position on the community ritual levy. Evangelist Ignatius Nkwuda is also involved in the Prison Ministry which Mercy Foundation Netherlands runs in conjunction with her Nigerian affiliate, Transparency and Economic Development Initiative, TEDI.

Mercy Foundation Netherlands presented brand new motorcycles to Evangelist Ignatius Nkwuda and Barr. Levi Ibeabuchi for the Prison Ministry through the founder of TEDI, Elder Emeka Ogazi, who prayed God to bless the founder of Mercy Foundation Netherlands partners, T.J. Reneveth. Receiving the motorcycles, Evangelist Nkwuda and Barr Ibeabuchi thanked his benefactors and promised to continue to spread the gospel to both free citizens and prison inmates; and to be law-abiding by paying community development levies. Evangelist Nkwuda particularly reiterated that he will not compromise his christian faith in the face of his obvious persecution by members of his community, adding that the status of Nigeria as a secular country guarantees freedom of religion.

Evangelist Nkwuda receiving the key to the motorcycle from Elder Emeka Ogazi.

In another development, Mercy Foundation Netherlands in affiliations with TEDI foundation and the Mother and Child Care Initiative, MCCI, of the wife of the former governor of Ebonyi State, Mrs. Josephine Elechi, has commenced training of hundreds of Ebonyi women and youths on entrepreneural skills like crafts, fashion designing, hairdressing, farming, fittings, fabrications etcetera. The training package which will equip the participants with skills and provide them with necessary equipments and start-up capitals is designed to turn the beneficiaries to wealth creators and employers of labour. The teeming beneficiaries who attended the positive character orientation component of the empowerment programme otherwise known as "Ethical Workshop" which held at the Multipurpose Hall of Josel Farms, Abakaliki on 8th October, 2022 were lectured on Ethical Behavior, The Dangers of Drug Abuse and Business Ethics. In his welcome speach at the Ethical Workshop, the founder of TEDI which is the Nigerian affiliate of Mercy Foundation, Elder Emeka Ogazi, made it clear that the ethical component of Mercy Foundation's empowerment programme is what stands it out as wholesome because it strengthens the beneficiaries to pursue prosperity, integrity and their salvation and prayed "God to reward T.J. Reneveth in multiple folds for his labour of love on Ebonyi people". The event which was chaired by the wife of the immediate past governor of Ebonyi State and founder of MCCI, Her Excellency, Mrs Josephine Elechi was attended by Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Sunday Zjil Nwangele; and resource persons like a cleric of Nigeria Reformed Church, Rev. K.U.A. Iziogo; officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; and Ebonyi State director of Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development Agencies of Nigeria, SMEDAN.

In their respective goodwill messages, the former first lady of Ebonyi State, Mrs. Josephine Elechi, charged the beneficiaries to remain focused on their goals and make maximum use of the opportunities they have through the empowerment programme; while Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Sunday Zjil Nwangele, thanked the Nigerian Reformed Church for investing in the development of many Ebonyi people including himself. Dr. Nwangele reminded the beneficiaries that the best form of gratitude they can show to their benefactors was to use the opportunity of the empowerment to become responsible and useful ambassadors of God in the society. In separate interviews, a broad spectrum of the trainees thanked their benefactors, appreciated them for their kind gesture and promised to make good use of the empowerment. Other beneficiaries who could not be interviewed spoke through their eyes and smiles in appreciation of the rare opportunities that Mercy Foundation, Netherlands and their Nigerian affiliate gave them to develop themselves into useful members of the society.
The Peoples Democratic Party's Presidential flagbearer, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku has poked the anger of Nigerians across board, including the Northerners on his thoughtless and provocative statement in Kaduna. The PDP Presidential candidate may have crossed the rubicon of decency in a multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria by calling on his ethnic nationality to vote for him and reject contestants from other tribes.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has berated the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, APC, Atiku Abubakar, for saying northerners should vote for a northern presidential candidate in the 2023 election.

In a statement issued by Felix Morka, the spokesman of the APC, the party said such statements from Atiku smacks of desperation and extreme mindlessness.

The partys reaction was coming against what Atiku said on Saturday at the Arewa town hall policy dialogue in Kaduna, where he said What the average Northerner needs is somebody who is from the North  he doesnt need a Yoruba Candidate or an Ibo Candidate.

The APC described Atikus statement as a decisive attack on our national unity. It is beyond the pale for a senior citizen and a former Vice President of the Federal Republic to so brazenly instigate strife and disunity in our country in pursuit of his befuddled political self interest.

But it is not surprising coming from a desperate and serial failed Candidate for the office of President.

The APC argued that, If, as Atiku believes, the average Northerner needs a Northern President now, after a Northern President, when will they ever not need a Northern President? What does Atiku think the average Southerner needs? Why is it about what the average Northerner needs, or even what the average Southerner may need? Why is it not about what Nigeria and Nigerians need?
It is sad to recall in this piece that Nigerias former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, early this year, specifically in the month of May, unarguably threatened of losing votes in Sokoto, deleted the tweet he made condemning the lynching of a Christian Student, Deborah Samuel in Sokoto.

As virally reported in the media, Deborah Samuel had been burnt to death by her colleagues for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad, thus provoking Atiku to condemn her lynching in a post on his Twitter handle where he condemned the lynching of Deborah, who was a Christian student of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto by her colleagues.

Atiku, who is a presidential hopeful under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), amid the outrage trailing the students murder called for the prosecution of her killers. He wrote on Twitter, There cannot be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered and all those behind her death must be brought to justice. My condolences to her family and friends.

However, some Muslims in his comment section threatened not to vote for him while some said they were awaiting his coming to Sokoto for his presidential campaign. Succumbing to the threat, the former Vice-President deleted the tweet.

On Facebook, the former Vice President in a message on his verified Hausa page distanced himself from the message. He also stated that any message on social media that did not come with the initials A. A. was not his. This evening I received information that a post was made that doesnt agree with my orders. I use this to announce that any post without A. A. is not from me. May God protect us, he wrote in Hausa language.

However, Nigerians on social media condemned Atiku's hypocrisy stating that he is more interested in the votes than the safety of those he is calling upon to vote for him.

Atiku, who was ostensibly taken aback by the deluge of backlash that trailed the deletion of his tweet, boasted, I Am Not Afraid as he literarily struggled to buttress the reason why his tweet on Deborahs killing was deleted and explained why he ordered that the controversial tweet on the killing of Deborah be taken down.

He revealed that the tweet was deleted because he did not approve that it should be posted in the first instance. The former vice president gave the explanation when he visited Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State at the Government House in Benin City, the state capital.

He said, Every tweet has to get my approval, said the presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Unfortunately, this tweet, because I was traveling all over the country, did not have my approval. So, I said it should be taken down and that every tweet must have my express approval.

While not a few Nigerians were still pondering over how the former vice president literarily wriggled himself out from the controversy which he was mired in as a result of his tweet, Phrank Shaibu, his Special Assistant, Public Communications, sometime in the month of May, described his principal as pan-Nigerian when in his characteristic manner he was mired in another round of controversial statement he made.

He said: Atiku is a pan-Nigerian candidate. He is not a tribal jingoist. He is not an ethnic jingoist. He is not a religious bigot and hes a believer.

I remember when he was hiring me in 2018, he said Phrank, you know what I represent, in your conduct, in your actions, in your statements, make sure that it represents what I represent. And that is particularly pan-Nigerianism and does not tend toward one section of the country.

And that is why I believe very strongly, that Nigerians know that this particular crisis is not just about Atiku coming out to say look, Ayu, please get off. No. it is about the rule of law. It is about the concession. It is about understanding. It is about maturity in every sense of it. Its about looking at the big picture; looking at Nigeria and looking at the sufferings of the masses, and looking at even the PDP.

Talking about choices, the choice is not that of Atiku to make. Atiku does not even have the power to remove It is not within his powers to say he wants to remove the national chairman of a party. That will be a gross violation of the rules and ethics of the political party.

We are not a pressure Group. Were a political party. Whatever he wants to do will only be in an advisory capacity. He can only say Come gentlemen, lets do this. I think we should do this and all that.

Given the foregoing, the strange but true response from one of the vice presidents co-travelers was taken with a pinch of salt.

Unfortunately, like the proverbial Tortoise that is always in the news for the wrong reason, Atiku has stirred up the hornets nest again. This time around he seems to have stuck his foot in his mouth on Saturday, 15 October 2022, when he declared in Kaduna that the North should shun southern candidates in next years presidential election.

He made the divisive comment at an interactive session with a group of northern political leaders under the Arewa Joint Committee at Arewa House, Kaduna. The group held the session with the major presidential candidates, with Atiku the first to take his turn.

Asked by the spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, why Northerners should vote for him, the PDP presidential candidate replied at the event, What the average Northerner needs is somebody whos from the north and also understands that part of the country and has been able to build bridges across the country.

This is what the Northerner needs, it doesnt need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate, and I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin.

At this juncture, it is expedient to ask that Given the divisive weight of the controversial comment made by Atiku, what defensive lie will he and his co-travelers tell Nigerians this time around?
For a decade now, starting from 2012 to 2022, floods have recurrently ravaged Nigeria, almost annually. Yet, Nigeria, the Giant of Africa has been moping at Cameroon for mercy, instead of tackling the mishap head-on.

While permanent solutions were awaited to no avail, this years flood disaster believed to be the worst, has left citizens, households and organisations in pitiable jeopardy. Buildings, roads, crop, fish and animal farms, property in households and offices have been damaged by the disaster.

Thousands of victims are rendered homeless, amid health hazards, imminent food scarcity, price hikes, poverty and hunger. A number of citizens have reportedly died in various parts of the Nigeria. The States of Niger Delta, located on the lowest seabed, states in the Middlebelt and some Northern States, nobly Northeast are the worst-hit.

Despite these devastating effects, the situation ironically seems to have become a normal thing for the people to live with. This is because Nigeria has apparently not taking full liability, to proactively provide permanent solutions in order to curb the 'Made in Cameroon' disaster.

Nigerias lack of will to tackle the floods is irrespective of being aware that the Lagdo Dam in Republic of Cameroon is likely the major cause of the flooding. Instead, it blamed State and Local Governments for ignoring warnings about the floods and for not taking precautionary measures ahead, in order to manage the effects. Rightly, to an extent, Governors and Local Government Council Chairmen have roles to play, but Federal Government has biggest obligation if this year's flood misfortune is to be classified as a national humanitarian disaster.

More so, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) caution Nigeria ahead, whenever Cameroon wants to open the Lagdo Dam which releases deluge of waters to River Benue, tributaries, River Niger and others. The agencies also explain ahead every flood incidents, the secondary roles that rainfalls, coupled with overflow of waters from Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro dams could play in the flooding. These warnings were issued early enough even this year, amid intra-agencies allegations of sabotage of Federal Government's efforts.

Identification of Cameroons Lagdo Dam as the main source of the floods in Nigeria, as also affirmed by the United Nations' International Organization for Migration (IOM), is contrary to attribution of the recurrent abnormal floods to rainfalls alone, which some persons usually interpret as the outcome of global climatic changes, causing the same havoc in other countries.

One would like to reason, albeit in a layman's view, subject to opinion of experts, that floods from incessant heavy rainfall might not be as recurrent and devastating as currently experienced ten years now, except it is end-times rain. More so, floods from abnormal rains tend to recede as soon as the periodic rains stop. Even that which comes from a rise in underground water, might not be as serious as floods caused by a dam opened to let out excess volumes.

Yet, despite having known the major and ancellary causes, at best, reactive measures are what Nigerias Federal Government and some of the State Governments embark upon, to try to rescue flood victims in some places, provide medical services and relief materials. These exercises are even, often ineffectively coordinated, and staggering sums of money are spent. Succor reaches some victims too late, while some do not get any reliefs at all, and then some die.

Crises or disasters are inevitable in human environment and life, and will happen when they will happen, yet, a proactive approach to handling issues before they get to conflict and later crisis stage, is the magic wand. This strategy, which goes with planning, implementing actions ahead, and communicating effectively at all stages is the shock absorber for known-known, unknown-known and even unknown-unknown crises.

More so as it is often said, when a problem and its roots are identified and analysed, that problem is almost solved. Sadly, this axiom has been disproved by Nigeria's inability to fix a decade's-flood mishap, which major cause is even known. Instead, Nigeria is at the mercy of Cameroon, begging to be given information whenever excess water will be released from the Lagdo Dam, or pleading that it should not be released at a go.

This is unbefitting of Nigeria, the so-called Giant of Africa having more land mass, higher population and other resources than many countries, including Cameroon, which constructed the Lagdo Dam far back 1977 and completed it 1982 to control flooding, provide electricity and irrigate farmlands.

From 1977 when Cameroon sought for Nigeria's cooperation, apparently in the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo's military regime, that Nigeria should build its own dam at Dasin Hausa in present Adamawa State, to receive and control excess water from the Lagdo Dam, reports assert that the Dasin Dam which is even said to have reached about 90 percent milestone, is yet to be completed by Nigeria's Federal Government.

President Mohammadu Buhari's administration alone is not to blame for this failure of not rounding off the Dasin Dam project, instead, all the adminstrations from 1977 to date, have their share of blames.

However, given the perennial nature of the destructive floods believed to be mainly caused by the Lagdo Dam, and secondarily by rains as well as overflow from our own dams, the Federal Government of Nigeria, needs to revisit the mega dam project at Dasin Hausa Adamawa and complete it, to avert similar flood misfortune next year and beyond. This could be more important than enacting a Water Resources Act to expropriate regions of their endowments.

The Kashimbilla/Gambo Dam in Taraba State should also be rushed to completion. More dams could as well be built by Nigeria in collaboration with State Governments, just as states could jointly build regional dams to manage flooding. Afterall dams could also generate electricity as well as aid farming.

In addition, land reclamation, construction of new canals, opening up of existing canals, construction of bridges, destilling, shore protection with dredging of Rivers, tributaries and creeks that are strategic to managing flood and erosion disasters, need to be done.

Proper planning of urban and rural settlements and adherence to the plans, with well-mapped out standard and well-elevated roads and streets, good spaces among houses as well as drainage systems, could also help to mitigate impact of flooding. Citizens should also obey planning and environmental laws, as well as build their houses in ways that could reduce impact of flood.

The Ecological Fund under Nigeria's Presidency, should not be like a banker holding deposits for customers. Instead, the funds should be proactively put into use for the purposes of managing ecological problems such as pollution, erosion, oceanification, desertification and floods. If governors are receiving allocations from the Ecological Fund, they should channel the monies to tackling ecological problems in their states.

Federal, State and Local Governments, public spirited individuals, corporate and charity organisations as well as international donor agencies should provide social and economic supports to victims of this year's flood. In doing so, care needs to be taking to ensure financial transparency and delivery to real victims. Materials, especially, edibles should not be kept in public warehouses or personal houses to entertain rats and insects, only to be shared as bad items.

Also as mitigation measures, temporary Flood Displaced Persons (FDPs) camps, with facilities, and permanent camps to provide temporary abode for victims in future floods, could be constructed in various places.

Aircrafts, drones and speed boats could be used to transport petroleum products, foods, drugs etcetera, to places experiencing scarcity and price hike.

The planning of transport sector in the country and by states ought to consider developing effective river transportation in riverine areas, as well as functional intra and inter-state air transport as alternatives to land vehicular and rail transport, which flood easily disrupts in some places.

Although, ten years have gone down history as a decade of floods originating mostly from Cameroon, Nigeria's Government should no longer treat the dangerous disaster as insoluble, the way problems of refineries, importing of petroleum products, fuel subsidy, electricity supply, restructuring and insecurity have seemed insurmountable debacles.

Indeed, my stand is that the major source of the recurrent flooding of many parts of Nigeria is known, if the reports are anything to go by, hence efforts should be made to provide permanent solutions. Nigeria and its political leaders should no longer remain akimbo nor resort to a-palliatives strategy which provides temporary reliefs while the doom's day waits for the people. The flood disaster which affects living and inanimate objects directly, instantly and massively has created an emergency situation, thus should be tackled the way Covid-19 pandemic was managed with all sense of seriousness despite suspicion of economic war and neo-imperialism.

Frankly, Nigeria ought to be concerned about its environment and devastating effects of floods on Nigerians, like its small neighbour Cameroon whose mercy we mope for every year as if it is our God.

The great African Poet, J. P. Clark says in his poem, The Casualties, that the casualties are not only those that die or get injured in a war, neither the souls and property lost, instead there are many more casualties. Thus, we are all casualties of the floods, one way or the other.

Therefore, while succor is expected for victims of this year's floods, the most important call is for Nigeria to see it as a liability to provide lasting solutions that could curb the 'Made in Cameroon' mishap, before the Lagdo Dam lags behind its current of water and do just what it knows, releasing the un-wated excess volumes to Nigeria.

Etete Enideneze is a Media Practitioner/Public Affairs Analyst
Phuket Opinion: Flushing Phukets waste woes

PHUKET: With just weeks to go before enough flights resume for Phuket to start seeing a greater increase in the number of tourists visiting the island, the current spate of heavy weather has exposed a now traditional blight: trash.

opinionpollutionenvironmenttourism

By The Phuket News

Sunday 16 October 2022, 09:00AM

Deluges of trash continue to plague canals in Phuket Town. Photo: Phuket City Municipality

Heavy downpours since Thursday have continued to soak the island, and continue to highlight how much trash is still strewn along streets and in our waterways.

The torrential downpour on Thursday night saw the streets of Patong deep in floodwater, despite ongoing efforts by Patong Municipality over the past year to improve the drains network throughout the town. The culprit? Trash blocking the grates over the drains, preventing maximum flow of the deluge into pipes below.

Meanwhile over in Phuket Town workers were left to clear masses of flotsam floating in canals, causing problems of its own, with plastic waste a major factor.

The downpours in recent days have been heavier than usual, but not so unusual for October, traditionally the last blast of the rainy season before the weather starts to clear to usher in what once used to be the tourism high season.

Trash covering the drain grates in Patong speaks for itself, in a town that is still one of the best known and most widely promoted as the key tourist town on the island. Whatever Keep Patong Clean campaigns have been conducted there have failed.

The trash in the canals in Phuket Town comes with an extra bite. Only in July this year did Phuket City Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas fire a warning shot, urging local residents to stop dumping trash into the canals.

In both cases, no one paid any attention.

What both cases have in common is that there has been no change in attitude towards dumping trash and littering. Further, there have been no noticeable behaviour-changing consequences for people caught.

In the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials and Royal Volunteers were happy to lead the way, holding mass cleanup after cleanup, all widely publicised across government websites and social media channels.

So far the effect has exactly what could be expected. While well-meaning people continue to clean up after others, it appears to have only reinforced the attitude, Why bother changing when other people are still cleaning up after me?

However, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is now fining people dumping in canals in the capital, and even offering a reward to those whose reports lead to fines against transgressors.

The BMA now understands that without consequences for peoples aberrant behaviour, the behaviour does not change.

When will Phuket learn?
Working towards a Plastic Free Phuket

A local environmental group led by students at UWC Thailand International School, Phuket is gaining momentum and working towards having single-use plastic bags phased out by law through a six-month project.

Environment

By The Phuket News

Sunday 16 October 2022, 11:30AM

The group, Plastic Free Phuket, is already 55 members strong from the student body alone, not including UWC staff and a growing number of people joining in at cleanups at beaches along the west coast.

The group already has support for its initiative from One Phuket, Sustainable Maikhao Foundation and Prince of Songkla University (PSU), as well as PSU lecturer Dr Chantinee Boonchai, a PhD graduate in Environmental and Development Systems at University of Queensland, Australia.

Particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Phuket has experienced an increase in plastic use and demand for waste management. Thriving off of tourism, Phuket has suffered economically throughout the pandemic, leading to a sharp decline in sustainable practices, the group explains in its mission statement.

Waste disposal difficulties caused by the overconsumption of single-use plastics in Phuket has led Phukets incinerators to surpass capacity, with landfills also filling rapidly. This is partly due to a lack of education regarding the harms of single-use plastics on the environment, with thousands of plastic bags being attained and thrown away everyday across Thailand.

A ban on single-use plastic bags in Phuket could set a standard of sustainability, not only for the inhabitants of the province, but for provinces across Thailand and neighboring Southeast Asian countries, it adds.

BYE BYE PLASTIC BAGS

The plan is to emulate the student-led Bye Bye Plastic Bags initiative that successfully saw a ban on single-use plastic bags introduced in Bali in 2019, making international headlines.

If approved the project will see a six-month transition period combined with a widespread public-awareness campaign for businesses to use alternative items or stop using bags altogether.

After six months the ban will go into effect and businesses will be expected to be no longer providing plastic bags. When businesses renew their business licenses, they will also be checked to see if they are providing plastic bags. If they are, they cannot renew their license until suspending the use of plastic bags.

We encourage the replication of this system in Phuket to move towards becoming more environmentally aware. Phukets reliance on tourism and overuse of plastic bags is similar to that in Bali before their own ban was enacted, providing support for Phukets ability to make the same change. Despite the ongoing pandemic, Bali has seen increased international interest in the sustainable tourism it aims to promote, the group notes.

While national plastic bag regulations exist and apply to large chain stores in Phuket, such as Makro and Tesco, it is clear that this action alone is not sufficient, especially with the presence of many successful small businesses on the island, who continue to use single-use plastic bags.

A plastic bag ban will reduce the use of single-use plastic bags in all businesses.

To gauge interest and support for a ban on plastic bags on behalf of small business owners, presumably one of the groups whom this ban would affect most, the Plastic Free Phuket team conducted a series of interviews with vendors at the Boat Avenue Friday Night Market.

Of those surveyed, 82% of stalls from a sample interviewed said they would happily switch to sustainable packaging, with the most common object being concern over profit changes or cost competitiveness if not all vendors adopted sustainable options.

This statistic indicates strong support for a ban on plastic bags from small business owners in Phuket, the group notes

As more support arrives, the group plans to present its proposal to the Phuket Governor.

BEACH CLEANUPS

The beach cleanups conducted weekly each Sunday by the group are instrumental in not only cleaning trash and other debris from Phuket beaches, but also raising awareness, explained 17-year-old UWC student Iyla Davis.

All people are welcome to join the cleanups. However, the group is currently taking a break from its Sunday beach cleanups for school holidays.

The cleanups will resume at Bang Tao Beach on Oct 30 from 10:30am to midday, at Nai Bang Beach on Nov 6 from 4:30pm to 6pm, at Mai Khao Beach on Nov 13 (10:30am to midday), back to Nai Yang Beach on Nov 20 (4:40pm to 6pm) and back to Mai Khao Beach on Nov 27 (10:30am to midday).

For more information about Plastic Free Phuket, contact them at:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/plasticfreephuket

Instagram - @plasticfreephuket_

Email - plasticfreephuket@uwcthailand.ac.th

Phone/ Whatsapp - Iyla Davis (+66931744606)
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

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MADI ALLARD, Stonington, Field Hockey, Senior; Allard made four saves in a penalty shootout, helping Stonington defeat Canton in the Class S semifinals. Most of the game was played in a steady snow. Stonington later lost in the title game to North Branford.

DREW DENONCOUR, Chariho, Boys Soccer, Senior; DeNoncour made a save in the final 30 seconds to preserve a 2-1 win for the Chargers in the Division II championship game. DeNoncour was named the games MVP as Chariho won the D-II title for the second straight year.

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Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

C.O. writes: I was given a penalty ticket for overstaying the parking time in Greenwich Royal Park.

I thought it unfair as the pay and display ticket is printed in a most confusing way.

Also, I consider it blackmail to tell me that by paying the 40 penalty I had no recourse to appeal, while if I took time to appeal, the penalty would become 80.

Conflict: Sam Younger is also chair of the consumer group Which?. Above: the confusing pay and display ticket, with the 'fee' circled

Tony Hetherington replies: Let's start with the basic issue, the layout of the pay and display ticket. And I have to admit that when you sent me a copy, I fell into exactly the same trap as you.

The ticket has two rows of details, with the top row in large type. The first bit of information is the date, under which is the word 'DATE' in capitals.

The eye reads from left to right, and the next bit of information says 12:34, beneath which is the word 'FEE', also in capitals. But this is not the fee. It is the expiry time. The real fee is lower down on the ticket, diagonally opposite the date and with no caption at all.

Once this is explained, everything falls into place and you can see what the ticket should say. But I'll bet that you are not the first person to glance at the ticket, be seriously misled, and then get a penalty demand.

And the misleading information does not stop there. Tickets and demands are decorated with a large crown, representing the Royal Parks Organisation.

But the address, phone number and email all go to a private company, NSL Limited. Not surprisingly then, I was told: 'The Royal Parks has had no previous complaints on this issue.' Of course not, when everything goes to NSL.

NSL itself told me: 'We will of course consider the customer's feedback and seek to improve the layout when the next batch of tickets is produced.' But it rejected the idea that the penalty doubles if you appeal. Rather, it said, the penalty is halved if you pay up and do not appeal.

And this is big business for NSL, so I took a closer look at it. NSL is owned by yet another company, Marston (Holdings) Limited, which in turn is owned by another company, and so on and so on, through an amazing ten layers of companies until you get to the top of the tree, which is Free Flow Topco Limited.

It has contracts with local councils and government agencies that include enforcing warrants, issuing warning notices, clamping, impounding, and disposing of vehicles. And last year its turnover was 255million.

It claims that its Marston offshoot operates within an 'ethical framework' headed by an advisory group run by Sam Younger CBE. Who's he? Astonishingly, he is the chairman of consumer organisation Which?

No, you have not misread this. Which?  the organisation that provides page after page of website advice about how to fight parking tickets  is headed by a man who works for a company that makes millions out of issuing parking tickets.

So, I contacted Which? and invited a comment from Sam Younger. Did he believe the confusing layout of Marston's pay and display tickets met ethical standards? And does he believe it is fair that the time taken to consider an appeal would mean the penalty would double?

Well, the consumer champion refused to answer. His spokesperson told me to ask for a comment from Marston, the very company that issued the ticket in the first place.

She added: 'Any other positions held by Sam Younger outside of Which? are independent from and not linked to his role at the Consumers' Association.'

Frustration: The reader was given a ticket after a visit to Greenwich Royal Park

This is close to outright hypocrisy. Sam Younger is at Marston so Marston's owners can boast that they must be ethically run because they have a top consumer champion on board. If Younger disagrees, why did he refuse to say so?

Last February, the Government unveiled a private parking code of practice, announcing: 'Private firms issue roughly 22,000 parking tickets every day, often adopting a labyrinthine system of misleading and confusing signage, opaque appeals services, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees designed to extort money from motorists.

'Apart from their inherent unfairness, these practices damage our high streets, our towns and our city centres. We are determined to bring them to an end.'

Fine words, which lasted until June when the whole scheme was withdrawn, leaving motorists open to exactly the same abuses the Government listed in February.

Perhaps Which? should campaign to revive the code of practice. Or is it too close for comfort?

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Elusive: Neil Woodford leaves his office in July 2019, evading Jeff Prestridge's efforts to speak to him

Hargreaves Lansdown, one of the 100 largest firms listed on the UK stock market, faces a potentially costly High Court battle over its controversial involvement in the Woodford investment debacle, The Mail on Sunday can today exclusively reveal.

The dramatic development in the Woodford saga unfolded late on Friday. This is when a claim was issued in the court on behalf of thousands of investors who lost money as a result of the closing and subsequent dismemberment of multi-billion pound investment fund Woodford Equity Income, run by high profile manager Neil Woodford.

Dealings in the 3.8billion fund were suspended in June 2019 as a result of it being unable to meet a 238million redemption request from Kent County Council.

Woodford, for many years considered one of the country's top stock pickers, was subsequently removed as the fund's manager (three years ago yesterday), the fund closed and most of the assets were sold off in a fire sale, crystallising losses for 300,000 investors. Since the fund's closure, some 2.5billion has been returned to investors.

The claim on Friday was issued by litigation specialist RGL Management on behalf of 3,200 investors caught up in the scandal. It represents the 'first stage' of a group action which could result in financial redress for Woodford fund victims.

What makes RGL's claim so sensational is its targeting of wealth platform Hargreaves Lansdown. Other Woodford related claims already lodged in the High Court by rival firms Harcus Parker and Leigh Day have been against Link Fund Solutions, a subsidiary of Australian based Link Group.

Link Fund Solutions is the company that as 'authorised corporate director' oversaw the Woodford fund on behalf of investors and was meant to ensure Neil Woodford stuck to the fund's investment mandate of investing primarily in a portfolio of income-producing UK equities.

It failed to do so, resulting in Woodford being allowed to assemble a portfolio skewed towards illiquid  and hard to sell  investments, culminating in its suspension three and a half years ago. Many of these illiquid investments assets proved to be disastrous investments.

RGL's decision to target Hargreaves Lansdown as well as Link represents a significant development in the quest to get financial justice for many of the 300,000 investors who had their investments frozen in June 2019.

This is because there are concerns over Link Group's ability to meet any successful claim in the court  or pay redress demanded by City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority.

Last month, the FCA issued a 'warning notice' to Link Fund Solutions after it concluded (but did not publish) its long drawn out investigation into the circumstances surrounding the closure of Woodford Equity Income.

The regulator said it was minded to impose a 50million fine on Link, plus require it to pay redress to Woodford investors of up to 306million (around 1,000 per investor).

The warning prompted Canadian company Dye and Durham to pull out of a takeover of seven firms belonging to Link Group  Link Fund Solutions among them  because it had been told it potentially would have to bankroll any redress if it went ahead with the takeover.

In contrast, Hargreaves Lansdown is very much in rude financial health. Although its profits tumbled in the first half of this year by 26 per cent, they were still a healthy 269.2million. Unlike Link, it has the financial wherewithal to pay any compensation if RGL's claim goes to trial and is successful. RGL expects its claim against both Link and Hargreaves Lansdown to be in 'excess of 100million'.

Of the 3,200 investors included in the first stage of RGL's claim, 2,800 were Hargreaves Lansdown customers at the time the Woodford fund was suspended. On Friday, James Hayward, chief executive of RGL, told the MoS: 'We are pleased to be filing this first tranche of claims, providing a route for those affected to secure redress from both Link Fund Solutions and Hargreaves Lansdown, whose respective unlawful conduct resulted in significant losses for Woodford Equity Income investors.' Alexander Weinberg of Wallace LLP, RGL's law firm, said: 'This group action has a critical role in providing a route for Woodford Equity Income investors to secure redress.

Toast: Neil Woodford's empire teetered on the brink in 2019

'Both institutions, Link Fund Solutions and Hargreaves Lansdown, failed investors  and each has a compelling case to answer.

'RGL is resolute that both should be held accountable for their respective failings. The claim against both defendants will be pursued vigorously to that end.'

Hargreaves Lansdown aggressively promoted the Woodford fund as a 'best buy' on its website  from the day it was launched in June 2014 through to the day that dealings in the fund were suspended.

In the early days, justification for the fund's best buy label was based on Neil Woodford previous's stellar investment record at asset manager Invesco.

His early track record on the Woodford Equity Income fund was also impressive, resulting in the fund ballooning in size to 10billion  in no small way down to the investment platform's hyping of the fund.

Yet when concerns were expressed by its own analysts in late November 2017 that the fund was increasing its exposure to 'small and unquoted assets', Hargreaves Lansdown kept on promoting the fund.

In March last year, RGL's law firm Wallace issued a 'letter before action' to both Hargreaves Lansdown and Link spelling out why it was intending to take them to court. This development was also exclusively revealed in the MoS.

The letter sent to Hargreaves Lansdown claimed that the wealth manager had failed to 'provide accurate, adequate and up-to-date information' to customers about the risky nature of the fund's portfolio in the run-up to its suspension.

This, Wallace claimed, was despite the wealth manager's 'persistent and increasing concerns' about the fund's mounting exposure to illiquid investments in smaller and unquoted companies.

When the Woodford fund was suspended, 134,000 clients of Hargreaves Lansdown had direct holdings in the fund worth just over 1billion. A further 160,000 had indirect exposure through funds with holdings in Equity Income, many run by the wealth manager as part of its multimanager fund offerings.

Wallace believes Hargreaves Lansdown failed clients in three 'key legal areas'  its duty of care towards them (required under tort law) as well as statutory and contractual obligations.

Louisa Spice, from Kent, invested 20,000 in the fund between 2014 and 2018 on the back of Hargreaves Lansdown's glowing recommendation. Louisa, who runs a hot air balloon business with her husband, says she would have transferred her holding to another fund if she had been told by the wealth manager that it had concerns over the riskiness of the holdings lurking under the bonnet of Equity Income.

'I feel strongly that justice should be done,' she added. 'Investors like me who have lost out through no fault of their own should be properly compensated.'

On Friday, another Woodford Equity Income investor  a pharmaceutical consultant from Glasgow  said Hargreaves Lansdown was the 'biggest culprit in this whole fiasco as they recommended the fund right up until the day of its suspension'. He added: 'Judgment day is in sight.'

Yet, like all investors caught up in this scandal, he may have to wait a while longer. Link has yet to confirm whether it will appeal against the FCA's fine and demand for redress.

RGL's claim could also drag on if Link and Hargreaves Lansdown refuse to settle out of court  and opt instead to go to trial. That would mean a court ruling not happening until 2025 at the earliest.

The next key date is in December when a judge will decide how the claim will proceed. The three claims issued by Harcus Parker, Leigh Day and RGL are likely to be combined into a 'group litigation order' and heard as one (Harcus Parker and Leigh Day have already joined forces).

On Friday, the MoS invited both Hargreaves Lansdown and Link to comment on RGL's lodging of a claim against them in the High Court. They chose not to comment.

Woodford Equity Income Investors can register to join the RGL claim via website woodfordlitigation.com. Investors will only pay a fee if the claim is successful.

RGL will take 25 per cent of any compensation in fees. This compares with 30 per cent (Leigh Day) and around 42 per cent (Harcus Parker). Meanwhile, it is still not yet known whether the FCA will punish Woodford for his role in the debacle.
Troubled bank Credit Suisse faces a funding shortfall of as much as 7billion, according to a report by Goldman Sachs.

The Swiss lender will face a widening gap between now and 2024, the Wall Street giant's analysts said.

Financial experts are sizing up the bank's funding requirements as they wait for the announcement of a restructuring plan on October 27.

Troubled times: Investors are pressing Credit Suisse to sell assets and reduce its reliance on risky investment banking

Investors are pressing Credit Suisse to sell assets and reduce its reliance on risky investment banking, which has long been a core part of the 166-year-old group.

The bank's share price has halved this year.

The Mail on Sunday reported last month that chief executive Ulrich Koerner sent a memo to staff reassuring them of Credit Suisse's stability after the stock price slide worsened in September. He said the bank had a 'strong capital base and liquidity position' and he planned 'a more focused, agile group'.

But he admitted the bank was at a 'critical moment'.

Some analysts have called for the bank to reveal its turnaround plan sooner. Broker Keefe, Bruyette & Woods said asset sales would help raise cash but the group also needed a 'decisive' plan to raise cash from shareholders, adding that failure to do so would mean this would 'not be the last restructuring the bank needs'.

Credit Suisse wants to draw a line under a string of affairs. It was embroiled in the collapses of lender Greensill Capital and US hedge fund Archegos Capital, and admitted last year it had defrauded investors in the historical Mozambique 'tuna bonds' loan scandal.
Inheritance tax planning should remain a priority for many households, despite a recent call from one Government Minister to scrap the tax.

Law firm Kingsley Napley says furore over the Government's mini-budget last month means abolition of inheritance tax is now no more than a political pipe dream.

Earlier this month, Treasury Minister Andrew Griffith called on the Government to be 'politically brave' and eliminate the tax altogether.

James Ward, head of private clients at Kingsley Napley, says a move to abolish inheritance tax (IHT) 'would surely be as unpopular as the 45p income tax fiasco'.

As a result, he says 'planning to mitigate future IHT liabilities makes great sense for many households'. Inheritance tax is currently charged at 40 per cent on the value of estates above 325,000. But if everything is left to a spouse, civil partner or charity, it is not levied.

Plan ahead: Abolition of inheritance tax is now no more than a political pipe dream

There is also an additional allowance for those who gift the family home to children and grandchildren.

An array of steps, says Ward, can be taken to mitigate IHT  most involve gifting money. For example, someone can make small gifts of up to 250 per tax year to as many individuals as they choose.

Analysis of the latest data on IHT from Revenue & Customs indicates that it is estates in London and the South East that pay the most tax. This is a reflection primarily of house prices.

For the tax year ending April 2020, Kingsley Napley says it was the London boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Barnet, Camden and Westminster that yielded the highest amount of IHT.

In the last tax year, IHT raised 6.1billion in receipts, up from 5.2billion in the tax year ending April 2020.

But the annual take could fall if there is a correction in house prices in the coming months.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for accelerating the building of a world-class military while touting the fight against COVID-19 as he kicked off a Communist Party Congress by focussing heavily on security and reiterating policy priorities.

Xi, 69, is widely expected to win a third leadership term at the conclusion of the week-long congress that began on Sunday morning, cementing his place as Chinas most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong.

Roughly 2,300 delegates from around the country gathered in the vast Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square amid tight security and under blue skies after several smoggy days in the Chinese capital.

Xi described the five years since the last party congress as extremely uncommon and abnormal, during a speech that lasted less than two hours  far shorter than his nearly three-and-a-half-hour address at the 2017 congress.

We must strengthen our sense of hardship, adhere to the bottom-line thinking, be prepared for danger in times of peace, prepare for a rainy day, and be ready to withstand major tests of high winds and high waves, he said.

He mentioned safety or security 73 times, compared with 55 times in 2017, according to state news agency Xinhuas transcripts, and said China will strengthen its ability to build a strategic deterrent capability.

By comparison, Xi said reforms 16 times in the televised speech, far fewer than the 70 mentions five years ago.

Xi called for strengthening the ability to maintain national security, ensuring food and energy supplies, securing supply chains, improving the ability to deal with disasters and protecting personal information.

The biggest applause came when Xi restated opposition to Taiwan independence.

In his decade in power, Xi has set China on an increasingly authoritarian path that has prioritised security, state control of the economy in the name of common prosperity, a more assertive diplomacy, a stronger military and intensifying pressure to seize democratically governed Taiwan.

Analysts generally do not expect significant change in policy direction in a third Xi term.

Alfred Wu, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said that as Chinas economy has slowed, Xi is attempting to shift the basis of legitimacy from economic growth to security.

His narrative is  China faces many dangers, the country is in a war-like state, figuratively, and he is the saviour. With this narrative, he can get people to unite around him, he said.

CONTINUITY
Gunmen shot dead 11 people at a Russian military training ground, the defence ministry said, in the latest blow to President Vladimir Putins forces since the invasion of Ukraine.

RIA news agency cited the ministry as saying 15 others were wounded in the shooting on Saturday, in Russias southwestern Belgorod region that borders Ukraine, when two men gunned down a group who had volunteered to take part in the war.

It said the two assailants  nationals from an unspecified former Soviet republic  had been shot dead. Some Russian independent media outlets reported that the number of casualties was higher than the official figures.

A terrible event happened on our territory, on the territory of one of the military units, the governor of Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov said early on Sunday.

Many soldiers were killed and wounded  There are no residents of the Belgorod region among the wounded and killed, Gladkov said in a video post on the Telegram messaging app.

The attack took place a week after a blast damaged a bridge in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. Earlier in the war, Russias flagship in the Black Sea blew up and sank.

During a firearms training session with individuals who voluntarily expressed a desire to participate in the special military operation (against Ukraine), the terrorists opened fire with small arms on the personnel of the unit, RIA cited a defence ministry statement as saying.

MOBILISATION

Just a day earlier, Putin said Russia should be finished calling up reservists in two weeks, promising an end to a divisive mobilisation that has seen hundreds of thousands of men summoned to fight in Ukraine and huge numbers flee the country.

Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said in a YouTube interview that the attackers were from the Central Asian nation of Tajikistan and had opened fire on the others after an argument over religion.

Tajikistan is a predominantly Muslim nation, while around half of Russians follow various branches of Christianity. The Russian ministry had said the attackers were from a nation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, which groups nine ex-Soviet republics, including Tajikistan.

Reuters was not immediately able to confirm the comments by Arestovych, a prominent commentator on the war, or independently verify casualty numbers and other details of the incident.

Elsewhere, Zelenskiy said that Ukrainian troops were still holding the strategic eastern town of Bakhmut despite repeated Russian attacks while the situation in the larger Donbas region remained very difficult.

Russian forces have repeatedly tried to seize Bakhmut, which sits on a main road leading to the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Both are situated in the Donetsk region.

ATTACKS

In the 24 hours to Sunday morning, Russian forces targeted more than 30 towns and villages across Ukraine, launching five missile and 23 air strikes and up to 60 rocket attacks, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said on Sunday.

In response, Ukraines air forces carried out 32 strikes, hitting 24 Russian targets.

Fighting is particularly intense in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, and the strategically important Kherson province in the south, three of the four provinces Putin proclaimed as part of Russia last month.

Shelling by Ukrainian forces damaged the administration building in the city Donetsk, capital of the Donetsk region, its Russian-backed administration said on Sunday.

Kirill Stremousov, a Russian-installed official in the Kherson region, said on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday that Russian forces had quashed an offensive by Ukrainian troops in the area and that the situation there was under control.

Ukraines Southern Command said its forces positions had come under repeated attack on Saturday and a small shooting battle had taken place near the village of Tryfonivka in the Kherson region.

Russian forces also fired nearly 20 Russian-made Grad rockets on the right bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region, it said.

Russias defence ministry said on Saturday its forces had killed more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed five tanks near the Kakhovka Reservoir on the Dnipro River.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the battlefield reports.

Although Ukrainian troops have recaptured thousands of square kilometres (miles) of land in recent offensives in the east and south, officials say progress is likely to slow once Kyivs forces meet more determined resistance.

Ukrainian forces and civilians are relying on Starlink internet service provided by Elon Musks SpaceX rocket company. Musk said on Friday he could no longer afford to fund the service but on Saturday said he would continue to do so.

Zelenskiy said almost 65,000 Russians had been killed so far since the Feb. 24 invasion, a figure far higher than Moscows official Sept. 21 estimate of 5,937 dead. In August the Pentagon said Russia has suffered between 70,000 and 80,000 casualties, either killed or wounded.

Zelenskiys chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Telegram on Sunday that Ukraine would prevail in the war because of the continued military aid it is receiving from the West and the cumulative impact of Western sanctions on Russias economy.

Ukraines offensive is strategic and the defeat of Russia is inevitable, Yermak said.

SOURCE: REUTERS
A quick look at police reporting reveals the participants in this deadly spate of gunfire didn't have much to do with faith-based activities.



Here are the basics of the story . . .



Upon arrival, one male victim was found dead and another male victim was injured and taken to a nearby hospital. The incident is not related to the church and is still under investigation.



Anyone with information is asked to contact the Blue Springs Police Department dispatch center at 816-228-0151 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Blue Springs police investigating homicide in church parking lot BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - Around 6:40 p.m. Saturday, officers were called to the 600 block of NE Jefferson Street in regard to a shooting at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. Upon arrival, one male victim was found dead and another male victim was injured and taken to a nearby hospital.

Blue Springs police investigating homicide outside Church of the Resurrection Hide Transcript Show Transcript DETAILS STRAIGHT AHEAD. WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS OF A DEADLY SHOOTING ON THE GROUNDS OF CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION IN BLUE SPRINGS, MISSOURI. KMBC NINE PEYTON HEADLEY JOINS US LIVE. AND PEYTON, POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR SEVERAL PEOPLE.

Blue Springs police respond to multiple threats Saturday night KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Blue Springs Police Department responded to multiple threats Saturday night. A fatal shooting took place around 6:40 p.m. in the parking lot of a church in the 600 block of Northeast Jefferson Street. Originally dispatched on the sound of shots fired, police arrived and discovered a deceased man.

Developing . . .
Campaign season has arrived in full force and now the newspaper is just straight up pushing shameless propaganda.

Today the dead-tree cover story attempts to connect the Kansas GOP guv candidate to one of the worst tragedies in Sunflower State history.



On the bright side . . .

Our laugh of the day . . . They're actually sharing this "subscriber exclusive" content on the Internets because they're having a harder time giving away their paper . . .



Schmidt, now the Republican nominee for governor, attempted to prosecute more than half a dozen individuals and businesses in connection with the death of Caleb, the son of Scott Schwab, who was a GOP state legislator at the time and is now the Kansas secretary of state.



The cases imploded in spectacular fashion. Unusual decisions, prosecutorial misconduct and basic mistakes compounded until the entire project ended in failure.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Kansas City Star: An embarrassment: How Derek Schmidts prosecution of Schlitterbahn water slide death failed

You decide . . .


Silly season takes on a somber tone amid this scary Halloweeen season.

To wit . . .

WATCH ACTIVISTS & SOCIAL MEDIA PUNDITS EXPLOIT THE DEADLY PLIGHT OF PROSTITUTES FOR POLITICAL GAIN!!!

Nobody said politics was pretty . . .



And so . . . The horrific deeds of a suspected local & allegedly racist serial killer are now used to gain traction against the po-po and hotly contested ballot issues.

Tonight there's a candlelight vigil on this highly politicized topic that will earn dutiful and unquestioning coverage from local media.



Check the cover story . . .



The woman also said she had friends who didnt make it and claimed that the man had killed them . . . One of the neighbors who helped her, told local news station KCTV 5. The Excelsior Springs Police Department confirmed to The Daily Mail that it was actively investigating the possibility of two more women victims.



In the meantime, Haslett, who is white, has been arrested in the case. The 39-year-old pleaded not guilty last week to charges including rape, kidnapping and assault.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Cops Dismissed Abducted Black Women 'Rumor' Before Victim's Basement Escape A woman's harrowing escape from a Missouri basement where she was sexually assaulted and held captive for weeks made national headlines earlier this month. On Friday, the nonprofit newspaper The Kansas City Defender reported another disturbing factor in the case.

Police visited home of Excelsior Springs kidnapping, rape suspect 3 times in past year EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. - Excelsior Springs police visited the home of Timothy Haslett Jr., the man accused of raping and holding a woman against her will , three times in the past year. The KSHB I-Team asked for a log of calls to Haslett's home in the 300 block of Old Orchard Road in Excelsior Springs.

Woman freed from alleged sex dungeon in Excelsior Springs - Newstalk KZRG Home / Breaking /Woman freed from alleged sex dungeon in Excelsior Springs "Help me." May have been held by up to 4 weeks by man under arrest Those were reportedly the words of a 22-year old woman who is free now after escaping what's described as a sex dungeon last week in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Woman who escapes month-long captivity says other Black women killed by abductor A 22-year-old Black woman in Missouri who escaped after a white man abducted, tortured and held her captive for weeks in a basement has said several other Black women were killed by her captor - less than a month after police dismissed community concerns about a serial killer as "completely unfounded".

BUDGET ON THE BALLOT: Breaking down the KCPD funding amendment THIS IS HEART OF THE MATTER. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY. I'M CODY HOLYOKE. WE ARE ONE WEEK CLOSER TO NOVEMBER 8TH. THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE PASSED LAST WEEK IN MISSOURI. SO EVERYONE WHO CAN VOTE THERE IS LOCKED IN AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE YOU'RE INFORMED AND READY TO GO AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY.

Developing . . .
Here's where to go to find emergency and non-emergency resources.
Several parts of the country are inundated by flood water this evening.

It comes as a result of more rainfall overnight, causing many rivers to break their banks and water courses to spill over.
The total losses the Russian forces have suffered since the invasion of February 24 are approaching 65,000 servicemen.

This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky in an evening video address to the nation, reports Ukrinform.

"The total losses of the enemy in terms of killed in action are approaching 65,000. So many Russian citizens gave their lives for the opportunity of a handful of people in the Kremlin to ignore reality," the president said.

He added that the Ukrainian Army is also consistently destroying the enemy's logistics, warehouses, and command posts.

The president emphasized that, given the current state of "one-way mobilization" in the Russian Federation, even 100,000 dead Russian citizens will not prompt the Kremlin to reconsider anything.

"Only real victories for Ukraine, only real protection of the free world itself from Russian terror and blackmail. Protection through sanctions, protection through assistance to Ukraine, only complete displacement of the occupiers from Ukrainian land and dismantling of the aggressive capabilities of the terrorist state  this is precisely the way to peace," said Zelensky.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, referring to the General Staff of the Armed Forces, from February 24 to October 15, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 64,700 Russian aggressors, including 400 in the past day alone.
The first group of Ukrainian soldiers will leave for the Netherlands to undergo a rehabilitation at the beginning of next month.

Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren said this in an interview with ArmyInform, Ukrinform reports.

"We are lucky in the Netherlands and indeed in Western Europe that we have not experienced the kind of war that we are seeing in Ukraine today," said Ollongren.

At the same time, she noted that every war provides lessons worth learning. The experience of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the fight against the Russian forces is useful for the Netherlands Army.

According to her, at the beginning of November, the first group of Ukrainian soldiers will go to the Netherlands for rehabilitation.

Next year, the Netherlands will also provide aid to wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

As Ukrinform reported, the Netherlands joined the INTERFLEX initiative to train Ukrainian military personnel in the United Kingdom.
France will train up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in its territory.

French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu made a corresponding statement in an interview with Le Parisien, Ouest France reports.

These soldiers "will be seconded to our units for several weeks," Lecornu explained, saying that the training will focus on three levels: general combat training, training for specific needs reported by Ukraine, and training with the equipment provided.

France will also supply Ukraine with Crotale air defense systems, Lecornu said, clarifying a statement made Wednesday by President Emmanuel Macron.

The number of Crotale short-range air defense systems that will be sent to Kyiv "is being agreed on with the Ukrainians" but "will be significant to allow them to protect their sky," he said.

"We have twelve of them, but this is the equipment that should be phased out and replaced by MAMBAs (air defense systems equipped with Aster missiles with a range of up to 50 or even 100 km), so it will not create a deficit for the French army," said the minister, noting that "the goal is to complete this operation within the next two months."

Lecornu also noted that apart from 18 Caesar howitzers already sent to Kyiv, discussions were ongoing on the supply of six additional guns and that France was studying "the supply of surface-to-surface missiles such as LRU [MLRS]" in response to Ukraines request.

As reported, on October 12, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the delivery of radar and air defense systems to Ukraine in the coming weeks.

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The Iranian authorities are preparing to transfer to Russia a batch of ballistic missiles, which are likely to be used in the war against Ukraine.

This was reported by the Washington Post, according to Ukrinform.

According to U.S. security officials and those of the allied states, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, this is about the supply of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, such as Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar, capable of hitting targets at a range of 300 km to 700 km, respectively.

The Washington Post notes that on September 18, Iran deployed to Moscow a delegation that agreed to increase the supply of Iranian weapons to Russia, including ballistic missiles.

As reported earlier, in August, Russia began purchasing from Iran kamikaze drones, starting to massively employ them on the battlefield in Ukraine as early as September. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, the Russian Federation ordered some 2,400 one-way attack drones from Iran.

Meanwhile, Russia is facing a shortage of high-precision missiles, having launched a significant number of them on civilian targets across Ukraine. As Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov reported on Friday, as of October 12, the Russian armed forces had 609 missiles of 1,844 it had had in stock before going for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Photo: Michael Nagle
The invaders are running disinformation and manipulation campaigns in the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.

Thats according to an update by the Center for Countering Disinformation, Ukrinform reports.

In Berdyansk, the occupiers are compiling a list of vacant apartments, allegedly for the restoration of gas supplies. In fact, families of the invading forces are being moved into these premises. In other cases, such apartments are subjected to looting.

Meanwhile, RT Arabic released a "report" that claims to describe the situation of the occupied Nova Kakhovka. The propagandists used in the report the old footage of the Kakhovska HPP, where the bridge by the power plant is still operable.

Also, in Donetsk region, the occupiers impose the ideas of the so-called "Russian world" onto teenagers in Mariupol, recruiting them into the "neo-pioneer Putin Youth" squads. Herded into a local school, students were shown ads about the organization and offered to consider joining within a week.

In Luhansk region, high school students in the occupied areas draw their own conclusions from the Internet, often speaking out against the regions occupation. In view of this fact, the invaders accuse parents of wrongly raising children who are too "free-thinking" children, while telling teachers to impose Russias vision of history onto children.

As reported, in Luhansk region, the invaders are mining the roads leading to Svatove and Kreminna, having already blown up a number of bridges in the area. Thats according to the chief of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Serhii Haidai.
It is the responsibility of the democratic world to immediately provide Ukraine with air defense systems or interceptor aircraft and early warning radars.

This was stated by Vice Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Paulius Saudargas, who made a comment to Guildhall, Ukrinform reports.

The recent attacks on innocent people and ordinary cities in Ukraine have once again confirmed that, without any shadow of doubt, Russia is a terrorist state. This is the assessment of the democratic world, the parliamentarian said.

And our responsibility and duty are to immediately provide Ukraine with everything that is necessary in order to win the war against a worthless aggressor, especially air defense systems, interceptor aircraft and early warning radars, summed up the Vice Speaker of Lithuanias Seimas, according to a report delivered in Russian.

Earlier, the head of the Center for Defense Reforms, coordinator of the interdepartmental platform for countering hybrid threats, operating within the framework of Ukraine-NATO cooperation, Oleksandr V. Danylyuk said that as a response to Russian missile terrorism, the West should transfer F-16 fighters and early detection aircraft to Ukraine.

Appeals to provide Ukraine with warplanes in response to acts of missile terrorism were also made in the parliaments of France, the Czech Republic, and in the European Parliament.

Thus, the French senator, head of the French Senate Defense Committee Guillaume Gontard said that Ukraine needs aviation and missile defense systems to protect the civilian population and critical infrastructure. According to the lawmaker, in the context of the intensification of Russian missile strikes, the West is responsible for delivering the necessary weapons to Ukraine.

French MEP Rafael Glucksmann noted that Ukraine should immediately receive F16 fighter jets, as well as modern air defense systems, to intercept Russian cruise missiles.

In turn, Martin Exner, a member of the Czech Senate with the ruling STAN party, said that the West should transfer combat aircraft to Ukraine to intercept Russian cruise missiles, as well as provide all the necessary weapons to repel the Russian onslaught.
A local resident from the Kherson regions Novooleksandrivka, liberated from Russian invaders, has told of her grandson, who was shot in the back with a machine gun by Russian occupiers.

The relevant video was posted by Kherson Regional Military Administration Head Yaroslav Yanushevych on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The video shows a woman telling of her grandson Mykhailo, who was shot dead by Russian invaders on April 16, 2022, as he stood in a queue for humanitarian aid together with his father. Russian occupiers shot him in the back with a machine gun and told the locals it was a Ukrainian sniper who did that.

A reminder that, according to the data from juvenile prosecutors, a total of 423 children have been killed and over 810 injured in Ukraine since the Russian invasion started.

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On October 16, four ships loaded with 140,000 tonnes of grain left Odesa and Pivdennyi ports.

"Today, October 16, four ships loaded with 140,000 tonnes of Ukrainian agricultural products departed from Odesa and Pivdennyi ports," Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Odesa Regional Military Administration, posted on Telegram.

According to him, one of the ships is EAUBONNE bulker which will deliver 53,300 tonnes of wheat to Kenya. This is the second bulker bound for Kenya. The first SUPER HENRY bulk carrier with 51,400 tonnes of wheat arrived in the port of Mombasa (Kenya).

During the entire period of the initiative implementation, 1.1 million tonnes of food were sent to Africa. In particular, five ships chartered by the United Nations World Food Programme have already left the ports of Odesa region carrying more than 120,000 tonnes of grain for the residents of Ethiopia, Yemen, and Somalia.

As reported, seven ships with Ukrainian agricultural products left Odesa and Pivdennyi ports as part of the grain initiative implementation on October 15.

On July 22 in Istanbul, Ukraine, Turkey, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres signed the initiative on the safe transportation of grain and foodstuffs from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi at the proposal of the United Nations.

The first ship with Ukrainian food products left Odesa port on August 1.

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Ukraine and Turkiye have spoken in favor of extending the Grain Initiative agreement on the safe transportation of Ukrainian cereals from the countrys seaports beyond November 22 when the initial deal is set to expire.

This was discussed today during a meeting of Ukraines Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov and Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar at the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Ministry of Infrastructure's Facebook page.

The main topic of the negotiations was the implementation of the Grain Initiative and its continuation after November 22.

According to Kubrakov, "today, Akar and I discussed the implementation of the Grain Initiative. From its start and as of today, more than 7.7 million tonnes of agricultural products have been exported, which has already stabilized food prices and is countering the threat of global hunger."

Read also: Four ships with grain leave Odesa ports

"The parties to the Initiative  the UN, Turkey, and Ukraine  expressed their readiness to continue its operation, and assured that they will undertake maximum efforts for its successful implementation. At the moment, there is no doubt that the grain corridor will continue to operate beyond November 22," the Minister of Infrastructure noted.

Kubrakov thanked representatives of the United Nations for their support, in particular UN coordinator Amir Abdulla, as well as the Ukrainian team working at the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

He also thanked the Turkish side and Hulusi Akar personally for their effective cooperation.

Also, during the meeting, the Ukrainian side emphasized the importance of speeding up the process of ship inspection by the Joint Coordination Center. This will allow a significant increase in the volume of grain exports to Africa, Asia, and Europe, as well as prevent long queues.

As reported by Ukrinform, in Istanbul on July 22, at the proposal of the United Nations, Ukraine, Turkey, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres signed the Initiative on the safe transportation of grain and food products from the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi.

The first ship carrying Ukrainian food left the port of Odesa on August 1.

Photo: Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine
Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova has called on the United Stated to do everything possible to speed up the delivery of weapons for Ukraine, especially air defense systems.

The relevant statement was made by Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova on CBS News, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Unfortunately, these systems are difficult to produce, and they are not ready on the shelves waiting, but we are doing everything possible and asking our partners to do everything possible to speed up not only the delivery but also the ordering of these systems, Markarova said.

In her words, Ukraine needs to secure as many settlements as possible and as many civilians, namely children, as possible from Russian missiles.

According to Markarova, despite Putins statements, Ukraine should be prepared for everything, especially as partial mobilization in Russia turned to be a failure.

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The vast majority of the population in Finland backs Ukraine in its fight against the Russian Federation.

Thats according to a recent poll by Kantar Public, Ukrinform reports citing Yle.

Eighty-four percent of respondents agreed with the statement that the only way to end the war in Ukraine is to drive Russian troops out of the country, with only nine percent disagreeing. Nearly 80 percent said that Ukraine should be given heavier weapons to do so, suggests the survey published on Sunday by the leading daily Helsingin Sanomat.

Just over half of respondents said that Ukrainian membership in the EU and NATO should be fast-tracked.

Read also: The Netherlands joining international mission to train Ukrainian troops

Fifty-three percent of those polled said that regular Russian citizens are at least somewhat responsible for their country's war of aggression in Ukraine.

Meanwhile 90 percent of those surveyed say that Finland cannot normalize relations with Russia as long as President Vladimir Putin remains in power, according to the first part of the poll, published on Saturday. Only six percent disagreed with that view.

Nearly four in 10 respondents said they were worried about a possible expansion of the war beyond Ukraine, to Finland, while two out of 10 said they were not concerned at all by such a prospect, according to the poll conducted for HS by Kantar Public.

Also, more than half of the people in Finland are worried about the possibility of nuclear war

As Ukrinform reported, Finland in early October approved the ninth package of military assistance to Ukraine.
(@FahadShabbir)

Nairobi, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Oct, 2022 ) :The African Union on Sunday called on the warring parties in the nearly two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia to "recommit" to peace talks, as violence intensifies in the Tigray region.

The city of Shire in northwest Tigray has been bombarded for several days in a joint offensive by Ethiopian and Eritrean troops, with civilian casualties reported in the push against rebels from the war-torn region.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), an aid organisation delivering relief to embattled Tigray, announced on Saturday that one of its staff was among three civilians killed in an attack in Shire, a city of 100,000 inhabitants.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has joined the United States and other Western powers in expressing grave concern over the worsening violence and its impact on civilians, and called on both sides to peacefully settle "this catastrophic conflict".

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government, and the Tigrayan authorities, have accepted an AU invitation to talk, but negotiations scheduled to start last weekend in South Africa failed to take place.

"The Chairperson urges the Parties to recommit to dialogue as per their agreement to direct talks to be convened in South Africa by a high-level team led by the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, and supported by the international community," AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a statement issued on Sunday, but dated Saturday.

Talks were to be mediated by the bloc's Horn of Africa envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa's former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta.

Diplomats suggested logistical issues were partly to blame for the much-anticipated meeting not going ahead.

- Aid worker killed - International alarm over the intense fighting near Shire came as US special envoy Mike Hammer arrived in Addis Ababa to push for peace between Ethiopia and its allies, and rebels led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

Fighting resumed in August after a five-month lull, dimming hopes of settling a conflict that has killed untold numbers of civilians, and been marked by atrocities by all sides.

The return to war halted desperately-needed aid into Tigray, where the UN says millions of people have been forced from their homes, and hundreds of thousands are close to famine.

The IRC said one staffer was killed and another injured in an attack on Friday that left two other civilians dead in Shire, which lies about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Ethiopia's border with Eritrea.

The World Food Programme (WFP) on Sunday said it had received reports of the attack near where the IRC was distributing food "to WFP beneficiaries, including vulnerable mothers and children".

"WFP condemns any deliberate targeting of humanitarian activities and strongly calls on all parties to the conflict to respect and protect humanitarian relief operations and personnel, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law," a WFP spokesperson in Ethiopia told AFP in a statement.

Shire had been "subjected to continuous heavy artillery and air strikes all this week" which has caused casualties and property damage, a humanitarian worker in the city told AFP.

Civilians have been fleeing the city, the source added on condition of anonymity.

- 'Indiscriminate attacks' - US aid chief Samantha Power on Sunday said that "the risk of additional atrocities & loss of life is intensifying, particularly around Shire".

"Recent indiscriminate attacks by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and Eritrean Defense Forces in Shire, and reports that Eritrean forces may soon take control of civilian population centers, are gravely concerning," Power wrote on Twitter.

Eritrea sided with Ethiopia in the early stages of the war, which began in November 2020 when Abiy sent troops into Tigray after accusing the TPLF of orchestrating attacks on army camps.

Eritrea is a historic enemy of the TPLF, which dominated Ethiopia's ruling coalition until Abiy took power in 2018, and its forces have been accused of mass rape and murder in Tigray.

The re-entry of Eritrea into this latest phase of the conflict has "made matters significantly worse" and they must leave Ethiopia, said Hammer.

Eritrea says it is being "scapegoated" and has accused the US and others of turning a blind eye to TPLF atrocities.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Oct, 2022 ) :Mauritius High Commissioner to Pakistan Rashidally Soobadar has offered his country's expertise to exploit Pakistan's untapped potential of tourism sector, saying he believed it can significantly contribute to the national economy.

"Mauritius has a very organized tourism sector which contributes 25 per cent to its GDP, and I offer my country's technical assistance to promote services and system to make Pakistan an international tourists' hub" he said in an interview with APP. Quoting Pakistan's "mesmerizing scenic northern areas and weather conditions," Soobadar said Pakistan was an ideal country and, "I suggest the authorities concerned to adopt Mauritius model to make it an ideal tourists' destination." He said his country, a small island with 1.2 million populations, annually attracts over 1.5 million tourists which, "reflects how we have exploited tourism sector to contribute in our national economy." The Mauritius High Commissioner also offered to train Pakistani youth in hotel management as tourism sector's success "lies in the quality services being offered at these facilities establish around tourist destinations." "We have a very soft visa policy for Pakistanis and his country is ready to further facilitate to the willing students from here, who can benefit from the education opportunities available there." The Mauritius has 100 percent literacy rate and its national are enjoying free education, however, intending Pakistani students can be accommodated on a nominal fee structure, he added.

He said that tourism sector had emerged as an engine of growth in Mauritius, and it is one of fastest growing socio-economic sectors that was fueling economic growth and creating jobs and business opportunities.

Recommending Pakistan to make tourism a national subject, Rashidally said, besides good road infrastructure and standard hotels quality transport was also vital to facilitate and attract tourists.

He also highlighted that opportunities for the Pakistani manpower in Mauritius exist. "The country has $13,000 per capita income which is quite attractive for the Pakistani workforce." To a question about China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, he said his country was interested to reap trade benefits from One Belt One Road initiative but some modalities were required to be determined for Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. After completion of the CPEC project the trade ties would be boosted with the entire region especially the African continent and Pakistan's access to those markets can help its economy, he remarked.

The High Commissioner noting the cultural and historic similarities between the two countries said the cooperation could be extended in this area of common interest.

Mauritius, Rashidally said, stood by the people of Pakistan in the times of calamities and his country's government and people's recent air shipment of relief goods for the flood affected here was testimony to this.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th October, 2022) Russian light-lift rocket Angara-1.2 carrying a spacecraft in the interests of the Russian Defense Ministry was launched on Saturday from the Plesetsk spaceport, the ministry told reporters.

"On Saturday 15, at 22:55 Moscow time (19:55 GMT), from the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome, the combat crews of the Space Forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces successfully launched the Angara-1.

2 light class launch vehicle with a spacecraft in the interests of the Russian Defense Ministry," the ministry said.

It specified that all pre-launch operations and the launch of the rocket had been conducted as planned. At around 22:28 Moscow time, the rocket was taken into control by ground units of the Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Center.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th October, 2022) At least eight people were injured as a result of a fire at Evin prison, located in Iran's capital, Tehran, the IRNA news agency reports citing an ambulance worker.

"There were no fatalities in this incident, eight people were injured," the ambulance worker said late on Saturday night.

Earlier on Saturday, Iranian media reported that a powerful blast had occurred in Tehran's Evin prison, resulting in a fire.

IRNA reported citing reports from local residents that at least four blasts were heard.

The fire reportedly erupted in the prison's sewing workshop area as a result of a conflict between several inmates convicted of financial crimes and theft.

According to the Fars news agency, the fire was quickly extinguished thanks to prompt actions of the prison officials.
Over a half of the Moldovans would not support the country's reunification with Romania, and 60% oppose its accession to the NATO, a poll conducted by the CBS-Research center for sociological research showed on Thursday

CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th October, 2022) Over a half of the Moldovans would not support the country's reunification with Romania, and 60% oppose its accession to the NATO, a poll conducted by the CBS-Research center for sociological research showed on Thursday.

If a referendum on Moldova's reunification with Romania was held on October 23, 39.7% of the respondents said they would support the move, while 51.8% said the country should remain independent, according to the poll. Another 1.6% said they would not partake in such a plebiscite, and 6.9% of the respondents were undecided.

About 60% of the Moldovan residents do not support the country's accession to the NATO, the poll also showed.

The survey was conducted from September 29 - October 11 by the CBS-Research at the request of the Institute for Development of Social Initiatives (IDIS) among 1,066 people. The margin of error is estimated at 3%.

Moldova is a neutral country according to its constitution but has been cooperating with the NATO since 1994 within the alliance's so-called Partnership for Peace program. On June 23, the heads of state and government of the European Union approved Moldova's candidate status for joining the bloc along with Ukraine at their summit in Brussels.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th October, 2022) Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the 2022 Climate Change Conference (COP27) next month because no breakthroughs are expected to be reached there, Russian Presidential Adviser on Climate Ruslan Edelgeriyev told Sputnik on Sunday.

On October 6, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian leader will not fly to Egypt in November 6-18 for the UN climate change conference.

Edelgeriyev recalled that the last time the Russian president attended the UN climate conference was in 2015. According to him, it was timed to coincide with the high-profile event of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, "a significant event in the international climate process over the past ten years or even more."

"The upcoming conference in Sharm el-Sheikh is undoubtedly very important, but such high-profile events as the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015 are not expected to take place this year.

I would also like to note that the President himself appointed me as the head of the delegation at this conference. I really appreciate the trust placed in me and I intend to fully justify it," the Russian presidential climate adviser said.

Russia's approach to the issue of global warming has not changed.

"Such a problem exists and it must be solved by working together. This has been the basis of our policy for decades," Edelgeriyev said.

The Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015 following the 21st Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris. With 193 signatories to date, it marks the first global effort in history to coordinate fight against climate change.
(@FahadShabbir)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th October, 2022) Mauritius intends to actively develop cooperation with Russia, the ambassador of the republic to Russia, Jankee Kheswar, told Sputnik on Sunday.

"Mauritius is a small country and we want to work with everyone. Russia is a big and influential country, and we want to actively cooperate with it," the diplomat said.

According to the ambassador, relations with Russia are also significant because Moscow was one of the first to conclude diplomatic relations with Mauritius.

Russia also provided Mauritius, in particular, with vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, the diplomat noted, adding that medical tourism can be an area of potential bilateral cooperation.

"Medical tourism is an area in which we could successfully cooperate. I would suggest thinking on an international scale," Kheswar said, noting that Mauritius could offer the Russian regions its experience in the construction of hotels, since the island has a well-developed hotel industry.

The ambassador noted that Mauritius is interested in buying Russian fertilizers, among other aspects of cooperation in the sphere of agriculture.

The diplomatic relations between Russia and Mauritius were established in March 1968. The countries develop bilateral cooperation in the spheres of sport, culture, tourism, trade and investment, cooperation between security services.
Eritreas minority Blin speakers can hardly wait for the Old Testament Bible translation to be complete.

Paul Samasumo  Vatican City.

The Word of God spoken, heard, read in the language you grew up with, in which you think, is a different Word of God when you read it in a foreign language. The moment God begins to be heard in the language of your mother tongue, the first thing that clicks is that God speaks my language. God is not a foreign God. That is beyond any price. That is what the United Bible Societies is geared toward providing for everyone. It doesnt matter the size of your language or how many you are. Everyone should hear God in their language, responds Dr Misheck Nyirenda, a Global Translation Advisor working with the United Bible Societies.

Dr Nyirenda is currently engaged in an ongoing project with a team of Blin speakers of Eritrea to translate the Old Testament Bible.

The Blin people are to be found in Eritreas northern town of Keren and its surroundings.

The dire need for the Bible in Blin

Complete copy of the New Testament Bible in Blin.

Though Blin is a minority language in Eritrea, there is a dire need for the Scriptures in Blin. The Eparchy (diocese) of Keren uses Blin in the worship. They really need the Scriptures in that language. I commend Bishop Kindane Yebio of the Eparchy of Keren and other diocesan officials. The Bishop has been very involved in this project, and we are grateful for his help, said Dr Nyirenda.

Blin dialects

The Blin language has two regional dialects. In most cases, the Blin people are also bilingual or trilingual, and most speak Tigre or Tigrigna or both, in addition to their language. There does not seem to be any reliable census, but the Blin population worldwide is estimated to range between 150 000 to 200 000. So, when translating the Bible into Blin, which dialect prevails? None, says Dr Nyirenda. Language is dynamic and ever evolving.

This happens often. Usually, you are probably doing one translation project for a cluster that includes several dialects of the same language. How do you go round that? You must bring every stakeholder and every dialect to the same table. As a consultant or translation advisor, you ensure stakeholders agree on the content that should go into the Bible. It is a give-and-take situation. When the whole project is done, you still need to bring it back to the community. The thing that drives the choices of which dialect, word or phrase gets accepted is: Which rendering will everybody understand? We are not interested in pure language expression. We are interested in communicating the Scriptures. That is, what you know today; not how your grandfather used to say things, explained Dr Nyirenda.

The Blin translators

When we caught up with the team of Blin Bible translators during their Rome sessions, they were hard at work. It is a slow, painstaking slog that starts early every day and goes into the evening. I wondered why they were meeting in Rome with Dr Nyirenda and how a non-Blin speaker like him would guide the team.

The current project was initiated by the Eritreans themselves. They have a Bible Society in Eritrea, which coordinates Bible translations. They needed expertise in doing this. They wrote to the United Bible Societies, and I was assigned to the project. I have worked with the team on and off for nearly six years. During that period, I once managed to visit Eritrea and train a team of Blin translators. Generally, it is difficult to get into Eritrea. This team has met with various consultants in Lusaka, Nairobi, and Addis, and now we are meeting in Rome, said Dr Nyirenda.

Paratext, the software making a difference

Dr Misheck Nyirenda, a Global Translation Advisor working with the United Bible Societies.

What is Dr Nyirendas role in the translation project, considering that he is a Zambian national and does not speak Blin?

The United Bible Societies have developed a tool called Paratext. This is software that has Biblical and linguistic resources. We can input any language in this software, and it begins to generate what we call back-translations. With the help of a local team of translators, we then fine-tune the text. As a Global Translation Advisor, I can see what is going on in that language and what they are saying as they translate. I can guide the team on what they should say to stay true to the original languages scripture sources we are translating from. So, I really do not need to know the particular language to guide the team, said Dr Nyirenda. He added, They bring the expertise of their language. I bring the expertise of the Scripture sources, and together we produce a text that is faithful to the Scriptures according to the source language texts.

The United Bible Societies describe Paratext as the worlds leading Bible translation software. It is packed with powerful features and is used by more than 9000 people in over 3000 languages worldwide.

You leave your doctrine at the door

The United Bible Societies, an interconfessional network of national societies, aims to serve and work with all churches of all traditions and denominations -Catholics, Orthodox, Protestant, and even emerging Churches. They are to be found in in more than 240 countries.

People get excited when they have a Bible they have laboured for in their hands, says Dr Nyirenda. Working across doctrines is not a hindrance.

Part of the training of being a translator is to leave your doctrine at the door. When we come into the translation room, we are focused only on the Biblical text. You can pick up your theologies and doctrines when the translation is done, he said.

A Bible for everyone

Dr Nyirenda at the Vatican Radio studios.

Does every tribe and language on earth have to have its own Bible in their language, given that it costs as much as one million dollars to translate one Bible? The answer is yes.

The United Bible Society wants to make sure that everyone who wants to can access and engage with the Bible. This is encapsulated in an ambitious motto, a Bible for everybody at a price they can afford. This begs the question, who pays for all this? It is a question I put to Dr Nyirenda.

The United Bible Society is a fellowship made of individual national societies in different countries that use the Scriptures. The member Churches of various denominations are the ones who go about looking for funding once they have identified a project. They ask themselves where they will get the money. Mind you, you are talking in excess of one million dollars for the translation of just one Bible. There are also Bible Societies that can meet their needs and even help others. We call these donor-giving Bible Societies. But in truth, everybody must pull together. Some donate their expertise, and others donate space or a meeting room from where translators can work. It is incredible that with such open-ended financing, we are able to do so much. Sometimes individual families come forward to fund projects. They say they like the idea of a Bible for everybody at a price they can afford. And so it goes, explained Dr Nyirenda.

Blin speakers have already successfully translated and published the New Testament. They now cant wait for the Old Testament.
Fr. Pavlo Vyshkovskyi, OMI, greets Pope Francis at an audience in early October

As the war in Ukraine grinds on toward its 9th month, Fr. Pavlo Vyshkovskyi, OMI, says people are increasingly traumatized and in need of both psychological and spiritual assistance.

By Devin Watkins & Francesca Merlo

"Many people need a deeper form of help, not only psychological but spiritual as well, because only God can help."

Fr. Pavlo Vyshkovskyi, OMI, offered that analysis of the burden which people bear after nearly 8 months of war in Ukraine.

Speaking to Vatican News' Svitlana Dukhovych, Fr. Vyshkovskyi described the work which his religious order - the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate - is continuing to carry out.

He serves as the parish priest of St. Nicholas Catholic Church in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Ministering amid trauma

After Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, the OMI community in Kyiv wondered whether they should join millions of others and flee Ukraine to seek safety elsewhere.

As the local superior, he urged the younger Oblate priests to leave, since "anything could happen."

"But they said no, we will also remain," he recounted in the interview in Vatican News' studios.

Fr. Vyshkovskyi described their decision to remain with the people they serve as "very touching", because it meant the Oblates would stay together "as a community".

The parish community began to hold Eucharistic Adoration each day, and many people showed up, even approaching the Sacraments for the first time.

In order to respond to the trauma inflicted by the war, Fr. Vyshkovskyi said his community hopes to set up a counseling centre in Kyiv.

We would like to create a healing centre for children who have lost their parents, for mothers who have lost their sons in the war, for wives who have lost their husbands, and for people who have lost everything.

Fr. Pavlo Vyshkovskyi visits Vatican News' studios

Offering refugees a home

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate are also in various other Ukrainian cities, besides Kyiv, including Chernihiv and Tyvriv.

In some regions, said Fr. Vyshkovskyi, the ongoing war has taken everything from people.

Oblates do not leave people, but shoulder the burden with them.

He added that the Oblate shrine in the central Ukrainian city of Tyvriv remains open to offer over 90 refugees a temporary home.

Fr. Vyshkovskyi said the Tyvriv community also prepares aid packages for military personnel, with the parish priest personally delivering it to Ukrainian troops fighting in the east.

Papal encouragement for Oblate mission

On 3 October, Pope Francis met with delegates at the OMI General Chapter, an audience attended by Fr. Vyshkovskyi.

He noted that the Pope encouraged the Oblates to stay true to their charism of serving the poor.

The Pope told us to be close to the poor, and to help awaken the world to the pain and suffering caused by war.
Floods in southeastern Australia displace thousands of people from their homes, with housing and farm land beneath water, and leave at least 1 person dead in the town of Rochester.

By Alastair Wanklyn

As floods in southeastern Australia have forced thousands of people from their homes, officials in the state of Victoria have told residents in dozens of towns to evacuate.

But in the town of Shepparton, residents were told it is too late to leave.

"If you have not evacuated, you should shelter in the highest location possible," a text alert said. "If floodwater has entered your home ... remain on top of tables, chairs, benches and beds."

Among the areas under water are parts of the city of Melbourne.

Tributes to volunteers

On a visit to the town of Seymour, Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt noted that water was still high even though the floods peaked in the town on Friday.

Mr. Watt paid tribute to the officials and volunteers who are trying to help people homeless, and those clearing mud and debris.

"We've got defence force personnel out right now in communities across Victoria, and today we've activated a range of disaster recovery payments for people across Victoria and Tasmania as well," Mr. Watt said.

It is the second time this year eastern Australia has suffered flooding.

Aid for flood victims

In Pakistan this summer around 33 million people were affected by floods, with 1,700 people killed. At that time, Catholic aid agency Caritas appealed to Australians to provide funds for food, tents and safe drinking water.

Now, it is Australians who need the help. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: "Australians are coming together, they are helping each other out and once again we are seeing at the worst of times, the best of the Australian character."
Rocket fire inflicted new damage in Ukraine Sunday, with pro-Kremlin officials blaming Kyiv for an attack that hit the mayors office in separatist-controlled Donetsk, while Ukrainian authorities said Russian missiles hit a city across from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, wounding six people.

The mayors building in Donetsk, part of the Ukrainian region Russia recently claimed as its own, was seriously damaged, with rows of blown-out windows and a partially collapsed ceiling. Nearby cars were burned out.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Kyiv government did not claim responsibility for the attack or comment on it.

Ukraine said the attack near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, aside from the injuries, also damaged five power lines, gas pipelines, and several civilian businesses and residential buildings.

Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of firing at and around the plant. It is controlled by Russia but continues to be operated by Ukrainian technicians.

Fighting continued elsewhere as well, with Kyiv saying that Moscow shelled civilian settlements along the front line in the eastern Kharkiv and Luhansk regions. Ukraine said "active hostilities" continued in the southern Kherson region, another key area where Ukraine has advanced in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Russia said its air defenses in the southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine shot down "a minimum" of 16 Ukrainian missiles, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Britain Questions Russias Ability to Continue to Produce Munitions

With the continuing hostilities nearing the eight-month mark, Britains defense ministry cast doubt on Russias ability to continue to produce weapons during its invasion of Ukraine.

In an intelligence update posted to Twitter on Sunday, the ministry estimated that Russia fired more than 80 cruise missiles into Ukraine on Oct. 10, a move that Russian President Vladimir Putin said was in retaliation for the bombing of the bridge that links Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula earlier this month. There has been no claim of responsibility for the blast.

Russias defense industry is probably incapable of producing advanced munitions at the rate they are being expended, Britain said. These attacks represent a further degradation of Russia's long-range missile stocks, which is likely to constrain their ability to strike the volume of targets they desire in future.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his daily address Saturday, thanked the U.S. for its $725 million assistance package, enabling Ukraine to purchase ammunition, artillery, anti-tanks weapons and anti-radar missiles.

Russian strikes continue

Russian forces carried out more sporadic missile strikes Saturday in Ukraine, targeting facilities that provide power to the country and its residential areas.

Kyiv regional Governor Oleksiy Kuleba said the attack damaged a key energy facility in Ukraines capital region, but no causalities were reported, and the location was not disclosed.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidents office, urged Kyiv-area residents and people in three neighboring regions to conserve energy during the evening hours of peak demand.

The attack on the power transmission facility came hours after Ukrainian officials said Russia fired artillery into residential areas of Nikopol, southeast of Zaporizhzhia. Yevhen Yevtushenko, head of the Nikopol district military administration, said five people were wounded in the Saturday morning attack on the city. He said the attacks were focused on maximum damage to civilians.

Russians killed at firing range

At least 11 Russian troops were killed and 15 more were wounded Saturday when two Russian volunteer soldiers opened fire at a military firing range in the southwest Belgorod region near Ukraine, according to the Russian defense ministry.

The defense ministry said the pair of volunteers were from a former Soviet nation and were killed by return fire, describing the incident as a terrorist attack.

"During a firearms training session with individuals who voluntarily expressed a desire to participate in the special military operation (against Ukraine), the terrorists opened fire with small arms on the personnel of the unit," RIA cited a defense ministry statement as saying.

Some Russian independent media outlets were reporting higher casualties.

Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said in an interview that the attackers were from Tajikistan and had opened fire after an argument over religion, Reuters reported.

Tajikistan is a predominantly Muslim nation in Central Asia. About half of Russians follow various branches of Christianity. The Russian ministry had said the attackers were from a nation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, which includes Tajikistan.

Reuters was not immediately able to confirm Arestovychs comments or independently verify the casualty numbers or other details of the incident.

Information from Reuters, Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press was used in this report.
As Japan continues to ramp up its military, perceptions about how it would be used during a possible war between Taiwan and China differ greatly between its public messaging abroad and domestic views at home, according to analysts.

While not formal diplomatic allies, neighbors Japan and Taiwan have become closer due to deep cultural ties and the efforts of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen and the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who called the democracy an "important partner."

Both leaders raised military spending while in office and campaigned to raise the alarm about the threat of a rising China, which claims Taiwan as a province and could one day invade or otherwise threaten the democracy. Japan's new prime minister, Fumio Kishida, who is from the same conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LPD) as Abe, has charted a quieter course than his predecessor but is moving forward all the same.

Kishida recently told the Financial Times that Japan must prepare for "any possible scenario in East Asia" and his government has asked for a record $40 billion defense budget for fiscal year 2023. The LDP also aims to raise military spending from its current 1% of GDP to 2%, a benchmark used by NATO countries, within five years.

Little support at home for war

This has led some lawmakers Taiwan and its strategic ally, the U.S., to believe that Japan might step in to defend the island in a war with China, but analysts say such a future is far from certain and not popularly supported within Japan. Japan is not pledged to help Taiwan in a time of war, and there is little support beyond the conservative end of the LDP.

"People like Abe have been saying two different things to a different audience. To the U.S. and maybe to Taiwan, too, people like Abe and the fellow right-wingers have been saying Japan is ready now to exercise collective self-defense," said Koichi Nakano, a professor in comparative and Japanese politics at Sophia University in Japan. "Abe even said that a war in Taiwan  a 'contingency in Taiwan'  is Japan's contingency, but that's a very extreme position that is not really that much covered or discussed in Japan."

In 2015, when Abe pushed through a major change to Japan's pacifist constitution, lifting a ban on "collective self-defense," he pitched the change domestically as a way to protect Japan and move closer to the U.S., Nakano said. It was not billed as a way to enter a foreign war.

The move remains deeply controversial within Japan, where it was seen by much of the legal community as an attack on Japanese democracy, said Nakano. "This argument that Taiwan is a democracy, and America is a champion of democracy, and Japan is a champion of democracy, and Abe is too  comes across as a rather hypocritical and untrue," he also said.

Jeffrey Kingston, a professor in Asian studies at Temple University in Tokyo, said that there is also little public appetite for military action despite Japan's close relationship with Taiwan.

"People greatly admire Taiwan, they love Taiwan. One of the reasons they love Taiwan is no other country in the world loves Japan as much as the Taiwanese. But there's a big gap between that sort of warm and fuzzy 'we like you, admire you' and all that, and sending troops into harm's way," he told VOA. "There is an expectation in Washington that Japan would intervene, and I think political leadership of LDP thinks they should intervene, but the public is extremely leery of Japan going beyond its pacifist constitution."

Abe's legacy and anything associated with the late prime minister has become "toxic," Kingston said within Japan, due to revelations about the late prime minister's ties to the Unification Church, a controversial political group, following his assassination.

Defense of Japan

Still, while Japan may not be able to actively enter a military scenario, it will likely play an auxiliary role of some kind, due to its relationship with the U.S., said Sheila Smith, a senior fellow for Asia-Pacific studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in the U.S. Japan hosts seven U.S. military bases and is the homeport of the USS Ronald Reagan, she said, which means U.S. forces would likely flow through Japan to reach the Taiwan Strait.

Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. is not required by law to defend Taiwan in a war  only help the island defend itself  but President Joe Biden has suggested the U.S. would defend Taiwan since taking office.

Japan could also play an important role during a potential Chinese blockade, she said, thanks to its world-class submarine fleet, but it could just as easily face retaliation, Smith said.

"If the United States and China were at war with each other, then there's a whole new dimension of thinking for the U.S.-Japan alliance about how Japan would need to defend itself, because U.S. bases would probably be targeted," she said.

"There would be a much more complex and larger set of thinking that would need to happen by the Japanese, what the Japanese refer to as a 'defense of Japan scenario," she added. "If you're in this larger context of a U.S.-China war, then Japanese defenses would be the primary focal point of their military and the alliance coordination would proceed that way."
Greek police have rescued a group of 92 illegal migrants who were discovered naked, and some with injuries, close to its northern border with Turkey, police said Saturday.

The migrants, all men, were discovered close to the Evros river that marks the border between Greece and Turkey on Friday, Greek police said in a statement.

An investigation by Greek police and officials from the EU border agency Frontex, found evidence that the migrants crossed the river into Greek territory in rubber dinghies from Turkey, police said.

"Border policemen...discovered 92 illegal migrants without clothes, some of whom had injuries on their bodies," the statement said. It was not clear how and why the men had lost their clothes.

Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi said in a tweet that Turkey's treatment of the migrants was a "shame for civilization." He said Athens expected Ankara to investigate the incident.

Turkish authorities were not immediately available for comment.

Greece was on the front line of a European migration crisis in 2015 and 2016, when around a million refugees fleeing war and poverty in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan arrived in the country, mainly via Turkey.

The number of arrivals has fallen since then. But Greek authorities said they had recently seen an increase in attempted arrivals through the Turkish land border and the Greek islands.

Greece has urged Turkey to respect a 2016 deal with the European Union in which Ankara agreed to contain the flow of migrants to Europe in exchange for billions of euros in aid.

Turkey says it has ramped up measures to prevent people smuggling.
Iran said four inmates were killed and 61 injured in a towering fire at Tehrans Evin prison, a facility where political prisoners and anti-government activists are detained.

State television Sunday aired video apparently showing that calm had been restored at the facility. The judiciary said the four died of smoke inhalation and that four of the injured were in critical condition.

The fire erupted Saturday amid ongoing protests, now in their fifth week, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman held by the countrys morality police for failing to properly cover her hair with a hijab.

Iranian state media reported that the blaze was extinguished after several hours, and no detainees escaped.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department said, We are following reports from Evin Prison with urgency. We are in contact with the Swiss as our protecting power. Iran is fully responsible for the safety of our wrongfully detained citizens, who should be released immediately.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Saturday, the Iranian "government is so oppressive" and that he had an "enormous amount of respect for people marching in the streets."

Evin Prison, which holds detainees facing security-related charges and includes dual-national citizens, has been charged by rights groups with abusing inmates. The facility has long been known for holding political prisoners as well as those with ties to the West who have been used by Iran as bargaining chips in international negotiations.

Nahid Delili, the wife of Shahab Delili, a dual-nationality prisoner in Evin, told VOAs Persian service that she talked to her husband and that he is healthy.

In online videos, gunshots and explosions could be heard in the area of the prison.

Footage of the fire circulated online, with videos showing shots ringing out as plumes of smoke rose into the sky amid the sound of an alarm. Soon after, the videos showed a protest breaking out on the street outside the prison, with many chanting "Death to the Dictator!"  a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei  and burning tires.



The videos appeared to show projectiles being launched into the prison by security forces, followed by the sound of at least two explosions. It wasn't immediately clear what kind of rounds Iranian security forces used in the incident.

Traffic was heavy along major freeways near the prison, which is in the north of the capital. Many people honked to show their solidarity with the protests.

Authorities have attempted to distance the events at the prison from the ongoing protests, while state media has offered conflicting accounts of the violence.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, citing one senior security official, had reported Saturday that inmates in one ward fought with prison personnel. The official said prisoners set fire to a warehouse full of prison uniforms.

The security official said the rioters were separated from other prisoners to de-escalate the conflict.

Later, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said that the unrest was not related to the protests which have swept the country following Aminis death. Rights groups say more than 200 protesters have been killed since demonstrations swept through Iran Sept. 17, with Iranian authorities saying more than two dozen security force members have also been killed in the unrest.

But Iranian social media posts challenged state media accounts of the cause of the fire and apparent explosions at the prison. A former inmate of Evin and rights activist Atena Daemi said in a tweet Sunday that normally all prisoners are sent to their wards and the workshops are closed by sunset.

The video broadcast by state TV in the fire's aftermath showed scorched walls and ceilings in a room it said was the upper floor of a sewing workshop at the prison.



"This fire was caused by a fight between some prisoners in the sewing workshop, said Tehran Gov. Mohsen Mansouri. "The workshop was set up to create jobs" for prisoners, he said.

VOAs Persian service contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
Jihadi militants killed at least three soldiers and eight civilian auxiliaries in an attack Saturday in Burkina Faso's volatile north, security sources told AFP.

The soldiers, who were patrolling with the auxiliaries, were caught in an ambush in the district of Bouroum, one source said.

Another source, confirming the attack, said the toll could rise, adding that two people were still unaccounted for. The ambush happened near Silmangue, in Namentenga province, the source said.

The latest attack comes after a September 30 coup that ousted Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba  who himself seized power in January  and a day after 34-year-old captain Ibrahim Traore was named his successor as transitional president.

One of the world's poorest nations, Burkina Faso has a long history of coups since independence from France in 1960.

The latest are rooted in unrest within army ranks over the jihadi insurgency that swept in from neighboring Mali in 2015.

Thousands of people have been killed and nearly 2 million have been displaced and more than a third of the country lies outside government control.

Traore has vowed to uphold a pledge that Damiba made for a return to civilian government by July 2024 at the latest.

But like Damiba before him, Traore defended the coup on the grounds that the authorities were failing to do enough against the jihadis.

Damiba fled October 2 after a weekend of violent protests that also targeted the French embassy and saw demonstrators raise Russian flags.
Behind their homes is an oil pipeline, and above them are high-voltage cables suspended between pylons. A little further off is a flare tower, burning off excess gas 24 hours a day.

Yet these potent symbols of Republic of Congo's oil and gas bonanza mean little to the villagers who live in their shadow.

When darkness falls, they have to fire up a generator or light lamps. None of their homes have mains electricity.

"I'm 68 years old and I live in darkness," said Florent Makosso, seated beneath a giant banana tree.

"My parents and grandparents had a better quality of life when it [Republic of Congo] was French Equatorial Africa."

Makosso lives in Tchicanou, a small village 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Pointe-Noire  the energy hub of the Republic of Congo.

The former French colony gained complete independence in 1960 and became a major oil producer some two decades later.

It notched up sales last year averaging 344,000 barrels a day, making it the third-biggest exporter south of the Sahara after Angola and Nigeria.

The country is sitting on 100 billion cubic meters (3,500 billion cubic feet) of natural gas  more than the entire annual consumption of Germany, the world's fourth-largest economy.

But little of this wealth has translated into prosperity for the country's 5.5 million people. About half live in extreme poverty, according to World Bank figures.

Tchicanou is emblematic of a community that suffers the downsides of fossil fuels but gets few of its benefits.

Surrounded by fruit trees, the village of 700 straddles Highway 1, the lifeline between the Atlantic port of Pointe-Noire and the capital, Brazzaville.

Tchicanou and the neighboring village Bondi host pipelines and pylons for carrying oil products and electricity.

But they find themselves in the same situation as communities in the remotest parts of the country: They are still not hooked up to the national grid.

The village has no streetlights, and the biggest source of illumination comes from the flare tower at a nearby 487-megawatt gas-fired power plant, the country's largest.

"It's an ordeal living here," Makosso said.

"We have to buy generators, which are expensive, and running them is a challenge in itself."

Without power, "television and the other electrical appliances are just decoration," he said, pointing to the simple challenge of keeping food refrigerated.

A fellow resident, Flodem Tchicaya, said Tchicanou "is in a good location. But the only use of the gas that they burn here is to cause pollution and make us sick."

Inequality

Roger Dimina, 57, said that access to electricity in Republic of Congo was "unfair."

"Instead of it starting at the bottom and heading to the top, it starts at the top and the bottom has nothing," he said.

Across the country, electrification in urban areas reaches less than 40% of homes, while in rural zones, it is less than 1 home in 10.

In a recent interview in the Depeches de Brazzaville, the capital's sole daily newspaper, Energy Minister Emile Ouosso said the goal was to reach 50% by 2030.

A group close to the Catholic church, the Justice and Peace Commission, has been running an "electricity for all" campaign, focusing especially on villages in the orbit of Pointe-Noire.

The group's deputy coordinator, Brice Makosso, said the government has declared a budget surplus of 700 billion CFA francs (more than $1 billion dollars) for 2022.

Just a small amount of this could hook villages up to the grid, he said, pointing to duties that oil companies in the area paid to the government.


Malta on Sunday marked the fifth anniversary of the car bomb slaying of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia with calls for justice, just two days after two key suspects reversed course and pleaded guilty to murder on the first day of their trial.

The archbishop of the small Mediterranean island nation, Charles Scicluna, celebrated a morning Mass in the small Bidnija church near where Caruana Galizia lived, making several references to the need for justice even when it makes the powerful uncomfortable.

The question we have to answer, before complaining to God, is: are we doing our part, Scicluna told the faithful. Or is our silence, our complicity, our fear, preventing God from bringing justice?

Caruana Galizia, who had written extensively on her website Running Commentary about suspected corruption in political and business circles in the EU nation, was killed Oct. 16, 2017, when a bomb placed under her car detonated as she was driving near her home. The murder shocked Europe and triggered angry protests in Malta.

A 2021 public inquiry report found that the Maltese state has to bear responsibility for the murder because of the culture of impunity that emanated from the highest levels of government. But as recently as last month, the Council of Europes commissioner for human rights had decried the lack of effective results in establishing accountability.

When the trial opened Friday for brothers George Degiorgio, 59, and Alfred Degiorgio, 57, the alleged hitmen reversed their pleas and pled guilty to carrying out the murder and were sentenced to 40 years in prison apiece. The sentencing brought to three the number of people serving time, after Vincent Muscat pleaded guilty last year for his part in the murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The government and opposition both welcomed Fridays sentencing as a step forward, but said full justice still needed to be delivered.
At least 18 migrants died last week in a deadly sea crossing from Turkey to Greece. It was one of the deadliest in recent years and experts fear more may follow as tension between Greece and Tukey soars in the Aegean Sea that divides them. Anthee Carassava travelled to the island of Lesbos and tracked some of the Somali women who survived the shipwreck.

When monster waves flipped the boat over, thrusting it onto the rocky shores of this craggy island, Ismahan, like scores of other Somali women crammed in the rubber dinghy, struggled to stay alive.

"I was tossed in the sea. But within seconds, people around me were dead and drowning. I reached for a rubber tire that was keeping one the dead woman afloat and clasped on to it, remaining in the rough sea for about an hour until Greek police and authorities came to pull us out."

"I never thought I would make it. These visions now haunt my head dead bodies scattered in the sea I close my eyes but I can no longer sleep," she said.

She peels off her long purple scarf and reveals bumps and bruises on her head Scars left behind from her traumatic sea crossing from Turkey.

The journey was the final leg of an escape, as she calls it, from Somalia that began in early August a risky odyssey for which she paid $900, fleeing the countrys drought and humanitarian crisis, but also the abuse, she confesses, of her husband and his family.

Now, though, a week after the near-death crossing, Ismahan says she would do it again.

"I was left with no other option. I want get asylum here and bring over my eight children  two boys and six girls," she said.

Scrunched, now, in an Isobox hut in a refugee camp on Lesbos, Ismahan and five other Somali women who survived the sinking, will put in their requests to local authorities on Monday.

And while it is unlikely that strict migration rules here will grant them asylum status, experts here are bracing for more migrant crossings.

Already this year, Greece has seen more than a 150 percent increase in migrant sea crossings from Turkey compared to 2021. Much of this has been linked to the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the political crisis in Somalia and renewed unrest in Lebanon and other pockets of the Middle East.

But it also comes amid renewed tension between longtime rivals but NATO allies Greece and Turkey, as both their leaders face key election years.

Greece has linked the rising rate of refugee flows to Turkish designs to destabilize Greece, accusing it of turning a blind eye to human smugglers making a mint out of migrant misery. It has also slammed NGOs like Aegean Boat Watch for facilitating illegal migrant transfers.

VOA spoke with Tommy Olsen, the head of the group, by phone from Norway, days after the deadly sinking that Turkish smugglers organized.

"To put out these boats out in such weather... it is amazing they even thought of it. And that shows how little human traffickers care about human lives. They just care about the money," he said.

Olsen said migrants were being used as pawns, as he put it, in a bigger power play, especially as elections near in Greece and Turkey.

Both sides are trying to win and to get votes, so, they need to spike nationalism to appear as defenders against the bad guy on the other side. But in doing so they are using innocent people as tools to reach their goals.

Olsen says the situation in Turkey is becoming so difficult for refugees there, that many are already on the move because they either fear fresh orders to be deported to the countries they escaped, or because a new leader that may succeed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is likely to be less tolerant of the 5 million refugees Turkey has been hosting for nearly a decade now.

"If more people are trying to leave Turkey, more people will be on the move. But what options do they really have? They must cross the Aegean Sea. There is no other option," he said.

That prospect has Greece bolstering its sea and land patrols to block illegal crossings. It is also appealing to Turkey to do the same. But the U.N. refugee agency fears more sinkings may result from tougher border controls and illegal pushbacks Greece and Turkey have been waging in recent months.

Reyhaneh Shakibaie, head of the UNHC office in Lesbos explains.

"We are very concerned about the loss of lives in the Aegean. We are advising governments to facilitate safe pass ways to asylum that do not require migrants to travel illegally," he said.

Whether governments, and refugees themselves, will heed such advice is uncertain. Ismahan and others, though, vow to continue their journey to safety at whatever cost.
Elon Musk said Saturday his rocket company, SpaceX, would continue to fund its Starlink internet service in Ukraine, citing the need for "good deeds," a day after he said it could no longer afford to do so.

Musk tweeted: "the hell with it  even though starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we'll just keep funding ukraine govt for free."

Musk said Friday that SpaceX could not indefinitely fund Starlink in Ukraine. The service has helped civilians and military stay online during the war with Russia.

Although it was not immediately clear whether Musk's change of mind was genuine, he later appeared to indicate it was. When a Twitter user told Musk "No good deed goes unpunished," he replied "Even so, we should still do good deeds."

The billionaire has been in online fights with Ukrainian officials over a peace plan he put forward which Ukraine says is too generous to Russia.

He had made his Friday remarks about funding after a media report that SpaceX had asked the Pentagon to pay for the donations of Starlink.

SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment. The Pentagon declined to comment.
After her mother died when Rosalie Whirlwind Soldier was just 4 years old, she was put into a Native American boarding school in South Dakota and told her native Lakota language was "devil's speak."

She recalls being locked in a basement at St. Francis Indian Mission School for weeks as punishment for breaking the school's strict rules. Her long braids were shorn in a deliberate effort to stamp out her cultural identity. And when she broke her leg in an accident, Whirlwind Soldier said she received shoddy care leaving her with pain and a limp that still hobbles her decades later.

"I thought there was no God, just torture and hatred," Whirlwind Soldier testified during a Saturday event on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation led by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, as the agency confronts the bitter legacy of a boarding school system that operated in the United States for more than a century.

Now 78 and still living on the reservation, Whirlwind Soldier said she was airing her horrific experiences in hopes of finally getting past them.

"The only thing they didn't do was put us in (an oven) and gas us," she said, comparing the treatment of Native Americans in the U.S. in the 19th and 20th centuries to the Jewish Holocaust during World War II.

"But I let it go," she later added. "I'm going to make it."

Saturday's event was the third in Haaland's yearlong "Road to Healing" initiative for victims of abuse at government-backed boarding schools, after previous stops in Oklahoma and Michigan.

Starting with the Indian Civilization Act of 1819, the U.S. enacted laws and policies to establish and support the schools. The stated goal was to "civilize" Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, but that was often carried out through abusive practices. Religious and private institutions that ran many of the schools received federal funding and were willing partners.

Most closed their doors long ago and none still exists to strip students of their identities. But some, including St. Francis, still function as schools  albeit with drastically different missions that celebrate the cultural backgrounds of their Native students.

Former St. Francis student Ruby Left Hand Bull Sanchez traveled hundreds of kilometers from Denver to attend Saturday's meeting. She cried as she recalled almost being killed as a child when a nun stuffed lye soap down her throat in response to Sanchez praying in her native language.

"I want the world to know," she said.

Accompanying Haaland was Wizipan Garriott, a Rosebud Sioux member and principal deputy assistant secretary for Indian affairs. Garriott described how boarding schools were part of a long history of injustices against his people that began with the widespread extermination of their main food source  bison, also known as buffalo.

"First they took our buffalo. Then our land was taken, then our children, and then our traditional form of religion, [and] spiritual practices," he said. "It's important to remember that we Lakota and other Indigenous people are still here. We can go through anything."

The first volume of an investigative report released by the Department of the Interior in May identified more than 400 boarding schools that the federal government supported beginning in the late 19th century and continuing well into the 1960s. It also found at least 500 children died at some of the schools, although that number is expected to increase dramatically as research continues.

The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition says it's tallied about 100 more schools not on the government list that were run by groups such as churches.

"They all had the same missions, the same goals: 'Kill the Indian, save the man,'" said Lacey Kinnart, who works for the Minnesota-based coalition. For Native American children, Kinnart said the intention was "to assimilate them and steal everything Indian out of them except their blood, make them despise who they are, their culture, and forget their language."

South Dakota had 31 of the schools including two on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation  St. Francis and the Rosebud Agency Boarding and Day School.

The Rosebud Agency school, in Mission, operated through at least 1951 on a site now home to Sinte Gleska University, where Saturday's meeting happened.

All that remains of the boarding school is a gutted building that used to house the dining hall, according to tribal members. When the building caught fire about five years ago, former student Patti Romero, 73, said she and others were on hand to cheer its destruction.

"No more worms in the chili," said Romero, who attended the school from ages 6 to 15 and said the food was sometimes infested.

A second report is pending in the investigation into the schools launched by Haaland, herself a Laguna Pueblo from New Mexico and the first Native American Cabinet secretary. It will cover burial sites, the schools' impact on Indigenous communities and try to account for federal funds spent on the troubled program.

Congress is considering a bill to create a boarding school "truth and healing commission," like one established in Canada in 2008. It would have a broader scope than the Interior Department's investigation into federally run boarding schools and subpoena power, if passed.
Britain's new Treasury chief Saturday acknowledged mistakes made by his predecessor and suggested that he may reverse much of Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss' tax-cutting plans in order to bring stability to the country after weeks of economic and political turbulence.

Jeremy Hunt, who was brought in Friday to replace Kwasi Kwarteng as Treasury chief and restore order in Truss' administration, warned of "difficult decisions" to come. He said taxes could rise and public spending budgets would likely be squeezed further in the coming months.

Truss on Friday fired Kwarteng and ditched her pledge to scrap a planned increase in corporation tax as she sought to hang on to her job  after just six weeks in office.

Truss, a free-market libertarian, had previously insisted that her tax-cutting plans were what Britain needs to boost economic growth. But a "mini-budget" that she and Kwarteng unveiled three weeks ago, which promised 45 billion pounds ($50 billion) in tax cuts without explaining how the government would pay for them, sent the markets and the British pound tumbling and left her credibility in tatters.

The policies, which included cutting income tax for those on the highest incomes, were also widely criticized for being tone-deaf in the face of Britain's cost-of-living crisis.

Hunt said Truss recognizes her mistakes and he is going to put them right. Hunt is expected to meet with Treasury officials later and with Truss on Sunday.

"It was wrong to cut the top rate of tax for the very highest earners at a time where we're going to have to be asking for sacrifices from everyone to get through a very difficult period," Hunt told the BBC Saturday.

"And it was wrong to fly blind and to announce those plans without reassuring people with the discipline of the Office for Budget Responsibility that we actually can afford to pay for them," he added. "We have to show the world we have a plan that adds up financially."

Hunt also indicated that taxes could rise and warned "it's going to be difficult," though he declined to give details about how he plans to balance the books ahead of a full fiscal statement expected Oct. 31.

"Spending will not rise by as much as people would like and all government departments are going to have to find more efficiencies than they were planning to. And some taxes will not be cut as quickly as people want," he said.

Hunt, who twice ran in the Conservative Party's leadership contests, is an experienced lawmaker who previously served in top government posts including as foreign secretary.

His comments Saturday suggested he may dismantle many of the economic pledges that Truss campaigned for and tried to implement during her first weeks in office.

Truss' U-turn on her pledge to stop a planned rise in corporation tax came after an earlier climbdown on her plans to cut the top rate of income tax for the highest earners.

Her position remains fragile. She has faced heavy pressure from across the political spectrum, including reports that senior members of her Conservative Party were plotting to force her from office.

On Friday she avoided repeated questions about why she should remain in office when she and Kwarteng were equally responsible for the government's economic plan and the fallout it triggered.

"I am absolutely determined to see through what I have promised," she said.

Asked Saturday how long Truss would remain as leader, Hunt said, "what the country wants now is stability" and she would be judged by what she delivers until the next general election in 2024.

"She has been prime minister for less than five weeks and I would just say this  I think that she will be judged at an election," he said.
Nigerian prosecutors say they will appeal a court's decision to drop terrorism charges against separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu. An appeals court dismissed the charges Thursday, saying a lower court had no authority in the case and that Kanu was illegally extradited from Kenya. Kanu leads the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group that wants to break away from Nigeria the government has labeled a terrorist organization.



Nigerias attorney general, Abubakar Malami, responded to Thursday's ruling in a statement saying the separatist is discharged but not acquitted.

Malami said authorities will explore legal steps to revisit the court's decision. He said the court failed to take into account issues that took place before Nnamdi Kanu was extradited to Nigeria from Kenya last year.



A three-judge panel of an appeals court Thursday ruled that Kanus trial was unlawful, and said authorities flouted international treaties to "abduct" the separatist.



The court said the circumstances surrounding his arrest did not give the government the jurisdiction to continue to keep him on trial.



The court also ruled that the government did not provide clear evidence of when and where Kanu committed the many allegations against him.

The attorney general's office did not immediately respond to calls for further comment. But Kanu's lawyer, Ifanyi Ejiofor, spoke to VOA via phone.



"The right of appeal is a constitutional right but the fact is that order of court must be obeyed, it's sacrosanct. Saying that Nnamdi Kanu was discharged not acquitted I believe is an impudence on the judgement of the court of appeals. The court used the word abduction, that is to tell you the level of the atrocity they committed," he said.



It's not clear when he will be freed.

"We expect them to comply immediately with the court order because detention became illegal as of yesterday. Yesterday, the court directed he should be released immediately. They should release him to us without any further ado," Ejiofor said.



Kanu is leading a movement to break off southeastern Nigeria from the rest of the country to form a republic called Biafra.

A previous Biafra independence movement led to a civil war between 1967 and 1970 that killed an estimated one million people.



On Friday, as news of Kanu's court discharge spread, so did excitement in Nigeria's Southwest region.

Christian Paul hails from Imo state, one of the strong bases for the separatist movement. He believes that with Kanus release, the court may have been sending a message.

"They violated his human rights and kept making fresh allegations against him. At this point in time, it becomes really strategic if his release is granted by a court. It might have some political undertone, he said.



Nigerian voters head to the polls in February of next year to elect a new leader.
Protests in Iran raged into a second month after a woman there died in police custody. Mahsa Amini has become the face of a human rights movement focused on ridding the country of the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, images surfaced over the weekend of an infamous prison in Iran, known for housing political prisoners, engulfed in flames. The White House continues pledging support for demonstrators. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has more.
Sitting on a 7,000-hectare stretch of land in southwest Florida, Babcock Ranch has made a name for itself as the first solar-powered town in the United States. Its power comes from nearly 700,000 solar panels that supply energy to more than 2,000 homes and other buildings, including a health center and schools.

Syd Kitson, founder of the planned community, envisioned an environmentally friendly energy-efficient city. His dream became a reality in 2018.

"I believe deeply in respecting the environment and wanted to prove that you could build this new city and work hand-in-hand with the environment," said Kitson, CEO of the real estate firm Kitson & Partners. "Our water management system is based around natural floodways. We also have 7,000 hectares we are preserving."

The preserve protects natural habitats, scenic landscapes and water resources.

"It was just the kind of community my husband and I were looking for," Shannon Treece told VOA. "We liked that the town was built for sustainability, including solar energy."

Today, Babcock Ranch is also known as the town that came out practically unscathed Sept. 28, when Hurricane Ian came roaring through the area bringing record-breaking storm surges and winds over 160 kph.

Nearby Fort Myers by the Gulf of Mexico was devastated.

Babcock Ranch was built on a higher elevation to be above the storm surge. And the buildings were constructed to withstand hurricane-force winds.

Because of that, Shannon Treece and her family are among the 4,600 residents who decided to ride out the storm.

"It was a little scary," she said of being in a hurricane for the first time. "We couldn't see anything since we had blocked all the windows with storm shutters, but we could hear debris hitting the house. I am glad our house held up."

Nancy Chorpenning and her husband also decided to stay put.

"The hurricane sounded like a locomotive coming through. But we never lost our electricity, access to the internet or our water, she told VOA.

That's because power lines from Babcock Ranch's solar array and utility plants are underground, which shields them from high winds and bad weather, Kitson said.

Huge retaining ponds protect the homes from flooding, and the streets are designed to soak up floodwaters.

When building the town, "we spent a lot of time making sure Babcock Ranch was storm ready," Kitson said. "We had minor damage from Hurricane Ian, like some downed small trees and torn roof shingles, but within a day, we were almost back to normal."

Chorpenning thinks there are lessons to be learned from Babcock Ranch.

"We can be a model for other communities, showing the importance of water management and using solar energy," she said. We're also showing how neighborhoods can live in concert with nature, partly by requiring that native plant species be planted in the community."

The blueprint for the town is to grow into a much larger city. The developers have their sights set on constructing thousands more of the environmentally friendly homes, which would increase the population to 50,000 residents.

"I hope we are setting a good example for others to follow as we continue to protect the natural environment at the same time," Kitson said.
Somali veteran journalist Abdalle Ahmed Mumin is out on bail after being arrested last week on security-related charges.

Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the secretary-general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate, or SJS, appeared in a Mogadishu court Sunday, six days after he was arrested at the airport and stopped from traveling to Kenya to visit relatives.

Mumin was accused of disobeying the law, according to the charges seen by VOA. The countrys attorney general office charged Abdalle on behalf of the information ministry, which recently issued a directive barring Somali journalists from reporting news related to Islamist militant group al-Shabab.

Mohamed Ibrahim, the Somali Journalists Syndicate president, spoke with VOA by phone. He described the charges as trumped up.

He says Abdalle appeared at the court today after being behind bars for six days. Ibrahim says the attorney generals office announced three charges and that the governments main goal is to silence the independent media. He urged the attorney generals office to drop the charges.

He added that the attorney general asked for 45 days to investigate the case and provide evidence.

Laetitia Bader is Horn of Africa director of Human Rights Watch. She tells VOA Mumin is being charged under what she describes as a very outdated criminal code which should have been reviewed years ago. She says it is repeatedly being used to restrict legitimate space for the media.

[The] Somali government should have released Abdalle Ahmed Mumin from the beginning. It is very clear that he has been held and investigated on apparently politically motivated allegations directly linked to the work he does to promote media freedoms in Somalia, she said.

A number of international organizations condemned Mumins arrest.

Hussein Mohamed, a freelance journalist based in Mogadishu for The New York Times, told VOA the new directive put journalists at a higher risk than they have never faced before. Mohamed said the government issued the order without consulting media organizations in the country.

The Committee to Protect Journalists also condemned the arrest.

The CPJs sub-Saharan Africa representative, Muthoki Mumo said in a recent statement that Mumin's arrest was an unacceptable aggression and is undoubtedly sending a ripple of fear through the Somali media community. Rights group Amnesty International issued similar comments.

Somalia is one of the deadliest countries for journalists in the world, with more than 50 killed since 2010, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Standing before some 2,300 Chinese Communist Party elite members and giving a nearly two-hour long speech at the opening of the Party Congress, China's President Xi Jinping looked in full control, at the helm of a giant nation growing ever more powerful economically and geopolitically.

But applause aside, Xi knows he faces many critics from within his party and without.

A rules-breaker the likes of which China has not seen in recent decades, Xi has ruffled many feathers, to say the least.

He has rewritten the constitution to end term limits, jailed members of the top echelon of power and punished hundreds of thousands of other lower ranking officials in his wide-ranging corruption campaign, and put the military firmly under the control of the party.

His past two five-year terms have seen him promote the China dream of turning the country, once occupied by foreign invaders and weakened by wars, into a great nation again  no longer just a factory of the world, but a confident major player that is increasingly rivaling the United States economically and technologically.

Under Xi, China also oversaw massive infrastructure and investment projects in many countries as part of the Belt and Road Initiative  an ambitious plan to build a modern day Silk Road trading route stretching across continents. He also brought Hong Kong firmly under Beijing's control after 2019's widespread protests and pushed back against what he sees as Washington and Taiwan trying to change the status quo by flying daily warplanes near the island China hopes to reunify with one day.

Critics have called him a micromanager at best and dictator at worst, and likened him to China's former egocentric leader Mao Zedong, accusing him of trying to stay in power indefinitely.

Currently his zero-COVID policy and strict large-scale lockdowns, touted as sparing China more devastating loss of life, are blamed for hurting China's economy and the global supply chain.

"He thinks of the whole country's future and people's lives, but the Western media report a lot of negative things about him," said Luis Shen, a businessman who is a friend of Xi's.

Contrary to many analysts' prediction that Xi will not only get a third term at the end of the week-long 20th Party Congress, but serve indefinitely, Shen suggested Xi may be realizing his limits.

"He only wants to serve five more years to get everything done," he speculated.

Internal pressure from the party may be at play. "Because his fight against corruption was so fierce, he has offended many people and these are his own people [fellow party members]. In the end, one person alone can't do many things," Shen said.

Xi's career saw him joining the party as a youth only after several failed attempts, then working his way up from being party secretary of a village, to serving in county and city governments and later heading coastal provinces and Shanghai. He eventually made it to the central government, serving first as vice president and then in 2012 being selected to be the party's general secretary and a year later becoming president and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Over the years, Xi has had many supporters and opponents.

Critics accuse him of targeting some political rivals in his anti-corruption campaign, rolling back human rights by implementing mass surveillance and putting a million ethnic minority Uyghur Muslims in internment camps, and overseeing the passage of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, which clamped down on freedoms in the former British colony.

He's also accused of imposing regulations on the technology sector and even the tutoring industry to stop children from being sent to cram schools after attending regular school. Critics also say he has built a personality cult around himself, with school children required to learn his ideology.

"Xi has concentrated too much power and does not listen much anymore," said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a long-time China researcher at the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China, Hong Kong. "His insistence on the role of state-owned enterprises is unhealthy and counterproductive: only private firms are creating jobs in China today."

Xi is also criticized as being too entrenched in communist ideology. Unlike previous Chinese leaders, he was born after the Chinese Communist Party began ruling the country in 1949 and was educated completely under a new China.

His supporters, however, praise him for doing the necessary - fighting corruption as well as dealing with the excesses and inequality that have mushroomed following decades of rapid and free-wheeling development. These include banks overlending to the property sector  creating a huge bubble  and an outdated tax system that doesn't adequately tax big profitable tech firms, which has widened the wealth gap.

His administration has defended its controversial actions, insisting its internationally condemned camps for Uyghurs are language and vocational education facilities necessary for assimilation and eradication of religious extremism. It argues the security law in Hong Kong is necessary to restore order following disruptive unrest.

"Everyone approves of him," said Xu Shengyi, a Hong Kong man who came from China's Fujian province in the late 1970s, referring to how he and his family and friends back in the mainland feel about Xi. "Only he can rejuvenate China.  China needs a very strong leader. Without such a person, how do you govern three branches of the military, especially if they are corrupt and provincial leaders too?"

But of course, not everyone approves of Xi. A protest last week by a man who hung banners criticizing Xi's COVID policy and calling for a change in leadership is a rare public display of frustration that may be more widespread after nearly three years of epidemic-control restrictions.

Xi's friend Luis Shen said the Chinese leader will spend the next five years trying to achieve his goals for the country.

A top priority for Xi is continuing with poverty alleviation. Last year, he proudly declared nearly 100 million people have been lifted out of poverty during his terms in office, but millions more are believed to still be living on less than 1,000 yuan a month.

The years in which he worked and lived with farmers in a rural village in northwestern China's Shaanxi province gave him a true sense of how peasants lived.

"He wants the poor to reach a certain living standard," said Shen.

Xi also wants to finish building nuclear power plants to ensure a stable energy supply for China, according to Shen.

During his speech, Xi mentioned his goal of building "common prosperity"  seen as a redistribution of wealth  but like his other policies, it's unclear whether the party and people will praise or blame him for it. Already, his proposal to implement a property tax to stop speculation and narrow the wealth gap is proving unpopular within his party.

As to whether Xi will really only serve one more five-year term  which would be a relief for his critics but a disappointment to his supporters  China analyst Victor Gao said: "Nothing is final until it's officially announced."
Suspected Zanu PF activists have attacked Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members, including two lawmakers, campaigning in Matobo district, Matabeleland South, ahead of the forthcoming council by-election.

In a tweet, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said, Weve just received a report that Hon @molokele & a group of CCC mobilizers have been attacked by a group of Zanu PF thugs who were in a 7-vehicle convoy. Theyve since fled for cover into a nearby bush. We condemn this orgy of violence unleashed by Zanu PF.

ZANU PF thugs undressed CCC women community organizers during their orgy of violence this afternoon in Ward 2 Matobo. These women are part of our Matobo by-election campaign team. We condemn the resort to violence & call for peace.

Member of Parliament for Nkulumane, Kucaca Phulu, was attacked by the assailants.

He told VOA Studio 7 that Im currently in hospital. I was seriously injured.

Police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi, was unreachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.

Mahere further noted that the assailants stoned a lawmakers vehicles and damaged bicycles.

These bicycles belong to our village community leaders. They were attacked by Zanu PF thugs while running out by election campaign in ward 2 Matobo. They were badly beaten and their bicycles deflated.
I felt this quake

Light magnitude 3.9 earthquake at 12 km depth

16 Oct 04:15 UTC: First to report: VolcanoDiscovery after 2 minutes.

16 Oct 04:15: Now using data updates from GFZ

... [show all] ... 16 Oct 04:23: Hypocenter depth recalculated from 6.0 to 5.0 km (from 3.7 to 3.1 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 1.3 km (0.8 mi) towards NW.

16 Oct 05:53: Magnitude recalculated from 4.0 to 3.9. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 5.0 to 15.0 km (from 3.1 to 9.3 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 4.7 km (2.9 mi) towards NNW.

16 Oct 06:20: Hypocenter depth recalculated from 15.0 to 12.0 km (from 9.3 to 7.5 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 3.6 km (2.3 mi) towards NNW.

Update Sun, 16 Oct 2022, 04:27

Moderate magnitude 4.0 earthquake 2 km east of Hechingen, Germany

4.0 quake 16 Oct 6:13 am (GMT +2)

An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 occurred only 14 minutes ago 2 km east of Hechingen, Germany, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported.

The quake hit at a very shallow depth of 5 km beneath the epicenter near Hechingen, Tubingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, early morning on Sunday, October 16th, 2022, at 6:13 am local time. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.

Our monitoring service identified a second report from France's Reseau National de Surveillance Sismique (ReNaSS) which listed the quake at magnitude 3.7. Other agencies reporting the same quake include the citizen-seismograph network of RaspberryShake at magnitude 4.0, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) at magnitude 4.0, and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) at magnitude 3.6.

Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicenter. It should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves, broken windows, etc.

In Hechingen (pop. 19,400) located 2 km from the epicenter, and Mossingen (pop. 20,000) 8 km away, the quake should have been felt as light shaking.

Weak shaking might have been felt in Balingen (pop. 34,400) located 13 km from the epicenter, Rottenburg (pop. 42,700) 15 km away, Albstadt (pop. 46,700) 15 km away, Tubingen (pop. 83,400) 20 km away, and Reutlingen (pop. 112,600) 22 km away.

Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Sindelfingen (pop. 61,300) located 39 km from the epicenter, and Stuttgart (pop. 589,800) 50 km away.




I felt this quake

Light magnitude 2.8 earthquake at 5 km depth

16 Oct 04:17 UTC: First to report: SED after 3 minutes.

Update Sun, 16 Oct 2022, 04:21

Small tremor of magnitude 2.8 just reported 13 km southwest of Freiburg, Switzerland

2.8 quake 16 Oct 6:13 am (GMT +2)

An earthquake of magnitude 2.8 occurred early morning on Sunday, October 16th, 2022, at 6:13 am local time near Freiburg, Saanebezirk, Switzerland, as reported by the Swiss Seismological Service (SED).

According to preliminary data, the quake was located at a very shallow depth of 5 km. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.

Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.

Weak shaking might have been felt in Rossens (pop. 49) located 4 km from the epicenter.

Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Marsens (pop. 1,600) located 6 km from the epicenter, Romont FR (pop. 4,500) 10 km away, Bulle (pop. 12,100) 10 km away, Villars-sur-Glane (pop. 10,000) 10 km away, Marly (pop. 7,700) 11 km away, Freiburg (pop. 32,800) 13 km away, and Dudingen (pop. 7,200) 19 km away. In Ecublens (pop. 10,100, 22 km away), and Berna (pop. 121,600, 40 km away), the quake was probably not felt.




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Expect the oil market to get a lot more volatile in the coming weeks. From Dec. 5, it will be illegal to import Russian crude by sea into the European Union (with minor exceptions) and for EU companies to provide services such as insurance and financing for ships carrying the oil anywhere in the world. If the latest round of sanctions is ratified, it will also be illegal for European ships to be employed in that trade.

The disruption could be huge. Moscow already has lost a large chunk of its European market, with buyers shunning its wares even before the ban comes into effect. But the country is still shipping about 630,000 barrels a day to EU countries. The volume hauled globally on vessels owned by European companies is significantly bigger.

Russia doesnt have many obvious options for redirecting that capacity and almost none that are nearby. Sales to India, and to a lesser extent to China and Turkey, surged in the weeks after President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine. But that flow peaked in June and has eased slightly in recent months.

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New Delhi, Beijing and Ankara may be unwilling to boost volumes without steeper price discounts. They will certainly see the prospect of Russian crude stranded by European sanctions as an opportunity for tough negotiations on what theyre willing to pay.

Beyond those three countries, Russia hasnt had huge success in finding other customers. It continues to send occasional cargoes across the Atlantic to its friends in Cuba. One or two have ended up in Egypt or at Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

About 3 million barrels have been sent to Sri Lanka, but the tankers plying that route have been forced to anchor off the port of Colombo for weeks until the government can find the money to pay.

If the size of the fleet available to move Russian oil shrinks with the loss of European vessels, long periods of idleness for the remaining vessels will cause Moscow more headaches.

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Shipping crude from the Baltic to India ties up vessels for at least four times as long as delivering cargoes to Rotterdam, so moving the same volume will require four times as many ships. Lengthy delays will raise that requirement even further.

The US Treasury has sought to overcome this problem with its proposed price cap on Russian crude  an idea thats gained traction with politicians in allied countries, even as it has been dismissed elsewhere.

The concept is simple: If a buyer pays less than a yet-to-be agreed price, they can use European ships and secure financing and insurance. The aim is to keep Russias crude flowing while crimping the Kremlins revenue.

The view in Washington appears to be that if the capped price is set above the cost of production, Russia will have an incentive to keep exporting. What they dont seem to grasp is that the decision for Russia is a political one, not a commercial one.

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Putin has said more than once that his country wont sell crude to buyers who seek to impose a cap, while Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said after the recent OPEC+ meeting in Vienna that the mechanism is unacceptable. Novak also warned that it could force Russia to temporarily halt some production.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is wrong when she says this cap will help us keep global energy markets well-supplied. It wont. I dont believe a single barrel of Russian crude will be sold at a capped price.

But thats Putins choice. The alternative to the price cap isnt the free flow of his oil; its the full force of the EU sanctions. The US proposal is intended to provide a way of avoiding those sanctions, even if the Russian leader refuses to make use of it. The Kremlin will gamble that stopping Siberian oil pumps will hurt buyers more than Russia, a calculation it has already made for natural gas.

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Can oil markets weather this loss on top of a 2 million barrel-a-day cut in OPEC+ targets thats due to come into effect in November?

The first thing to bear in mind is that the OPEC+ action is mostly illusion. The actual cut in output from September production levels could be as little as one-tenth of the headline figure  hardly enough to break a sweat over. At the same time, demand forecasts are being slashed  the result of high prices and impending recession. Those two factors may mean that the world needs less Russian crude in the coming months.

But with so many moving parts and Russia doing all it can to keep markets on edge as the sanctions deadline looms, just dont expect markets to slide quietly into winter.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Julian Lee is an oil strategist for Bloomberg First Word. Previously, he was a senior analyst at the Centre for Global Energy Studies.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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The cause of the crash was not immediately known. There is an airstrip for small aircraft in upper Montgomery, and it was unclear whether the plane was on an approach or takeoff.
Both documents underscore our intention to further our long-standing ties.

El Canciller @CesarLanda0 y el Alto Representante de la UE @JosepBorrellF suscribieron un Acuerdo de Participacion del Peru en Operaciones de Gestion de Crisis y un Memorandum de Entendimiento Peru-UE, dos importantes instrumentos que fortaleceran las relaciones bilaterales. pic.twitter.com/vkOhXern77

El Alto Representante de la Union Europea @JosepBorrellF recibio al Canciller @CesarLanda0, en la sede del @eu_eeas, donde discutieron sobre el escenario internacional, la relacion bilateral y el fortalecimiento de la cooperacion con la Union Europea. pic.twitter.com/6zk7zJ6uHE
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Its the timing that galls, almost as much as the transgressions. New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was cupping the breast and grabbing the buttocks of subordinates not 10 or 20 years ago, according to the damning state attorney generals report, but in 2019 and 2020. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight After a national reckoning on sexual misconduct that toppled powerful men, including Harvey Weinstein, Al Franken and Les Moonves.

After he aligned himself with the #MeToo Movement, and publicly advocated for legislation that has made it easier for women in his state to seek redress for sexual harassment and rape.

The fact that men of a certain age had supposedly learned something about propriety and power dynamics didnt stop Cuomo from allegedly kissing his executive assistant on the lips.

Its clear that #MeToo raised awareness about the pervasiveness of sexual misconduct and helped victims better understand their rights and options for holding harassers and abusers accountable. Less clear is the extent to which the movement has curbed bad behavior.

In speeches and interviews from 2015 to 2018, New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul praised Gov. Cuomo's college campus sexual assault policies. (Video: Hadley Green/The Washington Post)

Experts who spend their days thinking about these issues say theyre not overly optimistic that the instances of inappropriate conduct  and the power dynamics that enable them  have changed much since 2018.

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I think human nature is resistant to change, and people are going to convince themselves of what they want to believe. And systems are set up to protect powerful people, says Elaine Herskowitz, a former policy attorney at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission who now runs a consulting firm that conducts human-resources training and investigates claims of sexual harassment and discrimination. I certainly continued to get cases with people accused of harassment who shouldve known better.

The cases she continues to see are mostly men in executive positions, says Herskowitz, where theyve got power over the target of their behavior and they assume they can get away with it or they can easily delude themselves into thinking their behavior is welcome.

In October 2018, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported that it had experienced a 13 percent increase in harassment claims during the previous 12 months, a jump it attributed to the #MeToo movement.

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Victims rights advocates say the increase in claims reflected the new sense of power some targets of harassment and abuse felt about their ability to report even years-old transgressions.

For example, the day after Christine Blasey Ford testified on national television that she had been assaulted more than three decades earlier by a fellow high school student, Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh, calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline rose 338 percent, its highest spike ever.

These cases and the way the media covers them send very clear messages to survivors, says Erinn Robinson, spokeswoman for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, which operates the hotline. They have the ability to help empower people to come forward.

The most egregious forms of sexual harassment have declined, says Stefanie Johnson, a management professor at the University of Colorado at Boulders Leeds School of Business, who has studied the impact of the #MeToo movement on women in the workplace. Her research found that a significantly smaller percentage of women experienced sexual coercion or unwanted sexual attention at the office in 2018 than in 2016.

If youre talking about, like, I demand that you have sex with me or youre fired, I think that is less frequent, she says.

But Johnsons research also showed that over the same period there was a sharp rise in what she calls gender harassment  treatment that may include things like a supervisor or co-worker making sexist remarks, telling inappropriate stories, or displaying sexist material  which may have come as a backlash to the #MeToo movement. Someone might say, Hey thats a nice suit. Oh, am I allowed to say that? Or are you going to sue me for sexual harassment? Johnson says. Its just as bad as sexual harassment in terms of its impact on women. Its just not necessarily sexual in nature.

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Those findings ring true for Susan Strauss, a Minnesota-based consultant often brought in by companies to investigate harassment allegations.

These are behaviors that might be difficult to say even rise to the level of illegal sexual harassment, she says. And because of that it makes it more difficult for women to feel supported if they go and complain.

This kind of bad behavior takes subtler forms: making sexist comments about another woman in a female colleagues presence, for example, or sabotaging a womans work so she doesnt advance professionally. It can be worst for women in male-dominated fields; Strauss recently spoke to two women who were the only female engineers employed by their firm, who both were planning to quit because they were not being listened to, being passed over for promotions, and they were just sick of it.

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Theres still plenty of blatant sexual harassment as well, says Strauss. In recent years, she says, shes been hired to evaluate cases that have stunned her with their flagrancy.

The lawyer and I will talk and say, Why is this behavior still occurring?  she says. I think there are some men that have a pathology that drives them to view women in this way. I think some will say, Well, its not that big a deal. She needs to pull up her bootstraps and deal with it. And some will say, Well, if its not so bad that its illegal then Im just going to continue to do it. 

A report released last month by the Institute for Womens Policy Research found that sexual harassment in the workplace can cost women $1 million or more in earnings as they lose work or are forced to change jobs.

If you ask me if the numbers have decreased I would say no, says C. Nicole Mason, the organizations president and chief executive, because we have workplace cultures where there are power differentials and men and women are treated differently.

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Passing legislation that makes it easier for targets of sexual harassment and assault to come forward is starting to help turn the heightened awareness sparked by the #MeToo movement into something concrete, says Mason. According to a September 2020 report by the National Womens Law Center, 19 states had enacted new protections for victims and more than 200 bills were introduced in state legislatures to deter harassment.

But theres a limit to how much societal awareness and new legislation can deter harassers, says Lynne Bernabei, a D.C. attorney who has been representing victims of harassment for more than 30 years.

The real power, she says, lies with corporations. Companies need to be more transparent in how they deal with harassers, Bernabei says, so that employees know what protections theyll receive if they come forward with a complaint. Also, they need to promote more women to executive positions  a lot more. Once you get more women at higher wages, youll get less of this, she says.

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The allegations against Cuomo might be disheartening to those who thought the #MeToo movement should have deterred brazen sexual misconduct by powerful men. But the fallout for Cuomo  the attorney generals investigation, the governors resignation  constitutes a win for the movement, says Bernabei.

I think this will go down as an important report that will help change peoples perceptions of whats acceptable in the workforce, she says. This is an area where things dont change overnight.

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But as power bills soar, do the numbers stack up already? Do the costs of installing panels outweigh the ongoing savings? Loading Lets start with the costs: to get solar panels, you must pay upfront for not only the panels but also an inverter and installation costs. According to the SolarQuotes website, run by engineer and former CSIRO employee Finn Peacock, you can expect to pay between $5500 and $9000 for the full installation of a good quality 6.6kW solar panel system (the minimum Peacock recommends for most households) across Australia. For a 10kW system, which may be big enough to also charge your electric vehicle in future decades, you could expect to be paying between $8,500 and $13,000 today.

These prices are after the federal governments STC rebate is applied  currently worth just under $3,000, but set to fall in value each year until it runs out in 2030. Victorians can knock another $1,400 off these prices thanks to the Victorian governments recently introduced solar rebate. So, could installing solar panels now be the answer to alleviating future power bill pain? Credit:Wolter Peeters So thats the cost. But what about the benefits? The financial advantages of installing solar are twofold. Firstly, you get access to a free ongoing energy source during the day when the sun is shining. If youre a household that spends a lot of time at home during the day or can modify your lifestyle to be so, thats the best way to save on your power bills. You cant beat free.

Compare that to the current average cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity from the grid, which is in the region of 25 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour. But what about at night? No sun, no solar, of course. If you can afford the upfront cost, rising power bills mean the economics of solar have definitely swung in the direction of being something to seriously consider. Unless that is, you also install a battery to hold your power. Battery prices have been improving but still cost around $10,000. So, thats a decision to make that could greatly affect the time it takes for your ongoing energy savings to offset your initial outlay for the panels. The second financial benefit is, of course, that if your panels generate excess energy above what you can use during the day, you can sell it back into the grid through your retailer under a so-called feed-in tariff.

Its worth noting the attractiveness of these feed-in tariffs has diminished enormously in recent years. In the late 2000s, state government subsidies boosted earnings for solar panel owners as high as 60 cents per kilowatt-hour in some cases. Those high rates have, however, since rewound and fallen closer to 10 cents per kilowatt-hour. Loading So today, the real advantage of solar lies not in earning those sweet, sweet feed-in tariffs  although they still help  but in being able to access free solar power throughout the day (and possibly through the night if you buy a battery). So, how do the costs stack up against the benefits? Im sorry to squib a simple answer, but like many things in personal finance the answer is: it depends. General estimates of the payback period for solar can vary from as little as two years to six years or even higher.
We have a three-month backlog on our more complex mechanical work as we cant find staff with the in-depth knowledge required to complete these jobs, he said. Virtue said the skills shortage was exacerbated by TAFE and private colleges not preparing apprentices for what the real life of a mechanic entails. Apprentice mechanic Xanthe Ba-Pe at CMR Automotive in Marrickville. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone Master Electricians Australia advocacy and policy manager Jason ODwyer said the national shortage of electricians is expected to worsen following the transition to renewables. Some employers wont allow their apprentices to pick up orders from warehouses to prevent them from being poached by rival businesses, he said.

ODwyer predicted a shortfall of 25,000 electricians by 2030, with electricians, solar electricians, air con and refrigeration the hardest positions to fill. Loading Weve seen employers offer some surprising incentives, such as eight-day and nine-day fortnights, gym memberships, haircuts, nights out with their partner, as well as referral and sign on bonuses, which range from $1,000 to $10,000, he said. Pubs and restaurants are also luring workers with cash and other incentives. The Sydney Restaurant Group is offering $5000 sign-on bonuses and free wine courses for managers, waiters, bartenders, baristas, chefs and kitchen staff at venues including Ormeggio at The Spit, Aqua Dining in Milsons Point and Cafe Bondi.

The Australian Venue Co., which operates venues such as The Winery, Bungalow 8 and Cargo, is offering paid training, a $100 pub voucher, free lunch and gift bag to successful applicants at casting calls in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Loading Solotel last year began offering sign-on bonuses up to $1000 and half-price food and drinks at venues such as the Opera Bar, Golden Sheaf Hotel and The Bank Newtown to new employees. Solotel chief executive Elliot Solomon said the incentives program had contributed enormously to recruiting staff. The hospitality group also brought forward the minimum wage increase for eligible staff to July rather than October 1 as the government required.

Rockpool Bar & Grills executive chef Corey Costelloe last year told The Sun-Herald the restaurant was struggling to recruit staff despite paying dishwashers $90 an hour on Friday and Saturday nights. Loading Restaurant and Catering Australia chief executive Belinda Clarke said hospitality workers were being paid well above normal award rates, with junior chefs attracting more than $100,000 a year. One kitchen hand in WA was poached by the mines for $150,000 a year as well, she said. For baristas, its now normal for them to make around $60 an hour on weekends.

Clarke said employers were providing more training to people with less experience to get them up to scratch if they havent worked in the industry before. But United Workers Union executive director Dario Mujkic said hospitality remains an industry where workers are low-paid and poorly treated despite some venues offering sign-on bonuses and other inducements. Hospitality employers cant fill jobs because the industry expects workers to work unsociable hours on low wages with no job security, he said. Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra said employers in the retail sector are offering sign-on bonuses, product discounts or paying for courses as job vacancies hit a record high of more than 46,000 in August, an increase of 14 per cent on the previous three months. Fashion brand Nude Lucy is offering a $1,500 sign-on bonus and $1000 gift voucher as part of its pitch to hire an area manager, while The Body Shop last year became one of the first major Australian retailers to adopt an open hiring process and not ask for a resume or reference.
Western Australias police force is looking overseas for new recruits after the state and federal governments struck a labour deal.

The force has launched an international recruitment campaign targeting officers from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand.

WA will recruit officers from overseas. Credit:Getty Images

The Western Australian government is spruiking the landmark deal, with the jurisdiction the first in the nation to target officers across the three countries.

Under the agreement, police officers from the UK and Ireland will be able to move to Western Australia under the employer-nominated scheme, putting them on a pathway towards citizenship.
Senior public servants took thousands of domestic business class flights over the past year at a cost of more than $3.7 million to the taxpayer, sparking calls for departments to tighten up their policies.

The fares included hundreds of trips between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, revealing the fact that there is no consistent policy for domestic travel across the Commonwealth public service.

Public servants are taking hundreds of business class flights between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. Credit:Paul Rovere

Based on figures from 11 Commonwealth departments for the 2021-22 financial year, bureaucrats took more than 4000 business class flights.

This masthead had applied for the figures from 14 government departments through Freedom of Information laws.
UML: The Positive Spin Bertrand Meyer

NOTE: This article was published in the 1997 special UML issue of Ed Yourdon's American Programmer, in response to a request by Mr. Yourdon. Given the current political-correctness climate in the software industry, we feel it necessary to include the following disclaimer: This article is a satire and in the time-honored tradition of the pamphlet some of its comments may appear outrageous to some readers. We feel, however, that there is a need to let dissenting views be voiced "as is", without neutering by spin doctors or PR experts. Needless to say (actually, probably needful to say) this article is its author's responsibility and does not in any way commit ISE's policy on UML. In fact we recognize the success of UML and its endorsement by many organizations; as a consequence, we are actively supporting UML use for those of our customers who have adopted the notation. In particular: Our flagship EiffelCase (now integrated into EiffelStudio) analysis and design workbench offers, starting with version 4.3, the option of a UML look-and-feel, as an alternative to its traditional BON (Business Object Notation) look-and-feel, which will of course continue to be supported.

As a result of our cooperation with Cayenne Software, we provide a full Eiffel-UML solution thanks to our Cayenne Software's outstanding ObjectTeam UML CASE environment . So please do not draw any hasty conclusions from this little pamphlet. But do shed a tear or two as you discover the tragic yet true adventures of poor Candide Smith, so intent to please, and so far out of his luck.

From: Candide Smith, OO-101 student

To: Professor Severa Stern

Subject: My request for a grade change



Dear Professor Stern: The Teaching Assistant for your OO-101 class has instructed me to approach you directly about the D-minus grade I got on my term paper "An evaluation of the proposed Unified Modeling Language (UML)". I hope you will consider changing it to something better -- a plain D perhaps? -- as it would be a real blow to my Grade Point Average, already not in too good shape after that "Fail" you gave me in your last class. (You may remember that in the final exam I wrote "there may have been other things between sliced bread and Java". I now realize how ill-advised that comment was and sincerely apologize if I hurt anyone's feelings.) I realize of course the reason for the D-minus and appreciate your generosity in not being harsher on me. As the T.A. pointed out, there was not anything positive about the UML in my paper! Surely that cannot be right. Everyone says the UML is a breakthrough in software engineering, and who am I to question this? That's why I am not asking you to change my grade just because of the effect on my GPA, although I do hope you will appreciate that it's not nice to lose my Good Student insurance rate, not to mention girlfriends and the like. No, I admit I was wrong and I want to make up for it. There must be something good to say about the UML. And I can assure you I'll remember the lesson: be positive. Whatever the topic, it is always possible to put a favorable spin. This morning's paper even printed an adjective that might be interpreted as not unflattering in an article about Newt Gingrich! Why then not UML? Be positive! So I have followed the T.A.'s advice. For example there might be nice things to say about the notation itself. It might be simple, useful, convincing, easy to learn. And there is indeed such a notation for object-oriented analysis and design, whose entire set of graphical symbols fits on one page yet covers all the basic O-O system description techniques, and which is particularly good at scaling up for the description of large systems: Walden's and Nerson's Business Object Notation (BON) as described in their book [3]. Of course UML has none of these properties. In its attempt to show that it has included everyone's pet ideas, it is a chock-full of symbol after bizarre symbol. Just the "Notation Summary" takes up 60 pages and has its own table of contents! UML is in fact as complex as a big and cryptic programming language, with generous use of "$" and "#" and "-" and "*" and "solid triangles with no tail" and rectangles and diamonds and solid lines and dotted lines and solid ellipses and dotted ellipses and arrows of all kinds and keywords such as "const" and "sorted" (not to be confused with "ordered") and different semantics for a class depending on whether its name appears in roman or italics; but at least a programming language, even the worst of languages, is executable! Here you have to learn all this monstrous complexity just to build diagrams of a possible future system. Which brings the question of seamless development. Once you have your beautiful (or not so beautiful) diagrams, you will want to build a system, unless the budget has already run out on CASE tools (a common occurrence for companies that take the "methodology" hype too seriously, and end up with no money left for real development). But then you have to start over with a programming language to do your real job. And how do you maintain the consistency between the program and the diagrams? Walden and Nerson convincingly discuss this goal of seamlessness (providing a single, continuous process) and reversibility (being able to go back and forth between analysis, design, and implementation). Tools such as EiffelBench and EiffelCase support this concern, but it does not seem to be a concern at all with the UML. But of course anyone using UML must be very smart -- if only to learn all the symbols -- and so will get the analysis right the first time around, then the design right the first time around, and then will never have to change anything in the next ten years of the project's life. Or perhaps UML is for projects whose specifications never change. My grandma told me she had heard about such a project in her youth. I think she said it had something to do with computing the 6th Fibonacci number. Object-oriented? So I have had to look elsewhere for something positive to say about the UML. I am trying really hard and I hope you will take all these efforts into account before turning in the final grades to the administration. (Remember, I am only asking for a D, although of course a C-minus would be most gratefully appreciated.) For example I have tried to see if I could characterize UML as "object-oriented"; we all know this is a great compliment. Fat chance. Of course the authors make the requisite use of "object" and "inheritance" and so on. But a mere glance at the diagrams shows UML for what it is: an extension of entity-relationship modeling. The basic examples show binary and ternary associations, such as (page 16 of [1]) associations between "flight" and "seat" and "person"; this is the exact opposite of object-oriented design, where, as we all know, the world is structured in classes, built around object types, and every operation or property belongs to one class. Surely in object-oriented design you can't have a "passenger" link that treats "seat", "flight" and "person" symmetrically! In an object-oriented system it would belong to one of the classes; that's how you obtain the consistency, simplicity, modularity and reusability of O-O architectures; look at BON or at Eiffel to enjoy the results. The authors of UML know this, of course; to understand why they call UML object-oriented we must appreciate their famous sense of humor. Obviously they meant it in jest. (Is this positive enough?) Further evidence of the joke is provided by the frequent reference to "use cases" as a central element of the method. Back when "use case" was the buzzword of the Web-year I tried to understand what all the fuss was about, and had a hard time until I asked my grandfather, who explained it all to me: it's the new name for the top-down functional design of his adolescence. You look at what the system must do ("use cases"), and deduce the system architecture from that analysis. This is the exact opposite of object-oriented design, which consciously refuses to pay too much attention, during the early phases, to the main function or functions of the system, because they are so subject to change, because they reproduce the behavior of previous systems (those which we are trying to replace with a new system), because they lead to early commitment to the order of operation (the most volatile aspect of the software), and because they focus on superficial properties of a system -- its interface to the rest of the world -- rather than its fundamental properties. Instead, O-O design concentrates on the types of objects manipulated by the system, and defines each one of these types through the list of all applicable operations and their abstract properties -- contracts -- regardless of order of application. My grandpa added that he was glad that use cases were present in the UML, because they brought up memories of the good old days and he had never liked that object stuff anyway. (I think this is a positive comment.) Finding a use for UML Obviously the UML will not be useful to any software developer. Could it perhaps be useful to someone else? Project managers, perhaps? Company executives? The companies themselves? Of course not. Indeed the documents make no pretense of such usefulness, and for good reason. It is hard to imagine what benefit a business could get from pages of cryptic diagrams about hazy properties of a poorly understood system. So I am looking further. Sometimes a proposal offers a flawed solution, but it has the merit of posing the right problem. Can we say that about the UML? I hope so, if only because it would help my GPA, and helping my GPA would help me regain myself-esteem, not to mention girlfriends and the like, but I digress. By the way, what problem if any does the UML address? I tried very hard, in the interminable documents on Rational's Web site, to find a description of the problem (which we have been told in our engineering courses should always appear in the introduction of any technical document); I am afraid I cannot really report any useful find. Amanda to the rescue To see what goals could have been pursued, I turned to the term paper of my friend Amanda Lucky, the one that got an A-plus: "Challenges facing the software industry". (By the way, professor, I don't mean to complain but why does Amanda always get the good topics?) That report, very nice I must confess, does a good job of describing the technical obstacles that developers must overcome. Good software must be correct; forget an assertion in a routine, and you can have a $500-million disaster as in the recent Ariane 5 explosion, resulting entirely from a misguided attempt at reusing an Ada routine in the absence of an Eiffel-like assertion mechanism (see the January 1997 issue of IEEE Computer). I don't see anything in UML that helps correctness; some lip service is paid to the notion of contract, but the authors show that they understand nothing of the idea of Design by Contract (for example, they mix up semantic requirements with simple type declarations!). Good software must be robust; how does UML help? Good software must be easy to change (Amanda calls this "extendibility"); but the heavy apparatus of UML all but guarantees that developers who have been able to produce any system description at all will be scared to death of changing anything. Good software must be reusable; nothing in UML addresses the challenges of reuse, such as standardization of interface conventions, option-operand separation, command-query separation and so on. Good software must be efficient -- oh, sorry, this is implementation-related, and we don't talk about implementation in polite company. (If UML addressed implementation it would have to address software issues; the good thing about bubbles and arrows, as opposed to programs, is that they never crash.) Instead, the UML documents seem to have just one aim: again and again to convince the reader that they are not omitting any of the buzzwords, as in this extract, page 31 of [2], which tries to explain that patterns are interesting but covered by the authors' own concept of "interaction diagram", whatever that is (I couldn't figure it out): The interesting aspect of many patterns is their dynamic behavior. We can certainly show this with interaction diagrams, but only in the context of a specific model; it is harder to keep the "patternness" of the patterns open. Finally patterns are templates, in a sense, in which classes, associations, attributes and operations might all be mapped into different names which [I wonder if this should be "while"?] keeping the essence of the pattern; we need a way to clearly parameterize the patterns. Nevertheless we feel that we have enough facilities to capture patterns within the UML by expressing them in terms of interactions. Frankly, who is interested in such mumbo-jumbo? How can anyone believe that it has anything to do (even "in a sense") with the software industry? And I haven't even quoted the stuff about the "metamodel". Maybe you could ask Amanda to devote her next term paper to "patternness". Talk about challenges. A friend who was at an object-oriented conference recently told me of all the UML jokes that O-O experts -- some of the most respected people in the field -- were trading during the breaks and in the back of the rooms. He couldn't believe the contrast between the public hype and the private disparagement. But CEOs and other decision makers only hear the hype; they are told that UML is object-oriented, or more often that object-oriented means UML. When it fails to help their software development, UML will give a bad name to the whole O-O field. Given the marketing blitz around it, UML, by not delivering on its promises, has the potential of delaying the progress of object technology by ten years. The answer at last? So, professor, what can I say, what can I say? I went to the T.A. and asked her if "Rational's home page has really nice colors" would do. But she said no, I have to find something of substance. I tried "at least in the latest revision they gave up calling their stuff a method, which shows that they have some sense of ridicule". It didn't pass muster either. So I looked and looked, and finally -- I am so excited -- I found it! Yes! UML has a purpose after all! The reason I did not discover it earlier is that it only appears in the conclusion. A strange place to describe what one was trying to write about all along, but better than no place at all. Of course what I found is not a technical goal (UML, as I said already, serves no software-related purpose whatsoever, and that's fine with me -- some people have better things to do with their lives than trying to improve software technology). It is not a managerial goal, at least not for people managing software projects. It is not a business goal, at least not for any business using UML. But it is a goal. When I finally discovered that goal, I was almost driven to tears by the authors' noble and generous spirit. It would be unfair to say that the piles of UML documentation are empty of any substance, when in fact they contain one genuine idea. I found it in the very last paragraph of the very last report describing the 0.91 revision [2]. There it was in all its openness, explaining everything I had theretofore misunderstood in my youthful naivete. How could I criticize the method for not helping software developers or managers, when it does not care about software development at all, but only about developing a market for consultants and trainers? Everything started to make sense: the complexity and bizarreness of the notation, which I had foolishly taken for a deficiency, are in fact among its most attractive qualities, since they make for endless business opportunities, for Rational and perhaps even for others as well; so does its lukewarm adoption of object-oriented ideas, since it means a consultant does not even have to like or understand object technology to profit from UML. My long search had not been in vain. It had led me to a full appreciation of the UML, this admirable self-feeding machine, devoted from A to Z to the creation of a new market, free of any of the difficulties associated with the unpleasant business of software development: UML books! UML courses! Courses on the books! Books on the courses! Books on the books! Introductory courses to prepare for the advanced courses! Courses for those who teach the courses! Revisions! UML journals! Conferences! Workshops! Tutorials! Standards! Committees! T-shirts! The more you think about the possibilities, the more dazzling they look. And for any reader brave or bored enough to read the documents to the end, the grand scheme is all there, laid out in the final paragraph. Everything was coming into place. With the air of inevitability that reveals the genuine masterpiece, in all the glory of the document's inimitable style, the last six lines suddenly gave sense to the hundreds of vacuous pages before them: There are several public courses, and we know of several other books that are being written that address different aspects of the UML, all based on our previous preliminary publications. We hope for widespread tool support, training courses, and consultant usage in the future. We strongly encourage this kind of support [How good of you to encourage support for your own products! What selflessness!] and we will work with authors, trainers and consultants to ensure that their questions are addressed so that there will be wide-spread and consistent support for the UML. Hoping for your favorable attention to my request, Yours respectfully, Candide Smith References [1] Rational Software Corporation: 0.8 version of the Unified Method: Notation Summary, at http://www.rational.com. [2] Rational Software Corporation: 0.91 Addendum to the Unified Modeling Language, at http://www.rational.com. [3] Kim Walden and Jean-Marc Nerson: Seamless Object-Oriented Software Architecture: Analysis and Design of Reliable Systems, Prentice Hall, 1995.


Caring about Gods abundantly lavish Earth is our responsibility for being good stewards of creation. Each one of us can make a difference to impact global warming and a clean environment. The environmental damage we are experiencing these days  polluted air, massive hurricanes, droughts, wild fires  are enhanced by the unfortunate reality of man-produced carbon in our atmosphere.

That carbon will only increase if we do not address excess carbon, in large part produced by deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels.

The good news is that there are solutions. Forward thinking companies, technologies and organizations are making a difference. Solar energy and wind energy are now as cheap as fossil fuel energy. We can encourage more production of those by supporting politicians who believe in climate change. We can also reduce our energy use, by carefully insulating and sealing our homes and work places, and/or by considering installing solar panels. Check the solar possibilities at the nyserda.ny.gov website and look for 4 easy ways to make the move to solar energy.

To have an even greater impact on your carbon footprint, consider aligning your money with your environmental values. Big banks (Chase, CITI, Capital One, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Barclays) all use your money to support climate destruction. Instead, choose a local credit union or local bank who invest your money in your community. Find them at greenamerica.org/get-a-better-bank. Find a credit card that promotes and invests in green technologies, Beneficial State Bank being one. Consider getting a new insurance quote. Insurance companies have huge holdings in fossil fuels, Liberty Mutual being the largest. And find green long term investments at GreenAmerica.org or asyousow.org. All of these suggestions are clearly explained with graphs, comparisons, and specific information at www.rivers-mountains-greenfaith.org/divest-invest-workshop. This document has all the information you need to make intelligent financial choices that will reduce your moneys impact on the environment and and set you on a course that is supporting the types of organizations that care about a cleaner world and green corporate responsibility.

To simply enjoy the wonders of our creation, consider attending the one-hour MasterWorks Chorale Fall Concert at 4 p.m. Oct. 23 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Auburn. The 45-voice chorale will sing with masks (a surprisingly effective sound) featuring music of a beautiful living world  in praise of earth, water, sky, and stars with a PowerPoint of images of our abundantly beautiful earth. See masterworkscny.org for more information.
If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here.

PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

- Air Products & Chemicals Inc. plans to invest a half-billion dollars to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen in New York state.

- The Trexlertown Chick-Fil-A plans to add a second drive-thru lane as part of a plan to reduce traffic congestion.

- The Harrisburg-based Mid Penn bank has opened its first full-service branch in the Lehigh Valley in South Whitehall.

- The Allentown Planning Commission put off a decision on a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at the site of the former Nostos Greek restaurant.

- The former Star Crete concrete plant at the intersection of Farmersville Road and Easton Avenue has been sold for $1.58 million, and that may clear the way for a medical office building.

- The local business SuperSets Gym will open its third location in Allentown's South Mall, with no opening date set yet.

- The jewelry boutique Versant will close later this year, but the business will be consolidated at Gary Werkheiser's other location in Saucon Valley Square.

- The DSW Woodmill Commons has moved to Berkshire West, 1101 Woodland Road in Wyomissing.

- Trainer Michael Melendez has opened his new Reading Extreme Boxing Club where PacSun used to operate in the Berkshire Mall.

- Frackville NAPA Auto Parts held a grand opening with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Frackville Business & Professional Association.

- Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in North Manheim Township held a grand opening, in conjunction with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Pottsville Business Association.

- PDC Machines, a maker of hydrogen compressors, showed off a new plant in Lower Salford.

- Maya Capital Partners has acquired Amwell Valley Self Storage, a 265-unit storage business on Route 31 in Ringoes, New Jersey.

- Norwescap is buying the former Sullivan's on the Main restaurant in Phillipsburg to renovate the building and then use it for programs to help educate and feed people.
This article is being co-published with The Imprint, a national nonprofit news outlet covering child welfare and youth justice. Visit imprintnews.org to see more of its coverage.

When New York started treating older teens as children and not adults in the eyes of the law, one public defender was relieved she no longer had to tell parents their children were headed to Rikers Island. But an upstate district attorney insists the 2017 Raise the Age law needs changing, and that failing to do so is a disservice to people who are actually in the business of keeping communities safe.

On Thursday, New Yorks top juvenile justice officials, judges, social workers, prosecutors and child advocates gathered at Syracuse University to discuss the statewide justice reform that funnels most 16- and 17-year-olds who commit crimes into Family Court and age-appropriate detention facilities. The series of daylong panels was convened by a commission focused on promoting racial and ethnic fairness in the state court system, and the universitys law school.

The fact that I dont have to tell a child hes going to Rikers Island for committing a minor offense, that takes away a huge burden, said participant Deborah Rush, the public defender from the Bronx. The fear I used to see in parents faces, telling them their kids going to Rikers Island as a young child, you never want to be in that position.

Throughout the day, it became clear that even those who had been among the most vocal critics of the juvenile justice reform supported the laws fundamental goals. They also shared broad agreement that the state had fallen short in funding the landmark initiative, which was premised on more supportive human services and less punitive jail time.

Something we should keep in mind and never forget, is that we removed 459 youth from adult jails, said Robert Maccarone, a deputy commissioner with the states Division of Criminal Justice Services who oversees probation. After a four-decade career leading corrections and justice policy statewide, he asked: Would you want your 17-year-old daughter or son in adult jail? The answer is emphatically, no.

Still, in a climate of increased violence nationwide, and heated statewide political campaigns where violence has been a prominent theme, influential prosecutors voiced sharp disagreements with Maccarone and others on whether the 2017 law had contributed to rising youth gun crime.

It is a disservice to people who are actually in the business of keeping communities safe, to reject outright this idea that this law is not contributing to violence and what were seeing happen on the streets, said Albany District Attorney David Soares, urging reforms to the law with regard to gun possession.

State figures show that youth arrests for all crimes outside of New York City declined for the ninth consecutive year in 2021, falling by 12.5%. Youth arrests also remained a small share of overall arrests, at roughly 4%.

But data presented at the daylong event hosted by the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission also revealed that youth arrests for gun crime have surged 229% statewide since 2019.

The Raise the Age reform diverted the vast majority of non-violent cases involving 16- and 17-year olds from adult criminal court to Family Court. It also barred minors from incarceration in adult facilities, a move that followed years of abuses documented in news media reports and federal investigations.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark spoke of the need to stop the pipeline, by providing more and better prevention services to teens through the Family Courts. She described one current case where an 11-year-old was shot, the alleged shooter was 15, the alleged shooters accomplice was 18, and the intended target was just 13 years old.

In the Bronx, Im losing a whole generation of kids, she said.

Youth with experience in the justice system did not speak on panels Thursday, which several participants described as unfortunate.

But court officials, scholars and youth advocates sharply disputed prosecutors arguments that Raise the Age was to blame for the increase in gun violence, noting such crimes had increased even in states that did not pass juvenile justice reforms.

It is not factual that the rise in crime is attributed to Raise the Age legislation. Its not facts, said Kercena Dozier, executive director of the Childrens Defense Funds New York chapter.

Attorney Rush, who oversees youth legal defense in Bronx criminal court for the Legal Aid Society, suggested pandemic-era school closures have played a role.

The biggest problem for us were the kids not going to school, she said. But now, she added, theyre back in school and social service providers can enter their homes, allowing them to do community-based prevention programs.

The Thursday event was the most in-depth public consideration of Raise the Age since the spring, when New York lawmakers considered  and then mostly rejected  rolling back portions of the law involving youth charged with simple gun possession. Following public debate involving Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Senate and Assembly leaders and prosecutors, lawmakers ultimately declined to make any major changes to the law this year.

But pushback on the reform continues. The same day as the Syracuse event, Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for governor, held a press conference where he vowed, if elected, to promptly suspend the Raise the Age and other justice reform laws, sparking critical response from Democratic lawmakers.

State lawmakers walked away

Numerous speakers at Thursdays convening argued that not nearly enough state funding has materialized to support programs and juvenile detention beds needed to handle the influx of older teens into the juvenile system. A February report in The Albany Times-Union found that just $270 million out of $800 million allocated for Raise the Age reforms since 2017 had been spent by the beginning of the year.

A spokesperson for the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)  which oversees juvenile corrections and has implemented Raise the Age in collaboration with the Criminal Justice Services agency  told The Imprint that changes had been made to move money more quickly since the February article was published.

The state has now spent $325 million on Raise the Age reforms, despite the fact that the pandemic and a workforce shortage has inhibited its rollout plans.

OCFS has streamlined the plan submission and approval process and continues to provide technical assistance to any county seeking reimbursement for services and programs under the Raise the Age allocation," said Jeannine Smith. She added that her agency remained fully committed to reimbursing counties fully for their implementation costs, as required by law.

But those inside the justice system remain frustrated.

The state Legislature passed a law and then walked away from this issue, did not give the resources to our Family Court judges, to our prosecutors, to probation, to defense attorneys, to have the programs in place that would have a more meaningful outcome, said Michael McMahon, district attorney for New York Citys Staten Island.

McMahons co-panelists  which included prosecutors Soares and Clark  echoed that position, and several youth advocates agreed.

Were giving them ankle monitors, and theyve said: Hey, good luck, said Soares, who has made repeated calls to roll back Raise the Age for youth arrested for gun possession.

Judges on a separate panel noted the racial disproportionality of those they see every day in the Family Court and the Youth Part of the adult criminal courts. They raised concerns about their education and how far they seem to be falling behind.

Too many of those young, Black males are not in school, said Onondaga County Judge Vanessa Bogan.

Judges also noted that counties outside Albany and Buffalo were struggling due to a lack of detention space, requiring youth to be sent to facilities hours away.

Were trying to detain, and we dont have a bed, said Albany County Family Court Judge Richard Rivera, describing one teenager who was sent hours away from his home in the Albany area to a detention facility near Rochester.

NY counties, including Cayuga, struggle with lack of detention beds for teenagers Pandemic-driven delays in construction, staffing shortages and lengthy pretrial stays for adolescent offenders have slowed down the ability to create more bed space, NY official say.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services Maccarone pushed back on speakers who took issue with a lack of funding for Raise the Age reforms. He highlighted a battery of new programs  including evening centers, juvenile accountability boards, mentoring, mediation and therapies.

We recognized the essential themes that change is possible  and in fact, its likely, Maccarone said. Accountability, yes, but accountability does not change thinking, and it does not change behavior. Understanding, cognitive behavioral interventions, thats what changes behavior.
Zach George, age 19, is a second-year student in mechatronics at Minnesota State College Southeast. But he says the first thing that happens when he tells anyone hes a mechatronics major is that people ask him what it is.

Nobody seems to really know what mechatronics means. I just tell them its about industrial automation and machinery  maintaining it, repairing it and designing it. And I explain all the available career paths, Zach said.

He continued, Automation means any type of industrial machinery that can work independently using its own brains. All it needs is needs is someone to start and stop it. Once it is programmed, it can do anything its made for more effectively, efficiently, and quickly than you can do it by hand.

Mechatronics is just one of seven programs that will be showcased at Trades and Technical Career Night on Monday, Oct. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the colleges Winona campus.

Trades and Technical Career Night is a great opportunity for high school students and their parents or guardians to explore several different, very affordable technical programs on the Winona campus, said Calvin Clemons, the colleges director of trade and technology. They can tour our high-technology labs, meet our instructors and speak with local industry representatives about career opportunities.

Programs featured at the open house include computer aided design, construction technology, CNC machine tool, electronics/biomedical technology, mechatronics and welding.

Manufacturing is a critical part of Southeast Minnesotas economy. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Manufacturing is the second largest employing industry in Southeast Minnesota, with 660 businesses providing almost 36,000 jobs.

Prior to joining the college a few years ago, I spent over 30 years in advanced manufacturing, said Clemons. I know first-hand that industry has so many exciting career path opportunities in areas such as production operations, engineering, maintenance, supply chain, accounting/finance and sales. The demand for workers is extremely high and the pay scale is very good, with average wages of $66,750, which is 13% higher than other industry averages.

Calvin also noted that the job placement rate for students graduating from MSC Southeasts trade and technical programs is almost always 100%. In fact, in many cases, students start their careers before they graduate. Some of our students work part time and go to school part time, with their companies providing partial or full tuition reimbursement.

Zach George is already working 40 hours per week at Kwik Trip as a maintenance tech while going to college, and he is guaranteed employment there after he graduates.

At the dairy plant we have filling machines, forklifts, packaging and labeling machines, and plant-wide transportation equipment like conveyors. Basically, maintenance techs like me get called out when theres an issue. Well go out and take a look at it, and fix it and make it right.

Bradley Bishop graduated from Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau in 2021 and is now in his second year at Minnesota State College Southeast in the CNC machine tool program.

The students have been learning how to use CNC (computer numerical control) and manual lathes and mills. They also work with 3D printing, using both filament based and resin printers.

Bradley said the projects the students are tackling this year are interesting and challenging. For example, we started with a tool that that is used to bend tubing to make bicycles. We took the tool apart, reverse engineered it, programmed and made 3D models of the pieces, and then made a set of new parts.

Like Zach in mechatronics, Bradley is already employed in his career field. Ill graduate in the spring and continue working at Fastenal, he said. Ive always liked working with my hands, and I enjoy CNC machine tool a lot  its like a brain teaser.

I do enjoy the work environment, said Zach. I get a really good sense of pride when Im actually able to fix something on my own.

Whats more, said Bradley, the bottom line is simple. There is a lot of need for people in trades and technical careers. You can get out of college and start making good money before you know it!

Students are encouraged to register in advance to attend Trades and Technical Career Night for a chance to win a $250 scholarship to attend the college. And for students who apply for admission and enroll at the event, there is a chance to win a second $250 scholarship.
Click the photo and watch the video.

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua)  The Communist Party of China (CPC) will open its 20th national congress on Sunday, an event of momentous significance to China's epic journey toward modernity.

The congress will envision the two stages toward building a great modern socialist country in all respects and set out strategic tasks and major measures for the next five years, Sun Yeli, spokesperson for the congress, said Saturday.

"We have the confidence, resolve and capability to meet new goals and create greater miracles on the way forward," Sun told a press conference.

A new CPC Central Committee and a new CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection will be elected at the congress. The CPC Constitution will be amended.

More than 2,000 delegates will attend the congress, representing more than 96 million CPC members.

Journalists attend a press conference held by Sun Yeli, spokesperson for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. [Xinhua/Chen Yehua]

The Party has established Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and defined the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

This reflects the common will of the Party, the armed forces, and Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and is of decisive significance for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and for driving forward the historic process of national rejuvenation.

In the modernization drive, China is following its own path under the leadership of the CPC, which celebrated its centenary last year.

The country has applied a new development philosophy featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development.

China's model offers an inspiration to nations who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence.

Delegates from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China arrive in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 13, 2022. [Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei]

The congress comes at a time when the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, and a new phase of uncertainty and transformation.

Amid headwinds, China remains an important anchor of stability and driving force of global economic growth.

"The Chinese economy has strong resilience, great potential and robust vitality, and the fundamentals for its long-term positive growth remain unchanged," Sun said.

China has implemented the new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other.

Fostering the new development paradigm will generate lasting momentum for the long-term development of the Chinese economy as well as the steady recovery of the world economy, Sun said.

"China will unswervingly advance opening-up to cover more fields in a broader scope and at a greater depth," the spokesperson said.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become a well-received international public good and an important platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Over the past nine years, China has signed BRI cooperation documents with over 140 countries and more than 30 international organizations, Sun said.

Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2022 shows the reporter workspace of the press center for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, capital of China. [Xinhua/Yin Gang]

Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era since the Party's 18th national congress in 2012.

In many ways, the past decade has been an unusual and extraordinary journey for China, the world's second-largest economy and most populous country.

China's GDP expanded by an average annual rate of 6.6 percent between 2013 and 2021, compared to 3.7 percent growth in developing economies and just 2.6 percent of global growth.

China had secured a complete victory in its fight against poverty, lifting close to 100 million people out of poverty in eight years.

"This had never been achieved in the Chinese history and it is a miracle in the human history as well," Sun said.

In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, China has managed to protect the health and safety of the people to the greatest extent possible and achieved the best results in the world in coordinating economic development with the COVID-19 response.

China's measures to tackle the COVID-19 epidemic are the most cost-effective and have worked the best for the country, Sun said.

Today, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process, but as Xi has often cautioned, it will be no easy task.

Addressing a study session of provincial and ministerial-level officials in late July, Xi said that achieving national rejuvenation will be no walk in the park, and it will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there.

Xi called for resolve to undertake a great struggle with many new contemporary features, and readiness to work even harder toward the goal of national rejuvenation.

An editorial to be published by the People's Daily on Sunday says the congress will make plans and arrangements for the cause of the Party and the country from a strategic and overall perspective, and guide the entire nation to break new grounds for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

On the new journey, we will be able to keep firmly in our own hands the destiny of the country's development and progress as long as we stay committed to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promote national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization, the editorial says.

Video reporters: Jiang Lei, Aximu, Wu Changwei, Guo Jun, Adewale Amzat, Nguon Sovan, Van Pov, Wang Feng, Meng Jing, Li Zhenbei; Video editors: Wu You, Zhu Cong, Zhu Jianhui

(Source: Xinhua)
The ocean has long been a place of great danger and mystery throughout the existence of mankind. Even in contemporary times, traveling through deep water and rough seas continues to be an arduous and challenging venture.

The tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912 is undoubtedly the most famous maritime disaster to date. However, there are plenty of other instances that either rival or even dwarf the Titanic in terms of destruction or human loss. Here are seven maritime disasters more tragic than the titanic.

Camarina (249 BC)

Coast of Sicily. Image credit: Memory Catcher via Pixabay

During the First Punic War, the Roman Republic and Carthaginians were vying for naval supremacy in the Mediterranean Sea. Both nation's fleets clashed along the coasts of Sicily, Sardinia, and North Africa.

The Carthaginians had a long seafaring tradition and were able to easily outmatch the Romans on the water. The Romans, as adaptable and tenacious as they were, turned every naval battle into a land battle.

The corvus was a new addition to every ship in the Roman navy. It was a long gangplank that dropped down from the side of the Roman ships to latch onto Carthaginian vessels and then flood them with superior Roman soldiers. But there was a major drawback.

The corvus was heavy and made traversing rough water incredibly treacherous. In 249 BC, a mighty Roman fleet consisting of 280 ships and 100,000 men fell victim to a storm off the coast of Sicily. Only two ships survived.

Sultana (1865)

Steamship. Photo credit: Joshua Michaels via Unsplash.

By the middle of the 19th century, steam power was all the rage. Trains, heavy machinery, and even boats utilized some form of steam engine to operate. The Sultana was no different.

The Sultana was sailing up the Mississippi River when it stopped in Vicksburg to address some issues the boat was having in its boiler room. Instead of properly tending to repairs, the ship's captain J. Cass Mason decided to continue the journey.

Only a few days later, after leaving Memphis, the strained boiler erupted killing 1,195 of the 2,000 passengers onboard. It still remains today the most deadly maritime accident in US history.

Second Battle of Algeciras (1801)

Alegeciras, July 12th, 1801. Image credit: Yale Centre for British Art via Creative Commons

During the Napoleonic Wars of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Britain and France were in near-constant conflict with one another at sea. Spain, an ally of France at the time, was happy to help the French take on the British navy.

On the night of July 12th, 1801 a small Spanish contingent found themselves in a battle with the HMS Superb, a relatively small but nimble ship. Thanks to some ingenious maneuvering from the British captain, the two Spanish ships, the Real Carlos and the San Hermenegildo were unable to stop the British ship from escaping. The Real Carlos even suffered heavy damage from the HMS Superb.

Due to poor visibility caused by nightfall and the chaos of battle, the San Hermenegildo mistook the Real Carlos for the HMS Superb and fired a broadside cannon barrage at almost point-blank range. The Real Carlos responded with its own broadside attack and soon both Spanish ships were trying to destroy one another.

This disaster ended in a devastating explosion after fires reached both ships' central magazines. Almost 1,500 Spanish sailors died.

Halifax Explosion (1917)

Vincent Coleman in Halifax, a passenger ship named after the heroic train dispatcher. Photo credit: Braeson Holland via Pexels.

At the height of the First World War, Halifax Canada faced a city-wide tragedy. A large explosion stemming from a munitions ship decimated the city harbor. The French steamship Mont-Blanc was crossing the Atlantic Ocean to deliver supplies to the war effort in Europe.

The Imo, a Norwegian supply vessel accidentally collided with the French ship causing a series of small fires. Once the fire reached the estimated 2,925 tons of explosives onboard, the ship erupted in a flash. The blast was so powerful that it created a man-made tsunami in the harbor wreaking havoc on the city. Halifax lost almost 2,000 lives, and 1,600 buildings, in addition to the 9,000 injured.

Dona Paz (1987)

Dona Paz, 1984. Image credit: lindsaybridge via Creative Commons

In the late hours of December 20th, 1987 the Dona Paz a Filipino ferry destined for Catbalogan collided with a fuel tanker, the MT Vector. Due to the time of day, most of the passengers were asleep when the collision took place.

The fuel on the tanker quickly caught fire. The blaze then spread to the Dona Paz with astonishing speed. Most passengers awoke in a sudden panic and scrambled to find rescue. The Dona Paz had an insufficient amount of lifeboats and lacked life jackets.

Both the Dona Paz and the MT Victor sank in only a matter of hours. It was later determined by the Supreme Court of the Philippines that the operators of MT Victor were to blame for the incident. The owners of the vessel were operating without a license and with a total disregard for common safety protocols.

The Dona Paz disaster remains to be the most deadly maritime accident in history during peacetime. In total, 4,386 people died.

MV Le Joola (2002)

MV Le Joola, 1991. Image credit: Yaambo via Creative Commons

On September 26th, 2002 the MV Le Joola, a ferry owned and operated by the Senegalese government capsized off the coast of The Gambia. The ferry was sailing above capacity when it ran into a storm.

The MV Le Joola was also said to be lacking the proper safety equipment like life rafts and life jackets. Out of the 2,000 people onboard, only 64 survived.

The tragic sinking of the MV Le Joola remains the second most deadly maritime incident only surpassed by the Dona Paz.

Costa Concordia (2012)

Collision of Costa Concordia, 2012. Image credit: Rvongher via Creative Commons

The cruise ship Costa Concordia met an untimely end off the rocky coast of Giglio Island in Italy. Fitted with all the luxuries expected of a cruise ship, some members of the media had referred to the ship as the Titanic of the 21st century.

The ship tore an enormous hole in the side of its hull when captain Francesco Schettino, performed a "salute" to onlookers on shore. This maneuver caused the Costa to venture too close to the shore and collide with rocks hidden in the shallow water.

It is believed that the ship steered too close to shore after a breakdown in communication between the mostly Italian crew and the Indonesian helmsman who spoke neither Italian nor English.

Schettino then continually downplayed the life-threatening damage and refused to order his passengers to abandon the ship until it was too late. The captain faces more than 16 years in prison for his part in the disaster, but 34 people needlessly died due to the incompetence of Schettino and the crew.

Stay Safe

The ocean is still a dangerous place. Despite the constant improvements made in maritime safety, accidents do happen. Whenever on board a seafaring vessel, it is paramount to familiarize yourself with the location of life-saving equipment like lifeboats and life jackets.
US President Joe Biden announces student loan relief on August 24 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC.
North Wales MS calls for action amid concern over a lack of Changing Places

A North Wales MS has called for action following concerns of North Wales group TCC, Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru  Together Creating Communities over a shortage of Changing Places.

Changing Places are fully accessible toilets for disabled people, with equipment such as hoists, privacy screens, adult-sized changing benches, peninsula toilets and space for carers. However there are concerns that there are still only 50 across the whole of Wales.

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Isherwood raised the shortage with First Minister Mark Drakeford and asked when the Welsh Government will increase the number.

He said: Key to the delivery of the Equality Act 2010 is the availability of Changing Places fully accessible toilets, designed so that everyone, regardless of their access needs or disability, or reliance on the assistance of carers or specialist equipment, can use a toilet facility with dignity and hygienically.

TCC, Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru  Together Creating Communities, a group of dedicated community leaders from organisations across Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire, have joined together to take action on the issue of Changing Places Toilets.

They say that, despite assurances regarding their provision over successive Welsh Governments, going back two decades, including by some who are still Ministers in this Welsh Government, there are still only around 50 Changing Places Toilets in the whole of Wales.

They point out that, although the UK Government has launched a Changing Places toilets programme, with a dedicated 30 million fund for Local Authorities in England, all weve heard from the Welsh Government so far is that officials are undertaking analysis of the results of a consultation on Changing Places Toilets and Baby-Changing facilities in publicly accessible buildings.

So, when will the Welsh Government enable people in Wales who are not able to use standard accessible toilets to have their basic human needs and equality rights met; to enjoy a day out without the stress of worrying about accessing toilet facilities; and thereby to increase their independence and overall health and well-being?

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: The responsibilities in this area lie with local authorities, and the Welsh Government funds local authorities to discharge those responsibilities.

I dont disagree with the analysis that Mark Isherwood has set out, and, as he says, Welsh Government officials are tracking the money that has been made available to local authorities to see the extent to which they have been able to use that funding to advance the availability of facilities for children, as well as adults, so that those inhibitions on being able to take part in ordinary activities, which otherwise would be there, are eroded.
This week's column was submitted by Chris Gutelius, archivist, board vice president and cellist with the Legendar Auburn Chamber Orchestra, which has a special concert coming up. Thanks, Chris!

Auburn Chamber Orchestra will be performing the first concert of the 2022-23 concert season at 2 p.m. Oct. 23 at Merry-go-Round Playhouse in Emerson Park in Owasco. Admission is free with donations accepted at the door. The concert theme is "Overture to the Dance," featuring well-known orchestral selections conducted by Victor Vallo Jr.

ACO was founded 36 years ago when 48 musicians were recruited by press releases and personal contacts. One of the first violinists, Harold Henderson, was very well known as the founder in 1949 of the musical group called Vochestra. (Harold is seated in the first stand of the violins in the 1986 article from The Citizen). Harold was delighted that Auburn once again had an orchestra! Rehearsals started in September and the premiere performance was held November 1986 at East Middle School in Auburn.

Funding for the first concert season came from a New York State Council on the Arts decentralization grant and donations at the door. In the years since then, support from patron donations, program advertising, grants from foundations and donations at the door have made it possible to meet the orchestras expenses without an admission charge for concerts.

Over the years, ACO has performed concerts that appeal to a diverse audience, including classical, holiday and popular music selections. Between 40 and 50 musicians (depending on the instrumentation required for each concert) volunteer their time for weekly rehearsals. Musicians range in age from teens to senior citizens and come from Auburn and surrounding communities. The adult musicians are employed in many different professions (including medical, legal, educational, business, engineering, construction and food service). Students from central New York school districts also are a valuable part of the orchestra. Students who plan to attend college and who meet ACO performance requirements are eligible for a college scholarship when they graduate from high school. The orchestra is offered as a credit course at Cayuga Community College to students who qualify by audition.

Collaboration with other arts groups has produced memorable performances, including the following: Performances of Tchaikovskys "The Nutcracker" in conjunction with the Hardenberg Dance School; an Americana concert with Auburn Mayor Guy Cosentino narrating Coplands "A Lincoln Portrait"; La Festa di Musica Italiana, a concert of Italian music featuring soloists from the Syracuse Opera Company and selections by the Three Tenors of Auburn; Musical Tribute to Harriet Tubman with vocal selections by The Peoples AME Zion Church choir from Syracuse; Christmas Joy featuring vocalists from MasterWorks Chorale, Auburn Community Chorus and Auburn Public Chorus; "Peter and the Wolf" with narration by Merry-Go-Round Playhouse Youth Theatre actors; Gilbert and Sullivans "HMS Pinafore" with Auburn Players Community Theatre vocalists; and Music Inspires Art with live painting by Tim Amory as the orchestra was performing.
A few years ago, Colorado sculptor Leah Aegerter accompanied some friends on a life-changing trip to the Grand Canyon.

During what she described as a nine-day fast-paced trek through off-trail stretches of the canyon, Aegerter found that her up-close-and-personal introduction to the Grand Canyon was clarifying and inspiring. Unexpectedly, in execution, this inspiration would lead Aegerter back to the famous canyon for an even more intimate encounter.

I was really inspired by the diversity of geology here, Aegerter said. After that trip in the Spring of 2020, I started this process of 3D scanning and then reproducing those scans.

Aegerter left the Grand Canyon for the first time and was inspired to capture the life in geological features throughout the Southwest, using a scanning technique known as photogrammetry. In the Rocky Mountains surrounding her hometown in Carbondale, CO and among southern Utahs sandstone structures, the sculptor honed her craft digitally then artistically captured the landscapes as moments in a geological lifespan.

Hoping to capture these natural and not-so-fleeting moments as accurately as possible, Aegerter deploys her background in digital fabrication. She explained that utilizing equipment like a 3D printer to produce something physical first requires the creation of a model. Once she develops a model, Aegerter said she can go along with the other stages of her process.

Typically, Aegerters models assist in her creation of sculptures carved from wood and replicated in digitally scanned landscapes. With six years of work under her belt, the artists photogrammetry-to-sculpting technique is distinctive.

Now, having started her residency, Aegerter spoke about getting her footing and figuring out what her creative process looks like in the canyon. After all, the Grand Canyon isnt your typical workplace-environment.

Continuing her work with photogrammetry, the sculptor is also applying the same techniques of her signature process and incorporating an altogether new-to-her medium paper. From start to finish, Aegerter has detailed her creative workflow by making her way into the canyon to digitally catalog the rock formations shapes and textures while simultaneously noting the vibes and emotions of her experience.

Throughout her digital catalog of the canyons geology, Aegerters phone must be prepared with storage to spare, as she explained how a single hike may require thousands of photos of different rocks.

I take a bunch of images of [one] rock from all different angles, so maybe 250 images, Aegerter said. Then, I use those photos and load them into a software that generates a 3D model on the computer. Then from there, I 3D print the rock scansand I havent gotten to this part just yet, but the plan is to cast paper into the 3D prints.

While she hasnt worked with paper on her geological sculptures before, Aegerter is enthusiastic about experimenting with the medium. She is making her own paper for the project and explained that her paper pulps are mixed and ready to be casted into the rock-inspired 3D molds.

Im really thinking of [using paper] as a way of documenting and cataloging the textures of the Grand Canyon, Aegerter said. I havent really figured out what the end process will be, but thats what the residency is for.

Consistently taking inspiration from nature surrounding her, Aegerter explained that she yearns for avenues to capture landscapes sculpturally. Without removing or altering natural curves and ridges but also duplicating the structures in a way thats unique to her, Aegerter takes time to develop closeness to her subjects, deepening her connection to her art.

I would say theres something very seductive about seeing the rock textures in new materials, Aegerter said.

On her first trip to the canyon, Aegerter said despite fostering artistic inspiration, she didnt necessarily have an opportunity to connect with the Grand Canyon on that deeper level.

Having begun her residency, Aegerter said opportunities for her to intimately explore the canyon have been populous. Aegerters first few nights beneath the canyon rim during her residency were much, much slower than what she experienced there beforehand.

Being alone really changes my perception of the placemy personal relationship to it, Aegerter said.

She described her process as capturing and developing a relationship with the land at one given moment in geologic historya present moment, as Aegerter experiences it. The Colorado River consistently redesigns the structure of the Grand Canyon. Because of its continuous transformation, the sculptor explained how the landscape feels alive to her.

Approaching the geology from an artistic and visual standpoint, allows Aegerter to center emotions in her sculptural execution. While capturing the landscape of the Grand Canyon, she incorporates feelings like solitude and wholeness into her work.

The artist explained that not everyone can experience moments like the ones she does in the Grand Canyon. For whatever reason art is often a more accessible way for people to experience a place, and consequently, the emotions and vibes that occupy it.

I would hope that people can kind of feel the tenderness within the sculptures and just be able to put themselves in the headspace that I was in when I was capturing that particular 3D scan or building the sculpture, Aegerter said.

So far, Aegerter described a few moments that captured her awemoments that she explained would likely be embedded in her artwork one way or another. She said moments like these are ones that make challenges she faces along the way worth it. Be it obstacles of canyon terrain or digital difficulties, Aegerter said she always finds these special moments beneath the canyon rim.

In general, a whole day would pass and Id be super hot and Id be tired and sweaty and ready to be done with things, Aegerter said. But I always have a moment in the day when Im outside and hiking thats like, this is why I do it.

One specific example where Aegerters physical exertion had been made up in good vibes occurred while hiking the Escalante Trail, past 75-Mile Creek.

The trail skirts around the brim of the canyon and then it drops down into the canyon, Aegerter said. You hike down to the water, to the Colorado River, and the [canyon] walls felt like they were made of these folds of skin. It just felt very much alive in a way Later on that day, I saw a great blue heron from above, swooping down really close to the river for a few seconds before landing on a beach. Being able to observe that moment of silence is important to me.

Throughout her time exploring the canyon, Aegerter said her goal is to continue seeking moments where she sees and feels how alive the Grand Canyon is. Enchanted by the desert landscape, Aegerter expressed that she is not concerned about the potential for scarcity of such magical moments.

Additionally, she expressed gratitude for Grand Canyon Conservancys artist in residence program, as Aegerter also explained she will be leaving her residency with scans and memories galore to continue sculpting the story of her relationship with Grand Canyon. Because she knows developing this project as much as she would like is attainable, Aegerter said she will be taking her residency to slow down, appreciate where she is and develop her intimate and accurate sculptures telling one portion of the canyons story.
WASHINGTON  Emulating Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for governor of Arizona repeatedly refused to say Sunday whether she would honor the results of her election  if she lost.

"I'm going to win the election and accept that result," Kari Lake said twice on CNN's "State of the Union."

Lake is among this election's most prominent "election deniers," Republicans who agree with Trump's false claims about his loss in the 2020 election and suggest they may file protests of their own after the November elections.

Public interest groups said Trump and his denier acolytes are threats to democracy, sowing distrust in the system because they know they cannot command a majority of voters. They said more protests after the 2022 elections will only fuel doubts about elections, despite mountains of evidence that they are fairly run.

Hundreds of election deniers are on ballots across the country this year.

Election deniers defined:Hundreds of elections deniers running for office nationwide in 2022 pose 'major threat' to U.S. democracy

Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter

Former President Donald Trump watches Republican candidate for governor Kari Lake speak at a Save America rally in support of Arizona GOP candidates on on July 22, 2022, in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano and his lieutenant governor running mate, Carrie Lewis DelRosso, have refused to say they would honor the election results.

"We're not going to lose," DelRosso told a television interviewer from Harrisburg. "I'm a winner."

Arizona Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs, also appearing on CNN, said Lake has produced no evidence of voter fraud.

"This is absolutely disqualifying," said Hobbs, who is secretary of state in Arizona. "This is somebody who will have a level of authority over our state's elections, the ability to sign new legislation into law, the responsibility of certifying future elections."

During her CNN interview, Lake noted that Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams protested her loss in 2018 because of voter suppression concerns. "I don't hear CNN calling her an election denier," Lake said.

Story continues

Election subversion?:Voter 'subversion': Trump Republicans push laws to make it easier to change elections, per report

After the 2020 election, Trump's complaints led to efforts by him and allies to overturn the results, including the insurrection and attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Democrats fear more protests in the future if candidates refuse to abide by the results.

During a fundraiser in Oregon over the weekend, President Joe Biden asked the crowd if they ever thought they'd see political candidates asked, "will you accept the outcome?"

"I'm being deadly earnest," Biden said. "Think about it."

Opinion: Are you aware of the chaos election deniers will bring? Let Kari Lake be a warning siren.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona governor candidate Kari Lake may not honor election results
In the upcoming Nov. 8 election, Flagstaff will be tasked with electing four city councilmembers and one mayor. On the mayoral ballot are two candidates: incumbent Paul Deasy and Becky Daggett, the former vice mayor.

In the interest of helping readers become more acquainted with these candidates, the Arizona Daily Sun sat down with Deasy and Daggett to ask them about their background and their ambitions for the office of Flagstaff mayor.

Paul Deasy

Deasy moved to Flagstaff with his family when he was 12 years old. Since that time, he has started a family of his own and is currently raising four children.

Deasy holds two masters degrees in economics and political science, the latter of which he completed as a graduate research fellow with the National Science Foundation.

During that research term, I was involved in data-driven decision making around policies at the federal level to respond to economic crisis, Deasy said.

After completing the program, he went on to work as a research and business intelligence analyst for Northern Arizona University, where he was tasked with providing data-driven decision making proposals to senior leadership to increase retention rates at the university and help create more diversity in STEM majors.

When asked why he has focused his career on analytics, Deasy answered, because that's how the best decisions are made.

We can talk about what we feel is going to happen, he said But assessing and understanding what went well, what did not go well, helps better inform how we create policies to really impact our policy goals.

In this way, Deasy said, analytics are a transferable skill able to inform many local-level governmental decisions, from housing to stormwater management, transportation and development.

Being able to analyze and do research simply creates better policy, he said.

When it comes to how Deasy would like to create better policy with a second term as mayor of Flagstaff, he pointed to the citys climate emergency  and its connection to the cycle of fire and flooding  as well as the citys housing emergency.

We have to really address the policies around our fire restrictions and our policies around water conservation in this changing environment, he said. For example, I think we need to be in Stage One fire restrictions yearround.

As far as the city housing emergency goes, Deasy applauded what he sees as innovative ideas from our local nonprofits, such as Anew Livings retrofit of the Route 66 Motel and Habitat for Humanitys shared equity housing program.

These innovative ideas, especially in this quickly changing environment, we need to embrace and act on very quickly, Deasy said. And that's a big thing that I will continue to do as mayor -- is to embrace innovative solutions and help support and partner with nonprofits, private companies, whatever it takes to create more affordable housing.

Aside from addressing these immediate needs, Deasy sees Flagstaff as a place in transition, growing out of its small-town roots into a larger, more dynamic city.

Its critical that as we continue to develop and continue to grow, we keep Flagstaff Flagstaff, he said.

What makes Flagstaff Flagstaff? For Deasy, there are two main factors: friendliness and the outdoors.

That sense of community and behaving in a neighborly fashion can't be lost, he said, nor can the connection not just with each other, but with our environment.

In typical job interview fashion, the Arizona Daily Sun also asked Deasy to identify his strengths and weaknesses. For strengths, Deasy answered tenacity, a trait he believes has been exemplified in his willingness to take action beyond his strict legal authority as mayor.

When things can't necessarily be done at the dais, I will figure out another way, he said. For Deasy, this meant rallying volunteers to place flood-mitigating sandbags when legal bureaucratic issues got in the way, or when he and his wife acted to distribute 250,000 KN95 face masks when city council did not want to get involved in mass distribution.

We took grassroots efforts to address the community concerns, Deasy said of the actions.

As for his weaknesses, Deasy said he can wear his heart on his sleeve too much.

I certainly speak my mind and can be bluntly honest about what I feel on situations and what I'm thinking about, he said. And that sometimes can interfere with the outcomes I wish to seek.

He went on to say that he believes he has been able to change over the past year in regards to this personal weakness.

Look at how well things are working and how well I'm working with our fellow city councilmembers to get things accomplished, he said. There was certainly a learning curve on that front for me.

Becky Daggett

As a child, Daggett spent summers and weekends in Flagstaff because her father ran a construction business in town.

I always knew that I wanted to come to Northern Arizona University, Daggett said. Mostly because I loved Flagstaff.

From NAU, Daggett earned an undergraduate degree in public relations. She went on to earn a masters degree in sustainable communities while also working for local environmental advocacy organization Grand Canyon Trust.

As I was finishing up my degree, Friends of Flagstaffs Future (FFF) was looking for an executive director, she said. She pursued the full-time position and was offered the job, which was a big step for a nonprofit organization that had been essentially just run by volunteers up until that point.

I remember Nat White telling me that they had $3,000 in their bank account, Daggett said. And that I would either make it, or the organization would probably fold.

Daggett made it. Over her 9 1/2-year tenure as executive director, she helped build the organization up to a membership of 1,200 people.

During the course of her time at FFF, Daggett got very involved with land-use planning around the city and participated in campaigns to purchase land on Observatory Mesa, Picture Canyon and other parcels that were used in construction of the Flagstaff Urban Trail System.

Around the same time, I helped lead a countywide campaign to purchase land out at Rogers Lake, Daggett said, as well as some land in Kachina Village, build a park in Tuba City and build the amphitheater out at Fort Tuthill. I got really involved.

Daggetts involvement in regional land planning caught the attention of Arizonas then-governor Janet Napolitano, and Daggett was appointed chair of the governors Growing Smarter oversight council, tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of state laws addressing urban development, land use planning and open-space preservation.

Our main task was to help ensure that all of the communities in Arizona created their own regional plan or some sort of long-range planning for their city, town, county, Daggett said.

After her role at FFF, Daggett went to help launch city offices of business retention and expansion.

My main role was to help local businesses stay here and to grow, she said, noting that the city had just taken on economic development.

It was the building of that program within the city," she added.

From there, Daggett went on to serve as executive director for the Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA).

I think the common theme of everything that I've taken on is that there was a major challenge, she said.

For FALA, that meant finding an entirely new location for the school.

I was with FALA for five and a half years, Daggett said. During that time, we moved the campus, expanded grades and built the enrollment. When I left, enrollment was probably the highest it's ever been.

In 2020, Daggetts high level of involvement and experience with nonprofits, land-use planning and the educational system motivated her to run for city council in order to better serve the needs of the wider community. She won a seat by a high margin and was thus awarded the role of vice mayor.

Soon after, Daggett joined the housing commission, where she helped create Flagstaffs 10-Year Housing Plan.

I'm proud of the final project and I know that plan is going to serve Flagstaff well, she said.

Should she become Flagstaffs next mayor, Daggett said she would like to see policy that safeguards water, air quality and forest health, diversifies transportation, and maintains infrastructure while positioning Flagstaff to take advantage of state and federal funds.

Flagstaff has to make sure that we're always proactive and always ready when those opportunities come up, she said.

Daggett also applauded the various ways Flagstaff has laid groundwork to address local issues in the near future. From the 10-Year-Housing Plan to the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project, the Carbon Neutrality Plan and MetroPlan, Daggett sees that leading Flagstaff in the near term will largely be about making sure existing plans are seen through to their conclusion.

There wouldn't be a policy that I would say, Right now we have to do this, Daggett explained. What I would say is, 'Right now, we have to get these plans finished.'

In her estimation, what Daggett can offer Flagstaff is leadership that helps to get everyone pulling in the same direction.

Having only served on Council for two years before running for mayor, Daggett admits that she may have weakness in the learning curve of local governance. But she sees her strength as an ability to develop solutions to complex problems and build trust between the citizens of Flagstaff and the city council.

I listen to people, I work collaboratively with people, she said. I am able to defuse sometimes volatile situations. I build teams.
Florida State University graduates are recognized as they walk across the stage during the Spring 2022 Commencement Ceremony Saturday, April 30, 2022.

My grandfather came from Jamaica and started his life as a newcomer in Florida working the sugar cane fields until he was able to send for my father as a teenager. When I was growing up, my dad was active duty in the military, but he still had to work nights and weekends in restaurants and retail jobs to support us. I was the first in my family to go to college and, suffice to say, we didnt have the money for tuition. I was on my own.

Im proud to be a graduate of Florida State University. Even with federal loans, it took me about six years to get my degrees because I had to take a break in the middle and work to save money for tuition, but I now have a bachelors degree and two masters degrees.

Since graduating in 2009, Ive been able to pay off about half of my total debt but, even with a good job, its been a struggle to keep up. Too often, the wheels of government turn slowly and its hard to see the real impacts of government policies on our daily lives. But let me tell you, the Biden-Harris Administrations plan for student debt relief will have an immediate and profound impact on me, my family, and more than 2 million other Floridians, not to mention people like us all across the country.

This student debt relief plan is the right move at the right time for more than 40 million borrowers. For me, it will mean erasing just about all of the remaining debt I have and moving me and my family in the unprecedented direction of building generational wealth.

Both of my parents are immigrants. We didnt have much but weve always worked hard, and it feels like a real acknowledgement of that hard work to have President Biden help create the opportunity for our family to get ahead and build something for the future. As is common with Black Americans and first-generation Americans, the money I make is not just for me, it's to help my extended family as well. This is a big deal for all of us.

The Presidents plan will forgive up to $10,000 for many borrowers and up to $20,000 in loans for Pell Grant recipients.

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Florida A&M University recognizes roughly 150 graduates from the class of 2020 during an in-person ceremony at the Lawson Center Saturday morning, July 31, 2021.

This will make a real difference, especially for families like mine, still trying to recover from the pandemic and the economic challenges that came with it. But this is bigger than that. This isnt just about a moment in time. This bold step by the Biden-Harris Administration has the potential to start narrowing the racial wealth gap in our country, especially considering that more than two-thirds of Black and Latino undergraduate borrowers are Pell Grant recipients.

If you have student loan debt, you can visit https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement to find out more about this great plan and how it can benefit you and help your family to get a leg up and start building for a brighter future.

Natasha Sutherland

Natasha Sutherland is the Black Constituencies Communications Director of Florida Watch, a non-profit serving as the Florida progressive community's in-state hub for message development, digital communications, and research. A first-generation American, educator and military spouse, Sutherland graduated from Florida State University in 2015. She has been working in state politics since 2017 and lives in Tallahassee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Building generational wealth with hard work and a helping hand | Opinion
After the death of Mahsa Amini, women around the world share why they chose to give up  or keep  their hijabs

Women in Iran and abroad are fighting for their right to choose after the death of Mahsa Amini.

Amini died in September after Iran's morality police arrested her for not wearing the hijab properly.

3 women share why they've chosen to give up or keep their hijabs, and what the choice meant to them.

Women in Iran and abroad are taking to the streets, burning headscarves and cutting their hair to protest the death of Mahsa Amini in September.

Amini died after Iran's morality police arrested her for failing to wear the hijab correctly. Their fight follows a decades-long history of rising up for a woman's right to choose.

Young women around the world shared with Insider why they chose to give up  or keep  their hijabs, and what the choice meant to them. Some have requested to go by their first names only to protect their privacy.

'The harder they policed it, the less it felt like it was my choice to wear it'

"I grew up in a fundamentalist Muslim family. My mom is a white American and my dad is from Saudi Arabia. We went to the mosque every Friday and did prayer five times a day  we had a speaker system in the house and the alarm would go off for prayer."

"My parents kept me sheltered from the 'outside world.' I was homeschooled my entire life, except for one year in an Islamic academy, and my parents even had a problem with that. I didn't have friends, and grew up around other Muslim families. I wasn't even allowed to talk to male family members."

"I first started wearing the hijab before I was five years old, which is pretty early. When I was seven or eight years old  right after the election of Obama  a lady walked up to me in the grocery store and ranted about the future of the US. She grabbed the front of my hijab and pulled it, ranting to my mom that I was an abomination. I didn't even know what the word meant, but I remember crying. It was one of the most traumatizing events of my life."

"As a child, I just wanted to be like my mom, so I wore my hijab. Instances of bigotry actually made me feel empowered to wear it."

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"But I felt like a walking symbol for my religion in a way my brothers weren't."

"I started rebelling in my teenage years. I'd argue with my parents all the time about whether my pants were too tight, whether my sleeves covered my wrists, whether my hijab was worn correctly. They warned me that God was following me and watching me at all times, and told me I was lucky I could wear pants and not wear a full-length burka."

"The harder they policed it, the less it felt like it was my choice to wear it."

"The protests right now give me hope that there can be a future where women can choose to wear the hijab. It's empowering to have the choice and make it, as opposed to being told it's something you have to do to be seen as any good in the eyes of god."

 Saadia, 21 years old, Tennessee

'I can't imagine my hijab being anything but a choice'

"I started wearing my hijab a month before I turned 14. It is the best decision I made in my life. I have never once regretted it."

"Wearing a hijab has nothing to do with society. I was never forced to wear it. I did it for Allah and for Him alone."

"I did not mind that it exposed me, made me a target even though it still made me afraid. I was willing to fight for it because the hijab became more than just a headscarf. It was a friend, a spiritual connection, a shield. More importantly, it is a statement. My body belongs to me and I get to choose what I can wear. I chose to cover. I will continue to do so."

"I lost count of the negative comments I received online for wearing the hijab, and for being a Muslim in general. I have even been called a terrorist."

"On my first day of college, I was the only Muslim in class. I sat awkwardly with people who were disinterested in my attempts at conversation. The second day was better, and that's when I realized that as a hijabi, first impressions work differently for me. They want to know whether I'm dangerous first before they think to find out if I'm nice."

"The protests in Iran are both heartbreaking and inspiring. I can't imagine my hijab being anything but a choice and it is really disturbing to not only see it being forced on women but also being used as a pathetic excuse to senselessly kill them."

"It is ironic that people would advocate women's rights while demanding that women take off the hijab. And I think people are under the impression that those who continue to wear hijab in the light of what is happening do not care about Iran. That is a big, big misconception. If anything, being a hijabi in a non-Muslim country taught me to empathize more with those who do not have the right to choose like I do."

 Mezka Manaal Mazeed, 20 years old, Sri Lanka

'We don't ask for this pressure, this shame culture'

"My parents were raised in their villages in Afghanistan and came here in the late 70s. Afghan culture played a big role in my day-to-day life growing up, same as a lot of other immigrant children: You have your culture in your house, and then when you leave your house and go to school, you're immersed in American culture."

"I went to an Islamic middle school from third to eighth grade. I learned a lot about my religion, Sunni Islam. We celebrated Eid  Ramadan was a very fun time. When I was younger, I wasn't really aware that something was religious or cultural. It was all just part of my life."

"I had to wear the hijab in middle school as part of my uniform, and for Sunday school at our local masjid. As soon as I came home, I'd take it off. I started wearing it when I was 12 outside of school because my other family members, Afghan neighbors, and friends started wearing it. There was this unspoken sense of community."

"When I started high school and college away from my Muslim friends and family, I began to think, 'Am I wearing it for myself, or am I wearing it because people around me are?' I started wearing it differently, like a turban, then eventually on and off."

"When women wear hijab, they're subjected to this expectation from others. You expect her to have really good morals, to not make mistakes in front of other people, and do all the religious things that a Muslim does. It's a lot for women to take because we don't ask for this pressure, this shame culture."

"I remember the day I didn't wear the hijab to work, a Muslim coworker asked, 'Are you not Muslim anymore?' I was so flabbergasted. How do the two correlate? What does a woman's attire have to do with her faith?"

"Some Muslim women express faith differently. For me, the hijab started to lose its meaning of faith. I wasn't comfortable wearing it because I didn't feel like myself. I finally took it off after deciding that this is my body, and that the only person who knows me the most is myself."

 Naseema, 27 years old, New York

Read the original article on Insider
A New York Times article from the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. JFK Library

The ongoing war in Ukraine and increasingly escalatory rhetoric from Russia has raised fears of nuclear war.

These developments have led to comparisons with the Cuban Missile Crisis, a 13-day standoff between the US and the Soviet Union that could have led to war.

This month marks the 60th anniversary of the crisis.

The ongoing war in Ukraine and heightened tensions between Russia and NATO have caused growing concerns about the possible use of a nuclear weapon, and such concerns have led to some comparisons to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis

The crisis was a period of extreme tension between the US and Soviet Union that could have ended in a nuclear catastrophe but fortunately did not.

In October 1962, a dangerous 13-day standoff took place, with disaster being only narrowly avoided by careful diplomacy when it mattered most. This month marks the 60th anniversary of the missile crisis.

Here's what went down:

Tensions between the US and Cuba escalated in the 1950s after Fidel Castro ousted US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista and culminated with the botched Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961  a year before the missile crisis erupted.

An April 17, 1961 map showing the locations of invading forces. Associated Press

US-backed Cuban exiles had attempted to invade the Bay of Pigs with the goal of overthrowing Castro and the Communist Party, but they were defeated by Castro's military within days.

Cubana de Aviacion airliner burning after being hit by a rocket fired by raiders at Santiago, Cuba in April 1961. Associated Press

Castro made a covert agreement in July 1962 with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to host Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.

Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro, left, is embraced by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 20, 1960. Associated Press/Marty Lederhandler

The move was partly an effort to deter the US from attempting another invasion and partly a way to maximize the Soviet Union's nuclear strike capability. Missile site construction began that summer.

US intelligence soon detected evidence of a Soviet arms build-up in Cuba, including anti-aircraft defense missiles.

President John F. Kennedy opens at a Washington news conference on Sept. 13, 1962, with a lengthy statement on the Cuban situation. Associated Press

President John F. Kennedy released a statement on Sept. 4 condemning the Soviet effort to boost Cuba's military power and said "the gravest issues would arise" should Cuba obtain offensive capability.

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"It continues to be the policy of the United States that the Castro regime will not be allowed to export its aggressive purposes by force or the threat of force. It will be prevented by whatever means may be necessary from taking action against any part of the Western Hemisphere," Kennedy said.

"The United States, in conjunction with other Hemisphere countries, will make sure that while increased armaments will be a heavy burden to the unhappy people of Cuba themselves, they will be nothing more," he added.

An American spy plane on Oct. 14 took photos that clearly showed construction sites for nuclear-armed medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

JFK Library

The standoff officially began on Oct. 16, when President John F. Kennedy was briefed on the photos.

Map of the western hemisphere showing the full range of the nuclear missiles under construction in Cuba, used during the secret meetings on the Cuban crisis. JFK Library

Kennedy, anxious to maintain the appearance that the situation in the White House was business-as-usual, kept up his official schedule but met frequently with advisors to strategize.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff urged Kennedy to launch an air strike followed by a full-on invasion of Cuba, but others called for a naval quarantine instead.

On Oct. 17, more surveillance photos captured evidence additional sites and 16-32 missiles in Cuba. US military units began moving to military bases in the southeastern United States.

A map of Cuba, with a partial listing of Soviet military equipment, used during the President's meetings with political and military advisors. JFK Library

Kennedy, meanwhile, kept up a normal schedule, attending a church service, eating lunch with the Crown Prince of Libya, and traveling to Connecticut to campaign for congressional candidates.

Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko visited Kennedy in the White House on Oct. 18, claiming that the Soviet aid to Cuba did not pose a threat to the US and was merely defensive.

President John F. Kennedy meets with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko, center, in the White House, Oct. 18, 1962. At left is Soviet Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Dobrynin. Associated Press/Harvey Georges

Without revealing that he knew the extent of the nuclear arms build-up in Cuba, Kennedy repeated the warning he issued on Sept. 4, when he said the "gravest issues would arise" should offensive nuclear weapons be found on Cuba.

By Oct. 20, Kennedy and his advisers had decided on a course of action: enforce a naval "quarantine" on Cuba to prevent Soviet military equipment and arms from being delivered.

In this handout from the Department of Defense, Soviet ships are shown inbound to Cuba, purportedly carrying crates containing Ilyushin 28 (Beagle) fuselages as a deckload, Oct. 23, 1962. Department of Defense via Associated Press

The Kennedy administration used the term "quarantine" rather than "blockade," as the latter would have legally implied a state of war. A quarantine, however, allowed the US to continue receiving the support of the Organization of American States, the 35-member continental organization.

On Oct. 22, Kennedy briefed his cabinet, Congress, and the public on the evidence of Soviet missiles in Cuba and announced the naval quarantine.

President John F. Kennedy as he appeared on a television set in New York City Oct. 22, 1962 informing the American people of his decision to set up a naval blockade against Cuba. Associated Press

Kennedy forcefully addressed the public that evening on television, saying the quarantine would remain in place until the missile sites were dismantled and weapons deliveries to Cuba were halted.

He added that any missile attack from Cuba would be interpreted as an attack from the Soviets, and would merit a "full retaliatory response" against the Soviets.

Kennedy said that "this secret, swift, and extraordinary buildup of Communist missiles  in an area well-known to have a special and historical relationship to the United States and the nations of the Western Hemisphere, in violation of Soviet assurances, and in defiance of American and hemispheric policy  this sudden, clandestine decision to station strategic weapons for the first time outside of Soviet soil  is a deliberately provocative and unjustified change in the status quo which cannot be accepted by this country, if our courage and our commitments are ever to be trusted again by either friend or foe."

Kennedy also sent a letter to Khrushchev urging his government not to take action that would "widen or deepen this already grave crisis."

Page 2 of President Kennedy's letter to Premiere Khrushchev, October 22, 1962. JFK Library

"In our discussions and exchanges on Berlin and other international questions, the one thing that has most concerned me has been the possibility that your Government would not correctly understand the will and determination of the United States in any given situation, since I have not assumed that you or any other sane man would, in this nuclear age, deliberately plunge the world into war which it is crystal clear no country could win and which could only result in catastrophic consequences to the whole world, including the aggressor," he wrote in the letter.

Kennedy officially signed Proclamation 3504 on Oct. 23 authorizing the naval quarantine, and the Organization of American States endorsed the action.

October 23, 1962: President Kennedy signs Proclamation 3504, authorizing the naval quarantine of Cuba. JFK Library

Kennedy then requested that Khrushchev halt any Soviet ships en route to Cuba out of fear the US would be forced to exchange fire and launch a war between the two nations.

On Oct. 24, Khrushchev issued an angry rebuttal to Kennedys letter

Dept. of State translation of Chairman Khrushchev's letter to President Kennedy of October 24. JFK Library

"You, Mr. President, are not declaring a quarantine, but rather are setting forth an ultimatum and threatening that if we do not give in to your demands you will use force," he wrote. "Consider what you are saying! And you want to persuade me to agree to this! What would it mean to agree to these demands? It would mean guiding oneself in one's relations with other countries not by reason, but by submitting to arbitrariness. You are no longer appealing to reason, but wish to intimidate us."

On Oct. 25, Kennedy again urged Khrushchev to back down: 'It was not I who issued the first challenge in this case.'

Adlai Stevenson, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, demands from Soviet delegate Valerian Zorin, not seen, an outright reply to whether the Soviet Union has stationed missiles in Cuba. Associated Press

All but one of the Soviet vessels heading towards Cuba turned back. One freighter containing only petroleum products was allowed through the quarantine.

At the United Nations Security Council, US Ambassador Adlai Stevenson lambasted the Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin over the evidence of the missiles.

The following is how the New York Journal-American newspaper characterized the confrontation:

"His face red with anger and his well-controlled voice shaking with emotion, Mr. Stevenson tossed diplomatic niceties aside and vowed he would wait 'until hell freezes over' for Zorin to give a 'yes or no' to his question whether there were Soviet missiles in Cuba. The Russian, in turn, called Mr. Stevenson a liar."

New photographs emerged on Oct. 26 showing further missile site construction, and Castro sent Khrushchev a private letter urging him to annihilate the US with nuclear weapons.

"However harsh and terrible the solution, there would be no other," Castro wrote to Khrushchev. TASS via Associated Press

Castro, in his letter, explained to Khrushchev that should the US attempt to invade and occupy Cuba, the country would pose such a threat that the Soviet Union could not risk the possibility of a preemptive nuclear strike by the US.

"I tell you this because I believe that the imperialists' aggressiveness makes them extremely dangerous, and that if they manage to carry out an invasion of Cuba  a brutal act in violation of universal and moral law  then that would be the moment to eliminate this danger forever, in an act of the most legitimate self-defense. However harsh and terrible the solution, there would be no other," Castro wrote.

Meanwhile, Khrushchev wrote to Kennedy declaring he was willing to remove the missiles from the island if the United States would pledge never to invade Cuba.

"I propose: We, for our part, will declare that our ships, bound for Cuba, will not carry any kind of armaments," he wrote. "You would declare that the United States will not invade Cuba with its forces and will not support any sort of forces which might intend to carry out an invasion of Cuba. Then the necessity for the presence of our military specialists in Cuba would disappear."

Tensions between the US and the USSR reached their peak on Oct. 27  also known as 'Black Saturday.'

Wikimedia Commons

Khrushchev sent Kennedy another letter demanding stronger terms, such as the removal of the US's Jupiter missiles from Turkey.

An American U-2 plane was also shot down over Cuba by a Soviet-supplied missile. Its pilot, Major Rudolf Anderson, was killed.

Kennedy ultimately ignored the latest letter from Khrushchev, responding only to the warmer letter he had sent the previous day. "I have read your letter of October 26th with great care and welcomed the statement of your desire to seek a prompt solution to the problem," he wrote.

That evening, Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin reached an agreement that the USSR would withdraw its missiles from Cuba under the supervision of the United Nations. In turn, the US would vow not to invade Cuba and remove its missiles from Turkey.

The Soviets announced they would remove their missiles from Cuba on Oct. 28, ending the standoff.

In this Oct. 28, 1962, President John F. Kennedy leaves St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church after attending services in Washington D.C. shortly after the announcement from Moscow that Premier Khrushchev ordered Soviet rocket bases in Cuba dismantled and rockets returned to Russia. Associated Press/John Rous

A letter to Kennedy from Khrushchev detailed the agreement that the missiles would be removed from Cuba in exchange for a US promise not to invade.

Kennedy issued a statement applauding Khrushchev's decision to remove the missiles.

"This is an important and constructive contribution to peace," he said. "It is my earnest hope that the governments of the world can, with a solution of the Cuban crisis, turn their urgent attention to the compelling necessity for ending the arms race and reducing world tensions."

Update: This article, which was originally published in 2017 amid heightened tensions between the US and North Korea over its missile development and nuclear weapons programs has been updated amid new tensions between the US and Russia and republished on the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Live from New York, itll be Jack Harlow on Saturday Night Live on Oct. 29.

Harlow will serve as both host and musical guest, SNL announced during this weekends show.

More from Billboard

HOSTINGGGGGG SNL, he wrote on Instagram, sharing the big news.

Harlow follows fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion in most recently pulling double duty as host and musical guest. You can see a roundup of the best of Megs SNL skits here, and her performances here.

Earlier this month, Harlow got some late-night television time in with Jimmy Fallon, co-hosting The Tonight Show.

His Come Home the Kids Miss You album, released in May, reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and earned the Louisville rapper a No. 1 single with First Class.

Check out SNLs post announcing Harlow below.

Click here to read the full article.
Jim Acosta will not exit CNN, an individual very close to CNNs CEO and chairman, Chris Licht, told TheWrap Sunday  swatting down talk about an imminent exit for the chief domestic correspondent and weekend anchor who has become a lightning rod for network critics, particularly on the political right.

Speculation grew after News Cycle Media president Jon Nicosia tweeted that he had a scoop on the next big name to leave CNN, and identified the person as Acosta on Friday. After Mediaite reported Sunday that the rumors were absolute bulls, the source close to CNN leadership confirmed that there are no plans for Acosta to leave the netowrk.

The rumors come two months after the abrupt exits of prize-winning Washington reporter John Harwood and media reporter Brian Stelter along with the cancellation of Stelters Sunday morning show, Reliable Sources. At the time, TheWrap reported exclusively that Don Lemon and Acosta were expected to stay at the network despite the centrist direction guided by Licht.

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While many speculated that billionaire media mogul John Malone, who is a Warner Bros. Discovery stakeholder, was behind the decision to cancel Reliable Sources due to his support of former president Donald Trump, Malone denied his involvement to The New York Times, saying that he wants the news portion of CNN to be more centrist, but [he is not] in control or directly involved.

However, its no secret that the network has sought to tamper down inflammatory language and criticism surrounding Trump and the GOP, which Acosta has famously been known for.

As CNNs White House correspondent at the time, Acosta frequently clashed with Trump before the 2016 election and throughout the Trump administration. In a 2016 news conference, Acosta began to ask the then-candidate about his ability to handle the scrutiny, to which Trump interrupted, Excuse me, excuse me, Ive watched you on TV. Youre a real beauty. After the election, Trump refused to call on him during a press briefing, calling Acosta and CNN fake news.

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Tension escalated between Trump and Acosta during a White House press conference in 2018 after the reporter asked a question about his rhetoric being called racist, for which Trump called him a rude, terrible person. Things came to a head when Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders accused Acosta of putting his hands on a White House intern and suspending his White House credentials. Acosta and CNN both filed a lawsuit, which was subsequently dropped.

In September, Harwood exited CNN after attacking Trump as a dishonest demagogue in his final on-air appearance and Licht told staffers in June that he prefers they stop using the term The Big Lie when referring to Trumps false claims of election fraud.

While Lemon has since remained at the network, his role was shaken up in September, when he was shifted from his primetime gig to leading the networks as-yet-untitled new morning show alongside Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.

Nicosia responded to Mediaites report Sunday by maintaining his original scoop. The PR folks at CNN will defend to the end as they did Stelter, he tweeted, adding, try to find a negative post about CNN on this site in the last 5 yrs.

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Rep. Adam Kinzinger said Sunday that the Houses Jan. 6 select committee is not sure what will happen next if former President Donald Trump declines to testify after being issued a subpoena.

Hes made it clear he has nothing to hide is what he says, the Illinois Republican said on ABCs This Week, so he should come in on the day we ask him to come in to. If he pushes off beyond that, we'll figure out what to do next.

The Jan. 6 panel voted last week to bring in Trump to testify before it. We have left no doubt, none, that Donald Trump led an effort to upend American democracy that directly resulted in the violence on Jan. 6, the panels chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), said Thursday as members approved the subpoena.



When asked by host George Stephanopoulos whether Trump should be held in contempt if he declines to testify, Kinzinger said that was up in the air.

Thats a bridge we cross if we have to get there, he said.

Other current or former presidents have testified before Congress on various matters, including Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Gerald Ford, though none under circumstances quite like the one stemming from the investigation of the riots at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

"Granted that, you know," Kinzinger said, "this is not an unprecedented move by Congress, but it's also, we recognize, it is a big deal. Its a big move.



The former president responded to the panel with a 14-page statement that repeatedly condemned the committee  Despite very poor television ratings, the Unselect Committee has perpetuated a Show Trial the likes of which this Country has never seen before  and also offered a long string of allegations about the 2020 election being stolen, some anecdotal in nature, some long-disproved and/or rejected in court.

He's required by law to come in and he can ramble and push back all he wants, Kinzinger said. That's the requirement for congressional subpoena, to come in.

Kinzinger, who is not seeking reelection, is one of two Republicans on the nine-member House Jan. 6 committee, along with Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). He said he expects that American democracy will ultimately bounce back from the events of Jan. 6.

Look, what happened on Jan. 6 was terrible," he said. "What led up to that, and what happened since, is what I'm more worried about, and democracies are not defined by those bad days but how we come back from those bad days. This is that process. This is laying out before the American people and determining we can never do this again. 
A life-size, dough-ified version of Harrison Fords carbonite-encased Han Solo from Star Wars: Episode V  The Empire Strikes Back has been masterfully created by a San Francisco Bay Area bakery and aptly dubbed Pan Solo.

One House Bakery owners Hanalee Pervan and her mother, Catherine Pervan, spent a month after-hours crafting the uncanny likeness out of dead dough, which is yeastless and often used for baked goods like strudels.

Displayed outside of their Benicia, California, shop, Hanalee (who served as the sculptures model) told the New York Times, People are just super interested by it, and you see people smelling it and poking it and theyre just like, What is going on? They kind of dont believe you that its made out of dough.

A California bakery spent a month making a 6-foot recreation of Han Solo frozen in carbonite, made entirely of bread. The mother-and-daughter duo behind the creation called him "Pan Solo." https://t.co/bdm1sc1UQp pic.twitter.com/ghOwgzZmAV  The New York Times (@nytimes) October 15, 2022

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But this isnt the mother-daughter duos first foray into punny breaded sculptures of pop culture significance: In 2018, their inaugural year, there was the Game of Scones, which included a White Walker made out of dough rather than ice, as well as a matching royal seat made out of baguettes. (One could argue it was still an iron-rich throne!)

Two years later, they rose to the occasion by crafting carb-y spoofs of The Mandalorian, featuring the Pain-dough-lorian, made up of breaded armor; Baby Dough-Da donned in bread; and the Pandroid, composed of pans and kitchen tools. Continuing on their roll, they made Dough-ki last year, an alligator made of bread that was no less menacing than the real thing, which paid homage to Marvels Loki and the eponymous characters alligator variant.

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All of the scrumptious sculptures were designed for Benicias Downtown Scarecrow Contest, where the public votes on its favorite creative Halloween scarecrows displayed by local businesses.

Hanalee said crafting Pan Solo was particularly special for her because she had lost much of her ability to smell and taste after contracting COVID in January 2021.

So just to find joy in a different part of food is really important, she said.

Seems like these bakers are the heroes we didnt know we kneaded.

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Dire Straits had been building their audience, both in the UK and around the world, for years by the time they achieved their first British No.1 album.

It came in the early autumn of 1982, with their fourth studio set Love Over Gold. Within two weeks, on October 16 that year, it had them back on the US chart, and straight into the Top 40 at that. The LPs No.38 debut was the second highest of the week, behind only Billy Joels No.29 debut with The Nylon Curtain.

Recorded at the Power Station in New York, the LP saw Mark Knopflers songwriting skills reach new levels of sophistication. He was building ever more confidence to express himself in ways beyond the mere three-minute single, underlined immediately on the albums opening track, the 14-minute Telegraph Road. Indeed, Love Over Gold contained only five tracks, the shortest of which, Industrial Disease, came in at just under six minutes. The latter song became a major rock radio hit in America, helping the album to No.19 there.

When Love Over Gold came out, Dire Straits were already climbing the singles charts with Private Investigations, which went to be their joint highest-charting UK hit, reaching No.2, as did Walk Of Life four years later. The album emphasized just how big the bands audience had become by going straight to No.1 in the UK, on its way to double platinum status. It also topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Italy, and Norway.

Knopfler also wrote the song Private Dancer for the album but opted not to include it, sensing that a female voice would serve the song better. His decision to give it to Tina Turner would play a major part in her career revival in 1984.

Honest and skilful

That year, Knopfler told The Times that he felt Dire Straits audience appreciated the genuine creative motivation behind the bands work. Somehow, he mused, it gets across to people that what is being done is honest and skilful. They realise that nobody is out there to make a quick-buck killing.

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Listen to the 80s Classic Hits playlist.

Love Over Gold, like the entire Dire Straits catalog, continued to make frequent return visits to the UK bestsellers, and over the 14 years following its chart debut, it racked up a total of 200 weeks in the Top 100.

Buy or stream Love Over Gold.

For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music.

uDiscover Music is operated by Universal Music Group (UMG). Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG.
Erik Chaput is the co-creator of the Dorr Rebellion Project website: http://library.providence.edu/dorr.

Historical debates over key moments in American history are typically not seen as major political wedge issues, but recently Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is up for reelection and has higher aspirations, has put the study of American history front and center.

Responding to a question during a press conference in late September, DeSantis made the claim that it was the American Revolution that "caused people to question slavery. No one had questioned it before we decided as Americans that we are endowed by our creator with unalienable rights. A major part of DeSantis legislative agenda has entailed curtailing what he perceives as a liberal bias in education, with an over-focus on questions of race that leads to a denigration of American history.

However, limiting the ability of students to engage critically with the past does not serve future generations. As the civil rights leader and historian W.E.B. Du Bois noted in his 1935 classic work "Black Reconstruction in America": ... shall we not best guide humanity by telling the truth about all this, so far as the truth is ascertainable?

This fall, Rhode Island humanities teachers should help their students embrace the complexity of the American Revolution, something that will help them understand the challenges of the present.

To give DeSantis credit, the Revolution was indeed a watershed moment in terms of antislavery in the Atlantic world. A focus on political grievances in the colonies eventually led to a broader attack on slavery and the slave trade for the first time in modern history. Prior to 1775, it was primarily Quakers, such as Anthony Benezet, who led the charge. The ideological fervor of the Revolution clearly broadened the antislavery appeal.

Samuel Hopkins, the minister at the First Congregational Church in Newport, published a powerful pamphlet in 1776 attacking slavery and the slave trade. To say that no one questioned slavery prior to 1776, however, does leave out the important story of how enslaved people took matters into their own hands and revolted throughout the history of Colonial America. Slaves also petitioned for freedom. In the 1770s, building on the ideology that was in the air, slaves in Massachusetts brought petitions to the legislature on numerous occasions.

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There is a lot to focus on in the classroom in terms of 18th-century Rhode Island, the colony most complicit in the slave trade. By 1774, the growing movement against the slave trade led to the passage of a law prohibiting the importation of slaves, probably the first antislavery act in the colonies. As historian John Wood Sweet notes, networks of antislavery men, including Matthew Robinson and Moses Brown, tried to help slaves gain freedom. In February 1784, a gradual abolition statute was passed by the General Assembly. Eight months later, the Assembly, responding to a petition for freedom that was presented, noted that slavery was an unjust deprivation of natural rights.

On the other side of the coin, British observers often saw a linkage between freedom and the vast multitude of slaves. For American slaveholders the haughtiness of domination combines with the spirit of freedom, fortifies it, and renders it invincible, declared Edmund Burke. When war came, slaves became potential allies for the British.

While the majority of the 35,000 slaves who fled to British lines came from the South, some slaves escaped to British-occupied Aquidneck Island and later left on British ships as free persons. After the Revolution, even though Rhode Island citizens were prohibited from participating in the slave trade, vessels still departed the waters of Narragansett Bay for Africa in large numbers.

Teachers now have a wealth of digital material at their disposal to illustrate this story. The digital EnCompass textbook should be paired with historian Christian McBurneys informative and engaging series on the Revolution at allthingsliberty.com. Keith Stokes essay Matters of Truth is easily accessible online, along with journalist Paul Davis 2008 Providence Journal series, Unrighteous Traffick.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Opinion/Chaput: DeSantis claim on slavery points to a need for history education
Soldiers conduct military exercise in Moscow, Russia, on September 1, 2022. Russian Defense Ministry / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Russian police and military officers are taking men and sending them to fight in Ukraine, per WaPo.

Officials have seized men from restaurants, cafes, Metro stations, and workplaces, per the report.

The Russian military has suffered significant losses since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Russian authorities are apparently grabbing many able-bodied men off the streets  including cafes, restaurants, and workplaces  to replenish their military manpower in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to The Washington Post.

After Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the "partial mobilization" of the country's military reservists last month, an estimated 300,000 men and their families fled the country to seek refuge from being drafted into the conflict.

But Russian authorities are now reportedly rounding up ordinary men, in virtually any place where they can find them assembled.

Last week, military officers entered a Moscow business center and took virtually every man they could find, including musicians in the middle of a rehearsal, a courier who was making a delivery, and a man in his mid-50s who apparently had a disability, according to The Washington Post.

The men were all promptly taken to a military enlistment office as part of the government's drive to refill their ranks after suffering massive losses against a sharp and enduring Ukrainian armed resistance.

Police officers have recently taken men from streets and Metro stations to fight in the war, and have even staked out apartment building lobbies to give military summonses.

Cafes, restaurants, and hostels have also been a part of the sweep, according to The Post.

Officials earlier this month even grabbed dozens of men from a homeless shelter in Moscow, per The Post.

Several men spoke with the newspaper under the condition that their last names not be published.

Alexi, a pacifist, told The Post that his office was raided last week, with authorities informing him that he needed to leave with them or they would "use force."

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"I was panicking. I'd never been detained before. Everyone knows that if you are detained by the police in Russia, it's very bad," he said.

Yevgeny, a mechanic who does not support the conflict, left his place of employment and chose to stay with a relative outside of Moscow, getting rid of his social media accounts and refraining from contacting friends.

"I don't want to kill people, and I don't want to be killed, so I really have to lie low now," he told The Post. "But even here, I don't feel safe. We live at a time when your neighbors could report on you."

"I am panicking, and my mom is very nervous. I'm stressed, and I'm depressed. I try not to think how long this could go on, because you can go crazy," he added.

He spoke of friends who initially backed the war, but began to think differently after they were mobilized to head to Ukraine.

"They have started to ask questions and surf the internet for information," Yevgeny told The Post. "They don't want to die, especially when you don't understand why you should die. What is the point?"

Putin on Friday said that 222,000 of the targeted 300,000 reservists had been mobilized for the conflict.

The aggressive tactics taken to find additional men to supplant previous Russian officers have been polarizing, largely because cities including Moscow and St. Petersburg have not borne the brunt of casualties; men from rural regions have endured a large share of the losses.

Earlier this month, former CIA director David Petraeus said in a WABC radio interview that the war in Ukraine looked "very dire" for Putin.

"The bottom line is Ukraine has done vastly better than Russia has in mobilizing its capabilities in recruiting, training, equipping, help by the US and NATO nations big time, organizing, and employing additional forces and capabilities," he said at the time.

Petraeus was also deeply skeptical of Putin's mobilization of reservists, stating it would only produce "cannon fodder."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Abortion laws in Arizona have been changing since a Supreme Court decision overturned Roe v. Wade in June, and several Flagstaff officials and healthcare providers have said they will be following the law in providing care and enforcing state legislation.

The effect of the abortion ban here in Flagstaff is the same as it is throughout the state, Susan Shapiro, who volunteers for Indivisible Northern Arizona and the Flagstaff Abortion Alliance, said last week. Theres virtually no surgical abortion available in the State of Arizona.

In September, a Pima County Superior Court judge ruled that Arizona can enforce an almost-complete ban on abortions.

ARS 13-3063 states that a person who provides, supplies or administers to a pregnant woman, or procures such woman to take any medicine, drugs or substance, or uses or employs any instrument or other means whatever, with intent thereby to procure the miscarriage of such woman, unless it is necessary to save her life, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than two years nor more than five years.

Last Friday, the Arizona Court of Appeals issued a stay that temporarily blocks enforcement of the ban.

Because of the stay, abortion is currently legal in Arizona until 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions to save the pregnant persons life or to prevent serious risk to their physical health. Arizonans younger than 18 need either permission from a legal guardian or a judicial bypass to get an abortion.

The access we have now is not permanent, said Eloisa Lopez of the Abortion Fund of Arizona. We dont have laws right now that are helping us solidify it permanently into our state. The reason why we have access in this moment when we didn't have access two weeks ago is because there's a litigation case happening, and it's around the pre-Roe ban, because that did take effect.

" ... Since the Dobbs decision came out from the Supreme Court, we have lost access twice, we have very limited care, we now have a 15-week ban that has taken effect in the middle of all of this, and now we're back to a place of having access to limited care up to 15 weeks."

She added: That's very confusing for people to stay on top of. As a community organization, we're doing our best to get people out there for folks, but at the forefront is for people to be aware that stuff can change quickly. Having guaranteed access today, this week, is not promised to us next week.

Healthcare providers

Abortion services have been limited in Flagstaff even before this summer's changes to Arizona law.

Abortions still happen in the region, however, with the Arizona Department of Health Servicess (ADHS) 2020 Advanced Vital Statistics Report listing a total of 1,510 pregnancies and 180 abortions in Coconino County for the year.

Abortions ranged in maternal age from 15 to 44, with the majority (70) in 20- to 24-year-old county residents. Across Arizona, 40 deaths were attributed to pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium and none were attributed to pregnancy with an abortive outcome. Six or fewer deaths were attributed to the former in Coconino County.

Some abortion services have resumed in Arizona since the stay, but for most Flagstaff residents, getting a clinical abortion will require a trip out of the city.

The Flagstaff Planned Parenthood location (Flagstaff Health Center) is the only abortion clinic in northern Arizona and had limited services (medication only, not in-clinic) and hours even before the Dobbs decision.

Those options shrank during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There's one facility for all of northern Arizona and they have not been consistent in offering services," Lopez said. " ... It's better than having nothing up here, but also, if people are having a hard time even trying to schedule their care, then it's not truly meeting the needs of the community."

According to its website, accessed Friday, Flagstaff Health Center currently provides referrals to healthcare providers in your area that offer abortion services. The location still offers other services in Flagstaff, including pregnancy tests, birth control, emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted diseases, among others.

The website also says that the Southern Arizona Health Center in Tucson currently offers abortion services.

Our goal is to bring abortion care back to our Flagstaff and Phoenix locations as soon as possible, it added. Check back here for updates.

Planned Parenthood Arizona has not responded to requests for comment about the services currently offered at its Flagstaff location.

For those currently seeking abortion in northern Arizona, Lopez said, the nearest options are Phoenix (2 1/2 hours away, six clinics), Las Vegas (4 hours away) or Albuquerque (4 1/2 hours away).

She said the Abortion Fund of Arizona had seen many northern Arizona residents travel to Phoenix or Albuquerque for the procedure, depending on state law, where they live, and the location of friends or family to stay with.

"Those are the biggest factors," she said. "If you're trying to get care in-state, well, what's your gestational stage, how much time do you have left to get care for the 15-week mark and how is your schedule trying to get this in quickly and if clinics have that availability? Or you can travel out of state."

Nevada has fewer restrictions on abortion, according to Lopez. For instance, it doesn't have the 24-hour waiting period between an ultrasound consultation appointment and receiving the procedure required in Arizona law.

While Albuquerque is a close option, especially for residents of northeastern parts of the state, it might also mean longer wait times.

"It's very overwhelmed with supporting essentially half the country from the Midwest and southern states that have completely lost access," she said. "[If] you're traveling to New Mexico, you're going to see longer wait times for clinic abortions."

The fund does not help people with accessing pills to self-manage abortions, as this is currently illegal in Arizona.

Passed in 2021, SB 1457 states that abortion-inducing drugs can only be provided by a qualified physician and cannot be provided using delivery or mail service.

"We believe people should have abortion care however it fits best with their lives and whatever they feel most comfortable with," she said. " ... I think what is lacking is a lot more awareness, staying informed about the criminal risk around it because [having pills shipped to you] sounds so easy. ... It's just being mindful, being aware of your legal risk around that."

She recommended the reproductive legal helpline at If/When/How and said it is working to create an updated website of current Arizona laws.

Other Flagstaff healthcare providers said they were following the legal changes and would provide care accordingly.

In response to a question about whether Flagstaff Medical Centers (FMC) treatment of pregnant patients would change in response to the state ban, Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) stated that it is staying up to date on the evolving legal landscape.

Based on the recent Arizona state court ruling and anticipated appeals, NAH will provide appropriate guidance to our hospital staff to ensure that patients and communities in northern Arizona will continue to have access to the highest quality of care, NAH said in a statement.

Additionally, as a participant in Medicare, NAH has been and will continue to remain compliant with the EMTALA [Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act] guidance issued by CMS [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] to ensure that the patients we serve have access to emergency care. We continue to support healthcare professionals in their practice of medicine and delivering patient care both ethically and lawfully.

Northern Arizona University (NAU) spokesperson Kim Ott had a similar answer to questions about Campus Health Services (CHS) response to the ban.

"This is a dynamic situation currently working its way through the judicial process, she wrote in an email. "Ultimately, we seek to comply with all applicable laws while providing our students with information to make decisions for themselves."

CHS provides onsite access to most kinds of birth control, she said, referring patients to other local providers for services not available on campus, including tubal ligations and vasectomies.

Our CHS providers also advise patients about safe-sex practices, she said. NAUs Health Promotions office focuses on education, offering free condoms and dental exams to patients, as well as sexual health education workshops and online resources. Health Promotion also partners with Coconino County for free monthly HIV testing and reduced-cost STI testing once per semester."

Hope Pregnancy Resource Center Executive Director Cathy Martin said the center has seen more clients in the past few months.

Weve been busier providing both pregnancy tests and ultrasounds at our medical clinic, and providing material resources in our baby boutique, she said.  ... Its hard to say, but especially as far as the medical clinic, I think that when abortion access changed in Arizona, we definitely saw an increase in our medical clinic services.

The center has offered free pregnancy resources to Flagstaff residents since 1977, including pregnancy tests, obstetric ultrasounds, STI testing (for gonorrhea and chlamydia) and options for counseling, all performed by a registered nurse. It also offers parenting education and material resources, such as clothes, diapers and formula, for pregnant people and those with kids 5 and younger.

Hope has never offered abortions or abortion referrals, though Martin said the center is committed to offering accurate information about abortion procedures and risks.

We never have, she said. Weve just always been here to help more with the life.S so we perform our pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, and then information about parenting, adoption and abortion.

The center also offers referrals to post-abortion mental healthcare and is in the process of creating a post-abortion recovery support group in Flagstaff. It does not provide physical post-abortion healthcare.

If a woman finds herself in an unplanned pregnancy, I would just like her to know that theres hope and support available, Martin said. Abortion may sometimes feel like the only choice, but there are so many resources available both here at Hope and in the community for women who choose to parent or make an adoption plan, and we just encourage those women to reach out to us. Were not here to judge; were just here to listen and provide her with information and support."

She added: If a woman is happily pregnant, but she needs a pregnancy test or she needs help with material resources, needs help with insurance or going through a rough time with jobs and stuff, wed love to help her as well. Were here for whatever pregnancy resources a person might need, and if we dont help her find them here, we can help her find them elsewhere.

Emma Schraner, Rural Arizona Actions community engagement coordinator, has been compiling a list of resources for northern Arizona residents since she heard about the leaked draft decision in May.

Hearing about the abortion ban was a visceral moment, she said.

In a sense, I was expecting it, but there's no way to emotionally or physically prepare for your human rights being stripped from you in a day, she said. I went through many waves of emotions.  I think rage is like a tool that I'm really trying to use for organizing, because Im just so mad. They don't get to do this to my community, to people everywhere.

She has been putting all the resources on abortion and related needs she can find into a document, based on her own research and that of other local experts. The idea was to create a resource that would address every issue that would come up if you needed to get an abortion, she said.

Its not just the actual procedure, its the money to take off work for up to three days at a time, if you have to do that waiting period [Arizona requires a 24-hour waiting period between receiving counseling at their abortion provider and getting an abortion]. Its the transportation, its the hotel, its childcare, she said.

Both Schraner and Shapiro emphasized the importance of online security measures when using these resources, as the risks of accessing digital information about abortion is not yet clear.

We really dont have any clarity about whether your browsing history or online searches could be accessed or there could be a warrant to look at that information, Shapiro said, so consider a VPN [Virtual Private Network] or consider online privacy before you search these resources.

One of the best ways to get information, she added, is to talk to someone at one of FAAs events.

The full list of resources, including additional information on online privacy measures, can be found here.

Law enforcement

Whats actually been happening in terms of what are the police doing -- are they getting reports, are they are responding to reports? -- thats an unknown, Shapiro said. I havent heard of anybody being pursued or arrested or reported, but thats not really public information.

She has been among those advocating for change at the Flagstaff City Council recently, asking them to discuss what measures they will take to protect abortion seekers and providers in the city.

Schraner said that while enforcement is not the only item FAA is working on, it's an important first step.

The way that we see it is the first thing we can do to give a little more breathing room is to start with that prosecution angle, so we can do the work we want to do and not -- I hope we wont be prosecuted, she said.  ... Ill do it anyway, but itd be really nice to have this breathing room.

FAA then plans to shift its focus to creating community resources and mutual aid to help northern Arizonans access abortions more locally.

What FAA is asking of the city council, Shapiro said, is to take up the discussion of protecting Flagstaff residents from possible harassment or prosecution for providing, accessing or assisting with abortion services. We would like them to review other city council resolutions that deal with this issue so they adopt a resolution that is meaningful and impactful.

The Tucson City Council passed a resolution to support abortion rights in June before the Supreme Court ruling. On Wednesday, the Phoenix City Council approved a resolution to deprioritize law enforcement of an abortion ban.

FAA collected 85 signatures on a petition, titled Protect Abortion Access, that Shapiro presented to the city council Aug. 23. At the same meeting, the council approved bringing the topic to a later meeting for further discussion.

As of Friday, abortion enforcement has not been on a Flagstaff City Council meeting agenda. City staff have not yet answered questions about FAA's petition and its approach to abortion enforcement and access in the city.

The Flagstaff Police Department has not answered questions about its policies for responding to reports of abortion seekers or providers.

Shapiro also said she has plans to bring a similar resolution to Coconino Countys Board of Supervisors, asking them to discuss how the county sheriffs office will respond.

Spokesperson Jon Paxton said the Coconino County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) will enforce the law when it comes to abortions.

We dont have an opinion or anything like that on abortion, but basically, we will maintain what was always done and that is to enforce the law, he said.

CCSO will not be seeking people out, he said, but will respond to reports as it does in other situations. He also said that CCSO has not received any abortion-related reports recently.

Were not going to be out there actually searching for people like that, he said. We will take calls like we have always done, calls for service. If people call us, then we will document what has happened and then do our investigation and then determine whether a law has been broken.

 .. .It is different, but its no different than any other law. If we receive a complaint on something, we will follow it up, do our investigation and determine if a law has been broken. That's pretty much the extent of it.
Saturday Night Live took aim at the Texas mother who went viral for warning parents against letting their children see Hocus Pocus 2.

During a recent interview with KWTX, Jamie Gooch said that the Disney + film could unleash hell in ones home.

Comedians Chloe Fineman and Heidi Gardner spoofed the concerned mother on Saturday (15 October), playing characters Debbie Hole and Stacey Bussy.

Imagine that, Fineman said in a mock-Texan accent, your home with hell in it!

The two comedians went on to joke that Halloween in general was satanic, as were the sweets children eat. Discussing Sour Patch Kids  a popular US brand of confectionary  Gardner said: I mean think about it, were feeding kids, kids. Making a bunch of Armie Hammers.

Hammer was accused of having a cannibal fetish in unverified text messages allegedly sent by the actor that were shared on social media last year.

debbie hole and stacey bussy are real scared about hocus pocus 2 and halloween pic.twitter.com/mWhdO5UI4y  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) October 16, 2022

In the real-life interview with KWTX, Gooch said: A worst-case scenario is: you unleash hell on your kids and in your home. The whole movie is based on witches harvesting children for blood sacrifices.

Similar to the plot of the beloved 1993 original, Hocus Pocus 2 is centred on a group of women trying to stop three witches from kidnapping and harming the children of Salem, Massachusetts, after accidentally being brought back to life.

Do not watch this film, Gooch continued in the interview. Everybody thinks its fake and innocent, but they could be casting any type of spell that they want to, anything could be coming through that TV screen into your home.

Elsewhere in the episode, hosted by Megan Thee Stallion, rapper Jack Harlow was announced as the next host and musical guest for 29 Octobers episode.

Saturday Night Live airs on NBC and streams on Peacock at 11:30pm ET and 8:30pm PT on Saturdays.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova on Sunday called for increasing the speed of weapon deliveries to her country after it faced a barrage of strikes from Russia in recent days, emphasizing the need for air defense systems in particular.

Unfortunately, this system [is] difficult to produce, and theyre not ready on the shelves waiting, Markarova told moderator Margaret Brennan on CBSs Face the Nation.

But were doing everything possible and asking our partners to do everything possible to speed up not only the delivery, but also the ordering of the system, Markarova said.

Russia has launched dozens of rockets in recent days that landed in cities across Ukraine, including the capital of Kyiv and other locations far from the wars front lines, marking the latest escalation after Russia faced steep territorial losses from a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Ukraine has accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians in those strikes, pointing to one that landed in a playground, stepping up pressure for the U.S. and its allies to provide advanced air defense systems.

We do need to start to secure as many places in Ukraine as possible, as many children in Ukraine as possible, from Russian rockets, Markarova told Brennan.

The U.S. has pledged to send eight National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASMS) to Ukraine.

Sabrina Singh, the Pentagons deputy press secretary, said on Friday that the U.S. was expediting the contract, hoping to deliver two in the near future while describing the other six as longer term initiatives.

Markarova on CBS also characterized Russian President Vladimir Putins partial mobilization of the countrys military as a failure.

Putin, who called up to 300,000 reservists to bolster the countrys invasion, said the strikes will no longer be needed given the influx of Russian troops into Ukraine.

We should be prepared for everything, and its actually irrelevant at this point what he says, because this partial mobilization has been a big failure, Markarova told Brennan of Putins assertion.

People in Russia do not want to be mobilized, Markarova continued. Theyre not equipped. Theyre not prepared. Theyre not motivated. Yes, there are a lot of them. But it has been a failure in Russia.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BTS Jin will release a solo single soon, making him the second member of the superstar K-pop group to release a new solo project since they announced their hiatus.

Jins news was delivered from the stage Oct. 15 at the massive BTS Yet to Come concert in Busan, South Korea, which was livestreamed in partnership with Weverse. The boy band announced in June that its seven members  Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook  would be taking a temporary break from active group activities to pursue solo work.

More from Billboard

I got the opportunity to work with someone I like, so a single will come out soon, Jin revealed to screaming ARMY at the show. Fans have previously gotten a taste of solo material from Jin with a handful of one-off tunes, including Tonight (2019), Abyss (2020) and Yours and Super Tuna (2021).

Related

BTS' "Yet to Come in Busan" concert

BTS Takes Over Busan With Massive Free 'Yet to Come' Concert in Support of South Korea's Bid for 10/15/2022 10/15/2022

Elsewhere from the stage, J-Hope addressed the future of BTS when he said to fans, I think were in a phase where we need your trust.

In July J-Hope unveiled an official solo project of his own, the album Jack in the Box, following BTS sharing their plans for a break. Released on BTS label Big Hit Music, the set was J-Hopes first real studio album (although he dropped a solo mixtape in 2018 and a song with Becky G in 2019) and featured singles MORE. and Arson.

Although its so sad that the concert is ending already, its not like we only have today. We will continue for 30 years  and even perform when we are 70 years old, Jimin said at the Busan performance on Saturday.

RM later added, All seven members have the same thoughts right now. We will continue to make and perform music if you give us your trust, like Jimin said.

Click here to read the full article.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so its time to haul out the paint, crayons, pens, ink, beads, feathers, glitter, sequins and glue for The Enquirer's 2022 Dress the Turkey competition.

Four bird creators will win $100 each from The Enquirer. Many more artists will see their birds featured on Cincinnati.com and in The Enquirer on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24.

Get started by clicking or tapping on this link, which will open the template. From here, you can download it to your computer or device or print it out.

Subscribe today:Here's what you get with a subscription to Cincinnati.com and The Enquirer

Once you complete your masterpiece, send it to us at this link.

A group of judges from The Enquirer and Cincinnati.com newsroom will pick a top bird in three age categories: 12 and under, 13-20 and 21 and up, as well as the best overall turkey winner.

Deadline to enter

Nov. 11: To be eligible for the online contest, your dressed bird must be submitted online by 5 p.m. (Mail-in turkeys will not be accepted.)

Nov. 24, Thanksgiving Day: The Enquirer and Cincinnati.com will publish the winning birds and many more of our favorites.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The Enquirer's Dress the Turkey contest is back
BOSTON  Eleven people, including two from Braintree and Canton, have been charged in connection with a sophisticated international money laundering and drug trafficking organization involving cocaine and the drug ecstasy, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI said.

Authorities identified the South Shore suspects as Licheng Huang, 39, of Braintree, and Feng Chen, 38, of Canton. The other suspects are from Winthrop, Saugus, Rhode Island and New York.

We allege that this group of individuals conspired to sell deadly narcotics in Massachusetts communities, then laundered millions of dollars worth of their drug proceeds through a global network to conceal their illegal activity," said U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins.

More: Norwell landscaper sentenced to prison for failing to report $1.5 million on tax returns

The arrests, by the Boston FBI office's Organized Crime Task Force, "disrupted a sophisticated transnational criminal organization that is accused of trafficking kilos of cocaine and laundering at least $25 million in illicit proceeds from their illegal businesses all over the world, said Joseph Bonavolonta, special FBI agent in charge of the Boston office.

U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.

Quincy police, State Police and Altamonte Springs, Florida, police assisted the Organized Crime Task Force in its investigation.

After a monthslong undercover operation, investigators identified Jin Hua Zhang, 35, of Staten Island, New York, as the leader of a criminal organization whose members laundered millions of dollars, conspired to distribute cocaine in Massachusetts and operated throughout the United States, including the Boston area, as well as overseas.

Authorities said Zhang told his co-defendants and others to deliver hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and millions of dollars in wire transfers and bank deposits to undercover agents in exchange for cryptocurrency. The money was from drug trafficking and fraud schemes in the United States and abroad, authorities said.

Story continues

More: Feds: Quincy man printed thousands of fake $100 bills

Zhang allegedly believed cryptocurrency would enable his organization to transfer illicit money without detection by banks security teams or law enforcement.

According to court documents, money was traced from Zhangs organization to China, India, Cambodia and Brazil, among other locations.

Federal authorities also said Zhang and members of his organization conspired to distribute kilogram-sized quantities of cocaine and ecstasy, also known as MDMA, to undercover agents and cooperating witnesses.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million.

The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Feds: Braintree, Canton residents part of global drug organization
A third Tory MP has now called on the PM to step down as pressure grows on the Prime Minister.

Jamie Wallis, the MP for Bridgend and Porthcaw, said: In recent weeks, I have watched as the Government has undermined Britains economic credibility & fractured our Party irreparably.

Enough is enough. I have written to the Prime Minister to ask her to stand down as she no longer holds the confidence of this country.

Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, earlier told the Telegraph: We cannot carry on like this. Our country, its people and our party deserve better.

Jeremy Hunt has insisted Ms Truss remains firmly in charge despite growing unrest within the party.

Following reports that MPs are now planning to unseat the Prime Minister, and with parts of the mini-Budget now ditched, Crispin Blunt, the Conservative MP for Reigate, became the first to publicly say Ms Truss should step aside.

Speaking to Channel 4s Andrew Neil Show, he said that he does not think the Prime Minister can survive the current crisis, adding: I think the game is up and it's now a question as to how the succession is managed.

Joe Biden criticises PMs economic plan

07:17 , Bill Mcloughlin

US President Joe Biden has said the prime ministers economic plan to cut taxes for the most wealthy was a mistake.

During a stop at an ice cream shop in Oregon as he helped campaign for Tina Kotek, who is running for Governor or Oregon, he added: I wasn't the only one that thought it was a mistake.

The White House has refrained from commenting on Truss' problems and when asked about the strength of the U.S dollar, Mr Biden said, "I'm not concerned about the strength of the dollar. I'm concerned about the rest of the world."

Liberal Democrats call for general election

08:10 , Sami Quadri

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for a general election.

He said the problem is not just Prime Minister Liz Truss and the Government, but the whole Conservative Party.

Story continues

They cant agree and therefore I think they all need to go, he told BBC Breakfast.

He admitted that, given the state of the polls, it is unlikely that the Tories will do the right thing and hold an election.

But he said the damage is already done to the UK economy, in the wake of the mini-budget.

Sir Ed said the appointment of Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor has not gone far enough in reversing the mini-budget.

The Government seemed completely out of touch. I think theyre just taking people for granted, he said.

And lets hope we get a Budget that improves things, but Im afraid I feel a lot of the damage has already been done.

Labour launches new attacks on Tories as party gears up for election

08:12 , Sami Quadri

The Labour Party has launched a series of scathing new adverts attacking the Conservatives as it gears up for the next general election.

In four scathing posters, Labour attacks the Conservatives for damaging the UKs standing on the world stage, hiking mortgages and crashing the economy.

Labour has put together a series of new attack posters.



Some work better than others (a bit too wordy) but they're very strong.



More to the point, it's good to see this sort of fighting spirit emerge. We could have a GE any time, after all...https://t.co/2ze2VjOvh6 pic.twitter.com/XkhptgU11y  Edwin Hayward   (@edwinhayward) October 16, 2022

Conservative peer says its going to be very difficult for Truss to remain PM

08:26 , Sami Quadri

Lord Hayward, the Conservative peer and pollster, said it is going to be very difficult for Liz Truss to remain as Prime Minister.

Speaking on Sky News, he said: The likelihood is that the opprobrium will stick with her as the Prime Minister.

Under those circumstances, the conversations will take place with Graham Brady as the chairman of the 1922, but at the moment the MPs are throwing ideas all around the place.

He also predicting that if the next steps fail to reassure the markets, Ms Truss will get the blame. But if they succeed, he said, the new Chancellor will be credited.

If the markets dont calm down, the blame is going to be put on Liz Truss. If they do calm, the credit will go to Jeremy Hunt.

MP calls Tory leadership libertarian jihadists'

08:52 , Sami Quadri

Robert Halfon said the people running the government have looked like libertarian jihadists over the past few weeks.

"I worry that over the past few weeks the government has looked like libertarian jihadists and treated the whole country as laboratory mice on which to carry out an ultra-free market experiment," he told Sky News.

"Theres been one horror story after another."

However, the MP for Harlow said he welcomed some of the comments made by Jeremy Hunt on his first day as chancellor.

We absolutely cannot cut spending in public areas, he said. Our kids have suffered massively because of school closures.

If the government are saying that can increase defence spending, they can hardly say they have no money for essential spending.

09:08 , Sami Quadri

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham warned of austerity under a different name.

Speaking to Skys Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Ms Graham said: (Chancellor) Jeremy Hunt, if you heard him yesterday, was talking about a second round of austerity. And I think what people will not put up with, after the 2008 financial crash this country went through 10 years of austerity, 10 years of pain and they did that because of a financial crash.

We have another incident that is not the fault of workers, it is not the fault of communities, yet they will be asked to pay the price.

People be warned. We will be watching them carefully. Those comments he made yesterday are about austerity  they will call it a different word  but what they mean is the pain yet again will be taken by ordinary working people and our communities.

Jeremy Hunt was surprised to be made chancellor

09:14 , Sami Quadri

Jeremy Hunt has admitted he was pretty surprised when Liz Truss offered him a job as chancellor.

He told the BBC: I had been pretty happy on the back benches for the last few years but Im in public service.

There is a very difficult job to be done right now, and I talked it through with the prime minister and I wanted to check that she was happy that I am totally honest with people about the challenge.

Former deputy governor of Bank of England warns of misreporting over interest rate rises

09:19 , Sami Quadri

Sir Charles Bean said there has been misreporting of Bank of England Governor Andrew Baileys comments in Washington on Saturday in which he appeared to warn people to expect a higher interest rates rise next month.

The former deputy governor of the Bank told Sky News that Mr Bailey was talking about the interest rates decision relative to what they were expecting back in August when they did their last monetary policy report.

Sir Charles said: So he wasnt saying interest rates are going to have to rise more than we thought last week.

Instead, he said Mr Bailey was reflecting the fact that pressures on interest rates have risen in the past couple months.

Sir Charles added: I dont think anyone should read anything like that into their mortgage rates or anything.

He said the issue for mortgage rates is that market rates have already risen in anticipation of a rise in interest rates next month, as well as in response to the recent market turmoil.

Jeremy Hunt denies there will be a return to austerity

09:25 , Sami Quadri

The chancellor has said he will ask every government department to find further efficiency savings.

Asked if further tax cuts in the mini-budget could be shelved, he replied: Im not taking anything off the table.

He also denied that there will be a return to austerity, adding: I was in the cabinet in 2010 when we had that first period of austerity. I dont think were going to have anything like that this time."

UK now more like Italy or Greece says former deputy governor of the Bank of England

09:28 , Bill Mcloughlin

Former deputy governor of the Bank of England Sir Charles Bean said it is disingenuous of the Government to say the market turmoil is all a global phenomenon.

He told Sky News there is a global element to the UKs rise in interest rates and three-quarters or two-thirds maybe is the world.

But he added: The rest of that is a UK-specific phenomenon and its developed since the mini-budget, so its clearly driven by that in my view.

Weve moved from looking not too dissimilar from the US or Germany as a proposition to lend to, talking more like Italy or Greece.

Jeremy Hunt says he hopes his fiscal statement will stabilise markets

09:36 , Sami Quadri

Jeremy Hunt said he hopes his fiscal statement can stabilise the markets.

I think for people trading in markets, actions speak louder than words, Mr Hunt said.

The prime minister has changed her chancellor. We are going to have a very big fiscal statement a bit like a budget in which we set out the tax and spending plans for several years ahead, and thats going to be independently verified by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

He also said he has no plans to become Prime Minister in future.

Mr Hunt said a desire to lead the party had been clinically excised due to his previous failed attempts.

I think having run two leadership campaigns, and by the way failed in both of them, the desire to be leader has been clinically excised from me.

I want to be a good chancellor. Its going to be very, very difficult. But thats what Im focusing on.

Jeremy Hunt: Liz Truss is in charge

09:40 , Bill Mcloughlin

The Prime Minister is in charge, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said.

Speaking to the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Hunt was asked about the Government ditching the entire thrust of what the Prime Minister wanted to do with the economy, and whether it is himself or Liz Truss who is in charge.

Mr Hunt said: The Prime Ministers in charge.

Asked if that is really the case, he added: Yeah. I think its important when you talk about ditching things, the biggest element of that mini-budget was the energy price guarantee.

Matt Hancock calls for Cabinet reshuffle

10:18 , Sami Quadri

Former health secretary Matt Hancock has said Liz Truss needs to reshuffle her Cabinet.

Speaking to the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg about the prospect of a leadership contest, Mr Hancock said: I dont think were there yet, but he added she needs to do three things  deliver an economically-credible plan, reshuffle her Cabinet and restore trust.

She needs to bring the broad Conservative Party in her Government. She needs a reshuffle, he added.

She took the decision, which was respectable but high-risk, to only put the people in the Cabinet that have voted for her, and that means thats only a third of the Conservative Party in Parliament. Theres a huge amount of talent on the backbenches, Im not talking about me, but there are many others that should be brought into Government.

Mr Hancock said Ms Truss needs to restore trust  trust with the voters but also not slagging off the institutions that are the bedrock of prosperity, like the Bank of England and Office for Budget Responsibility.

You just cant go around saying theyve all got it wrong, he said.

Alicia Kearns says Conservatives need fundamental reset

11:12 , Sami Quadri

Senior Conservative Alicia Kearns said the question of whether Liz Truss should continue as Prime Minister is incredibly difficult.

Asked on Times Radio if Ms Truss could or should survive in Number 10, Ms Kearns, the new chairwoman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said: Ultimately it is a very difficult one because I think you know weve had the questions around our moral competency. Weve now got questions around our fiscal competency.

I dont want further questions around even our ability to continue to govern as a party and our ability to stay united. Its an incredibly difficult one, and ultimately I need to listen to colleagues and speak to colleagues over coming days.

But do we need a fundamental reset? Without question.

Conservative MP Robert Halfon says Liz Trusss Government needs a reset soon'

12:00 , Sami Quadri

Conservative MP Robert Halfon said Liz Trusss Government needs a reset pretty soon, but added: I cant give you hours or days.

Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Halfon said: I dont think that (the Prime Minister) grasps just how badly the public feel that the Government have been over the past few weeks.

He reiterated that he is not calling for Ms Truss to go, but he wants an apology and a fundamental reset.

Asked about the situation amongst his colleagues in Westminster, Mr Halfon said: Most people are really unhappy with what has gone on. Most people are worried because theyre out and about in their constituencies, too.

They know what the public are saying to them. In all my time in Parliament I have never experienced such a kind of grim and melancholic atmosphere, because people fear that the Government started off, sadly, so badly.

Keir Starmer takes aim at Tory party

12:57 , Bill Mcloughlin

Sir Keir Starmer has poked fun at the Tory party after Liz Truss announced the fourth Government Chancellor since July.

Since I set out our plans to grow the economy, the Tories have got through 4 Chancellors.



Our Green Prosperity Plan will create a million good jobs. And well deliver GB energy, a home-grown energy company.



Labour will build the future Britain deserves.https://t.co/W7b8MTrNS2  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 16, 2022

Labour hits out at incompetent Government

13:07 , Bill Mcloughlin

Labour shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds earlier told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: "I'm not even sure what this Government's economic policy is at the moment. I don't know which bits of the budget still apply, and I don't know what we will hear next week.

"What I would say is, any cuts the Conservative Party brings forward are entirely of its own making. Entirely because of its own incompetence.

"I would just heed any Conservative MP and ask them, where do they think they are going to find cuts? I mean look at the state of the NHS, look at the state of the criminal justice system. Look at law and order in this country.

"I don't think they will find that. Now we can't make decisions, frankly, until we know what the picture is, it's just speculation at the minute."

Repeatedly pushed on whether Labour accepts the need for spending cuts and tax increases, Mr Reynolds said he would need to know the "scale of the damage" and cannot base his comments on speculation, but he insisted any Labour spending plans would be fully costed.

Tory MP says Liz Truss is in office but not in power'

13:40 , Sami Quadri

A Conservative MP has put further pressure on the Prime Minister by insisting she is in office, but not in power.

Mark Garnier, who represents Wyre Forest, said those who agree with the appointment of Jeremy Hunt are split into two camps -those who wish to give Ms Truss more time and others whod like to rip the plaster off.

Mr Garnier told BBC Politics Midlands: I think power is a very fickle thing, and I think Liz Truss is in office but is not in power.

The question is, do we give her a chance or do we rip the plaster off.

The really important question is do we feel confident that we should be going into the next general election with Liz Truss? If we dont, I think we need to rip the plaster off.

However, he said there is a sense of relief among his colleagues that were getting to somewhere a bit more stable with Mr Hunt in place.

Game is up for Liz Truss, says Tory MP

13:41 , Sami Quadri

Tory MP Crispin Blunt has said the game is up for Liz Truss.

He told Channel 4s Andrew Neil Show that he does not think the Prime Minister can survive the current crisis.

I think the game is up and its now a question as to how the succession is managed, he said.

Asked how the party will get rid of her, he said: If there is such a weight of opinion in the parliamentary party that we have to have a change, then it will be effected.

Exactly how it is done and exactly under what mechanism but it will happen.

Darling: Capability to manage economic turmoil completely absent from Government

14:11 , Sami Quadri

Governments must do more than people expect during times of economic crisis, former chancellor Alistair Darling has said.

Mr Darling, who oversaw the Labour governments response to the 2008 financial crash while chancellor between 2007 and 2010, said capability to manage the current economic turmoil is completely absent.

He told BBC Scotlands Sunday Show that what happened in 2008 was not self-inflicted.

He added: It was in continental Europe and the European Union, it was in America, it was right across the world.

We were ready. We were prepared. We had a plan. We didnt have to consult anybody else because we had our own currency, our own central bank, we could do this.

He accused the UK Government today of trashing the Bank of England and failing to engage with the international community.

He added: If youre the chancellor or holding any senior position in government, people need to have confidence that they know you know what youre doing, and that youre capable of seeing this through.

If people doubt that, youre in trouble.

Pictured: Chancellor leaves Chequers after talks with PM

15:22 , Sami Quadri

(PA)

George Osborne says Truss is unlikely to be prime minister by Christmas

15:26 , Sami Quadri

Former Chancellor George Osborne has said Liz Truss is unlikely to be able to hold on as prime minster by Christmas.

Channel 4 tweeted a clip from the Andrew Neil Show, which will be broadcast this evening, in which he describes Truss as PINO - prime minister in name only.

On a special edition of tonights #AndrewNeilShow: Can Liz Truss survive?



Former Conservative Chancellor @George_Osborne thinks probably not and tells @afneil he believes she will fall before Christmas



Channel 4, 6.15pm pic.twitter.com/TCSEvWrvVq  Channel 4 (@Channel4) October 16, 2022

Archbishop of Canterbury 'extremely concerned' for poorest this winter

16:08 , Sami Quadri

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he is deeply sceptical about so-called trickle-down economics, as he warned there was no moral case for Government budgets that disproportionately hit the poorest.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Guardian newspaper while on a tour of Australia, Justin Welby also backed climate activists as he warned that the weeks ahead feel like a monstrous wave as he worries about what the winter holds.

Amid the political and economic chaos in the UK Government, the Archbishop expressed his concerns about tax cuts for the very wealthiest.

And while he expressed a desire not to be party political, the comments come as Liz Truss battles to retain her premiership after a dramatic U-turn on some of her signature economic policies.

Im not going to make a party political point because both parties are deeply divided and Im not going to talk about Australia because I just dont know the situation. But in the UK, the priority is the cost of living, with the poorest.

And from an economics point of view, Im deeply sceptical about trickle-down theory.

You know, if you cut money for the rich, ever since Keynes wrote his general theory in 1936, whenever it was, he showed very clearly that the rich save if theyve got enough to live on. So if you want to generate spending in the economy, you put more money into the hands of those who need the money to buy food, to buy goods, to buy basic necessities.

Watch: General Secretary of Unite says one million could strike at once

16:52 , Daniel Keane

Dorries warns Tories against ousting Truss

17:14 , Daniel Keane

Nadine Dorries has warned Tories against ousting Liz Truss, saying that the loss of another Prime Minister would be catastrophic.

She suggested a small gang that were out of touch with political reality were attempting to install their own leader.

She wrote in the Daily Express: Rather than celebrate Boriss astonishing success at the last election, they refused to see why so many people  many of whom had never voted Conservative before  swung behind his vision for the country.

One of Liz Trusss biggest challenges is that she is not Boris, and she is constantly compared to her predecessor. Serial backstabbers should recognise that if they force her out of No 10 they will not just lose the support of Red Wall voters who are already angry at the removal of Boris  they will repel longstanding Conservative voters who will punish the party by staying at home at the next election.

Lets see what happens about Liz Truss future, says Tory MP

17:58 , Daniel Keane

Tory MP Andrew Mitchell has said we must "see what happens" when asked about Liz Truss's future as Prime Minister.

Mr Mitchell, a former cabinet minister, told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend: "The Conservative parliamentary party has always shown itself clear and indeed ruthless in making changes if required, and if the Prime Minister proves unable to govern effectively she will have to stand down and the parliamentary party will make that clear.

"And indeed the mechanism is not important - it's that reality that would assert itself. But we should all be trying to help her to succeed, and to get it right."

Asked whether she would be leading the Tories at the next election, he said: "I think that we've got to see what happens in the next few days. But as I say if she cannot do the job, if that's the determination of the parliamentary party, then I'm afraid she will go."

Second Tory MP calls for PM to quit

18:25 , Daniel Keane

A second Tory MP has called for Liz Truss to quit.

Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, told the Telegraph: We cannot carry on like this. Our country, its people and our party deserve better.

Third Tory calls on Truss to step down

18:56 , Daniel Keane

A third Tory MP has now called on the PM to step down.

Jamie Wallis, the MP for Bridgend and Porthcaw, wrote: In recent weeks, I have watched as the Government has undermined Britains economic credibility & fractured our Party irreparably.

Enough is enough.

I have written to the Prime Minister to ask her to stand down as she no longer holds the confidence of this country.

In recent weeks, I have watched as the Government has undermined Britains economic credibility & fractured our Party irreparably.



Enough is enough.



I have written to the Prime Minister to ask her to stand down as she no longer holds the confidence of this country. pic.twitter.com/hHej8LGfJf  Jamie Wallis MP (@JamieWallisMP) October 16, 2022

Leadership contest was a difficult time, says Tory MP

19:49 , Daniel Keane

Mr Wallis, who came out as transgender earlier this year, said the leadership contest was a particularly difficult time.

Watching senior colleagues exploit the issue of transgender rights and weaponise it in order to score cheap political points was extremely unpleasant.

He went on: You chose not to challenge this behaviour and have now chosen to have those same colleagues sit alongside you in your government.

Mistakes can be undone, and as one united team I believe we could achieve almost anything. However, whilst you are our leader, I no longer believe this is possible.

SNP: More Tory MPs must call for Truss to go

20:26 , Daniel Keane

The SNP said it was "vital" that more Tory MPs call for Liz Truss to go.

The partys Westminster deputy leader Kirsten Oswald said: "The game is up - Liz Truss has to go.

"The Prime Minister has driven the UK to the brink of a recession, and left the housing market on the verge of crashing - all within weeks of taking office.

"Sacking her incompetent Chancellor wont cut it - Liz Truss must walk or be removed from office.

"It is now vital that more Tory MPs - and Tory MSPs in Scotland - call for her resignation and bring this shambolic premiership to an end."

Thats all from us

21:26 , Daniel Keane

Thank you for following our live political coverage.
Photo: Kim Kelley-Wagner (Shutterstock)

A Massachusetts officer who had a major hand in planning the deadly Unite The Right march in Charlottesville, Virginia, is only just now being placed on administrative leave. John Donnelly, 33, who had both security and general planning positions in the organizing of the march also used an alias to post racist and antisemetic comments online. Due to a recent inquiry made by HuffPost, confirmation was obtained that the officer still maintained status within the Woburn Police Department near Boston.

Donnelly can clearly be seen on video from that tragic day on August 12th, 2017 at the Charlottesville rally, right alongside Richard Spencer, another white supremacist whom he was apparently acting as a security guard for. The two and their crew gathered that day under a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee as they posed for photos and conducted livestreams.

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As the world watched, Donnelly, Spencer, and hundreds of other white supremacists descended upon the town, spewing hatred and physically assaulting antifascist counter protesters. As you may recall, one neo nazi tragically ended the life of a 32 year old woman as he drove his car through a crowd, while also seriously injuring 19 others.

After Donnelly attended a celebration party held that evening in honor of the days events, he apparently returned to his job as a Massachusetts police officer. Not only has he been able to maintain his job for five years after the rally, but hes also an award winning real estate agent in the town of Woburn, with billboards made in his honor.

While Donnellys involvement in Charlottesville rally went largely under the radar throughout this five year time span, an anti fascist collective by the name of Ignite The Right recently provided HuffPost with video evidence of the officers participation, as well as the strong of messages promoting violence against minority groups, all connecting back to him.

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After an investigation, HuffPost was able to confirm that Donnelly was indeed still employed by the Woburn Police Department, and presented all collected evidence against him. Following the contact made between the publication and the department, Police Chief Robert Rufo and Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin released a statement announcing Donnelly being placed on administrative leave.

The Charlottesville rally is a dark moment in our history, and deeply disturbing, Galvin said. The City of Woburn is taking these allegations seriously by investigating the incident thoroughly and I will move to terminate Officer Donnelly if the investigation concludes that the allegations are accurate.

Donnelly did not respond to multiple requests for comment, and has since deleted his social media accounts.
Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast; Getty

If you were traveling through the verdant Ethiopian highlands, you might make a stop at the Abba Garima monastery about three miles east of Adwa in the northernmost part of the country. If you were a manand youd have to be to gain entry into the Orthodox monasterythen you might be permitted to look at the Abba Garima Gospel books. These exquisitely illuminated manuscripts are the earliest evidence of the art of the Christian Aksumite kingdom. Legend holds that God stopped the sun in the sky so the copyist could finish them. Leafing through a Gospel book you would come upon portraits of the four evangelistsMatthew, Mark, Luke and Johnthe authors of the books contents. You might be surprised to find, however, that there is a fifth evangelist included there.

A fifth evangelist?! you say, and rightly so. This fifth portrait is that of Eusebius of Caesarea, the man who taught us how to read the Gospels. A new book, Eusebius the Evangelist: Rewriting the Fourfold Gospel in Late Antiquity, by Dr. Jeremiah Coogan, an assistant professor of New Testament at the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University, sheds light on historys lost fifth evangelist and explains the pervasive influence of the bishop who has, arguably, done more than anyone else to shape how we read the gospels.

Eusebius of Caesarea is not a very well-known name outside of scholarly circles. He was born in the last half of the third century in Caesarea Maritima, in what is today Israel. He became first a priest and then a bishop. He would later become a biographer of the emperor Constantine possibly even a wheeler-dealer in the ecclesiastical politics of the imperial court. Under the influence of the third-century theologian Origen, who spent a long period of his life in Caesarea, Eusebius became an accomplished textual scholar.

Is the Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia?

If youve heard Eusebiuss name before its probably because of his Church History, an account of Christianitys origins from the Apostles to his own day. As influential as the Church History isand it became the template for how people have written the history of Christianity ever sinceit doesnt compare to the impact of his less visible and least-known literary production, the canon tables (also known as the Eusebian Apparatus).

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In Eusebius time the contents of the New Testament were not universally established. Though many agreed that there should be four Gospels, and even grounded this assumption in the natural order of the universe, they did not read the Gospels in parallel. At least part of the reason for this was that, practically speaking, this was hard to do. Even if you had a Gospel book that contained copies of the four canonical Gospels, identifying how the various stories related to one another involved familiarity with the text, deductive skills, and a real facility navigating the physical object itself. Gospel books were big and heavy; the text was usually written in a series of unbroken Greek letters; and there were no chapter, verse, or page numbers to help you find your way.

Enter Eusebius, the man whose invention made reading the Gospels in parallel possible. It is basically a carefully organized reference tool that allows you to navigate books. In a period before chapter and verse divisions, Eusebius and his team of literary assistants divided the canonical Gospels into numbered sections and produced a set of coordinating reference tables that allow readers to cross-reference versions of the same story in other Gospels. This was an important innovation in book technology in general. As Coogan put it the Eusebian apparatus is the first system of cross-references ever inventednot just for the Gospels, but for any text. Reference tables might not seem sexy, but by producing them Eusebius inaugurated a trend that would dominate how Christians ever since have read the Bible.

The enormity of his innovation is hard to see precisely because it has become ubiquitous. We thread the different sayings of Jesus from the Cross together into one story. We merge the infancy stories of Matthew and Luke together to produce a single shepherd and wise men-filled Nativity story. These decisions are relatively uncomplicated, but we should consider the amount of decision-making that went into the production of this reading scheme. First, the team had to decide on unit divisions: what is a unit, where does it begin, and where does it end? While today church services have designated readings, early Christians often read for as long as time permitted. In segmenting the Gospel, the Eusebian team was cementing preexisting yet informal distinctions about what constituted a particular story, episode, or section of the life of Jesus.

Once this was accomplished, each unit had to be correlated to the corresponding units in the other Gospels. Some decisions seem easy: Jesus feeds 5,000 people in all four Gospels, for example. But there is an additional storyrelayed by Mark and Lukein which he feeds 4,000 people. What should we do with them? What about chronological discrepancies? The incident in the Jerusalem Temple where Jesus gets into a physical dispute with moneychangers appears in the final week of his life in the Synoptics but kicks off his ministry in the Gospel of John. Are they the same story? Did Jesus cleanse the Temple twice? These were and indeed are live questions for Christian readers, but by drawing up his tables, Eusebius and his team provided answers by means of a simple chart. A great deal of interpretation and theological work happens in the construction of the chart, but the tables seem to be factual accounting. Instead of argumentation that makes itself open to disagreement, we see only beguilingly agent-less lines and numbering.

This kind of schematization might seem to be the ancient equivalent of administrative or clerical work. Indeed, it drew upon technologies and practices from ancient administration, mathematics, astrology, medicine, magic, and culinary arts. The portraits from the Ethiopian Garima Gospel, however, capture an often-hidden truth: Schematization is theological work. Segmenting the Bible and mapping its contents created theologically motivated juxtapositions and connections. For example, by connecting the story of divine creation from the prologue of the Gospel of John (In the beginning was the word) to the genealogies of Matthew and Luke (the so-and-so begat so-and-so parts), the Eusebian team could underscore the divine and human origins of Jesus. Equally important, they instructed the reader to read the Gospels in a new way: a way that reoriented the original organization. If this shift seems unimportant or intuitive to us, it is only because we have so thoroughly absorbed it.

Take, say, the interweaving of Jesuss finals words at the crucifixion. Marks version ends with Jesus in psychic and physical distress crying that God has abandoned him. Its an uncomfortable scene and it is meant to be. Luke and John have more self-controlled conclusions: Jesus commends his spirit into the hands of his father (Luke) and authoritatively proclaims his life finished (John). Though Eusebius doesnt reconcile these portraits himself, his apparatus allowed future generations to combine them in a way that neutralizes the discomfort we have when we read Mark.

While others had thought about reading the Gospels alongside one another, it was Eusebius and his team who came up with the tool to do it in a systematic way. From Eusebius onwards, Coogan told The Daily Beast, most manuscripts of the Gospels included the Eusebian apparatus. When a reader encountered the Gospels on the page, they generally did so in a form shaped by Eusebius innovative project. While Eusebius prepared his Gospel edition in Greek, the apparatus had an impact in almost every language the Gospels were translated into. We find it in manuscripts in Latin, Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Ethiopic, Gothic, Georgian, Arabic, Caucasian Albanian, Nubian, Slavonic, Old English, Middle German, and Dutch. Thousands of Gospel manuscripts, from the fourth century to the twentieth, reflect Eusebius approach to reading the Gospels. Even today when academics think about the relationships between the Gospels and print Gospels in parallel with one another, we are asking the same questions as Eusebius did. It might be said that Eusebius is still controlling how we think.

A Theory About Ancient Israel and Opium May Have Just Been Proved

The truth is however that any kind of supplementary material (scholars call them paratexts) like an index or a table of contents creates new ways to read a text. Matthew or Mark may have wanted you to read their stories linearly from start to finish, but Eusebius and his team gave you a new way to read. You could hunt and peck between the bindings. Reading out of order can be powerful work, as Wil Gafneys A Womens Lectionary for the Whole Church is, because it creates new pathways through the text that disrupt the ways that the authors meant the texts to be read. Most authors dont write narratives with the expectation that people will just use Google to search inside it.

While Eusebius was never formally denounced as a heretic, some of his opinionsincluding some of the judgments that inform his apparatuswere pretty unorthodox. Like Origen he was sympathetic to views about the nature of Christ that would later be condemned as heresy. Its probably because of the ambiguities surrounding his theological views that Eusebius, one of the most influential figures in Christian history, never became a saint. But his story proves that it is sometimes invisible actors who are the most powerful of all.

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Fatima Muradian (left) moved to Phoenix with her three sisters and a brother from Afghanistan. She served in that country's Female Tactical Platoon, working alongside U.S. troops, forcing the siblings to flee in August 2021 when the Taliban took over.

When the four Muradian sisters and their younger brother landed in Phoenix in January after spending the frigid winter in Wisconsin, they immediately felt comforted by the Arizona sun and the desert landscape.

By the time they arrived in Arizona, they already had spent four months living at a military base in the United States after leaving their home in Afghanistan in a hurry when the U.S. military pulled out last year.

The warm winter weather in Phoenix contrasted with the snow they left behind in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. As they stepped off the plane in their new home, the desert mountains surrounding the city immediately reminded them of jagged peaks and desert back home.

"It was really amazing the first day I came here, I mean, when I saw the features, 'Oh, it's exactly like Kabul,'" Razia, the eldest of the sisters, recalled.

The five Muridian siblings uprooted their lives in Kabul when it became clear Afghanistan would fall to the hands of the Taliban after U.S. forces withdrew from the country in August 2021, leaving thousands of Afghans that had been working with Americans scrambling to find a way out.

Fatima, the second oldest of the five, was a member of the Female Tactical Platoon, a special division of the Afghan armed forces that worked alongside the U.S. military to fight the Taliban.

But with the U.S. withdrawal imminent and Taliban quickly advancing on the capital, that placed a target on her head. In the months leading to the takeover of the country, Taliban soldiers sought and killed Afghans they suspected of helping or working with U.S. troops.

Rebecca Monaco was deployed to Afghanistan with the 440th Civil Affairs Battalion and worked alongside Afghan soldiers from the Female Tactical Platoon. She helped with their evacuation when the U.S. military pulled out of the country in 2021.

Not only that, but Fatima and her family are also members of the Hazara, a long-persecuted ethnic group in Afghanistan that suffered immense cruelty during previous Taliban rule, before the start of the U.S. invasion. That made them especially vulnerable as the Taliban regained power.

"If you are Hazara it's a kind of crime, everyone will hit you everywhere, because we are in the minority," said Basira, the youngest of the siblings, who was 17 when the family fled.

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But getting out of Afghanistan and to Phoenix was not easy. They narrowly made it out, days after the Taliban finally seized control of Kabul. The Muradian siblings were among the last Afghans to leave the country during the U.S. military operation to evacuate thousands of allies.

Since arriving in Phoenix in January, the Muradian siblings have faced many challenges in adapting to their lives in the United States. It's a position that more than 85,000 other Afghans resettled in the U.S. during the past year continue to navigate to this day.

The main concern for Afghan evacuees and the people helping them in their transition is whether they will be able to remain legally in the country where they have sought refuge, as violence continues to spiral in Afghanistan and few see any option of of returning there anytime soon.

During what it dubbed Operation Allies Welcome, the U.S. government evacuated about 85,000 Afghans and transported them to the United States. About 12,000 of them already had legal status, including citizens, permanent residents or special visa holders.

The remaining 73,000, including the Muradian siblings, were admitted to the U.S. under humanitarian parole. That granted them temporary legal status for two years, with the ability to work in the country.

But it does not include a pathway to citizenship. So a year from now, when temporary parole status begins to expire, Afghans resettled in the United States may be left with some tough choices to make.

"They either have to leave the country or they have to apply and go through the asylum system, which we know has a huge, huge backlog and is a mess right now," said Nejra Sumic, the national field manager for We Are All America, a collective of refugee aid organizers working to assist Afghans.

"There is no federal resolution to what is going to happen to all of these individuals," she said.

From Afghanistan to ASU: These students fled their homes as the Taliban took over. How they landed at ASU

Luck, effort, coordination and timing

Initially, the Muradian siblings did not know if they would make it out of Afghanistan.

It took the activism of U.S. soldiers working with the platoon, the coordination of community members around the U.S. who mobilized to help, intervention from a U.S. congressman, and lots of good timing.

Rebecca Monaco, a U.S. Army officer deployed to Afghanistan who had the chance to work alongside the Female Tactical Platoon soldiers, said she started getting calls from some of them to help fill out visa paperwork when it became clear the U.S. military would withdraw from the country.

She started calling other soldiers she was deployed with and began organizing efforts to assist the Afghan women they had worked with, even though there was no special visa category for them. Special visas were mostly reserved for interpreters, not for Afghan soldiers working alongside Americans.

"And then when the embassy fell in Kabul, we kind of understood that it was a pretty big emergency and more of the women started reaching out," Monaco said. "And that's kind of when we started really going into full evacuation mode."

The Taliban advanced quickly, taking over large portions of the country, eventually taking Kabul as well. U.S. forces with the 82nd Airborne Division held their ground at Hamid Karzai International Airport, where they evacuated soldiers, U.S. citizens and Afghans who had worked with Americans.

Fatima and her family went into hiding in Kabul after the U.S. military evacuated Camp Scorpion, a facility used to train the Female Tactical Platoon, located outside the capital city.

Monaco said getting the platoon soldiers out of the country became the top priority for them, and the urgency intensified as they raced against the clock before the remaining U.S. soldiers left.

"They especially were targeted because not only were they females in a very Islamic fundamentalist society doing a male oriented role, but they also were well known for working alongside Americans," she said.

As the last U.S. stronghold against the advancing Taliban, Hamid Karzai International Airport became a scene of desperation. Hundreds of people packed the gates leading to the airport. U.S. soldiers were checking documents to allow people inside.

The Muradian siblings made seven attempts to reach the airport. Bill Richardson was coordinating efforts to help them out. His daughter also served in Afghanistan alongside the platoon soldiers.

"They could bring their phone, they could bring their passport. Everything else, anything they would identify them having been in the military, would cost them," Richardson remembers saying. "And then I told them, my people, my group, they needed to hide their phone and their passport in their underwear so that the Taliban wouldn't touch them."

On one occasion, they made it inside the airport gates, only to be pushed back out. Translating for her sisters, Basira, the youngest of the siblings, said they witnessed terrible things on the way and once they got the airport gates.

"Those times that we came, it was always pushing, pushing pushing. Every time, we pushed through to come near to the airport. It was so hard," Basira said. "First of all, that pushing was so hard. And second is that the weather is so hot. And also the Taliban were in the back with people. They were hitting people, beating people."

Razia said the scenes of death, suffering and desperation outside the airport continue to haunt her and give her nightmares.

On their last attempt, the Muradian sisters made their way to the airport gate with the husband of another soldier. But the scene was so chaotic, it made it more difficult to get them past the gate.

They had been in communication with Richardson. He said the group was trying to contact anyone within 82nd Airborne Division that they knew, trying to talk to any solider on the ground who would be able to let them in.

"So it was it was the soldiers from the cultural support team here and their contacts contacting people they knew on the ground, either in the Army or the Marine Corps, the Air Force, at the airport saying, 'Hey, we need Fatima.' And so then they literally went out into the crowd and gave them passwords," he said.

Basira said the U.S. soldiers found them, took their hands and then got them inside the airport. Another soldier took them to the terminal, they got a wristband and waited to board a C-17 plane that would be packed with other Afghans.

They left behind a worsening situation at the airport. Their mother and two other sisters also stayed behind in Afghanistan.

On the last days of evacuation, a suicide bomber struck the airport, killing at least 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. soldiers. The Islamic State claimed responsibility. Razia said she wonders if any of the soldiers who helped them get inside the airport were among those killed.

The C-17 transported the Muradian siblings to Dubai, and then to Qatar in the Persian Gulf. In the span of about two weeks, they would end up in Germany, where the group of U.S. soldiers coordinated to provide them with clean clothes. They also pressed anyone they could reach at the military and in Congress to help speed up the process to them to the United States.

U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said the team in his office worked day and night to help with more than 100 cases to help evacuees, including those in the Female Tactical Platoon, get out of Afghanistan and to the U.S.

"There was such a lack of information, you know, a lack of clarity about what is the process that you would follow to help the forces of other Afghanis that had helped the American effort in Afghanistan," Stanton said.

His office worked through officials channels at the U.S. State Department and other federal agencies to move the process along, while also reaching out to anyone on the ground to help facilitate the evacuation.

"My staff was working with military officials there, their family members, their spouses that might be near where the the FTP's were located to try to help out and and to do things that would be to make sure nature was clear that these women were at particular risk and needed particular attention and help," he said.

I visited with veterans and Afghan evacuees who've been demonstrating at the Capitol this week to push for a vote on the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act.



Our Afghan allies put their lives at risk to help the U.S., and they deserve protection and stability.



Let's get it done. pic.twitter.com/jHJGlSDetL  Rep. Greg Stanton (@RepGregStanton) September 23, 2022

After nearly two months in Germany, the Muradian siblings were able to board a plane for the U.S. They were transported to Fort McCoy in Wiscon, one of eight military bases designated as "safe havens" for newly arrived Afghans.

They spent over four months at the base. They were unable to leave, but filled a series of requirements, including medical screenings and immigration processing. While at the base, they also began to work with the International Rescue Committee to help them resettle in Arizona.

Resettling at college: ASU's efforts with Afghan students could be a model for other US universities

Afghans settle in Phoenix, Glendale and Tucson

More than 2,000 Afghans have resettled in Arizona so far in 2022, according to the state's Refugee Resettlement Program. Most of them live in three cities: Phoenix, Glendale or Tucson.

Most of them were admitted under humanitarian parole and given a two-year permit to live and work in the country. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency that oversees immigration paperwork, expedited the work permits so that Afghans could receive them before they arrived at the cities where they would be resettled.

Because parole grants only temporary status, it also has more limited access to resources than individuals with other types of permanent or longer-term legal status. But advocates say resettled Afghans, like refugees or asylees, also require lots of assistance to ease their transition to life in the U.S.

"So, people who are the most vulnerable, these are the ones who are being placed in these communities," Sumic with We Are All America, said. "And so I tell people to reflect on that. They are really the ones in the biggest need."

When Afghans fist began arriving in the U.S., resettlement agencies struggled initially to meet the overwhelming need for assistance because the refugee program had been slashed to its lowest levels ever under former President Donald Trump.

To help in their transition, the U.S. government under President Joe Biden came up with the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program, which provides help for individuals admitted under humanitarian parole through March 2023.

It allocates $2,275 to help Afghan nationals resettled in the U.S.: $1,225 for direct assistance and $1,050 for administrative costs for things like housing, pocket money, school enrollment or legal services to adjust their immigration status.

That funding supplements what resettlement agencies have spent to get Afghans on their feet. That could including paying rent for the first few months or proving cash assistance for day to day spending.

The International Rescue Committee helped resettle more than half of the Afghans that arrived in Arizona. One of the initial challenges was finding permanent housing for the families. They initially placed Afghan families like the Muradian siblings in hotels.

Aaron Rippedkroeger, the group's executive director said getting them to permanent homes was especially important because that set them up on the path towards self-sufficiency.

"Every family is a bit different and how quickly they reach that," he said. "But the vast majority of them become self-sufficient within that 4 to 6 months timeframe."

The IRC helped the Muradians move into an apartment in the Alhambra neighborhood of Phoenix in March. This area has a high proportion of refugees already living in the area, in large part because the landlords already have experience working with resettlement agencies and because they are closer to resources for refugees and parolees.

The Muradian siblings said their goal is to learn enough English that will allow them to continue with their education. Razia, the oldest of the siblings, already has a bachelor's degree in philosophy. She'd like to get a master's here in Arizona.

"One day we go to... we come to United States and we want to go to a university in the United States and it was our dream," she said. "It was our dream. So are so happy we came here and we can do the university. It's really important for us, for all of us."

But any future plans are dependent on their ability to remain and live in the United States. The Muradian siblings said they don't see a possibility of returning to Afghanistan, where they would continue to be persecuted.

On Sept. 30, the Islamic State carried out another suicide attack at a school in Kabul that killed 35 Hazara women and girls and injured another 80. It follows several other attacks on the Hazara both by Islamic State and the Taliban.

The siblings said they hope to be able to one day bring their remaining family members in Afghanistan, including their mother, to safety in the United States.

For Fatima, the Female Tactical Platoon soldier, the only way to do that and to build a future in the U.S. is obtain long-term legal status.

"We want to not only ask those Afghans that they come here, they should not go back to Afghanistan, and be here for always and have a green card in a fast time," Basira said, translating for Fatima.

In August, Stanton and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in the House and Senate introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act. It would provide permanent residency to Afghans evacuated to the U.S. and would also expand eligibility for special visas to Female Tactical Platoon soldiers like Fatima.

"The women of the FTPs, who played such a unique role, side by side with our special forces, these are people that we should be incredibly proud to have in our community," Stanton said. "There should be no doubt that we are lucky to have people of their bravery on this planet, and particularly now many of them relocating to Phoenix."

Even though the legislation has bipartisan support, to date it hasn't moved out of their respective committees in both chambers. With parole status set to expire next year for many of the Afghan evacuees, Stanton said they're running against the clock.

Have any news tips or story ideas about immigration in the Southwest? Reach the reporter at rafael.carranza@arizonarepublic.com, or follow him on Twitter at @RafaelCarranza.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Afghans find home in Arizona, but challenges remain
Facing three candidates in Montanas conservative new eastern congressional district, Democrat Penny Ronning knows shes in an uphill battle, one she promises to fight like hell to win.

Raised in Billings, where her father ran a diner and her mother worked for the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, she credits her working-class roots and her mothers example of government service for her candidacy.

"What inspired me to run for this race was my mom was a career federal employee, she said in an interview. My mom taught me the love and respect for government. I've seen that respect for the government deteriorate under the attempted leadership by current representation."

Ronning, a former member of the Billings City Council, won the new districts Democratic primary in June, earning the right to challenge Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale. The race also includes Billings financial adviser Gary Buchanan, whos running as an independent, and Libertarian attorney Sam Rankin.

Ronning draws much of her political beliefs from growing up in a bipartisan household. "We didn't talk about parties; we talked about people. We talked about candidates and the issues that stood out to us in our family. That's how I was taught to vote," Ronning said.

A first-generation college graduate, Ronning has a bachelors degree in film from Montana State University and a masters degree in business administration from the University of Mary. She has helped raise funds for nonprofits promoting the arts and presided over a downtown business group in Livingston.

In 2016, she founded the Yellowstone County Area Human Trafficking Taskforce, the largest task force in the state of its kind. Shes lobbied the states congressional delegation on behalf of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and promoted related legislation.

But her political education came as a member of the Billings City Council. It was there, she said, that she learned to understand the role played by the state and federal government and the need to work with members of other parties. She points to collaborations with both Montanas Democratic and Republican senators.

Still, shes not shy in her criticism of Congressman Rosendale. Ronning rejects his blanket opposition to abortion and said he needs to do more to improve health care, fight climate change and boost agriculture. She says she supports the Second Amendment, common sense gun laws, and mental health funding. She favors forgiveness for student debt and wants the federal government to legalize marijuana.

Beyond the issues, the race has posed some unexpected blows for her campaign, the biggest of which was the late candidacy of independent Gary Buchanan, whose background includes service for both Democratic and Republican governors in the 80s and 90s. He also won endorsements from the Montana Federation of Public Employees and the Montana AFL-CIO.

The MFPEs Amanda Curtis, a former Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, said the unions decision came down to Buchanans experience in government. "It really was not intended to be an anti-Penny Ronning endorsement. Our members compared the two candidates and chose their favorite."

Ronning said the decision felt like a gut punch considering labors support for Democratic candidates in years past. Her biggest disappointment was Buchanans entry into the race.

I personally think Gary Buchanan is one of the most dangerous individuals right now running in Montana, she said. And the reason I say that is I think his campaign is working to destroy the Democratic Party. Hes working to split something that I believe stands for good in our state.

Jeremy Johnson, a political scientist and professor at Carroll College, said its likely that Buchanan will attract some Democratic voters who feel a Democrat has little chance of winning in the eastern district.

As the sole woman in the campaign, Ronning said shes had to work harder than her male counterparts. Fundraising has been especially difficult. With no backing from the national Democratic Party, the focus has been on small donors.

As of late June, Ronning had raised a little more than $63,000, compared to Buchanans $127,000, both a far cry from Rosendales $1.74 million, with a bit more than $1 million left to spend in the campaign.

"This is not going to be one of those multimillion-dollar campaigns, she said. We are a state that's a little over a million people. Campaigns should not cost over a million dollars here. That's buying votes."

Meanwhile, Ronning keeps running. A recent Facebook post before a televised debate in Great Falls revealed the rigors  and windshield time  involved in campaigning across a huge stretch of the state.

Billings to Fort Belknap to Havre to Rocky Boy to Helena to Havre to Fort Belknap to Billings in the past 72 hours, she wrote. Out the door now to Great Falls for the debate tonight.
Margot Robbie, left, played Macaluso in Martin Scorsese's 2013 film adaptation of "The Wolf of Wall Street." Ignat/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images and Courtesy of Nadine Macaluso

Nadine Macaluso started her career as a model to support herself before she met her ex-husband.

While married to Jordan Belfort, Macaluso gave up modeling and started a maternity company.

After leaving Belfort, Macaluso found her path to therapy through meditation and earned her Ph.D.

More than 20 years after ending her marriage to Jordan Belfort, famously known as the "Wolf of Wall Street," Nadine Macaluso is a family therapist and somatic psychologist using the experiences in her marriage to help others leave abusive relationships.

Macaluso, 54, was played by Margot Robbie in Martin Scorsese's 2013 film, "The Wolf of Wall Street," which was adapted from Belfort's autobiography of the same name. She said that six months into her relationship with Belfort, she realized she needed help.

"That relationship sent me right into therapy," Macaluso said.

Macaluso recently talked to Insider about the abuse she experienced in her seven-year marriage to Belfort, including gaslighting and domestic violence.

But back then, Macaluso never would have guessed she'd become a therapist herself.

Supporting herself as a model

Macaluso was raised in Brooklyn by her "very psychologically inclined" single mother, she said.

W

Macaluso in a 1992 Winter Games ad for Seagram's. Courtesy of Nadine Macaluso

hen she was 17, Macaluso, who said she graduated high school early, realized she had to take care of herself because she couldn't afford to stay in college.

"I was working in the city, and people would come up to me and say, 'You should be a model,'" Macaluso said, but she believed at 5 feet 6 inches, she was too short to model.

She went to an agency called Elite Petite and launched her modeling career doing commercials for Wrigley's gum and Miller Lite beer.

While she said she had fun as a model, she didn't love it, "because my mother had always instilled in me that looks go and education is the only thing that you can count on."

Around the time she met Belfort, Macaluso said she was going to do a TV pilot season  the time when networks pick up new shows  in Los Angeles, and was working on losing her Brooklyn accent to be in national commercials.

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Macaluso said she could make up to $3,000 a day modeling, which was a lot of money 25 years ago. But Belfort told her she didn't have to work. Macaluso said that it's common in "trauma bonding"  an attachment that develops between an abuser and their victim  that the abuser wants their partner to fully depend on them.

"I didn't know this at the time," Macaluso said. "I was like, 'Oh, I guess he's right, you know. My $3,000 isn't really going to put a dent in our life.'"

Later in their marriage, Macaluso started her own maternity company.

"I think that was a really important thing when I left him because I did have something of my own that I had cultivated while being a young mother," Macaluso said.

Macaluso left Belfort when she was 30 years old, and she said it felt like taking her power back.

"My autonomy, my agency, my individuality was very squashed while I was married to him," Macaluso said. "The final straw of why I left him was because he got arrested."

Belfort was indicted for money laundering and securities fraud in 1999. Belfort did not immediately respond to an Insider request for comment.

She didn't want her children to stay in New York City carrying the legacy of what happened to Belfort, so she moved to California and started over.

Using her marriage experience to pursue therapy

In Los Angeles, Macaluso worked in the garment business, did yoga, and started meditating. Through meditation, she said she realized she wanted to go back to school and become a therapist.

"Therapy saved my life," Macaluso said. "I want to really give back to others and be of service. I'm always that type of person that's searching and wanting to grow."

Macaluso returned to school at 39 and received her master's degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She decided to stay and earn her Ph.D. She said becoming a psychotherapist felt natural, but it had its challenging moments, too.

"When you're a therapist, you are supposed to put your bias aside," Macaluso said. "But there is no way you can't bring your experience in the room with you."

Belfort's book, "The Wolf of Wall Street" came out in 2007, and Macaluso finished her doctorate around the same time the film came out in 2014.

Macaluso with her ex-husband, Jordan Belfort, in an undated photo. Courtesy of Nadine Macaluso

"When the movie did come out, I thought to myself, 'Oh great, who's gonna come to me?' But actually, the opposite happened," Macaluso said.

Macaluso said she never felt like people came to her because of her association with Belfort, but because they genuinely wanted to learn from her experience.

For women who've had experiences similar to hers with leaving an abusive relationship and wanting to pursue their own career, Macaluso said her advice to them is to just go for it.

"You need to have your own sense of identity," Macaluso said. "You need to know at the end of the day that you can support yourself and support your children emotionally, physically, financially. It's a wonderful feeling to know that you can do that."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Civil Rights leader Jean McGuire is expected to survive after she was stabbed multiple times in a Boston park earlier this week.

Local authorities said that McGuire, 91, was in stable condition Wednesday, just a day after what described as a random attack at around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Franklin Park, CBS Boston reports.

McGuire, who made history as the first Black woman to be elected to the Boston School Committee, sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident, police told the outlet.

She was stabbed after parking her car and entering the park with her dog.

Bailey, McGuires dog, came to the rescue by helping to fight off the assailant, her sister, Jeriline Brady-McGinnis, told the outlet.

Im glad shes the strong woman she is because shes a very physical person, takes care of herself really well. There is no nicer person in the world. This is a woman who would do anything for anybody. This woman doesnt see color, she sees people and for this to happen to her, Brady-McGinnis said. She has a huge history, well known, not only in Massachusetts, but other places.  Jean is loved by hundreds and hundreds of people.

Although McGuire  who was the longest serving director of desegregation program METCO  has spent decades walking in the area, her sister said she wont be walking alone again.
ABERDEEN  A man riding a dirt bike Friday night died after he was hit by a driver in an SUV, authorities said.

Clifford Walton, 40, of the Cliffwood Beach section of the township, was riding a Kawasaki dirt bike near the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Gordon Street about 6 p.m. when he collided with a Jeep Cherokee driven by a 34-year-old man from Aberdeen, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday.

The Aberdeen Police Department went to the scene to find Walton with serious injuries. He was taken to Bayshore Community Medical Center in Holmdel, where he was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m., officials said.

For subscribers:Fatal collisions have risen sharply in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Why?

The driver of the SUV was alone in his vehicle. He stayed on the scene and was not seriously injured, authorities said.

Aberdeen police and the county Prosecutor's Office are investigating the accident. People with information about it may call Prosecutor's Office Detective Brian Boryszewski at 800-533-7443 or Aberdeen Patrolman John Palumbo at 732-566-2054.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Aberdeen NJ fatal dirt bike crash under investigation
Maria de Los Angeles Croce is carried by her fellow Venezuelan migrants to a health clinic after she suffered an asthma attack and lost consciousness soon after being expelled from the U.S. to Ciudad Juarez on Oct. 14, 2022. Croce was one of hundeds of migrants who have been expelled from the U.S after hoping to seek asylum.

JUAREZ  Maria de los Angeles Croce awoke to another day of terrifying uncertainty after sleeping outside a migrant aid agency office in view of the U.S. border fence, after U.S. Border Patrol expelled her and nearly 500 other Venezuelan migrants.

Dozens of Venezuelans milled about asking questions without answers on Saturday morning. Where would they sleep, eat? What would they do next? Upon expulsion, Mexican authorities required the 25-year-old and others to sign a document advising they would leave the country within 15 days "by their own means," she said. But how? And where could she possibly go?

What she experienced on the six-week journey over land from South America could fill the darkest chapters of a Garcia Marquez novel. Turned back to Mexico, she collapsed unconscious at the foot of the international bridge, unable to breathe, overwhelmed, she said, by the failure of her endeavor.

"I kept going, and I had to do many things that I don't want to talk about now to make it through, always with so much fear, to eat or to pay someone to take care of me," she said. "I didn't know what I was capable of."

Gulping back tears, she continued, "But I feel proud of myself because I made it here  a step away."

Venezuelan migrants watch as other migratns cross the Rio Grande into the U.S. These Venezuelan migrants had been expelled to Ciudad Juarez from the U.S. on Oct. 14, 2022.

De los Angeles Croce and others lined up for a cup of hot coffee. Baptist missionaries, originally from Venezuela, brought a tall, silver pot to the corner outside the Chihuahua state Center for Migrant Attention. It's a lonely space where the railroad tracks bend west to cross the U.S. border, and the concrete banks of the Rio Grande canal are littered with the detritus of migration. The razor wire-topped U.S. border fence blocks the view of El Paso.

Jairo Mendoza held a black Bible in his hands as he offered a prayer for "el pueblo venezolano" in an accent that to them sounded like home. He proselytized for a few minutes, then promised to return in the evening, perhaps with Venezuelan-style arepas, a corn masa pocket often filled with chicken or black beans and fresh white cheese.

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"We've been following their journey," he said. "And when the law changed, we knew many of them would end up here."

"It's a true social and economic crisis in Venezuela," said Mendoza, who left the country in 2013, the year that strongman President Hugo Chavez died. "People earn less than $40 a month there, but you need $300 or $400 to eat. It's extremely hard what our people are living through."

On Thursday, the Biden administration and Mexico announced a joint deal to slow migration flows through the region. The number of Venezuelans seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border began surging in September, threatening a humanitarian crisis in U.S. border cities, including in El Paso.

Mexico agreed to take back Venezuelans returned under Title 42, a U.S. public health authority used throughout the pandemic to quickly return migrants to their country of origin, or in some cases, to Mexico. The U.S. agreed to supply 65,000 additional temporary work visas for Mexican, Central American and Haitian laborers, and also agreed to accept up to 24,000 Venezuelan migrants in Mexico via air travel, who could show proof of sponsorship in the U.S.

It was the latest move by the Biden administration to lean on an expulsion policy it has publicly eschewed but continues to use as a stick to push migrants back from the Southwest border. As Gov. Greg Abbott and other top Republicans blast Biden for a so-called "open border" policy ahead of the midterm elections, the new expulsions showed the administration toeing a harder line on the latest migrant influx.

Venezuelan migrants sleep on the streets of Ciudad Juarez after being expelled from the U.S. on Oct. 15, 2022.

In El Paso, the municipal government has been busing hundreds of Venezuelan migrants  lawfully admitted to pursue status in the U.S.  each day to New York and Chicago, an effort to keep the newcomers from ending up homeless on city streets.

The humanitarian crisis at the border now spilled into Juarez, a Mexican city now accustomed to hosting foreigners expelled by the U.S. This weekend, Border Patrol was expelling as many as 50 asylum seekers, ever half hour for hours at a time, to the Stanton Street international bridge..

Juarez saw thousands of Cubans, Central Americans and Haitians set up temporary residence here through the years of the Migrant Protection Protocol during the Trump administration. The Mexican government offered them work permits, and many took jobs in maquiladora assembly plants or started their own businesses with seed money from relatives working in the U.S.

Border Patrol Sector Chief Gloria Chavez kept migration crises at bay in El Paso. Will the next chief do the same?

The orders by the Mexican government handed to the hundreds of Venezuelans expelled Friday alarmed shelter and migrant aid workers. With few resources and, in many cases, no close contacts in the U.S. to offer monetary support, it wasn't clear how the migrants would be able to "abandon the Mexican Territory by the closest southern border," as the document ordered.

Enrique Valenzuela, director of the Chihuahua state migrant aid agency, said local, state and federal authorities were scheduled to meet later Saturday as the number of expelled Venezuelans was expected to grow.

A Venezuelan migrant pleads with fellow migrants to give him their clothing, telling them that Customs and Border Protection would throw away all their clothing once they turned themselves in. This migrant had already been expelled to Ciudad Juarez from the U.S. on Oct. 14, 2022.

"The information we have up to the moment creates more doubts and questions than answers for a population that needs to make decisions about their future," Valenzuela said.

Mendoza said he is asking his compatriots to shift their thinking. There are employment opportunities in Mexico, too, he said  especially in Juarez, where hundreds of factories are always looking for more workers. But Mexico, he said, needs to offer an opportunity.

"Those who have the desire to work, they should be given the opportunity to simply make a life inside this country," he said. "Venezuelans are hard workers. The Mexican government should give them the same opportunities it has given others."

Jairo Mendoza held a black Bible in his hands as he offered a prayer for "el pueblo venezolano" in an accent that to them sounded like home. He proselytized for a few minutes, then promised to return in the evening, perhaps with Venezuelan-style arepas, a corn masa pocket often filled with chicken or black beans and fresh white cheese.

Juan Carlos Quevedo, 31, listened to Mendoza's impromptu sermon with his head bowed. He worked as a fisherman in the coastal state of Falcon until he could no longer afford or find gasoline for the boats he worked on, in a country where immense reserves of petroleum had once made it among the richest nations in the region.

He crossed in the hours before the U.S.-Mexico accord, was returned to Juarez by Border Patrol on Friday and had no idea what he would do next. He carried a backpack with a roll of toilet paper and a plastic bag with the only posession he had kept with him since leaving Venezuela: a palm-sized laminated card with Mexico's Virgin of Guadalupe.

"Everything we have done to make it here," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "It's difficult, but here we are."

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Hundreds of Venezuelans expelled to Juarez with orders to leave Mexico
EUROPEAN PRAVDA  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 21:34

The foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have issued a joint statement calling on the EU, together with international partners, to help Ukraine create a special tribunal that will judge the top leadership of the Russian Federation.

Source: The text of the joint statement of the ministers published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sites of the three countries, reported by European Pravda

Quote: "The rules-based international order, which we all strive to defend, cannot survive if there is impunity for the deeds that violate it most blatantly  genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crime of aggression.

Recent deliberate targeting of civilian homes, schools and playgrounds, as well as civilian infrastructures across Ukraine, is just the latest episode of Russias unprovoked terror campaign against Ukrainian people. As Russias brutal assault against Ukraine continues, the EU must act to ensure that seeking justice and accountability for Russias horrific crimes in Ukraine is at the centre of our policy," the ministers write.

They call for continued support for investigations conducted by Ukraine, a number of other states, as well as the International Criminal Court "since it plays a key role in collecting evidential materials, identifying and punishing those responsible for the war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine".

However, they note that this is not enough, because "currently there is no international court or tribunal that could bring Russias top political and military leadership to account for committing the crime of aggression against Ukraine."

"The Special Tribunal for the Punishment of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine has to be established to fill this jurisdictional loophole. The EU together with our partners must be at the centre of this effort," they write.

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The foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia specify that while the International Criminal Court will prosecute individuals for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity, the main responsibility of a special tribunal will be the crime of aggression.

"The key masterminds, instigators and facilitators of this murderous aggression cannot escape justice simply because of the gap in the international criminal jurisdiction," they conclude.

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Correction: An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information on the evacuation efforts

Russian authorities on Friday said they would help civilians evacuate the southern city of Kherson, Ukraine, as Ukrainian troops continue to make gains in the area just north of Crimea.

The Ukrainian military has had repeated successes in the south of the country and previously said that it hopes to retake Kherson, one of the provinces annexed by Russia last month, by the end of the year.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin announced a military-aided evacuation from Kherson, which has been occupied by Russia since early March, after Vladimir Saldo, the Russian leader of the Kherson region, called on the Kremlin to aid in protecting residents from the strife between the Ukrainian and Russian troops.

We suggested that all residents of the Kherson region, if there is such a wish, to protect themselves from the consequences of missile strikes, should go to other regions of Russia, Saldo said, according to CNN.

A Russian proxy leader in Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, contested Saldos characterization of the events, saying: There is no evacuation in the Kherson region and there cannot be any.

We urge the residents of the Kherson region to remain calm and to not panic, he said.

Nobody is going to withdraw Russian troops from the Kherson region. This is not an evacuation, this is an opportunity to save lives.

Updated at 1:00 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Authorities in Chatham County, Georgia, wrapped up a fourth day of searching unsuccessfully for missing 20-month-old Quinton Simon, but authorities still hope he will be found alive.

The toddler was reported missing Wednesday morning from his home in an unincorporated part of the county near Savannah, and county police have said no foul play is suspected.

"Were going to hold out hope that hes still alive, and that we can find him and bring him home safe to his parents," Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said at a news conference Thursday.

Quinton Simon (Chatham County Police Department)

The case has drawn widespread attention and a large law enforcement response.

We appreciate everyones offers of help, but we are not in need of volunteers, the police department said in a statement.

The search for the child has involved an army of law enforcement and accompanying tools, including drones, helicopters, horses, and tracking dogs, police said. Detectives have worked 20-hour days, Hadley said.

They've so far searched his home, a pond, drainage pipes, dumpsters, nearby woods and other undisclosed locations.

Officials interviewed family members and anyone close to Quinton, and electronically searched the phones of those close to him, Hadley said.

Because abduction could not be ruled out, the FBI has joined the local effort, he said.

On Wednesday, Hadley said, Quinton's mother's boyfriend woke up at 6 a.m. and reported seeing him at that time.

"Mother woke up at some other time later and reported the child missing at 9:39," the chief said.

The boy's biological father, who was not named, "was not near him during the time of his disappearance," Hadley said.

The child's mother and her boyfriend have been working with detectives, Hadley said.

"At this point theyre victims," he said. "Theyre dealing with the loss of a child."

No suspects or persons of interest have been named, and theres no evidence to suggest Quinton didnt walk off, although exhaustive searches of a geographic area within wandering distance have turned up nothing, police said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Donald Trump Speaks At Israeli American Council - Credit: WireImage

Donald Trump berated American Jews on social media Sunday morning, telling them to get their act together and offer him more gratitude for his policy toward Israel.

More from Rolling Stone

No President has done more for Israel than I have, Trump wrote. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S.

Trump went on to claim that he was so popular in Israel he could easily be prime minister, and instructed American Jews to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel  Before it is too late!

Trumps remarks come at the end of a busy week for MAGA figures and in anti-Semitism. In an interview released this weekend, Kanye West disparaged Jewish Zionists. Trump has thus far been quiet on West, but other pro-Trump voices  including Ben Shapiro and Elon Musk have equivocated in their condemnation, unwilling to fully go after a pro-Trump celebrity.

Former president Trump has disparaged American Jews for a perceived lack of devotion to him on a number of occasions. In a 2021 interview with Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, Trump complained that the evangelical Christians love Israel more than the Jews in this country. It used to be that Israel had absolute power over Congress. And today I think its the exact opposite. And I think Obama and Biden did that.

As president, Jewish advocacy organizations accused Trump of using anti-Semitic stereotypes in his statements about Jewish voters, including describing them as being motivated by financial gain and accusing Jews who voted democrat of showing great disloyalty to Israel.

During his presidency Trump set aside decades or foreing policy precedent and made major concessions to the Israeli government, including recognizing Jerusalem as its capital, declaring settlements do not violate international law, and granting Israel sovereignty over the Golan heights.

Story continues

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower to meet with New York Attorney General Letitia James for a civil investigation on August 10, 2022 in New York City. // U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister John Major leave after giving a joint news conference at Government House in Hamilton, Bermuda, March 16, 1991. James Devaney/GC Images // Uncredited/ AP Photo

Trump last week said Bush stored presidential records in a former Chinese restaurant/bowling alley.

A former Archivist of the United States told Insider that Trump's rant didn't get the whole story.

"I guess he thinks they make a good soundbite, but they're completely false," Don Wilson said.

After former President Donald Trump made headlines for saying former President George H.W. Bush took millions of government documents to a "Chinese restaurant-slash-bowling alley," a former Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, said he is presently concerned about attempts to delegitimize the National Archives.

During rallies in Nevada and Arizona the weekend of Oct. 8, Trump repeatedly said that after Bush left the White House, he took millions of documents and stored them in a combination Chinese restaurant and bowling alley with a "broken front door and broken windows."

The absurd anecdote was part of a long list of defenses Trump has used to justify storing government documents the FBI retrieved from his Mar-a-Lago home on August 8.

Although Trump's claim has one truth to it  there was a former Chinese restaurant/bowling alley involved  Wilson, who served under Reagan and Bush, told Insider that Trump's account is misleading.

"I'm rather appalled, quite frankly," Wilson said. "Obviously either his advisers, speech writers, or someone doesn't really get their facts right. And then I guess he thinks they make a good sound bite, but they're completely false."

Unconventional storage spaces are typical for NARA  even Reagan had one

Bush was the 41st president of the United States, as well as the director of the CIA and vice president under Ronald Reagan. He died in 2018.

After Bush left office, his documents were set to be transferred to his presidential library in College Station, Texas. At the time, the National Archives and Records Administration needed a temporary facility to house documents that were on the way to the Bush library.

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NARA found an old Chinese restaurant and bowling alley nearby Texas A&M University  where the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is located  that it leased from the General Services Administration, which is responsible for securing buildings for government operations. The building was completely renovated according to NARA standards and the documents never left the possession of NARA staff.

Using unconventional storage spaces for transferring records is a common practice NARA also utilized when transferring documents to presidential libraries for Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Though Trump didn't mention it, even Reagan's records were stored in an old pasta factory before being relocated to his presidential library in California.

The storage space's former life as both a Chinese restaurant and bowling alley was a humorous detail shared among NARA staff and journalists reporting on the storage, according to an Associated Press article published in 1994.

"We didn't have a lot of [records storage] opportunities there because it [was at] Texas A&M University and they take up most of the town," Wilson said, referring to the choice to house the documents in the renovated bowling alley.

The temporary facility housing Bush's records had security personnel, cameras, and staff with security clearances for handling classified documents, Wilson said. There was also a vault within the building that housed the documents.

Wilson traveled to the Texas facility to personally inspect the process. "There was nothing that wasn't secure," he told Insider.

NARA also debunked Trump's claims in a statement to Insider.

"Reports that indicate or imply that those Presidential records were in the possession of the former Presidents or their representatives, after they left office, or that the records were housed in substandard conditions, are false and misleading," the statement from NARA said.

A representative for Trump did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Wilson worked at the Dwight Eisenhower and Gerald Ford libraries before working as the Archivist of the United States. He was the first archivist responsible for transferring presidential documents under the Presidential Records Act of 1978. He later served as executive director of the George H.W. Bush Library.

During his career, Wilson was criticized for signing a deal with Bush before he left office, which gave him "exclusive legal control of all Presidential information, and all derivative information in whatever form" of 5,000 digital records. A US district court later ruled the agreement violated the PRA.

Trump's attacks on the NARA process of preserving presidential records, Wilson said, was a "great danger" to democracy.

"I find it degrading to the National Archives, which I think he wants to do," Wilson told Insider. "At this point, I think is not just an attack or ridicule of former presidents. This is an attack on the National Archives."

The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the YWCA Northeast Kansas is hosting events throughout this week for Week Without Violence to raise awareness in the Capital City.

YWCA Northeast Kansas CEO Kathleen Marker said the need for awareness and help in the community keeps growing and the process continues to change.

"What we will always do is, believe the survivor, and we're going to support them in the way that they need," Kathleen Marker said. "What we're not going to do is coerce anyone into leaving their abuser or telling them 'This is what you have to do.'"

Free and confidential help is available 24/7 for individuals experiencing domestic violence. Individuals who seek help can contact (888)-822-2983 or 1-800-799SAFE (7233) if they are located in Shawnee, Jackson, Wabaunsee or Brown counties.

On Oct. 24, the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment will expand access to these services by providing a free and confidential text-line.

Kathleen Marker described the text-line as huge for victims who may not have a cellphone or who reside in homes where a call can't be placed due to their abuser's in-home presence.

"We want them to be empowered to make decisions, we want them to feel like they can make these decisions for themselves," she said.

For more than 20 years, Week Without Violence has been a nationwide campaign to end domestic violence in all forms. Centering Survivors is the central theme of this weeks events.

Topeka YWCA served more than 1,200 victims and survivors last year

Topeka's YWCA is hosting its annual Week Without Violence, a week of events during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

YWCA program director, Becca Spielman presented on behalf of the Mayors Taskforce Against Domestic Violence in Topeka, at the Topeka City Council meeting on Oct. 11.

Statistically speaking, on a national level, relationship violence affects one in three women, one in four men, one in every two gender nonbinary or trans-identified person. Spielman told the council members.

For the first time, the mayors taskforce compiled data from 2021 that illustrated the full scope of violence within our community, she said.

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Statistics shared by Spielman showed that 1,232 referrals were made to the Shawnee County District Attorneys Office, while 2,002 domestic violence calls were made to law enforcement agencies and 821 arrests were made.

Receiving services from YWCA Northeast Kansas center were 1,058 victims and survivors of domestic violence living in Shawnee County.

City manager Stephen Wade said the city is putting together a plan to be able to prosecute domestic violence cases in Municipal Court. Wade said prosecutions could begin in January 2023.

YWCA resource development director Allison Marker said their work and mayor's taskforce are important for the people who dont come forward and dont report because they dont see how theyre going to experience any form of justice.

I think the point of this taskforce and from YWCAs perspective is that theres always work to be done, to make sure that survivors are being seen and believed by these processes, Allison Marker said.

What events will be held during the Week without Violence?

Get out the vote

Where: YWCA Northeast Kansas, 225 S.W. 12th Street

When: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Partnered event with Loud Light, League of Women Voters of Topeka and Shawnee County. Volunteers will be available to assist in checking your voter registration status and create a plan to vote. Poppin Minis, Poppin Squeeze and Flavor Wagon food trucks will be available at various time throughout the day.

Poetry Speak Out

Where: Washburn University Underground

When: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Thursday. Speak up and speak out or listen to support live poetry in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in a safe space.

March and Rally

Where: South side of the Kansas Statehouse

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. As the week comes to an end, participants will rally to center survivors, advocates and allies. Following the rally, a march through downtown to the YWCA Northeast Kansas site will take place for fellowship.

Keishera Lately is a business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Lately_KT.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: YWCA's Week Without Violence raises awareness about issue and services
I am supporting Gary Buchanan for Montanas Eastern District for the U.S. House of Representatives. I worked for Gary during his term as director of the Montana Department of Commerce. He appointed me as manager of the federally funded Community Development Block Grant Program which provided approximately $6 million a year for community facilities, housing and economic development projects.

His goal was always to be fair in awarding grants for the most serious community needs for projects that were well planned and had strong community support. He was a good administrator and always open to suggestions from his staff for how make Commerce programs more effective and efficient. These are the characteristics that would make him a great Congressman for Montana. He would be a bipartisan, thoughtful problem solver who would make Montana proud.

This is in contrast to Matt Rosendale who is consistently ultra-partisan and negative as he simply regurgitates MAGA talking points rather than demonstrating a meaningful understanding of the current issues facing Montana and the nation.

His past votes against the PACT bill to provide help to veterans sickened by toxic chemicals and against providing military aid to Ukraine are typical of how he represents us. As a sportsman, I found it particularly galling that Rosendale opposed extending the Pittman-Robertson Act funding which uses a small excise tax on firearms and ammunition to support state wildlife management. This is a program that has benefited Montana sportsmen and women for years. His opposition simply reflects his ignorance.

David Cole

Helena
(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. retail workers at a store in Oklahoma City have voted to unionize, expanding labors foothold at the worlds most valuable company and raising the prospect of further gains in other cities.

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The US National Labor Relations Board counted ballots Friday night from an election held among employees at the store, located in the citys upscale Penn Square Mall. The staff voted to join the Communications Workers of America, making theirs the second store to unionize among Apples roughly 270 US outlets. The vote was 56 in favor and 32 against.

The CWAs win follows a June vote by staff at a Maryland store to join another labor group -- the International Association of Machinists -- marking one of several groundbreaking victories this year at previously union-free US companies.

Labor organizers have also made inroads at Amazon.com Inc., Trader Joes and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. -- as well as Starbucks Corp., where the unions swift spread from one initial victory in Buffalo, New York, to hundreds of successful votes around the country illustrated just how galvanizing a win can be.

In response to the Oklahoma City vote, Apple said it believed that an open, direct and collaborative relationship with employees was the best way to provide an excellent experience for our customers and for our teams.

Were proud to provide our team members with strong compensation and exceptional benefits, the company said. Since 2018, weve increased our starting rates in the US by 45% and weve made many significant enhancements to our industry-leading benefits, including new educational and family support programs.

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As with the Machinists victory in Towson, Maryland, the Oklahoma vote could quickly embolden Apple workers who have been privately discussing organizing elsewhere. The fact that the effort prevailed in a deep-red state, whose unionization rate is only around half the US average, underscores the campaigns potential to spread nationwide.

Patrick Hart, a leader in the Oklahoma City campaign, said hes now eager to advise other Apple stores on how to organize.

I want this to become a labor movement, he said. Were going to be that catalyst for people.

With two stores unionizing, Apple will have a tougher time maintaining the status quo, said Epstein Becker & Green attorney Steven Swirsky.

If I lost one, it could concern me, Swirsky, who advises companies on how to avoid unionization, said prior to the vote. If you lose more than one, then it starts to become hard to explain away.

The Oklahoma City win is a watershed moment for the CWA as it faces off against Apple and competes with the Machinists to organize the company. The group has said that its in touch with Apple store workers around the country and has filed unionization petitions at two locations so far: the Oklahoma site and one in Atlanta. In the latter case, the union withdrew its petition for an election the week before a scheduled vote, citing alleged misconduct by Apple.

At the Oklahoma City store -- one of two Apple locations in the state -- employees said they built an organizing committee of about 20 people and signed up 70% of the workforce over the course of five days before filing for this weeks vote.

The company has made its opposition to the union clear. Apple warned against putting another organization in the middle of our relationship in a spring video message to employees. In that address, Senior Vice President Deirdre OBrien described a union as an organization that doesnt have a deep understanding of Apple or our business, and most importantly, one that I do not believe shares our commitment to you.

The Cupertino, California-based company has also increased employee benefits and pay this year, potentially undercutting the unions case. In May, Apple said it was hiking its national minimum retail wage to $22 an hour. Just this week, the company announced a suite of new benefits, but told its unionized store in Maryland that employees there wouldnt be receiving the perks without negotiating first.

The CWA has filed claims with the NLRB accusing Apple of breaking the law in its efforts to stop the union, including through threats, interrogations, surveillance and mandatory anti-union meetings in Oklahoma.

Earlier this month, the agencys general counsel issued a complaint against Apple in a New York City case, accusing the company of interrogating employees about their workplace activism and discriminating against union supporters by selectively enforcing a no-soliciting policy. Apple has said that it disagreed with those allegations.

The CWAs victory is no guarantee of an actual contract with Apple. Under US labor law, management is required to hold contract talks in good faith once workers vote to unionize, but theres no obligation to make substantial concessions on the issues workers want addressed.

Securing a collective bargaining agreement tends to take more than a year after workers vote to unionize, and the process can drag on much longer -- especially if a company is motivated to avoid encouraging further organizing efforts elsewhere.

Leaders of the Oklahoma City union campaign have said they hope to secure more transparency and input on issues like safety, scheduling and pay.

We like our jobs, Leigha Briscoe, a member of the stores organizing committee, said in an interview last month. And we know that it can be better. We know that it can be more equitable.

(Updates with vote tally in second paragraph.)

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2022 Bloomberg L.P.
MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) today announces that the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) has approved an investigational new drug (IND) application to commence a pivotal Phase III registration study of TLX591-CDx (Kit for the preparation of 68Ga-PSMA-11), for the imaging of prostate cancer using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) that will bridge to the marketing authorisation granted to Illuccix by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

(PRNewsfoto/Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited)

The IND application was submitted in partnership with Grand Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Grand Pharma), Telix's partner in the Greater China region. The bridging study is required to provide data obtained in a Chinese population to establish that the diagnostic efficacy of TLX591-CDx is equivalent in Chinese and Western populations. This study will enroll up to 110 patients with suspected recurrent prostate cancer and is anticipated to commence in Q1 2023. Positive data from this Phase III bridging study will support a future marketing authorisation application for TLX591-CDx (Illuccix) in China.

Dr David N Cade, CEO Telix Asia Pacific, said "Each year 115,000 Chinese men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, which makes it the most rapidly rising cancer in terms of incidence and mortality in China. PSMA PET imaging has the potential to profoundly impact the management of this disease, enabling clinicians to detect prostate cancer right throughout the body. This new imaging modality is already recognised in leading clinical practice guidelines, and is being adopted as a standard of care in many parts of the world. We look forward to working closely with our partner Grand Pharma to bring this important product to market in China, where there is currently unmet medical need."

About Prostate Cancer in China

The Asia Pacific region comprises approximately one third of the world's male population and includes many nations whose populations are ageing or increasingly adopting a more affluent, "Western-style" lifestyle, the two main demographic trends driving increasing cancer incidence rates.

Story continues

Consequently, the incidence of prostate cancer is increasing in many parts of the region.

In China, 115,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, increasing by approximately 6% each year.1

In line with government policy supporting wider geographic access to nuclear medicine, the number of PET/CT cameras installed in China is forecast to reach 1,110 by the end of 2022, compared with 133 in 2010.2

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with international operations in the United States, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland), and Japan. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical need in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX). For more information visit www.telixpharma.com and follow Telix on Twitter (@TelixPharma) and LinkedIn.

Telix's lead product, gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide (also known as 68Ga PSMA-11) injection, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),3 and by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA),4 and by Health Canada.5

Telix Investor Relations

Ms. Kyahn Williamson

Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

SVP Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

Email: kyahn.williamson@telixpharma.com

This announcement has been authorised for release by the disclosure committee of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Legal Notices

This announcement is not intended as promotion or advertising directed to any healthcare professional or other audience in any country worldwide (including Australia, United States and the United Kingdom). This announcement may include forward-looking statements that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "outlook", "forecast" and "guidance", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix's business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix's preclinical and clinical studies, and Telix's research and development programs; Telix's ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; the commercialisation of Telix's product candidates, if or when they have been approved; estimates of Telix's expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix's financial performance; developments relating to Telix's competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix's product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix's actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. You should read this announcement together with our risk factors, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the ASX or on our website.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or a change in expectations or assumptions.

The Telix Pharmaceuticals and the Illuccix name and logo are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates  all rights reserved.

1 Ye Dingwei et al. Lancet Oncology, 2022.

2 Goetz Partners research 2020.

3 ASX disclosure 20 December 2021.

4 ASX disclosure 2 November 2021.

5 ASX disclosure 14 October 2022.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinese-nmpa-approves-pivotal-phase-iii-study-of-tlx591-cdx-for-prostate-cancer-imaging-301650291.html

SOURCE Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited
Iranian-Americans were planning to demonstrate outside the White House on Sunday in support of growing and escalating protests across Iran that on Saturday saw four killed when a fire broke out at a notorious prison.

The protest comes as others in Berlin, New York, and other cities around the world have occurred in recent weeks since the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in Iranian police custody after being detained for not wearing a head covering.

Her death sparked both protests in the streets of Tehran and other cities as well as more subtle acts of defiance against the Islamic Republic; women have been seen in public without head coverings in greater numbers, others have cut their hair.

International human rights groups say more than 200 have been killed since the protests began last month. On Saturday, a fire at the Evin prison in Tehran killed four prisoners at the facility thought to house many people facing national security charges. Anti-government protesters and other groups including the Organization of Iranian-American Communities, which is hosting Sundays protest, have blamed regime forces for starting the fire. The Independent cannot verify that claim.

All indications are that the fire in [Evin] was a pre-meditated plan, wrote Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which opposes the Iranian government.

The [United Nations] and [Secretary General] must hold the clerical regimes leaders accountable, she continued.

Protests have continued for weeks across Iran, in universities and public spaces, in what has come to be seen as the boldest challenge to the governments legitimacy by a populist movement in decades.

The demonstrations come at a time when Tehran and Washington remain engaged in negotiations regarding a potential restart of the Iran nuclear accord signed under the Obama administration in 2015. The deal is opposed by the conservative Washington foreign policy establishment but supported by many liberal Democrats as a means of potentially preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon without risking war.
The actress co-founded Once Upon a Farm in 2017.

Just days after honoring her Uncle Robert on National Farmer's Day, multihyphenate Jennifer Garner has even more to commemorate.

Today, Oct. 15, the 13 Going on 30 star is celebrating the fifth anniversary of her organic snacks company Once Upon a Farm.

Garner is one of four co-founders, and she wished them all a happy anniversary in the caption of a new Instagram post to mark the milestone, celebrating the success of their hard work.

The post features a wide array of videos and photos of her work on the company over the last five years, including their first strategy meeting, catching sight of their products in Canada for the first time, handing out samples at a wholesale store, and several adorable shots of Garner working on her family's farm.

"Congrats Jen!!! You deserve all the success in the world!!!" Eva Longoria celebrated alongside her.

"Wow!!! You're amazing!!Congratulation!!! ," Ina Garten commented.

Fellow business owner Gwyneth Paltrow wrote, "So AMAZING!!! "

Meanwhile, Zoe Saldana left a series of clapping emojis in response.

And of course, fans of the brand were there to celebrate, too.

"Can't thank you enough for these amazing products!! The thought, care, time, and effort and LOVE that's created these food pouches for kids is so so so amazing!!" commented one.

"You are an Incredible lady! The product is FABULOUS!!! Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to have a healthy product for kids, but us adults to enjoy as well!!!," said another.

"Please know this has been a great find for me (an adult) to move away from sugar. These are great mid morn or afternoon treats that have been essential in staying the course. Plus extra veggies too. Not just for kids! Thanks for a great product ," the love continued.

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Congratulations, Jennifer! Here's to the next five years.

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Jewel tone Christmas tree ornaments and packages

Marta Perez; Styling: Vero Designs

You've corralled the family, walked the lot, looked at every last tree, debated which was too Charlie Brown and which looked like it belonged in the center of town. You settled on one that was juuust right, brought it home, trimmed it to your heart's content, and now it's time to simply enjoy, right? Not so fast. Unlike most holiday decor, it's not just about easy setup and smart storage. Opting for a living Christmas tree over artificial comes with a bit of maintenance, mostly in the form of watering. As experts at the Department of Horticulture and Department of Forestry at Michigan State University advise, there are three essential factors to having a tree that's festive for the whole season: "Fresh tree, fresh cut, fresh water." Here's what you need to know.

How To Prepare

Before you ever water, you'll need to make sure your tree is able to absorb the water in the first place. Start with a tree that you know is fresh. An easy test to find out how fresh the tree is to gently pull a branch between your thumb and fingers; a fresh tree should lose no needles in the process.

As the Farmer's Almanac frames it, think of your Christmas tree as a giant cut flower. You'll want to make sure the bottom is freshly trimmed so it is not sealed off and can take up water. The Almanac advises to trim at least one inch off. Finally, much like when you bring flowers home from the store, get the tree in water as soon as possible.

How Often Do I Water?

Your best bet is to find a time you can remember to check the water levels every day and refill any water lost over the last 24 hours, making sure the water level never dips so low that the tree's cut end is exposed.

How Much Do I Water?

Did you know a tree can absorb a gallon of water in just 24 hours depending on the size? Once set up, a healthy tree should absorb water, meaning you will regularly need to refill your tree stand. MSU advises that a healthy, living Christmas tree can absorb "up to 1 quart of water per day for each inch of diameter on the cut end." That means a tree with a trunk three inches in diameter would need three quarts per day. A properly sized tree stand will hold enough water for your tree's needs.

Should I Add Anything to the Water?

Many old wives' tales advise adding a variety of concoctions to your tree's water to make it last longer, from aspirin to sugar to bleach and more. This is not necessary; your tree will be plenty happy with a refreshing refill of fresh clean water.
South Indian cinema A-lister Prithviraj Sukumaran is an integral part of the cast of Salaar, starring Prabhas (the Baahubali franchise) and directed by Prashanth Neel (the K.G.F. franchise).

Though he was approached for the role more than 18 months ago, Sukumaran nearly could not do the film because he was busy with Jordan and Algeria shoots for Blessys pandemic-delayed magnum opus Aadu Jeevitham. As luck would have it, Salaar was also delayed and the dates finally aligned. Sukumaran began shooting for the film in September.

More from Variety

There are multiple reasons why Salaar would be a no-brainer for anybody to say yes to  its a Prashanth Neel film, a Hombale Films [the K.G.F. franchise] production and it is Prabhas film, Sukumaran told Variety. It is Prabhas return to mainstream mass commercial cinema after a while. His films post Saaho have been slightly away from the mass action genre.

While Sukumaran is not at liberty to divulge much detail, he says a lot of Salaar revolves around Prabhas and his own character, named Vardharaja Mannaar.

The crux of the story is very much between Prabhas character and mine, says Sukumaran. I deem it a privilege that somebody like Prashanth Neel post K.G.F: Chapter 2 [the third highest grossing film in the history of Indian cinema] thought it was worth waiting for me to be able to join the film. And Im glad I made that decision to finally say yes to it, because having shot for a few days, I think it might just be one of those epic cinematic experiences. So, Im really looking forward to Salaar as much as an actor, as Im as a film lover.

Sukumaran, a lead actor with more than 120 credits, primarily operates in the Malayalam-language cinema industry, based in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Barring a blip in the early 2000s, the industry is known for its consistently excellent output. Sukumaran is at the forefront of it with his production and distribution company Prithviraj Productions, which he runs with his wife Supriya Menon.

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Malayalam cinema does not put together projects  we only make films. We did go through a phase in the early 2000s, where we put together projects, says Sukumaran, adding that during that time producers would attach an actor, then a director and after that look for a subject that suited their respective strengths rather than a film being born organically from the minds of writers and directors.

We dont have as much money as the other industries, we dont have as much scope as the other industries. We dont have as much audience as the other industries. So the only way we can compete in the larger scheme of things, is to come up with original and new and good and interesting content, said Sukumaran. That realization dawned upon us and I believe that is one of the driving forces behind Malayalam cinema going through a new so-called renaissance.

One of the prime examples of this brave new content dates back to 2013 when Sukumaran agreed to play a gay character in Mumbai Police, an unconventional choice for a mainstream star of Indian cinema. Sukumaran says that the director Rosshan Andrrews and the Bobby-Sanjay writing team gingerly approached him with this pivotal twist in the neo-noir films plot.

When I did Mumbai Police, as an actor I made a giant leap of faith, and I trusted the audience in Kerala. And my trust in them paid off, says Sukumaran.  Mumbai Police as a film is only significant because it happened back then. And it happened with who people would perceive to be a relatively big star and because it went against the popular narrative of how a gay man should be in cinema. All these put together is what made that film so shockingly original back then.

Sukumaran has a raft of projects coming up in various capacities. As an actor, Salaar is due a Sept. 28, 2023 release, while Aadu Jeevitham is in post and aiming for a major film festival slot in 2023. Drama Gold by Alphonse Puthren (Premam) is due in the next few months and Shaji Kailas crime thriller Kaapa, a film put together to raise funds for the Writers Union of Kerala, has just wrapped. Drama Vilayath Budha, the unrealized dream of late writer-director Sachy (Driving Licence, Ayyappanum Koshiyum), will start next.

The actor debuted in Bollywood with Aiyyaa (2012) and also had roles in Aurangzeb (2013) and Naam Shabana (2017). He is returning to the industry in 2023 with a project that has been greenlit but not announced yet.

L2: Empuraan, the sequel to Sukumarans directorial debut Lucifer (2019), has been written and will commence mid-2023.

As a producer, Selfiee, a remake of Sukumarans Driving License, starring Akshay Kumar, is due a Feb. 2023 release, and as a distributor, the Malayalam dub of Rishab Shettys Kannada-language hit Kantara, will release next week. In the streaming space, a series on biscuit baron Rajan Pillai, starring and to be directed by Sukumaran, is in the bible preparation stage.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday, less than a month after his Sept. 21 announcement of a partial mobilization, that 16,000 new conscripts are already engaged in "combat tasks.''

Their deployment came considerably sooner than expected by military experts, who estimated it would take months of training for the draftees to be ready, and it supports the notion that they'll be used as "cannon fodder.''

So do reports that the new soldiers are being given less equipment than the already substandard allotment provided to the other Russian troops.

"Many reservists are likely required to purchase their own body armor, especially the modern 6B45 vest, which is meant to be on general issue to combat units,'' the British Defense Ministry said in an assessment.

The online price for the vest is fairly steep, the ministry said: 40,000 rubles (about $640), up from 12,000 rubles ($190) in April. There are reports of Russian families buying military equipment and handing it to their drafted relatives at training centers before they're deployed.

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted from a courtroom after a hearing outside Moscow in August.

Other developments:

France pledged air defense missiles to protect Ukrainian cities against drone strikes, and an expanded training program for Ukrainian soldiers. The French Defense Ministry said up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers will be embedded with military units in France.

Four more vessels carrying 140,000 metric tons of agricultural products left the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa for countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, the Infrastructure Ministry announced.

Russia's bombings of civilian targets have killed 423 Ukrainian children and injured 810 since February, Ukraine's prosecutor general's office reported.

Ukrainian civilians are being evicted from their homes to house Russian military officers in the eastern Luhansk region, Ukraine said without providing evidence.

BRITTNEY GRINER: WNBA star worried she may not be released from Russian prison, lawyer says

Brittney Griner release a low priority for Russia, Kremlin says

The release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Moscow-area prison is a priority for President Joe Biden but not for Moscow, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday.

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"In this tense situation, I think that he (Biden) is thinking first and foremost about the upcoming midterm elections," said Yury Ushakov on state-run TV program "Moscow.Kremlin.Putin." "He keeps emphasizing the need to bring (Griner) back home ... however, its not the main issue that we are concerned about."

Griner has been in Russian custody since her February arrest, days before Russia invaded Ukraine, at a Moscow-area airport on drug smuggling charges. She said she inadvertently packed cannabis oil in her luggage, pleaded guilty and was issued a nine-year prison sentence that her lawyers are appealing.

Efforts to arrange a swap to free her have been hampered by the historically poor relations between Russia and the U.S. Biden has said he would be willing to discuss Griner's case with Putin at next month's Group of 20 meeting in Indonesia.

Putin says no need for big strikes, but Brits say Russia's low on missiles

After several days of retaliatory missile strikes pounding cities across Ukraine, Putin said Friday that the bulk of targets had been hit and there was no need for more massive strikes. The British Defense Ministry, however, suggests the real reason for any slowdown in bombing is a problem with inventory. And the assessment also noted that about half the missiles were shot down by Ukraine defenses.

"Russias defense industry is probably incapable of producing advanced munitions at the rate they are being expended," the ministry said in its assessment of the war. The latest barrages "represent a further degradation of Russias long-range missile stocks, which is likely to constrain their ability to strike the volume of targets they desire in future."

American veteran killed in Ukraine

An American who was the father of five young children has been killed fighting for Ukraine, his sister said.

Jenny Corry told The Associated Press that her brother, former U.S. Army infantryman Dane Partridge, died Tuesday after being hit in the head with shrapnel during a Russian attack in the city of Severodonetsk, in Luhansk province. The Idaho resident was 34.

Partridge, a member of the U.S. Army from 2006-12 who served in the Iraq War, felt spiritually called to fight for Ukraine after Russia launched its invasion in February, Corry said.

He's the fifth American known to have been killed in combat in Ukraine, based on reports from their families and the U.S. State Department.

US-based think tank accuses Russia of 'ethnic cleansing campaign'

Russia is conducting massive, forced deportations of Ukrainians that likely amount to a "deliberate ethnic cleansing campaign," the Washington-based think tank Institute for the Study of War reports. The institute's assessment says Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said Friday that thousands of children from the Kherson region are already in other regions of Russia, resting in rest homes and childrens camps.

The assessment says Russian authorities have admitted to placing children from occupied areas of Ukraine up for adoption with Russian families in a manner that may violate international genocide regulations.

11 Russians killed in attack at training ground near Ukraine

Two men entered a Russian military training ground near the Ukraine border and opened fire, killing 11 people and wounding 15 more before they were killed, the Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday. A military investigation of the shooting was underway, the department said on Telegram.

The ministry said two men from an unnamed ex-Soviet state fired on volunteer soldiers during target practice in the Belgorod region in southwestern Russia. The border region has been a gateway for Russian soldiers moving in and out of Ukraine, and Belgorod officials frequently accuse Ukrainian forces of bombings in the region.

Six people wounded in rocket attack near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

At least six people were wounded in Russian rocket attacks near Zaporizhzhia, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, where Russia has stationed troops, Ukrainian authorities said Sunday. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian presidents office, said two residents of Nikopol had been hospitalized following the strikes, which also damaged five power lines, gas pipelines and numerous civilian businesses and residential buildings.

Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of firing at and around the plant, which continues to be run by its pre-occupation Ukrainian staff under Russian oversight.

TURNING POINT? As Russia retreates in some aeas, Ukraine regains land, confidence

Office of Russian-backed Donetsk mayor damaged in rocket attack

The municipal mayor's office in separatist-controlled Donetsk was seriously damaged by a rocket attack Russian authorities blamed on Ukrainian forces. Plumes of smoke swirled around the building, which had rows of blown-out windows and a partially collapsed ceiling. Cars nearby were burned out. There were no immediate reports of casualties and Kyiv didnt immediately claim responsibility. The Russian administration in Donetsk said the building was hit by a HIMARS rocket  the type supplied to Ukraine by the United States.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine live updates: Russian draftees in combat with scant equipment
Russians flee to South Korea to avoid being drafted to fight in Ukraine

SEOUL, South Korea  Groups of Russians have sailed to South Korea to avoid being conscripted for the war in Ukraine  only for most of them to be refused entry at the border.

South Korean coast guard records show five boats carrying 23 people have reached the country since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the partial mobilization" of military reservists last month after having suffered military and territorial losses in Ukraine.

After Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said 300,000 reservists would be called up, Russian men of fighting age have scrambled to leave the country to avoid the draft, with thousands pouring into neighboring countries such as Georgia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, as well places farther afield, like Turkey.

Car traffic brought border crossings to a standstill, and some flights were sold out, but now it seems some Russians are taking even more extreme measures to avoid conscription.

An Ho-young, a lawmaker with South Korea's opposition Democratic Party, said by phone Thursday that all 23 Russian nationals had applied for tourist visas.

Russia Ukraine Military Operation Partial Mobilisation (Alexandr Kryazhev / Sputnik via AP)

But he said 21 were denied approval because of insufficient documentation and unclear objective" for entering South Korea.

The two successful applicants had documents showing records of having previously been in South Korea.

It is likely that Korea is becoming an intermediate stopover as more people attempt to escape Russia, An said, adding it was urgent for the government to come up with measures to handle a potential influx of men fleeing mobilization, such as dedicated procedures for handling what could turn into a diplomatic and human rights issue.

Russian nationals are allowed visa-free entry to South Korea, but immigration officials can deny permission to enter the country, he said.

Another boat, a 17-ton yacht carrying 10 Russian nationals, entered South Korean waters but did not dock in the country.

It was spotted in the East Sea on Oct. 1 and requested permission to dock in the city of Busan, An said, adding that immigration authorities refused the Russians permission to enter the country, citing their lack of a verifiable travel purpose.

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The boat eventually docked in Pohang, North Gyeongsang, north of Busan, and set out to sea again at 5 p.m. last Tuesday with all of its passengers, An said.

A 6-ton yacht also arrived in South Korea on Oct. 1, according to the coast guard. The boat requested permission to dock in the city of Sokcho to allow six passengers to come ashore  but again it was turned down.

The boat instead set sail for the east Russian port of Vladivostok on Oct. 5, but it was forced to make a stopover on Ulleung Island because of adverse weather and dangerous seas before it finally departed South Korean waters Tuesday.

An said the coast guard record showed that one boat from Russia is still docked in Pohang after a patrol boat discovered it at sea last Tuesday. All four people aboard were denied entry.

The Russian visitors went through a regular routine immigration process like everybody else, and those denied of entry to South Korea were because they did not meet the visa requirements and regulations, a South Korean Justice Ministry spokesperson said in a telephone interview Friday.

Anyone wishing to enter South Korean territory must provide at least the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), KETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) or other forms of visa, but those Russian visitors denied entry failed to provide any forms of entry visa, the spokesperson said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Emmett Till

Emmett Till is shown lying on his bed in 1954 Credit - Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

In 1955, much of Black America was transfixed by images of a horrible crime: the swollen, disfigured remains of a 14-year-old Chicago boy who had gone to Mississippi to visit family.

While there, the boy, Emmett Till, had been kidnapped, beaten, mutilated, shot, then dumped in a river, after he allegedly violated one of the many rules of Jim Crow society. The boy had been handsome, charismatic, a kid who appreciated a good joke. He was his mothers only and beloved child. News about the missing boy had, in the early days, run in Black and Southern papers. But when his body was found, the differences between the human being who left Chicago and the body returned to his mothera body she decided to share with the world via photographs published in the Black-owned Jet magazinegave the story a power that gripped a national audience and helped galvanize critical elements of a civil rights movement that would transform the 20th century.

Now, some 67 years after the crime, Emmett Tills story, though it never fully faded from public consciousness, is once again everywhere.

I think part of it is pure coincidence, says Davis Houck, a professor of Rhetorical Studies at Florida State University who has studied the Till case and its impact on public opinion; he is also a contributor to the Emmett Till Archives housed at Florida States library. At one point there were seven movies or TV series in the hopper. But another chunk of it is probably not a coincidence. Maybe this is the post George Floyd world that we live in, where there is just a recognition that we need to show more of these stories, do more, care.

U.S. President Joe Biden signs the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 29, 2022. Liu JieXinhua News Agency via Getty Images

January saw the airing of the ABC miniseries Women of the Movement, featuring Adrienne Warren as Mamie Till-Mobley, Emmetts mother. In March, Greenwood, Miss., officials approved plans to commission and erect a bronze statue of Till, to be installed about 10 miles from the store where Till is said to have had some type of brief interaction with a local white woman, leading to his lynching. Later in March, President Joe Biden signed into law the Emmett Till Antilynching Act. New research into the case continues too: In June, the Amsterdam News, a Black-owned newspaper based in New York City, reported that a team that included the documentarian behind the 2005 film The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till had found a never executed arrest warrant for the white woman in the store, Carolyn Bryant Donham. (She is alive and lives in Kentucky; according to the warrant, she could not be found at the time that it was issued in 1955.)

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And this Friday saw the limited release of the feature film Till, which goes into wide release Oct. 28.

Some people have already told me, Oh, its overkill with Emmett, says Devery Anderson, author of the 2015 book Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement, on which much of the January miniseries was based. Someone told me, Do we need a statue? Because they have the Emmett Till memorial stuff in Sumner [Miss.] and we have plaques out and a road named after him. Do you need a statue too? And I said, its not overkill by any stretch of the imagination. Its taken a lot to get people to listen and wake up to the extent that they have.

Read more: Till and the Act of Witnessing Black Trauma Onscreen in 2022

Its not that suddenly everyone wants to work on Emmett Till projects. Its that people have been trying to do so consistently over the years. Now some of the roadblocks have come down.

Storytellers have, for years, taken bits and pieces of the Till story and included it in their narratives, says Keith Beauchamp, who served as a co-writer and producer of Till, the feature film, as well as director of that 2005 documentary, on which he worked closely with Till-Mobley before her death in 2003. For example, he says, themes and elements of To Kill A Mockingbird were extracted from the Till murder, and Till-Mobley told him that conversations she had about the case with Steven Spielberg helped to inspire some themes in E.T., which the filmmaker has described as a minority story that stands for every minority in this country. But attempts to tell the story more directly tended to be met with greater obstacles.

As Black people, our stories are still deemed controversial in many ways, says Beauchamp, who notes that other non-white Americans experience something similar with regularity too.

Read more: How Emmett Tills Murder Changed the World

Mamie Till-Mobley tried to get a movie made about her sons case in the late 1950s, Houck found in his research. And in fact, the infamous January 1956 Look magazine article in which the two men acquitted of Tills kidnapping and murder at a 1955 trial confessed (in the course of an in many ways false account of what had happened) to having done it, had a Hollywood backstory too: The reporter paid the men $4,000 to gain legal clearance needed for a movie he planned to make about Tills murder, Houck found. Till-Mobley succeeded in stopping the project. Rod Serling, famed creator of The Twilight Zone, attempted to tell the story during two of the shows episodes. But he was forced by the network to charge the details of the tale, largely beyond easy recognition. He also wanted to make a movie. The 1960s and 1970s also brought a series of regional theater productions that dramatized the Till story. And Beauchamp, the documentary filmmaker, attempted to tell the Till story earlier himself, on a major cable network in the 1990s. That project wound up on ice and later morphed into the documentary, released on big screens in select cities and DVD.

Were countering hundreds and hundreds of years of racism, says Anderson, the writer and researcher. It kind of angers me because theres been overkill in white stories, white historians telling history through a white perspective. If you want to talk about overkill, I could point out a million areas where weve sacrificed knowing our real history.

Read more: When One Mother Defied America: The Photo That Changed the Civil Rights Movement

The political situation has been largely parallel. Before the Till anti-lynching bill passed this year, similar bills had previously been introduced hundreds of times since 1900, according to the laws primary legislative sponsor, but had failed to pass Congress.

But its passage, and all the other evidence of the enduring power of the horrifying image of what was done to Emmett Till, does not mean the United States has turned some corner in addressing racial violence.

The Emmett Till Act passed, more than six decades after that crime.

In the roughly two years since George Floyd was murdered, a bill named after himfilled with police-accountability measureshas repeatedly failed.
United Nations General Assembly Convenes Special Session To Consider Russia's Attempted Annexations In Ukraine

Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya listens to speaks during a United Nations General Assembly special session at the United Nations headquarters on October 10, 2022 in New York City. Credit - Michael M. SantiagoGetty

If international forums are any indication, Russia remains persona non grata over its invasion of Ukraine. In a U.N. vote Wednesday on a resolution condemning Moscows illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory last month, 143 of the bodys 193 members voted in favorthe highest number of votes against Moscow since its invasion began. Thirty-five countries abstained, while just fiveRussia, as well as its allies in Belarus, North Korea, Syria, and Nicaraguavoted against.

The outcome was hailed by Western leaders in the U.S. and elsewhere as a clear indication of Russias international isolation. But it also revealed how many countries remain on the fence, especially in Africa and Central Asia. While the states that chose to abstain may not all be among Moscows most fervent supporters, they cant be classed as outright opponents either. That they also represent nearly half of the global population suggests that, even at this crucial stage in the war, Russias allies are not as sparse as the West might like to think.



Perhaps the most noteworthy abstentions have come from China and India. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics and declared a friendship with no limits in the weeks leading up to the invasion. More recently, however, China has voiced questions and concerns over the invasion in an apparent attempt to distance itself from Moscow. For India, which has historically eschewed formal alliances in favor of strategic autonomy, its position has more to do with its own national interests: Russia is Indias biggest arms supplier and the two countries share historic ties.

We believe that the global order that we all subscribe to is based on international law, the U.N. charter, and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, Ruchira Kamboj, Indias permanent representative to the U.N., told the General Assembly on Wednesday, noting that Indias decision to abstain is consistent with our well thought-out national position.

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The U.N. vote also showed just how little has actually changed. When U.N. members voted on a resolution condemning Russias invasion on March 2, less than a week after it began, 141 countries voted in favor with 35 abstaining and five voting against.

The differences between the two votes, taken seven months apart, were marginal: Iraq and Angola, both of which abstained in March, opted to vote against Russia this week. While Eritrea moved from voting with Russia to abstaining, Nicaragua did the reverse. Thailand and Honduras both chose to abstain in the latest vote despite having previously voted against the Russian invasion. Djibouti, which previously voted to condemn the invasion, joined nine other countries in not voting at all.

Read more: Russias Annexation of Ukrainian Territory Is a Sign of Military Weakness

Despite U.S. cajoling, dozens of nonaligned countries in Latin America, Central Asia, and Africa continue to remain on the sidelinesperhaps because, like New Delhi and Beijing, they dont see it as in their interest to do otherwise. This is particularly true for developing countries that rely on Moscow for arms, energy, and investment.

Some votes seem to be transactional: Ethiopia, for example, relies on Russias veto at the U.N. Security Council when it comes to discussing the ongoing civil war in Tigray. But there are others such as Thailand, which notably voted in favor of the March 2 resolution condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine, are less easily explained (though some have theorized that it could have to do with Russian President Vladimir Putins planned attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok next month).

Regardless of the reason, not all abstentions can necessarily be viewed as tacit support for Russia, says Richard Gowan, a U.N. expert at Crisis Group in New York. And not all votes in favor of the resolution should be seen as a sign of full support for Ukraine. Hungary, for example, voted to condemn Russia despite Prime Minister Viktor Orban vocally opposing European sanctions on Moscow. Saudi Arabia, which has consistently voted against Russia at the U.N., recently announced a cut to global oil productiona move that is largely seen as benefiting Moscow by increasing oil prices and replenishing the Kremlins coffers when it needs it most. While Saudi Arabian officials have defended the move as purely economic, it stands to have a much greater impact on the war than their U.N. vote does.

Not all the countries that voted in favor of the resolution necessarily are doing so because they are then going to apply any serious pressure on Russia, says Gowan. Its a cheap vote.

While the U.N. vote itself is largely symbolic, Gowan says that the outcome is nonetheless significantnot only as a clear rejection of Putins seemingly ironic anti-colonial narrative, but also as proof that Ukraine fatigue has not yet come to pass in the way that some diplomats have feared. Russia is not going to pull back from Donetsk or Kherson because of these votes, says Gowan. But the big opposition to Russias annexation attempt makes it a little harder for Russia to claim that it is simply locked in a proxy conflict with NATO.

Still, the fact that dozens of countries continue to remain neutral in this war suggests that international support for Ukraine has its limits.
Taylor Rains/Insider

Qatar Airways operates several long-haul flights between Doha and the US, with some journeying a whopping 16 hours.

One of the planes used is a Boeing 777-200LR equipped with luxurious QSuites and a comfortable economy cabin.

While most passengers don't have access to a lie-flat bed, flight attendants have bunks reserved just for them.

Post-pandemic travel is booming and people are more eager than ever to get out of the house and explore the world once again.

Airline pilot walking through an airport. Taylor Rains/Insider

With surging demand, airlines have brought back dozens of long-haul routes, with some flying further than ever before.

Singapore Airlines flies the world's longest route between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Singapore, journeying nearly 19 hours. KITTIKUN YOKSAP/Shutterstock

The 10 longest routes in the world flown by airlines, ranked by distance

Air New Zealand, for example, added a new nonstop route from New York to Auckland in September, becoming the world's new fourth-longest flight at nearly 18 hours.

I flew on Air New Zealand's inaugural flight from New York to Auckland in business class. Taylor Rains/Insid

I flew on the world's new 4th longest flight from New York to Auckland and Air New Zealand's business class made the over 17-hour journey easily bearable

Meanwhile, United Airlines is launching a new 13-and-a-half-hour flight from New Jersey to Dubai in March

United Boeing 777 plane. Ryken Martin/Shutterstock

United just announced a landmark nonstop route to Dubai in new partnership with Emirates

while Delta Air Lines has added a 15-hour flight from Atlanta to Cape Town coming in December.

Delta 767-300. Angel DiBilio/Shutterstock

Delta is adding 3 all-new international routes to its network, 2 of which have never been flown before by the carrier  see the list

These ultra-long-haul journeys can be treacherous for passengers, but how do flight attendants sleep or kill time onboard?

An Air New Zealand business class flight attendant. Taylor Rains/Insider

It's no secret that flight attendant rest is crucial to the safety of aircraft and passengers as they need to remain alert in the case of emergency situations.

Flight attendant at Denver International Airport. Robert Alexander/Getty Images

In fact, the Federal Aviation Administration recently just upped the required rest period for flight attendants in the US from nine hours to 10 in an effort to minimize fatigue.

An Air Canada flight attendant. Taylor Rains/Insider

The FAA's new rule mandating flight attendants get more rest between flights could mean less flexibility and additional costs for airlines

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Because of the importance of crew rest, many widebody aircraft have a secret room reserved for crew members so they can sleep between shifts.

A350 flight attendant rest area. Taylor Rains/Insider

Unbeknownst to many travelers, the space  known as the crew rest area  is hidden in the back of the plane above the economy cabin.

Touring the flight attendant rest area on ITA's A350. Taylor Rains/Insider

The room is only accessible to flight attendants and is where they can relax, sleep, or just escape the cabin during their breaks.

Touring SAS Scandinavian Airlines' Airbus A350-900 XWB. Thomas Pallini/Insider

See inside the tiny hidden bedrooms above economy where flight attendants sleep on an Airbus A350-900XWB jet

The pilots also have their own room at the front of the cabin, which typically has bunks and loungers with TVs.

The pilot sleeping area on a Boeing 787-9. Stephen Jones/ Insider

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights

Having toured multiple crew rest areas, they come in all shapes and sizes, with some being smaller than others.

Touring the flight attendant rest area on ITA's A350. Taylor Rains/Insider

See inside the secret aircraft cabin where flight attendants sleep on long-haul journeys on an Airbus A350

Moreover, some aircraft instead have reserved rows of seats in economy or business that flight attendants can use to sleep, like on United's Boeing 767 and JetBlue's Airbus A321neoLR.

The crew rest seats on one of United's Boeing 767 aircraft. Taylor Rains/Insider

I flew on United's aging Boeing 767-300ER from Boston to London in economy and the updated cabin made the plane feel like new

However, I recently came across the largest crew rest area I'd ever seen on Qatar's Boeing 777-200LR, which journeys upwards of 16 hours between Doha and the US  take a look inside.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Like many widebody planes, the crew rest area is located in the back by the aft galley, so we had to trek past the luxurious QSuites and economy sections to get to the room.

Taylor Rains/Insider

I toured the 'world's best' business class on Qatar's Boeing 777-200LR and I see why people fork out thousands of dollars to experience it

To enter, a staff member had to enter a code to unlock the door, and then we had to climb a set of stairs.

Taylor Rains/Insider

While the stairwell was cramped and narrow, the inside of the room was actually quite large.

Taylor Rains/Insider

There was an open space in the front with places to charge electronic devices and hang out.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Beyond that was a line of 10 single beds  five on each side of the fuselage.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Each bunk came with a privacy curtain

Taylor Rains/Insider

storage underneath

Taylor Rains/Insider

plush bed linens

Taylor Rains/Insider

and a reading light.

Taylor Rains/Insider

The beds were long and easily comfortable enough to sleep on long flights...

Taylor Rains/Insider

...and had a seatbelt for safety.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Also inside the hidden cabin is a phone to communicate with working crew members and a flashlight...

Taylor Rains/Insider

...as well as an AC unit, closets, and mirrors.

Taylor Rains/Insider

I was thoroughly impressed with the size of the room, which gives flight attendants plenty of space to spread out and get some alone time during their much-needed breaks.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Read the original article on Business Insider
The inspiration for the new InterContinental Khao Yai stretches all the way back to the 1800s, when Thailands King Rama V was among the first Asian monarchs to visit many of Europes key capitals, including Paris, Vienna and London. Much of it conducted by rail, his grand tour was a revelation for the kingand consequential for his homeland, encouraging him to support the introduction of train travel to Thailand.

The story of Rama Vs trailblazing European odyssey always resonated with architect and designer Bill Bensley, who once spent summers taking groups of old ladies on a train from Vancouver Island all the way to Quebec, which even today he describes as a great job. And when he was asked to conceptualize a new resort nestled in rural Khao Yai, his research showed the area was in close proximity to old railroad tracks that once linked northeast Thailand to the rest of Southeast Asia.

More from Robb Report

The InterContinental Khao Yai at night

Those various influences were channeled into the creation of Somsak, the fictional stationmaster of Khao Yai Station (also invented) whose imagined aesthetic inspired the whimsical property. On arrival, guests check in at Somsaks ticket office, complete with his personal keepsakes in the form of antiques and heirlooms, placed throughout the property, meant to hint at the stationmasters backstory.

The theme continues in the radiant cobalt blue of Somyings Kitchen, decorated with vintage-looking train posters. Named for Somsaks mother, the casual restaurant has the feel of an American diner crossed with a provincial railway station and serves an all-day menu of Thai and international cuisine. Likewise, within the hotels 45 standard rail rooms (from $190 per night) youll find old travel guides displayed by the bed, televisions hidden behind station signboards and murals of pastoral scenes framed under glass panels, as if being viewed through a train window.

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A balcony view of Thailands first national park

But its the resorts suites and villas that are emerging as among the most distinctive accommodations in Thailand. They began to take shape when Bensley noticed a Bangkok train yard full of rusting old train carriages, one entangled by ficus trees just like the ruins of Angkor Wat. I thought, How cool would it be to upcycle them?  he recalls. Securing sufficient units proved not only unexpectedly difficult but also excessively expensive. There are many people that like to collect these things, Bensley says of the heritage railcars. To get the few we did was like pulling teeth. But the effort paid off, with 19 carriages now elegantly reconfigured as unique, strikingly stylish accommodations (starting from about $320 per night).

At just over eight feet wide, the carriages are narrow but long, stretching up to a luxuriant 66 feet, colorfully finished and offering generous outdoor space, including a bath and large deck; five units also include a private swimming pool. Bensley promises that the Heritage Railcar, making up two full-size cars running together, will be the strangest-proportioned suite anywhere in the world.

One of the resorts strikingly appointed railcar-as-suites.

Strange, yes, but in the way that engenders enchantment, not confusion. Whether youre booking a treatment at the Back on Track spa, dressing up for drinks at the bar at Papillon or dinner at the French-style Poirot Brasserie or watching black swans glide by while enjoying scones and mango macarons at the Tea Carriage, Bensleys creation is full of fun and playful imagination. Wonderment isnt a feeling one expects from a modern luxury resort, but once experienced its easy to wonder why we cant have more of it in the world.

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Click here to read the full article.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal discussed the merits of balanced calendars at a conference of Washington school officials held at the Yakima Convention Center on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022.
Community members and organizers with the independent farmworker union Familias Unidas por la Justicia laid out signs and artwork at a rally in downtown Yakima on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. The group is protesting the Farmworker Modernization Act, and Yakima was the last stop on a statewide tour.
Dan Newhouse

Age: 66

Community of residence: Sunnyside

Party: Republican

Occupation: Third generation Yakima Valley farmer operating an 850-acre farm near Sunnyside. Small business owner

Education: B.S. in agricultural economics from Washington State University; graduate of the Ag Forestry Leadership Program

Endorsements (list three): Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, Washington Farm Bureau PAC, National Federation of Independent Business

Community service: Past president of Hop Growers of America, Hop Growers of Washington, and Yakima County Farm Bureau; former member of the Columbia River Task Force and Central Washington Fair Board; current NRA member

Previous elected office: Central Washingtons representative in Congress, 2015-present; Washington State House of Representatives, 2003-09
Alex Shams is a Ph.D. student of anthropology at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on politics and religion in the contemporary Middle East.
Considering that having a firm continuity is one of the pillars that buttresses their success, Marvel movies rarely recast prominent roles. Outside of a few rare occurrences, such as Terrance Howard getting swapped out for Don Cheadle in Iron Man 2, the powers behind the Marvel cinematic universe would rather kill a character off than recast them.

The most notable example of the practice is how Marvel has chosen to handle the Black Panther franchise. Due to the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, T'Challa will inexplicably be written out of the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever despite literally coming back from the dead in his last canonical appearance. The decision to kill T'Challa- a pivotal Black character- off-screen has been polarizing; however, Marvel's head honcho, Kevin Fiege, claimed the intention behind the choice was to honor the actor's legacy.

In a decision that belies their stance on refusing to recast T'Challa, Marvel has decided that Harrison Ford should inherit the late William Hurt's role as General Thunderbolt Ross in upcoming MCU projects. To borrow a modern phrase, make it make sense, Marvel.

Make it make sense.
Many national highways, and expressways have changed the road map of India by connecting the most remote places to the metro cities. These projects have enhanced the road infrastructure manifold, and have made commuting easy. Similarly, an effort is being made to enhance the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which connects the Union territory with the rest of the country. To make commuting easier and better for travellers, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been working relentlessly to make roads better. Officials are monitoring the progress of the work on Srinagar-Jammu NH and soon commuters will get to travel and reach their destination much faster.

The situation in J&K changed on August 5, 2019 - when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate the state's special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories. The government embarked on a mission to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country through road, air, and railways. As of now, nearly 100 flights operate from Srinagar international airport daily, the train to Kashmir is not that far away and the Srinagar-Jammu NH within a year or two would become a four-lane express highway.

Also read: Maruti Suzuki becomes BIGGEST car exporter, leads domestic sales in India; Details here

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel is not only India's longest highway tunnel (9 km long) but also Asia`s longest bi-directional highway tunnel. It's also known as the Chenani-Nashri tunnel. It has reduced the travel time between Nashri and Chenani from two hours to mere 15 minutes.

Similarly, the 8.5 km long Navyug Tunnel at an elevation of 1,790 m in the Pir Panjal range has reduced the travel time between Qazigund and Banihal to 15 minutes from nearly two hours. Nandni Tunnels, the series of four highway tunnels on Jammu-Srinagar NH in Udhampur district have cut down the travel time by at least one hour.

The distance between Jammu and Srinagar cities has been reduced from 300 km to 260 km and the journey which used to take 10 to 12 hours in 2019, is covered within 5 to 6 hours in 2022.

The four-lane highway corridors from Srinagar to Qazigund and Jammu to Udhampur have made travel faster and easier on NH-44. J&K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta is personally monitoring the progress of the work on Srinagar-Jammu NH.

In a review meeting held earlier in October, Mehta directed the NHAI to follow all deadlines for clearing of muck, improvement of road surface, completion of the vital T-5 tunnel, and widening of the Ramsoo-Rampari-Sherbibi stretch on NH-44.

Also read: Gwalior airport to have modern facilities in new terminal, will be constructed at Rs 450 crore

He said Once the T-5 tunnel is completed, it will reduce the travel time between Banihal to Ramban - treacherous mountainous terrain - from three hours to 25 minutes. The T-5 tunnel would bring Jammu and Srinagar closer.

The improvement in the condition of Jammu-Srinagar NH has punctured all the narratives about this highway being an unnatural route. The new tunnels and the expansion of the highway are major steps towards "completing the integration of Kashmir with the Union of India." The NH-44 turning into an express highway has shattered the myth about Srinagar-Muzzafarabad Road being the natural route to Kashmir.

The government has also taken up the work on Mughal Road which connects South Kashmir with the Jammu region. This road too will be developed into an all-weather highway to end Kashmir's status of being a landlocked Valley.

(With inputs from IANS)
New Delhi: Netflix has announced to roll out its basic with ads plan to provide the streaming service at a low rate than the standard rates to customers. The plan will only work in mobile Netflix and ads of a few 15 to 30 seconds will come before or during the shows. As of now, the company is launching the plan in some selected countries, which will later expand to other countries depending on the reponse and performance, according to Netflix. India isnt part of the selected country list.

ALSO READ | Mother Dairy hikes Milk prices by Rs 2 per litre following Amul

What is Netflix new plan?

The new plan, which is companys one of cheapest plans called Basic with Ads provide streaming service with advertisement on their mobile phones. It will price around $6.99 per month for customers. Besides, the streaming quality is limited upto 720p unlike other high-cost plans which provide more higher definitions. Netflix said that a limited number of shows will not be available in the plan due to licensing restrictions.

Average 4 to 5 minutes of ads per hour will come under the plan. You cant download titles.

ALSO READ | PM Modi to inaugurate 75 digital banking units (DBUs) on October 16

Where will it be available?

The company announces to roll out the 'Basic with ads' plan in 12 countries in November. These are Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the UK and the US.

Why isnt available in India?

India isn't part of selected 12 countires where the plan will launch in November. However, Netflix plans are quite cheap in Indian in compare to other geographies. As India is a price-sensitive market, Netflix has some of the cheapest plans, which go down to $2 USD per month. Its mobile plan cost around Rs 150 per month that allows resolution upto 480p, 2-screen, and only mobile and tablet. Other plans are Rs 199, Rs 499 and Rs 649.
Petrol-Diesel Price today, October 16, 2022: In a move that will affect the profit margins of the oil firms, the government has hiked the windfall tax on domestically produced crude oil by more than a third in line with the rise in international oil prices. The tax on crude oil produced by firms such as the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) was increased to Rs 11,000 per tonne beginning October 16 from Rs 8,000. In the fortnightly revision of windfall tax, the government doubled the rate on the export of diesel to Rs 12 per litre from Rs 5 a litre. The levy on diesel includes Rs 1.50 per litre road infrastructure cess (RIC), the notification showed.

However, this is unlikely to have an impact on petrol and diesel prices decided by oil marketing companies every midnight. While there were minor changes in petrol, and diesel prices in some cities, major cities including Delhi and Mumbai saw no change in fuel prices. Petrol costs Rs 96.72 per litre while Diesel costs Rs 89.62 per litre in Delhi. In Mumbai, petrol costs Rs 106.31 per litre and diesel Rs 94.27 per litre.

Here is the price of petrol, diesel today, i.e. October 16, 2022 in your city:

Patna: Petrol - Rs 107.46 per litre, Diesel - Rs 94.24 per litre

Chandigarh: Petrol- Rs 96.20 per litre, Diesel- Rs 84.26 per litre

Delhi: Petrol- Rs 96.72 per litre, Diesel- Rs 89.62 per litre

Mumbai: Petrol- Rs 106.31 per litre, Diesel- Rs 94.27 per litre

Noida: Petrol- Rs 96.92 per litre, Diesel- Rs 90.08 per litre

Bengaluru: Petrol- Rs 101.94 per litre, Diesel- Rs 87.89 per litre

Gurugram: Petrol- Rs 97.18 per litre, Diesel- Rs 90.05 per litre

Chennai: Petrol- Rs 102.63 per litre, Diesel- Rs 94.24 per litre

Kolkata: Petrol- Rs 106.03 per litre, Diesel- Rs 92.76 per litre

Lucknow: Petrol- Rs 96.57 per litre, Diesel- Rs 89.76 per litre

If your city is not on the list, you can still check petrol, and diesel prices by sitting at home. All you have to do is to send a message from your mobile to 9224992249 with your city code. City codes are available on Indian Oil's website.

For instance, if your city is Trivandrum, you can send a message to 9224992249 by typing RSP 124923 and you will get the latest fuel price on your mobile. Check your city list at iocl.com/petrol-diesel-price.

Suppose your city is Gandhinagar, then its code is RSP 218671. So, you will have to type 'RSP 218671' and send a text message to 9224992249. You will then receive a message with the latest/revised petrol, diesel prices of your city.
It has been 25 years since the Obletz family bought the large triangular plot of land along Sheridan Drive and the Youngmann Expressway, but the family's real estate company is now ready to bring another development project to the site alongside the existing Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

Citing the increased demand for healthcare services, First Amherst Development Corp. wants to construct a four-story medical office building, with more than 140,500 square feet of space available for lease. Dubbed Sheridan Commons and designed by Kideney Architects, the upscale office building would be located behind and northeast of the Courtyard, and would be 65 feet in height.

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The project would occupy most of the 8.36-acre property, which is what remains of the original 11 acres of land that the Obletz family bought in 1997, after First Amherst built the four-story hotel a year later. That 108-room hotel was later sold, first to Rochester-based DelMonte Hotel Group, and then again in 2017 to Rudra Management and Rosewood Hotels LLC of Cheektowaga for $6.5 million.

The new office building would be accessed from the existing driveway to the hotel, and would also include additional parking spaces, access aisles, landscaping, lighting and utilities. But the plan by Kideney Architects would leave the heavily vegetated "permanent open space" area along the northern edge of the site  about 100 feet in depth, totaling 2.09 acres  undisturbed.

First Amherst CEO Ben Obletz said the company has had "some preliminary conversations with some people," but does not have any tenants lined up for what he said would likely be a multi-tenant building, given its size. He said the developer would not break ground without at least an anchor tenant in place, but the firm won't start active marketing of the space until it has town site plan approval for the project.

As a result, while First Amherst and Kideney have laid out a building design, construction is unlikely to begin until late 2023 or early 2024, Obletz said. Officials do not yet have estimates for costs, either.

Aside from building out related infrastructure and site improvements throughout  including parking and storm-water management  First Amherst has largely sat on the property for the past two decades, although it had always intended to build office space on the rest of the property. It did consider constructing a three-story, 90,000-square-foot building in 2011, but that never came to fruition.

Since then, though, conditions have changed in favor of the state-of-the-art project, because of what the company cited as the "increased demand for advanced healthcare facilities" and the town's newer effort "to establish and market designated areas as a medical industry corridor and destination."

"We thought the timing was right with the renewed interest in medical space in the suburban area," Obletz said, citing the nearby Excelsior Orthopedics, University Orthopedics and Dent developments. "It's very much a priority for the Town of Amherst to build out what they see as the suburban medical spine along Sheridan Drive."

But First Amherst must first ask the town to rezone 6.27 acres of the property at 4110-4120 Sheridan from "general business" to "deep corridor" to accommodate the project. And it's also asking the town to remove a set of five zoning conditions that were imposed on the property in July 1997. Those terms  which Stephen Obletz agreed to at the time as part of a rezoning to "general business"  would restrict what can be built, particularly in height.

First Amherst and its attorney, Sean Hopkins, noted in their application that the "proposed project will be consistent with the character of the existing hotel on the project site and surrounding land uses in the vicinity," including Cappellino Cadillac next door and the Basil Resale Center-Sheridan across the street. It will also be "aesthetically harmonious with nearby areas and structures," with landscaping to include trees, bushes and shrubs.

Hopkins also wrote that the site "is an appropriate location for the proposed project given the character and scale of nearby land uses," and the site's designation for "suburban center" on the town's recently amended Bicentennial Comprehensive Plan. And, he added, the proposal is "more compatible with the existing land uses" than the higher-intensity uses that would be permitted under the current zoning.
American newspaper Wall Street Journal recently published a malicious ad propagated allegedly by some fugitives who are facing investigations in India. The advertisement not only named 11 Indians including ministers, bureaucrats and judges but also accused the Narendra Modi government of destroying the institutional framework of India.

Now, according to some Twitter handles that dig deep into this nasty campaign, the ad was published by an influential anti-India group in collaboration with money laundering accused and fugitive economic offender Ramachandran Viswanathan. He was former CEO of Devas group.

Kanchan Gupta, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, said in a tweet, "Shameful weaponization of American media by fraudsters. This shockingly vile ad targeting #India and its Government appeared in WSJ. Do you know who is behind this and similar ads? This ad campaign is being run by fugitive Ramachandra Vishwanathan, who was the CEO of Devas."

Also Read: Flipkart Diwali Sale 2022 ends today: Check last hour deals on smartphones

Gupta further added, "Vishwanathan is a declared fugitive economic offender in #India. Indias Supreme Court has ruled that his firm Devas was involved in corruption. This is not a campaign against Modi Govt alone. It's a campaign against the Judiciary. It's a campaign against Indias sovereignty."

Another user pointed out that the 'two Supreme Court judges, V. RamaSubramanian & Hemant Gupta, mentioned in the list in this vicious ad, had upheld the NCLT/NCLAT order against Devas.' "One can safely assume that Judge Chandra Shekhar also didn't exactly please Devas & hence features in the list," he said.

The two Supreme Court judges, V. RamaSubramanian & Hemant Gupta, mentioned in the list in this vicious ad, had upheld the NCLT/NCLAT order against Devas. One can safely assume that Judge Chandra Shekhar also didn't exactly please Devas & hence features in the list. https://t.co/4kAQPcGBPB  Me (@semubhatt) October 15, 2022

The advertisement carries the footprint of Frontiers of Freedom as its sponsor. The Frontiers of Freedom is headed by a person named George Landrith who is often seen spewing venom against India. The allegations by Landrith echoes the petition by Devas Viswanathan who demanded sanctions against the 11 Indians under US's Magnitsky Act. In one of his tweets, Landrith even tagged independent journalists Rana Ayyub and RN Bhaskar. Rana Ayyub is already under the Enforcement Directorate's scanner for misuse of funds raised during Covid.

The bottom line is this: If @NSitharaman, @BJP4India & @NarendraModi really believe that foreign investors will continue to ignore the abuse and harassment committed by the Indian govt, they are mistaken@RanaAyyub @rnbhaskar1.  George Landrith (@GLandrith) October 12, 2022

Viswanathan, a US citizen of Indian origin, has been at loggerheads with the Indian government over the Antrix-Devas scam.
New Delhi: Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson recently got candid and opened up about her "bizarre" sex scene with Joaquin Phoenix in the 2013 romance sci-fi movie `Her`.

According to Fox News, Johansson spoke about how gross it was listening to her fake an orgasm on set during Dax Shepard`s `Armchair Expert` podcast. The Academy Award nominee revealed Phoenix also had a difficult time recording audio for their sex scenes in Spike Jonze`s movie.

"You definitely don`t want to hear what you sound like having a fake orgasm," she pointed out.

"I remember we came in that day," the "Black Widow" star began to explain, adding, "I`ve become that actor that`s like `let`s get dirty.` I have to because otherwise, I`ll be petrified. Joaquin comes in, we try to get through one take, and he was, like, losing it. He was like `I can`t do it.`"She discussed how her co-star already filmed the entire movie, as she replaced Samantha Morton for the voice role and a few scenes needed to be recorded again, reported Fox News.

"He was like angry... he had already [filmed the scene], he had done it in person, and now he was with me in this weird theatre, and I`m in this box, and he was like staring at me, and the lights are low, and Spike is there... it was so bizarre," Johansson expressed.

Shepard continued to joke around with Johansson and asked if they had any cocktails for some liquid courage before filming the sex scene. "We definitely did not have cocktails," she responded.

"I was fine. Joaquin was not - he was so upset about it," she noted, as per Fox News.

The movie `Her` is about a lonely writer - played by Phoenix - that developed an unlikely relationship with an artificial intelligence operating system - played by Johansson -- designed to meet his needs.
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has become synonymous with scams and broken the records of corruption set by the Congress, BJP president J P Nadda alleged on Sunday. He also asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will "trounce" the AAP in the MCD election and thereafter, in the Delhi Assembly polls.

"The AAP has become a party of scams. It has broken all records of corruption set by Congress. It needs to go," Nadda said at the "Panch Parmeshwar Sammelan" held at the Ramlila Maidan here ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls, which are likely to be held in December.

The BJP chief said the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had promised to provide a clean government in Delhi, "but it has committed scams in the excise department, in the purchase of DTC buses, in the construction of toilets and in the Delhi Jal Board".

"Five of their MLAs are out on bail," he added.

BJP National President Shri @JPNadda addresses Panch Parmeshwar Sammelan at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi. https://t.co/LKsvEvynKe October 16, 2022

Chief Minister Kejriwal had said he would enforce prohibition in Delhi if his party came to power, but opened liquor shops in every neighbourhood after the AAP formed its government in Delhi, Nadda said.

"The BJP will trounce the AAP in the MCD polls and thereafter, in the Assembly election. Tell the people of Delhi about the AAP's corruption," he told BJP workers.

Nadda said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has realised the goal of "sabka sath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas".

"Other political parties are afraid of holding rallies at the Ramlila Maidan due to its sheer size. But even a workers' conference of the BJP is enough to fill the ground. The BJP is the only party in the country that has a mass base," he said.

When other political parties had restricted themselves to video conferences, the workers of the saffron party had committed themselves to serve the people of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nadda said.
After the announcement of Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Gujarat`s is going to be announced soon. In such a situation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power in the state for 27 years, has a big challenge to save its fort. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have taken up the responsibility of retaining BJP`S power in Gujarat. A few hours after the Election Commission (EC) announced the Himachal elections on Friday, a meeting was held under the leadership of the PM at his residence. The BJP leaders of Gujarat and Himachal, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and state president C.R. Patil were present in the meeting, said sources.

According to sources, this meeting was related to the Gujarat elections. A strategy to save the throne of Gujarat was prepared in this 5-hour long meeting. It is believed that the BJP will compete in the Gujarat elections by keeping the face of the PM in front. At the same time, Amit Shah, along with J.P. Nadda, is busy preparing the complete outline of the plan. The gathering focused on several important aspects.

Modi-Shah to announce schemes before the EC`s model code of conduct

There is a possibility that the EC will announce the Gujarat elections after Diwali. In the remaining 10-12 days, Modi and Shah can give many big gifts to the state. The Defence Expo, which is going to be held in Gandhinagar in Gujarat from October 18 to October 22 will be inaugrated by the Prime Minister on October 19.

The government is expecting to have signatures on more than 400 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investments above Rs 1.25 lakh crore in this expo. Apart from this, the foundation stone of many schemes and inaugurations will also be done around Diwali in Gujarat.

To lessen the resentment of employees and farmers

In Gujarat, many teachers, class IV government employees, health workers, farmers, forest guards and other organisations are angry with the government and were part of protests recently. They protested for an increase in their grade pay and the implementation of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), among other demands.

The Bhupendra Patel government has been successful in pacifying some of these, and has received instructions from the PM to dispose off the resentment still being seen in some organisations.

Dealing with AAP`s promises and Congress` silent propaganda

The Gujarat Assembly elections are likely to be triangular this time. Apart from the BJP-Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also vigorously engaged in registering its presence in the state. Arvind Kejriwal, the party`s national convenor is making populist promises of providing free water, electricity as well as restoring old pension scheme of employees.

In order to prevent the people from falling for these promises,the BJP has entrusted the central and state level leaders to go to the public and make them remember the development works of the government. Gujarat Gaurav Yatra is the beginning of the same.

At the same time, the silence of the Congress also remains a matter of concern for the BJP. Recently, during a rally, Modi warned his workers of Congress` silent campaign. He said that the "Congress was campaigning in villages and one should not get confused by them for not giving speeches or being seen in news".

To deal with this, the BJP has asked its workers to contact voters and conduct door to door campaigns. Amit Shah is also going to hold a meeting with the prominent leaders of Gujarat regarding this, said sources.

There are 40-50 seats in Gujarat where the party seems weak in its own survey. A strategy is being prepared to bring these seats in its favour by holding more rallies with Modi and Shah. The party is also trying to strengthen its hold on the tribal seats. There are 27 seats reserved for tribals in the state. In the year 2017, the party could win only nine seats. Two seats went to the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and the remaining went to the Congress.

Sources believe that CM Patel is not a leader with much mass base, hence the party has decided to go amongst the people with the face of Modi and the strategy of Shah.

Gujarat has a total of 182 seats in the Assembly, out of which it is very important for any party to win 92 seats for a majority. In the 2017 elections, the BJP won 99 seats, while the Congress got 77.
Mumbai: One of the interesting aspects of the upcoming Andheri (East) Assembly bypoll will be whether the votes of Congress get transferred to Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction's candidate supported by Congress and NCP and if Muslim voters support the saffron party, according to political observers. Though the byelection is a litmus test for Shiv Sena, it will not be a deciding factor for the future of the party, founded by Bal Thackeray in 1966, they said. The observers feel the outcome of elections to the Mumbai civic body, due in the next few months, will be the "ultimate test" for Uddhav Thackeray.

The November 3 bypoll will be a straight contest between 'The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray' (SSUBT) party and the combination of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde-led faction.

It is the first electoral contest after the split in Shiv Sena that led to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government a few months back and the freezing of the"bow and arrow" symbol of the parent Shiv Sena by the Election Commission.

Rutuja Latke, the widow of sitting Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke, is the candidate of the SSUBT backed by NCP and Congress. She will face Murji Patel of BJP who is supported by 'Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena', the new nomenclature for the group led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Both candidates filed their nominations on Friday.

"The Andheri bypoll will see if votes of Congress get transferred to Shiv Sena and if Muslim electorates cast their votes for Shiv Sena," senior journalist and author Prakash Akolkar told PTI.

He said the Shinde-led faction, which claims to be the "real" Shiv Sena, has "surrendered" the Andheri (East) seat, which fell vacant after the death of the Shiv Sena MLA (Ramesh Latke), to its alliance partner BJP.

Though the byelection is a litmus test for Shiv Sena, it will not be a deciding factor for the future of the party (read Uddhav Thackeray).

"Rather it is the outcome of the Mumbai civic elections that will decide the future of Shiv Sena. The BMC polls will be the ultimate exam for Uddhav Thackeray," he said.

Other political observers feel the bypoll will be no doubt an indicator of if Uddhav Thackeray can influence votes.

"The general mood of the electorate in Mumbai post a massive revolt in Shiv Sena and the collapse of the MVA government can also be gauged from the results," they said.

The counting of votes will be taken up on November 6.

The Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress are members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) which was formed after the Sena broke decades-old ties with the BJP post the 2019 Maharashtra elections.

Senior Congress leader Ratnakar Mahajan said voters loyal to Shiv Sena always backed the parent party on the "vague emotional appeal of 'Marathi manoos' and Hindutva".

"This sentiment will now be divided due to the split in Shiv Sena," he said.

Another interesting aspect will be if the Thackeray brand still attracts votes.

The Andheri East Assembly constituency is one of the 26 segments located in the Mumbai Suburban district. It is part of the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency.

The Assembly segment largely comprises Marathi voters, followed by north Indians, south Indians, Christians, and Muslims.

The late Ramesh Latke had wrested the seat from Congress in 2014. In 2009, it was represented by Suresh Shetty of Congress.

Latke bagged 62,680 votes in the 2019 polls. BJP's Murji Patel, who had contested as an Independent, polled 45,680 votes. Congress' Amin Kutty finished third with 27,925 votes.
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak called the BJP a true friend of Muslims on Sunday, accusing secularists of using them as a vote bank and failing to give them their due rights. Pathak made the remarks while speaking at a meeting of Pasmanda Muslims hosted by the BJP Minority Morcha. "Muslims were only used as a vote bank by so-called secular parties. These parties came to power by capturing Muslim votes, but they were never granted their rights. This is why Muslims are so backward nowadays "He stated.

According to him, the BJP is a "true well-wisher" of Muslims and is making significant efforts to bring them into the mainstream. "For this, the government is running a number of schemes that benefit Muslim society," he added. Danish Azad Ansari, the state's Minority Welfare Minister, stated that the BJP is the only party that seriously considers Muslims. "No other party has ever been as concerned about the education, security, and advancement of Muslims as the BJP," he claimed. One of the main reasons for Muslims' backwardness, according to Ansari, is that they were never allowed to receive a quality education.

Also Read: SC to hear plea on safeguarding copyright over live-streamed court proceedings

He claimed that the BJP governments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have paid special attention to providing them with quality education. Ghulam Ali, a Rajya Sabha member of the BJP, stated that the Muslim community must move forward by fully utilising the government's schemes. He claimed that other parties have done nothing but serve their political interests by instilling fear in them of the BJP. What is needed now is for Muslims to understand who is working for their benefit and who has exploited them up to this point, he said.

Also Read: Gujarat Assembly polls: AIMIM names candidates for two seats in Ahmedabads Surat

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Former DU professor GN Saibaba's release was stayed by the Supreme Court on Saturday. The top court suspended the Bombay High Court's order on the ex-professor's release in a UAPA case. In its judgment, the Supreme Court said that as far as terrorist or Maoist activities are concerned, the brain is more dangerous, and direct involvement is not necessary. The Bombay High Court gave the order merely on the basis of an invalid and irregular sanction and failed to evaluate the merits of the case, according to a bench made up of justices M.R. Shah and Bela M. Trivedi. Senior advocate R. Basant, representing Saibaba, said that he could at maximum be accused of being ideologically inclined and as a "brain" according to the prosecution, but there is nothing to show his involvement.

The bench said that as far as terrorist or Maoist activities are concerned, the brain is more dangerous, and direct involvement is not necessary. Basant said, "How brain is involved here...". The bench replied that it is a general observation, not with respect to this specific case.

Also Read: Supreme Court stays release of ex-DU professor GN Saibaba in UAPA case

Saibaba's counsel submitted that he was arrested in 2015, for over 7 years he has been under custody, except for the brief period where he was given bail on medical grounds.

The top court said it is finding fault with the high court for not entering the merits of the case and instead finding a shortcut to decide the matter. Basant said the court must see his client`s medical condition, as he suffers 90 percent disability owing to post-polio paralysis.

Justice Shah: Accused were convicted after detailed appreciation of evidence. Offences are very serious and if the State succeeds on merits, offences are very serious against the interest of the society, sovereignty and integrity of India. HC order is based on no sanction  Bar & Bench (@barandbench) October 15, 2022

Basant said his client did not abuse any of the conditions imposed while granting bail, and if the court thinks, he can be even ordered to be placed under house arrest. Maharashtra government vehemently opposed the request for placing Saibaba under house arrest. The top court declined to entertain a house arrest request.

The bench said it was just suspending the high court`s judgment and order and the accused can file a bail application. "We will issue a notice for final disposal. It is in everybody`s interest that the outcome must be known at the earliest," said the top court, and scheduled the matter for further hearing on December 8.

The bench also formulated questions of law for determination, which included a case where the trial court convicted the accused on appreciation of evidence, whether the appellate court is justified to overturn the order on grounds of sanction alone.

The Maharashtra government, which was represented by the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, said the high court decided the entire matter on the point of sanction alone without adverting to the evidence. The state, in its appeal against the high court order, said: "The High Court has, without considering the fact that the point of sanction was neither raised not argued, decided the entire matter solely on the point of sanction and held the trial to be vitiated," it said.

On Friday, the High Court overturned the conviction and life term sentence of accused Mahesh Kariman Tirki, Hem Keshavdatta Mishra, Prashant Rahi Nrayan Sanglikar and G N Saibaba. One accused Vijay Nan Tirki was on bail, while another one Pandu Pora Narote had died during the pendency of the appeal.

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Sitaram Yechury, lashed out at the Central government on Sunday over India's low ranking in the Global Hunger Index, alleging that the Centre is unwilling to accept any international figures. In an interview with ANI, Yechury stated, "The current administration is unwilling to accept any international figures. At every level, the country is deteriorating. Look at the economic scale, unemployment, or even the type of propaganda that is going on in the form of violent politics; there is an atmosphere of fear, and there is a decline in every area."

"The government says that there are 121 countries and all of them agreed to the Hunger Index but ours did not believe because it showed a decline. It is known that crores of people have become poor who were not poor before COVID-19 but instead of giving relief to them, the Centre is busy giving a tax-relief and waiving loans to the rich," says Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of CPI(M) has told ANI.

Also Read: 'Na Khaunga Na Khane Dunga': TMC MP Mahua Moitra mocks PM Modi over India's rank on Global Hunger Index

He also claimed that the central government did not provide any assistance to the poor and that the current decline (Global Hunger Index) is "very serious." The Indian government completely rejected the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022 report, which ranked New Delhi 107th out of 121 countries. The data, according to the Centre, is an "erroneous measure of hunger" with "serious methodological issues," as the country lags behind its neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal in the current GHI 2022.

India's ranking at 107 in Global Hunger Index is part of consistent effort to taint country's image as "a nation that does not fulfil food security and nutritional requirements of its population: Govt, adds index suffers from serious methodological issues  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 15, 2022

"The Index is an erroneous measure of hunger and suffers from serious methodological issues. The report is not only disconnected from ground reality but also chooses to deliberately ignore efforts made by the Government to ensure food security for the population, especially during the Covid pandemic," the government of India on Global Hunger Report 2022 quotes this in a statement read on Saturday.

Also Read: 'Ye azadi ki dusri ladai hai': Kejriwal after CBI summons Sisodia in Delhi Excise scam case

In a statement, the Ministry of Women and Child Development emphasised that there is a consistent effort to tarnish India's image as a nation. According to the Global Hunger Index, India ranked 107th out of 121 countries, with the highest child-wasting rate in the world at 19.3 per cent.

(With ANI inputs)
New Delhi: According to a US government-funded news service, China recently launched thousands of 5G base stations throughout its Xinjiang region, raising concerns that the technology will be used for greater digital surveillance of Uyghurs rather than the state's use of economic development. Last month, China's Information Technology Ministry announced that the number of 5G base stations in use across the country had surpassed 1.96 million. "The high-quality industrial internet network covers over 300 cities in China, accelerating the transformation and upgrading of traditional Chinese enterprises," state media outlet Xinhua quoted ministry official Wang Peng as saying. Beijing's build-out in Xinjiang is part of the 2019 expansion of 5G technology for broadband cellular networks, intending to fully digitise its economy and society.

Xinjiang has the most land area of any Chinese province or autonomous region, with 642,800 square kilometres, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). "The 5G network rollout across the entire region will augment an existing pervasive digitized system that monitors the movement of residents through surveillance drones, facial recognition cameras, and mobile phone scans as part of China`s efforts to control the predominantly Muslim population," According to experts cited by RFA. "It's an interesting development," said Josh Chin, a Wall Street Journal journalist.

Also Read: China: Xi Jinping defends zero-Covid policy, aggression toward Taiwan and Hong Kong at CCP Congress

I imagine it will only increase the pervasiveness and efficiency of surveillance. "The rollout of 5G base stations across the vast, sparsely populated region is "overkill," according to a U.S. journalist and China analyst, Geoffrey Cain. "It`s very extreme, and it also strikes me as very suspicious," he told RFA. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in her long-awaited report in August said the Chinese government has committed abuses that may amount to crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs and other Turkic communities in Xinjiang. The report by the outgoing UN rights chief contains victim accounts that substantiate mass arbitrary detention, torture, and other serious human rights violations and recommends world to take action to end the abuses.

Also Read: 'China has achieved full control over Hong Kong': Xi Jinping in speech at CCP key Congress

(With agenciess inputs)
New Delhi: Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday (local time) defended the actions of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on private capital and civil societies and negated that it is being used as a political weapon. At a media briefing on her official US visit, she said, "ED is completely independent in what it does, it is an agency that follows predicate offences." Answering to question on the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department that these institutions have been used to go after sections of private capital but also civil societies, she said, "The first offence is already picked up by any other agency, whether it is CBI or any other agency and it is forced that ED comes into the picture. ED does not appear at first instance. There are instances which are so standing out and if ED goes there, it is because of some prima facie evidence in their hands and some of them have been covered by media - the quantum of money seized, gold and jewellery seized. They have to act."

Sitharaman talks about G20 challenges

She also spoke about G20 challenges due to geopolitical tensions - and how India plans to navigate this environment. "We had discussions with many G20 members, and during the meetings, the concern about this whole year - Indonesia has gone through a very difficult Presidency, even in this meeting I can say, none of the meetings - the Washington DC, G20 FMCGB couldn`t come up with the communique at all. All of them ended up coming up with some chair statement. I really applaud the officials of all delegations for the night-long work they have done to arrive at something. But, still, the communique was not possible at all," she said.

Also Read: Sitharaman, in US, shares India-specific experience on learning from pandemic, ways to overcome

Speaking about India's Presidency of G20, she said, "We are taking Presidentship at a time when there are a lot of challenges, we will have to work together with the membership to see how best we can navigate the whole thing." FM Nirmala Sitharaman held 24 bilaterals in the US during her official visit to America.

"There were 24 bilaterals, one, of course, was FMCGB, in formal breakfast which we had held, then FMCGB itself of G20, one IMFC breakfast, one IMFC plenary, one DC dinner, one disciplinary and of course meeting with Indian industries and SBI meet, then FICCI representative met me. Separately, of course, the Indian Ambassador held a host meet where some of the prominent policymakers of the US administration were there. Besides, it`s important to recognize that the secretaries and the Chief Economic Advisor have held 25 meetings with their counterparts and one on one meetings with credit rating agencies. Additional Secretary Rajat Mishra attended the annual plenary," said Sitharaman.

Had a very good meeting with Finance Minister of India @nsitharaman on G20 issues as India takes over the presidency soon. pic.twitter.com/BzpH2w9cBo  Gita Gopinath (@GitaGopinath) October 15, 2022

She also met World Bank President David Malpass in Washington today. The two leaders discussed various issues, including India`s #G20 Presidency, improving capital adequacy framework oF MDBs, addressing debt vulnerabilities and enhancing WBG`s engagement with India through Knowledge Exchange and MIGA. "Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman thanked Mr. @DavidMalpassWBG for a productive Development Committee meeting and support to India over the last two years especially in increasing the Single Borrower Limit," tweeted the Ministry of Finance.

Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman and President World Bank Group Mr. @DavidMalpassWBG met today, in Washington DC. (1/6) pic.twitter.com/YH0tPukTIP  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) October 15, 2022

The Finance Minister mentioned that World Bank has been a valuable partner of the G20 since its inception and India looks forward to closing collaboration with the World Bank during the upcoming G20Presidency.

Meanwhile, impressed by the quick and deep penetration of the Government of India`s financial inclusion and digitalisation initiatives among the poor, Malpass assured Sitharaman of showcasing this to other FMs as a way for governments to help their poor leapfrog in these challenging times.FM Sitharaman also mentioned that during its Presidency, India would like the G20 to explore the potential for MDBs to enhance climate financing through leveraging and intermediating resources.

She also met Mohamed Al Hussaini, UAE`s Minister of State for Financial Affairs, on the sidelines of the IMF-WB Annual Meetings 2022. The two leaders exchanged views on the upcoming G20 India Presidency, UAE`s CoP28 Chair, climate finance, and other areas of mutual interest.
An altercation Friday evening outside a freshman dorm at the University at Buffalo North Campus left a 19-year-old student from SUNY Buffalo State fatally stabbed and police searching for 'a person of interest.'

But officials at both schools told students, faculty and staff that the incident was not random and there was no further threat to the campus communities.

To be clear, this does not appear to be a random act of violence, but rather a targeted incident between known individuals, UB Police Chief Chris Bartolomei said in a statement.

The victim was identified as Tyler Lewis, 19, of Long Island. He was found stabbed in the chest around 7:30 p.m. Friday. He was rushed to Erie County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

On Saturday, UB police said they had identified a "person of interest" in the stabbing. They said that man had suffered "substantial" wounds to his face, including a diagonal cut across his forehead and multiple cuts on his face. Police described the "person of interest" as a white male between 19 and 22, wearing a mustard-colored shirt. They said he fled the scene in a black four-door sedan. Friday night, in one of several emergency alerts to the UB community, police said that "at least four others" may have been involved in the incident.

Saturday morning, several students from the Richmond dorms shared their reactions to the homicide on their campus.

Colin Perney, a UB freshman whose dorm is next to the crime scene, said he was relieved when authorities said the suspects didn't pose a danger to other UB students. Yet, he was worried.

"Still, why here?" he asked.

Perney and his roommate Ben Farhi were hanging out Friday night on the second floor of Richmond 3, a dorm building, when they became aware of an incident outside the building.

"There were cops everywhere, a huge scene," Farhi said Saturday outside the dorm.

Farhi said a friend of his was trying to exit the dorm as the incident unfolded outside.

"He said he saw, like, five guys jump out of a car, beating somebody up," Farhi said.

Farhi said his friend left the area quickly. The friend later shared with investigators what he witnessed, he added.

Perney and Farhi said law enforcement went room-to-room in Richmond seeking information. They also saw police shining their flashlights to inspect "remnants" on the ground in the roadway about 15 yards from the dorm's front door.

Gavin Triggs, a UB student from Brooklyn, returned to the Amherst campus at about 8:30 p.m. after going out to dinner in Buffalo with his girlfriend. He said he saw three police cars blocking off each of the two entrances to one of the parking lots.

"We didn't know what to think," Triggs said. "We were discombobulated and confused."

Triggs said he and his girlfriend visited a friend who lived on the third floor of the building with the clearest view of the parking lot. Triggs said he could see "caution tape everywhere," and "roughly six officers huddled toward the side of the parking lot." He said he was still a little rattled from the incident.

"I'm from Brooklyn, so it feels like we get a report like this every single day there, so you become almost immune to it, but it's still very scary to know my friend is literally up there  and it could happen right here," Triggs said.

Buffalo State President Katherine S. Conway-Turner said the victim was a sophomore from Baldwin, N.Y., majoring in pre-business administration.

"On behalf of the entire Buffalo State community, I express my heartfelt condolences to Tylers family and beloved friends. Our hearts ache for you during this difficult time," Conway-Turner said in a statement.

UB President Satish Tripathi assured that the incident was isolated.

"University Police are actively investigating this horrible act of violence and are in communication with Buffalo State police and local police. I want to reassure our campus community that University Police believe there is no residual danger to campus from this incident," he said.

Both presidents encouraged those seeking help to call their campus counseling programs or Crisis Services of Erie County's 24-hour hotline at 716-834-3131 or to text: GOT5 to 741-741.

Authorities asked anyone with information about the incident or the person of interest to contact University Police immediately at 716-645-2222.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated how University at Buffalo police described the wounded man for whom they were searching. A police statement called him a "person of interest in the case."
New Delhi: Hyderabad was awarded the overall 'World Green City Award 2022' and another in the category 'Living Green for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth' at the International Association of Horticulture Producers (AIPH) 2022 World Green City Awards 2022 held in Jeju, South Korea on October 14. According to an official release issued on Friday, Hyderabad is the only Indian city that was nominated. Hyderabad has not only won the category prize, but also the overall World Green City 2022 title, the best across all six categories.

KT Rama Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, hailed the entire Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority team and Special Chief Secretary, MA&UD Arvind Kumar, on the achievement.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was overjoyed that the city has received the renowned "International Association of Horticulture Producers" (AIPH) awards. He stated that the international awards have enhanced Telangana's and the country's prestige.

"These worldwide prizes demonstrate that the state administration is vigorously implementing the Haritaharam and urban development programmes... bringing green fruits to the country," he said in a statement late Friday. t is a source of pride for him because Hyderabad is the only Indian city to have been chosen for these international awards.
If sources are to be believed, a major political drama will be unfolded soon as the CBI has summoned Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the liquor scam case. The AAP, that is getting the limelight in the upcoming Gujarat elections, has claimed that their senior leader - who is often seen as the number 2 in party after Kejriwal - will be arrested in order to deter the party's spirit ahead of the crucial assembly polls in the state. Commenting on the matter, CM Arvind Kejriwal compared him with freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and termed this as the "second fight for freedom".

"Prison bars and the threat of noose could never deter the spirit of Bhagat Singh. This is the second fight for freedom. Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain are today`s Bhagat Singh," the Delhi Chief Minister said, retweeting Sisodia`s tweet about the CBI`s summon in the excise policy case.

The CBI has asked Sisodia to be in its headquarters on Monday at 11 a.m. for questioning in the excise policy scam case.

"After 75 years, there has been an education minister who is giving hope to the poor with better education. The prayers of crores of people are with you," Kejriwal further said in the same tweet.

Meanwhile, while addressing a press briefing, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said that the probe agency, CBI will arrest the Deputy CM on Monday. "Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has been summoned by the CBI for interrogation tomorrow. I can say this with confidence and responsibility that we are all certain that he will be arrested at the behest of the BJP by the CBI being controlled by their Central Government," he said.

"CBI has summoned Manish Sisodia tomorrow. This whole conspiracy is premeditated and planned; CBI summon has nothing to do with excise, they will call him to their office and arrest him. CBI-ED have raided 500 locations across the country so far in the case; they haven`t found a single strand of proof," he alleged.

"The CBI will be arresting Sisodia just to halt the month-long campaigns he has scheduled in Gujarat. But I want to make it clear to the BJP -- the AAP stands here in front of you unfazed by your tactics," the AAP spokesperson further said.
New Delhi: A man was killed while his friend was injured in a fight with another group in Central Delhi's Ranjit Nagar, police said on Sunday. The incident took place on the night of October 12, they said. According to police, there was a fight between two groups, with three people on each side. The brawl happened when Nitesh, Alok, and Monty stopped three people on a bike and assaulted one of them who fell on the ground.

As the bike got disbalanced, the other two too fell on the ground and a scuffle ensued between the two groups, a senior police officer said.

Since no one gave any statement at the time, a case was registered under section 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code on DD entry at Ranjit Nagar Police Station and an investigation was taken up, said Shweta Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central).

On Saturday night, Nitesh succumbed to his injuries, she said. Meanwhile, the police have identified the three accused who are absconding, she added.

A man was killed while two of his friends sustained severe injuries after two groups clashed in Central #Delhi's Ranjit Nagar, police said. The deceased, identified as Nitesh, is said to be a #BajrangDal worker.@DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/TUYNfrYjpW  IANS (@ians_india) October 16, 2022

"The footage of the incident reveal that the quarrel was started by Nitesh and Alok. However, in the end, the other party overpowered them and assaulted them. Both Nitesh and Alok have previous criminal records," the DCP said. The exact reason for the fight is not clear, she said.
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and senior BJP leader Kuldeep Bishnoi have ruled out any strain in ties with alliance partner JJP and asserted that the government was running smoothly. Days before BJP candidate Bhavya Bishnoi filed his nomination papers for the November 3 Adampur by-election, the JPP, which is led by former MP Ajay Singh Chautala, had expressed unhappiness over not finding any mention in the banners and posters put up as part of the campaigning. The BJP had maintained that the party at that time had not officially released any posters, banners or hoardings.

Khattar, who was interacting with reporters after listening to public grievances in Faridabad on Sunday, was asked to if there was any strain in relationship with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP). "...We are running our government in a very good manner in coordination with our allies. We will win the Adampur bypoll with a very good margin," he replied.

On October 10 too, Khattar when asked about some JJP leaders complaining that pictures of their leaders have not been given a space in the posters put up for campaigning in Adampur for the bypoll, had then told reporters in

Panchkula that these posters may have come up at local level and had not been officially released by the party.

Khattar had also asserted that both parties will form a common strategy for the bypoll, adding "we will jointly fight these election".

The bypoll was necessitated after Kuldeep Bishnoi, father of Bhavya Bishnoi (29), resigned as the MLA from the seat and switched sides from the Congress to the BJP. Bhavya Bishnoi had also quit the Congress and joined the BJP.

Meanwhile, interacting with reporters in Hisar, Kuldeep Bishnoi, when asked if Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala will come for campaigning, replied, "He should come".

"From the party side too, we will send him a request that he should come as Bhavya is a joint candidate of the BJP-JJP combine and he should come," he said.

Kuldeep Bishnoi was also asked about the JJP not seen engaged in campaigning and whether there is any strain in alliance, or is it because of past political rivalry between the Bhajan Lal and Devi Lal families that Dushyant and other senior leaders of the party were maintaining a distance.

To this question, he replied, "No, there is no such thing. Our alliance is very good and there is no strain."

"When Bhavya filed his nomination, JJP state president Nishan Singh was present and JJP district president and other leaders also came over for lunch at my residence...We are fighting this election jointly and we will win," Bishnoi said.

While Kuldeep Bishnoi is younger son of former Haryana chief minister late Devi Lal, JJP leader Dushyant Chautala is Lal's great grandson.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Brijendra Singh, son of a senior BJP leader, JJP's Dushyant Chautala and Bhavya, who was then in the Congress, contested against each other. Brijendra had won the seat as the BJP swept all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the parliamentary polls.

In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, where the Adampur seat is currently vacant, the BJP has 40 MLAs while the Congress has 30.

The JJP, which is an ally of the BJP, has 10 legislators, while the Indian National Lok Dal and the Haryana Lokhit Party have one each. Seven MLAs are independents. The HLP and six of the independents are supporting the BJP-JJP government.

The JJP had extended support to the BJP after the 2019 polls when the saffron party fell short of a majority in the Assembly. Later, independents and the HLP also extended support.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday (October 16) staunchly opposed what he called a Parliamentary panel's "recommendation" that for specific jobs, aspirants should have learnt the Hindi language. Writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin referred to media reportage on a report of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Languages.

Stalin said, "It has been reported that the Committee, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, submitted its report to the President of India, wherein inter-alia, has recommended that Hindi should be the compulsory medium of instruction in educational institutions of the Union government such as IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and central universities and Hindi should replace English."

It also includes a recommendation that Hindi shall be made as the medium of instruction in all technical, non-technical institutions and all the Union government institutions including Kendriya Vidyalayas.

The Chief Minister, who is also the president of the ruling DMK said that it has been recommended by the panel that, "youth would be eligible for certain jobs only if they had studied Hindi, and removal of English (is proposed) as one of the compulsory papers in recruitment exams." Such proposals went against the federal principles of Constitution and would only harm the nation's multi-lingual fabric, he said.

Efforts to "impose" Hindi in various ways as recommended in that report should not be taken forward and the "glorious flame of unity of India may be held high forever," the Chief Minister requested. Stalin demanded that all languages should be accorded the status of official language of the Union government.

All the regional languages, including Tamil, should be treated equally and that is the way to ensure the principle of unity in diversity. There are 22 languages including Tamil in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. All such languages have equal rights and there are several demands that some more languages should also be included under the schedule.

"I would like to point out that the number of people speaking languages other than Hindi is numerically more than Hindi-speaking people in the Indian Union. I am sure you would appreciate that every language has its own specialty with its uniqueness and linguistic culture."

He recalled Tamil Nadu's consistent opposition to Hindi "imposition," the massive agitations in 1965 in the state and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's assurance that English would continue to be one of the official languages as long as the non-Hindi speaking people wanted.

"Subsequently, the resolutions passed in 1968 and 1976 on official language, and according to the rules laid down thereunder, ensured the use of both English and Hindi in union government services. This position must continue to remain as the corner stone of all discussions on official language."

The Centre's recent attempts to "impose Hindi" are impractical and divisive in character puts non-Hindi speaking people in a very disadvantageous position in many respects. "This will not be acceptable not only to Tamil Nadu but also to any state that respects and values their mother tongue."

On October 10, Stalin appealed to Modi to give up attempts to "make Hindi mandatory" and uphold the nation's unity. "Do not force another language war by imposing Hindi," the DMK chief had said. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also had taken exception to the panel's recommendation. DMK and CPI(M) are allies in Tamil Nadu.

On Saturday, the ruling DMK's youth wing secretary and Stalin's son, Udayanidhi Stalin warned the Centre that his party would stage a protest against it in Delhi if Hindi was thrust upon Tamil Nadu.

A parliamentary panel has recently recommended that the medium of instruction in technical and non-technical higher education institutes such as the IITs in Hindi-speaking states should be Hindi and in other parts of the country, the respective regional languages.


Noida: Noida Businessman- wrongly detained by the Abu Dhabi government over mistaken identity- landed in India in the early hours of Sunday, October 16, 2022. The Noida-based Businessman, Praveen Kumar, was detained by the Abu Dhabi Police for mistaking him for a criminal they were searching for. Praveen Kumar was garlanded at the Airport after landing in India from Abu Dhabi, where he was erroneously apprehended by the police- later released.

After landing in India, Praveen Kumar told ANI that CID there at the airport detained me once & then let me go, after which they detained me for a second time when I was on my way toward departure.

UPDATE | Resident of Noida, Praveen Kumar arrives back; visuals from Delhi airport



CID there at airport detained me once & then let me go, after which they detained me for a second time when I was on my way towards departure: Praveen Kumar (1/2) https://t.co/jYdarH0vfC pic.twitter.com/alQKH5AJFw  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 15, 2022

"They kept me overnight, forced me to accept I was someone else, put me in a holding cell in the morning, took me to a different city, held me & questioned me again. I would like to thank PM Modi and CM Adityanath for their quick action in the matter", Praveen Kumar added.

Earlier, after the news of Praveen Kumar`s detention in a foreign country aired, Gautam Buddh Nagar DM SL Yathiraj, told ANI that one Praveen Kumar from Gautam Buddha Nagar district`s Habibpur was detained by Abu Dhabi police at the airport, as per the information given by the family who submitted an application to get him released.

Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy and the States Home Ministry were apprised. It is worth mentioning that the local police probed this case as well. Praveen Kumar was released on Saturday, officials said.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear a petition on Monday from former RSS idealogue K N Govindacharya, who claims that the copyright of live-streamed Supreme Court proceedings cannot be surrendered to private platforms such as YouTube. On September 27, the Supreme Court began live-streaming its Constitution bench proceedings related to the hearing of petitions challenging the reservation for Economically Weaker Sections and the dispute over control of services between the Centre and the Delhi government for the first time. A bench of Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi has scheduled a hearing on Govindacharya's interim petition for Monday.

Govindacharya's lawyer, Virag Gupta, had mentioned the urgent listing plea on September 26. He referred to YouTube's terms of service and stated that if the proceedings are webcast on it, this private platform also obtains the copyright to them. According to a 2018 ruling, "the copyright over all the material recorded and broadcast in this court shall vest with this court only," the lawyer said.

Also Read: You can't miss Shashi Tharoor's 'netagiri' jibe at Kharge camp ahead of Congress President polls

Direct for a special agreement with YouTube for safeguarding the copyright over live streaming and archived judicial proceedings, as per the directions in the judgement of Swapnil Tripathi v. Supreme Court of India..., the plea said. The bench stated that these are preliminary steps and that the Supreme Court will have its own platforms to live to stream the proceedings. The Supreme Court decided unanimously at a full court meeting led by the CJI to live-stream proceedings of all Constitution bench hearings beginning September 27, four years after Justice Dipak Misra, the then CJI, issued a landmark decision on the issue in 2018.

Also Read: Major Drama ahead: AAP claims Manish Sisodia to be arrested tomorrow, Arvind Kejriwal compares him with Bhagat Singh

(With ANI inputs)
New Delhi: A student from Lakhimpur Kheri was found impersonating a candidate in Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Staff Selection Commission Preliminary Eligibility Test or UPSSSC PET 2022 exam on Sunday (October 16) while 36 other candidates were caught using Bluetooth devices during the constable recruitment exam in Bihar's Gaya.

Student appears for UPSSSC PET 2022 with another candidate's admit card

The student in Lakhimpur Kheri wad found appearing in UPSSSC PET 2022 using the admit card of another person, said the Pilibhit police on Sunday. The Pilibhit Addl SP Pavitra Mohan Tripathi told ANI that "Case has been registered and the student has also been arrested." The Additional SP said that interrogation is underway. Teams have been constituted to investigate the matter further.

Students use Bluetooth devices during constable recruitment in Gaya

36 students were caught using Bluetooth devices during constable recruitment exam across Gaya. Talking to ANI DSP Gaya said, "We already had the info that people associated with running such rackets will deploy the devices. People caught to be sent to jail, legal procedure shall follow."
Visakhapatnam: In a massive show of strength in support of three capitals for Andhra Pradesh, the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) organised a rally here on Saturday. Braving rains, thousands of people from various parts of north coastal Andhra attended `Visakha Garjana` which was addressed by ministers and other leaders of the ruling party, and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed to fight for three capitals. They called for the development of three state capitals to ensure decentralisation of development and slammed the opposition parties for insisting on the development of Amaravati as the only state capital.

Ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, JAC leaders, intellectuals and people from various walks of life participated in the rally from Ambedkar Circle to YSR statue at Park Hotel. The participants were carrying placards in support of three capitals. There were also cultural performances highlighting the backwardness of north coastal Andhra.

Assembly speaker Tammineni Seetharam, ministers Botsa Satyanarayana, Dharmana Prasad Rao, Gudivada Amarnath, R. K. Roja, V. Rajini, TTD Chairman and YSRCP North Andhra coordinator Y.V. Subba Reddy were present on the occasion.

The speakers at the rally came down heavily on Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader and actor Pawan Kalyan and alleged that they are against the development of north Andhra.

Roja, who is also an actor, targeted Pawan Kalyan.

"Pawan Kalyan needs Visakhapatnam for shootings and cinema collections. He also needs Visakhapatnam to contest elections but he does not want the state capital here," she said.

She alleged that Pawan Kalyan is supporting "paid artists".

She was referring to the participants in the ongoing padyatra by Amaravati farmers.

The minister called upon the people of north Andhra to teach a lesson to the actor.

The ministers and YSRCP leaders questioned the opposition parties for opposing Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital.

YSRCP wants Visakhapatnam as Andhra Pradesh's administrative capital, Kurnool as judicial capital, Amaravati as legislative capital

They claimed that the YSRCP government wants the development of all three regions and hence it mooted the idea of three capitals - Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital, Kurnool as the judicial capital and Amaravati as the legislative capital.

The ministers alleged that TDP is behind the ongoing Padyatra in support of Amaravati as the state capital. They were referring to the ongoing Maha Padyatra by farmers of Amaravati.

Demanding that Amaravati be developed as the only state capital, farmers from the region last month launched Maha Padyatra from Amaravati. It is passing through coastal districts and is scheduled to conclude next month at Arasavalli in Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra. It will pass through 16 districts and cover nearly 1,000 km.

After coming to power in 2019, the YSRCP had reversed the decision of the previous TDP government to develop Amaravati as the only state capital and decided to develop three state capitals.

The ruling party defended the move on the ground that this will ensure decentralisation of development.

On petitions filed by farmers and others challenging the trifurcation of the capital, Andhra Pradesh High Court in March this year had directed the government to develop Amaravati as the capital and handover developed plots to farmers in lieu of the lands they surrendered.

The YSRCP leaders alleged that the padyatra by Amaravati farmers is an attempt by Chandrababu Naidu to protect his interests as he and his supporters had acquired vast lands in Amaravati.
New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Police arrested a wanted member of a sand mining mafia after a brief encounter in Moradabad district, days after an unsuccessful attempt to apprehend him in neighbouring Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar district, during which a local BJP leader's wife was killed. Zafar, who was arrested on Saturday on Kalisa Road in the Pakwarha police station area of Moradabad, was shot in the leg during the encounter and was hospitalised. According to Senior Superintendent of Police Hemant Kutiyal, Zafar was riding a motorcycle when he opened fire on a police team when they asked him to stop. In retaliation, the police team opened fire and apprehended him.

The police had announced a Rs 1 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest. Following the incident in Uttarakhand, the cash reward was increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000. An FIR was filed against Zafar at Moradabad's Thakurdwara police station on September 13 after he and his associates assaulted a team led by Thakurdwara Subdivisional Magistrate Parmanand that was inspecting dumpers carrying sand near the Uttarakhand border. On October 12 night, police attempted to arrest Zafar and his associates in Bharatpur village, Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand, but a fight broke out between the police team and the villagers.

Also Read: Manohar Lal Khattar, Kuldeep Bishnoi rule out any strain in ties with JJP

The wife of a local BJP leader was killed in the clash, and five others were injured, including four Uttar Pradesh Police officers. Several police officers were also kidnapped by villagers in Bharatpur and released after senior police officials intervened. The Moradabad police later filed a new FIR at Thakurdwara police station against Zafar and 30 villagers. Zafar, according to the police, is a member of a mafia that transports sand from Uttar Pradesh to Uttarakhand.

UP | Moradabad Police arrested a criminal named Jaffar after a brief encounter



He was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh. He escaped from Bharatpur in Uttarakhands Udham Singh Nagar (where UP police had gone to arrest him a few days ago): Akhilesh Bhadoria, SP (City), Moradabad pic.twitter.com/xIfR0SahBC  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 15, 2022

(With PTI inputs)
Frank Juliano, owner of 152 apartments on Kenmore Avenue, filed his legal action in State Supreme Court on Tuesday, claiming that the town has not given him enough time to clean and repair the garages behind his apartments.
New Delhi: Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shahs launch of MBBS textbooks in Hindi today in Madhya Pradesh, the states Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had praised the Home Minister for this move and said that today, October 16, 2022, will be written in history in golden letters as the central government is taking aggressive steps to change the Hindi languages status quo in India. He also said that he would try to make education completely free from English and make learning primarily based in the Hindi language.

In a first, the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government have prepared the entire MBBS course books in Hindi which have been launched today by Amit Shah. MP CM said that they have prepared these books for the bright students who could not learn English and hence could not showcase their talent to the world. He said that this is a proud moment for his government and said that this day would be written in golden letters in history.

Stressing on Indias colonial mindset, Chouhan asked why should Indians be a slave to English language. He also gave examples of foreign countries like China, Japan, Germany, Russia and France and stated that if they can study and express their talents in order to reach their higher potential in their national language, India also can.

Why do we have to be a slave to English language? If Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Russians, French can study & express their talents in their own respective languages & reach high positions then why can't our children do that, MP CM said.

MP | Why do we have to be a slave to English language? If Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Russians, French can study & express their talents in their own respective languages & reach high positions then why can't our children do that?: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan pic.twitter.com/mJ8FEMbyi0  ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) October 16, 2022

He said that his government would take necessary steps to change the course of learning in the state wherein there would be no compulsion in studying in English, but majorly would start Hindi-centric education. He expressed that it was his dream to start IIT and IIM courses in Hindi in the state. Meanwhile, he said that this year, the state will be starting education in HIndi in six Engineering and Polytechnique colleges, respectively.

We'll free education completely from English. Whoever wants to study (in English) can study, there's no compulsion...We'll start education in Hindi in 6 engg & 6 polytech colleges this year. It's our dream to start education in Hindi at IIT & IIM in the state

MP | We'll free education completely from English. Whoever wants to study (in English) can study, there's no compulsion...We'll start education in Hindi in 6 engg & 6 polytech colleges this year. It's our dream to start education in Hindi at IIT & IIM in the state: CM SS Chouhan pic.twitter.com/9fwv2l0Wdy October 16, 2022

Planning on universalising the action in other states across India, Chouhan said that he would share the Hindi MBBS textbooks with other states and would meet the Chief Ministers of all states regarding this.

We will share the (Hindi medical education) books that we have prepared, with other states. I'll meet with CMs of all states regarding this. Whatever we've, we will give to others & if they (other states) do well in anything, we will take from them, he said.
MUMBAI: Bollywood star Akshay Kumar on Sunday dismissed a news report claiming that he owns a private jet worth Rs 260 crore. Calling the report a "baseless lie", the 55-year-old actor said he will continue to call out falsehood written about him.

"Liar, Liar? pants on fire! Heard this in childhood? Well, some people have clearly not grown up, and I'm just not in a mood to let them get away with it.

"Write baseless lies about me, and I'll call it out. Here, a Pants on Fire (POF) gem for you. #POFbyAK," Kumar wrote on Twitter.

The "Cuttputlli" actor also posted a screenshot of the report that featured his photo along with his "Bellbottom" co-star Vaani Kapoor standing in front of a private jet. The caption of the picture mentioned that the aircraft reportedly "costs around Rs 260 crore".

Liar, Liarpants on fire! Heard this in childhood? Well, some people have clearly not grown up, and Im just not in a mood to let them get away with it. Write baseless lies about me, and Ill call it out. Here, a Pants on Fire (POF) gem for you. #POFbyAK pic.twitter.com/TMIEhdV3f6  Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) October 16, 2022

On the work front, Kumar is currently awaiting the release of his next feature film "Ram Setu", set to be released in theatres countrywide on October 25.

Directed by Abhishek Sharma of "Parmanu" and "Tere Bin Laden" fame, the action-adventure movie also stars Jacqueline Fernandez, Nushrratt Bharuccha and veteran actor Nassar in pivotal roles.
New Delhi: Indias youngest superstar is currently one of the biggest stars today but apart from spending time building his career, the actor also believes in his vocation. His kind, empathetic and modest personality makes him spend a certain amount of his time serving society and staying dedicated to the cause.

After shooting and working throughout the week, the actor also spent his time advocating 'Breast Cancer Awareness'. Today, Superstar Kartik Aaryan flagged off the event Cyclothon ride to beat breast cancer held at Nanavati Hospital early this morning and helped to strengthen the noble cause of creating awareness about breast cancer in masses.

Taking to social media, he wrote Breast Cancer Awareness Early Diagnosis Saves Lives Honoured to Flag off the Cyclothon for Breast Cancer Awareness

The star had donned a blue jacket, denim and a white T-Shirt where he looked absolutely handsome and charming. He could be seen raising the flag and is seen engaging with the youth present at the Nanawati hospital. The star took to the stage and said  I am excited to see you guys here being a part of this breast cancer awareness campaign and celebrating the month of breast cancer awareness. I am so happy seeing this. I am so glad that I am associated with this campaign that Nanavati Hospital initiated.

Last year also the actor had attended a private event as a chief guest for cancer prevention and the fight against the disease where he felicitated the survivors which also included his mother.

Meanwhile, Kartik Aaryan took the nation by a storm with the recent announcement of his upcoming film Aashiqui 3. The star had taken over the internet and his film announcement was the most talked about thing! Apart from that the actor will also be seen in Freddy, Satyaprem Ki Katha, Shehzada, Captain India and Kabir Khan's untitled next.
New Delhi: Priyanka Chopra has extended her support to Malala Yousufzai in her Instagram feud with Indian-American comedian Hasan Minhaj.

Priyanka took to Instagram to show her followers that she doesn`t follow Hasan back on Instagram. Along with the screenshot, Priyanka wrote a message for Malala - "Same girl same @malala Looks like he prefers petty over funny," and tagged Hasan Minhaj, and Nick Jonas on the story.

Recently, Malala unfollowed Hasan Minhaj on Instagram. This comes as a retaliatory action against Hasan who recently revealed that he doesn`t follow Malala on the application even though she does.

So, what really happened between Malala and Hasan Minhaj?A while ago, Malala took to her Instagram story and shared a reel wherein Hasan can be heard saying, "All right, s**t`s gotten out of hand. On October 4th I made a joke about Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai. I said she follows me on Instagram and I don`t follow her back. Then on October 5th, she retaliated. She puts up an Instagram story that says `Should I unfollow Hasan Minhaj? 39% of her voters said `Who is this man?` 38% of them said `Yes.` Instead of doing a runoff, she unfollowed me on Instagram. I`m sorry Malala. Follow me back. I don`t know if I will follow you, though. I am that petty."

Then Malala wrote a message with the reel - "thanks to everyone who sent me this video because I no longer follow this man."

And, soon after, Priyanka Chopra came in support of Malala and shared a screenshot showing that even she doesn`t follow Hasan back on Instagram!

Priyanka and Malala are considered to be close. Recently, the two met in New York during the UNGA meeting. They even dined together in Priyanka`s restaurant `Sona` later on.

Moving on to Priyanka`s work front, Priyanka will be seen in international projects such as `It`s All Coming Back To Me`, and the series `Citadel`. Produced by Russo Brothers, `Citadel` will hit the OTT on Prime Video. The upcoming sci-fi drama series is being directed by Patrick Morgan and stars Richard Madden alongside Priyanka.

In Bollywood, she will be starring with Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif in Farhan Akhtar`s `Jee Le Zaraa`, which promises to be another tale of friendship following the lineage of `Dil Chahta Hai` and `Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara`, both of which have become cult classics over the years.
PM Kisan Samman Nidhi 12th Installment Date: In good news for hard-working farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to transfer Rs 2000 each to 12 crore farmers before Diwali. Since Diwali is an auspicious occasion, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi's 12th installment will be credited to farmers' accounts on October 17, thus helping them in times of need. PM Modi will transfer around Rs 16,000 crore online to these farmers. So far, eligible farmer families have received benefit of more than Rs. 2 lakh crore under PM-KISAN through 11 instalments. Of this, Rs 1.6 lakh Crore has been transferred during the COVID pandemic period. With the 12th instalment to be released by Prime Minister Modi on 17.10.2022, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries is expected to cross well over Rs 2.16 lakh Crore.

According to a government statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 12th installment of 'PM Kisan Samman Nidhi on October 17, 2022 at 11 am. PM Modi will also address the 'PM Kisan Sammelan 2022' at IARI Pusa in New Delhi's Mela Ground on October 17.

It should be noted that to prevent irregularities and weed out fake beneficiaries from the scheme, the government has mandated e-KYC for all the beneficiaries. If you have still not completed your e-KYC, then you should do it as early as possible by visiting the PM Kisan scheme's website pmkisan.gov.in.

For those who don't know, PM Kisan is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India. It became operational on 1.12.2018. Under the scheme, income support of Rs 6,000 per year is given to all land-holding farmer families in three equal installments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 11th installment of financial benefit under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on May 31. PM Modi transferred an amount of around Rs 21,000 crore to more than 10 crore beneficiary farmer families.

If you want to check your name on the beneficiary list, go to PM Kisan Portal pmkisan.gov.in, then go to the 'Farmer Corner' section, and click on 'Beneficiary List'. Now a page will open where you will get two options -Mobile Number and Registration Number. Enter your Mobile number, then enter the captcha code and click on 'Get Data'. You will get the related data.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 12th Installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana on October 17. The ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare confirmed in a statement. It will benefit more than 10 crore farmers. With the latest release, the total amount transferred to beneficiaries is expected to cross well over Rs 2.16 trillion, the ministry said.

ALSO READ | Explained: What are Digital Banking Units (DBUs) launched by PM Modi?

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme was launched by PM Modi in 2019 to provide the farmers having 2-acres land an income support by giving Rs 6000 per year on a quarterly basis.

As part of the scheme, an amount of Rs 6000 is given to farmers in 4-month installments of Rs 2000 each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. In one year, PM Kisan amount is credited thrice through Period 1 from April-July; Period 2 from August to November; and Period 3 from December to March.

ALSO READ | Govt announces to raise 12% salary of employees of four public Insurance comp

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana: Heres How to Check status on PM Kisan App

Download the PM Kisan Mobile Application from the official website of PM Kisan or click on the link- https://pmkisan.gov.in/. You can also directly go to the Google Play store on your Android device and type PM Kisan App and can download it from there as well. Then click on the Beneficiary Status and provide all the details asked for.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana: How to Check Status on Official website
Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is a fund where contributions are made by both the employer and the employee. The EPFO allows the EPF subscribers to withdraw some part of their provident fund for different purposes that includes illness, construction or addition of house/purchase of site/flat, the marriage of self/son/ daughter/brother/sister, medical expenses, natural calamity or cut in electricity in establishment among others.

Form 19: The Form 19 is to be filled by the subscriber for the final settlement of the EPF account once they leave the job. Even if you join another job but don't want to transfer your old PF account's funds, you can file Form 19 to withdraw funds from the old account.

Pension Withdrawal Benefit (Form 10-C): The pension withdrawal benefit form or Form 10-C should be filled by an employee who has either left the employment before completion of 10 years of service or who has attained the age of 58 years before completion of 10 years of service. A member, who has completed 10 years, of service on the date of leaving the service and has not attained the age of 50 years on the date of filing this application can also apply for PF withdrawal using Form 10-C. An employee who has attained the age of 50 years or more, but less than 58 years and is not willing to reduce their pension can also file a claim through this form. The family/nominee /legal heir of the deceased member who had died after 58 years of age but had not completed 10 years of eligible service can also file this claim form.

Also Read: PM Kisan 12th installment Diwali Bonanza: PM Modi to transfer Rs 2,000 in farmers' accounts on THIS date

PF Part Withdrawal (Form 31): This form is needed for the partial withdrawal of the funds from the PF account. Also known as PF Advance Form, an employee willing to withdraw PF before retirement for purposes including purchase/construction of a home, wedding or education of self/sibling/child, repayment of home loan and medical emergencies. If you are in service and want to withdraw PF, you should apply using Form 31.

Form 10-D: While all EPFO members are automatically enrolled on the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) and get a pension after retirement at the age of 58 years, a member can opt for a reduced pension at a discounted rate of 4% each year after attaining an age of 50 years. Those members who want to opt for a reduced pension, need to fill out the EPF Form 10D.

Also Read: US newspaper Ad against PM Modi: Know who is the mastermind behind malicious WSJ advertisement campaign

All of these forms comes with certain criteria. You should check details before filing your claim. According to the provisional payroll data of EPFO released on 20th September 2022, the EPFO added 18.23 lakh net members in July, 2022. Of the total 18.23 lakh members added during the month, around 10.58 lakh new members have come under the social security cover of EPFO for the first time.
New Delhi: Garena Free Fire releases redeem codes on an everyday basis. The 12-digit redeem code consists of alphabets and numbers. Players can get rewards such as skins for in-game weapons and characters to improve their gaming experience.

ALSO READ | Mother Dairy hikes Milk prices by Rs 2 per litre following Amul

Garena Free fire is banned in India. However, if you are located outside India, you can access the reward codes and redeem them. For that you will be required to visit official Garena Free Fire reward site and log in to your Facebook, Google, and Twitter IDs to access the Free Fire redemption page.

Check out the Garena Free Fire Redeem Codes for October 16, 2022

FF9MJ31CXKRG

FFCO8BS5JW2D

FFAC2YXE6RF2

FFICJGW9NKYT

GCNVA2PDRGRZ

8F3QZKNTLWBZ

SARG886AV5GR

J3ZKQ57Z2P2P

FF7MUY4ME6SC

X99TK56XDJ4X

WEYVGQC3CT8Q

3IBBMSL7AK8G

B3G7A22TWDR7X

4ST1ZTBE2RP9

ALSO READ | PM Modi to inaugurate 75 digital banking units (DBUs) on October 16

How to Redeem Garena Free Fire codes for today, October 16, 2022

Step 1: Go to the official Garena Free Fire redemption portal



Step 2: Log in on the portal with either your Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Google, VK, or Huawei ID.



Step 3: Enter a redeem code in the designated text box.



Step 4: Click on the Ok button to get free rewards in your game account.

(Disclaimer: Garena Free fire is banned in India. Hence we advise people to adhere to government rules)
New Delhi: Culinary diversity is one of India's most important treasures. Each region has its distinctive culinary characteristics and numerous traditional dishes.

Celebrating World Food Day, &TV artists list down their favourite street foods in their hometowns. These include Neha Joshi (Yashoda), Aayudh Bhanushali (Krishna), Anita Pradhan (Malti Devi) from Doosri Maa, Kamna Pathak (Rajesh Singh), Charrul Malik (Rusa) from Happu Ki Ultan Paltan, Aasif Sheikh (Vibhuti Narayan Mishra), Vidisha Srivastava (Anita Bhabi) and Saanand Verma (Anokhe Lal Saxena) from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai.

About Maharashtrian cuisine, Neha Joshi, as Yashoda in &TV's Doosri Maa, shares, Maharashtra's food culture is very diverse. Despite its diversity, Maharashtra cuisine features a strong presence of spices, tamarind, coconut, and kokum. Do not forget to indulge in the various delectable delights in the state. Vada Pav, my favourite Mumbai delicacy, is the most enticing. The shallow-fried vadas with extra green spicy chutney inside are a divine combination with an unusual flavour. Misal Pav is another popular pav preparation that I enjoy. Spicy, tangy lentil curry with pav (bread) is delicious. In Maharashtra, you will find different types of Misal Pav depending on where it's from, such as Nashik Misal, Mumbai Misal, and Puneri Misal, and believe me, I have tried them all. However, my all-time favourite is homemade delicacies like Varan - Bhat with toop (Ghee) and lemon, Puran Poli, ukhadhche modak and chicken rassa, mutton rassa with bhakri and fried fish.

About Madhya Pradeshs street food, Kamna Pathak, as Rajesh in &TV's Happu Ki Ultan Paltan says, Madhya Pradeshs cuisine has a lot of variety. People start their days with tasty poha and jalebi, available in every city. The Khatta Samosa, Moong Bhajiya, and Indori Namkeen are delectable. The food court at Sarafa Market is exceptional. The mildly spiced Churmura should not be missed on your next visit to the city. Sweets are my weakness, and whenever I visit my hometown, I cannot stop myself from gorging on amazing gulab jamuns and Kulfi Faluda.

Talking about Delhis cuisine, Aasif Sheikh, as Vibhuti Narayan Mishra in &TV's Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, shares, Delhi is a melting pot of various cultures that enrich the variety of the gastronomic range in the city. The city has some of the best types of cuisines and iconic places to eat. Delhi is famous for its Parathas, Chaat, Butter Chicken, Kebabs, Chole Bhature, Biryani, Rolls, Nihari, Momos, and a wide variety of traditional sweets. I am a big foodie, and I eat everything I crave whenever I am in Delhi. To start with, Chicken Haleem Biryani with caramelised onions and green chillies is something I never miss. Also, the halwa paratha from Nizamuddin Lane in Delhi is my all-time favourite. It combines sweet and savoury halwa paratha topped with candied fruits (tutti frutti). But your visit to the city will be incomplete if you don't try the chole kulcha, aloo tiki chaat, gol gape, and the variety of parathas they serve. The list is endless. There are so many places that it is difficult to list down everything. I miss Delhi food and make it a point to indulge in an ambrosial meal whenever I visit the city.

About Gujarati cuisine, Aayudh Bhanushali, as Krishna in &TV's Doosri Maa, says, We Gujaratis always welcome people with open arms and a platter of food. Gujarat has a wide range of authentic and delicious foods that satisfy your taste buds. There's the famous Kutchi Dabeli, my favourite due to its filling on the inside. The pav is stuffed with potatoes, fried masala peanuts, and pomegranate seeds, then topped with sev and served with chutney. There's also seva khaman, which my mother and father prepare. It's a dish in which Dhoklas are mashed and seasoned with chat masala and sev, which I occasionally bring to Doosri Maa sets. In addition to thepla, my favourites are khakhra, chura, and khandvi. However, I recommend that people try Gujarati Thali whenever they visit the state because it contains amazing delicacies like Undhiyu, Rotlo, Kadi Khichdi, Aam Ras, and Ghugra with a variety of farsans and chuteny that are only available in Gujarat.

Talking about her favourite foods in Chandigarh, Charrul Malik, as Rusa in &TV's Happu Ki Ultan Paltan, shares, Blending the best of both Punjabs and Haryanas food, Chandigarh has a thriving culinary scene and is famous across the country. Khalsa Dhaba is one of the most popular dhabas in Chandigarh and offers delicious stuffed paranthas, Dal Makhani, Paneer butter masala, chana masala, and matka kulfi. It is a heavenly treat for all food lovers like me. Then there is mashed saag and crisp roti in a perfect blend. It is a must-try. Each bite and the extra butter on your plate define Punjabi Pride and elevate the dish to new heights (laughs).

Talking about Uttar Pradeshs cuisine, Vidisha Srivastava, as Anita Bhabi in &TV's Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, shares, Uttar Pradesh has a wide range of chaat options to choose from while visiting the city. It's the Batti Chokha dish, which is popular worldwide. It is a traditional dish that consists of a round wheat baati and chokha made of mashed potatoes, brinjal, and tomatoes served with chaat masala, green chutney, and desi ghee. The battis are baked in mud ovens, giving them a distinct aroma and flavour. It is my all-time favourite, along with Baati Chokha, Aloo Poori, Khasta kachori, and Banarasi tamatar chaat. I am from Varanasi, and the city has a delectably rich cuisine tradition  from steaming kachoris and jalebis to refreshing lassi and thandais. One dish you only get in Varanasi is Maliyoo garnished with saffron and pistachios at Godowlia market, and it is a must-try! The city has one of the most fantastic places to eat, and I make it a point to visit these places with my friends and family whenever I am here.

Talking about Rajasthani cuisine, Anita Pradhan, as Malti Devi in &TV's Doosri Maa, shares, The Pink City is also known for its mouthwatering cuisine, and people are frequently perplexed by such a diverse menu of dishes. Savouring the dishes in Jaipur is more than just a culinary experience; it is also cultural. Pyaaz kachori from Rawat Mishtan Bhandar is my favourite. You will always be tempted for more after tasting this delectable dish. Also not to be missed is the street food in Jaipur's famous Jawahar Circle or Birla Mandir; the various chaats, such as sev poori, bhel poori, and Dahi puri are the hearts of Jaipur. I want to say "Khao Jee Bhar ke" on this World Food Day.

Talking about Bihari cuisine, Saanand Verma, as Anokhe Lal Saxena in &TV's Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, shares, Whenever I visit Patna, I make sure I have Litti Chokha, which is slow cooked on firewood, giving it an exceptional smokey taste. Dal Pitha is another dish that I cherish when I am in my hometown, Bihar. It looks like a dumpling but is made of rice flour with spiced lentils as the stuffing. Chana Ghughni, Dal Peetha, Khajuria, Kadhi Badi and Sattu Sharbat are also there. Balushahi, Khurma And Laktho, Pantua or Kala Jamun, Tilkut, Laai, Gur Anarsa, Parwal ki Mithai for traditional sweet lovers, Naivedyam, Chandrakala/ Pedakiya to a special type of Kheer named Rasia, Laung-Latika, Khaja and Malpua. One cannot just stop at one! Though I avoid sweet dishes, Kheer Makhana is something I would love to have, and Rabdi with dried fruits also makes for a heavenly combination. Lastly, I enjoy my mother's made Khajuri, Thekua which is very famous in Bihar. Happy World Food Day.

So, if you have not tried these local cuisines across different states yet, you are truly missing something!

Watch Doosri Maa at 8:00 pm, Happu Ki Ultan Paltan at 10:00 pm, and Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai at 10:30 pm, airing every Monday to Friday only on &TV!
SEOUL: In a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ahead of a historic congress of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, Chinese President Xi Jinping said it was more important than ever that Beijing and Pyongyang enhance communication, unity and cooperation, North Korea's state media reported on Sunday. The letter was in response to congratulations Kim sent for the congress, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday. Xi is poised to win a third five-year term as General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party, the most powerful job in the country, at the congress.

Xi expressed willingness to strengthen the relationship between China and North Korea, and "make a great contribution to providing two countries and their people with greater happiness and defending peace and stability in the region and the rest of the world," North Korea state news agency KCNA said.

The reported expression of support comes as North Korea has tested a record number of ballistic missiles and has made preparations to resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017.

North Korea says its latest military activities, which have also included artillery drills and flights by warplanes, are in response to displays of force by South Korea and the United States, which have staged their own military drills to protest the North's tests.

When asked on Friday about the latest North Korean moves and South Korea's reactions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning called on all parties to prevent the situation from escalating and work towards creating the conditions for resuming dialogue.
A Cheektowaga man accused of having hundreds of thousands of images of child pornography on electronic devices has been charged in federal court, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross reported.

Michael P. Daly, 47, was released on conditions after an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. If convicted on a charge of possession of child pornography, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors said State Police executed a search warrant at Daly's home on Oct. 22, 2020, and seized a laptop computer, a flash drive and an iPhone. A forensic search of the devices turned up more than 230,000 images and 95 videos of child pornography, some involving prepubescent minors and violence.

According to the complaint, State Police began an investigation that led to Daly's arrest after receiving a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in June 2019 that an image of child pornography had been uploaded to their network.
As Xi Jinping announced China's mission to unify Taiwan with the mainland under its "one country, two systems" ideology at the 20th Communist Party of China Congress, Taiwan said it will not back down on its sovereignty or compromise on freedom and democracy. Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region is the common responsibility of both sides and meeting on the battlefield is not an option, Taiwan's presidential office said in the statement as quoted by Reuters. Xi Jinping, on Sunday, in his speech spanning over an hour, said that China "will not renounce the use of force" to unify Taiwan with the mainland. He also vowed to advance the modernisation of the country's military to world-class standards to protect national sovereignty, security and developmental interests.

Major reshuffle in China's CCP but Xi likely to stay

Except for Xi, all the top leaders of the party, including the number two leader Premier Li Keqiang, would be replaced or reshuffled during the Congress as the administration headed by 69-year-old Xi is completing a 10-year tenure.

Also Read: China: Xi Jinping defends zero-Covid policy, aggression toward Taiwan and Hong Kong at CCP Congress

However, the Congress is expected to endorse Xi's continuation as he has already been declared a "core leader" of the party on par with its founder Mao Zedong. Xi's continuation in power will formally end the over three-decade practice of its top leaders retiring after completing two-five-year tenures.

In a show of unity, almost all retired former leaders of the party -- including Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao, former president Jiang Zemin and former premier Wen Jiabao along with a host of former leaders -- attended Sunday's opening ceremony at the ornate Great Hall of the People and were seen cheering key aspects of his speech spanning one hour 45 minutes.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday (October 15, 2022) hit back at US President Joe Biden over his "Pakistan one of the most dangerous nations in the world" remarks on the safety of the country's nuclear weapons and called it "factually incorrect and misleading". At an event in Washington recently, Biden had called Pakistan "one of the most dangerous nations in the world" as it has "nuclear weapons without cohesion". Reacting to US President's remarks, Sharif said that over the past decades, Pakistan has proven to be a "most responsible" nuclear state.

"Over the past decades, Pakistan has proven to be a most responsible nuclear state, wherein its nuclear programme is managed through a technically sound and foolproof command and control system," Sharif's Office quoted him as saying.

Pakistan has also consistently demonstrated responsible stewardship of its nuclear-weapons capability, marked by a very strong commitment to global standards, including those of IAEA on non-proliferation, safety, and security, he said.

In an apparent reference to India, the Pakistan prime minister said the real threat to international peace and security is posed by ultra-nationalism, violation of human rights in regions that are struggling against illegal occupation, violation of global norms by some states, repeated nuclear security incidents and arms race among leading nuclear weapon states and introduction of new security constructs that disturb the regional balance.

Sharif said Pakistan and the US have a long history of a friendly and mutually beneficial relationship.

"At a time, when the world is confronted by huge global challenges, it is critically important that genuine and durable efforts are made to recognise the real potential of the Pakistan-US relationship, while avoiding unnecessary comments," he said, adding that it is "our sincere desire to cooperate with the US to promote regional peace and security".

He also took to his official Twitter account and said, "Let me reiterate unequivocally: Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and we are proud that our nuclear assets have the best safeguards as per IAEA requirements. We take these safety measures with the utmost seriousness. Let no one have any doubts."

Let me reiterate unequivocally: Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and we are proud that our nuclear assets have the best safeguards as per IAEA requirements. We take these safety measures with the utmost seriousness. Let no one have any doubts.  Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 15, 2022

'I am surprised': Bilawal Bhutto on Joe Biden's 'Pakistan one of most dangerous nations' remarks

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also reacted to Joe Biden's "Pakistan one of most dangerous nations" remarks and said that he is "surprised". At a press conference, he said that Pakistan was following global standards.

"As far as the safety and security of Pakistan's nuclear assets are concerned, we meet all, each and every international standard in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," he said.

               

          @BBhuttoZardari

2/6



pic.twitter.com/JfLXb3o4vM  PPP (@MediaCellPPP) October 15, 2022

Bilawal said he discussed the issue of Biden's statement with Prime Minister Sharif and "we have summoned the Ambassador of the United States to Pakistan Donald Blome to the Foreign Office of Pakistan for an official demarche".

"I am surprised by the remarks of President Biden. I believe this is exactly the sort of misunderstanding that is created when there is a lack of engagement," Bilawal said.

Imran Khan slams US over Joe Biden's 'Pakistan one of most dangerous nations' remarks

Meanwhile, former prime minister Imran Khan, who blamed the US for his ouster, blasted Washington and held the Shehbaz Sharif government responsible for Joe Biden's controversial statement.

"I have 2 Qs on this: 1. On what info has @POTUS reached this unwarranted conclusion on our nuclear capability when, having been PM, I know we have one of the most secure nuclear command & control systems. 2. Unlike the US which has been involved in wars across the world, when has Pakistan shown aggression esp post-nuclearisation?," he said in a tweet.

"Equally imp, this Biden statement shows total failure of the Imported govt's foreign policy & its claims of 'reset of relations with US'? Is this the 'reset'? This govt has broken all records for incompetence," he added.

He also said that the new government would not only destroy the economy but also compromise the security of the country.

I have 2 Qs on this: 1. On what info has @POTUS reached this unwarranted conclusion on our nuclear capability when, having been PM, I know we have one of the most secure nuclear command & control systems? 2. Unlike the US which has been involved in wars https://t.co/nkIrlekBxQ October 15, 2022

My greatest worry is that apart from leading us to economic ruin &, with NRO2 for themselves, giving a license to white collar criminals to plunder the country, this govt will also end up completely compromising our national security.  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 15, 2022

(With agency inputs)
Amherst will pay $2.4 million to settle a lengthy billing dispute with the consultant hired to manage a flawed town program that tried to convert sewer sludge into market-ready fertilizer.

Micro-Link LLC had argued that the town owed the company hundreds of thousands of dollars, dating to 2006.

Town officials had refused to pay and, in fact, took Micro-Link to court after a state audit concluded the town had overpaid the company.

The litigation played out over the past 16 years, with both sides running up legal fees. After a jury decided in Micro-Link's favor in the summer, the company and town officials hashed out the deal.

"Everybody felt this was a fair resolution of the matter," Town Attorney Stan Sliwa said.

The lawsuit stemmed from Amherst's ambitious effort, started in 1996, to turn sewage into fertilizer pellets. Instead of landfilling this waste, the thinking went, the town would convert it to fertilizer and sell it to private companies  providing an environmental and financial payoff.

However, the program at the town's sewer treatment plant was hampered from the beginning by technical problems and never met initial expectations. It spurred a rash of legal claims spanning the terms of four town supervisors and forced Amherst to spend millions of dollars on settlements, lawyers' fees and related costs.

Now, the Micro-Link agreement wraps up the last remaining litigation over the town's troubled experiment.

"He believes justice finally was served in his case," said R. Anthony Rupp, the attorney for Micro-Link and company officer Thomas B. Watkins.

Federal and state governments long had encouraged communities to try greener methods for treating wastewater. After weighing its options, Amherst in the 1990s embraced the idea of taking sewer sludge, drying it and converting it into pellets to be sold regionally and nationally.

The town hoped to save money on waste disposal, which then cost $1.5 million annually.

The town spent about $8 million, most covered by borrowing, to upgrade equipment and install new machinery, but problems arose from the beginning.

"Some of them were mechanical. Some of them were design. Some of them were personnel," said Town Engineer Jeff Burroughs, who was working for the town at the time. "So there was a lot of ... controversy when the project started and the first few years of the project."

By late 1999, town officials sought outside help to oversee operations at the sewage treatment plant.

Town Board members in January 2000 voted 4-3 to hire Elma-based Micro-Link, run by Watkins, on a six-year performance contract, with proponents arguing Micro-Link would be paid only if the town saved money. Micro-Link received 25% of the value of that savings.

Councilman Dan Ward issued a warning that night. "This is going to be a colossal rip-off, and we're going to get nothing for it," he said.

Watkins and Micro-Link did not replace any town workers, but were expected to find ways to better run the plant. The hiring soon became mired in a political fight as the plant's unionized workers, and supporters, including Ward, feared an effort to privatize operations there.

By 2001, town spending on landfill disposal fell for the first time since pellet production began four years earlier, the state Comptroller's Office calculated.

By 2005, when Amherst began using a new pellet bagging facility, the town produced 2,400 tons of pellets each year.

But the town struggled to sell the pellets, which became known for their pungent smell. Instead of earning $150,000 per year selling the pellets, the town between 1997 and 2004 earned just $103,000 total, an audit found. At times, the town ended up giving the pellets away.

By 2004, The Buffalo News estimated the town had spent $16 million on the pellet project.

Burroughs, the town engineer, said the program did lower landfill costs. But, he added, the idea that the town would profit from selling its sludge wasn't realistic.

"The problem was, you know, wastewater treatment plant sludge pellets are a niche product. The market's not huge," he said.

Because of the way the Micro-Link contract was structured, the company continued to receive performance payments: $959,000 by August 2005.

Criticism of the contract grew following the release of the state audit requested by the town.

"The contract is severely weighted in favor of Micro-Link," the auditors concluded.

The state also raised doubts about the viability of the pellet program itself. It urged the town to stop selling the pellets because foul odors, the risk of fire from spontaneous combustion and other concerns could lead to an expensive lawsuit.

"It was a fiasco," Ward said this week.

The audit recommended letting the Micro-Link contract lapse upon its expiration in 2006. Auditors estimated the company was entitled to $341,510, but the town had overpaid $617,290.

Micro-Link disagreed and went to court to get $516,647 that, as of February 2007, it said it was owed after the town stopped paying the company's claims. Amherst later filed a counterclaim.

Procedural questions played out in trial and appellate courts over several years, but there was no interest on Micro-Link's part to settle the case, said E. Thomas Jones, then the Amherst town attorney.

Micro-Link was one of a half-dozen lawsuits involving the pelletizer program, including suits filed by fired employees or suits against equipment vendors.

Finally, in July, a jury found that Micro-Link and Watkins were entitled to $504,782 from Amherst.

The town also potentially owed another $1.5 million or so in interest and significantly more than that in attorneys' fees.

Settlement talks encouraged by State Supreme Court Justice Timothy J. Walker led to the deal reached in recent weeks. Rupp, Micro-Link's lawyer, praised the engagement of Supervisor Brian J. Kulpa in the talks.

"It was like a breath of fresh air that they wanted to resolve this," Rupp said.

The mood in court was jovial on Aug. 30 as representatives of both sides told the judge they were satisfied with the agreement, according to a transcript.

The Amherst Town Board on Oct. 3 voted to borrow $2.4 million to cover the settlement, which awaits the formality of court approval.

Sliwa said the town's position was hamstrung by the language in the original Micro-Link contract and that a lengthy town appeal of the jury verdict didn't make financial sense.

The town agreed to settle to, as Sliwa put it, "stop the bleeding."

As for the pellets, the town dismantled the system and sold the equipment for scrap about a decade ago, Burroughs said.

The town now dewaters its sludge and then trucks the cake away, a portion to Modern Disposal's landfill and a smaller portion to the Buffalo Sewer Authority's incinerator.

What's the legacy of the pellet project?

"I think that the government tries to do new things, especially in the environmental area, and it doesn't always work out," Jones said. "And they end up paying for it."
That we have a problem with our politics in this country is beyond dispute. You need only watch the hearings of the congressional Jan. 6 committee to a nation at risk of slipping off its democratic moorings.

But the dysfunction is showing up even in local politics, most recently  and disturbingly  in the Erie County Clerks race, of all places. The campaign for a largely administrative post has drawn criminal charges against a Buffalo man accused of throwing a dummy pipe bomb into the home of Democratic candidate Melissa Hartman, the supervisor of the Town of Eden.

The phony explosive, thrown at 3 a.m. on March 28, included messages that threatened Hartman if she didnt drop out of the clerks race.

Eden Police Chief Gregory Savage said Adam A. Jones, 40, claimed someone paid him to take part in this incident and others along Hillbrook Drive. Jones has been charged with felony criminal mischief for two incidents on March 6 and Aug. 15  that one targeting a home that was struck five times  and for throwing the fake pipe bomb at Hartmans home. Four other incidents remain under investigation.

These episodes are complicated by neighbor issues involving another individual, so its hard at this point to know exactly where personal animus gives way to threats of political violence. What is beyond dispute, though, is that such threats are becoming more common, if not normalized, across the country.

Its not just the Jan. 6 , 2021, insurrection that was instigated by then-President Donald Trump, as evidence has made abundantly clear. In that riot, the lives of many elected officials, including Mike Pence, then the vice president, were put in jeopardy, all so that Trump could illegally remain in office. The lives of members of the Jan. 6 committee have been threatened.

In March 2020 protesters  some of them armed  illegally entered the Michigan capitol in Lansing, protesting pandemic restrictions. In October of the same year, 14 anti-government extremists were arrested on charges of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and to use explosives in the attempt.

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin was attacked when a man with a pointed weapon climbed on an outdoor stage near Rochester in July. The man was disarmed and Zeldin was unhurt.

Threats of civil war have spiked online since the FBI search at Trumps home in Mar-a-Lago, where the former president had been inappropriately  and possibly illegally  stashing government documents, including some marked as top secret.

Its not the only way that political dysfunction is finding its way into public life in Erie County. In what was meant to be a private Facebook posting, a candidate for the Hamburg School Board advocated chaos, calling for supporters to create massive upheaval in the district. Thats not political violence, of course, but its a precursor.

Its impossible to know, at this point, if the attack on Hartmans home is an outgrowth of these kinds of events, but its also impossible to discount the possibility, if not the likelihood. In any case, someone wanted the candidate to believe her electoral ambitions were putting her safety and perhaps her life at risk, along with her familys.

Democracies cant function without elections in which losers accept the decision of voters and in which good people can feel they are safe in seeking public office. But its hard to see how this genie be put back in its bottle unless more politicians step up to denounce it. This malfunctioning of democracy is today showing up more in the Republican Party than anywhere else and too many of its leaders continue to support, or at least tolerate, Trump and his treacherous manipulations.

For example, an analysis by The Washington Post found that election deniers  candidates who echo Trumps lies about a stolen election  will be on the ballot in 48 of 50 states and account for more than half of all Republicans running for congressional and state offices this year. Among them are Zeldin, the gubernatorial candidate, and Rep. Claudia Tenney, running in the newly redrawn 24th Congressional District, which includes part of Niagara County. Fivethirtyeight.com, meanwhile, found that 60% of Americans will have at least one election-denier on their November ballot.

By spreading dangerous lies, those people incentivize violence that can lead to homes such as Melissa Hartmans.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
TORONTO, October 16, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Bay is pleased to announce that Emefa Kuadey, designer and founder of israella KOBLA, has been selected as the recipient The Bays Fashion Fund, an initiative built to mentor and support emerging BIPOC designers in Canada. Kuadey has been awarded a $25,000 grant coupled with a three-year mentorship program designed to tackle some obstacles new designers face when entering the competitive retail landscape.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221014005603/en/

Emefa Kuadey, designer and founder of isarella KOBLA. Image Credit: Sofia Guevara

Kuadey, British born of Ghanaian descent began her career as a civil engineer. In 2017 Kuadey left the engineering field to pursue her passion for design, enrolling at George Brown College. In 2019 she was invited to showcase her work at Vancouver Fashion Week. Following the success of VFW, Emefa released isarella KOBLAs debut collection, Freed from Captivity, that same year.

Inspiration for the Toronto-based brand comes from a juxtaposition of the designers interests - fashion and engineering. Each collection is designed to transcend time, re-imagining minimalism with focus placed on innovative construction and quality finishing.

Said Emefa, "As a designer of African descent, it has been important for me to redefine what an Africa-owned brand looks like and what clothing produced on the continent can be like in terms of quality and style. I currently produce israella KOBLA in Toronto, and I have a goal of opening a secondary production facility in Ghana. My vision is to evoke the same feeling that "Made in Italy" brings to people, with "Made in Ghana" contemporary fashion."

"There is so much creativity and ingenuity amongst the fashion talent in Canada, said Tyler Franch, VP and Fashion Director, The Bay. "It is incredibly important to create equity in the industry and nurture this talent. Canadian fashion is inspired, diverse and world-class, and we need to celebrate that."

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The review and selection process was led by the Fashion Funds advisory council, consisting of some of the countrys leading industry and societal change-makers.

ABOUT THE BAY

Through a digital-first, purpose-driven lens, The Bay helps Canadians live their best style of life. The Bay operates thebay.com featuring Marketplace, one of the largest premium life & style digital platforms in Canada, with a seamless connection to a network of 84 Hudson's Bay stores. The Bay has established a reputation for quality and style through an unrivalled assortment of products and categories including fashion, home, beauty, food concepts and more. Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

The Bay and Hudsons Bay operate under the HBC brand portfolio. Founded in 1670, HBC is North Americas oldest company. The signature stripes are a registered trademark of HBC.

ABOUT CAFA

CAFA was created to support and celebrate the Canadian Fashion industry. Through the recognition and promotion of outstanding achievement and emerging talent in Canadian fashion, CAFA is dedicated to generating a stronger appreciation and market for our artists both in Canada and abroad and to support the economic development of the Canadian fashion industry. CAFA is committed to further developing and cultivating our homegrown talent by creating mentorship and financial opportunities as well as establishing collaborative partnerships that strive to unite the fashion community and the various, existing, fashion initiatives around the country. Additional information can be found at www.cafawards.ca

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221014005603/en/

Contacts

Media:

Tiffany Bourre

DVP, Communications and PR

The Bay

tiffany.bourre@thebay.com

Suzanne Cohon

Principal

ASC Public Relations, Inc.

647-477-5909

suzanne@asc-to.com
Ghislaine Maxwell (US Department of Justice/PA) (PA Media)

Ghislaine Maxwell has said she feels bad for Prince Andrew as she broke her silence from behind bars.

Earlier this year, the 60-year-old socialite was sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping the late financier Jeffrey Epstein in his sex trafficking scheme.

She is serving her time at Floridas low-security FCI Tallahassee prison.

Giving her first interview since her arrest in June 2020, she spoke about Andrew, disgraced paedophile Epstein and Virginia Giuffre.

On the Duke of York, she told The Sun on Sunday: I feel so bad for him. I follow what is happening to him.

When she was reportedly told that Andrews legal team claimed they were not close friends, she added: I accept that this friendship could not survive my conviction. He is paying such a price for the association.

I consider him a dear friend. I care about him.

The explosive piece is based on two interviews - one conducted behind bars in Florida and the other in June at New Yorks notorious Metropolitan Detention Centre.

Maxwell also spoke of her regrets about her connection with Epstein and said if she could go back, she would make different choices.

In another claim, Maxwell said the infamous photo of Andrew, Ms Giuffre and herself at her Belgravia townhouse in London, is not real.

The controversial picture is said to have been snapped at Maxwells home in March 2001 when Ms Giuffre was 17.

Ms Giufrre alleged she was trafficked to the UK for sex with Andrew - something he has always strongly denied.

Maxwell said: The photo is not real. There was never an original one produced. I dont even want to talk about Virginia.

She further claimed there were over 50 problems with the picture that led her to conclude the image was not real.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Ms Giuffre had lost the original photo.

Andrew told Emily Maitlis during a Newsnight interview in 2019: From the investigations that weve done, you cant prove whether or not that photograph is faked or not because it is a photograph of a photograph.

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Nobody can prove whether or not that photograph has been doctored, but I dont recollect that photograph ever being taken.

Andrew settled a civil suit claim brought by Ms Giuffre earlier this year but has always denied any wrongdoing.

A statement released at the time read: Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew have reached an out of court settlement.

The parties will file a stipulated dismissal upon Ms Giuffres receipt of the settlement (the sum of which is not being disclosed). Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms Giuffres charity in support of victims rights.

Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms. Giuffres character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.

It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years.

Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others.

He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.

The full interview will be broadcast on ITV, CBS News and Paramount Plus at 6.30pm on 17 October
LAKE IVANHOE  The excitement and awe remain 57 years after Peter Baker arrived here with his best friends grandfather.

This 46-acre lake east of Lake Geneva is where Baker has chased bluegill, bass and northern pike, watched ducks and geese float in its waters and kingfishers dive for prey.

There were summer swims, winter toboggan runs and family picnics.

And for a 10-year-old African American boy from Chicagos South Side, this housing development off of Highway 50 in Walworth County was a slice of heaven that Baker had no idea existed prior to his arrival here in 1965.

I came into an environment that was completely different from where I was growing up, even though I lived in a real nice neighborhood, in a very big house and had a big back yard, Baker recalled Thursday as we stood on Lake Ivanhoes shore. I didnt have this room to move. There were houses everywhere I walked (in Chicago). And, up here, there were woods to walk in.

But it wasnt just the natural environment that made this place special. This community in the mid-1960s consisted of about 30 homes, most owned by African Americans who were looking for lake-life-living within a short drive of their Chicago area homes. And now this communitys history, which began in 1926 as the states first Black-owned resort property, is being highlighted thanks to the efforts of Baker and others who have been advocating for years for a historical marker from the Wisconsin Historical Society.

On Saturday, the brown, metal marker on a single steel pole was erected just outside the clubhouse of the Lake Ivanhoe Property Owners Association and is helping to tell the story of this unique piece of Wisconsin history that occurred in the shadow of the more opulent, larger and whiter resorts and homes that surround nearby lakes Delavan, Geneva and Como.

It was definitely a hidden gem, said Baker, a retired machinist. I really feel proud of this and the recognition and look forward to it being remembered for what it was and how wonderful of a place it was.

The program

The marker is the 599th in the states historical marker program, created in 1943, which is making an effort to better recognize the history of Black residents, Native Americans and other underrepresented communities. On Monday, the 600th will be erected in State Fair Park in West Allis. It will tell the story of the Tee Sisikeja Mound Group located in what is now the DNR Woodland Preserve within the park.

At one time there were four mounds on the site, but only one remains. The mound group was first recognized by the Wisconsin Archaeological Society, which placed a stone marker in 1910. A larger, more informative sign was erected in 2006 as part of the Sacred Sites Run, a national recognition program for sacred sites.

Both the Lake Ivanhoe and State Fair Park markers are part of a three-year program from the Wisconsin Historical Society in which it will work with communities to craft a more dynamic and accessible marker program that better reflects Wisconsins rich and diverse history. The effort, designed to install 10 to 12 markers a year, is being supported with a $75,190 grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

These funds make it possible to prioritize co-curation with members of the community, identify and create new markers and remove and replace markers that contain inaccurate or outdated language, according to the historical society.

Lake Ivanhoe

Wisconsin is home to thousands of lakes, but none have the history of Lake Ivanhoe.

According to a 1972 thesis by Samuel L. Gonzales, a student at UW-Whitewater, the land around the lake was first developed as a resort by affluent Black residents from Chicago after World War I. The city was in a housing crisis caused by the lack of new construction during the war, the migration of poor Black people from the rural South and racist property owners associations, restrictive covenants and violence. Besides housing, Black residents also competed for beaches, parks and playground facilities, which intensified racial hatreds and erupted in the Chicago race riot of 1919 in which 38 people were killed and 537 injured, Gonzales wrote.

Jeremiah Brumfield, Bradford Watson and Frank Anglin (a trio of prominent African Americans in Chicago) began seeking recreational areas to which they could take their families during the summer months in order to avoid the hostility in Chicago, Gonzales wrote. They visited numerous white resort areas in Michigan and in Wisconsin but found prejudice and discrimination as much a part of the communities there as it was a part of Chicago.

Thats when the trio purchased 43 acres of land on Lake Ryan in Walworth County in 1926, began selling narrow lots and renamed the lake as Ivanhoe. When a pavilion opened in 1927, noted jazz musician Cab Calloway performed. But when the Great Depression hit in October 1929, the unsold lake lots went to a sheriffs sale. There were attempts by new white owners to make the property a white resort, but a 1934 court case struck down those efforts and Black people continued to buy property and build homes on the site, which also included Franklins Lodge, with a bar, restaurant, dance floor, jukebox and pool tables.

No longer a resort, the development now has about 60 homes, but only nine are occupied by African American families. Its streets, however, reflect African American history. They include Phyllis Wheatly Drive, in honor of the enslaved poet; Banneker Drive, for Benjamin Banneker, an African American naturalist, mathematician and astronomer; and Crispus Attucks Drive, named after a man of African and Native American descent who had escaped slavery and is known as the first American colonist killed in the American Revolution.

Janet Alexander Jones, 79, visited Lake Ivanhoe last week for the first time in decades. She spent part of her summers as a child here fishing, swimming and hanging out with friends and neighbors. She was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois, where she continues to live and is a licensed real estate broker. Her family never owned property here but always rented a cabin.

I came to camp, play and let mosquitoes bite me, Alexander Jones said with a chuckle. Things like this are all over the U.S., but because they werent written about, or written and then destroyed, you dont know about them.

Baker has a unique perspective as one of the more tenured residents in the community. He moved here with his mother when he was in eighth grade and attended school in Lake Geneva, where he was one of only a few African Americans in the district. His mother initially taught at a private elementary school in Burlington before landing a job teaching in Lake Geneva.

After high school, Baker worked in Burlington and Kenosha but also built and sold homes in Lake Ivanhoe, including his current home on Crispus Attucks Drive, which he constructed in 2007 and has views of the lake through a stand of trees. He remembers his first trip to the lake in 1967 like it was yesterday and is thankful for his friends grandfather who opened a life-altering world for him.

We caught a bunch of bluegills. I kind of think I was labeled The Fisherman that day, said Baker, who now fishes all over the state. I went home (back to Chicago), told my parents about the community, and the next week they came up and bought a home. Im just glad things went the way they went.
Purchases approved

The Platte County Board of Supervisors approved a number of purchases at its regular meeting Oct. 11.

Supervisors OKd the $1,287 purchase of a new computer for the Platte County Diversion Program and Juvenile Services. Teri Schuller of juvenile services said that although the current computer works fine, they learned from IT its outdated and is at the point where it can no longer be updated.

Additionally, the board approved emergency medical dispatch software as well as an interface license from Central Square, which is a case management system, for the Columbus-Platte County Joint Communications Center (JCC). It was a cost of $51,502.31.

According to JCC Communications Director Rachel Pensick, the emergency medical dispatch software will give dispatchers instructions to give to patients prior to the arrival of on scene help. This can include administering CPR and how to help someone who is choking.

The Platte County Sheriffs Office also had some of its software renewal approved at a total cost of $18,525.25. Sheriff Ed Wemhoff said $7,531.65 of the cost would come out of sheriffs department budget and $10,993.50 would come out of the detention budget.

Furthermore, the board OKd renewing a three year contract with Maximus, which helps calculate the cost of having a child support office in the Platte County Courthouse. As noted during the meeting, its a complicated process to figure out the cost and the county will receive a reimbursement for having the office in the courthouse.

The cost is $5,200 per year  a total of $15,600 for three years.

Great Western Bank property tabled

The board tabled action on occupants of the former Great Western Bank property, which is located behind the courthouse.

Board Chairman and District 2 Supervisor Jerry Micek said supervisors received responses from county department heads about the possibility of some offices moving to that building but the board wasnt ready to fully discuss the matter further.

District 7 Supervisor Kim Kwapnioski said there were other agencies the county is affiliated with that she believed should also be part of those discussions.

Micek said those agencies would be involved to a point but would not make final decisions for the county board.

That's going to be our decision on who goes into that building. And what's best for taxpayers in Platte County and what's best for the citizens that live with Platte County, Micek said.

In other county property news, the board is also looking at updates to the courthouse and the detention center.

Micek noted these final costs could end up being quite expensive, and it was noted that the American Rescue Plan Act committee is taking that into consideration in its talks on how to spend the countys ARPA money.

Highway department update

Supervisors heard an update from the Platte County Highway Department.

Notably, data will be provided at a later meeting regarding traffic on 280th Avenue and speed studies will be completed. The road was striped differently due to the traffic in that area. There will also be sign changes, if the board approves it at a later date.

A second round of bridge inspections is being completed, as are culvert replacements.

In similar news, Brian Soulliere will be the new acting highway superintendent, to be made official on Oct. 25.
Press Release

October 15, 2022 Villar cites the need for partnership to curb the earth's problems Saying that we occupy the same 'suffering' planet due to a climate emergency, Sen. Cynthia Villar said "we should learn to live in partnership to solve our biggest problems together. In her speech during the Coca-Cola "World Without Waste" event, Villar noted that the globe is in the middle of a climate emergency. "Because of this, every individual is bound not only to reduce his or her own footprint, but also find strategic interventions to drastically redeem what would have been valuable materials from the waste stream," said Villar. "Cradle to grave management of products is no longer sufficient. Responsibility must begin at product conceptualization, before it even sees production," also said the senator during the occasion with the theme, "The Role of Partnerships in Driving a Circular Economy." While we are aware that thriving corporations have already adopted the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework as their ethical responsibility, that senator reemphasized it is about time that we turn this ethical responsibility into a legal one. "The law introduces a better policy than simply expecting all our citizens to segregate and manage their wastes, and let the local governments in our scattered settlements and islands deal with the massive problems brought about by the lack of legal responsibility among the top producers of plastic wastes," said Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources. She said EPR requires manufacturers to reach collection targets. Hopefully, the senator added, "what is collected will no longer find their way back to the environment as unmanaged waste." The EPR Law places responsibility for products squarely on the shoulders of the manufacturer from cradle to grave. The senator also commended Coca-Cola company for not only looking at collection compliance, but also developing ways to incorporate recycled materials in their packaging. According to Villar, large enterprises should be able to recover and recycle a minimum of 20% of all packaging waste distributed for the year before the end of 2023. This target rises to 40% on the second year, 50% on the third year, and so on until 80% by 2028. "It is actually my hope that your considerable resources will allow your industries to fast track research and development, reach and breach these targets and go beyond mere compliance," added the senator, a known environmentalist. When these very realistic targets are met or exceeded, she said EPR expenses will be deducted from taxable annual income. Villar, kinilala ang kahalagahan ng partnership para maresolba ang mga suliranin ng mundo Dahil nakatira tayo sa iisang 'suffering planet' sanhi ng climate emergency, sinabi ni Sen. Cynthia Villar na kailangan nating mabuhay sa partnership upang masolusyunan ang malalaking suliranin ng mundo. Sa kanyang pananalita sa Coca-Cola "World Without Waste" event, iginiit ni Villar na ang mundo ay nasa gitna ng climate emergency. "Because of this, she said every individual is bound not only to reduce his or her own footprint, but also find strategic interventions to drastically redeem what would have been valuable materials from the waste stream," sabi ni Villar. "Cradle to grave management of products is no longer sufficient. Responsibility must begin at product conceptualization, before it even sees production," sabi pa ng senador sa naturang okasyon na may temang "The Role of Partnerships in Driving a Circular Economy." Bagama't batid natin na ipinatutupad na ng mga korporasyon ang Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework na kanilang ethical responsibility, binigyan diin ng senador na panahon na para gawin nating legal ang ethical responsibility. "The law introduces a better policy than simply expecting all our citizens to segregate and manage their wastes, and let the local governments in our scattered settlements and islands deal with the massive problems brought about by the lack of legal responsibility among the top producers of plastic wastes," ayon kay Villar, chairperson ng Senate committee on environment and natural resources. Itinatakda rin sa EPR na kailangang maabot ng manufacturers ang 'collection targets.' Umaasa ang senador na hindi na babalik sa kapaligiran ang mga nakolektangn basura. Pinuri rin ng senador ang Coca-Cola company dahil hindi lamang 'collection compliance' ang tinututukan nila kundi pati ang paggamit ng recycled materials sa kanyang packaging. Binanggit din ni Villar na dapat ma-recycle ng malalaking enterprises ang di bababa sa 20% ng lahat ng packaging waste na ipinamahagi bago matapos ang 2023. Tataas ang target na ito sa 40% sa pangalawang taon, 50% sa pangatlong taon hanggang sa umabot sa 80% sa 2028.
McDonalds Starts Accepting Bitcoin and Tether in Lugano, Switzerland

Source: AdobeStock / gargantiopa

Plan  Foundation, a joint initiative between the Swiss City of Lugano and USDT stablecoin issuer Tether, announced a collaboration with payment facilitator GoCrypto to officially bring Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), and LVGA payments to Lugano  enabling citizens to use their wallets at McDonald's and other merchants.

Per a press release shared with Cryptonews.com, as of Tuesday,

GoCrypto payments will be available at nearly a dozen merchants throughout the city, including McDonalds, art galleries, and more.

Users can utilize their wallets at these places to pay with the Bitcoin Lightning Network, USDT, and local payment token LVGA, while the city will work to bring in more businesses over the next 25 days, said the announcement.

By the end of 2023, the Plan  Foundation aims to enable more than 2,500 merchants to accept these three currencies.

In the meantime, they expect to service over 2,000 customers at the upcoming Plan  Forum, a bitcoin conference that will be held on October 28-29 in Lugano.

A short video was shared on Twitter, showing a person ordering food on a McDonalds digital kiosk and paying for the order in BTC at the register with a mobile app.

Paolo Ardoino, Tethers Chief Technology Officer (CTO), was quoted in the latest announcement as saying that Lugano and Tether signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this year to launch a strategic collaboration through several initiatives. This includes helping local businesses to integrate their existing payment services with the permitted stablecoins and Bitcoin.

Ardoino stated that,

We have been working together to ensure the technological infrastructure is in place to support this and today we watch all of that hard work come to fruition.

Back in March, as reported, Ardoino said during an event hosted by Lugano city officials that Bitcoin and Tether would become de facto legal tender in the southern Swiss city as it partners with Tether to become the Bitcoin Capital of Europe.

Some of the products and services highlighted at the time, which citizens would be able to pay for with crypto, include all public services, personal and corporate municipal taxes, ID and passport issuance fees, naturalization fees, tuition fees at public schools, and rent for event spaces.

USDT and LVGA would be used on the Polygon (MATIC) blockchain, while the Lightning Network is expected to play a key role in Bitcoin adoption, the CTO added.

Additionally, two funds have been set up: an investment pool for crypto startups and a fund to encourage adoption among businesses in the city.

Plan s goal is to scale Bitcoin and stablecoin adoption throughout Lugano and accelerate the use of and leverage Bitcoin technology as the foundation to transform the citys financial infrastructure, said the latest announcement, adding:

From small transactions with local merchants to larger efforts  such as paying annual taxes  blockchain will serve as the foundation for the citys financial exchanges.

Meanwhile, Tether revealed new details about its holdings of reserve assets on Monday. Ardoino said in a tweet that 58.1% of the assets backing up the popular USDT stablecoin are now US Treasuries, also known as t-bills.

____

Learn more:

- Tether & Bitfinex Enter New Project

- Argentineans Rush to Tether After Economy Minister Resigns



- NearPay Launches Virtual Crypto Cards, Wallet for iOS and Android; Physical Cards to be Launched 'Soon'

- Crypto.com Users Can Shop in 175 OTR Stores



- Circle Denies USDC Trouble Rumors, Tether Supply Still Elevated on Curve

- USD Coin to Overtake Rival Stablecoin Tether in Coming Years - Survey
Construction is underway to install a skate spot in Carlisle that will make up a part of the Fairground Avenue Linear Park.

Andrea Crouse, the boroughs director of Parks and Recreation, said work began on the spot Sept. 26.

The skate spot will be located on Lot A of the Fairground Linear Park on the southern end of the Masland/IAC site adjacent to the railroad tracks. It will feature bowl and street skating facilities.

The other portion of the park will be constructed on Lot D along Fairground Avenue between B and C streets. Lot D will consist of a more traditional park setting with features such as swing benches, hammock stations and an accessible playground.

Crouse said construction has not begun on Lot D, but instead has concentrated on the skate spot on Lot A.

[With] Lot D they might be doing some work this fall yet, it just depends on the schedule of things and weather, she said.

The general contractor for the project is Landserv Inc., which is based in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Crouse said theres also a subcontractor, Arment Concrete out of Denver, Pennsylvania, working on the skate spot.

The entire Fairground Avenue Linear Park will be completed by June 30, she said.

Both lots are being constructed on the former Masland/IAC site. Crouse told the Sentinel in August the land was owned by Carlisle Auto Industries Inc. and donated to the Carlisle Borough.

The Carlisle Borough Council approved the final plans for the park in February and authorized a notice of intent to award a $745,814 construction contract for the park to LandServ with the borough solicitors approval in August.

Crouse said the park is receiving funds from a matching grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of up to $300,000. Additional funds will come from sources such as a Cumberland County Land Partnerships Grant, Rec Fee fund transfer and Community Bock Development funding, as well as other grants, she said.
From the flooding that devastates communities in Southwest Virginias mountain valleys to rain-related street inundation in Hampton Roads and Alexandria, Virginia is slowly and quietly losing its battle with the effects of increased flooding.

Some of the states localities are flying the flags of surrender by failing to protect environmentally sensitive areas such as floodplains from large development projects, allowing developers to put profit over river protection.

One case in point is a large development slated for the floodplain of the Rivanna River, which flows between Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Developer Wendell Wood plans to cut down acres of trees, throw up a 15-to-18-foot wall and build a large parking lot and three four-story structures with 245 apartments.

Woods by-right development could pollute the Rivanna just about every time it rains heavily. A 320-car lot is planned next to Meade Creek by the wall and not far from the river.

The developers chief engineer, Justin Shimp, says the floodplain hasnt seen a 100-year flood since Hurricane Camille blew through the area in 1969, killing at least 150 people in nearby Nelson County, but longtime residens along the Rivanna say water fills the floodplain with increasing frequency in recent years.

Residents say the Rivanna floodplain fills after particularly heavy rainfalls every several years and point to washouts and rebuilt sections of the Rivanna River Trail, the popular walking trail that must be repaved when sections flood and disappear.

Bev Catlin, a resident of Riverside Avenue since 1979, has seen half a dozen floods since then. Hurricane Fran in September of 1996 dumped 16 inches of rain in Shenandoah National Park, put a foot of water in her basement and two feet in a house across the street.

Alexandria experiences so much flooding that a sudden rainstorm two months ago produced enough flooded streets and homes to have newspapers remind residents that about 20 percent of that city is mapped as a floodplain, susceptible to flooding from low-lying streams, sudden thunderstorms and the proximity to the tidal Potomac River.

Building in floodplains is more and more controversial as global warming increases the number and severity of flooding storms. In the weeks before Alexandrias Aug. 10 flooding, St. Louis, eastern Kentucky and Death Valley each were hit with 1,000-year storms.

A 100-year floodplain is the area that has a 1% chance of being flooded in any given year. Put another way, it has a 26% chance of being flooded over the life of a 30-year mortgage. Smaller floods have a greater chance of occurring in any year and can create a significant flood hazard to people and property.

Increased flooding creates new risks and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities in communities across Virginia, according to the most recent National Climate Assessment tracking of trends for storms to be more severe. Communities in Southwest Virginia even outside floodplains are suffering substantial losses.

Severe flooding has impacted the Rivanna River at Charlottesville for centuries, including back during the time when the site of the proposed apartment complex was a circus grounds that periodically hosted elephants, lions and tigers. A Daily Progress story shows that in October, 1959, dozens of carnies were left homeless when a sudden storm washed their trailers from the old circus grounds into the Rivanna.

Former Charlottesville Mayor Kay Slaughter has a great solution. For the past 20 years, she had urged Charlottesville City Council to justly compensate all the owners of the lands adjacent to the river and make those lands a park.

Slaughter was one of the early advocates of the paved Rivanna River Trail that attracts thousands of area residents to walk, run and bike along the river with kids and dogs. The trail is within 140 feet of Woods proposed wall and buildings.

The current proposed development may end up in court for a while as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is being challenged by city residents who say FEMA moved flood lines recently to be effective in March 2022. Residents argue the floodway lines were moved in the wrong direction for protection of the River and nearby property.

According to their legal challenge, the city allows a developer to build in the floodplain but not the floodway, which has to be kept clear so the flow of floodwater can keep moving without rising beyond a foot. How did the engineer, Shimp, get FEMA to move the floodway line?

Shimp was not acting as an independent professional engineer when he made his submissions to FEMA, they allege. The residents claim in their filing he had a substantial undisclosed economic interest in the revisions he was proposing.

Shimp said his independence as an engineer has never been seriously challenged and is being brought up now by people who do not understand the FEMA floodway line process. He said he expects approval of the project.

The Free Bridge Floodplain Advocacy Group has organized opposition to the proposed development, concerned about traffic safety, storm water drainage, ecological consequences, and flooding impact as well as the questions about the integrity of the recent revisions to the FEMA floodplain map, which the project depends on.

Citizens for decades have seen requests for river zoning reform go unanswered in Charlottesville. Now that the proposed apartments would generate an estimated 1,334 daily car trips in an already congested area next to the U.S. 250 Free Bridge, it is time to put river protection first.
A handful of people gathered around a simple headstone Saturday morning, Oct. 15, in South Corvallis, bowed their heads in careful observation and exclaimed with delight.

They paid their respects to preservationists Bernadette Niederer and David Pinyerd, who were showing the group how to restore a 100-year-old headstone to a nearly new appearance.

Wow! You can really see the detail in the flower now, said Jesse Ott, county parks deputy director.

Decades of sediment and plant material had made the stone at Crystal Lakes Masonic Cemetery mysterious and nondescript. Whats under the lichen is shiny, smooth, cleaner than suspected.

Spray bottles and brushes and scraping tools revealed floral patterns carved in the stone.

This one now we clearly can see is marble, Niederer said.

There also was a sense of how the handful of people gathered, ultimately responsible for several mid-Willamette Valley Cemeteries, could get work done in spaces that are sometimes taken for granted as public service.

But a cemetery is an expensive plot of land to maintain.

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Managing the dead

Benton Countys is cleaner than most. The first burial was in 1850, that of a small child.

Visitors still periodically adorn the grave marker with items.

Masons turned the cemetery over to Benton Countys commissioners in 2001, donating the land. Board members said its very uncommon for a county to own and operate a burial ground, but that its a relatively small cost for public service.

Benton County apportioned $68,040 in its 2021-2022 biennium for cemetery operations  thats out of its $363 million budget for the same period.

Niederer and Pinyerd said the county has done a better job than many sextons maintaining a pioneer-era cemetery.

Some, maintained by ailing fraternal orders, disappear beneath blackberry vines or see historic trees topple or grave markers heave and slump at odd angles.

The mirror finish of red granite or clean milky surface of marble disappears beneath sediment and plants and the stones all take on the same rough look of anything that sits outside too long in Willamette Valley weather.

A hulking cedar tree near the cemeterys center probably was a sapling when it was planted. Its roots now appear to have gathered up two grave markers.

Thats near where volunteers found themselves among the cemeterys oldest markers, trying to determine what type of cleaner, how hard to brush, on what kind of stone.

Elizabeth Spatafora said her mycologist husband would groan at the beautification.

Id be in trouble, she said.

Spatafora sits on the countys Natural Areas, Parks and Events advisory board that provides spending recommendations to the board of commissioners.

She wanted to hear how the county can organize volunteers to help clean some of the hundreds of grave markers in the cemetery.

But the lichen on many of the grave stones helps biologists understand the effects of climate change, and the dates on the markers help biologists see that change on a timeline.

Bring out your help

Carol Walsh also is on the advisory board and said shes taken an interest in ways the county can fund historical preservation.

As a history buff, it seems like a valuable thing to help with, she said.

Under Niederer and Pinyerds instruction, she splashed water onto a torso-height marker and began scrubbing off decades of grime.

The pair of restorers have a niche knowledge base. Their mentor was Sally Donovan, a renowned preservation expert and educator and rescuer of unhoused kittens.

Niederer and Pinyerd said Donovan was a driver of cemetery preservation efforts in the state. The Oregon Heritage Commission gives an annual award in her name, the Sally Donovan Award for Historic Cemetery Preservation.

They interned, he said, with Bruce Howard, the man married to Donovan. When Howard exited the practice sometime after 2017, they took over restoration efforts at Oregon cemeteries.

Theyve cleaned, lifted, replaced, reported on or otherwise helped restore more than 500 grave markers since then, in some 20 cemeteries.

Once you get 30 stones under your belt, you know what youre doing, Pinyerd said.

Well, were less of a danger, Niederer said. Weve refined our technique.

They cautioned the group half-circling an upright grave marker to beware granite. After 2000, the stone likely comes from China and is dyed to look like the red stuff used in U.S. grave markers of antiquity.

Too harsh a cleaning solution can cause the dye to run.

Anything pre-2000, you should be solid, he said.

Even when clean, markers are challenging.

Burial dates are conspicuously absent. Naming conventions differ from Oddfellows to Masons to others who run the plots of land where bodies are buried 6 feet below.

Sometimes stones are missing or dont match the person actually buried there.

Like any task in a cemetery, people bring reverence and personal values to the job. The respectful thing to do, she said, is make sure everyone is properly memorialized.

A living space

The public view of cemeteries is always changing.

A movement to take a picnic to grandma in the late 1990s shifted the public view of cemeteries from dour, ceremonial spaces to park-like plots, Niederer said.

Theyre not in the church yard anymore, she said.

Cemeteries are natural havens for genealogists interested in mapping out a familys diaspora or recording all the historic changes in a regions culture.

They offered a word of advice about knowing when its time to move on to the next stone:

People really get into the genealogy, she said. Is there a rock there we can work on? If not, have a nice day.

A cemetery serves as a snapshot of how people in one culture treat bodies in the ground based on their beliefs.

Settlers observed burial mounds of Kalapuya-speaking people along the Santiam River in present-day Linn County. The roadways, pipelines and foundations of expanding towns have plowed into the ancestral sites and historic lands of Native American groups and tribal governments.

In 1908, the cemetery moved the remains of Corvallis settlers Eliza Gorman and mother Hannah. The women were Black and their graves exhumed to make way for a U.S. Civil War monument footed by Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans fraternal organization.

Ground not infrequently owned by fraternal organizations like Odd Fellows, Masons and Woodmen of the World served as a kind of insurance policy for members of social clubs  join us and be assured there is a place for you to be buried.

WOW Hall in Eugene is named for the latter fraternal order and was the most expensive building constructed in the city in 1932.

On Saturday, the cemetery was mostly quiet save for the occasional pounding of a joggers feet or the distant snapping of changing bicycle gears.

This space is interactive, open, and managers said they appreciate the public.

Its changing once again, and its a teaching moment, Niederer said.
Oregons gubernatorial race pits three candidates with two climate philosophies and asks one policy question to voters in November:

How green is green enough?

Wildfires loom, groundwater is disappearing and the tenor of Oregons response to the most destructive symptoms of human-caused climate change hinges on a tight contest for the governors chair.

Whoever wins will inherit a raft of aggressive climate rules and target reductions for emissions enacted by Gov. Kate Brown in 2020.

The issues

Fire: Since the start of the millennium, Oregon is seeing more, and more intense fires. The average acres burned has more than doubled in the last decade, from 318,775 acres from 2000-201 to 648,607 acres between 2011 and 2021.

As fires get larger, theyre burning closer to or sometimes through towns. Lighting- and human-started fires swept across swaths of Oregon over Labor Day weekend in 2020: The Santiam Fire, east of Salem, razed more than 1,500 buildings, including 700 homes; the Alameda Fire near Medford destroyed 2,500 homes.

Fires that year killed 11, including two firefighters.

Water: The winner also will confront a historic drought, a 22-year- drying period that is the worst in 1,200 years. Some years are colder, but baseline temperature in the state rose 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit between 1900 and 2020.

Oregons water department and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration research agree lakes and rivers are drying up, aquifers arent refilling and increasingly winter precipitation will fall as rain instead of snow.

As many as 259,500 Oregonians live in regions of the state experiencing extreme or worse drought conditions, mostly in vast counties in central and eastern Oregon.

Emissions: Whoever wins will inherit a raft of aggressive climate rules and target reductions for emissions enacted by Brown in 2020.

After Republicans walked out the statehouse in 2019 and 2020, including Republican candidate Christine Drazan that second year, Brown signed Executive Order 20-04, instituting a cap-and-trade program in Oregon. The goal is to drop statewide emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

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Executive orders are easier to dismantle than legislation signed into law, which means the next governor will oversee the launch of the Clean Energy Targets bill passed last year. It requires electricity providers to remove emissions-producing sources from the power they sell in Oregon by 2040. The states two largest electricity suppliers account for more than an estimated 17 million metric tons of CO2 each year.

Republican Drazan, nonaffiliated Betsy Johnson and Democrat Tina Kotek all agree that human-caused climate change is a problem. They diverge on how to treat the conflagrations and drought that now accompany warming temperatures.

Betsy Johnson, nonaffiliated

Given the chance, Johnson will try to steer a conversation about climate back to the same place she takes every topic  the middle.

When pressed about forest fires, however, the self-described business-friendly Democrat sounds more like her opponent on the Republican ticket. Johnson and Drazan both call for a faster U.S. Forest Service response to fires on its lands and more and better state wildfire-fighting resources.

The problem statement is were burning the place up every year, and that is adding to environmental degradation, Johnson said.

Johnson believes smoke from forest fires loads the atmosphere with greenhouse gasses that increase temperature in Oregon and therefore increase the states risk of major fires.

We need to agree that part of the solution is thinning and prescribed burns, she said.

Johnson would repeal Browns executive order regarding emissions. Instead, she would pursue innovation in emission-reducing technology. Shes not sure which technology  thats someone elses expertise, she said.

Johnson opposes requiring the states big investor-owned electric utilities to phase out sources of power that produce greenhouse gasses.

On the water side of the climate equation, Johnson pointed to her involvement in a stakeholder-mediated process to develop irrigation storage in Umatilla County.

Water problems will range across the state from contamination to theres not enough, she learned, adding she now appreciates sitting down with local interests as key to the process.

Im an all-options-on-the-table, get-it-done governor, Johnson said.

Johnson positioned herself in September between Democratic nominee Kotek and Republican Drazan while explaining to an Albany Chamber of Commerce crowd what she isnt.

Oregonians are skeptical of the far right and terrified of the progressive left, she said.

Johnson said she wants to ensure she has bipartisan support rather than let one party run roughshod over the other.

She said Republican senators leaving Congress to block legislation is not the same thing as one party running roughshod over the other.

When people feel shut out, not listened to, they get pissy, Johnson said. When you start out with the premise that youre going to use the will of the majority, youve already lost the minority.

Johnsons voting received a score from Oregon League of Conservation Voters of 41% in line with the conservation lobby concerns priorities.

Agriculture, energy production, finance and real estate were among the sectors with the largest financial contributions to Johnsons campaign. Nike founder Phil Knight, whose political contributions sometimes serve as a clarion for Republican races in the state, gave $1.75 million to Johnsons campaign.

Christine Drazan, Republican

(Editors note: Tina Kotek and Betsy Johnson readily agreed to be interviewed separately by the six reporters who contributed to this project. Christine Drazan, however, declined. This section is based on her statements and her record.)

The Republican nominee is staunchly against Browns climate legacy. Born in Klamath Falls, Drazan stumps on a platform of small-town origins and sympathy for people who make a living in the woods or farm fields.

Shes repeatedly said shell tear up Browns executive order calling for emission reductions on Day One.

Drazan has voted against most environmental-related proposals that came across her desk at the statehouse. Nays included a bill aiming to wean Oregon off of emissions-producing sources of electricity and incentives for energy efficient appliances and electric vehicles.

The Oregon League of Conservation Voters says Drazan was only 25% in line with initiatives the organization wanted to pass in the 2021 session.

But her platform is not devoid of environmental ideas. A plan emailed by Drazans campaign calls for investing in water storage, a technique for preserving water from high-flow times for dry periods.

It also emphasizes forest management as a balm against wildfire, and as a source of jobs.

Timber jobs began to decline under economic recession in the 1980s, according to the state Office of Economic Analysis. Federal land managers curtailed logging on U.S. lands, causing a gradual industry decline in the 1990s.

Jobs in wood products fell from historic highs of more than 80,000 to 70,000 in the 80s, to 40,000 by the early 2000s. The sector lost another about 9,000 after the 2008 Great Recession, brought on by a housing bubble..

Wood products jobs generally have increased post-recession, from about 25,000 to 32,000 in Oregon.

More trees cut would net more jobs, concludes Josh Lehner, an economist for the state, but demand for timber will never be what it was during historic highs and automation means employment will never again relate to timber harvest the same way.

Drazans single largest financial backer by far is the Republican Governors Association, contributing $2.5 million to her campaign.

But a wood products company is the next largest with $500,000 contributed  Swanson Group Manufacturing LLC of Springfield. Eugene-based Murphy Plywood contributed $350,000.

And Timber Unity backed Drazen with a General Election endorsement. Johnson helped organize the group in 2019 that later drew attention when some of its leaders and staff entangled themselves with QAnon conspiracy theories and appeared at the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

Drazans campaign website does not mention the endorsement.

Construction and agriculture also were among the top sectors financing the Drazan campaign.

Tina Kotek, Democrat

While her opponents say Browns executive order went too far, Kotek said shes not changing it.

The executive orders happened because the Republicans walked out on a comprehensive piece of legislation. I believe in the executive orders, I believe in moving the state forward, she said.

States, including Oregon, have moved slowly to reach local and federal goals to cut millions of equivalent metric tons of CO2. Oregon missed a 2020 deadline.

That goal, set in 2007, aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emission to 10% less than the estimated 58 million metric tons of CO2 produced in the state in 1990. By 2016, Oregon was still 10% above the 1990 level.

Kotek said shes open to suggestions and wants to hear from all of Oregon. But what I dont want to see is for us to stand still, she said.

Kotek agrees with opponents who push thinning and prescriptive burning that mimics prehistoric fire regimes and keeps brush and debris from becoming potential fuel. But treating forests for fire is a half-measure, she said. Reducing the risk of fire starts in the states power consumption portfolio.

We have to deal with emissions, she said.

Kotek said shes sensitive about reaching people in rural Oregon and wants to be a governor to everyone.

If were not getting it right, if there are ways we can do better, then Im open to suggestions, Kotek said.

Kotek said shell lead with the best science she can find.

I will not look kindly on people who are trying to politicize these issues, she said.

She said she wants to harness a diverse set of perspectives at Oregon State University.

I look forward to digging in with all those folks and saying, OK  which ones are going to take us forward,' she said. You know what Oregonians care about? Our forests, and we have to make good decisions together."

Koteks campaign took its largest contributions from trade and public employee unions, health care; and a mix of manufacturing, finance, real estate and energy production sector contributions.

The Democratic Governors Association had contributed $3.05 million by Sept. 29. Stand for Children Oregon had spent $580,000; Citizen Action for Political Education, $465,000; OEA-PAC, AFSCME International and Oregon League of Conservation Voters all contributed $250,000.

Oregon League of Conservation Voters endorsed Kotek, who fell in line with its priorities 95% of the time in 2021.

This story is part of a newsroom collaboration for the governors race, with six newsrooms each tackling where Republican Christine Drazan, nonaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson and Democrat Tina Kotek stand on a key topic. On Monday, the Salem Reporter covers education; on Tuesday, the Oregon Capital Chronicle covers housing; on Wednesday, Yachats News writes about the economy and cost of living; on Thursday, Ashland News covers health care, including mental health; and on Friday, the Mail Tribune writes about abortion.
The search continued Sunday for suspects linked to an early Saturday shooting that left one dead and several injured at a house party near Dakin Street and Greenwood Boulevard, Denver.

Adams County Sheriff's Office investigators asked Sunday for the public's help in locating a blue Chevrolet Tahoe seen leaving the scene after the shooting, in unincorporated Adams County near Thornton, northwest of U.S. 36 and I-25.

Sheriff's officials did not release the condition of those injured, nor their identities.

Investigators did not release many new details Sunday, despite requests by The Denver Gazette. As of 8 a.m. Sunday, detectives announced they were still conducting interviews related to the shooting, according to a tweet they shared.

The shooting happened outside a house party where a large group of people stood outside.

Neighbors told the Denver Gazette's media partner 9News that partygoers had weapons of their own and were posting videos to social media sites with them.

"There were all kinds of guns. There was at least four or five in one video alone," a neighbor, who declined to be identified, told 9News. People were posting videos as if they were in a mosh pit, dancing to music, flashing guns like it was something to joke about."

Area resident Yvonne Martinez said she was asleep before the street erupted in gunfire. She told 9News her teenage daughter urged them to stay low to the ground, which turned out to be solid advice.

Martinez now has two bullet holes in her home.

"It hit close to home like people say, it really did hit close. It's right through my living room," she said. That is scary. What if it was 7 oclock in the evening? What if it was 6 oclock in the morning when were up?"

Witnesses on scene said they heard trash talk between the suspect vehicle and the partiers. Then the shooting started.

A witness said they knew someone shot in the side. Another was shot in the foot. A car was reportedly covered in blood, as were other partygoers.

A resident said the victims were in shock.

"They were hysterically crying; they had no idea what to do," she told 9News. "They saw their friends get shot; it must have been absolutely horrific."

The Adams County Sheriff's Office is looking for a mid-2000s blue Chevrolet Tahoe. The Sheriff's office asks anyone with information to report it at 720-322-1313 . The Sheriff's Office is working with Colorado's 17th Judicial District investigators.

Due to the nature of the incident, they said, officials could not give an exact timeline of when new information will be released.
ENTERPRISE  At least three buildings were destroyed and adjacent structures damaged as an early morning fire swept through the 100 block on Main Street in historic downtown Enterprise Sunday morning.

Firefighters battled the blaze for more than four hours that apparently started in the co-joined businesses, She Shed and All About Art Studio, before spreading to the apartments next door.

Area fire departments, including Elba, New Brockton and Troy, came to Enterprise to assist, not just downtown, but to cover in the event of other emergencies in the city, Davis said.

The first fire call was received at the emergency dispatch at 5:38 a.m. from a person passing by, said Enterprise Public Information Manager Emily Glasscock. Enterprise Fire Chief Christopher Davis immediately issued an all call alert activating all active duty firefighters and volunteers, she said.

Units arrived on scene and quickly assessed it, Davis said. They were able to make a good, quick attack. However, the fire had already grown large in the rear of one of the structures.

No one was inside any of the buildings when the fire broke out. In addition to the destruction of The She Shed and All About Art, the residential building next door received major damage, Davis said. Serendipity by Kei also sustained minor damage.

Currently we are dealing with hot spots, Davis said. There have been some collapses and that creates a lot of small voids that arent necessarily safe to get to.

The Alabama State Fire Marshal will be in town Monday to help determine the cause of the fire. We do not believe, or have any reason to believe, that this was intentional, Davis said. We will do everything we can to locate the source of the fire.

Davis asked that the public avoid the area. Fire crews are expected to be in the downtown area through the night, he said. Barricades will be placed around the affected buildings. Drivers through downtown should be aware of extra traffic cones and the potential for detours during the investigation.

As the threat of fire and smoke diminished and the realization that no one was injured, conversation of the Main Street business owners gathered across the street from the fire turned to the artifacts and memorabilia housed in the Pea River Historical and Genealogical Society, two doors down from the fire.

An informal volunteer evacuation brigade quickly formed to remove from the building artifacts, such as the original Boll Weevil Monument statue and hundreds of bound copies of the Enterprise Ledger, first to to a safe location across the street. They have been transported to a secure facility, Davis said.

All our people are helping out the Pea River Historical Society right now, said Bruce Grantham about the Main Street Candy and Nut Company staff hauling items from the building. We are proud to help because we know everyone on Main Street will be right here helping us if the fire spreads this far.

I applaud the quick response of our firefighters, Enterprise Mayor William Cooper said as he surveyed the charred and water soaked buildings at the corner of Main and College streets and the firefighters re-grouping at the wrought iron railing around the citys renowned Boll Weevil Monument, a symbol of the citys triumph over adversity 100 years ago. It will take time but the people of Enterprise are resilient and we will rebuild out of this, Cooper said.

Enterprise City Councilman Scotty Johnson, who also serves as head of the Coffee County Citizens Emergency Response Team, echoed Coopers remarks. The quick response and professionalism of the first responders was over the top, Johnson said. And the volunteers out here helping one another are exactly the spirit and resilience that makes Enterprise strong.

Enterprise Director of Tourism and Community Relations Tammy Doerer agreed. The people of Enterprise will persevere, she said.
A person logs into Facebook on a mobile phone in HCMC, October 16, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Dang Le

The Finance Ministry said online platforms including Facebook and Google have paid VND5.59 trillion (US$231.6 million) in taxes from 2018 to August this year.

In a report sent to the National Assembly, the ministry said the tax was paid by cross-border and e-commerce platforms, with Facebook and Google contributing the most, at VND2.099 trillion and VND2.115 trillion, respectively.

They were followed by Microsoft with VND714 billion.

Last years collection of VND1.591 trillion was 39% more than in 2020.

From the beginning of 2018 until the end of this August, tax authorities collected VND1.082 trillion in taxes from organizations and individuals earning income from doing business online, including VND261 billion collected last year and almost VND521 billion in the first eight months of this year.

The ministry launched an electronic portal and a mobile application (eTax Mobile) in March for foreign suppliers to declare, register and pay taxes.

So far, there have been nearly 70,000 transactions made through the portal and app, with more than VND308 billion of tax collected.

Of this, $22.2 million was paid by 30 major foreign suppliers including Microsoft, Facebook, Netflix, Samsung, TikTok and eBay.

In order to manage and avoid tax revenue losses in the digital platform business, the finance ministry is working to complete relevant legislation.

At the end of August, the ministry submitted amendments to Decree 126 issued in 2020, stipulating that e-commerce platforms have to provide information, declare and paying taxes on behalf of sellers.

The ministry also proposed amending a number of special regulations to ensure a consistent legal basis for the management of e-commerce platforms.
Streetwise: Changing Westside Businesses

by Frank Dunnigan

October 2022

Neighborhood shopping has surely changed over the yearsparticularly in the present millennium. An errand that might once have required a short walk or bus ride can now be accomplished via ones laptop computer or smart phone. More convenient? Yes, but such changes have limited our exposure to the varied sights and smells of a stroll through San Franciscos various neighborhood shopping districts. We have explored this topic via STREETWISE in a couple of past columns several years ago--in a July 2013 Streetwise and in an October 2016 Streetwise --but its time to look at even more changes in the neighborhood shopping landscape, including some that have taken place fairly recently.

The corner of 6th & Clement Streets was a literal crossroads for the #2 streetcar and the #21 streetcar lines in the past. The Coliseum Theatre (out of sight behind the photographer) operated from 1918 to 1989 (becoming a talkie house in 1929) until it was damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake. It sat vacant for more than a full decade until it reopened after an extensive refurbishment in 2002 as a multi-unit residential building with ground-floor retail. A variety of retailers also operated nearby in 1949, including a sandwich shop, a bakery, and a market (at left) and a barber shop, clothing store, and fur salon (at right). The long-gone Coliseum Furs represented a business model that was once common in many neighborhood shopping areas as well as downtown, but was outlawed by a unanimous vote of the Board of Supervisors in 2018, and that decision was upheld in a court ruling announced in early 2021. Hear more about Clement Street Businesses in Outside Lands Podcast Episode #418

The Feed Bag Restaurant, Hankens Delicatessen, Joe Kleins Choice Meats, and the Winfield Sage Laundromat represented a modern mix of Laurel Village businesses in this 1951 image. Other adjacent storefronts extending west along California Street included a Danish pastry shop, dry cleaner, hardware store, furniture showroom, beauty salon, supermarket, produce store, Standard 5 & 10, liquor store, florist, television store, and real estate/insurance office. Today, only the grocery store, CalMart, and Standard 5 & 10 (now partnered with Ace Hardware) remain.

Just like the neighborhood market or movie theatre, the local pharmacy was also at the crossroads of the community. It was usually open longer hours than many other businesses, fulfilling many needsmedicines, toiletries, tobacco, alcohol, gift items, greeting cards, magazines, plus friendly, knowledgeable advice about how to quiet a cranky baby, deal with minor cuts and bruises, and settle an upset stomach. In earlier times, these locations were also reliable sources of frozen desserts and private telephone booths for everyone in the neighborhood. Also shown in this 1951 image are the long-gone Edwards Beauty Manor, Margaret Wren Gift & Card Shop, and a Sees Candy store that remained in place until the 1980s. Read more about other local pharmacies in the November 2014 Streetwise

More than 70 years ago, some residential garages in the Sunset were being used as ground-floor retailan era when there were far fewer cars per resident! This space near 44th Avenue and Irving Street was converted into residential use many years ago.

In 1952, this small cluster of shops along Broad Street near Plymouth in OMI included Colombo Liquor Store and (hidden behind the streetcar) Morgans Barber Shop, Ocean View Cleaners, and Victoria Meat Market. Out of sight to the right were the Ocean View Branch of San Francisco Public Library, Ocean View Variety Store, and Engine Company 33 of the San Francisco Fire Department. Since 1977, the old fire house has been restored as a private residence. Read more about Engine Company 33

Stonestown, first opened in July of 1952 and shown here a few years later, underwent a significant expansion/remodel into an enclosed two-story Galleria in the late 1980s, with further significant changes in recent years. The elimination of both of its anchor stores in pre-Covid timesMacys, which closed in March of 2018 (having taken over the Emporiums spot nearly 22 years earlier) and Nordstrom, which closed in September of 2019 (after 30 years in business at the south end of the mall where Bullocks, City of Paris, and Butler Brothers once operated) changed the centers mix of stores considerably. New movie theatres, an upscale grocery store, and other options are now present, with the 1970 UA Twin Cinemas at the west side of the property headed for demolition. Even bigger changes are set to come, as planners envision residential towers and underground parking to replace many of the asphalt surface lots. Here's moe about Stonestown's future plans

The iconic Zims anchored the SW corner of 19th & Taraval from 1957 until the chains demise in 1995. With 24-hour operations, it drew people from all walks of life while providing tasty food at reasonable prices. Adjacent Taraval merchants and throngs of patrons from the nearby Parkside Theatre (closed in October of 1990) contributed significantly to Zims business here. The location was different from most others in the chain because there was no table/booth seatingonly fixed stools around the horseshoe-shaped counter. A number of different enterprises have occupied the space over the last quarter-century. Read more about Zim's , its locations, see many of the chains artifacts, and learn more about the Zimmerman family and how it all began.

Carlottas Toys (later renamed Toy Village), West Portal Floral Shop, Adeline Bake Shop, and Shirleys Childrens Shop dominate this 1957 scene on the first block of West Portal Avenue. Toy stores, in particular, are far fewer in number today, given San Franciscos dwindling child population since the turn of the millennium. Barbagelata Realty occupies the toy store space today. Extending to the next corner at Vicente Street were: Allstate Insurance, Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners, West Portal Beauty Shop, Band Box Knit Shop, Family Liquor Store, 2nd Church of Religious Science, Empire Theatre, Fellhauer Realty, Sue Sherwood Insurance, Minudri Furs, and Portal Wood Pharmacy. All these small businesses have since left the area, including the theatre. Originally opened as the Portal, a silent film house in 1925, it was later wired for sound, then renamed the Empire in 1936, and split into 3 screens during the 1970s. (This author once saw LOVE STORY there while PATTON played in the adjacent space, with the sounds of the North African campaign clearly coming through the too-thin walls.) The theatre closed at the start of Covid in March of 2020, and Cinemark, which had been operating it as CineArts at the Empire since 2003, announced in February of 2021 that the closure was permanent.

This 1960 image was taken a few years after the removal of the B-line streetcar tracks along Geary. Since then, the Dever Realty Company office at left has been replaced with a 4-story residential building, while the McKales 76 gas station is now a 4-story condo building known as ONE STANYAN STREET. The building that once housed Cala Foods is now vacant after serving as home to Pier One Imports for many years. The adjacent night club has been home to a variety of dining spots over the years, and the Coronetone of San Franciscos newer movie theatres (1949-2005)was demolished in 2007 and replaced with a large, multi-story senior-housing complex.

Long an anchor in this Outer Richmond shopping area, the Balboa opened in 1926, underwent a remodel after a fire in the 1940s, was twinned in 1978, and suffered from a year-long Covid-related closure in 2020-21. It reopened in May of 2021 and continues to define the area, alongside variety of adjacent dining and personal care businesses. The Sugar Bowl Bakery closed its storefront in the 1990s and soon became the largest food-service bakery in the Bay Area. Expanding to new commercial facilities, the firm now supplies its delectable Brownie Bites, Madeleines, and Palmiers through large retailers across the US. Read more about the bakery's history with the Ly Family.

Ocean Avenue (from its very beginning at Mission Street) meandered west to 19th Avenue where it suddenly switched from business to residential before ending at Sunset Boulevard. This particular section, photographed in 1970, was anchored by a 1950s-era Safeway store and also included a variety of dining places, clothing stores, a Richfield gas station and the El Rey Theatre in the distance at right, plus the Hanson-Theroff Pontiac dealership at left. Today, this neighborhood is becoming more heavily residential with multi-story apartments and condos that feature a variety of ground-floor businesses. The old Safeway site is now home to a large 4-story apartment complex with new ground-floor grocery store. Read more about the many changes to this area

Photo processing stores and typewriter repair shops (both at left) have definitely declined in popularity since this image was recorded in the 1970s. Delicatessens and liquor stores also seem to be fewer in number today, perhaps due to healthier lifestyle choices. Many independent neighborhood drug stores such as West Coast Pharmacy, near the front of the streetcar, began to vanish as the large chains expanded. The Embers, a well-known self-described dive bar with many mournful clown portraits on the walls operated from 1969-96, and the nearby Wishing Well maintained its own dive bar status until the turn of the millennium when it was purchased by new owner Lisa Merrall who converted the place into the clubby Fireside Bar. Finally, Comptons Shoe Repair, with the classic sign, stands out as a splendid survivor at 621 Irving. Now known as Sunset Shoe Repair, it prides itself on being the oldest of that business model still operating in San Franciscosince 1900.

Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places!
Vietnam's public hospitals asked to make and execute budget plans on their own are suffering losses and unable to pay their medical staff and meet other expenses.

The HCMC Oncology Hospital, which has managed its budget allocations independently for nine years, is VND91 billion ($3.77 million) in the red.

The hospital said its revenue had significantly dropped during the pandemic and since early this year; and it has not been able to pay any extra allowances for staff or cover expenses for repairing and maintaining medical equipment.

Last year, the hospital, the leading healthcare facility for cancer treatment in southern Vietnam, had no financial resources to give employees their Lunar New Year bonus. Eventually, it had to ask for financial support from the city and several other sources to give each staff, from the hospitals director to the nurses assistant, a sum of VND7.5 million each.

Doctors and nurses get a cancer patient ready for radiation therapy at the HCMC Oncology Hospital 2 in Thu Duc City, HCMC, May 13, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

So far this year, the hospital has used up funds it had saved up in previous years to pay salary, which is VND8.8 million per person per month on average.

HCMC Oncology Hospital is not alone in its financial plight.

According to the municipal Department of Health, in the first half this year, hospitals in the city saw revenues drop by 20% against the same period in 2020 to VND12.4 trillion. The figures for 2021 were not used for comparison as Vietnam was hit by the worst Covid-19 wave that year.

Vietnam's health sector has gradually switched to giving public hospitals more budget freedom to invest in advanced medical technology and equipment in the past 20 years.

By 2018, all public hospitals across the country had deployed financial autonomy at different levels.

The government last year issued Decree 60 to categorize the fiscal autonomy of public administrative units into four groups: group 1 would have comprehensive autonomy; group 2 would have autonomy in recurrent expenditures; group 3 would have partial autonomy in recurrent expenditures; and group 4 would have the state guaranteeing 100% of recurrent expenditure, which is the use of state budget allocated to one unit.

Except for the Bach Mai and K hospitals in Hanoi, all public hospitals are now in groups 2 and 3, which means the state will cover the cost of buying equipment, and bear other capital expenditures.

After suffering sustained losses, the Bach Mai and K hospitals had in August asked for permission to move from group 1 to group 2.

More autonomy, more losses

The financial autonomy policy was established to let hospitals become more proactive in using financial resources, have the right to regulate revenue and expenditure effectively, increase capital mobilization and actively expand investments in facilities and equipment.

In HCMC, the mechanism has, over the past 20 years, allowed hospitals to equip themselves with more modern facilities and advanced equipment to improve their services. For this, they have tapped different financial sources.

Currently, the municipal budget allocated to the health sector is just 2% of the city's total recurrent expenditure, compared to 9% 2015, said health department deputy director Nguyen Hoai Nam.

However, hospitals that have complete autonomy in recurrent expenditure are having difficulty balancing hospital income and expenditures, the latter including salaries to pay their staff. Their autonomy is limited to how they use the recurrent expenditure and the government still decides hospital fees as well as salaries for healthcare workers.

These establishments complain that their fees are not high enough to cover their expenditure on various things including maintaining equipment and training staff.

The salary for health workers, meanwhile, is too low, prompting many to quit.

The Health Ministry said in mid-September that in the past 18 months, 9,680 medical workers had quit their jobs nationwide.

Tran Van Khanh, director of Le Van Thinh Hospital in Thu Duc City, said with the current hospital fees, public hospitals will not have the resources to upgrade their infrastructure and equipment or train their staff and attract talent.

A nurses supply medicine to cancer patients at the K Hospital in Hanoi, June 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Quang Hung

As one of the two hospitals that have comprehensive autonomy, K Hospital, the leading cancer treatment facility in the north, now reports a lack of devices for radiation therapy.

"For two years now, the hospital has not had any money left to buy new equipment; and with no regulation on taking loans or raising funds from different sources, the hospital cannot do anything," said hospital director Le Van Quang.

Today, patients that need radiation therapy have to wait much longer to get; while existing devices must operate from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

The other establishment with comprehensive autonomy, the Bach Mai Hospital also reports a lack of funds to buy new machinery despite "significant shortages."

It had pushed forward 27 projects to do business in collaboration with private firms, but none have been approved. In fact, 11 are even under investigation.

Duong Duc Hung, chairman of Bach Mai Hospitals Management Board, did not mince words: "Autonomy is just rhetoric. In fact, the hospital cannot decide anything for itself."
Excessive runoff and a drainage system designed for lower rain volume are blamed for the "unprecedented" flooding of Vietnam's central hub on Friday night.

Under the impacts of Storm Son Ca, which devolved into a tropical depression offshore Friday night, Da Nang received rainfall of up to 795 mm from 7 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday. The downpour was particularly heavy for the first six hours with the rainfall gauged at 500 mm.

The downpour, described by Da Nang authorities as "historic" and "unprecedented," inundated the entire city by up to 1.5 m on Friday night. Some parts of the coastal Lien Chieu District recorded flood water at almost 2 m.

Many residents who have lived in Da Nang for 30 years or so said it was the worst flooding that they had ever seen, with floodwaters rising very fast and widespread.

Volunteers help a man wade through waters in Cam Le District of Da Nang, October 14, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

To Van Hung, director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the heavy rains exceeded the capacity of the city's drainage system, which is built for Da Nang to receive 100-200mm per 24 hours.

The designed capacity is the standard applied by many cities around the world, said Phung Phu Phong, director of the Construction Department.

He argued that though the system was not capable of draining such a high amount of water at once on Friday, it proved effective because the floodwaters had receded almost completely by Saturday morning.

Explaining the heavy flooding in two residential areas in Hai Chau and Thanh Khe districts, Phong said those areas were developed on old facilities and the drainage system was yet to be upgraded.

Pham Thanh Hung, lecturer on hydropower and irrigation at the Da Nang University of Science and Technology, said that apart from the extremely heavy rainfall, an important reason for the severe flooding was the rapid increase in urbanization.

Cars left in floodwaters on Nguyen Van Linh Street of Thanh Khe District in Da Nang, October 14, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

More concrete buildings going up means more impervious surface area, resulting in excessive runoffs, as there is not enough soil left to absorb the water.

He said urbanization was usually accompanied by an increase in urban population and an increase in the amount of urban waste, increasing the potential risk of garbage clogging the drainage system.

Official data shows the urban land area of Da Nang, considered the third most important in Vietnam after Hanoi and HCMC, jumped from about 7,000 ha in 2005 to 12,502 ha in 2010 and 18,396 ha in 2019, which is nearly four times the 1997 figure.

According to a plan approved last March, Da Nang's urban area will increase to 31,836 ha in 2030 and more than 35,000 ha in 2045, housing a population of 1.79 million and 2.56 million, respectively.

Phong of the Construction Department said it was not possible to reserve more area for ditches and reservoirs or to expand culverts to meet rainfall of 700-800 mm a day, because that would mean the city having to spend a "huge" amount of money.

"If the Hanoi or HCMC receive such a large volume of rain in the same period, it would take a few days for flood waters to recede," he said.

Rapid urbanization delivers Da Nang's worst flooding ever Four die in Da Nang floods Flooding at Dien Bien Phu and Ha Huy Tap intersection in Da Nang, October 14, 2022. Video by Bao Loc

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the weather forecast department under the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said rainfall of 500 mm within six hours was "substantial."

A tropical depression devolved from Son Ca storm combined with a cold spell from the north, an intertropical convergence zone and the northeast monsoon winds to cause such abnormally high rainfall, he said.

The flooding was also worsened Friday night by high tides in the central stretch from Thua Thien Hue to Phu Yen provinces, including Da Nang.

The flooding killed four people and caused blackouts for over 200,000 families.
The sidewalk of Hoang Sa Street along the coast in Da Nang is damaged due to heavy rains and strong waves brought by Storm Son Ca, October 15, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

Storm Nesat off the Philippines is set to approach Vietnam in the next two days, carrying winds of more than 118 kph, weather experts say.

The storm was 110 km to the north of Luzon Islands at 7 a.m. Sunday and is forecast to move northwest at 10-15 kph to enter the East Sea early Monday morning, according to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.

At 7 a.m. Monday, the storm will be around 650 km to the east of the Paracel Islands, carrying winds of 103117 kph. It will move closer to around 330 km by Tuesday morning and get stronger, packing winds of more than 118 kph.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has forecast that the storm will enter the East Sea with nearly 110 kph winds and will get to its strongest, with winds of around 145 kph, by Tuesday, before heading to Vietnam's central coast from Quang Binh to Thua Thien Hue provinces.

The Hong Kong Observatory has forecast a similar trail, but put the storm's maximum wind speed at around 130 kph.

Nesat will be the sixth storm to enter Vietnamese waters this year and the third in the past three weeks. The latest one, Son Ca, weakened into a tropical depression Friday night before making landfall Saturday morning, bringing torrential rains that battered and submerged large areas of Da Nang and neighboring provinces of Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue.

Weather experts say that another two or three storms and tropical depressions are likely to directly affect central and southern Vietnam until January 2023.
Vietnam's biggest airport in the making still stuck at site clearance

Houses in an area to be cleared for the construction of Long Thanh airport in Dong Nai Province, August 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan

Construction of Vietnams biggest airport to be has slowed down with 70 ha of land yet to be transferred to contractors.

Of the 2,532 ha of land earmarked for the first phase of the Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province that borders HCMC, the contractors have received 2,459 ha.

Tardy site clearance has slowed down construction of the cargo terminal, the delivery depot, the aircraft cleaning area, and maintenance of ground equipment, Transport Minister Nguyen Van The said in a report to the National Assembly.

The first phase will build a runway for takeoff and landing, taxiways, terminals and several ancillary items to allow the airport to serve 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year.

Of the entire 5,000 ha needed to complete the airport, more than 4,700 ha have been cleared and transferred.

The governments report says that the slow progress of site clearance is mainly caused by issues related to the resettlement of affected families.

Many families living in areas designated for the airport project do not have papers proving legal ownership of their houses and land, making it difficult to complete compensation and relocation procedures.

The government said it has requested Dong Nai authorities to issue land use certificates so that affected families can move out from the construction site soon.

Work on Long Thanh airport, which will replace HCMCs Tan Son Nhat International Airport as Vietnams biggest when complete, began Jan. 5 last year after many years of preparation and lengthy land acquisition. In February this year, a year after work began, only fencing and demining had been completed, drawing criticism from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Costing an estimated $16 billion, the fully built airport is set to serve 100 million passengers a year.

The Transport Ministry last month ordered project investor Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and the commercial airports operator Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to work together and ensure that Long Thanh can serve its first flight on Sept. 2, 2025.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) has brought about an all-around improvement in Chinese people's lives over the past decade, according to a report submitted to the 20th CPC National Congress, which opened Sunday.

China's average life expectancy has reached 78.2 years, its per capita disposable annual income has risen to 35,100 yuan (about $4,938) from 16,500 yuan, and more than 13 million urban jobs have been created each year on average over the past 10 years, said the report.

China, which has built the largest education, social security, and healthcare systems in the world, has made historic strides in making education universally available, bringing 1.04 billion people under the coverage of basic old-age insurance, and ensuring basic medical insurance for 95 percent of the population.

More than 42 million housing units in run-down urban areas and more than 24 million dilapidated rural houses have been rebuilt, marking a significant improvement in housing conditions in both urban and rural areas, according to the report.

The number of internet users in the country has reached 1.03 billion, the report said.
China has seen a historic rise in its economic strength in the past decade, Xi Jinping said Sunday at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

China's GDP has grown from 54 trillion yuan to 114 trillion yuan (about 16 trillion US dollars) in the past decade and come to account for 18.5 percent of the world economy, up 7.2 percentage points, Xi said.

The country has remained the world's second largest economy, and its per capita GDP has risen from 39,800 yuan to 81,000 yuan, Xi said.

China ranks first in the world in terms of grain output, and its manufacturing sector is the largest in the world, as are its foreign exchange reserves, Xi said.
ANTANANARIVO, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) always adheres to the principle of "serving the people" and "strives to find all means to bring a better life for the Chinese people," former Malagasy Prime Minister Norbert Ratsirahonana has said.

There is a "total symbiosis" between the CPC and the Chinese people, he told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview.

Having made four visits to China, 83-year-old Ratsirahonana noted during his last trip in December 2019 that "the advances have been even greater," not least the increase in real estate infrastructure, the improvement of road networks and the beautification of cities.

"China's growth rate has had an impact on the daily lives of the Chinese," he said.

Thanks to the firm "political will" of the CPC, absolute poverty was eradicated in China, he said.

The CPC, he said, not only listens to the interests of the Chinese people, but also promotes the common interests of all humanity.

In today's turbulent world, China's proposal of building a community with a shared future for mankind shows that it shoulders responsibilities not only at the national level, but also at the international level.

By advancing this idea, China has shown its determination to contribute to world peace, he explained.

"China is willing to share the benefits of its growth with other countries, with other populations that are still in poverty," he said.

Ratsirahonana said China's help to Madagascar speaks to that truth.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, there have been relations of brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation between Madagascar and China, he said, citing tangible aid provided by China in such fields as health, agriculture and infrastructure.

Highlighting the technological cooperation between Madagascar and China in the field of hybrid rice, Ratsirahonana said, "such cooperation really touches the daily life of every Malagasy."

He voiced his hope that China will continue to provide support, assistance and cooperation to help Madagascar achieve food self-sufficiency in the near future.

Regarding the upcoming 20th National Congress of the CPC, Ratsirahonana said the decisions that will be taken during the meeting will affect not only the lives of the Chinese people but also the lives of other countries in the world.
By Zhang Zhou

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, following the concept of innovation, coordination, green development, openness and sharing, China has expanded the scale of its construction industry and optimized its structure and regional layout. Over the past decade, the industry has not only provided a great number of jobs, its role as a pillar industry has also been consolidated, contributing enormously to socio-economic development and livelihood improving. Today, China is transforming itself from a big country of manufacturing into a strong power in manufacturing.

I. Steady growth with a consolidated role in the national economy

1. Industrial scale hit a record high

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, Chinas construction industry has actively responded to the challenges and risks from both at home and abroad, withstood the impact of Covid-19 and achieved steady and healthy development. The added value of the industry has accounted for about 7% of GDP for many years in a row, and its role as the pillar of the national economy has remained stable.

In 2021, the total output value of enterprises in the construction industry nationwide reached RMB 29.3 trillion, an increase of 1.14 times over 2012, with an average annual growth rate of 8.8% from 2013 to 2021.

The added value of the industry reached RMB 8.0 trillion, accounting for 7.0% of GDP, with an average annual growth rate of 5.9% from 2013-2021.

2. Optimized industrial structure

By sector, civil engineering and other important infrastructure construction sectors are developing rapidly.

In 2021, the output value of the civil engineering sector nationwide reached RMB 8.4 trillion, an increase of 1.41 times over 2012, of which the output value of marine engineering, railway/road tunnel and bridge engineering, and stringing and pipeline engineering had doubled, growing by 4.09 times, 1.59 times and 1.21 times respectively over 2012, contributing significantly to Chinas infrastructure construction.

In 2021, the output value of housing construction reached RMB 17.9 trillion, an increase of 1.06 times over 2012; the output value of the construction and installation industry reached RMB 1.5 trillion, an increase of 90.1%; and the output value of building decoration and other sectors reached RMB 1.4 trillion, an increase of 99.6%.

3. Continued improvement in regional layout

In 2021, the output value of the construction industry in the eastern, central, and western regions all doubled that of 2012, with the eastern region growing by 1.03 times, the central region by 1.67 times and the western region by 1.60 times. The total output value of central and western regions accounted for 24.7% and 21.6% of national total, respectively, 4.9 and 3.9 percentage points high than in 2012. The central and western regions show an obvious late-mover advantage, and development between regions is becoming more balanced.

4. Significant contribution to the job market

In 2021, the number of workers employed by construction enterprises reached 81.8 million, ranking second in the national economy among all industries. Among them, the average number of workers employed by construction enterprises with EPC and professional contracting qualifications reached 61.94 million, an increase of 33.8% over 2012 with an average annual growth of 3.3% from 2013 to 2021.

The construction industry has made an important contribution to absorbing surplus rural labors and easing the employment pressure of the society. According to the monitoring report of the National Bureau of Statistics, the total number of migrant workers at the end of 2021 reached 292.51 million, of which 19.0% were employed in the construction industry.

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Editor: WXY
The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) has reported a 90 percent reduction in the consumption of single-use plastic bags, as the 3-million-resident emirate continues to phase out the use of plastic products.
The Central Bank of Egypt offered on Sunday Egyptian pound-backed treasury bills (T-bills) with a total value of EGP 28.5 billion over two maturity types.
By Azernews

Azerbaijan and Iran have discussed the current situation in the region, Azernews reports.

The discussion took place during the phone conversation between Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

In continuation of the meeting of the leaders of the two states, held in Astana, the ministers exchanged views on a number of issues, including current topics on the bilateral agenda.

The parties also discussed cooperation within the framework of international organizations, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on March 12, 1992. In total, around 190 documents were signed between Azerbaijan and Iran. The trade turnover between the two countries in 2021 totaled $440.8 million.

After liberating its lands from the Armenian occupation in the 44-day war in 2020, Azerbaijan regained control over a 132-km section of the Azerbaijani-Iran border. After regaining control over the state border, new prospects have become available for deeper cooperation between the two countries.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has affirmed that Cairo will continue to support the efforts of its brotherly nations to maximise benefits from the River Nile in a way that does no harm to the Egyptian people.

The president's statements came during his reception of the heads of delegations participating in Cairo Water Week (CWW) events in Cairo under the title Water Conservation to Achieve Sustainable Development.

The Cairo Water Week conference is being held from 14 to 18 October to discuss water related issues, and is hosting water experts, ministers and officials from 53 countries.

Egypt's presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady has said that the Egyptian president greeted the heads of delegations and international partners and organisations participating in the conference, stressing Egypt's keenness to host events that aim to raise awareness on water related issues.

The president also expressed Egypt's aspiration to enhance joint cooperation in this field and support coordination and exchange of expertise with various countries in the world, particularly on training courses, as well as projects to improve the utilisation of available water resources.

The heads of the delegations participating the conference reflected the importance of Cairo Water Week as an opportunity to discuss enhancing technical cooperation and building nations' capabilities to address water scarcity.

The president affirmed that Egypt strongly believes in intercontinental cooperation and calls for not exploiting of water issues for political purposes, especially with the growing challenges facing the water sector in the world, the presidential spokesperson said.

The president also highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation with the brothers in the Nile Basin countries to serve mutual interests, without harming the interests of any other nation and in order to preserve the sustainability of the river.

"In this regard, the president demonstrated the efforts exerted by Egypt in the field of water conservation through a number of major projects such as establishing the world's largest water desalination plants, as well as the national project to bridge the food gap and maximise the use of land available for agriculture, Rady added.

The president also pointed out that Africans are capable of achieving self-sufficiency in agricultural production if a network of roads and railways linking the continent's countries and cities is constructed to allow the exchange and transfer of crops.

The CWW is being held in cooperation with the European Union and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation to tackle water issues amid climate change that impacts the worlds fresh water.

In March 2016, the United Nations Environment Program warned that 50 percent of the worlds population would face severe water stress by 2030.

The CWW focuses on climate change and environment, trans-boundary water governance, water scarcity, health, sanitation challenges and opportunities, as well as science and technology innovation issues.

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Egypt hosted the fourth round of the Cairo Water Week (CWW 24-28 October), which brought together a significant number of regional and world ministers, international non-governmental organisations with the aim of spreading awareness of water issues and promoting innovation to face water-related challenges.

While Egypt and Sudan, on one side, and Ethiopia, on the other side, have been engaged in fruitless negotiations for nearly a decade over the means to contain the damaging effects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the two downstream countries share of Nile water, Cairo has decided to introduce this dispute within the challenges facing the world in terms of water scarcity.

The regular convention of the CCW is Cairos way of warning against the dangerous consequences if the world does not pool efforts to deal with the challenges related to the most scarce and most important resource.

Egypt is located in one of the worlds most arid spots, and 97 per cent of its water resources come from the Nile. Over 100 million Egyptians also suffer from a wide gap between water resources and consumption. Egypts annual share of water per capita does not exceed 650 cubic m, which is well below the international threshold for water poverty specified by the United Nations at 1,000 cubic m. Meanwhile, Egyptians reuse 35 per cent of the water they consume to help narrow this gap.

While repeatedly stressing that all options remain open to ensure Egypts water rights, and Egyptians are united in their determination not to compromise a single drop of their share of Nile water, President Abdel-Fatah Al-Sisi confirmed Cairos intention to achieve that through diplomatic means, while maintaining the highest level of restraint and understanding of Ethiopias right to use its resources for development.

At the same time, and equal to all other strategic infrastructure projects the government has been building, Cairo has drawn up a four-pronged strategy to manage its water resources through 2037 at an initial cost of up to $50 billion. The strategy aims to regulate water use, improve water quality, provide additional water resources via establishing water treatment plants, and create a climate suitable for optimal water management.

In his recorded speech at the opening of CWW on Sunday, President Al-Sisi called for upholding the principles of international cooperation and solidarity in order for the world to overcome all water-related challenges. He called on the participants in the CWWs discussions to encourage riparian states to uphold the values of integration and participation, activate the rules of justice and equity, and not compromise the interests of their neighbours.

Mincing no words, Al-Sisi reconfirmed Egypts keenness to reach a legally binding and balanced agreement as soon as possible and without further delay on the long-standing dispute with Ethiopia on the GERD. The Egyptian people, he said, are closely following the developments of the GERD issue. And I would like to stress our aspiration to reach  as soon as possible and without further delay  a balanced and legally binding agreement in line with the presidential statement issued by the Security Council on 15 September 2021.

The agreement Egypt is seeking would guarantee Ethiopias development goals as well as limit the water, environmental, social, and economic damages of the dam to Egypt and Sudan.

The Security Council presidential statement, encouraging Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to resume negotiations to swiftly reach a mutually acceptable and binding agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD, was not the best outcome Egypt and Sudan have been looking for. The two countries strongly pushed for a Tunisian-proposed binding resolution calling for an official agreement among the three countries, reached through the mediation of the African Union. Yet the presidential statement remained to be a united world message that the GERD dispute is no simple cross-border water issue, and could definitely pose a threat to international peace and security.

When the lives of more than 100 million people are at stake, the world cannot stand by watching only because one or two key world powers are worried that the Security Council should not turn into a body aimed at settling international water disputes. In the case of GERD, Egypt and Sudan have been negotiating in good faith for 10 years, and agreed on guiding principles with Ethiopia in 2015 to provide assurances that the dam project would not cause massive harm.

However, consecutive Ethiopian governments spared no effort to buy time without reaching agreement, while continuing on the ground the building and storage of water behind the GERD. Diplomatic talks, mediated by the AU, the United States, the European Union or the UN have all failed due to Ethiopias intransigence and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds domestic considerations. Ethiopia has repeatedly refused to sign such a deal and, instead, insists on mere guidelines that can be modified at any time at its discretion.

Egypt is ready to resume the tripartite GERD negotiations, but with international guarantees and in the presence of international observers. Relatively positive statements came out of Addis Ababa this week, stating that Ethiopia would not attempt to affect water flow to Egypt through the GERD. However, intentions are not enough, and no positive statements have meaning before they are translated into an agreement.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 28 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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China's threats of military action against Taiwan are ``absolutely not an option'' and will ``only push our two sides further from each other,`` Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Monday.

Speaking on Taiwan's National Day, Tsai said China should not mistake competition within Taiwan's multiparty democratic political system for weakness and an ``attempt to divide Taiwanese society.''

``I want to make clear to the Beijing authorities that armed confrontation is absolutely not an option for our two sides,`` Tsai said.

``Only by respecting the commitment of the Taiwanese people to our sovereignty, democracy, and freedom can there be a foundation for resuming constructive interaction across the Taiwan Strait,`` she said.

Fighter jets and a Chinook helicopter displaying Taiwan's flag flew overhead while the band from Taipei's First Girls' High School played hits ranging from the Beatles to Lady Gaga.

National Day included international guests such as Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr., whose country's blue and yellow flag flew alongside Taiwan's red banner with its blue square and white star.

Despite its expression of Taiwan's endurance as an independent political entity with a thriving democracy and free press, the holiday _ generally known as ``Double Ten'' in Taiwan _ commemorates a 1911 uprising by troops in the Chinese city of Wuhan that eventually led to the downfall of the Qing Dynasty.

China's Communist Party swept the Nationalist government from the mainland amid civil war in 1949 and continues to claim the island.

Tsai's speech focused mainly on Taiwan's success in strengthening the social security net for an ageing society and continuing to grow its high-tech economy despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

But she also emphasized Taiwan's boosted efforts to protect itself from China's threat, both with increased imports of foreign hardware and the revitalization of the domestic arms industry and upgraded training for reserves.

Tsai singled out Taiwan's submarine development program and the delivery of its first domestically developed and constructed 10,000-ton landing platform dock Yushan as particular successes.

Russia's war on Ukraine has refocused attention on China and methods by which Taiwan can resist a much larger and more powerful foe equipped with the world's largest standing army and a huge arsenal of missiles.

That was further underscored when China launched threatening military exercises around the island in response to an early August visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Those included sending ships and planes across the midline of the Taiwan Strait which had long been a buffer zone between the sides.

China also declared testing zones around the island in some of the world's most heavily travelled shipping lanes and fired at least four missiles over Taiwan, some of them landing in Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Japan issued diplomatic protests over the missile firings and signed on to a statement from the Group of Seven industrialized countries criticizing the threatening war games.

Despite Beijing's threats, U.S. and other foreign diplomats have continued to visit Taiwan and Washington's commitment to Taiwan's defense has only appeared to grow.

Although Taipei and Washington have no formal diplomatic relations _ a concession made to Beijing on the establishment of official ties in 1979 _ U.S. law requires that Taipei has the ability to defend itself. It also requires Washington to regard all threats to the island as matters of ``grave concern.``

That commitment has long rested on the concept of ``strategic ambiguity`` that, while Washington wants to resolve Taiwan's status peacefully, it doesn't say whether U.S. forces might be sent in response to a Chinese attack, which has gradually eroded as China's threat has sharpened.

U.S. President Joe Biden, in a CBS ``60 Minutes'' interview last month, said that ``U.S. forces, U.S. men and women, would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.''

The White House said after the interview that U.S. policy toward Taiwan hasn't changed.

Last month, the Biden administration announced a $1.09 billion arms sale to Taiwan, including $355 million for Harpoon air-to-sea missiles and $85 million for Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, the State Department said.

The largest portion of the sale, however, is a $655 million logistics support package for Taiwan's surveillance radar program, which provides air defence warnings.

The State Department said the equipment is necessary for Taiwan to ``maintain a sufficient self-defence capability.''

After Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Party swept him from the mainland amid civil war in 1949, Taiwan's flag and other political traditions were transported to Taiwan, a former Japanese colony, as the island was restored to Chinese rule at the end of World War II.

Chiang ruled with an iron fist until his death in 1975, and with the end of martial law in 1987, Taiwan gradually took on the trappings of modern democracy.

China, however, has refused to acknowledge Taiwanese self-determination and has refused to recognise Tsai's government or have any formal contact with it since her first of two terms began in 2016.

Along with exerting military pressure, Beijing has blocked Taiwan from taking part in international health, economic and cultural forums and has banned some imports from the island in apparent violation of World Trade Organization rules.

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The Egyptian Cabinet approved on Wednesday a draft law allowing Egyptians living abroad or their families to have one personal-use vehicle shipped to Egypt without paying customs duties or taxes, including the value-added tax (VAT).

Instead, an Egyptian expat can deposit the value of the customs duties and taxes that they would have paid for releasing their car from customs to the Egyptian Ministry of Finance as a five-year bank deposit without interests in foreign currency, a statement by the Cabinet read.

Five years later, the expat will be able to withdraw the money in Egyptian pounds at the value of the local currency at the time of withdrawal, the statement noted.

Egypt has been suffering from a drop in foreign currency in recent months in light of the war in Ukraine, which has applied pressure on currency and slowed down imports.

According to figures from the Central Bank of Egypt, Egypts foreign reserves declined over the past few months before they increased in September by $56 million to hit $33.198 billion by the end of September.

The exemptions under the new draft law will only be allowed for a four-month period starting from the day when the law comes into effect, during which expats will have to make the deposit to the government, the statement stressed.

Egyptian expats willing to have their cars shipped without custom duties should be above 16 years old and have legal residence abroad.

They must also have an overseas bank account that is at least three months old. An expats spouse or children are exempted from this requirement, the statement added.

Second-hand cars have to be less than three years old to apply to the new law, the statement added.

If an expat fails to import their car within a year since depositing the money to the finance ministry, they will be able to immediately withdraw the money in foreign currency, according to the law.

The draft law will be sent to parliament for approval, Minister of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs Soha Samir El-Gindy said in TV remarks.

The bank deposit must be in dollars and expats will be able to withdraw the full value of the deposit after its maturity, El-Gindy said.

Imported cars have to be less than three years old in order to not harm environment, the minister added.

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On the eve of the opening of a key Chinese Communist Party congress, party leader, head of state and commander of the armed forces Xi Jinping seems more in charge than ever, having given no indication of stepping away from power or anointing a successor.

Xi had given few signs during his steady rise through the ranks of the party that he would develop into one of modern China's most dominant leaders, or that he would put the economically and militarily ascendant country on a collision course with the U.S.-led international order.

Those illusions have been all but swept away, however, ahead of the century-old party's opening of its 20th congress Sunday. What's not clear is how long he will remain in power, and what that means for China and the world.

``Xi Jinping is certainly a polarizing individual,`` said Joseph Torigian, a Chinese politics expert at American University in Washington, D.C.

While some have resented XI's trampling on what few freedoms Chinese citizens still enjoyed under the one-party state, others say China's various and acute challenges require that a ``strong leader is needed to keep at bay the recipes for chaos and dysfunction,'' Torigian said.

Xi's third term is a break with an unofficial two-term limit that other recent leaders had followed. What's not clear is how long he will remain in power, and what that means for China and the world.

``I see Xi having his way at the 20th congress, mostly. It is a question of how much more powerful he will be coming out of it,`` said Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at the London University School of Oriental and African Studies. ``He is not coming out looking weaker.''

One of Xi's signature policies has been an anti-corruption campaign that has been popular with the public and conveniently enabled him to sideline potential rivals. A former justice minister and a former deputy public security minister received suspended death sentences last month.

The continuing anti-corruption campaign, Tsang said, shows that ``anyone who stands in his way will be crushed.''

Xi, 69, had the right pedigree to climb to the top. He enjoyed a privileged early youth in Beijing as the son of Xi Zhongxun, a former vice premier and guerrilla commander in the civil war that brought Mao's communists to power in 1949.

His family, though, fell afoul of the capriciousness of Mao's rule during the anarchy of the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, which banished intellectuals to the countryside and subjected many to public humiliation and brutal beatings in the name of class struggle.

His father was jailed and Xi, at the age of 15, was sent to live in a poor rural village in Shaanxi province in 1969 as part of Mao's campaign to have educated urban young people to learn from peasants. He lived as villagers did in a hut carved into the area's cliffs.

The experience is said to have toughened Xi and given him an understanding of the struggles of the rural population. He stayed in the village for six years, until receiving a coveted scholarship to the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing.

``Knives are sharpened on the stone. People are refined through hardship,'' Xi told a Chinese magazine in 2001. ``Whenever I later encountered trouble, I'd just think of how hard it had been to get things done back then and nothing would then seem difficult.''

Alfred Wu, who covered Xi for Chinese state media in Fujian, remembers him as quiet and low-profile, saying he wasn't as assertive as he has become as a national leader.

``Nowadays, Xi Jinping is totally different from Xi Jinping as a governor,`` said Wu, now an associate professor of public policy at the National University of Singapore.

Xi was moved to neighbouring Zhejiang province in 2002, where he was party leader for more than four years, the top position outranking the governor. He then briefly was made party secretary in nearby Shanghai in 2007, after his predecessor fell in a corruption scandal.

Over his time in Fujian, Zhejiang and Shanghai, Xi was seen mainly as a pragmatist who didn't originate bold proposals but generally backed the economic reforms that Deng had initiated and benefited in particular coastal areas such as those three jurisdictions.

He also spoke out against corruption as governor in Fujian after a major smuggling scandal, a hint perhaps of the national crackdown that came after his rise to the top.

Xi was thrust into the national leadership in 2007. That's when he joined the all-powerful Standing Committee of the Communist Party's Politburo, a prelude to being named to the top position at the next congress in 2012.

Xi has taken control of economic and military matters and had his name enshrined in the party constitution alongside Mao by adding a reference to his ideology _ Xi Jinping Thought.

The ideology is vague but emphasizes reviving the party's mission as China's political, economic, social and cultural leader and its central role in achieving the goal of ``national rejuvenation,'' the restoration of the country to a position of prominence in the world.

His government has increased the role of state industry while launching anti-monopoly and data security crackdowns on high-flying private sector firms including e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and Tencent Holding, the owner of the popular WeChat messaging service.

Xi has also revived a 1950's propaganda slogan ``common prosperity'' in a nod to a burgeoning gap between the rich and the poor, though it's unclear if the government plans any major initiatives to address that.

With the economy sagging from pandemic-era restrictions and a government crackdown on spiralling real estate debt, the concern is rising that Xi is engineering a shift away from Deng's strategy of ``reform and opening up'' that delivered four decades of growth.

Wu views Xi as a disciple of Mao rebelling against Deng, who allowed the private sector to flourish and sought positive relations with the West. ``He's really anti-U.S. and anti-West,'' Wu said.

Xi's more confrontational approach stems from a belief that now is the time for a stronger China to play a larger role in international affairs and stand up to outside pressure.

Xi has antagonized Japan, India and other Asian neighbours by pressing claims to disputed islands in the South and East China Seas, and territory high up in the Himalayas. He has also ramped up military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan, the island democracy that the Communist Party says belongs to China.

Relations with the U.S. have tumbled to their lowest level since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1979, with the Biden administration maintaining tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump and blocking Chinese access to important American technologies.

Within China, the Communist Party under Xi has increased surveillance, tightened already strict control over speech and media and cracked down further on dissent, censoring even mildly critical views and jailing those it believes went too far.

Authorities have detained an estimated million or more members of predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in China's Xinjiang region in a harsh anti-extremism campaign that has been labelled genocide by the U.S. In Hong Kong.

Xi's government responded to massive protests with a tough national security law that has eliminated political opposition and altered the once-freewheeling nature of the city.

Xi is facing a challenge to his government's harsh ``zero-COVID'' policies, which have taken an economic and human toll. Small groups of residents staged protests during a two-month lockdown in Shanghai earlier this year.

In a rare political protest, someone hung banners from an elevated highway in Beijing this week calling for freedom, not lockdowns, and worker and student strike to force Xi out. They were quickly removed, police deployed and any mention of the incident speedily wiped from the internet.

The government has stuck with the policy, which earlier was seen as a success as COVID-19 ravaged other parts of the world. Although there is simmering dissatisfaction, particularly as life returns to normal in other parts of the world, most people don't dare to speak out.

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The night before the concert, major roads as well as a number of tourist spots in the port city, including the Gwangan Bridge, were lit in purple in honour of the septet.

BTS are credited with generating billions for the South Korean economy, and their label enjoyed a surge in profits despite holding fewer concerts during the coronavirus pandemic.

In June, the septet dropped the bombshell announcement that they were taking a break as a group to pursue solo projects.

Aside from music, the band has championed global progressive causes, from the Black Lives Matter protests to raising awareness on mental health to battling anti-Asian racism in the United States.

"BTS, if you are getting this message, thank you. Thank you so much for everything," an emotional fan from the US told a local broadcaster in Busan on Friday, adding she was inspired by their music when things were difficult.

"I will never give up on myself because you never gave up on me."

'Believe in us'

In June, the band, who are known to be extremely hard-working and maintained a relentless pace of new releases in their nine years atop the charts, said they were "exhausted" as they announced their break.

But just about a month after that announcement, the government appointed them official ambassadors for Busan's bid to host the World Expo in 2030.

The prospect of South Korea's mandatory military service continues to hover over BTS, with its stars ranging in age from 25-year-old Jungkook to Jin, 29, who must sign up by December or risk jail.

"If you believe in us, we'll overcome whatever comes in our way no matter what, and happily perform and make music. Please believe in us," the band's leader RM told fans during the concert.

All able-bodied South Korean men under the age of 30 must perform about two years of military service, mainly because the country remains technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea.

Seoul's defence minister in August said BTS may be allowed to continue performing and preparing for international concerts even while undertaking military duty.

Jin, who turns 30 in December and faces enlistment, announced during the concert that he would release a solo album soon.

"I was able to collaborate with someone I really adore," he told fans, without explaining further.

Pop-up stores

Even for non-fans, the concert was a stunning event to witness.

"This is the first K-pop concert of my life and I've never seen this many people -- including foreigners from all over the world -- gathered together," Cecilia Yoo, 40, who attended the concert, told AFP.

Aside from the concert, "there were pop-up stores across Busan selling BTS goods, and so many were waiting in line to buy them. Train tickets were sold out. I understood why the band is so important to South Korea's economy," she added.

South Korea is among four countries that have bid to host the World Expo in 2030, along with Ukraine, Italy and Saudi Arabia, according to the expo's organising body.

The Bureau International des Expositions is scheduled to vote on the winning host country next year.

According to the bureau, the historic events -- which take place roughly every five years -- "are a global gathering of nations dedicated to finding solutions to pressing challenges of our time by offering ... engaging and immersive activities".
Egypt launched on Sunday the fifth edition of Cairo Water Week (CWW 2022) less then a month before the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) under the theme Water at the Heart of Climate Action.

This years edition features over 1,000 participants from 70 countries and 66 international organisations.

The annual event, which aims to spread awareness on water issues and promote innovation to face the most pressing water-related challenges, is scheduled to run through Wednesday.

The four-day event is being held under the auspices of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and is organised by the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources and the European Unions delegation to Egypt.

El-Sisi is set to deliver a recorded speech during the opening session.

The occasion brings together policymakers, diplomats, representatives of UN agencies and regional organisations, financial institutions and donors, water experts from public and private institutions and the media to discuss key policies, strategies and plans to counter climate-water challenges.

CWW is one of the many preparatory events for COP27, the irrigation ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The CWWs recommendations will be presented at the conferences Water Pavilion.

COP27 is set to be held 6-18 November in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

The EU delegation to Egypt said in a statement that renowned water experts will share latest developments in global water sector trends and exchange innovative ideas and solutions for improving the sustainable management of water resources through various plenary sessions and high-level events.

This edition will focus on the five sub-themes titled Water Security and Climate Change, Protecting the Deltas, Water-related Adaptations to Climate Change, Water, Climate Change and Future Cooperation and Climate Water-related Disasters Preparation and Management.

CWW 2022 will also be organised in parallel with conference activities, allowing public and private institutions in the water sector and related businesses and industries to showcase their products, programs and advanced technologies in desalination, renewable energy and water conservation.

The event also includes competitions, including for the best graduation project for university graduates 2021-2022, the three-minute thesis competition for masters students and the STEM young water inventors competition for high school students.

The winners of the three competitions will be recognised at CWWs awards ceremony on Wednesday.

Egypt, as one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, is paying special attention to water issues.

Egypt needs 114 billion cubic metres (bcm) annually, but it receives an average of only 60 bcm, mainly from the Nile River in light of the very limited amounts of rainwater and groundwater in the desert.

Egypt is working on filling the gap through the reuse of agricultural wastewater and groundwater, in addition to importing food products that would otherwise consume 34 bcm of water annually to produce.

Egypt has drawn up a strategy for its water resources through 2050, at a cost of up to EGP 900 billion (about $57.3 billion). The issue is also included in its recently issued National Strategy for Climate Change 2050.

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Egypt is committed to doing its utmost to resolve the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue in such a manner that serves the interests of all the parties involved, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said.

"Egypt also appeals to the international community to consolidate the efforts needed for achieving this fair goal,' President Sisi added in a pre-recorded speech for the opening of the 5th edition of Cairo Water Week (CWW 2022), which kicked off Sunday under the theme: "Water at the Heart of Climate Action."

He also stated that Egypt had always been among the first countries to uphold international law and principles related to transboundary rivers, to avoid casing any harm to other parties and ensure equitable use of shared resources.

Sisi stressed that it is Egypt's firm conviction to work together to optimize the wealth of the Nile basin to ensure prosperity for all, instead of uncooperative individual action that only leads to limited development.

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SODIC, a leading real estate developer in Egypt, will be among the sponsors of the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), slated for 6-18 November in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypts presidency of the conference announced in a statement.

Egypts Assistant Foreign Minister and General Coordinator for COP27 Organisational and Financial Affairs Ashraf Abbas signed an MoU last week with SODICs Managing Director Maged Sherif under which SODIC will participate in the conference as a supporting sponsor.

SODICs participation comes in line with its strong and longstanding commitment to integrating environmental, social and corporate governance frameworks into its strategy and operations, the COP27 presidency stated.

Founded in 1996, SODIC is a leading real estate development company that is committed to building communities across Egypt in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SODIC is a signatory of the non-binding UN Global Compact aimed at encouraging businesses around the world to adopt sustainable, socially responsible policies.

The COP27 presidency has so far announced multiple sponsors and partners to the conference, including leading US tech company IBM, Vodafone, and Boston Consulting Group as partners and Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and SODIC as sponsors.

The Egyptian presidency of COP27 has vowed to work with local and international parties to push forward climate action and turn climate pledges into action on the ground.

Egypt hopes to use its presidency of the conference to encourage emissions reduction, advance climate adaptation and mitigation efforts and boost climate finance flows to developing countries.

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Billionaire Elon Musk suggested in a Saturday tweet that his rocket company SpaceX may continue to fund its satellite-based Starlink internet service in Ukraine. But Musk's tone and wording also raised the possibility that the irascible Tesla CEO was just being sarcastic.

Musk frequently tweets jokes and insults and sometimes goes on unusual tangents, such as a recent series of tweets suggesting that one of his companies has begun selling its own line of fragrances. It is not clear if SpaceX has actually established future plans for service in Ukraine.

On Friday, senior U.S. officials confirmed that Musk had officially asked the Defense Department to take over funding for the service Starlink provides in Ukraine.

Starlink, which provides broadband internet service using more than 2,200 low-orbiting satellites, has provided crucial battlefield communications for Ukrainian military forces since early in the nation's defence against Russia's February invasion.



File Photo: Antenna of the Starlink satellite-based broadband system donated by the US tech billionaire Elon Musk in Izyum, Kharkiv region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on September 25, 2022. AFP

``The hell with it. even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we'll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free,`` Musk tweeted Saturday.

Early Friday, Musk tweeted that it was costing SpaceX $20 million a month to support Ukraine's communications needs. Tesla didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

The senior U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter not yet made public, said the issue of Starlink funding has been discussed in meetings and that senior leaders are weighing the matter. There have been no decisions.

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By Trend

The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline, Trend reports.

The erupted 44-day Second Karabakh War ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation.

Trend presents the chronicle of the 20th day of the Second Karabakh war:

- President Ilham Aliyev interviewed by A Haber TV channel.

- "Azerbaijans glorious Army has liberated Khirmanjig, Agbulag and Akhullu villages of Khojavend district. Long live Azerbaijans Army! Karabakh is Azerbaijan!" President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a post on his official Twitter account.

- The artillery battery belonging to the Armenian armed forces was destroyed, and the deputy commander of the forces regiment was injured. A list of the equipment of the Armenian Armed Forces destroyed at night was disclosed.

- The Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office reported that 47 civilians were killed and 222 injured as a result of shelling of Azerbaijani settlements by the Armenian armed forces.

- The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry shared footage from villages of the Khojavend district of Azerbaijan, which were liberated from the Armenian occupation.

- The Armenian armed forces, grossly violating the humanitarian ceasefire, continued shelling the territories of Goranboy, Tartar, Aghdam, Aghjabadi and Fuzuli districts of Azerbaijan.

- The Armenian armed forces launched a missile strike on the territory of the Ordubad district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.

- The Armenian side bombarded a cemetery in Ahmadaghalilar village, Aghdam district.

- The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry shared new footage from the liberated Hadrut settlement.

- The state flag of Azerbaijan was raised above the border outposts liberated from Armenian occupation.
A Palestinian man died Sunday of an Israeli army gunshot wound sustained during clashes the day before in a village of the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Two Palestinians were critically wounded by gunfire in the clashes Saturday in Qarawat Bani Hassan, near the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, according to the ministry.

It said Mujahed Dawood, 30, died in the hospital of his injuries.

The army said in a statement that "suspects hurled rocks" at soldiers who responded to "a violent riot" with live fire.

More than 100 Palestinian fighters and civilians have been killed since the start of the year, the heaviest toll in the West Bank for nearly seven years, according to the United Nations.

Violence has surged amid near-daily West Bank raids and a rise in attacks on Israeli troops.

The expansion of Israeli military operations, especially in the northern West Bank, followed deadly attacks inside Israel earlier this year.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War.

The Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, COGAT, announced Sunday it had withdrawn permits to enter Israel for 164 family members of "terrorists of the Nablus region".

"The terrorists hiding among the civilian population of Nablus must understand their identity is known to the security services and their choice to follow the path of terrorism will have repercussions on their families who will no longer be able to make a living in Israel," COGAT head Ghasan Alyan said in a statement.

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Ninety-two migrants were found almost naked and bruised after allegedly being forced across the Evros river from Turkey into Greece, Athens said Sunday.

EU border agency Frontex confirmed to AFP the arrival of the group in circumstances which the Greek ministry for civil protection said sent out an "inhuman image."

"The Frontex officers reported that the migrants were found almost naked and some of them with visible injuries," said Paulina Bakula, spokeswoman for the organisation.

Bakula, speaking from Frontex's Warsaw HQ, said Frontex officers worked with Greek authorities to provide the migrants -- mainly Afghans and Syrians -- with immediate assistance.

She added the organisation had informed the agency's fundamental rights officer of a potential rights violation.

Greek minister for civil protection, Takis Theodorikakos, accused Turkey of "instrumentalising illegal immigration" in the latest of a series of recriminations on migration between the neighbours.

Theodorikakos told Skai television many of the migrants had told Frontex that "three Turkish army vehicles had transferred them" to the river which acts as a natural border.

Ankara denied any responsibility and Interior Minister Ismail Catakli called on Greece to stop what in a tweet he termed its "manipulations and dishonesty."

Greek minister for migration and asylum, Notis Mitarachi, had Saturday described the incident as a "shame on civilisation."

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Egypt expects to attract foreign currency worth around EGP 50 billion ($2.5 billion) from the four-month initiative announced recently by the government that allows Egyptians expats to import personal cars free of customs duties or taxes, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said on Sunday.

Egypt expects that more than 500,000 cars will be imported into Egypt by Egyptian expats who will take advantage of the initiative, Maait said in an interview with Asharq Business on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Washington.

Last week, the Egyptian Cabinet approved a draft law allowing Egyptians living abroad, who number around 14 million according to 2021 official figures, to import to Egypt one private car per person free of customs duties and taxes, including the value-added tax (VAT).

According to the draft law, expats can invest the value of saved customs duties and taxes in foreign currency in a five-year certificate of deposit (CD), but without earning interest.

These expats will be able to recover the deposit in Egyptian pounds at its price at the end of the period. The exemptions are valid for a four-month period starting on the day the law comes into effect.

In his interview, Maait noted that the duration of the exemption was limited to four months in order not to adversely impact the government's strategy of localising car manufacturing.

The initiative has garnered special interest among Egyptian expats in the Gulf, who total more than 3.5 million, he noted.

Customs and tax duties that are currently imposed on vehicles imported into the country could exceed more than EGP 3 million, he said.

Egypt has struggled with a drop in foreign currency reserves (NIRs) in recent months since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

Egypt's NIRs registered $33.198 in September, down from $40.994 billion in February at the time of the start of the Ukraine crisis.

To increase foreign currency reserves, the state-owned National Bank of Egypt (NBE) and Banque Misr doubled interest on dollar-denominated bank certificates, a step that analysts say could attract interest from Egyptian expats.

Egyptian expats who want to take advantage of the initiative should be above 16 years of age and have legal residence abroad.

They must also have an overseas bank account that is at least three months old.

Expats' spouses and children are exempted from this requirement, the statement added.

The initiative would only apply to new cars that are manufactured in 2022 or second-hand cars that are no more than three years old in order to protect the environment, Minister of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs Soha El-Gindy said in TV remarks last week.

If an expat does not import a car within a year after depositing the money to the finance ministry, they will be able to immediately recover the deposit in foreign currency, according to the draft law.

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Political cartoons in newspapers and magazines are designed to catch the attention of readers and to entertain them, balancing sometimes heavy news articles. Such cartoons can also be a good way of connecting with readers because many of these are looking for succinct political commentary without too many details.



However, traditional professional cartoons can take a lot of time to create, and they may no longer be suitable in a digital age where information travels around the world in seconds. As a result, a new and quicker form of political commentary has emerged to keep up with todays faster pace. Today, political memes have taken social media by storm.



Political memes are like small capsules of attitudes or emotions that can poke fun at political life, helping to unwrap various issues and present them in bite-sized form. They are a new cultural trend in the digital era because they are easy to understand, edit and publish. They are also a quick and often funny expression of how readers might feel. They often fulfil a need among a specific audience and one that has a similar cultural and linguistic background.

Such memes require an understanding of the social-media topics and trending issues in a given society in order to be understood, as in order to appreciate the references in the meme in question or understand the hidden joke it is necessary to know what is happening on social media. People who are not digital citizens may need to call on others for explanations of what digital memes might mean.They are often created by editing a picture or scene from a famous film, television series, commercial, theatre piece or popular video with the addition of a caption that makes the audience see it in a new and witty way pertaining to a new situation the meme creator is referencing. This is much easier than drawing a political cartoon from scratch, and it can be done quickly and easily by using an app or photoshop on a smart phone to upload a picture, add a caption, and then share it with others.In this sense a meme differs from a comic strip in that the latter is made up of a series of pictures that tell a story, while a meme is a comment using a picture that an audience is already familiar with. If you draw a picture or use one that is unknown to many people, this is not a meme. If you use a picture that can be referenced by many people, that is a meme.A meme will often either trigger a satirical or an emotional response, and it feeds into its audiences sense of belonging to a group or ideology or having the same view of a public figure or sharing the same political cause. If the meme is able to trigger a reaction of this sort, it will then be shared by others, spreading further across social media.Moreover, a political culture is part of the public culture of any society. According to US political scientist Sidney Verba, a political culture is a system that includes the beliefs, symbols and values that define the circumstance in which political action is taking place. For another commentator, it is made up of the attitudes, symbols, beliefs and feelings that give meaning to the political process.Political memes, therefore, are a new form of political connection and a growing tool of political rhetoric. Politicians may use them to attract and mobilise the electorate, especially young people. In the past, political cartoons typically focused on what the cartoonists wanted to say or emphasise; but today, politicians can use political memes to battle their opponents without needing the help of professionals. All they need to do this is a smart phone.US President Donald Trump posted a photograph of his wife Melania next to Heidi Cruz, wife of fellow Republican Ted Cruz, to insult the latters appearance when the two men were rivals during the 2016 US presidential elections, for example.There is still debate about whether radical right-wing and sometimes racist memes were a determining factor in Trumps victory. Since many memes can be obscure and open to interpretation, it is difficult to hold their creators accountable for inciting hate or violence. They can easily deny any negative interpretations of their work or claim that they are meant as a joke.There are concerns that such memes could replace the serious objective dialogue that is necessary for a healthy democracy, however.EGYPTS EXPERIENCE: How has the political culture changed in Egypt due to the emergence of political memes and the influencers behind them?It is well known that the demonstrations that led up to the 25 January2011 Revolution were partly due to the material appearing on the We are all Khaled Said Facebook page created in 2010 by Wael Ghoneim, an online activist who called himself a keyboard freedom fighter. Ghoneim was a computer engineer who was also the regional marketing manager for Google in the Middle East and North Africa.The Tamarrod (Rebellion) campaign that demanded the removal of the Muslim Brotherhood group from power in Egypt in 2013 also used social media to collect signatures for its petition. Political memes online played a key role in both events, and they can be brought back to life by looking again at the memes that circulated at the time.President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi also recently laughed when he was shown some of the memes referencing the most recent spike in petrol prices, telling the first session of the seventh National Youth Conference held in the New Administrative Capital last month that when the government tackles vital issues it takes into consideration the reaction of people on social media.He said that the government routinely gauges the possible reaction of the people before taking difficult decisions. This demonstrates how the countrys political culture has evolved in the digital age, since physical banners, such as those that were once used in demonstrations, have now often been replaced by digital memes, with the government closely monitoring the Internet in order to gauge the state of public opinion.

Mona Badran, a professor of media studies at the American University in London, said that memes could be an effective way to spread satirical opinions using pictures, but she felt that their impact could be limited. Their purpose was only to make people laugh by sending a specific and humorous message, with Facebook being the most popular platform for such memes, she said. Whether such memes could shape more considered political reflection was a different matter, she added.



However, Al-Sisis interest in the memes that were shown to him at the National Youth Conference showed that he was interested in the opinions of the youth and followed their concerns. It also showed that he was open to criticism and different opinions and took these into consideration before taking decisions.



Khaled Al-Baramawi, a media commentator, said that Egyptians had always been known for their wit and satire, particularly on political issues. With the rise of social media, Egyptians have become top producers of digital content, he said. When you combine Egyptian humour and online activity, you can understand why digital satire is so popular among Egyptians, including on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and other platforms. Politics is a conversation staple, and memes are often produced based on statements by officials.



He told Al-Ahram Weekly that it was common for the government to take memes into account when looking at the social impact of decisions, and many governments around the world also monitored digital content, including pictures, cartoons, and memes. This was done to find out the attitudes of users, whether positive or negative, and to gauge reactions to government policies, he said.



Companies now also routinely carry out analyses of their presence on social media, in order to explore the attitudes of target audiences and consumer behaviour.



DIGITAL SURVEY: The Weekly contacted the administrators of several Facebook pages that create and publish political memes to find out more about the goals of these pages, the process of creating a meme from idea to publication, and whether a meme can be objective or if it is necessarily coloured by ideology.



Politically Incorrect Memes is a Facebook page that is particularly clever in creating political cartoons and memes. Its administrator explained that the name of the page was self-explanatory and a protest against the political correctness that he said had become the de facto controller of peoples actions, from the most influential to the everyday man on the street.



Although there are many definitions of the term politically correct, the page administrator saw it as a way of clustering moral codes and concepts and imposing them on society under the guise of moral guardianship, while ignoring the relevant context. Anyone who breaks such codes runs the risk of being branded as a male chauvinist, a racist, or some other prepackaged accusation that over time has evolved into something like moral fascism, he claimed.



In the US, some teachers have been fired for using allegedly inappropriate language on their personal social-media accounts, for example, and other people have been fired for allegedly holding the wrong opinions. We may now have reached a stage of unprecedented pettiness when it comes to sanctioning those seen as gender non-conformists.



The administrator of Politically Incorrect Memes said the page wanted to punch a hole, even if a tiny one, in the wall of social awareness about this trend by showing its pettiness in constantly emotionally blackmailing people and telling them they are morally unacceptable. That is why the page was created and also due to the direct impact of this trend on our region.

He said that in some parts of the West there was a saying that said that the left cant meme. whereas in the Middle East the majority of meme pages are left-leaning or close to a hybrid ideology of a pinch of the left, a pinch of revolution, and a lot of religious [conservatism], he said. Meanwhile, meme pages that are pro-state or right wing have fewer followers, being seen as less amusing and inventive. This showed that in the Middle East, unlike in the West, the right cant meme.



There are no specific steps that need to be followed when creating a meme, he said. Sometimes the template comes first and then the idea, and at other times the opposite happens, which is harder because you have an idea and are trying to find a way to frame it. He added that naturally the attitudes and outlook of the administrator influences the content and the message since these are an expression of his opinions. If you know the administrator of a page, you will not be surprised by the content because it will likely be the same as what he writes on his personal page, he said.



Yet, meme pages can be attacked by the state, the revolutionaries, and the Islamists. They rely on the quality of their creations and are not funded by advertising like other pages. Nationalist Memes is a Facebook page with 11,000 followers and one administrator who advocates for Egyptian nationalism and promotes this idea to the public, for example. The aim is to instill patriotism into a generation that may be sceptical of it and to respond to rumours on social media.



The pages administrator said the process of creating memes began by following trends on social media. I look for a punchline or a comic scene or funny picture that can be applied to the event, situation, or issue at hand, and I design a meme using photoshop or another photo-editing programme, he said.



Asked whether political memes had replaced the tools of the traditional political opposition, he said that the opposition political parties are very weak in Egypt and have no impact on the streets. People do not care to hear about them or know what they are doing. Memes, however, are followed by many Egyptians, especially young people who may sign up to several meme pages and interact with them all the time. Their impact is so great that many of the ideas doing the rounds of young people in Egypt have their origin in a meme on the Internet.



He also pointed to Trumps social-media strategy, in which the US president publishes memes and videos to make fun of his political opponents, as well as other countries such as Iran.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 29 August, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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France will train up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers on its territory, Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu told Le Parisien newspaper in an interview on Saturday.

The soldiers will "be taken into our units for several weeks", he said, adding that there would be three levels of training: general combat, "specific needs outlined by the Ukrainians such as logistics" and then training on how to use defence materiel furnished by Ukraine's Western allies.

He said this would be done respecting rules, adding: "It will not be in a belligerent fashion because we are not at war. We are helping a country that is at war" with Russia

France will also provide Ukraine with Crotale air defence systems, he said, without specifying how many.

The number is being "defined with the Ukrainians" he said, adding that it "will be significant to allow them to defend their skies".

The minister said six more Caesar mobile artillery units could be supplied to Kyiv on top of the 18 already furnished, while the possibility of donating surface-to-surface missiles was also being looked into.

The Caesar can accurately strike targets more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) away.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said Paris would deliver radars, systems and missiles to Ukraine.

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The war in Ukraine has heightened fears about nuclear exposure  and interest in iodine pills that can help protect the body from some radiation.

Concerns have grown in recent weeks over periodic power cuts to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant that have increased the risk of a meltdown. And threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin that he will use all means necessary to win the war in Ukraine has raised the specter of nuclear warfare.

Some countries in Europe have started stockpiling the tablets and pharmacies in Finland began to run low on the pills after that countrys health ministry recommended households buy a single dose in case of emergency.

But what are iodine pills? And what can they do  and what cant they do  in the case of a nuclear leak or attack?

Potassium iodide, or KI, offers specific protection against one kind exposure. It prevents the thyroid  a hormone-producing gland in the neck  from picking up radioactive iodine, which can be released into the atmosphere in a nuclear accident.

This radioactive material can increase the risk of thyroid cancer if it gets into the body, for example by breathing it in or eating contaminated food. Its especially dangerous for children, and its health risks can last for many years after exposure, according to the World Health Organization.

Iodine tablets work by filling up the thyroid with a stable version of iodine so that the radioactive kind cant get in. If the thyroid is already packed with potassium iodide, it wont be able to pick up the harmful iodine thats left after a nuclear accident.

The pills are cheap and sold all over the world, and many countries, including the U.S., stockpile them.

But potassium iodide doesnt protect against other kinds of radioactive threats. A nuclear bomb, for example, can release many different kinds of radiation and radioactive material that can harm many parts of the body.

Health authorities caution that potassium iodide should only be taken in certain nuclear emergencies, and works best if its taken close to the time of exposure. It shouldnt be taken as a preventive measure ahead of time.

Potassium iodide doses can come with some side effects like rash, inflammation or an upset stomach. Those over 40 years old generally shouldnt take iodine tablets unless their expected exposure is very high, according to guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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Seventy-year-old British Kittyhawk  discovered earlier this year in Western Desert  will find permanent home in Egypt's Al-Alamein military museum

A British World War II-era airplane that was found in Egypt's Western Desert earlier this year  after having been lost for seven decades  is now on its way to Egypt's Al-Alamein Museum.

The military museum in Al-Alamein first opened its doors in 1956 to serve as a memorial for soldiers that fell in the bloody Battle of Al-Alamein, which took place between British and German forces in 1942.

The airplane, a Kittyhawk P-40, had belonged to the British Royal Air force.

The 70-year-old plane was discovered in May when a worker at a Polish petroleum company stumbled across it by accident.

Magdi Selim, head of domestic tourism at Egypt's Tourism Authority, told Al-Ahram's Arabic-language news website on Tuesday that transport of the airplane to the museum would likely be filmed by media outlets and subsequently aired on Egyptian television.

Selim expressed hope that the discovery would have a positive impact on Egypt's tourism sector  which has struggled since last year's Tahrir Square uprising  especially in Egypt's Western Desert.

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By Yasuko Kishimoto, KYODO NEWS - Oct 16, 2022 - 14:28 | Feature, All, Japan

Several letters written by Japanese soldiers who perished on an island in Indonesia during World War II have been found in the United States.

The Japan-War Bereaved Families Association received a request from a U.S. nonprofit organization that has been working to return the letters from soldiers addressed to their families in Gifu, Fukuoka, and Nagasaki prefectures. Despite their best efforts, the organization has so far been unable track down some of the families.

Kosuke Kudo, 48, of the Obon Society, an organization based in the United States that works to return personal items to families lost during war, said he hopes to deliver the letters to convey the value of peace.

Howard Royal, 43, an Iraq War veteran from 2006-2007, said the letters from the Japanese soldiers were discovered by his father "all together in a leather satchel" about a year ago in his grandfather's attic in North Carolina.

Royal's grandfather, now deceased, was a U.S. Navy surgeon who is believed to have obtained the letters while exploring a cave on Wakde, part of an island group in Indonesia that was the site of a fierce battle between Japan and the United States in May 1944.

"My grandfather arrived on Wakde island after a large air raid," Royal wrote in an email to Kyodo News. "When he had free time, he would explore the island's many caves. He found these letters in one of those caves," he said, adding that in his grandfather's correspondence to his grandmother, "he didn't say whether these letters were found on Japanese soldiers or in some (hidden) location."

Royal requested the JWBFA via the Obon Society to deliver them to the addressees written on the original letters, saying he felt they ought to be returned to their families, otherwise they may never know of their existence. Of five letters found, two were successfully returned to their respective families.

Of the three remaining men's letters, locating their families is proving difficult. One letter dated Sept. 21, 1943, and written by Naoichi Takagi is addressed to his wife in the town of Oroshi (currently part of Toki city, Gifu Prefecture). He writes to her that "Now, for the first time, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Takagi asks her to "competently raise" the couple's three children "with your own hands."

Another, written by Iwao Harada to a lady who appears to be his mother, Mrs. Tome Harada from Inasamachi, Nagasaki Prefecture, reads, "I believe participating in the Greater East Asia War and becoming a heroic spirit to protect the country is the greatest act of filial piety."

The final two letters are the written "wills" of Torakichi Yano from Fukuoka Prefecture, with one addressed to his wife and children, the other to his parents.

According to the JWBFA, all three men belonged to the army's independent field anti-aircraft 40th company and died on Wakde Island on May 20, 1944.

Gifu Prefecture's Bereaved Families Association is searching for Takagi's surviving family members, but a man believed to be his son appears to have moved away from Gifu some 20 years ago, making his whereabouts unknown. Similar obstacles in finding the families of Harada and Yano have occurred.

While residential records kept by local governments can be used as clues to find the family members listed in the addresses, significant holdups can occur due to the necessary undertaking of bureaucratic procedures associated with disclosing personal information.

Royal, who himself lost many friends on the battlefield in Iraq, said he hopes to "return these items to the families that they were meant for."

Commenting on the discovered letters, the Obon Society's Kudo remarked that "There are now only a handful of people who experienced the war, so it is important to let the next generation learn about the value of peace through mementos."

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FOCUS: Role in Japanese war machine made Hiroshima, Nagasaki A-bomb targets
By Maya Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - Oct 16, 2022 - 20:11 | World, All

Chinese leader Xi Jinping hailed Sunday what he views as the Communist Party's achievements during his 10 years at the helm and reiterated Beijing's commitment to reunification with Taiwan, as he gave the opening speech at the party's twice-a-decade congress.

Xi, who is set to secure an unprecedented third five-year term as general secretary at the nation's most important political event, lauded the party's "historic achievements" such as poverty reduction and stressed that it will "unswervingly advance the cause of national reunification" with Taiwan.

"We will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary," Xi said on Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing regards as its own, adding his remarks are directed at "interference by outside forces and the few separatists" seeking the island's independence.

He urged all the 96.7 million party members to strive in unity to build "a great modern socialist country" and "accelerate efforts to foster a new pattern of development" different from Western nations as he spoke for nearly two hours at the opening session of the weeklong congress convened at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi also called for a rapid elevation for "our people's armed forces to world-class standards," indicating the party will move forward the deadline of the goal on boosting capabilities of the People's Liberation Army from the mid-21st century.

He said China will "establish a strong system of strategic deterrence," suggesting that Beijing could enhance its nuclear capability.

On Taiwan, Xi said realizing China's complete reunification is a "historic mission" for the party and a "natural requirement" for achieving the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, which it aims to complete by 2050.

He warned against any interference by the United States or other countries amid heightened cross-strait tensions following U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island in early August.

"In response to separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' and gross provocations of external interference in Taiwan affairs, we have resolutely fought against separatism and countered interference, demonstrating our resolve and ability to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Xi said.

A rift between Beijing and Washington has been deepening with China fiercely reacting to Pelosi's Taiwan visit by carrying out large-scale military drills around the island.

In the speech, Xi also defended China's radical "zero-COVID" policy to stem coronavirus infections, saying the country launched an "all-out people's war" against the epidemic and succeeded in protecting lives "to the greatest extent possible."

Public frustration has grown over the stringent measures involving the imposition of lockdowns on cities where outbreaks occur and critics say they have helped slow the growth of the world's second-largest economy.

But Xi defied such views, claiming China made "tremendously encouraging achievements in both epidemic response and economic and social development."

Referring to Hong Kong, a former British colony and a semiautonomous region of China, Xi said "order has been restored" in the territory, "marking a major turn for the better" following Beijing's enactment of a national security law in 2020 that enabled authorities to crack down on pro-democracy protests.

The Chinese central government moves ensured "Hong Kong is governed by patriots," Xi said. Beijing will "crack down hard on anti-China elements who attempt to create chaos" and "take resolute action to prevent and stop interference" by external forces, he added.

Beijing has been tightening its grip on Hong Kong after large-scale protests against an unpopular bill morphed into a pro-democracy movement in 2019.

As for a long-term goal, Xi said China aims to become a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong and culturally advanced from 2035 through the middle of this century.

He pointed out the modernization process will be "characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context" such as "common prosperity for all," aimed at reducing income gaps in China. Under the goal, Beijing has imposed regulations on the nation's lucrative sectors such as the IT and financial industries.

Through the implementation of such economic policies, Xi pledged to substantially grow the country's per capita gross domestic product "to be on par with that of a mid-level developed country."

The leader also said China will boost its strength in science and technology amid intensifying competition with the United States in the sector to "achieve greater self-reliance," making its industrial and supply chains more resilient and secure.

Xi said China has made "breakthroughs in some core technologies in key fields" with major successes in such areas as space development, supercomputers, quantum information and nuclear power technology.

He also said China is committed to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and "stands firmly against all forms of hegemonism and power politics, the Cold War mentality, interference in other countries' internal affairs and double standards," alluding to its confrontation with the United States.

At the congress, the party is expected to amend its Constitution to incorporate wording indicating the 69-year-old leader's power and authority have been cemented, justifying what would be a norm-breaking extension of power for Xi.

Xi became the party's general secretary in 2012 and is already the most powerful leader in decades in the country.

The party's 20th National Congress will also see a reshuffle of its leadership, with attention drawn to who would succeed Premier Li Keqiang, 67, who is set to retire next spring, and whether he will stay on in the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee -- the country's highest decision-making body.

Wang Yang, 67, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, is a potential successor to Li, who is in charge of steering economic policy.

If the party's unwritten but de facto retirement age of 68 is applied to Politburo members other than Xi, two of the remaining six will step down -- top legislator Li Zhanshu, 72, and Vice Premier Han Zheng, 68.

Whether Xi can install trusted allies and loyalists on the standing committee and the wider Politburo, which now has 25 members, will also be a focus.

The new composition of the standing committee is expected to be unveiled one day after the congress concludes next Saturday, while around 2,300 delegates will also endorse a new Central Committee of some 200 members.

In 2018, China removed a two-term limit for the president and vice president from its Constitution, paving the way for Xi, who became the country's president in 2013, to hold power for life.

The previous congress in 2017 enshrined in the party constitution "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," making his status comparable to Communist-led China's founding father, Mao Zedong, and Deng Xiaoping, the architect of the country's reform efforts.

Related coverage:

Xi pitched his long-term rule to make China as strong as U.S.

China plans to continue "zero-COVID" policy until next spring

China Communist Party praises achievements on H.K., Taiwan, COVID
KYODO NEWS - Oct 16, 2022 - 21:24 | World, All

Taiwan expressed its firm opposition to China's reiterated commitment to reunification with the self-ruled island after Chinese leader Xi Jinping said his country will take all measures necessary, including the use of force, to fulfill the goal at the Chinese Communist Party's twice-a-decade congress on Sunday.

Responding to Xi's speech at the opening session of the weeklong congress, Presidential Office spokesman Xavier Chang stressed in a statement President Tsai Ing-wen's uncompromising stance of protecting sovereignty, democracy and freedom in Taiwan, explaining the view is the broad consensus among the people and political parties in the island.

On the other hand, provided there is "rationality, equality and mutual respect," Taiwan is willing to work with Beijing to find a mutually agreeable arrangement for upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Chang said.

But the arrangement is clearly not what has been applied to Hong Kong under the "one country, two systems" policy, the spokesman said.

The Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement that the people of Taiwan will never accept that policy and Beijing's one-China principle under which the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party is recognized as the "sole legal government of China."

The council also called on the communist party to carry out reforms of its political system and build a free and democratic civil society, urging it to "follow the international order and handle cross-strait relations with a new way of thinking."

Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since they split due to a civil war in 1949. China regards the island as a renegade province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Related coverage:

China's Xi touts 10-yr achievements, renews resolve for Taiwan
South Africa: SA on the cusp of billions of dollars in investments

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the "phenomenally successful official State Visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this weekend has paved the way for billions of dollars worth of investments to flow into South Africa.

The visit to the Middle Eastern country was aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and trade relations between the two countries.

The President was accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform Thoko Didiza, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe and Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula on the visit.

The Ministers signed at least 17 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) in areas such as transport, defence, energy and agriculture.

Coupled with that, some $15 billion in investment agreements were signed between businesses during the South Africa  Saudi Arabia Investment Forum held in the country on Saturday.

This has been a phenomenally successful visit for us and the good thing is that this visit has been more focused on the economy as well as advancing our diplomatic, as well as political relations with Saudi Arabia.

But the economic side and the business side have really underpinned the real substance of this visit. We had extensive discussions with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince [Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud] last nightand we covered a great deal of ground. The fact that we signed up to 17 MOUs testifies to the real great success that we have achieved here, he said.

President Ramaphosa reflected that the last official State Visit to the country in 2018, where Saudi Arabia committed to invest some $10 billion in South Africa, in many ways planted the seed for fostering greater ties between the two countries.

That seed has been germinating and thus far $1 billion has been invested in South Africa through a company called ACWA Power and Renewable Energy. We are now going to be seeing more of those billions that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very keen to invest in South Africa beginning to flow underpinned by the 17 MOUs that we have signed, and of course, our budget in 2018.

COVID-19 intervened and stalled and delayed everything [however] were now going to see everything gathering pace and momentum, he said.

Bearing fruit

President Ramaphosa emphasised that although many agreements have been signed, implementation is key to see them bearing tangible fruit.

Within three months, meetings will be held to see the extent to which this is going to be implemented.

Both private sector owned businesses as well as public sector owned businesses are very serious, they are action oriented, they're outcomes oriented [and] they want to see implementation. [The] Crown Prince and myself have committed that we are going to be monitoring the implementation of all this.

We want the implementation to be immediate. For us on our side, clearly we are in a great deal of hurry. The unemployment rate in our country is undesirable and we need to ensure that whatever economic opportunities we get, we grasp with both hands and ensure that all those who are responsible get to implement, he said.

Relations between the two countries have been formalised since 1994 and President Ramaphosa said this long standing cordiality is a good foundation on which to build.

[The] solid relationship that exists between our two countries is a good springboard from which to be able to base the great success that we hope to achieve. So were very happy and I think we go home not empty handed.

During the business forum, business people were able and Saudi business people were able to craft agreements that will amount to about $15 billion both ways. So I'm looking at easily, quite a lot of billions of dollars being invested also in our economy.

So I think we are on a good roll in terms of our relationship with Saudi Arabia which is based on really solid economic parameters and that, for me, behoves well for a future that will be a good one for all peoples, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-10-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Trend

A group of Azerbaijani citizens held a protest in front of the French Embassy in Baku on Saturday, Trend reports.

Protesters protested against the statements of French President Emmanuel Macron about the alleged provocation by Azerbaijan against Armenia.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 16, 2022 - 20:22 | All, Japan, World

The leaders of Japan and Australia are planning to release a new declaration on security cooperation when they meet next weekend, amid China's growing military power and maritime assertiveness, government sources said Sunday.

The declaration highlighting the importance of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" will likely be announced by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, who are scheduled to hold talks on Saturday in Perth, according to the sources.

It would be a revamp of the document signed in 2007 by then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister John Howard that recognized "common strategic interests and security benefits embodied in their respective alliance relationships with the United States."

The two leaders also committed to boosting bilateral and trilateral cooperation. While the declaration touched on North Korea's nuclear and missile development, there was no implicit reference regarding China.

During their first meeting in May, Kishida and Albanese agreed to proceed coordination concerning a new joint declaration on security cooperation, given that China's clout in the region has significantly increased over the 15 years.

Besides its aggressive territorial claims in regional waters, China has exerted influence over Pacific island nations near Australia, and caused alarm through the signing of a security pact with the Solomon Islands earlier this year.

Japan considers Australia a semi-ally and both countries are part of the Quad, a four-way security framework that also includes India and the United States.

At the forthcoming Kishida-Albanese meeting, energy cooperation will also be a major agenda item. Japan depends on Australia for more than a third of its liquefied natural gas imports but global supply chains have been disrupted following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kishida had planned to visit Australia in January, but the trip was canceled due to a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections in Japan at the time. It will be the first visit to Australia by a Japanese prime minister since 2018.

Albanese visited Japan in May for a Quad summit. Late last month, he also traveled to Tokyo to attend the state funeral for Abe, who was gunned down during an election campaign speech in July.

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Li Xiaosong, a student from Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering, participates in the optoelectronic technology contest during the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in Kyoto, Japan, Oct. 15, 2022. Three skill contests of the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition kicked off Saturday in Kyoto, Japan, where Chinese contestants are competing against other young technicians from around the world.

The contests are being held by Kyoto on Oct. 15-18 as part of WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition: information network cabling, optoelectronic technology and renewable energy. (Xinhua/Hua Yi)

KYOTO, Japan, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Three skill contests of the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition kicked off Saturday in Kyoto, Japan, where Chinese contestants are competing against other young technicians from around the world.

The contests are being held by Kyoto on Oct. 15-18 as part of WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition: information network cabling, optoelectronic technology and renewable energy.

The information network cabling contest is divided into five sections: optical cable network systems, cabling systems for buildings, smart home & office applications, optical fiber fusion speed test, troubleshooting and ongoing maintenance. Zhang Honghao, a teacher from Tianjin Electronic Information Technical College, represents China in this event.

Li Xiaosong, a student from Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering and Chen Zhiyong, a student from Guangdong Province Technician Institute, participate in the optoelectronic technology and renewable energy contests, respectively, which are the new entries in this year's WorldSkills Competition.

Li Zhengyu, head of the Chinese delegation in Kyoto and deputy director of the international exchange center of China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, told Xinhua that with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging globally, the competition has provided a platform for young talents from all over the world to showcase their skills, learn from each other, and realize their dreams.

The Chinese team's participation in the competition will accumulate more experience for Shanghai to host the WorldSkills Competition 2026, as well as contribute Chinese wisdom to promoting the cause of the WorldSkills Competition, Li said.

Zou Yuan, team leader of the Chinese delegation, said the Chinese team has advantages in the three above-mentioned categories, adding that "the contestants and experts of the Chinese delegation have made full preparations for the competition, and we will strive for the gold medals."

The biennial competition event is known as the Olympics of vocational skills for artisans in the world. A total of 36 contestants aged 22 on average from the Chinese delegation, who all come from vocational schools, will take part in 34 contests during the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition.

The special edition is the official replacement of WorldSkills Shanghai 2022, which was cancelled due to the pandemic. Sixty-two skill competitions will be held in 15 countries and regions between September and November. 

Chen Zhiyong, a student from Guangdong Province Technician Institute, participates in the renewable energy contest during the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in Kyoto, Japan, Oct. 15, 2022. Three skill contests of the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition kicked off Saturday in Kyoto, Japan, where Chinese contestants are competing against other young technicians from around the world.

The contests are being held by Kyoto on Oct. 15-18 as part of WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition: information network cabling, optoelectronic technology and renewable energy. (Xinhua/Hua Yi)

Zhang Honghao, a teacher from Tianjin Electronic Information Technical College, participates in the information network cabling contest during the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in Kyoto, Japan, Oct. 15, 2022. Three skill contests of the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition kicked off Saturday in Kyoto, Japan, where Chinese contestants are competing against other young technicians from around the world.

The contests are being held by Kyoto on Oct. 15-18 as part of WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition: information network cabling, optoelectronic technology and renewable energy. (Xinhua/Hua Yi)
Photo taken on Oct. 14, 2022 shows an interior view of the Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) officially launched the renovation project of the Africa Hall in its endeavor to modernize and ensure the building to comply with international standards. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) officially launched the renovation project of the Africa Hall in its endeavor to modernize and ensure the building to comply with international standards.

The ground breaking ceremony of the project was held Friday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia where officials of the African Union (AU) and UNECA were in attendance.

"The modernization of the Africa hall will preserve and restore the historical and cultural values of Africa to enable the continent to tap into global creative industry," said Antonio Pedro, Acting Executive Secretary of the UNECA.

The Africa Hall was built in 1961 by the then government of Ethiopia with the then state of the art technology. It is the birthplace of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which is now the African Union, and whose founding charter was signed in the hall in 1963.

"The Africa Hall is the first representation of where the continent has come from, where it is now, and where it is headed to," said Pedro, while urging Africa to make use of its heritage to its economic growth and diversification.

The hall stands as a living symbol of African history, culture, noble aspirations of African people for peace and unity on the continent, which is free of colonialism.

The renovation of the African Hall is designed to strengthen its resistance to earthquakes and includes the development of new security buildings as well as improving the building's accessibility, to make the hall modern, safe, and functional.

The renovation project will also see the creation of a visitors' center and a permanent exhibition space, according to Pedro.

Speaking at the official launch of the project, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission Monique Nsanzabaganwa recalled that the Africa Hall was built when most of the African people were under colonial operation and human rights were basically unknown.

Nsanzabaganwa said the renovation of the hall will be used to strengthen the concept of the establishment of the great museum of Africa, a flagship project of the AU's Agenda 2063.

She said the AU will launch the temporary site of the great museum for Africa in December this year to showcase, protect and promote the rich cultural heritages and history of Africa, adding that the AU is working on the restoration of looted heritages from Africa.

"High on the agenda of the Union is the issue of restitution of African heritage resources. In that regard, the Commission has drafted a common African position to ensure speedy return of looted heritages from the continent," she said.

The renovation project will cost 57 million U.S. dollars and is funded by the 193 UN member states, according to a statement issued by UNECA.

The renovation will "respect the original design principles including Ethiopia's famous artist Afewek Tekle's stained-glass triptych, ... while upholding the best international standards and practice," Project Manager of the Africa Hall Antoni Biao said. 

Antonio Pedro, acting executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony of the UNECA's Africa Hall renovation project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Oct. 14, 2022.

The UNECA officially launched the renovation project of the Africa Hall in its endeavor to modernize and ensure the building to comply with international standards. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
Sun Yeli, spokesperson for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), holds a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become a well-received international public good and an important platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind, the spokesperson for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said Saturday.

Over the past nine years, China has signed BRI cooperation documents with over 140 countries and more than 30 international organizations, Sun Yeli, spokesperson for the congress, told a press conference.

By June, China's goods trade with countries along the Belt and Road had reached around 12 trillion U.S. dollars. A large number of practical cooperation projects have been delivered, contributing to local development and livelihood improvement, according to him.

Looking forward, China will strive for higher cooperation standards, better deliverables from inputs, higher supply quality and stronger development resilience in a bid to advance the high-quality development of the BRI cooperation, Sun said. 
Zhang Honghao, a teacher from Tianjin Electronic Information Technical College, participates in the information network cabling contest during the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in Kyoto, Japan, Oct. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Hua Yi)

With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging globally, the competition has provided a platform for young talents from all over the world to showcase their skills, learn from each other, and realize their dreams.

KYOTO, Japan, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Three skill contests of the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition kicked off Saturday in Kyoto, Japan, where Chinese contestants are competing against other young technicians from around the world.

Kyoto is holding the contests on Oct. 15-18 as part of WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition: information network cabling, optoelectronic technology and renewable energy.

The information network cabling contest is divided into five sections: optical cable network systems, cabling systems for buildings, smart home & office applications, optical fiber fusion speed test, troubleshooting and ongoing maintenance. Zhang Honghao, a teacher from Tianjin Electronic Information Technical College, represents China at this event.

Li Xiaosong, a student from Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering and Chen Zhiyong, a student from Guangdong Province Technician Institute, participate in the optoelectronic technology and renewable energy contests, respectively, which are the new entries in this year's WorldSkills Competition.

Li Xiaosong, a student from Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering, participates in the optoelectronic technology contest during the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in Kyoto, Japan, Oct. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Hua Yi)

Li Zhengyu, head of the Chinese delegation in Kyoto and deputy director of the international exchange center of China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, told Xinhua that with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging globally, the competition has provided a platform for young talents from all over the world to showcase their skills, learn from each other, and realize their dreams.

The Chinese team's participation in the competition will accumulate more experience for Shanghai to host the WorldSkills Competition 2026, as well as contribute Chinese wisdom to promoting the cause of the WorldSkills Competition, Li said.

Chen Zhiyong, a student from Guangdong Province Technician Institute, participates in the renewable energy contest during the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in Kyoto, Japan, Oct. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Hua Yi)

Zou Yuan, team leader of the Chinese delegation, said the Chinese team has advantages in the three above-mentioned categories, adding that "the contestants and experts of the Chinese delegation have made full preparations for the competition, and we will strive for the gold medals."

The biennial competition event is known as the Olympics of vocational skills for artisans in the world. A total of 36 contestants aged 22 on average from the Chinese delegation, who all come from vocational schools, will take part in 34 contests during the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition.

The special edition is the official replacement of WorldSkills Shanghai 2022, which was canceled due to the pandemic. Sixty-two skill competitions will be held in 15 countries and regions between September and November. 
This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2022 shows a view of the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

The world is keeping a close eye on how the week-long meeting will map out a blueprint for China's growth, and how the country will further contribute to world peace and development.

BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will fully summarize China's major achievements and valuable experience gained in its reform and development endeavors.

It will also formulate programs of action and overarching policies to meet China's new development goals on the journey ahead in the new era and the new expectations of the people.

The world is keeping a close eye on how the week-long meeting will map out a blueprint for China's growth, and how the country will further contribute to world peace and development.





ACHIEVEMENTS IN NEW ERA

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has made historic achievements and shifts in economic and social development, successfully promoting and expanding a Chinese-style modernization. Over the past decade, the CPC has led the Chinese people in striving for this great success, demonstrating the strong vitality of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Speaking highly of China's great achievements in the past 10 years, overseas experts and observers have expressed their high expectations for China's bigger role in global affairs after the 20th CPC National Congress, which is expected to write a new chapter for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

The past decade was extremely extraordinary for China as the country has achieved significant success in its development, said Xulio Rios, director of the Observatory of Chinese Politics in Spain.

China has eliminated extreme poverty and made remarkable achievements in such fields as science and technology and environmental protection, Rios said. He added that as China's role in global affairs becomes increasingly important, the global society has great expectation for the 20th CPC National Congress.

Ehecatl Lazaro, researcher of Mexican Center for Economic and Social Studies, said that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has become one of the countries with an important influence on the international economic, political and social development in the 21st century.

The decisions made at the 20th CPC National Congress will have great significance for the whole world, including Latin America, Lazaro said.

Noting that the meeting will review the CPC's valuable experience in state governance, Randy Alonso, director general of popular Cuban website cubadebate.cu, said that the experience will not only help embark on a new journey for China's growth, but also continue to push for world development.

He said China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI) proposed by the country will remain important in international cooperation and global governance.

Reviewing China's achievements in the past decade, Tang Zhimin, director of China ASEAN Studies at the Bangkok-based Panyapiwat Institute of Management, highlighted China's adherence to the people-centered development philosophy, the eradication of poverty for nearly 100 million rural residents, the building of the world's largest education system, and social security and healthcare system.

He said these achievements have made China a model in developing countries, adding that with the 20th CPC National Congress taking place, ASEAN countries are highly interested in how China's future economic and social progress will bring more certainty to global development.

Aerial photo taken on July 23, 2021 shows the Yachihe Bridge of the Guiyang-Qianxi Expressway in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)





POSITIVE INFLUENCE

The 20th CPC National Congress will envision the two-step strategic plan for building China into a great modern socialist country, with a focus on outlining strategic tasks and major initiatives for the next five years. The congress is expected to bring more benefits to the people of China as well as the rest of the world.

The Chinese "seem serene even if they are very busy," said French international affairs expert Bruno Guigue. "In my eyes, the serenity of the Chinese people is the tangible expression of their material and spiritual success."

Guigue said socialism with Chinese characteristics is in line with China's national conditions, adding that he will focus on China's plan to further promote high-quality development at the upcoming CPC national congress.

As the world now faces great turbulence and turmoil, China is bringing hope for developing countries via the joint construction of Belt and Road, said William Jones, Washington bureau chief of the U.S. publication Executive Intelligence Review.

"The path charted by China at the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will be decisive in determining the direction the world takes," Jones said.

The world is looking forward to the meeting, because China will unswervingly promote its high-quality development and firmly strive for a strong modern country, said Luis Antonio Paulino, a professor at Sao Paulo State University.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 18, 2022 shows a high-speed electric passenger train, customized for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, being loaded on a vessel in Qingdao Port of east China's Shandong province. (Photo by Jiang Chao/Xinhua)

At the same time, China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the GDI will continue to promote an early realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) will continue to drive the development and prosperity of developing countries, including Latin American countries, the professor said.

China's new guidelines to be unveiled after the CPC national congress will not only shape the future of China, but also promote the development of the world, said Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh.

From the Belt and Road Initiative to the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has provided a clear blueprint for global development, which has a transformative effect on both Asia and the world, he added.





SHARED OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

In today's world, with major global changes and the COVID-19 pandemic, both unseen in a century, economic globalization is facing headwind, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and change.

Against such a backdrop, observers expect that after the 20th CPC National Congress, China's growth will promote global economic recovery and an open world economy, bringing new opportunities to other countries.

Jean Christophe Iseux von Pfetten, president of the Institute for East-West Strategic Studies in Britain, kindled his interest in China as Chinese students took part-time jobs in the factory of his family in France several decades ago.

As a long time observer of China, he said that the country's development has been a stabilizer for the world economy for many years, thus the 20th CPC National Congress will have a profound impact not only on China, but also on the international community.

Alexey Maslov, director of the Institute of the Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University, said the world is paying close attention to the action plan and major policies to be formulated at the 20th CPC National Congress, which are very critical not only for China's development, but also for global issues such as food and energy security, as China is one of the most important parties.

Recently, the "FutureChina Global Forum" was held in Singapore, during which the 20th CPC National Congress became a hot topic. Chen Gang, assistant director of the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute, said at the forum that China will continue to attract foreign investment and strengthen trade with regional countries.

Photo taken on July 28, 2022 shows an intelligent quality testing all-in-one machine during the Global Digital Economy Conference 2022 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

China's implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and efforts in promoting its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement are clear signals that China will continue to integrate into regional economy to advance its growth.

Hanat Baisek, president of the Kazakhstan-China Trade Promotion Association, highlighted China's contribution to world economic growth. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China's share of the global economy has risen from 11.4 percent to more than 18 percent, and the country's contribution to world economic growth has generally remained at around 30 percent, he noted, adding that China has signed BRI cooperation documents with 149 countries and 32 international organizations as of September this year.

Baisek said China has proposed the GDI and the GSI, and promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. He also said he believes after the 20th CPC National Congress, China will continue to provide dynamism for global economic growth and contribute to the development and stability of the world.





CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN CIVILIZATION

Standing at a crossroads, the human society is facing unprecedented challenges. At this critical juncture, observers expect that China's visions and experience on state governance to be summed up at the 20th CPC National Congress could offer more inspirations for the whole world, further contributing to world peace and development and the progress of human civilization.

Charles Onunaiju, director of the Abuja-based Center for China Studies, said the 20th CPC National Congress will present a roadmap of action and major policies for China's future growth, which is of great significance to world development and global governance.

Developing countries, including African countries, have high expectation for the meeting, he said.

The Nigerian expert has traveled to China many times for various forums and seminars, and therefore gained a close observation on China and Africa-China relations. He said a series of initiatives proposed by China on international cooperation and global governance in recent years has proved China's willingness to share its prosperity and undertake the responsibility as a major country in the world.

Calling the Africa-China ties a model of international relations, Onunaiju said that at a moment when global development is facing various challenges, strengthening cooperation between Africa and China will be significant to the world.

China has put forward a series of new ideas, proposals and initiatives in the past 10 years. As one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has been firmly defending the international system with the United Nations at its core, said Alistair Michie, secretary general of the British East Asia Council.

China actively participated in UN peacekeeping operations and played an important role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. China has made a significant positive contribution to global economic governance with its lead to create the AIIB -- the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Michie added.

He said he will keenly focus on the 20th CPC National Congress to see how China may help contribute to global governance.

Abdulaziz Alshaabani, an expert on China from Saudi Arabia, said that China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind promotes solidarity and coordination among countries, and the GDI responds to the appeal of developing countries to get rid of the impact of the pandemic as soon as possible and return to the right track of development, giving a strong boost to multilateralism.

The expert said he hopes that the 20th CPC National Congress will continue to provide constructive and pioneering propositions and ideas for global development and human solidarity and progress, so that more countries can learn from the successful experience of CPC governance, he said.

The GDI has accelerated the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and helped create synergy for global development, said Evandro M. de Carvalho, head of the Center for Brazil-China Studies at Getulio Vargas Foundation School of Law. He wished the 20th CPC National Congress a complete success. 
BEIRUT, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday promised to follow up French energy giant Total's oil and gas exploration in Lebanon to ensure its continuous work, a statement by Lebanon's Presidency reported.

"You can count on Total's commitments; I will follow up on the matter," Macron said in a phone call with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun.

The leaders of Lebanon and Israel announced Tuesday that the two countries had agreed to resolve a decades-long dispute over their maritime boundary in the eastern Mediterranean. On Thursday, Aoun announced Lebanon's approval of the final version of the agreement proposed by the U.S. energy envoy Amos Hochstein to demarcate maritime borders with Israel.

The agreement, a copy of which was seen by Xinhua, grants Total exploration rights at the Qana gas field. According to the agreement, Qana would be located mostly inside Lebanon, although Total will share some profits with Israel.

For his part, President Aoun emphasized the importance of signing the border demarcation agreement in order to begin drilling operations and then the extraction of oil and gas.

"This will have a positive impact on Lebanon's stability and the revival of the economy amid the current tough circumstances," he said. 
Turkiye and Qatar signed 11 new agreements during the eighth meeting of the joint Supreme Strategic Committee in Istanbul on Friday, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
AMMAN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 58th Annual International Diplomatic Bazaar kicked off in the Jordanian capital Amman on Saturday.

The one-day event, which was held offline after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is a platform for diplomatic missions to sell products of their home countries to raise fund for children at Mabarrat Um Al Hussein, a Jordanian charity that provides education and shelter for orphaned and underprivileged children in the kingdom.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jordanian Princess Basma Bint Talal said the bazaar's ultimate goal was to help the charity's underprivileged children by preparing and empowering them to become successful and engaged members of society.

While commending the diplomatic missions' commitment to attending the bazaar, Princess Basma said the bazaar is a symbol of social and international solidarity.

Some 30 foreign embassies and missions in Jordan attended the bazaar, according to its organizer. 
TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Iran is opposed to the deployment of foreign forces to the Caucasus region, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website reported on Sunday.

Iran supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries including Azerbaijan and Armenia, and this approach is the permanent policy of Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov on Saturday.

"The presence of foreign forces in the Caucasus is a common concern of the regional countries," he said, stressing "Iran's opposition to the deployment of any foreign forces in the region."

For his part, Bayramov expressed his opposition to the presence of foreign forces in the region. 
By Trend

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has been interviewed by Turkish A Haber TV channel.

Trend presents the interview.

- Greetings to all from A Haber. The eyes of the whole world are focused on the Karabakh region these days. Karabakh, which has been under Armenian occupation for 30 years, is experiencing a great tragedy, because despite the humanitarian ceasefire, Armenians continue to fire at civilians and the Azerbaijani army. Naturally, the Azerbaijani army does not leave these attacks unanswered and dealing heavy blows to the Armenian army.

What is the latest situation in the region and what can be expected? We will learn the opinion of the President of Azerbaijan, Commander-in-Chief Mr. Ilham Aliyev.

Mr. President, we express our deep gratitude to you, in particular, on behalf of A Haber. Thank you very much for receiving us.

- Thank you.

- Mr. President, of course, we will start our conversation with the situation in the region. Yesterday Armenia fired on civilians yet again. In Tartar, a cemetery was fired on and three of our Azerbaijani brothers became martyrs. What is your assessment of this attack?

- This is yet another manifestation of Armenian fascism. Usually, whenever they are defeated on the battlefield, they fire on civilians. We saw this during the first Karabakh war. It was our loathsome neighbors who committed the Khojaly genocide.

This time, seeing their helplessness in front of the Azerbaijani army on the battlefield and their inability to resist us in the occupied lands, they started targeting civilians again. Our citizens died as a result of this dastardly attack, both in Ganja and at the cemetery in Tartar yesterday... This is a place where people go for funerals, it is considered sacred to any person. But apparently there is nothing "sacred" for our loathsome neighbors. This is a crime against humanity, which once again demonstrates the predatory nature of Armenia. It also shows that such dastardly attacks cannot force us to deviate from our path, they cannot break the will of the Azerbaijani people. We will continue to restore our territorial integrity.

- Of course, Azerbaijan acts very carefully and accurately in the issue of civilians. Until today, not a single civilian has been hurt among the Armenians. However, up to now 46 of our Azerbaijani brothers have become martyrs. Why does the West remain tight-lipped over these massacres?

- Unfortunately, civilian casualties are continuing, there are already 47. A total of 222 civilians have been injured, about 2,000 houses have been either completely destroyed or seriously damaged. I have already said that we will avenge these people on the battlefield. We have never opened and are still not opening fire on civilians despite the fact that there have been attacks on Ganja and Tartar. Today, from 6 to 8 am  it is 9:10 now  more than 220 shells fell on Tartar, Aghdam, Goranboy and other districts. So these heinous attacks continue. Their main goal is to kill civilians, sow panic and fear among the population of Azerbaijan, stop us and achieve their dirty intentions. But they are seeing that this does not work out, and no matter how many shells fall, the citizens of Azerbaijan proudly live on their land and endure all these difficulties. They are united around one goal  to return Karabakh, to raise the flag of Azerbaijan in all the occupied lands and to restore our territorial integrity.

As for your second question why the West is silent, we saw this during the first Karabakh war too. Armenia unleashed aggression against us, occupied our lands, committed genocide against our people, but sanctions were applied against Azerbaijan. At that time, in 1992 and 1993, the Western media formed such a perception that Azerbaijan was an occupier and aggressor, while Armenia was a victim of aggression. We are seeing this even today on a smaller scale, because it is no longer possible to deny and hide the truth.

- Mr. President, at that time, in 1993, in particular, in November, a ceasefire was also announced. And it was also violated by Armenia, which massacred people. Today Armenia wants a ceasefire again. What is the purpose of the ceasefire  to stop the advance of the Azerbaijani army?

- You know, this is their tactic. Armenia requested a ceasefire. Convinced that they could no longer defend the occupied lands on the battlefield, to hold on to them, they requested a ceasefire. We also received such an appeal  you know that Russia has undertaken this mission  and said that a ceasefire could be declared for humanitarian purposes, for the exchange of bodies and prisoners. However, at the same time, the Moscow statement indicated that it was necessary to resume negotiations on the substance of the issue. In addition, the format of the negotiations should remain unchanged. But apparently they wanted to take advantage of the ceasefire. Less than a day later this dastardly attack on Ganja was carried out. After that, they began to strike at our other cities and, in fact, grossly violated the ceasefire. So this is their tactic. Obviously, they needed a ceasefire in order to gather strength, take mobilization measures and launch new attacks on us, because after this ceasefire, they tried to occupy the settlement of Hadrut again and attacked it three times. And they were defeated all three times. Their intention is to return the lands they lost that do not belong to them and to continue their aggressive policy.

- By the way, false propaganda is currently being conducted. They claim that Hadrut is still with them, they cannot accept it.

- Yes, they are still engaged in this false propaganda. The Azerbaijani flag has been flying in Hadrut for several days now. The vast majority of the hills adjacent to Hadrut are under our control. If Hadrut had not been taken, it would have been impossible to take the villages of Khojavand district. We moved there only from the Hadrut direction.

- Mr. President, since the announcement of the humanitarian ceasefire, transport planes have been constantly delivering missiles from Russia, in particular, to the Yerevan airport. This, in essence, is a crime. In particular, you talked about the closure of borders with Iranian President Rouhani and about the delivery of missiles with Russia. These weapons are provided free of charge. What would you like to say to Iran and Russia in this regard?

- We do not have any information about the shipment of weapons from Iran to Armenia. On the contrary, I can say that Iran and Georgia have closed their airspace and land roads for the transportation of weapons to Armenia. In this regard, we would like to reiterate our gratitude to the Governments of Iran and Georgia. According to our information, weapons are being smuggled across Georgian territory by commercial and cargo planes.

Armenia has recently purchased one plane. According to our information, it bought it for $30-40 million. It was purchased by wealthy Armenian businessmen living in Russia  Karapetyan, Abrahamyan and others. They are sending Armenians living in Russia to fight against us as mercenaries. At the same time, the purchase of this aircraft, Il-76, allowed Armenia the opportunity to smuggle weapons into its country. Every time you send military products, you need to declare them. Their statements indicate that this is a civilian cargo but the plane transported anti-tank weapons "Kornet" and "Konkurs", air defense systems "Igla". At the same time, according to the information we have, they are smuggling the missiles purchased in Russia. Therefore, we addressed the International Civil Aviation Organization and asked it to investigate this issue and stop it. This is considered an international crime. Smuggling weapons to Armenia is unacceptable.

Russian authorities have also told us that Russia does not send weapons to Armenia. Therefore, we think that Armenian businessmen living in Russia, wealthy people illegally acquire these weapons at some military factories and send them to Armenia. The investigation in this direction is ongoing.

- And now, Mr. President, lets "go" to the frontline. Of course, the peoples of Azerbaijan and Turkey look forward to good news from the frontline. I want to show this on the map. Here we are talking about an area of 18,000 square kilometers. This territory has been under occupation for 30 years. How many thousand square kilometers of this territory have been liberated so far? At present, the Azerbaijani Army is advancing and delivering crushing blows. We are saying that the Armenian army has lost half of its strength to date. How much in terms of figures did the Armenian army lose? Can you provide any figures in this connection, Mr. President?

- It is not so difficult to calculate the area of the liberated lands even though the figure changes every day. I informed the Azerbaijani people about the liberation of six new villages yesterday. More villages were freed on the previous day. This process continues. We can say that we liberate new territories and new strategic heights every day. Therefore, these numbers are changing. But the information provided to date gives grounds to say which districts have been liberated.

This map, for example, doesnt specify Hadrut. Hadrut is already with us. The vast majority of villages around Fuzuli are with us. Now we see Fuzuli in front of us. In addition, we have moved forward in the southern direction. In the north, we also have positions on Murovdag. We have Sugovushan. So we have made great strides in all areas, and this process continues. I believe and am sure that the Azerbaijani people are closely following this, especially the residents of the villages we are liberating from occupation. For them, these are historic days, of course.

- So how much in square kilometers on average?

- I would not want to say that because this is a figure that changes daily. Our goal is to fully restore our territorial integrity and hoist the Azerbaijani flag in all occupied lands.

- Can you name the losses of the Armenian side in figures?

- These numbers are also changing on a daily basis. More than 200 tanks have been destroyed and 33 tanks have been taken as booty. They are in good condition and they are with us. Thirty-five units of "OSA" air defense systems have been destroyed. In addition, two very modern "S-300" systems have been destroyed.

- They are very expensive.

- Yes, they are very expensive. Another very expensive air defense system, "TOR", has also been destroyed. Approximately 170 trucks have been disabled or are in our possession. Also, 16 command centers have been destroyed. According to our calculations, during these days the Armenian army suffered damage worth almost $2 billion, and it keeps on growing. I appealed to the leadership of Armenia: observe the ceasefire, provide us with a timetable and leave our territories so that this war stops and you can keep the remaining weapons. Otherwise, if it goes on like this, we will destroy all their weapons.

- How many human losses does Armenia have, Mr. President?

- Their human losses  I mean the data published in the press  are over 600 people. But according to our data, their losses are several times greater.

- So Armenia is hiding its losses.

- Of course.

- But the situation at the front is different.

- If 200 tanks have been destroyed to date, then you can see what figure it comes to by counting their crew. In addition, count the losses on the battlefield, the personnel of the command centers and the crews of other installations. There is footage of the destruction of their equipment, so I would not like to give any specific figures. I am always in favor of providing exact figures, not unverified data. But their losses are surely above 600.

- Mr. President, can we talk about the destruction of about half of their weapons?

- We don't know how many weapons they have. But the question arises as to where they get the money for the weapons. Everyone knows the budget and foreign exchange reserves of Armenia. In just 17-18 days, their weapons worth $2 billion have been destroyed, and they have more. This is the statistics of weapons destroyed in the occupied territories alone. How many more weapons are there in Armenia? Notice how many weapons they have. Where did they buy it? Where did they get the money? Of course, they don't have so much money. So they were given it for free.

- Mr. President, 18 October is an important day  Independence Day of Azerbaijan. The people of Azerbaijan expect good news from you on this day, Inshallah. Will you announce any good news about Karabakh? Would you like to share it with our Turkish and Azerbaijani brothers on A Haber?

- You know, this is a truly historic day because Azerbaijan gained independence for the second time in the 20th century. The first years of independence were very difficult and tragic for us. We could have lost our independence  as we did in 1920 when independence lasted only two years and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic fell. This time, Armenias aggression against Azerbaijan and, at the same time, civil strife within the country led to a major crisis. Only after national leader Heydar Aliyev came to power in 1993 did the situation stabilize and Azerbaijan confidently embarked on the path of development.

Therefore, 18 October is a very significant date for us. But during this period, during these 17-18 days, I have never set the task for the army to take this location on this or that date. Because war has its own rules, its own laws. The key thing for us is to restore our territorial integrity. It doesnt really matter when we share the good news  on the 17th, 18th or 19th. It is important that we do this, that we achieve this. At the same time, we can and we probably will provide information about the liberated villages today, but the most important thing is to occupy strategic heights. Because by taking these heights, we gain control over a wider territory, which creates conditions for a more successful counter-offensive operation by the Azerbaijani army in the future.

- The heart of Karabakh, the apple of its eye is Shusha. The Azerbaijani people are waiting for news about Shusha. Inshallah, are you heading for Shusha?

- We are headed for all the territories. Every inch of the occupied lands, every city is dear to us, it is native for us. For me, all villages and cities are equally valuable. But you know very well that Shusha occupies a special place in the hearts of the Azerbaijani people. This is our historic city, a hotbed of ancient culture. Shusha gave the Azerbaijani people many very talented and outstanding personalities. Of course, without Shusha our mission will be half done. Naturally, this issue has always been on the agenda in the course of discussions.

You know, there were many questions at the negotiating table in the previous period. Some suggestions were that Azerbaijan should get back five districts and be content with that, while the rest should stay with the Armenians. In other words, we were told that we want everything at once, but this cant happen and that there must be a compromise and so on. But I never agreed to that. It would be completely wrong to get five districts and leave the rest for later, indefinitely. Therefore, at different stages, mediators and some international organizations wondered why Ilham Aliyev did not agree to this. We are telling him that five districts are being returned now, although Armenia, as it turns out now, did not want to return these five districts either. But there have been such proposals. However, my position has always been that without Shusha our mission would be half done. Therefore, of course, the liberation of Shusha occupies a special place among our goals. We must aspire to this. We must achieve this. When will that happen?

- Soon, Mr. President?

- The near future will show.

- Inshallah. Your late father probably bequeathed to you to liberate Karabakh. By the way, I would like to learn about his will. You are actually fulfilling it now. On behalf of the Turkish people, we congratulate you and the Azerbaijani people. What do you want to say about your father's will?

- You know, I have always tried to be true to my father's path. In 2003, when the Azerbaijani people trusted me for the first time, I said before the election that if you trusted me, I would remain committed to the political course of Heydar Aliyev and would follow his path in all spheres. I am glad to have kept my word. Today, the rapid and successful development of Azerbaijan, the great respect we enjoy in the international arena, the solution of social, economic and other problems within the country, the implementation of large projects are, of course, a continuation of Heydar Aliyevs path.

The world is changing, of course. The balance of power in the world is changing. Today's world cannot be compared to what it was in 2003 but our strategic goals remain unchanged: to strengthen the independence, to remain committed to an independent policy, never to depend on anyone, not to bow our heads to anyone, to preserve and protect our dignity, and to restore our territorial integrity. This was my father's will in a nutshell.

Of course, the restoration of territorial integrity is our number one goal. In order to achieve this, we have made great effort  political, economic, diplomatic and military. Our army has actually been formed anew. The whole world can see the potential of our army today. According to the information provided to me, military specialists from some developed countries are already studying our experience. I am sure this experience will be reflected both in books and in research papers. Therefore, remaining committed to my father's path, we are fulfilling this honorable mission. Inshallah, we will complete it to the end.

- Azerbaijan has created a very strong army. There was not even an Air Force in the first Karabakh war but now there is a powerful air force, a strong army. Of course, TB2 strike drones have become a major force in the region. You purchased them from Turkey and are currently using them. How did the attack drones change the course of the war?

- They changed it a lot. You know, in 30 years Armenia built very powerful engineering fortifications along the entire contact line in the occupied territories, carried out major engineering and strengthening work. In some places, they have four lines of defense. Large trenches were dug and other engineering work was carried out. There are large concrete slabs, shelters and bunkers there. The terrain of the region is such that it a natural fortification is itself because this is a mountainous area, we are going from the bottom up. It is very difficult for any army. It is a very difficult and risky task. Therefore, the work we have carried out in this direction required great heroism, of course. Precise destruction of enemy equipment required unmanned aerial vehicles. We are very glad that the developed military-industrial complex of fraternal Turkey has begun the production of these excellent attack and conventional UAVs. Azerbaijan is the first foreign state to have acquired them from Turkey. As I have already said, Armenian military equipment worth $1 billion has been destroyed with the help of Turkish drones alone. Another billion worth of equipment has been destroyed by our other military facilities. So this has greatly changed the course of the war.

- You have also talked about tunnels in the region, about echeloned defense. In fact, we saw this during the operations in Syria. These are the methods used by PKK and PYD. The same methods have been used in this region for 30 years. From this point of view, does the opposing side receive any support from PKK and PYD?

- Maybe. Even before these clashes, we had information that PKK had set up a camp there because, as you know, Nagorno-Karabakh was an uncontrolled territory. There was no international control mechanism there. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are members of many international organizations. There is a control mechanism and monitoring, but this is a gray area, i.e. an uncontrolled territory. Therefore, smuggling and drug trafficking thrived there, exercises of illegal armed groups were held, and there were PKK camps. It is not ruled out that they have also played a role in the construction of these fortifications.

- How many RKK camps are there in the region?

- We cannot say this because they do not stand in one place, they are always on the move. But there were quite a few of them. In any case, we had this information even before the latest clashes. Today, there are suspicious persons among those who were killed on the Armenian side. There are people with Canadian and Lebanese passports. There are people who cannot be identified. But it is certain that they are not Armenian soldiers. In other words, they are mercenaries.

- Armenia is carrying out missile attacks from its territory. If it continues to attack from its territory, do you have the right to conduct operations on the territory of Armenia?

- No, we are not thinking about that. I have repeatedly said that we have no military targets on the territory of Armenia. We have no intentions of moving the military operation to the territory of Armenia. We do not set our sights on the lands of other countries. We simply carry out these operations within the borders of the country, within the framework of Azerbaijani lands recognized as such by international organizations and the world community. So far we have not crossed into to the territory of Armenia.

I must also say that an attack was launched on us on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in July. The armed forces of Armenia managed to penetrate into Tovuz district and some of its territories. We threw them out of there and were able to defend our lands. We threw them back. After that, we could have crossed the border. In other words, there were no serious obstacles in front of us. These battles already show that if we have managed to break through from here, it would have been much easier to do it there because there are no such fortifications there. But we didnt do it because we thought it would be wrong. We defend ourselves on our lands and must expel the occupiers from our lands. But if they continue to use such dangerous weapons as "Tochka-U", "Iskander", "Scud" and others from the territory of Armenia, just as they struck at Ganja from the Vardenis region of Armenia, then this will become a legitimate military target for us. Everyone should know this.

- You are receiving messages of support from Turkey and Pakistan. In particular, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, "We are ready to provide any support." In this context, will you ask Turkey and Pakistan for military support?

- No. We have no such thoughts. Turkey and Pakistan are the first countries to support us. After them, the number of such countries began to grow. Following this, Afghanistan expressed its open support. Support was also voiced by Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries. Fraternal Turkey provided the biggest support. From the very first hours, my brother, dear President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated very clearly and decisively that Azerbaijan is not alone and Turkey is next to us. This encouraged us even more. But there can be no question of military support. It is not necessary. The false information invented by the prime minister of Armenia is intended to mislead the international community, of course. For example, he said in an interview with Russian television yesterday that Turkey, Pakistan, soldiers from Syria and Lebanon were fighting on the side of Azerbaijan. All this is a lie. It is not too difficult to expose it.

On the first day of the clashes, they claimed that a Turkish F-16 plane had shot down an Armenian Su-25. We said  provide evidence. They could not. Then everyone was convinced that it was a lie. They are not talk about it any longer. Now they have invented a new lie that Pakistani and Turkish soldiers are fighting for us. Let them produce evidence. There is none. The Armenian side is primarily trying to diminish the strength of the Azerbaijani army, to suggest that Azerbaijan could not have done it alone. Secondly, another of his lies is that these clashes allegedly have already gone beyond the region and turned into a more global confrontation. This is also a lie. We receive only moral and political support from Turkey, Pakistan and other fraternal countries.

- Mr. President, who is worried about the friendship and close ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan?

- Those who don't like us, those who are not interested in the power of Turkey growing.

- Who?

- This is well known. There are such circles in many countries. These are Islamophobic circles. Unfortunately, Islamophobia is growing in Europe today. The attitude towards refugees from poor countries is also obvious. Therefore, Islamophobic parties are now receiving parliamentary seats in several European states. Radical fascist parties are getting more votes. This is a very dangerous trend, first of all for Europe, because this is a tendency that paves the way for racism, discrimination, xenophobia and Islamophobia. At the same time, along with Islamophobic forces, there are circles concerned about Turkey's strength. Erdogan's Turkey is not the Turkey of 20 years ago. We and our brothers living in Turkey know this. Turkey enjoys great authority in the world today. No-one can dictate anything to Turkey or force it to do anything. Turkey defends its interests in the world, the interests of its allies, builds its security the way it wants and enjoys authority in the international arena. Not a single issue in the region can be resolved without the participation and consent of Turkey. Syria, Libya and the Mediterranean have demonstrated this. So these are the forces that are not interested in the power of Turkey growing and are worried about it. This is natural.

- Mr. President, you said that unity gives brings about strength. Why is it important for Turkey to be strong?

- It is important for the Turkic world because it is a great power that makes us stronger too. I have spoken about this many times  both in Turkey and in Azerbaijan. When my dear brother President was here, I said that the Turkish-Azerbaijani unity brings stability to the region. If these exact messages had not come from Turkey in the first hours of the clashes, then perhaps others would have intervened in these matters. Turkey's messages stopped everyone: Azerbaijan is not alone. Turkey will be next to Azerbaijan until the end. Of course, the Azerbaijani-Turkish unity has already turned into a very serious geopolitical factor, and this is a positive factor. Our unity is not aimed at the interests of any country. We simply defend our interests and going our own way. Let no-one interfere in our affairs and dont poke their nose into our internal issues. This is what we want. Where did Turkey interfere before? Nowhere! Whose affairs did Azerbaijan interfere? No-ones! We are simply saying: don't touch us, step aside. We will be friends and partners, we will cooperate, but let everyone go their own way. We want this and we have the right to do so.

- Is it possible to find a way out in the settlement of the Karabakh problem at the negotiating table without Turkey's participation?

- Turkey is already de facto at the negotiating table. I have already said that. This is a reality. Turkey is discussing this issue with countries located in another region today. You also know that a telephone conversation took place between the presidents of Russia and Turkey. There were negotiations between the ministers of foreign affairs and defense. At the same time, high-ranking officials of Turkey have been in contact with their colleagues from Iran and other countries. Therefore, Turkey is de facto here. When the Minsk Group was established in 1992  Turkey is already a member of it  it did not become a co-chair for reasons I dont know. In other words, we wanted Turkey to be a co-chair from the very beginning. But Turkey itself did not go for that at the time. If it had wanted to do that, I think it could have become a co-chair. This is why I am saying that there is a great difference between today's Turkey of Erdogan and the then Turkey. If it had been a co-chair, this issue would have been resolved long ago. Therefore, we are saying that this issue cannot be resolved without Turkey. I am not saying that the Minsk Group should be consigned to history. No, let them work too, even though they have not reached any result in 30 years. But to leave Turkey outside this process is both wrong and impossible.

- Mr. President, how would you assess the position of France, a co-chair of the Minsk Group?

- You know, I think the latest statements of France have been positive. At the same time, my last telephone conversation with the President of France was also very positive. Of course, France as a co-chair should be neutral. I have already said that. Any country can have special ties with another country. In other words, at the national level any country is free. No-one can object to that but co-chairmanship is a different mechanism. This imposes a great responsibility on co-chair countries. Therefore, within the framework of this mandate, they must be neutral. I think that the actions and approaches of France today are positive.

- Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov made a statement saying that they could send military observers to the Karabakh region. Would you agree to this?

- You know, at the same time the office of the President of Russia stated that this was possible with the consent of both sides  Azerbaijan and Armenia. In other words, this is something that speaks for itself. First, both parties must agree to this. Secondly, the fundamental principles  and I have already expressed my position on this matter  do provide for the dispatch of peacekeeping forces to the region but only at the last stage. The lands must be freed from occupation, five districts must be returned to us, then two more, and then the Azerbaijani population must return to Nagorno-Karabakh and Shusha. After all this peacekeeping forces may come. Therefore, it is too early to talk about it today. Third, what countries will be represented in this peacekeeping force? This must also be agreed by both parties. During the negotiations, there were no discussions on this issue. I believe that the statement of the office of the President of Russia is fully justifiable. Both parties must agree to this. You must agree to this and provide a timetable. Today, when there are active clashes, it is a little too early to talk about it.

- Sure. There are ample minerals in Armenian-occupied Karabakh. We know that there are gold deposits in Kalbajar. These gold deposits are actually the main concern for Armenia.

- True but the most important thing is their eternal hatred of us. Armenia is pursuing a policy of fascism. They instill hatred for Turkey and Azerbaijan, describe Turks as enemies to his children. They poison the brains of their people. So this is what lies at the heart of Armenia's occupation policy. This is the main issue. In other regions too, there are fertile and excellent lands for both crop and livestock production. They are exploiting them. There are gold deposits in Kalbajar. They are illegally exploiting them. We have sent letters to all the companies that help them in this matter and invest there.

In my statements before the start of these clashes, I said that we are warning all these foreign companies for the last time  either cease your activities or we will sue you where we will have the final say. Because their activities are illegal. Armenia sells the gold mined there abroad and makes money. They transport the natural resources extracted there, the products of our land to Armenia. Therefore, there are many objectives here. The main thing is to preserve these lands forever under the yoke of Armenia. But they could not achieve this either.

- Mr. President, you said that Soros is Pashinyan's father.

- Yes, this is true.

- It turns out that Azerbaijan is also fighting with Soros in the region.

- With Soros too. In fact, as I said earlier, when I talk about Soros, I mean not only George Soros. This is a concept. This movement is destructive and predatory. This is a colonial movement. Look at the photo of Pashinyan with Soros. What a disgusting photo. It is on the internet. They stand there, their bodies pressed against each other. A shameful photo. They both laugh, both have a smile on their faces. This photo actually shows who Pashinyan is. Because Soros groups played a big role in organizing the coup in Armenia and Pashinyan always took an anti-Russian position. The name of his party in Armenian is "Elk". When translated, it means "Exit". Exit from where? From the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) with Russia and from the Eurasian Union. When he was a deputy, he always spoke out against Russia, took an anti-Russian position. Therefore, I am surprised when some political circles in Russia still take his side. After all, he made a revolution against pro-Russian forces, imprisoned pro-Russian presidents, as well as the chairman of the main opposition pro-Russian party. He did everything against Russia, started criminal cases against Russian company "Gazprom" and the railway company of this country. He arrested the chairman of the CSTO, a NATO-like organization, who was of Armenian origin. So this is a person who is ruled by Soros. Also, look at his team  they are all representatives of the Soros Foundation, Open Society Institute, Amnesty International. So Soros came to power in Armenia, but he suffered a fiasco.

- Mr. President, did you ask Turkey to station a military base in the country? In this regard, you made a statement in which you said that a Turkish military base could be located on the territory of Azerbaijan. Have you had any negotiations on this matter?

- No, no negotiations on this issue have been held. This has never have been discussed and such a question does not arise today either. Our cooperation with Turkey in the military sphere is getting stronger every day. I have already spoken about this, and I want to say again that 10 military exercises were held last year. Exercises involving air defense forces, special purpose troops and others. Therefore, cooperation in this area is at the highest level, and the deployment of a base in Azerbaijan has never been a subject of discussion.

- Mr. President, you said that Azerbaijan had changed the status quo at the frontline. What was the status quo and what will the new status quo be like for Azerbaijan?

- The status quo is gone. I have already spoken about this, and this is a reality. What was the status quo? It meant the preservation of lands under occupation. And this was despite the fact that 10 years ago the Minsk Group co-chairs made a very positive statement on this matter. It said that the status quo was unacceptable. But no tangible steps were taken afterwards. We have been waiting for a change in the status quo for 30 years to achieve this through negotiations. But that did not happen. Therefore, we destroyed it on the battlefield. It is gone. The city of Jabrayil is with us, most of the villages of Jabrayil district are with us. The vast majority of villages in Fuzuli district are also with us. Now we already see the city of Fuzuli. Hadrut is with us, Sugovushan is with us.

- Can you see the center of Fuzuli now?

- We can see it, of course.

- So can we hear good news from there in the near future, Inshallah?

- Inshallah. So what kind of status quo can we talk about. There is no status quo or a line of contact. We broke through it as well. So over these days we did what we could not do within the framework of the negotiations.

- Mr. President, I want to ask you one more question. The war is still going on. I would like to ask you about the events that saddened and delighted you the most. By the way, the symbolic photo is of 4-year-old Bakhtiyar from Ganja who is smiling despite the injury. This photo has become a symbol for the whole world. We have interviewed him. And you know what he said, this four-year-old child? He said, "Karabakh is ours, Karabakh is Azerbaijan!"

- Yes.

- Mr. President, what impressed you the most, saddened and made you happy?

- Our losses sadden me most of all. Both civilians and soldiers. Our young soldiers, having demonstrated selflessness and valor, become martyrs in the name of their native lands. This is a great tragedy  for our people, for their relatives, a great tragedy for their parents. Therefore, the death of every Azerbaijani  whether civilian or soldier, it does not matter  is the greatest suffering for me. They are all our compatriots, our sons, brothers.

And what pleases me most of all is the unbreakable will of the Azerbaijani people because people living under fire do not move. Armenia wants to turn Tartar into Stalingrad, into the second Aghdam, Fuzuli. Why are you shelling this civilian city? Take that funeral ceremony. More than 200 shells were dropped this morning in the course of two hours. Why? What is there in Tartar? People live there. So this is Armenian fascism. They also want to intimidate us. In addition, they think that we are living in the 1990s when they attacked us, our army could not resist them and our citizens left those regions, became refugees and internally displaced persons. They have these ideas. But they should know that the present-day Azerbaijan is not what it was before. Today's Azerbaijan is a strong state capable of defending itself. Our citizens live under shelling but do not leave these places. Their houses are on fire, all property is lost, but they say "Long live the Motherland!" This makes me happy the most. And also to see our flag on the lands liberated from occupation. This is what makes me happy.

- Mr. President, 83 million people in Turkey pray for Azerbaijan every day. Do you feel these prayers? What would you like to say in connection with this to the Turkish people? What message do you have?

- Of course, I do. These prayers and the prayers of the Azerbaijani people, our friends and brothers living in other countries are saving us because our cause is a cause of justice. We are fighting for our lands. Armenias war is a war of evil forces. We have always seen and felt Turkey's support. In recent years, the leaders of Turkey and Azerbaijan have tied our countries to each other with such strong ties that this unity and this brotherhood is unshakable. I receive many letters from Turkey these days. People write, "Mr. President, I am also ready to come, I am ready to help". This is very touching and makes us happy. Our unity manifests itself once again during this difficult time. Therefore, I express my deep gratitude to all our Turkish brothers. We feel and see their support, it gives us additional strength and reinforces our determination. My dear brother, dear President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "Azerbaijan is not alone, Turkey is next to Azerbaijan". This, in fact, is the most beautiful expression, the best saying that reflects our unity.

- Mr. President, in conclusion I would like to ask how you would describe Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

- Recep Tayyip Erdogan is my brother. We have a very close relationship. Both as presidents and as two people. I have deep respect for him. He is a world leader. He has raised Turkey to high peaks. He has elevated Turkey. Thanks to him, the whole world knows Turkey as a worthy and proud state. Both some countries and, unfortunately, some political forces in Turkey itself are showing great injustice towards him. I cannot interfere in these matters, of course, but as a person, I cannot remain indifferent to this because he has done a lot for Turkey. There is no-one else in Turkey today who would love it so much, protect its interests, be ready to do anything for it. Everyone should know this. Everyone in Azerbaijan knows this. Many people in Turkey also know this but I want to tell those who dont. Political strife takes place everywhere but there is also a national question. There should be no political struggle in the national question. In the face of danger, we must unite. Turkey is being attacked from all sides today. To endure this, to withstand these attacks takes tremendous courage. It requires great professionalism, knowledge and determination. This is the kind of person my brother is. I can say this absolutely sincerely because I know him well. I would like to wish him continued success. His words, his actions, his life are very important for the entire Turkic world, and we will continue to make great effort to unite and deepen cooperation of the Turkic world.

- And last question, Mr. President. You said about the need to be together with Turkey. In this context, have you received messages of support from the Turkish opposition?

- Yes. Such messages have arrived. You know, I am the kind of person who says everything as it is. There is no need for diplomacy in this matter. The main thing for me in Turkey is the attitude towards my brother. Someone who treats him well has a place in my heart. Those who treat him unfairly, oppose him, there is no place for them in my heart. Of course, I express my gratitude to everyone who wants to provide support. However, I believe  and everyone should know this  that if Erdogan wasnt there today, Turkey could be faced with a big disaster. Let everyone know and understand this. I say this as an ordinary citizen of Azerbaijan. You can hear it today from 10 million citizens of Azerbaijan. The Turkish-Azerbaijani unity is strengthening. Therefore, people who ensure this unity should receive the necessary support everywhere, in national issues. As for questions between parties, this is a different matter. There is a national issue in which everyone should be a patriot.

- Mr. President, thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions.








RAMALLAH, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian man succumbed to the wounds sustained from Israeli soldiers' gunfire in the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan, near the West Bank city of Salfit, Palestinian medics said on Sunday.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement that Mujahid Dawoud, 30, from the village, succumbed to critical wounds early on Sunday.

On Saturday afternoon, five Palestinians were injured during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan, including Dawoud, who suffered severe wounds in the chest.

Mohammed al-Ramahi, director of Salfit Hospital in the northern West Bank, said that Dawoud and another Palestinian were receiving intensive medical care after being critically wounded by Israeli soldiers.

Palestinian eyewitnesses said that an Israeli army force stormed the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan, adding that fierce clashes broke out between Palestinian farmers and Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli authorities didn't comment on the incident of wounding the five Palestinians. 
TEHRAN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Saturday Tehran will not tolerate the continued presence of "armed terrorists" in Iraq's Kurdistan region as well as their actions and movements against Iran's security.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with Chairman of the Iraqi National Security Council Qasim al-Araji in Tehran, the official news agency IRNA reported.

Highlighting the necessity of expanding the already growing relations between Tehran and Baghdad in all areas, Amir-Abdollahian called for the two sides' cooperation in the security field and confronting "armed terrorists" in the Kurdistan region.

Qasim al-Araji said the Iraqi government would take measures to stop any activity intended to jeopardize Iran's security.

Over the past years, Iran's western and northwestern borders with Iraq have been the scene of clashes between the Iranian security forces and Kurdish fighters. 
BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The past decade has seen notable changes in various fields across the country, according to delegates to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), who spoke to the media on Sunday.

"I was sent into space twice in 2013 and 2021. China's manned space program has made new achievements over the past decade, offering us a broader flight platform and longer flight time," said astronaut Wang Yaping.

Short-track skater and Winter Olympic medalist Wu Dajing still remembered the days when they had to queue up into late night for on-ice training due to the lack of skating rinks 10 years ago. "It no longer bothers today's athletes as the indoor skating rinks top 1,400 now."

Kunshan City in east China's Jiangsu Province has seen its industrial scale become larger and its industrial structure more optimized in the past 10 years, according to Zhou Wei, the city's Party chief, adding that the city's proportion of strategic emerging industries has exceeded 50 percent.

Yang Ning, Party chief of Jiangmen Village in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has seen the mountainous village shake off poverty with its per capita net income soaring since she returned to her hometown in 2010 as a college graduate.

"I will stay in the village to make it more beautiful and affluent," Yang said.

The spectrum of the more than 2,000 delegates attending the ongoing congress is broadly representative. The delegates come from various sectors, administrative levels, and institutions.

The congress will run from Oct. 16 to 22. 
TEHRAN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said on Saturday that uranium enrichment constitutes only part of Iran's nuclear activities, but the "enemies" seek to solely highlight it.

Making the remarks in an address to a meeting, Behrouz Kamalvandi added the country has done good work in the fields of producing radiopharmaceuticals and agriculture, according to the AEOI's website.

He noted that the "enemies" do not want Iran to enter the nuclear industry at all and as a result, they seek to make the world believe that Tehran is after other objectives through its nuclear activities.

The AEOI spokesman said the United States claim that foodstuff and medicine are not in the list of sanctions on Iran is a "lie."

The radiopharmaceuticals and even an Iranian producer of radiopharmaceuticals are sanctioned, he said.

In September, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a report that it was "not in a position to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively peaceful" and that "no progress" has been made in resolving questions about the past traces of nuclear material in Iran's "three undeclared sites."

Slamming the IAEA for the report, Kamalvandi said at the time that it was a repetition of previous "baseless cases" with "political purposes."

In June, the IAEA's Board of Governors adopted an anti-Iran resolution proposed by the United States and three European countries, Britain, France, and Germany, accusing Iran of non-cooperation with the agency.

Following the move, Iran began injecting uranium gas into advanced centrifuges and disconnected some of the IAEA's cameras monitoring its sites.

Iran signed a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, accepting to put some curbs on its nuclear activities in return for the removal of the international sanctions on Tehran. In May 2018, however, the United States pulled out of the agreement and reimposed Washington's sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to reduce its commitments under the deal. 
BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will fully summarize China's major achievements and valuable experience gained in its reform and development endeavors.

It will also formulate programs of action and overarching policies to meet China's new development goals on the journey ahead in the new era and the new expectations of the people.

The world is keeping a close eye on how the week-long meeting will map out a blueprint for China's growth, and how the country will further contribute to world peace and development.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN NEW ERA

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has made historic achievements and shifts in economic and social development, successfully promoting and expanding a Chinese-style modernization. Over the past decade, the CPC has led the Chinese people in striving for this great success, demonstrating the strong vitality of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Speaking highly of China's great achievements in the past 10 years, overseas experts and observers have expressed their high expectations for China's bigger role in global affairs after the 20th CPC National Congress, which is expected to write a new chapter for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

The past decade was extremely extraordinary for China as the country has achieved significant success in its development, said Xulio Rios, director of the Observatory of Chinese Politics in Spain.

China has eliminated extreme poverty and made remarkable achievements in such fields as science and technology and environmental protection, Rios said. He added that as China's role in global affairs becomes increasingly important, the global society has great expectation for the 20th CPC National Congress.

Ehecatl Lazaro, researcher of Mexican Center for Economic and Social Studies, said that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has become one of the countries with an important influence on the international economic, political and social development in the 21st century.

The decisions made at the 20th CPC National Congress will have great significance for the whole world, including Latin America, Lazaro said.

Noting that the upcoming meeting will review the CPC's valuable experience in state governance, Randy Alonso, director general of popular Cuban website cubadebate.cu, said that the experience will not only help embark on a new journey for China's growth, but also continue to push for world development.

He said China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI) proposed by the country will remain important in international cooperation and global governance.

Reviewing China's achievements in the past decade, Tang Zhimin, director of China ASEAN Studies at the Bangkok-based Panyapiwat Institute of Management, highlighted China's adherence to the people-centered development philosophy, the eradication of poverty for nearly 100 million rural residents, the building of the world's largest education system, and social security and healthcare system.

He said these achievements have made China a model in developing countries, adding that with the 20th CPC National Congress around the corner, ASEAN countries are highly interested in how China's future economic and social progress will bring more certainty to global development.

POSITIVE INFLUENCE

The 20th CPC National Congress will envision the two-step strategic plan for building China into a great modern socialist country, with a focus on outlining strategic tasks and major initiatives for the next five years. The congress is expected to bring more benefits to the people of China as well as the rest of the world.

The Chinese "seem serene even if they are very busy," said French international affairs expert Bruno Guigue. "In my eyes, the serenity of the Chinese people is the tangible expression of their material and spiritual success."

Guigue said socialism with Chinese characteristics is in line with China's national conditions, adding that he will focus on China's plan to further promote high-quality development at the upcoming CPC national congress.

As the world now faces great turbulence and turmoil, China is bringing hope for developing countries via the joint construction of Belt and Road, said William Jones, Washington bureau chief of the U.S. publication Executive Intelligence Review.

"The path charted by China at the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will be decisive in determining the direction the world takes," Jones said.

The world is looking forward to the upcoming meeting, because China will unswervingly promote its high-quality development and firmly strive for a strong modern country, said Luis Antonio Paulino, a professor at Sao Paulo State University.

At the same time, China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the GDI will continue to promote an early realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) will continue to drive the development and prosperity of developing countries, including Latin American countries, the professor said.

China's new guidelines to be unveiled after the CPC national congress will not only shape the future of China, but also promote the development of the world, said Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh.

From the Belt and Road Initiative to the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has provided a clear blueprint for global development, which has a transformative effect on both Asia and the world, he added.

SHARED OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

In today's world, with major global changes and the COVID-19 pandemic, both unseen in a century, economic globalization is facing headwind, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and change.

Against such a backdrop, observers expect that after the 20th CPC National Congress, China's growth will promote global economic recovery and an open world economy, bringing new opportunities to other countries.

Jean Christophe Iseux von Pfetten, president of the Institute for East-West Strategic Studies in Britain, kindled his interest in China as Chinese students took part-time jobs in the factory of his family in France several decades ago.

As a long time observer of China, he said that the country's development has been a stabilizer for the world economy for many years, thus the 20th CPC National Congress will have a profound impact not only on China, but also on the international community.

Alexey Maslov, director of the Institute of the Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University, said the world is paying close attention to the action plan and major policies to be formulated at the 20th CPC National Congress, which are very critical not only for China's development, but also for global issues such as food and energy security, as China is one of the most important parties.

Recently, the "FutureChina Global Forum" was held in Singapore, during which the 20th CPC National Congress became a hot topic. Chen Gang, assistant director of the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute, said at the forum that China will continue to attract foreign investment and strengthen trade with regional countries.

China's implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and efforts in promoting its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement are clear signals that China will continue to integrate into regional economy to advance its growth.

Hanat Baisek, president of the Kazakhstan-China Trade Promotion Association, highlighted China's contribution to world economic growth. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China's share of the global economy has risen from 11.4 percent to more than 18 percent, and the country's contribution to world economic growth has generally remained at around 30 percent, he noted, adding that China has signed BRI cooperation documents with 149 countries and 32 international organizations as of September this year.

Baisek said China has proposed the GDI and the GSI, and promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. He also said he believes after the 20th CPC National Congress, China will continue to provide dynamism for global economic growth and contribute to the development and stability of the world.

CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN CIVILIZATION

Standing at a crossroads, the human society is facing unprecedented challenges. At this critical juncture, observers expect that China's visions and experience on state governance to be summed up at the 20th CPC National Congress could offer more inspirations for the whole world, further contributing to world peace and development and the progress of human civilization.

Charles Onunaiju, director of the Abuja-based Center for China Studies, said the 20th CPC National Congress will present a roadmap of action and major policies for China's future growth, which is of great significance to world development and global governance.

Developing countries, including African countries, have high expectation for the meeting, he said.

The Nigerian expert has traveled to China many times for various forums and seminars, and therefore gained a close observation on China and Africa-China relations. He said a series of initiatives proposed by China on international cooperation and global governance in recent years has proved China's willingness to share its prosperity and undertake the responsibility as a major country in the world.

Calling the Africa-China ties a model of international relations, Onunaiju said that at a moment when global development is facing various challenges, strengthening cooperation between Africa and China will be significant to the world.

China has put forward a series of new ideas, proposals and initiatives in the past 10 years. As one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has been firmly defending the international system with the United Nations at its core, said Alistair Michie, secretary general of the British East Asia Council.

China actively participated in UN peacekeeping operations and played an important role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. China has made a significant positive contribution to global economic governance with its lead to create the AIIB -- the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Michie added.

He said he will keenly focus on the 20th CPC National Congress to see how China may help contribute to global governance.

Abdulaziz Alshaabani, an expert on China from Saudi Arabia, said that China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind promotes solidarity and coordination among countries, and the GDI responds to the appeal of developing countries to get rid of the impact of the pandemic as soon as possible and return to the right track of development, giving a strong boost to multilateralism.

The expert said he hopes that the 20th CPC National Congress will continue to provide constructive and pioneering propositions and ideas for global development and human solidarity and progress, so that more countries can learn from the successful experience of CPC governance, he said.

The GDI has accelerated the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and helped create synergy for global development, said Evandro M. de Carvalho, head of the Center for Brazil-China Studies at Getulio Vargas Foundation School of Law. He wished the 20th CPC National Congress a complete success. 
Xi Jinping presides over a preparatory meeting for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping presided over a preparatory meeting for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the afternoon of October 15.

A total of 2,310 of the 2,379 elected and specially-invited delegates to the 20th CPC National Congress attended the meeting.

Participants at the meeting approved a list of 22 members of the delegate credentials committee and a list of 243 members of the presidium of the congress. It was approved that Wang Huning will serve as secretary-general of the congress. The setup and tasks of the secretariat of the congress were also approved.

The agenda for the 20th CPC National Congress was set at the meeting. Delegates are expected to hear and examine a report of the 19th CPC Central Committee, examine a work report of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, deliberate and adopt an amendment to the Party Constitution, and elect the 20th CPC Central Committee and the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. 

A preparatory meeting for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. Xi Jinping presided over the meeting. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

A preparatory meeting for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. Xi Jinping presided over the meeting. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
SYDNEY, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Amazement is the right word to use when describing China's development achievements in the past ten years, Kiribati President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau said.

The chapter ahead would add color and excitement to the great story of the Chinese people and the country, Maamau said in a recent written interview with Xinhua.

Maamau recalled his first trip to China as "an eye-opener" to see the high living standards of the Chinese people. "This is a great achievement" testifying to the country's "people-centered development vision," he said.

First elected president of Kiribati in 2016 and then re-elected, Maamau paid a state visit to China in 2020, after the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries in September 2019.

Maamau said he strongly agrees with the idea that people's support is of paramount importance in governance.

"My government also prioritizes anti-corruption at the top of our agenda," and has begun to establish legislative frameworks to "effectively stamp out corruption in Kiribati," Maamau noted.

"More work is required," he said, adding Kiribati will continue to learn from its partners like China about measures that will assist efforts in Kiribati.

The partnership and cooperation between Kiribati and China have "grown immensely" since the resumption of diplomatic ties three years ago, Maamau said.

Noting that Kiribati has drawn its first long-term development blueprint Kiribati 20-year Vision (KV20), which "focuses on building wealth, peace and security, infrastructure for development and governance," Maamau said. "China's assistance has been very responsive to the priorities under the KV20," particularly infrastructure building and improving the livelihood of the Kiribati people.

After the outbreak of COVID-19, China sent batches of vaccines and equipment to Kiribati, which Maamau said have boosted the country's response to the pandemic.

"We are also fortunate to have medical experts from China, who are now assisting in our health sector, and their contributions have been felt very strongly," said the president.

China's assistance throughout the world shows its "deep commitment" to helping countries struggling to respond to the pandemic, he said.

Kiribati "is very much appreciative" of the South-South cooperation China has been calling for, the concept of which is "to foster solidarity among peoples and countries of the South that contributes to their national well-being, their national and collective self-reliance and the attainment of internationally agreed development goals," Maamau said.

China's South-South cooperation programs aim to "assist building resilience to disasters and climate change and to uplift the livelihood of people," he noted.

China's attitude towards Pacific island countries is "very culturally sensitive," Maamau said. "That is the key to promoting cooperation, mutual trust and genuine partnership between China and the region." 
BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its first meeting on Saturday afternoon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.



Xi Jinping attended the meeting and delivered an important speech.

Presided over by Wang Huning, secretary-general of the congress, the meeting approved a list of 46 members of the standing committee of the presidium including Xi.

Subsequently, Xi presided over the meeting, which proceeded with other items on the agenda. Ding Xuexiang, Chen Xi, Guo Shengkun and Huang Kunming were approved as deputy secretaries-general of the congress.

A report on the examination of delegates' qualifications by the delegate credentials committee was adopted at the meeting.

According to the report, qualifications of 2,296 elected delegates to the congress were confirmed valid after examination.

The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed great importance on the election of delegates, the report noted.

All primary-level Party organizations and up to 99.5 percent of more than 96 million Party members took part in the electoral process, it said.

The delegates are outstanding representatives of CPC members, representing a broad spectrum of Party members.

The report said the CPC Central Committee has invited 83 special delegates who enjoy equal rights as elected delegates.

A draft of the electoral methods of the 20th CPC National Congress was approved at the meeting. It will be deliberated by delegations.

The meeting also approved matters related to participants who will attend the congress in a non-voting capacity and invited guests.

It was decided at the meeting that the congress will run from Oct. 16 to 22.

Xi Jinping delivers an important speech at the first meeting of the presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

The presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) holds its first meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. Xi Jinping attended the meeting and delivered an important speech. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) holds its first meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. Xi Jinping attended the meeting and delivered an important speech. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
The Death toll in an underground coal mine explosion in northern Turkiye rose to 41, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) will open its 20th national congress on Sunday, an event of momentous significance to China's epic journey toward modernity.



The congress will envision the two stages toward building a great modern socialist country in all respects and set out strategic tasks and major measures for the next five years, Sun Yeli, spokesperson for the congress, said Saturday.

"We have the confidence, resolve and capability to meet new goals and create greater miracles on the way forward," Sun told a press conference.

A new CPC Central Committee and a new CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection will be elected at the congress. The CPC Constitution will be amended.

More than 2,000 delegates will attend the congress, representing more than 96 million CPC members.

Journalists attend a press conference held by Sun Yeli, spokesperson for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

The Party has established Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and defined the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

This reflects the common will of the Party, the armed forces, and Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and is of decisive significance for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and for driving forward the historic process of national rejuvenation.

In the modernization drive, China is following its own path under the leadership of the CPC, which celebrated its centenary last year.

The country has applied a new development philosophy featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development.

China's model offers an inspiration to nations who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence.

Delegates from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China arrive in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The congress comes at a time when the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, and a new phase of uncertainty and transformation.

Amid headwinds, China remains an important anchor of stability and driving force of global economic growth.

"The Chinese economy has strong resilience, great potential and robust vitality, and the fundamentals for its long-term positive growth remain unchanged," Sun said.

China has implemented the new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other.

Fostering the new development paradigm will generate lasting momentum for the long-term development of the Chinese economy as well as the steady recovery of the world economy, Sun said.

"China will unswervingly advance opening-up to cover more fields in a broader scope and at a greater depth," the spokesperson said.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become a well-received international public good and an important platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Over the past nine years, China has signed BRI cooperation documents with over 140 countries and more than 30 international organizations, Sun said.

Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2022 shows the reporter workspace of the press center for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era since the Party's 18th national congress in 2012.

In many ways, the past decade has been an unusual and extraordinary journey for China, the world's second-largest economy and most populous country.

China's GDP expanded by an average annual rate of 6.6 percent between 2013 and 2021, compared to 3.7 percent growth in developing economies and just 2.6 percent of global growth.

China had secured a complete victory in its fight against poverty, lifting close to 100 million people out of poverty in eight years.

"This had never been achieved in the Chinese history and it is a miracle in the human history as well," Sun said.

In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, China has managed to protect the health and safety of the people to the greatest extent possible and achieved the best results in the world in coordinating economic development with the COVID-19 response.

China's measures to tackle the COVID-19 epidemic are the most cost-effective and have worked the best for the country, Sun said.

Today, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process, but as Xi has often cautioned, it will be no easy task.

Addressing a study session of provincial and ministerial-level officials in late July, Xi said that achieving national rejuvenation will be no walk in the park, and it will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there.

Xi called for resolve to undertake a great struggle with many new contemporary features, and readiness to work even harder toward the goal of national rejuvenation.

An editorial to be published by the People's Daily on Sunday says the congress will make plans and arrangements for the cause of the Party and the country from a strategic and overall perspective, and guide the entire nation to break new grounds for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

On the new journey, we will be able to keep firmly in our own hands the destiny of the country's development and progress as long as we stay committed to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promote national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization, the editorial says.

(Video reporters: Jiang Lei, Aximu, Wu Changwei, Guo Jun, Adewale Amzat, Nguon Sovan, Van Pov, Wang Feng, Meng Jing, Li Zhenbei; Video editors: Wu You, Zhu Cong, Zhu Jianhui) 
By Trend

The positions of Azerbaijani army came under fire, Trend reports citing Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

Armenian armed forces units from the positions in Yenikand, Yukhari Shorja settlements of Basarkechar district, Garashen of Gorus district, Chinarli of Tovuzgalin district using caliber weapons subjected to fire the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of Jamilli and Mollabayramli settlements of Kalbajar district, Gusulu of Lachin district and Kohanabi of Tovuz district on October 15 from 15:20 (GMT+4) to 18:00 (GMT+4) and during the night of October 16

The Azerbaijan Army stationed in these directions took adequate retaliatory measures.
A girl shows her name in Chinese calligraphy at a charity event in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Oct. 15, 2022.

The Confucius Institute in Ljubljana on Saturday showcased Chinese culture at a charity event held in the capital of Slovenia.

Visitors had the chance to taste Chinese tea, experience Chinese calligraphy, and put on Hanfu, traditional Chinese clothing, to take photos at the event, which aims at raising fund for Slovenian children in need. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

LJUBLJANA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius institute in Ljubljana on Saturday showcased Chinese culture at a charity event held in the capital of Slovenia.

Visitors had the chance to taste Chinese tea, experience Chinese calligraphy, and put on Hanfu, traditional Chinese clothing, to take photos at the event, which aims at raising fund for Slovenian children in need.

Teachers from the institute also performed cucurbit flute and guitar duet and Tai Chi.

Lu Tingyao, Chinese director of the institute, told Xinhua that the institute participated in the event to show the charm of China to foreign people and to show welcome to anybody who is interested in Chinese culture. 

Teachers from the Confucius Institute in Ljubljana perform a cucurbit flute and guitar duet at a charity event in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Oct. 15, 2022.

The Confucius Institute in Ljubljana on Saturday showcased Chinese culture at a charity event held in the capital of Slovenia.

Visitors had the chance to taste Chinese tea, experience Chinese calligraphy, and put on Hanfu, traditional Chinese clothing, to take photos at the event, which aims at raising fund for Slovenian children in need. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

A teacher from the Confucius Institute in Ljubljana (3rd L) showcases Chinese calligraphy at a charity event in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Oct. 15, 2022.

The Confucius Institute in Ljubljana on Saturday showcased Chinese culture at a charity event held in the capital of Slovenia.

Visitors had the chance to taste Chinese tea, experience Chinese calligraphy, and put on Hanfu, traditional Chinese clothing, to take photos at the event, which aims at raising fund for Slovenian children in need. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

A staff member serves a cup of Chinese tea to a visitor at a charity event in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Oct. 15, 2022.

The Confucius Institute in Ljubljana on Saturday showcased Chinese culture at a charity event held in the capital of Slovenia.

Visitors had the chance to taste Chinese tea, experience Chinese calligraphy, and put on Hanfu, traditional Chinese clothing, to take photos at the event, which aims at raising fund for Slovenian children in need. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)
TUNIS, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a staff-level agreement to support the country's economic policies with a 48-month arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of about 1.9 billion U.S. dollars, reported Tunisian media on Saturday.

"As is always the case, the final agreement on the arrangement is subject to the approval of the IMF's Executive Board, which is scheduled to discuss Tunisia's program request in December," an IMF statement was quoted as saying.

The new EFF arrangement will seek to "restore Tunisia's macroeconomic stability, strengthen social safety nets and tax equity, and step up reforms that support an enabling environment for inclusive growth and sustainable job creation," noted the statement.

It added that the loan will support the authorities' economic reform program to restore Tunisia's external and fiscal stability, enhance social protection, and promote higher, greener, and inclusive growth and private sector-led job creation.

Tunisia has been seeking a multi-billion-U.S.-dollar loan from the IMF to avoid bankruptcy. 
The electronic voting machine made by Ram Rimal and Laxman Rimal. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/communitylaxman

The first Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal, held in 2008, were an important milestone in Nepals political history for they let the peoples representatives write the countrys primary law on their own. But, for Neil Kantha Uprety, an election commissioner then, they were more important because they let the public use electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the first time.

That was a pilot project, and that proved successful, Uprety says, We were excited about its prospects in Nepal.

While the voting machines were used for the first time in one constituency of Kathmandu, the excitement led the commission to expand it to six constituencies in the by-elections held the next year. The use of the EVMs in two constituencies of Morang, and one each of Dhanusha, Kaski, Rolpa, and Kanchanpur.

But, that was the last time Nepal used electronic machines in its nationwide general elections so far.

The use of electronic voting machines is not a debated issue per se, but why Nepal does not adopt this modern system is a curious case. Before every election, the issue gets into the limelight with the urban public raising demands for its use whereas the rural electorate remains innocent. Whereas the Election Commission was urging the government to make necessary arrangements to use voting machines for the upcoming federal and provincial parliamentary elections, this is not happening this time either.

Overall, why the reluctance still exists is a mystery.

The regression

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba casts his vote during the party convention. Photo: Facebook/Mim Bahadur Pariyar

The use of voting machines in 2008 was an encouraging move, remembers Uprety. This encouragement was also reflected in The Carter Centers election observation report, A pilot test of electronic voting machines in Kathmandu went well, a promising sign for future elections.

But, that promise has not been realised in any other elections so far. In the 2017 federal and provincial polls, the commission discussed with parties the use of voting machines, but the political parties, especially Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre rejected the idea.

Nonetheless, CPN-UML and Rastriya Prajatantra Party used voting machines in their latest general conventions to elect party leadership. But, the ruling Nepali Congress party made its members cast their ballot papers into a water tank. The party did not bother getting trolled for that.

It is hence ironic that the leaders promise a smart city, but the same leaders are rejecting the idea of an electronic voting system.

The current voting system of Nepal is not only traditional but also expensive and time-consuming. For instance, in the recently held local elections, the Election Commission printed around 20 million ballot papers, which cost Rs 110 million. Similarly, it also took the authorities a long time to count the votes.

Almost two weeks after the elections, the commission completed the vote counting of the Kathmandu metropolitan city.

Scientist Ram Rimal, the designer of Samyak-100, an electronic voting machine, says that there are more benefits to using EVMs. It creates transparency; there will be no chances of disqualification of votes; it is a one-time investment and it provides results quickly, Rimal summarises.

If a country conducts the elections through EVMs, it does not need to spend millions on a ballot paper every election, says Rimal.

The frowning fear

File: A meeting between KP Sharma Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in Kathmandu, on Friday, April 24, 2020. Photo: PM Olis Secretariat

Uprety, who later also worked as the chief election commission, agrees. Once voting machines are used, the chances of poll rigging are almost zero, he highlights, adding this might be the reason why the parties are reluctant to use them.

There are cases in our country where the election booths have been captured and ballot papers are torn, says Uprety. Political parties fear that they cannot do that once the EVMs are used.

Some party leaders also confess this. Congress leader Chandra Bhandari also sees the immediate need for voting machines to maintain transparency and save time during the elections. The fear among the political leaders about the technology is something that makes the country avoid EVMs, says Bhandari. The political leaders neither believe in themselves nor in technology.

The governments role

Election Commission. Photo: Chanda Bahadur Ale

UML deputy general secretary Bishnu Rimal, meanwhile, blames the government for not introducing the system. We are very positive about it; we even used it in our general convention, he says, Its unavailability, for which the government has to be blamed, is the only thing that is depriving us.

Scientist Rimal says the commission needs to put additional effort to change the voting methodology of the country. He says rather than political leaders, it is the commission that is reluctant to introduce EVMs. Despite our continuous efforts, the commission does not show any strong willingness.

But, the commission has its own problem. Surya Prasad Aryal, the assistant spokesperson at the commission, says, We are well aware of the benefits of electronic voting machines, but the difficulties in managing resources due to the governments indifference and the reluctance of political parties propelled us to follow the traditional voting method.

In addition, it is uncertain and unsure in the country when the elections will take place. Due to this, the concerned authority lacks sufficient time to the preparation for conducting elections through EVMs, says former chief election commission Uprety.
When Ruben Thapa used to go to his maternal uncles house in Kharanga of Manahari rural municipality, Makawanpur, his maiju (maternal aunt) would offer him a glass of mohi (buttermilk) to welcome him.

This Dashain, when he reached his village again, after three years in Portugal, Thapa expected to be served yoghurt and mohi. But, his expectations fell flat when he found more processed beverages and other processed food such as Coke and chips than yoghurt and mohi in the village. Thapa had to make peace with the yoghurt and mohi found in the market.

In the past when I went to my maternal uncles house, they used to have three to four cattle for milk. Naturally, we got to have more milk, yoghurt, and mohi. But, now there are only mama and maiju (maternal uncle and aunt) in the house. Their sons and daughters all live in the market area and they have stopped rearing cows and buffaloes.

Not just in his maternal home, Thapa says the milk dishes are now available only in a dairy collection centre across the Kharanga village.

Meanwhile, the elders of the village are complaining that not only the drinks but the snacks consumed are also changing in the village of late as there is more processed food than local one.

According to 68-year-old Ramsharan Hatuwal of Bhimphedi rural municipality-9, In the village, all kinds of bread, corn, soya beans, yoghurt and mohi were popularly consumed as snacks, but now noodles, chowmein and readymade processed food items are more popular.

The changing market

Image by Ulrike Leone for Pixabay

Local traders say that nowadays several cartons of cold drinks and noodles are sold during the festivals.

Sudarshan Sharma, who has been running a grocery store along the Tribhuvan Highway for two decades, says, In yesteryear, chiura (beaten rice) used to be the most sold item so that the store would be empty during Dashain and Asar [15]. Now, everyones go-to thing is carbonated cold drinks and noodles and other items of processed food. During Dashain, I sold up to two cartons just to one family.

According to Sunil Lama of Thakre rural municipality in Dhading, who runs a shop along the Tribhuvan Highway, he sold beer the most this Dashain. Nowadays, people order rice in bulk from the dealers while chiura is bought up to 10 kg at max. But, with the trend changing among people, they rush to serve beer to their guests. Noodles also follow the same trend, Lama says.

This trend is the same in all the villages now. Cold drinks and junk food are among the most sold items even in small village markets. Raithane (local) food is now disappearing from villages to cities even during the time of harvest.

Pride that couldnt be

File

Tourism entrepreneur Rajan Simkhada says that the reason behind the penetration of processed food into villages is that Nepali people are not proud of their food. We are not proud of our heritage and are more invested in imitating foreigners. In the village, we can see that beer is more popular than chhyang (local rice beer), carbonated beverages instead of yoghurt, and noodles, chowmein, or packet snacks are more popular instead of local snacks.

He further comments that on the one hand, junk food continues to affect ones health while on the other, the culture of local products including food is being destroyed.

Nutritionist KP Lamsal says the risks in the health sector are also increasing due to the recent increase in the use of highly processed food. Nowadays, cold drinks are being used instead of our local drinks like mohi, yoghurt, etc. It is increasing the number of diabetic patients and is having a serious effect on peoples digestive system.

File: Nepali food items that can be used as snacks

According to Lamsal, the influence of lucrative advertisements is gripping cities to villages alike and highly processed food is displacing its regular counterpart. But, he says, the lack of awareness about its impacts on ones health is evident in Nepali society.

According to Simkhada, to change this situation, emphasis should first be given to promoting food tourism.

Rather than devaluing the local food, one can improve the cuisine by looking at it from the point of view of traditions, he says, Education and awareness are also needed. From the cities to the villages, foreign processed food is gaining space and importance because we cannot define the characteristics of our food or explain its importance.

He adds, Not only to serve foreign or domestic tourists but millet dhindo (thick porridge) and phapar rotis (buckwheat flatbreads) should also be promoted to serve the regular house guests.

This story was translated from the original Nepali version and edited for clarity and length.
In September, SpaceX sent a letter to the Department of Defense, asking the Pentagon to take over paying for the expenses related to Ukraine's use of its Starlink satellite internet. According to CNN, SpaceX told the department that continuing to provide the Ukranian government with access to Starlink would cost the company over $120 million for the rest of 2022 and almost $400 million over the next 12 months. "We are not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine, or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time," the company wrote. Now, company chief Elon Musk seems to have backtracked on the decision to ask the Pentagon for assistance and wrote on Twitter that SpaceX will "keep funding [the] Ukraine [government] for free" even though Starlink is still losing money.

The hell with it  even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, well just keep funding Ukraine govt for free  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 15, 2022

Musk confirmed what he said in his tweet to The Financial Times and added that SpaceX will continue funding Ukraine's access to Starlink's satellite internet "indefinitely."

When news about the letter came out, Musk defended his company's position and clarified that SpaceX is not asking the Pentagon to pay for previous expenses. He explained that SpaceX simply can't fund the existing system in Ukraine and regularly send thousands of new terminals to replace the ones routinely destroyed by the Russian forces at the same time. Musk added that the "burn" for keeping the Starlink system running in the country is $20 million a month, since it's had to "defend against cyberattacks and jamming," as well.

Earlier this month, The Times reported that Ukrainian troops grappled with Starlink outages that led to "catastrophic" loss of communication on the frontline. Musk responded that the piece "falsely claims that Starlink terminals [and] service were paid for, when only a small percentage have been." Based on SpaceX's letter that CNN had obtained, though, around 85 percent of the 20,000 terminals in Ukraine at the time were fully or partially funded by the US, the UK, Poland and other outside sources.

The Pentagon confirmed after knowledge of the letter became public that it's been discussing payments with SpaceX but that it's also been looking at potential alternatives. Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon's deputy press secretary, said in a statement: "There's not just SpaceX, there are other entities that we can certainly partner with when it comes to providing Ukraine with what they need on the battlefield."
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to tighten his grip on power when Chinas National Party Congress convenes Sunday. A spectacle held once every five years, the 20th Party Congress marks the culmination of Xis ascent in many ways, with the leader poised to secure a third five-year term, making him arguably the most powerful ruler in China since Mao Zedong.

But Chinas sputtering economy threatens to overshadow Xis coronation, with the country in the midst of its slowest growth in decades. On Wednesday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its growth forecast for the worlds second-largest economy to 3.2% this year, while calling for a 4.4% growth in 2023, citing a volatile geopolitical situation and Beijings hardline policy on covid among the factors.

China's patch reform has really stagnated, said Nargiza Salidjanova, China Practice Director of the Rhodium Group, speaking to Yahoo Finance Live (video above). Its not enough to undo some good progress that they've done since the WTO accession, but in areas from openness to investment to market competitiveness, we see a pause or in some cases just all bad.

A medical worker in a protective suit collects a swab from a resident for nucleic acid testing, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai, China October 13, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song

ZERO-COVID POLICY

The future of Chinas restrictive Zero-covid policy remains a central focus. Since the first known cases of the coronavirus were first reported in the city of Wuhan in 2019, the country has imposed the worlds strictest lockdowns, shutting down entire cities and bringing businesses and factories to a halt, while isolating millions of people in their homes.

That policy has dramatically slowed the economy, with Chinas Q2 GDP falling 2.6% from the previous quarter, at the height of the most recent covid lockdowns in the spring, bringing major cities including Shanghai to a halt.

However, a recent communique issued ahead of the 20th Party Congress hints that a few changes may be on the horizon. The statement invokes battleground language, calling the fight against covid an all-out war.

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Putting the people and their lives first, we organized the people's all-out war against the COVID-19 pandemic and protected the people's lives and health to the greatest possible extent, the statement reads.

In its annual China Pathfinder report, published in partnership with the Atlantic Councils GeoEconomics Center, the Rhodium group writes the policy has placed China at a crucial moment when foreign firms are reassessing their presence in the country, and determining whether it remains investible.

Nothing has disrupted China's economy as much as going to the core of China's society as the zero-COVID policy. And it's really unlikely that there is going to be a real kind of aggressive shift unveiled at the party congress, Salidjanova said. But looking forward at what happens, it's going to be a much better situation for China if there is a stronger signal that the policy is going to be stopped rather than kind of a fudging and slurring its way through a kind of gradual decline.

Security personnel form a human chain as they guard outside the Evergrande's headquarters, where people gathered to demand repayment of loans and financial products, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 13, 2021. REUTERS/David Kirton

PROPERTY SECTOR RECKONING

A structural shock in the property sector threatens to create an even greater chasm across the Chinese economy. The country has come to rely on the sector to drive roughly a quarter of its growth over the past decade.

A reckoning brought on by real estate bubbles and developer defaults that have ensued has reverberated across Chinas financial systems. Local governments that have long been dependent on infrastructure and housing investments to balance their books have suddenly found themselves short on funds.

Salidjanova said there is little expectation for a shift in policy related to this key growth driver, given that party congresses have rarely been triggers for major announcements of economic policy. Any course correction that follows is likely to take years to filter through to the real economy, leading to a prolonged period of anemic growth, she said.

There's no substitution for [the real estate sector], she said. The government has not been really able to set up new drivers of growth which will take China forward and be able to deliver the same kind of growth that China and observers have been able to enjoy.

BEIJING, CHINA - JUNE 17: A logo of Chinese ride-sharing company Didi is pictured at its headquarters' building on June 17, 2021 in Beijing, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

REGULATORY CRACKDOWN

Foreign investors will be keenly watching for any hints on Chinas approach towards data collection and advanced technologies, at a time when major high-growth companies have been targeted by the government.

From the sudden cancellation of Ant Groups record IPO to the U.S. delisting of ride-hailing giant Didi Global and the regulatory crackdown of TikToks parent company Bytedance, Chinese officials have taken a more heavy-handed approach at a time of heightened global competition and skepticism towards these firms.

In some cases, CEOs have been summoned by regulators to reportedly ensure that their loyalty and priorities lie with Beijing, not global profits.

The domestic crackdown has coincided with global efforts to reign in Chinas tech prowess, amid fears of the countrys growing influence both in technology and geopolitics. Just last week, the Biden administration imposed the strictest restrictions on Chinas semiconductor industry, all but banning American firms from supplying chips and chipmaking equipment to Chinese firms.

This has coincided with growing fears about Chinas strategic partnership with Russia, and concerns about a military invasion of Taiwan.

Those tensions have led to a drop-off in foreign direct investments and prompted multinational companies to rethink their presence in China. In a recent member survey conducted by the U.S.-China Business Council, 65% of respondents said they had reduced confidence in the Chinese market. 40% said they were pausing or canceling investment projects or expansion plans in China.

It is certainly true that political considerations and in many cases, security considerations have been overriding a lot of the economic priorities, Salidjanova said. I think regardless of what happens at the 20th Party Congress, China faces a prolonged period of growth. And this is because even if Chinese officials really decide to sort of go all in on a new aggressive reform package of tangible structural changes will take years to be realized.

Akiko Fujita is an anchor and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @AkikoFujita

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Allied Market Research

The fact that refrigeration oils offer high thermal and oxidation stability that in turn improves shelf life of other industrial oil used in compressors drives the growth of the global refrigeration oil market. Based on application, refrigerators and freezers segment garnered the major share in 2021. By region, however, the market across Asia-Pacific would remain lucrative throughout the forecast period.

Portland, OR, Oct. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global refrigeration oil market was estimated at $1.4 billion in 2021 and is expected to hit $2.2 billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 4.7% from 2022 to 2031. The report provides a detailed analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, market size & estimations, competitive landscape, and evolving market trends. The market study is a helpful source of information for the frontrunners, new entrants, investors, and shareholders in crafting strategies for the future and heightening their position in the market.

Download Sample PDF (274 Pages PDF with Insights): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/17852

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222031 Base Year 2021 Market Size in 2021 $1.4 Billion Market Size in 2031 $2.2 Billion CAGR 4.7% No. of Pages in Report 274 Segments Covered Oil Type, Application, and Region. Drivers The fact that refrigeration oils offer high thermal and oxidation stability that in turn improves shelf life of other industrial oil used in compressors Opportunities Growing environmental regulations Restraints Several environmental risks associated with use of refrigeration oils



Covid-19 Scenario-

The closure of multiple sectors such as automotive, aerospace, marine, and others impacted the global refrigeration oil market negatively.

However, lift of restrictions coupled with rise in demand for personal vehicles led the automotive industry to witness a significant growth wherein refrigeration oil is used as a prime lubricant in cooling and compressors.

The global refrigeration oil market is analyzed across oil type, application, and region. The report takes in an exhaustive analysis of segments and their sub-segments with the help of tabular and graphical representation. Investors and market players can benefit from the breakdown and devise stratagems based on the highest revenue-generating and fastest-growing segments stated in the report.

Enquire for Customization with Detailed Analysis of COVID-19 Impact in Report @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/17852

Based on oil type, the synthetic segment held more than half of the total market revenue in 2021, and is expected to dominate by 2031. The same segment would also manifest the fastest CAGR of 4.9% throughout the forecast period.

Based on application, refrigerators and freezers segment held nearly half of the total market revenue in 2021, and is expected to dominate by 2031. The air conditioner segment, on the other hand, would cite the fastest CAGR of 5.0% throughout the forecast period.

Based on region, the market across Asia-Pacific generated more than two-fifths of the global market revenue in 2021, and is anticipated to retain the lions share by 2031. The same region would also manifest the fastest CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period. The other provinces analyzed in the report include Europe, North America, and LAMEA.

The key market players analyzed in the global refrigeration oil market report include Shell plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation, HP Lubricants, Castrol Limited, ENEOS Corporation, ADDINOL, FUCHS, Phillips 66 Company, BP Lubricants Pvt. Ltd., Lubriplate Lubricants Company, and Freudenberg Group. The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global medical tape market. These market players have embraced several strategies including partnership, expansion, collaboration, joint ventures, and others to highlight their prowess in the industry. The report is helpful in formulating the business performance, product portfolio, operating segments, and developments by the top players.

Interested in Procuring this Report? Visit Here: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/refrigeration-oil-market/purchase-options

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

CONTACT: Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com Allied Market Research Blog: https://blog.alliedmarketresearch.com




The Education Department (ED) opened up a beta version of its student loan forgiveness application process at studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application, offering periodic access to some borrowers who can apply ahead of the official launch.

"We're accepting applications to help us refine our processes...If you submit an application, it will be processed, and you won't need to resubmit," according to the website.

No official launch date was provided.

The simple online form is the same one as the preview given to the press on Tuesday. It asks borrowers to provide their name, Social Security number, date of birth, phone number, and email. Borrowers won't need to upload any documents or log in with a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. To prevent fraud, all borrowers must attest to their eligibility under penalty of perjury and jail time.

After submitting the application, borrowers should receive a confirmation email. ED will contact borrowers by email if additional information is needed. The borrower will also receive notification when the application is approved and sent to the loan servicer. The loan servicer will then notify the borrower when the debt relief has been applied and if there is a new payment based on any remaining loan balance.

(Screenshot: StudentAid.gov)

Borrowers have until the end of 2023 to apply, but are encouraged to get their applications in by mid-November. Applying early gives loan servicers enough time to recalculate a borrower's monthly payment based on their new loan balances before payments resume in January 2023.

An ED official said that borrowers should receive debt relief "in a matter of weeks" after completing the form. The department expects to process the majority of claims by mid-November before January payments resume.

In August, the Biden administration announced $10,000 in student loan forgiveness along with an additional $10,000 in forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients. Single borrowers who make less than $125,000 in adjusted gross income (AGI) and heads of household or married filing jointly borrowers who earn less than $250,000 in AGI are eligible for loan forgiveness.

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More than 40 million borrowers are eligible for student debt relief, while nearly 20 million borrowers could have their entire remaining balance forgiven, according to White House projections.

Here's what else you need to know about Biden's student loan forgiveness.

Beware of scammers

Be wary of anyone offering loan forgiveness who also requires payment and/or sends a link that is not the official website at StudentAid.gov, which is the only site where the application is available.

White House Avoid Student Loan Scams

Which types of student loans are eligible for forgiveness?

Only federally backed student loans are eligible for forgiveness. Loans from private banks and lenders don't qualify  this includes federal loans consolidated with a private lender.

Both undergraduate and graduate direct loans are eligible for cancelation along with Parent PLUS loans taken out by parents or guardians.

As of September 29, 2022, borrowers with federal student loans not held by the Education Department are not eligible for debt relief by consolidating those loans into federal direct loans. If you had FFEL and Perkins Loans not owned by the Education Department and applied to consolidate them into the federal direct loan program before Sept. 29, 2022, they are eligible for loan forgiveness.

If your loans are in default, use the Fresh Start Program to get them back in good standing.

Loans eligible for Biden's loan forgiveness

Who qualifies for $20,000 in student loan debt forgiveness?

Borrowers who received Pell Grants and make less than $125,000 as individuals or less than $250,000 as married couples are eligible to receive $20,000 in student loan debt forgiveness. Your income is based on either your 2020 or 2021 federal tax return AGI.

What is a Pell Grant?

A Pell Grant is a federal grant to low-income undergraduates who have not yet earned a first bachelors degree with the greatest demonstrated financial need. Eligibility is determined from documentation provided on the free application for federal student aid, known as FAFSA.

In 2020-21, approximately 6.4 million students received a Pell Grant with the average award of $4,166 and over 78% of recipients had family incomes of less than $40,000, according to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).

Who qualifies for $10,000 in student loan forgiveness?

Those who did not receive Pell Grants but make less than $125,000 as individuals or less than $250,000 as a married couple are eligible for $10,000 in student loan debt forgiveness. Your income is based on either your 2020 or 2021 federal tax return. It is expected that income will be based on adjusted gross income (AGI), but we are awaiting confirmation from ED.

Credit: NASFAA

What happens with my payments if I'm not eligible for forgiveness or the forgiveness doesn't cancel all my debt?

Biden also extended the pause or forbearance on federal student loan payments until December 31. It is not expected to be extended again. If you have debt remaining after loan forgiveness, your loan servicer will recalculate your new balance and monthly payment. Payments will resume in January 2023.

Is the forgiven student loan debt taxable?

Not on the federal level. This debt relief will not be considered taxable income for federal income tax purposes because of a provision in the American Rescue Plan passed in March 2021.

However, some states  like Arkansas, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Wisconsin  may consider it taxable income.

What happens to any payments I made during the payment pause?

If you made payments during the federal student loan moratorium (beginning March 13, 2020), you can get a refund for payments made by contacting your loan service provider, according to the Federal Student Aid website.

Is this the same as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program?

No. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness provides student debt forgiveness to those who have worked at least 10 years in public service jobs with federal, state, local, or certain non-profit organizations such as teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, and other professionals. The PSLF waiver expires October 31.

Ronda is a personal finance senior reporter for Yahoo Money and attorney with experience in law, insurance, education, and government. Follow her on Twitter @writesronda

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(Shows LNG Sakura is docked) Oct 14 (Reuters) - The following liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers are expected to arrive in Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands in the coming weeks. Estimated arrival dates, often revised by port authorities and AIS Live ship-tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon, are updated below. Some tankers heading for Belgium and Britain may be loading at the terminal. Those expected to load are indicated with an (L). Those likely to perform ship-to-ship transfers are indicated with (STS). Tankers that have docked are indicated with (A). Floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) terminals are added to the table when they become fully operational. As of Sept. 30 2022 this includes the Eemshaven terminal in the Netherlands. For the Reuters LNG guide, click here: LNG TANKER CAPACITY in EXPECTED ARRIVAL FROM PORT cubic metres BRITAIN LNG Sakura 177,000 Oct. 13 (A) Nigeria Dragon Global Star 170,000 Oct. 13 (A) Chile Isle of Grain Traiano Knutsen 180,000 Oct. 14 United States South Hook LNG Bonny II 173,000 Oct. 15 United States Isle of Grain Attalos 174,000 Oct. 16 Trinidad and Tobago Isle of Grain Cool Runner 158,000 Oct. 17 United States South Hook Elisa Aquila 174,000 Oct. 19 United States Isle of Grain Flex Constellation 170,000 Oct. 19 United States South Hook Sonangol Etosha 158,000 Oct. 20 Angola Isle Of Grain Bu Samra 261,000 Oct. 21 Qatar Isle of Grain Seapeak Marib 162,000 oct. 21 united States South Hook Methane Mickie Harper 167,000 Oct. 22 United States Dragon Maran Gas Ithaca 170,000 Oct. 29 United States Milford Haven Kool Boreas 167,000 Nov. 5 Peru Milford haven BELGIUM LNG Enterprise 174,000 Oct. 14 (A) Norway Zeebrugge LNG Phecda 174,000 Oct. 13 (A) N/A Zeebrugge Yenisei River 152,000 Oct. 14 Russia Zeebrugge BW Brussels 159,000 Oct. 16 United States Zeebrugge Shagra 261,000 Oct. 17 Qatar Zeebrugge Al Jasra 137,000 Oct. 19 Qatar Zeebrugge Aamira 261,000 Oct. 24 Qatar Zeebrugge Umm Al Amad 206,000 Oct. 27 Qatar Zeebrugge Gaslog Hongkong 174,000 Oct. 30 United States Zeebrugge NETHERLANDS Santander Knutsen 170,000 Oct. 10 (A) United States Eemshaven Energy Intelligence 173,000 Oct. 12 (A) Cameroon Gate Maran Gas Roxana 170,000 Oct. 14 (A) United States Eemshaven Arctic Aurora 150,000 Oct. 14 N/A Gate Arctic Discoverer 140,000 Oct. 15 Norway Gate Adam LNG 159,000 Oct. 20 Trinidad and Tobago Gate LNG Schneeweisschen 177,000 Oct. 21 Unites States Gate Diamond Gas Met Olis 174,000 Oct. 24 United States Gate Transgas Force 174,000 Nov. 28 United States Eemshaven Sources: Ports, AIS Live ship tracking, Refinitiv Eikon data. (^) Partial unload (*) Arrival date estimated based on flows data (Reporting by Nina Chestney)
Pakistani authorities say five militants have been killed in a shoot-out with security forces in the countrys restive southwest area.

The operation in the Mastung area of Balochistan Province targeted militants who were alleged to have been behind a bomb attack on October 14 that left three people dead and six wounded, Pakistan's counterterrorism police said in a statement on October 16.

Four members of the security forces were wounded in the shoot-out, the statement added.

Balochistan -- which is Pakistan's largest and poorest province despite being rich in natural resources -- has been the scene of a low-level insurgency by separatist groups for over two decades.

Islamic militants are also active in the region that borders with Afghanistan and Iran.

Based on reporting by AP
By Trend

The United States will send Ukraine an additional $725m package of weapons and other military assistance, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Washingtons newest military package includes more ammunition for HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems) and brings the total US military assistance to Ukraine to $18.3bn since the start of Joe Bidens administration, the Department of Defence said in a separate statement.

The US has sent 20 HIMARS to Ukraine and has promised 18 more that would be delivered in the coming years.
The United Nations' new special representative for Afghanistan Roza Otunbaeva has met with high-ranked officials of the Taliban-led government to discuss a "broad range of issues, including international assistance, drug abuse, and the importance of girls' education," the UN said on October 16.

According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), during her visit to Kabul, Otunbaeva held separate meetings with Taliban acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi and acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, among others.

The two sides "agreed close cooperation to address pressing issues faced" by the people of Afghanistan, the UNAMA said in a series of tweets.

Afghan media quoted a Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying the ministry told the envoy "that now is the time for Afghanistan and the world to come closer together and understand each other's priorities, conditions, and requests, and the UNAMA can achieve this well."

Since returning to power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. forces, the hard-line Taliban has barred girls from attending secondary school and prohibited women from many government jobs.

No country has yet officially recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's government. Much of the international community has made the reopening of secondary schools for girls one of the key conditions for formally recognizing the Taliban-led government.

Formerly a president of Kyrgyzstan, Otunbaeva was named the head of UNAMA last month, replacing Deborah Lyons, who stepped down in mid-June.

With reporting by Tolo News
Heading out of town? Here are some music, stage and art event around the state of Colorado.
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow greets guests before first lady Jill Biden opens the White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit Denver last March at the Community College of Denvers Auraria Campus in downtown Denver.
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By Trend

Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced $400 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine, the official SPA news agency reported Saturday, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya.

It followed a phone call between the Crown Prince and President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday where the Crown Prince emphasized the Kingdom's position of supporting everything that will contribute to de-escalation, and the Kingdom's readiness to continue the efforts of mediation, SPA reported.




By Trend

The main purpose of the visit to Moscow of UN Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths and Director General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan is to clarify the prospects for the extension and possible expansion of agreements on the export of grain and food across the Black Sea, a source in the organization told TASS, Trend reports.

It was reported earlier that Griffiths and Grynspan would travel to Moscow on Sunday. The source specified that meetings are planned at the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, including with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin.

The source clarified that during the upcoming visit, UN representatives expect to get a clearer understanding of Moscow's position on extending the grain deal after its expiration at the end of November, but final agreements will most likely be reached later.

Agreements on food exports across the Black Sea from Ukraine were concluded on July 22 for 120 days. The UN has repeatedly indicated that they support extending the grain deal. At the same time, the second part of the agreements - a memorandum of understanding between the Russian Ministry of Defense and the UN on facilitating the export of food and fertilizers from Russia - was concluded for a period of three years.
Entrepreneur and small business owner Richard Skorman served on Colorado Springs City Council from 1999 to 2007 and 2017 to 2021 and as Colorado Springs Vice Mayor.
When Greg returned home from three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD and serious physical injuries, he had nowhere to turn.
History is not always fair, nor is it invariably kind.

Consider the legacy of Elbridge Gerry.

Elbridge Gerry was born in 1744 in Marblehead, Mass., a fishing village north of Boston.

After receiving two degrees from Harvard College, Gerry returned to Marblehead and entered his fathers business  selling codfish in Spain  which may sound novel today, but it made the Gerry family one of the wealthiest in Massachusetts.

During the War of Independence Gerry used his experience in shipping to take a leading role in supplying the Continental Army with munitions and other supplies. Using his business contacts, he secured the transfer of money from Spain.

Gerry was a member of the First and Second Continental Congresses and won the praise of John Adams who wrote of him, If every Man here was a Gerry, the Liberties of America would be safe against the Gates of Earth and Hell.

Elbridge Gerry opposed the Three-fifths Compromise on the grounds that the Constitution should have nothing to do with slavery and had the distinction of being one of only three members of the Constitutional Convention to vote against the final draft. Included among his reasons for rejecting our founding document was that it did not include a bill of rights. He held out the possibility that the proposed Constitution could be adapted to the preservation of liberty if properly amended.

It was.

But it is not for any of these worthy contributions that Elbridge Gerry appears as a footnote in American history.

In 1812, when Gerry was running for reelection as governor of Massachusetts, the Democratic-Republicans, who controlled the state legislature, drew senatorial district lines that in some instances were contorted to favor their partys candidates. Gerry was a Democratic-Republican.

One district especially angered the opposition party, the Federalists. It wrapped around numerous communities in Essex County, including, whether coincidentally or not, Gerrys hometown  Marblehead.

According to his son-in-law, Gerry found the partisan districting highly disagreeable. But he was the governor, and the Democratic-Republicans were his party, so he signed the legislation into law.

On March 26 of that year a cartoon appeared in the Boston Gazette depicting the new district in Essex County as a strange creature with wings, claws and a dragon-like head.

The caption read: A new species of Monster which appeared in Essex South District in Jan. 1812.

The cartoon was accompanied by a blistering satire that claimed that a Dr. Watergruel had examined the creature and decided it belongs to the Salamander tribe. The good Doctor proclaimed that the Devil himself must undoubtedly have been concerned in the procreation of the Monster.

Dr. Watergruel named the Monster a Gerry-mander, which he thought must exceedingly gratify the worthy Chief Magistrate and prove so highly flattering to his ambition.

In the ensuing election Democratic-Republicans won the Senate, but Elbridge Gerry lost his bid to be reelected governor.

Not to worry. Shortly after his defeat in Massachusetts, Gerry became vice president of the United States, serving alongside James Madison.

Alas, the Gerry-mander outlived its namesake. Elbridge Gerry died while serving as vice president, while the fairness and legality of gerrymandering  drawing electoral district lines to favor the party doing the redrawing, thereby thwarting the will of the people  is still being debated in the Supreme Court 210 years later.

In the hallowed tradition of it depends on whose ox is being gored, Republicans and Democrats alike think that gerrymandering is dirty pool  when it is employed by the other party.

Currently the spotlight is on Republican offenses.

In 2020 Donald Trump carried Ohio, garnering 53% of the votes. The Republican legislative committee parlayed that into 12 red districts and three blue ones, which the courts rejected on the grounds that it violated the state constitution.

Some states have experimented with allowing independent commissions to redraw electoral lines with mixed results. But what could be worse than the current system that produced a district in Maryland that, according to one observer, looks like a broken-winged pterodactyl, or our own 12th congressional district that, until it was redrawn prior to the 2016 election, ran roughly 10 feet on either side of I-85 from Greensboro to Charlotte?

It is time, says Common Cause, to rid the nation of gerrymandering once and for all, by taking the power to draw districts from legislators and giving it to ordinary Americans.

And while were at it, giving poor old Elbridge Gerry his name back.
For the second year in a row, supporters of an oncologist fired from St. Peters Health gathered on the anniversary of his leaving and continued to call for his return to the hospital.

Nearly three-dozen people stood Friday for about two hours near the hospitals administrative offices on Broadway Street, clutching signs of support for Dr. Thomas Weiner.

The supporters, a combination of groups Patients and Friends of Dr. Tom Weiner and We stand with Dr. Tom Weiner, have done weekly rallies in support of the doctor for the past two years. They moved their rally to Friday to more closely coincide with Weiners dismissal as a cancer doctor from the hospital.

The gathering took place about three miles away from the Helena Civic Center, where St. Peters Health Foundation held a fundraiser Friday to help the hospital serve the community.

St. Peters defended its decision regarding Weiner.

St. Peters stands by the steps weve taken to ensure safety, quality and integrity in the care we provide, it said in an email Saturday. Were focused on building a gold standard cancer care program, and we are thrilled with the addition of Dr. Elizabeth Bigger to our team as we continue expanding services in our community through the partnership with Huntsman Cancer Institute.

The vigil in front of the hospital included a drive-by appearance by Weiner, organizers said, who, like at the one-year anniversary rally in 2021, did not get out of his vehicle but waved as he passed by. Drivers behind the wheel of a steady stream of vehicles sounded their horns as they passed by the Weiner supporters. He has filed a wrongful termination suit against the hospital.

Sam Gane was among those at the rally, saying his wife Teri had been a cancer patient of Weiners. She now goes to another medical provider.

Teri Gane said she was certain Weiner would return to St. Peters.

I hope he owns the hospital when its all said and done, she said.

James Doney said Weiner saved his life.

I would have been dead a long time ago, he said.

Some at the rally said they were not cancer patients but had family members of friends who were.

Linda Peterson said Weiner saved her husband.

She said she was committed to attending the weekly rallies until it gets to 40 below.

Robin Burk, a hairstylist, said she has clients who are cancer patients.

She said many had years added to their lives because of Weiner.

Weiner had served as chief of staff and a member of St. Peters board of directors during his nearly 25 years with the health system. He started with the hospital in 1996 and on Oct. 15, 2020, he gave up hospital privileges in lieu of summary suspension, court documents state. He said the hospital terminated his employment on Nov. 17, 2020.

St. Peters Health has said Weiner had incorrectly treated a patient for lung cancer for 11 years before it was determined that the person did not have the disease at the time of death. The hospitals legal counsel also said that it learned of alarming narcotic prescribing practices by Weiner.

Weiner has denied the allegations and argued he had seen as many as 1,500 patients a month, had worked daily for six months without a day off and had done the work of two or more full-time physicians.

He has sued the hospital for wrongful termination. At St. Peters request, a judge has granted a change of venue due to the hospitals claims an impartial jury cannot be found in Lewis and Clark County.

Attorneys are to meet May 25, to schedule a trial date.

St. Peters Health has made renovations to its cancer center. Officials also said in 2021 the hospital will affiliate with Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah and later announced the hiring of Bigger.

Earlier this month, the Montana Hospital Association named St. Peters Health as the recipient of the statewide associations 2022 Leadership in Quality and Patient Safety Award. The award recognizes a health care organization that has taken innovative steps to make patient safety a top priority throughout the organization.

St. Peters Health Foundations fundraiser at the Helena Civic Center, The Gala: Lifes a Party, was to celebrate the hospitals impact on Helena and its work with community groups. It also recognized St. Peters Hospital Association for its 100 years of support.

A St. Peters spokeswoman said Saturday there was record-setting support from 350 sponsors, donors and volunteers, and $360,000 was raised in support of 700 babies born each year at St. Peters Health and their families, as well as the families served by St. Peters Health Neonatal Intensive Care Unit partner, Bozeman Health, who need help with transportation, lodging, meals and other expenses.

She said 75% of gala proceeds will go to the new Arlene Mathews Cherished Babies Fund. St. Peters Health will buy three baby warmers, sun protection caps, educational materials and swaddling wraps, and continue to offer counseling services and address other areas of need. The remaining 25% of the proceeds will go into the NICU Family Compassion Fund at Bozeman Health Foundation.

St. Peters Health Foundation Vice President Stephen Mason said, according to the email, the gala was back in full force after a six-year hiatus. He said annual support has increased five-fold and will provide even more support for patients, families and the community.

Three young mothers shared their birth stories and spoke of St. Peters Health and Bozeman Health caregivers who saved lives and helped through difficult experiences. The Foundation also celebrated the life of the late Arlene Mathews, who for 67 years dedicated her life to the babies at St. Peters; honored the St. Peters Hospital Association for their 101 years of volunteer and financial support; and highlighted the works of Honorary Chairs, Margaret and Dick Anderson.

The program ended with a standing ovation for St. Peters Health and community caregivers who worked to keep the community safe through COVID. It followed with a video tribute featuring Everyday Heroes, a song written and performed by Stephi Johnson, wife of CEO Wade Johnson.
Facing three candidates in Montanas conservative new eastern congressional district, Democrat Penny Ronning knows shes in an uphill battle, one she promises to fight like hell to win.
Hunters are used to arduous ordeals: trekking through unforgiving weather and terrain; searching, sometimes in vain, for their quarry; and ideally the satisfying but laborious task of packing out an animal.

Three researchers from the University of Montana hope to help hunters with another daunting task  parsing out mountains of complex and varying regulations that govern who can hunt what, where, when and how. The researchers, with the Boone and Crockett Wildlife Conservation Program, spent the summer poring over hunting rules from each of the U.S.'s 50 states. They accessed the regulations online and, to standardize their analysis across wildly differing states, looked only at states' modern firearm regulations and regulations for hunting upland game birds, waterfowl and deer.

The analysis was funded by the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, and will help the council assist states with unusually complex regulations make their rules easier for hunters to digest. The reams of rules each state produces  Montana's 2022 deer, elk and antelope book alone clocks in at 143 pages  could pose a barrier to prospective hunters, or could lead to well-intended hunters inadvertently violating a regulation, the researchers stated in a UM news release.

The three researchers, Jon McRoberts, Joshua Millspaugh and Jonathan Karlen, said that accessing the regulations online added another layer of variability between states, because each state had its own way of displaying information, from a single PDF document to interactive websites.

"Through our discussions with the council, we realized hunting regulation complexity could be a barrier to new hunters, McRoberts said in the release. And the majority of current hunters are honest, ethical people, and the fear of doing something wrong unintentionally could keep some from expanding their hunting."

In Texas, for example, each of the state's 254 counties have their own regulations for deer hunting. Karlen noted. "If you are a new hunter, you might be in the right place to hunt, but you might be there at the wrong time."

Montanans don't have to worry as much, though. The researchers noted that Montana's regulations are well done. In a state where geography and fauna vary wildly from east to west, "you can tell very clearly the rules were driven by wildlife management in a very big state," McRoberts said.

The researchers' work wasn't designed to demonize regulations, which they recognize often have a basis in ecology and conservation, but rather to help states understand how to make regulations more approachable, particularly to novice hunters.

Millspaugh, the Boone and Crockett Professor of Wildlife Conservation who led the review, said, "our job with this review was not to tell states what they needed to do but to offer ideas on what they could do to make hunting more accessible, particularly to new hunters."
DECATUR  Where there are black walnuts, there must be a tree, and when Marge Evans spotted the walnuts on the ground, it didn't take the biologist long to find the tree.

That maple has no chance, she said to two Millikin University students nearby, nudging a tiny sapling on the ground. Walnut trees put a chemical in the ground that keeps other trees from growing.

Walnut trees are a sign of a healthy ecosystem, she said, so she was pleased to see them growing at Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park on Saturday.

Evans literally wrote the book on local plant life, Green Heritage, which one of the students carried along during the BioBlitz event held Saturday at the park.

Millikin professors, students and interested volunteers fanned out through the park, with binoculars, cameras, paper bags to collect specimens, and clipboards to take notes of as many flora and fauna as they could find in two hours. Their results will be part of a report for iNaturalist, a social network for naturalists and biologists.

When someone finds a specific specimen, it's best to get a photo, though that can be difficult if what you spot is a bird that won't hold still, Melody Arnold, chair of Friends of Lincoln Trail Homestead, told volunteers during the event. But even without a photo, she said, you can post what you found on iNaturalist, and add what you think it is. If others agree that your identification is accurate, that plant or animal will be considered an official find in the area.

Arnold said the group does a BioBlitz in spring and fall as part of their efforts to keep up with how the plants and birds are faring and what's living at the park. The information collected can alert them to a problem early enough to do something about it.

Millikin students Madelyn Letourneau and Alissa Razo attended because they thought it sounded like fun.

We know that there are students here because they're in a class studying plants, Letourneau said. But we're in an ecology and evolution class and we're just having fun. We're not really trained to know these kinds of things like some of the other students are.

Nevertheless, they were among the first to spot fungi, which is a particular interest of Alicia Knudson, assistant professor of biology, who identified a wide variety of it along the first trail her group explored.

Evans also spotted several kinds of fungi, including slime mold on a dead branch, pointing it out to nearby students. Slime mold has medicinal properties, she told them, and some kinds can even digest plastic.

Students Leah Jackson and Justin Caldwell were fascinated by the walnuts scattered around the forest floor, and picked up a couple to examine them more closely. They were still sheathed in their outer covering, and Evans told them it has a bad taste that discourages squirrels from trying to eat them until the outer covering turns black and rots off. Many of the walnuts' coverings were still green, too green to interest wildlife. And as the students handled the walnuts, Evans added that the coverings can stain hands for weeks, which made both students laugh and drop them.

I don't need walnut-stained hands, Caldwell quipped.
By Trend

Azerbaijani community activists living in the US held a peaceful protest in front of the headquarters of the Human Rights Watch international human rights organization in New York, Trend reports via State Committee on Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan.

The event, organized by the Azerbaijani-American Women's Society jointly with the Cultural Society of New York - Azerbaijan with the participation of Azerbaijani and Turkish communities, was held in front of the Empire State Building, where the international organization is located.

A statement of protest against Armenia's war crimes, recent military provocations committed by Armenia on the state border of Azerbaijan, attacks of Armenian radical forces on Azerbaijani embassies in the US, France and Lebanon was handed personally to Facilities Manager of Human Rights Watch Gil Colon. The rally where the national flags of Azerbaijan, Turkiye and the US were waved drew attention to the monstrous war crimes committed by the Armenian armed forces during the 30-year occupation and the Second Karabakh War.

During the rally, which demanded an end to Armenian war crimes, pictures of the atrocities in Ganja and Barda, a mass grave found in Adilli village of Khojavand district, posters with the slogans 'Azerbaijan wants peace, Armenia wants war!' 'Stop the Armenian aggression!', 'Stop the Armenian terror!', 'Stop the attacks on civilians!', 'Ganja has been attacked!', 'Armenia, provide Azerbaijan with information about the fate of missing people!' and others were demonstrated.

As a result of the strikes from September 27 through November 10, 2020 by heavy artillery, ballistic missiles, phosphorus and cluster bombs on Ganja, Naftalan, Barda, Tartar, Mingachevir and other Azerbaijani cities located within tens of kilometers from the conflict zone and front line, 93 civilians, including 12 children and 27 women were killed and 454 people received injuries of various degrees.

Local residents who showed interest in the action were given booklets reflecting Armenia's war crimes. The officers of the 14th Division of the New York City Police protected the participants of the event. Azerbaijanis demanded that Human Rights Watch respond to the protest statement of the Azerbaijani community.
DECATUR  Fire tore through the upper story of an empty Decatur home late Sunday morning with heat strong enough to melt the vinyl siding off a neighboring occupied house some 20 feet away.

The alarm was raised at 11:25 a.m. and firefighters said they arrived at the house on the corner of North College and West Waggoner streets to find flames and smoke coming from the upper story.

Deputy Decatur Fire Chief Jim Ohl, called in on his day off, said the cause of the blaze is under investigation. But it was an unoccupied home with no utilities, he said. There is no meter there.

The house had a for sale sign in a front window and neighbors said they didnt think it had been occupied since at least January.

Ohl said fire crews got the main blaze knocked down quickly but it had already swept through the upper story, causing extensive damage. The upstairs, as you can see, burned up pretty good, Ohl added.

The damage to the vinyl siding on this house next door kind of surprises me, as there is a pretty good gap here between the two buildings. But, oh man, these fires really do generate a lot of heat.

Firefighters could be seen using ladders to clamber onto the roof and then deploying a chainsaw to cut out sections as they hunted for hot spots from the still-smoldering building.

So that is the tedious work that these guys are doing right now, said Ohl, watching the crews slicing away. There are like three layers of shingles up there, so that is a problem, and the bottom layer I can see from here is wood shakes, and those are a pain in the butt to us because theyre wood, they overlap, and fire gets in between them.

Ohl said this type of house construction, typical in Decatur, also features knee walls  short, knee-high walls used to support rafters  that create runways for fire spread.

So we got to go and open those up because the fire will run in there and get up into the attic space, he explained.

He said the cleanup and hot spot chasing would add at least an hour to the time spent dealing with the fire after the main blaze had been extinguished.
DECATUR  Shawn M. Klinger, the Decatur man accused of sticking a blow-torch style lighter in the left eye of a woman before triggering the flame, has been sentenced to 24 months probation.

Klinger, 34, was also ordered to undergo anger management classes as part of his sentence. Macon County Circuit Court Judge Rodney Forbes then sentenced him to 14 days in the Macon County Jail, but that was canceled out by 14 days credit for time previously spent behind bars since his arrest.

The defendant appeared in court Oct. 7 for what had been scheduled as a hearing to revoke his bond after he failed to show for a court hearing Aug. 11.

But the motion to revoke bond was withdrawn by prosecutors and Klinger said he was willing to accept a plea deal negotiated by his defense attorney, Diane Couri. That saw Klinger plead guilty to committing domestic battery while having committed a previous domestic battery crime. Prosecutors dropped additional charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a further charge of domestic battery.

A sworn affidavit from the Decatur Police Department said the victim had been attacked around 5:30 a.m. March 13 after Klinger had shown up at a home where she was living.

Police who interviewed the woman shortly after the attack recorded that she had a red, swollen left eye with part of her eyebrow missing. Officers also noted she had a red circular mark to the right side of her forehead where she said Klinger had hit her in the head with the lighter.

Judge Forbes further ordered Klinger to pay a $250 fee to have a sample of his DNA added to a crime database maintained by the Illinois State Police.
John Paul II senior setter Maura Asadourian recently eclipsed the 2,500-assist mark for her career with the Lady Guardians.
Twelve candidates, four open seats and one election. The field for a spot on the Catawba County Schools Board of Education is a crowded one.

Three incumbents  Glenn L. Fulbright, Becky Brittain and Leslie Barnette  are seeking another four-year term on the board of education. The remaining candidates are Michelle Teague, Chris Gibbs, Clayton Mullis, Don Sigmon, Kathy Kelly, Nick Huffman, Glenn Christopher Chopper Fulbright, Steve Morgan and Tim Settlemyre.

The candidates answered a series of questions, starting with one that asked them to state their priorities if elected. Some answers have been edited for length and clarity.

You must live in the school district to vote in the Catawba County Schools Board of Education election. Early voting starts Oct. 20. Election Day is Nov. 8.

What is your top priority if elected?

Becky Brittain Basic Info Age: 47 Occupation: Commercial heating, ventilating and air conditioning contractor/owner Contact info: Campaign website: beckybrittainforcatawbacountyschoolboard.org

Phone: 828-241-3985

Email: becky_brittain@hotmail.com

Becky Brittain

Safety is a major concern of mine. Students and staff deserve a safe environment to learn and work. When students feel safe, their ability to focus and learn increases. Safe environments also contribute to reducing absenteeism. Safe environment factors include but are not limited to digital citizenship, adequate temperature control of our educational spaces, food security, cleanliness, health and crime prevention. Catawba County Schools has done a great job evaluating, researching and improving our safety measures over time. We have not been complacent.

Chris Gibbs Basic Info Age: 56 Occupation: Retired Assistant Superintendent for Catawba County Schools Contact info: Email: louiscgibbs@gmail.com

Phone: 828-446-0127

Chris Gibbs

My top three priorities are school safety; recruiting, hiring and retention of highly qualified teachers; and community and parental engagement and building strong support networks with stakeholders to ensure the success of all students.

Clayton C. Mullis Basic Info Age: 36 Occupation: Assistant manager for a family small business Contact info: Phone: 828-381-8383

Email: claytonmullis4@gmail.com

Clayton C. Mullis

My top priority if elected to the Catawba County Schools Board of Education is to bring new vision and leadership. Public education is in a difficult time not just in Catawba County, but across our entire country. I want to bring a vision to the board that shows we can take public education seriously and that we want a new direction that will focus on our students, staff and parents. Also, we can try to tackle and address the issues that we face today.

If elected as a member of the board of education, I feel the meeting structure needs to be reevaluated. I feel the meetings should be moved from their current time of 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to allow individuals of our community to attend meetings. I would also like to see the board move monthly meetings around to different school buildings across the district to also encourage our community to get involved. I also believe the board of education could explore the idea of having two regular board meetings a month. One meeting could handle financial, personnel matters and approvals of construction. The second meeting could be used to set time aside to allow the board to engage with staff across the district and a time for parents and individuals to bring issues of concern to the board. It should be a time where engagement happens, communication happens.

I feel that we need to show that we plan to elevate the profession of teaching to a new standard. We should recognize that it is the most vital profession and its importance in training our replacements for the next generation. We have to raise our school system to a higher standard by recognizing that we need to bring all stakeholders, from parents, teachers, students and community leaders to the table to make our schools the best in North Carolina. We have to promote our schools and make sure we are putting all of our resources into our school system. By doing so, we have to ensure that parents trust that our schools are a great learning environment for all students and safe at all times. With us doing these things we can make sure that the next generation is able to learn, enjoy life and also leave it in better shape than they found it.

Don Sigmon Basic Info Age: 68 Occupation: pastor Contact info: Campaign Facebook page: Don Sigmon for Catawba County School Board

Phone:828-461-1191

Email:thesigmons@gmail.com

Don Sigmon

My top priority would be the teachers. Making sure the teachers are qualified and then making sure they are respected by the students and supported by the administration.

Glenn L. Fulbright Basic Info Age: 69 Occupation: Self-employed Contact info: Phone: 828-244-7022

Email: gfulbright8042@charter.net

Glenn L. Fulbright

My first priority is school safety. I have pushed for eight years to have resource officers in all of our schools. We are almost there, but there is more work to be done. We are still four school resource officers short. Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown and all of the other law enforcement agencies in Catawba County have done a great job moving money and personnel around to achieve this goal. A big thanks to them all. Also, the administration has done a great job adding vestibules in the school buildings. I am proud to have been a part of school safety improvements the past few years. There is more work to do. Can we be 100% safe? No, but we can continue to push forward and do all that is possible.

What is next? Being able to fund the school resource officers for the 2023-2024 school year and beyond. Where are the funds going to come from? It takes a village to keep our kids and staff safe, and I am proud to have been a part of the Catawba County village.

Another hope and dream is to have two career-ready high schools in Catawba County. The late Mark Story did an amazing job in leading Catawba County Schools and CVCC forward with many career and technical education programs. Jeff Isenhour is also doing a great job with the support of a hard-working administrative staff. We continue to remodel current school buildings to add more programs, but we are getting close to being out of room. I feel by building two new schools for the career and technical education programs, more students would benefit as well as helping with overcrowding in our high schools.

Kathy Kelly Basic Info Age: 46 Occupation: Registered nurse, administrator at Viewmont Surgery Center. Received nursing degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Masters in Nursing Education. Contact info: Campaign Facebook page: Kathy Kelly for Catawba County School Board

Email: kkelly0531@gmail.com

Kathy Kelly

My top priority would be to work with our community partners to ensure a safe educational environment for our students, teachers and administration.

Michelle Teague Basic Info Age: 54 Occupation: Self-employed Contact info: Campaign Facebook page: Michelle Teague for Catawba County School Board

Phone: 828-441-9652

Email: teague4ccsb@gmail.com

Michelle Teague

My top priorities include school safety, student academics, teacher recruitment and retention and transparency.

Parents want to know their kids are safe at school. Schools should continue to partner with local law enforcement and develop creative funding opportunities to provide the right security, which is critical. Also, our schools should stay focused on proactive safety measures and ensure students and school staff understands safety protocols. Keep parents informed of threats communicated at our schools.

We have been challenged with dealing with learning loss for students associated with the pandemic. Catawba County Schools has passionate teachers and staff who are dedicated to see our students succeed. We need to do everything possible to make sure the teachers have all the tools and resources they need in accomplishing these tasks. Remove controversial agendas in the classrooms such as critical race theory, social and emotional learning, and sexual and gender ideology. We need to make sure our students graduate ready for college and trade schools.

Teachers should be valued and know they are appreciated. They are on the frontline and have a great deal of influence on our kids. We have some really great teachers. We need to make sure the school system provides a purposeful, healthy working environment and boosts morale. We need to find creative business funding for teachers to be compensated with incentives, benefits and bonuses for their hard work. Build a network and relationships with universities to secure good teacher candidates for open positions.

Parents need to know their voices are being heard on important issues that come up with their kids. Even though I believe there is communication, many parents feel there is room for improvement for better communication and transparency. As a school board member, I would work to build that level of trust and confidence for better relationships and unity among parents, teachers and staff.

Nick Huffman Basic Info Age: 41 Occupation: Practice area leader for a consulting engineering firm Contact info: Campaign Facebook page: Nick Huffman for Catawba County School Board

Phone: 828-514-1088

Email: huffman4ccsb@gmail.com

Nick Huffman

My top priority is to provide representation on the board for parents and guardians with students that are currently in our school system. I have two daughters currently enrolled in the Catawba County Schools system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that we needed parents on the school board to represent the parents and students in the school system. Much like the parent-teacher organizations in the local schools, having that type of interaction at the school board level is the key to engagement and communication. This facilitates good policies to help our students learn, grow, and develop skills to prepare them for college, military or the workforce.

Leslie H. Barnette Basic Info Age: 70 Occupation: Retired educator Contact info: Campaign Facebook page: Elect Leslie H Barnette to Catawba County School Board

Phone: 828-446-0134

Email: lesliehbarnette@gmail.com

Leslie H. Barnette

My top three priorities include the safety of our students and school staff, the retention and recruitment of teachers and school staff and student achievement, specifically, regaining the learning loss that occurred due to COVID.

Steve Morgan Basic Info Steve Morgan did not provide any basic information.

Steve Morgan

A top priority is always safety, but I believe that Catawba County Schools are well-prepared by working with local law enforcement that have been providing school resource officers, contingency plans and training for incidents. With that said, I believe that one of the most important things we need to do for our children is help them get caught up and close their learning gaps that resulted from COVID-19. We need to continue identifying the most prominent gaps for the majority of students in their grade level, then find the best ways to target those gaps so that they can move forward in their education more successfully. For those who may have greater gaps, tutoring opportunities should be provided to assist them in areas they are having difficulties.

Tim Settlemyre Basic Info Age: 50 Occupation: Fleet technical analyst Contact info: Campaign Facebook page: Tim Settlemyre for Catawba County School Board

Phone: 704-249-5592

Email: settlemyrets@gmail.com

Tim Settlemyre

My top priority would be a review of all Catawba County Schools policies and how they are interpreted by individual schools. When attending school board meetings, I have noticed a startling lack of agreement among schools as to how board policies are applied. Also, there is a lack of clarification from current board members when asked how particular board policies should be applied.

Glenn Christopher Chopper Fulbright Age: 50 Occupation: Farmer and retired teacher assistant Contact info: Phone: 828-455-5728

Email: chris.fulbright84@gmail.com

Glenn Christopher Chopper Fulbright

I want to be a voice for the students and the staff. Thats who talked me into running. I worked at Bandys High School coaching football, baseball, softball and was the assistant athletic director.
HICKORY  If youve ever been in the position of caring for someone with a chronic disease, dementia, or a disability, you know the toll it takes on your mind, body, and spirit. Despite wanting to do the right thing, you experience fatigue, anxiety, and imbalance in your own life. You worry. You agonize. You dont know how to take care of everything and everyone.

ACAP (Adult Children of Aging Parents) understands the trials and turmoil of caregiving, and the organizations 2022 National Caregiver Symposium is designed to help caregivers for older adults cope with stress and burnout. The symposium takes place virtually on Friday, Nov. 4, from 1-4 p.m. Its free and open to the public.

To learn more about the symposium and to register, visit www.acapcommunity.org/2022-caregiver-symposium/.

Participants will join hundreds of other people throughout the country who are looking for ways to deal with the demands of caregiving, burnout, and family dynamics. Through a virtual platform, attendees will hear from leading caregiving experts, become aware of helpful resources, experience support for their efforts, and gain new insights into the essential work of caregiving. Each of the speakers brings personal experience as a caregiver for family members, and each one will share their professional expertise.

Keynote speaker Amy Goyer is an AARP family and caregiving leader, as well as an author, speaker, and consultant. She will draw on a 35-year career working in the field of aging to provide practical, actionable tips for people who are providing care. Zachary White, PhD, is associate professor of communications at Queens University and is a researcher, consultant, and co-author of "The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation from Loved One to Caregiver." Donna Thomson is an instructor on family caregiving, disability, and aging at McMaster University. A speaker and consultant, she is also co-author of "The Unexpected Journey of Caring."

ACAP was launched in 2012 in Hickory as a community-based program, later becoming ACAPcommunity, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Since its founding, ACAP has spun off affiliates throughout North Carolina (Hickory, Guilford County, Statesville, Winston-Salem, and Cape Fear) and in Pennsylvania (Centre County). The Atlanta chapter opens in February 2023. These local chapters provide free face-to-face and virtual monthly educational programs and support the annual conference as well.

According to Frances Hall, founder and executive director of ACAP, The annual symposium celebrates the joys and the privilege of journeying with aging parents, but it also acknowledges the complexities and challenges of accompanying a parent through the aging process. We want to give participants the tools they need to be the best caregiver and advocate they can be while also preventing them from neglecting their own needs. By coming together to share stories and strategies, we can actively and profoundly support each other in this important work.

Lee Syria, president and CEO of EveryAge, an industry leader among not-for-profit senior living communities, concurs, stating, On a daily basis, we care for residents in independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, rehab, home care, respite, home health, and hospice. We see the challenges that family members have as they balance providing care with their own self-care. Our partnership with ACAP allows us to give our families resources to support their personal caregiving so they can be as effective and confident as possible. Cultivating everyones well-being is the all-encompassing goal.

The sustaining partner for the national symposium is EveryAge, whose 12 locations serve more than 2,000 older adults in North Carolina and Virginia. The premier sponsor is UNC Health Blue Ridge. Supporting sponsors include Abernethy Laurels Retirement Community, Arbor Acres Retirement Community, Kingston Residence of Hickory, Salemtowne Retirement Community, SIR (Senior Information Resources), the Western Piedmont Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging, and PACE@Home.
A political disclosure: This column does not reflect the views of the Concord City Council. I pray, however, that God approves of what I am about to say.

Psalm 146:3-6 declares: Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.

Jesus taught all of his followers to pray these words: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)

From now through Nov. 8, every citizen age 18 and over has the right to cast a ballot.

How should Christians, members of the kingdom of God and citizens of the United States, understand our loyalties to both God and nation?

I was recently in England and worshipped at the Church of Englands Exeter Cathedral. The preacher, Canon Precentor James Mustard, discussed the most pressing political issue facing Great Britain: the significant rise in energy and food prices. Englands crisis is far worse than the one in our country, and many poor and elderly people are in great angst. The pastor warned of a cataclysmic winter.

Mustard reflected on how politicians should respond: The Church belongs at the heart of local and national politics. Its where moral and ethical responses, based upon the dignity of all people, are refined. Church doesnt have all the answers, but it has many of the tools to help navigate complex decisions. He spoke the truth.

Today, as a Christian and a politician, let me offer you six specific ways that Christians can modestly bring some healing to our nation: vote, pray, participate, speak in love, honor our leaders, and hold our politicians accountable.

First of all, if you are eligible to vote, vote. Do not be silent. Do not be passive. Vote.

Because Jesus of Nazareth is not on the ballot, this election forces us to choose between imperfect people. Every human candidate has sinned and falls short of the glory of God.

We must be careful not to ascribe to Jesus Christ our own political agendas or perspectives. Jesus was neither a capitalist, nor a socialist, nor a communist. Jesus was neither a Democrat, nor a Republican, nor a Libertarian.

Jesus did not address abortion or the right to bear arms. Neither did Jesus speak about the minimum wage or global warming. Critical Race Theory and mask wearing were not on Jesus agenda.

Thus, Christians must ultimately cast our votes for the candidates with the best qualifications who share our vision of the values that Jesus would affirm. Do not vote for the party but the person. Each one of us has to use our understanding of God, Gods Kingdom, and our flawed perspectives to decide how to vote.

Second, Christians as citizens of the Kingdom of God must pray. We must pray as hard as we have ever prayed for Gods will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray especially for: our United States of America, the state of North Carolina, our Cabarrus County, and all of our national, state, and local leaders and people.

Third, engage in politics. Speak up. Attend forums and public conversations. Write op-eds and letters to the editor. Write letters to our politicians. Trust me, politicians do listen. Let your voice be heard.

Fourth, as we speak up, be cautious in our speech. Christians should not engage in slander and gossip. Speak the truth, not lies.

Christians should avoid participating in militant political words. The rants at some political rallies and letters to the editor remind me of Germany before World War II.

Fifth, honor all our elected leaders. Our elected officials shoulder important responsibilities as they seek to serve all their constituents. As I have discovered, most politicians work long hours for modest pay and maximum stress. Politicians need our support.

And finally, Christians also must hold our leaders accountable for our highest aspirations as followers of Jesus Christ. All political leaders serve all the people, not just the supporters who voted for them. Politicians can assist in creating the Kingdom of God on earth.

This is not the time for political maneuvering, but wise leadership for the common good. Every Christian and citizen should build relationships with elected officials so that they are aware of our concerns.

Thats the list. As Christians are both citizens of the Kingdom of God and our political system, each person of faith should vote, pray, participate, speak lovingly, honor our leaders, and hold our leaders accountable.

We all live within divided families. Children, parents and grandparents vote differently.

In my own extended family, we have strong political disagreements. I regularly delete emails from family members who are absolutely vicious toward some politicians.

Yet, I love all my family. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, my extended family will gather together. We will eat, drink, laugh, tell stories, and argue politics. And we will be family. Thats what families do.

All Christians, and we believe all people, are all children of the same God and also citizens of this great nation. Let us treat one another as brothers and sisters.

As citizens of the Kingdom of God and the United States of America, as brothers and sisters together, let us vote, pray constantly, work diligently, speak lovingly, honor all our leaders, and help create Gods kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

When asked by God, How did you vote in 2022? how will you respond?
CONCORD  Firefighters rescued three dogs from a house fire on Watercrest Drive Northwest that caused significant damage, displacing five adults and two children.

At approximately 4:19 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, Concord Fire Department crews were dispatched to 2891 Watercrest Drive NW. Fire apparatus and personnel were on the scene within three minutes and found a residential structure with smoke showing. The fire was brought under control within four minutes of crews arriving.

Prior to fire crews arriving, one occupant of the home attempted to control the fire and rescue the family pets. The resident suffered lacerations and smoke inhalation and was treated on the scene by Cabarrus County EMS.

During search and rescue efforts, firefighters with the Concord Fire Department successfully located and rescued the familys three dogs. Fire personnel treated the dogs on scene using specially designed oxygen masks before the dogs were transported by their owners to an emergency veterinarian.

In total, four engine companies, one ladder company, one rescue company, one incident safety officer, two battalion chiefs and a fire investigator responded with a total of 26 firefighters.

The American Red Cross is assisting the five adults and two children displaced by the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Concord Fire Marshals Office.
The global mobile phone accessories market size is expected to grow at US$32.72 billion ($51.79 billion) from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of almost 6%, according to market research company Technavio.

Technavio cited the integration of advanced function in smartphones, growing preference for wireless mobile phone accessories, and the proliferation of low-priced smartphones as factors propelling market growth.

Growing market for counterfeit mobile accessories and short shelf life of smartphones may hinder market growth, Technavio said.

The competition in the global smartphone market has intensified as smartphone manufacturers are focusing on integrating innovative features and technologies in their products to stay competitive in the market.

Such innovations will allow users to employ their devices for several applications, such as taking high-definition videos and selfies, accessing mobile applications quickly, and playing high-definition games.

Features such as taking high-definition videos and selfies, accessing mobile applications, and playing high-definition games will generate the demand for accessories such as power banks, earphones, headphones, protective cases, and screen protectors.

Trends in the mobile phone accessories market

Technavio pointed out that increasing focus on improving telecommunication network infrastructure is a key trend in the mobile phone accessories market.

Smartphone manufacturers, government organisations, and telecommunication service providers are working in collaboration to improve the telecommunication network infrastructure to support high network bandwidth capacity.

This is accelerating investments in the 4G/5G networks and developments in 4G/5G compatible devices.

For example, in September 2018, Celcom Axiata Berhad, a Malaysia-based mobile telecommunications provider, announced that it had signed an agreement with Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.

Under this agreement, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson will supply Celcom Axiata Berhad with radio access network (RAN) equipment from its Ericsson radio system portfolio.

This will accelerate the use of mobile phones for accessing online audio and video content which, in turn, result in high demand for mobile phone accessories, Technavio said.

High availability of counterfeit products makes it difficult to control

Counterfeit mobile accessories pose a challenge. It records high growth in emerging economies such as Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Taiwan in APAC.

This demand is driven by the increased preference for low-cost products in the region and the high availability of counterfeit products. The easy availability of these products on every distribution channel, including physical and online retail stores, in each country, makes it difficult to control the sales of counterfeit items.

The increasing sales of fake accessories are reducing the total potential market for mobile accessories, hindering global mobile phone accessories market, according to Technavio.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 14 October 2022.
NORMAL  The members of Iota Phi Theta Inc. at Illinois State University remembered their brother Kristian KP Philpotts during a homecoming tailgate on Saturday. His family came to Normal to join the remembrance.

Philpotts was killed in January while driving for Lyft in Champaign-Urbana. He was 29 and had degrees from ISU and Eastern Illinois University. He planned to return to school to get a doctorate and become a veterinarian, with his eyes set on University of Illinois.

Reggie Osborne met Philpotts through the fraternity. He remembers driving out to EIU, where Philpotts had launched a program to get children interested in science.

He did everything in his power to give back to the community, Osborne said.

Saturday's tailgate at Lot 91 near Gregory and Adelaide streets was hosted by ISUs Black Colleagues Association and featured step and other performances by the historically Black fraternities and sororities. Iota Phi Theta dedicated its performance to Philpotts.

Before the performance, there was a moment of silence and information shared about the Dr. Kristian KP Philpotts Memorial Scholarship, started in his memory by his mother, Marla Rice. She raised more than $25,000 on GoFundMe to start the endowed scholarship. It will start taking applications next year.

Its emotional; Im happy that so many people love him, Rice said.

Three teenagers have been charged as adults in Philpotts death. One pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of obstruction of justice and was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 30 months of probation earlier this month, WCIA reported. He has agreed to help in the case against the alleged shooter, and had already been in custody for more than the length of the sentence, so was released.

I felt like more time should have been given, Rice said.

It was bittersweet to have the tribute, Osborne said. He said he was glad they were able to do it for Philpotts, but was also sad about the death that had led to the moment. Philpotts would be proud of the tributes to him across Central Illinois, Osborne said.

Along with the scholarship, Rice has donated to have memorials placed on the ISU and EIU campuses. The bench at ISU was put up earlier this year in Redbird Plaza near Fell Hall. Rice and other members of Philpotts' family visited it after the tailgate event.

Being in at the tailgate event gave Rice a chance to learn more about her son, too, by hearing stories from others who had known him while he was at ISU.

One of the people there who knew Philpotts was Rob Rhykerd, an agriculture professor who was chair when Philpotts started at ISU.

He was one of the most passionate students I think weve ever had in the department, he said.

Rhykerd wrote letters to support Philpotts' graduate school applications. The department has lost students and alumni in his time at ISU, but this one was a bit different, Rhykerd said.

This one just really stung, Rhykerd said.

Angelica Taylor met Philpotts while he was at ISU and helped organize the tribute on Saturday in her role of performance coordinator and corresponding secretary for the Black Colleagues Association. She met Philpotts early in his time on campus and saw him grow into a leadership role on campus.

A year or two, he had blossomed on his own, she said.

It was good to have the opportunity to honor him with the tribute during homecoming and to be able to share information about the scholarship, she said.

Rice continues to encourage people to donate to the scholarship, which can be done through searching The Kristian 'KP' Philpotts Memorial Scholarship on ISUs donation page at giving.illinoisstate.edu.

I want it to get so big its enough for two people, she said.
By Trend

The Gubadli military prosecutor's office received information that Mirsaleh Jabbarov, a serviceman of military unit N of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, committed suicide by shooting himself with a firearm on October 15, 2022, Trend reports citing Military prosecutor's office.

Employees of the GubadlI Military Prosecutor's Office inspected the site of the incident and the body of the servicemen, material evidence was taken, explanatory notes were taken and other actions were taken.

A criminal case has been opened under the relevant article of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Gubadli military prosecutor's office, witnesses have been questioned, appropriate expertise has been prepared and urgent investigative measures have been taken.

At present, the investigation is continuing and all measures will be taken in accordance with the requirements of the legislation.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Florida has paid nearly $1 million to arrange two sets of flights to transport about 100 migrants who entered the country illegally to Delaware and Illinois, according to documents released Friday by the Florida Department of Transportation.

The flights would be a follow-up to the Sept. 14 flights from Texas to Martha's Vineyard that carried 49 mostly Venezuelan migrants to the Massachusetts island where former President Barack Obama owns a mansion. Local officials weren't told in advance that the migrants were coming.

Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed responsibility for the flights as part of a campaign to focus attention on what he has called the Biden administration's failed border policies. He was joining Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in the tactic of sending migrants to Democratic strongholds without advance warning,

The two additional sets of flights originally were scheduled for some time before Oct. 3 but apparently were halted or postponed. The contractor hired by Florida later extended the window for the trips until Dec. 1, according to memos released by the state Department of Transportation.

Vertol Systems Company of Destin, Florida, was hired to organize the flights and sent an employee to the state capital of Tallahassee to pick up a hard copy of a $950,000 check after the state didn't receive paperwork for a direct deposit to the company's account, according to the documents.

Vertol owner James Montgomerie didn't answer a phone call and email seeking comments about the flight plans. DeSantis' office didn't immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

Earlier this year the Legislature approved a $12 million budget item to relocate people in the country illegally from Florida to another location. The money came from interest earned from federal funds given to Florida under the American Rescue Plan. While the migrant flights originated in Texas, the charter plane carrying them made a stop in Florida. DeSantis has said that the migrants intention was to come to Florida.

The documents released Friday gave no details of how migrants were recruited in San Antonio for the Martha Vineyard flights nor who was hired to conduct that part of the operation.

Also Friday, A Texas sheriff certified that the 49 migrants flown Martha's Vineyard last month to be crime victims, a move that allows them to apply for special visas to remain in the United States. The sheriff said an investigation has been opened.

The Martha's Vineyard flight has also spawned lawsuits accusing Florida of lying to the migrants to get them to agree to the flights.
CHICAGO  Chicago has welcomed more buses of migrants who arrived Friday, according to city officials.

City officials said in a statement released Saturday that a total of 3,313 asylum-seekers have arrived from the Texas border, including 86 who arrived on Friday.

The group included families and individuals, who are receiving help from state, county and city agencies, according to the statement. Children and infants are among those who arrived.

Immediate shelter and support for basic needs was provided, according to the statement, which also noted that many who arrived had walked hundreds of miles, navigating great danger through multiple countries.

Illinois is a welcoming state, the statement said. We are committed to assisting each family and individual, providing human services with respect and dignity.

Republican governors have been sending migrants to Democratic strongholds without advance warning for several weeks. The practice escalated last month with buses arriving at a wealthy summer enclave in Massachusetts and the home of Vice President Kamala Harris in an apparent taunt of immigrant-friendly sanctuary cities.

What happens once the migrants arrive here is unclear, immigration experts have told the Tribune. Immigration law applies to people differently depending on their circumstances.

People seeking asylum have the same rights under the Constitution and are given a court date to gain legal status.

The National Immigrant Justice Center has so far offered legal information to more than 2,000 people trying to navigate the process, which has been made more difficult due to the chaotic way people are arriving, said the centers executive director, Mary Meg McCarthy.

This is not the way we should be welcoming people, said McCarthy. There is a better way. I have been doing this for more than 20 years. Its a real hard time. ... We are really trying to respond to the situation in a way that is humane and ensures that peoples rights are respected and they are treated with dignity.

Unlike those who enter a country with refugee status, asylum-seekers arrive with nothing, the experts have said. Refugee status means a person can immediately apply for government benefits.

The City of Chicago noted several places to make donations or learn how to offer support:

 A rapid response wish list set up by Instituto del Progreso Latino in partnership with the City and nonprofit partners can be found at www.InstitutoChicago.org.

 The city of Chicago has established a website with donation drop-off locations at www.chicago.gov/support.

 Cook County has a link to wish list for families at cchealthfoundation.org/2022-migrant-campaign.

 Further information on how to make a monetary donation to trusted sources can be found at www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/Asylum.aspx.
The fleshing out of downtown Winston-Salems RegenMed Hub now features a new masters degree program focused on educating future generations of STEM professionals and business leaders for the regenerative medicine field.

The program represents a collaboration between Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the universitys Institute of Regenerative Medicine within Innovation Quarter.

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The Translational Biotechnology program features two pathways  research and business  with the goal of preparing graduates to lead the movement of novel therapies from the laboratory into the clinic.

The coursework will be taught by the institutes regenerative medicine experts.

Upon graduation, youll be ready to pursue a variety of STEM careers relevant to current and changing times based on the knowledge, skills and abilities youve gleaned, according to the programs website.

The broader workforce will be eager to access the critical new skills in market evaluation, project management, product development, and finance, previously under-represented or non-existent in graduate STEM education, which youve cultivated as a student.

Youll take with you the expertise required for entrepreneurship, large scale-up of biological therapies, or biomanufacturing (regulatory affairs, process development, quality control), many of which are simultaneously required for a career in biotechnology or academic sectors collaborating with industry.

There is a strong regional need for highly skilled scientists that are knowledgeable about business fundamentals and regulatory affairs, which specifically aligns with a report from the Council of Graduate Schools, said Tracy Criswell, director of the new program and an associate professor with the institute.

Criswell said the degree program is designed for anyone planning to work in environments such as:

Academic research and teaching institutions, including undergraduate and professional schools;

Pharmaceutical industry;

Biotechnology or start-up pharmaceutical companies; and

Government agencies, such as the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health or the Food and Drug Administration.

Demand for talent with varying credentials and degrees in the life sciences continues to grow across North Carolina, said Nancy Johnston, executive director for the Piedmont Triad of the N.C. Biotechnology Center.

Specifically, this new Translational Biotechnology degree program is: significant to a growing regenerative medicine cluster; a critical component to advancing translational research and development; and relevant to address skill sets required across the commercialization continuum.

RegenMed connection

Dr. Anthony Atala, the institutes director, said the degree program is an integral part of the RegenMed Hub. The hub, branded as ReMDO, debuted locally in June.

Atala describes the RegenMed Hub as a thriving regenerative medicine ecosystem in North Carolina that provides access to unparalleled resources to advance education, products and manufacturing, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care.

The science/research-focused pathway is for students with a four-year undergraduate degree in the biomedical sciences who are primarily interested in research in either academia or industry.

Students will pursue a research project culminating in a written thesis and defense.

The business-focused pathway is geared to students who are already professionals in their field (scientists or nonscientists), but want to gain knowledge about starting or leading companies engaged in biotechnology.

The online asynchronous coursework will allow these students to obtain their masters of science degree while remaining employed.

Students will complete a capstone project geared toward their area of interest.

Both pathways require an externship either local or virtual  with a biotechnology partner organization.

A certificate in translational biotechnology is also offered, consisting of 15 credit hours of didactic course work tailored to the students needs.

The research track requires full-time study and has an expectation of on-campus participation. Research track students perform research at WFIRM in support of a thesis.

The business track is a part-time program, designed for working professionals, and does not require participation in Winston-Salem.

Enrolled students in both tracks are required to commit to a minimum of five academic terms (20 months). A decelerated plan of study may be an option for business track students, which allows students to move at a slower pace with fewer courses per term.

The application deadline is March 1. Complete program and admissions information can be found at https://school.wakehealth.edu/education-and-training/graduate-programs/translational-biotechnology-ms.

The establishment of this program will enable companies developing RegenMed products to succeed without leaving North Carolina, Johnston said. It is a distinction for the state, region and Winston-Salem.

Other RegenMed elements

In September, the institute said that MIMEDX, based in Marietta, Ga., is taking space at the RegeneratOR Innovation Accelerator.

The accelerator helps regenerative medicine start-ups and growth companies with new or emerging technologies move from research to commercialization.

MIMEDX is a placental biologics company and a pioneer in placental tissue engineering.

In August, RTT Medical announced its tenancy plans in the accelerator.

MIMEDX said it has distributed more than 2 million tissue allografts to date, primarily to address the needs of patients with acute and chronic non-healing wounds.

Part of its medical research targets a late-stage biologics pipeline targeted at decreasing pain and improving function for patients with degenerative musculoskeletal conditions.

Opening space in the accelerator and RegenMed Hub is designed to further advance science related to the application of placental technologies in multiple areas of wound care and regenerative medicine.

MIMEDX has the goal of developing new products and optimizing manufacturing processes in a way that progresses the delivery of safe, innovative and evidence-based technologies for patients in a cost-effective manner.

RTT Medical, founded in 2021, produces regenerative tissue technologies for the management of wounds including partial and full-thickness wounds; pressure ulcers; diabetic ulcers; venous ulcers; chronic vascular ulcers; tunneled/undermined wounds; surgical wounds; trauma wounds; and draining wounds.

Those wounds are all referred to as soft tissue repair. The companys products have 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration.

The companys first market product is its XCelliStem Wound Powder, a custom blend of materials that facilitates healing and repair of wounds and burns.

A primary attraction of the accelerator is the ReMDOs Test Bed, which provides biomanufacturing equipment, industry expertise and talent to support novel prototyping and commercial product development.

The RegeneratOR Test Bed lab space, which debuted in June 2021, is designed to bring together resources to advance the regenerative medicine field nationally and create an economic development engine for the region and North Carolina.

Eleven collaborating companies, including Oracle, BioSpherix and PHC, formerly Panasonic Healthcare Corp., made the launch of the RegeneratOR Test Bed possible.

Atala said that about $50 million has been invested in the RegeneratOR Test Bed, basically from industry and government.

Chris Chung, chief executive of the Economic Development Partnership of N.C., another speaker, said in June 2021 that the initiative presents tremendous economic potential for Winston-Salem, the Triad and all of North Carolina.

All of you in Winston-Salem have a front seat to what is going on, thanks to the work of Dr. Atala and his colleagues, Chung said.

You all are in the drivers seat of how this industry will continue to evolve and meet the needs of human health medicine.

Axiom Space

In April, the institute and RegenMed announced a partnership with Axiom Space, which is developing the first commercial space station.

Institute officials described the partnership as the next frontier in research and manufacturing.

We can literally take the regenerative medicine field to a whole new level, Atala said.

The biggest expected benefit is research, done initially on the International Space Station, will be free from the constraints of gravity, providing great potential and benefits, according to the entities.

It will enable our scientific research teams to advance biomanufacturing to bring new treatments that cannot be developed on Earth, and treatments for conditions that affect the human body when exposed to the harsh environment of space travel, Atala said.

The partnerships primary goal is further accelerating the translation of regenerative medicine technologies into products and services for patients.

Axiom is becoming a tenant in ReMDOs Innovation Accelerator to gain access to its test bed.

This partnership paves the way for an entire commercial industry on board Axioms space station, Atala said.
Creepy films

RiverRun has two upcoming retro film screenings to mark the Halloween season  Beetlejuice at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and a 100th anniversary screening of Nosferatu at 8 p.m. Oct. 28 at Marketplace Cinemas, 2095 Peters Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem.

Michael Keaton, Academy Award winner Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin and Winona Ryder star in Beetlejuice, director Tim Burtons comic twist on supernatural horror tales. Special guest will be Tom Ackerman, director of photography for Beetlejuice, and professor of cinematography at UNCSAs School of Filmmaking. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for students or free with ID when accompanied by a ticketed parent or guardian.

A classic of silent cinema and the horror genre, Nosferatu is an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stokers Dracula. Rather than depicting Dracula as a shape-shifting monster or debonair gentleman, Murnaus Graf Orlok (as portrayed by Max Schreck) is a nightmarish, spidery creature of bulbous head and taloned claws  perhaps the most genuinely disturbing incarnation of vampirism yet envisioned.

The distributor of Nosferatu, Kino Lorber, describes the new digital presentation as, mastered from the acclaimed 35mm restoration by the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung. Backed by an orchestral performance of Hans Erdmanns 1922 score, this edition offers unprecedented visual clarity and historical faithfulness to the original release version.

Renata Jackson, professor of cinema studies and assistant dean of academics at UNCSAs School of Filmmaking, will introduce this classic film. RiverRun also anticipates a visit from Count Orlok himself for fan photos for those who are brave enough.

The Nosferatu screening is free, but tickets are required at riverrunfilm.com.

Visit riverrunfilm.com for more information.

Exhibit

Aquaverse will make its East Coast debut from Oct. 19-31 at Roar Brands Theatre, 633 N. Liberty St., Winston-Salem.

Hours will be 4-9 p.m. Oct. 19-20, 26-27; 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Oct. 21-22, 28-29; and noon-8 p.m. Oct. 23, 30.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children at roarbrandstheater.com.

Theater

Yadkin Arts Council and Willingham Performing Arts Academy will present The Wizard of Oz at 226 E. Main St., Yadkinville.

Follow the yellow brick road to the magical Land of Oz in this delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baums beloved tale, in which a Kansas farm girl travels over the rainbow to discover the magical power of home set to the iconic musical score from the MGM film.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20-23 and 3 p.m. Oct. 23.

Tickets are $22 at yadkinarts.org.

Haunted event

The Hollywood Horror Show will present Salems Lot haunted attraction at Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, Gate 7 at 569 Fairgrounds Blvd, Winston-Salem.

The walk-through attraction, which is produced by horror film director Dean Jones and producer Starr Jones, will feature movie experiences from films, including Sinister, The Conjuring, Silent Hill and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Hours are 8-11 p.m. and 8-midnight on weekends, Oct. 20-31.

Admission is $30 per person at ticketmaster.com or at the gate. Guests can add a fast pass for $15.

Exhibit

Birds, Bats and Bones, a two-person exhibition by Bryant Holsenbeck and Nicole Uzzell, presented by Sawtooth School for Visual Art will run through Oct. 25 at Davis Gallery at Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, 215 N. Spruce St., Winston-Salem.

The exhibition has more than 30 pieces, featuring representational works  birds and bats  by Holsenbeck and abstract paper sculptures  bird and bat bones  by Uzzell. It includes sculptures previously made by the artists as well as those made specifically for Birds, Bats and Bones.

A closing artist talk event will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. Oct. 25.

All sculptures are for sale.

Film festival

The Queer Fear Film Festival will be Oct. 21-22 at Aperture Cinema, 311 West 4th St., Winston-Salem, and Oct. 23 online at Eventive.

Horror is kind of doom and gloom, but its not tragic the way that queer representation has traditionally been presented as a terrible tragedy. Its campy, and its fun, said Tiffany Albright, founder and director of the film festival.

The schedule will be:

Film Block 1: 9 p.m. Oct 21 at Aperture Cinema and 1 p.m. Oct 23 online. PG 13 rating. Unicorn, short, 14 minutes; Night Waking, short, 8 minutes; What Being a Woman Means to Me, short, 28 minutes; Birthday Parties, short, 6 minutes; Synonymous With, short, 12 minutes; Franceska, short, 7 minutes; The Cost of Living, short, 13 minutes.

Film Block 2: 4 p.m. Oct. 22 at Aperture Cinema and 4 p.m. Oct. 23 online. PG 13 rating. Gonna Haunt, short, 11 minutes. Mystery Solved, feature, 94 minutes.

Film Block 3: 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at Aperture Cinema and 7 p.m. Oct. 23 online. For ages 16 and older. Some sexual content. Water Rose, short, 4 minutes; MEMENT, short, 14 minutes; Give It Back, short, 5 minutes; All the Way Down, This Time, short, 20 minutes; Sundown Town, short, 10 minutes; Here, short, 8 minutes; The Devil Inside Me, short, 5 minutes; Twin, short, 12 minutes; #NOFILTER, short, 13 minutes. MonsterDyke, short, 4 minutes.

Tickets are $12; and $30 for all-access passes at queerfearfilmfestival.com. All-access passes include three in-person and three online screening blocks, as well as a Queer Fear swag bag.

For more about the films, go to queerfearfilmfestival.com.

Musical

Little Theatre of Winston-Salem will present Guys and Dolls at Hanesbrands Theatre, 209 N. Spruce St. in Winston-Salem.

High-rolling gamblers, a fame-seeking showgirl and a very determined missionary find love against all odds in this romantic musical comedy. The score features classic songs, including Luck Be a Lady Tonight and Sit Down, Youre Rockin the Boat.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20-22 and 2 p.m. Oct. 16, 22-23.

Tickets are $14-26 for adults (plus taxes/fees), with discounts for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more at 336-725-4001 or LTofWS.org.

Guys and Dolls runs about two and a half hours, including a 15-minute intermission. It is recommended for ages 11 and older.

Exhibit

Stokes County Arts Council has a new exhibit of original art by Sarah Booze called Through the Woodlands through Nov. 15 in the Apple Gallery at Stokes County Arts Council, 500 Main St. in Danbury.

Booze is a native of Stokes County, but her love for art, language and culture has led her to travel and live in countries around the world. She has held jobs in museums and education, and when she is not painting, she tutors Japanese and teaches art. Booze is a self-taught artist. She attributes her style and skills to observing techniques of her favorite artists and analyzing their style as well as her endless experimentation and practice.

A reception is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the gallery.

Exhibit

Yadkin Arts Council is hosting the exhibit Handmade: A Portrait of the Artists Tools by Bryan Rierson through Oct. 28 at Welborn Gallery in the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center at 226 E. Main St. in Yadkinville.

This large-scale, black-and-white photography exhibit features work from local artisans that they created with their tools (their hands).

The love of handmade craft inspired Rierson to begin a project in 2019 in which he photographed portraits of creators at work. But he decided to shoot their hands, not their faces. He called it Handmade  Portraits of the Artists Tools.

Rierson began with Brandon Edwards, a wet plate collodion photographer. His portrait shows his chemical-stained hands holding a 4-inch tintype he made. Rierson has since photographed a variety of artisans displaying several mediums.

Some of the artisan portraits will be accompanied by their 3D works on pedestals in the gallery.

Bryan received funding for this project and exhibit from the North Carolina Arts Council as part of its Artist Support Grant program in 2021 and 2022.

Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.

Gallery hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Play contest

Creative Greensboro is accepting submissions for the 2024 New Play Project.

The New Play Project has been presented for 30 years annually awarding a $500 cash prize to a selected playwright along with a workshop production of the chosen play.

Submissions are open to any North Carolina resident or student playwright. The deadline is Nov. 14.

For rules and submission information, visit tinyurl.com/yc8xt3b3.
Achievers

Greensboro native Maurice Hull scored his second Masters-class victory in the Trans Am TA2 race Oct. 8 at Virginia International Raceway. Riding along were local partners Hanes Asphalt & Paving, based in Lexington, and Davis Roofing, based in Archdale (on the No. 5 car of co-driver Connor Zilisch).

Hull, owner with his wife Laura of High Point-based Silver Hare Racing, is a three-time Trans Am TA2 Masters class champion for drivers 60 and older. Hes 69.

Awards

Marvin Lewis Pleasants, prior Commandant of the Percy John Fulton Detachment #1075, Winston-Salem, was recently awarded the Spirit of Hope Award at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. It was presented to him by The Honorable Gilbert R. Cisneros, under secretary of defense, and April Langwell, director of communications, HQ, USMC.

The Spirit of Hope Award, established in 1977, is a United States military award presented by the Department of Defense. It was created based on the contributions of entertainer Bob Hope to members of the military and is annually awarded to individuals or organizations whose work benefits the quality of life of service members and their families.

In October, 1966 Lewis enlisted in the Navy, attended basic training, and then spent two years as a scrub technician at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital. In 1968, he was transferred to the 3rd Marines, Camp Pendleton, Calif., took FMF Corpsman training and deployed to Vietnam in 1969. He spent eight months as a Corpsman with the 3rd Marines in Quang Tri, and five months aboard the USS Sanctuary (AH 17), as a Senior Corpsman Scrub Technician. After Vietnam, he was transferred to the medical hospital in Camp Lejeune and subsequently released from active service with an Honorable Discharge in October, 1972. After his discharge, he completed his college education, and started his own marketing business.

Throughout his life, Lewis has diligently served in his community, church and various military organizations. In his church, he is a trustee, choir member and teaches Sunday school. He is a proud husband and father to his sons, daughter and grandchildren. Lewis has been an active member of the American Legion for 18 years and is a Life member of the VFW, AMVETS and the Marine Corps League. He has served multiple terms as commandant of his detachment, held the district vice-commandant position and various other positions within the Marine Corps League. Lewis true love is the MCL Mud Run and annual Toys for Tots program.

* * * *

First Bank has announced the winners of the Out of This World Educator Awards.

Local winners include Phillip Boyd, a food sciences teacher at R.J. Reynolds High School, and Curtis Doe, a tutor with Road Map to Success in Winston-Salem.

The bank honored educators and their guests on Oct. 6 for going above and beyond to stimulate, drive and inspire student success in the Carolinas.

As a Title 1 school, RJ Reynolds has many students who are food insecure. Boyds idea for improving supplies distribution increased the amount of food families received by approximately 40%, ensuring fewer students would report to school each day feeling hungry and distracted. Additionally, he helped arrange for the school pantry to provide toiletries to students in need.

Those who nominated Doe for the award said: Educating is not just a job for Curtis Doe, but a part of who he is. He never misses an opportunity to make a difference in a students lifeconsistently volunteering to read to students or spending oneonone time tutoring them in subjects like math.

Announcements

Michael Schur, the television writer and producer who created the show The Good Place and co-created Parks and Recreation, will visit Wake Forest University Oct. 17.

The 7:30 p.m. event, How to be Perfect: An Evening with Michael Schur, is free and open to the public and will be held in Brendle Recital Hall inside Scales Fine Arts Center.

In a moderated conversation, Schur will discuss character, ethics, television shows, and his new book, How to be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question.

The event is presented by Wake Forests Program for Leadership and Character. Ann Phelps, program director, will moderate the discussion.

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Korners Folly, 413 S. Main St. in Kernersville will hold Murder Mystery from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 28. This event is part of the Korners Folly Victorian Parlor Series.

The event offers participants the chance to solve a horrifying whodunit set in Victorian England. Perfect for a Halloween celebration, the evening will feature an opportunity to explore the twists and turns of the 22-room home built in 1880.

Each attendee will receive a detailed character history to allow guests to take on the role of noble lords and ladies with mysterious motivations. Guests are encouraged to dress the part. Korners Folly staff will act as hosts and help direct the action, which will take place among the historic homes three floors.

The Prescott will provide guests a tasting menu of Victorian-inspired dishes with a modern autumnal twist. Seasonal varieties of wine and beer will be available for additional purchase (two drink tickets are included in ticket price).

Tickets are $50 per person, and include admission, two drink tickets and light hors doeuvres.

To purchase tickets, visit tinyurl.com/hh9mysa7.

Fundraisers

More than 200 guests attended The Denim Ball hosted by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation on Sept. 15 at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. The event surpassed its previous fundraising record, garnering $240,000 in support for continuing improvements at Moses and Bertha Cones former 3,500-acre estate.

The renovated exterior of Flat Top Manor served as the backdrop for the festivities hosted on the front lawn of the majestic circa-1901 home perched on a hill overlooking Bass Lake. The rehabilitation, completed late last year, included the replacement and restoration of columns, clapboard siding, woodwork, windows, balusters and more on the 23-room house.

For information, visit BRPFoundation.org/denimball22.

This year, the foundation is marking its 25th anniversary. Since its inception, the nonprofit has worked with the National Park Service and donors to invest in the preservation of Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, including successfully nominating the estate for the National Register of Historic Places.

Grants

The following nonprofit organizations received general operating support grants in summer 2022 from the North Carolina Healing Communities Fund in an effort to support their recovery from the financial impacts of COVID-19: $25,000, Boys & Girls Club of Eden; $25,000, Surry Medical Ministries Foundation.

* * * *

High Point Universitys Stout School of Education is one of six universities in the nation and the only one in North Carolina to be awarded a Supporting Effective Educator Development grant. The nearly $10.4 million grant doubles the recent nearly $10 million grant awarded to HPU by the U.S. Department of Education to fund graduate programs for teachers and principals.

The SEED grant provides HPU with $10,390,282 to develop the capacity of current principals or central office leaders to transform schools. The grant is in addition to the recent Teacher Quality Partnership grant, which set the record for the largest competitive grant ever awarded to HPU, said Dr. Amy Holcombe, dean of the Stout School of Education. In total, the Stout School of Education will receive more than $20 million over the next five years.

HPU will use its SEED grant to fund an Executive Education Program for senior level leaders in 18 partner school districts, Holcombe said. The graduate-level programming can be used toward a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

The 18 partner school districts include: Alamance-Burlington, Asheboro City, Caswell County, Chapel Hill/Carrboro City, Chatham County, Davidson County, Davie County, Guilford County, Lexington City, Montgomery County, Mount Airy City, Randolph County, Rockingham County, Stokes County, Surry County, Thomasville City and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County.
The Winston-Salem Police Department is investigating separate shooting incidents, one involving an unidentified juvenile, which sent both victims to the hospital.

The first occurred about 10:25 p.m. Saturday when police officers responded to a report of an individual being shot at 2050 Urban St.

Officers from the Patrol Division and Gun Crime Reduction Unit found the individual, Joaquin Lopez-Lopez, behind the residence with a gunshot wound to the neck.

Lopez-Lopez was transported to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Lopez-Lopez is listed in stable condition. No age or address was provided for Lopez-Lopez.

The Gun Crime Reduction Unit assumed investigative responsibilities. According to the police report, the shooting appears to be an isolated incident that resulted from an altercation at the scene.

The second shooting incident occurred at 4:19 a.m. Sunday in the area of Thornaby Drive and Martindale Road.

Officers were called to Atrium Baptist medical center with a report of an unidentified juvenile patient with a gunshot wound.

The juvenile was found to have received a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the upper right arm. The victim was listed in stable condition.

No crime scene could be located. The Gun Crime Reduction Unit assumed investigative responsibilities.

It is the third shooting in Winston-Salem of the weekend.

A Greensboro man was shot and wounded early Saturday at a Winston-Salem nightclub on North Liberty Street, authorities said.

Winston-Salem police went to a local hospital at 4:07 a.m. after Sierras Deshan Cobb, 47, of Edith Lane, previously arrived there, police said.

Cobb told officers that he had been inside Lounge 34 at 3301 N. Liberty St., when he was shot, police said.

Cobb was in stable condition Saturday at the hospital, police said.

Officers are investigating the shooting.

Cobb served two years and 11 months in prison after he was convicted in August 2018 of involuntary manslaughter, state corrections records show.

Anyone with information about any of the shootings is asked to call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700 or Crime Stoppers, either at 336-727-2800 or on the Spanish language line at 336-728-3904.

Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is also on Facebook.

The Text-A-Tip line at 336-276-1717 allows people to text information, photos and videos to the police.
Prior to becoming president, Gerald Ford defined the impeachment criteria of high crimes and misdemeanors as whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers them to be at a moment in history. One might offer a similar critique of the independent state legislature theory (ISL).

In the upcoming Supreme Court case of Moore v. Harper, the court will decide whether ISL is merely a fringe theory or a doctrine of constitutional law. ISL offers that a state legislatures plans for new congressional districts cannot be overridden by a state supreme courts interpretations of its states own constitution, including any provisions limiting partisan gerrymandering.

The U.S. Constitution in Articles I and II refers to state legislatures as having a role in federal elections. The Republican-led state legislature in North Carolina, based on being the party in the majority at the time of the census, drew congressional lines that favored the Republican Party  a long-held shared practice by the party in the majority at the time of the census.

The N.C. Supreme Court invalidated those districts, saying excessive partisan gerrymandering was in tension with the state constitution.

The court opined: In every single one of the 52 elections decided within a 6-point margin, the Enacted Plans give Republicans an outright majority in the states congressional delegation, state houses, and the state senate. This is true when Democrats win statewide by clear margins.

The N.C. legislature is bringing the case before the Supreme Court. Invoking ISL, it argues that the state legislature, and only the state legislature, when regulating federal elections, including the presidency, is free from complying with the state constitution, state courts, a governors veto or the people who elected them. It is a peculiar interpretation of the U.S. Constitution that grants legislative fiat when deciding the rules for federal elections.

ISL contends that when the U.S. Constitution refers to the legislatures of the states, that means the elected legislature in isolation possess plenary authority to act. This is a far-fetched theory that belies the fundamental understanding of checks and balances and separation of powers.

Article 1, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution reads:

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Does anyone possessing elementary civic knowledge believe the aforementioned power granted to the legislative branch does not require a signature from the executive branch to become law or judicial review? ISL would be a broad and disruptive insertion into the nations constitutional inheritance that forgoes intellectual heft in lieu of brazen political gain.

The Supreme Court has rejected this argument in four prior cases, but what will it decide in the post-Roberts court? Normally the court is named after the chief justice, i.e., the Burger court, the Rehnquist court, etc. But in the aftermath of overturning Roe v. Wade, Chief Justice John Roberts appears to have lost the court to five uber-conservative justices who are less concerned with the institution than with enacting a judicial philosophy that appears uncomfortably close to the political agenda of the Republican Party.

In the 2019 case Rucho v. Common Cause, the Supreme Court decided in a 5-4 decision that partisan gerrymandering claims cannot be decided in federal court; they are a matter for the states. The N.C. Supreme Court has decided and now the Supreme Court will take up the matter to rule on the legitimacy of ISL.

One never knows how the court will rule, but Moore v. Harper possesses the heavy after-taste of Bush v. Gore, the 2000 Supreme Court ruling that in effect decided a presidency. The questions to be brought before the court: Who runs U.S. elections and who sets U.S. election law, and does the Constitution allow state legislatures to act alone?

If the court holds for the N.C. legislature, it would create a plethora of unintended consequences around the nature of federalism and the adoption of new methods such as rank choice voting while granting state legislatures more leeway to preemptively choose electors for the Electoral College that could conceivably ignore the will of the voters.

Will the post-Roberts court add ISL to the canon of constitutional law? If so, it could conceivably open a new chapter in American democracy thats not pursuant to a more perfect union.
RALEIGH  North Carolina is a pro-growth place  the best state in which to do business, I hear  and yet we continue to saddle our job creators with heavy regulatory burdens that discourage capital formation and investment in our state.

I dont mean to suggest we havent made some progress over the past decade. The General Assembly enacted a series of regulatory reforms. Some localities have made it a priority to slash rules, permitting times and other forms of red tape.

When it comes to regulatory burdens, however, we still compare unfavorably with many of our competitors. According to the Cato Institutes latest study, North Carolina ranks 26th in regulatory freedom  better than the likes of Maryland (47th), New York (48th), New Jersey (49th) and California (50th), to be sure, but worse than Georgia (7th), South Carolina (13th), Tennessee (16th) and Virginia (18th).

Policymakers, activists and journalists often treat regulation as if it were just a big business concern, but the practical effects extend well beyond corporate boardrooms. While large enterprises can certainly incur significant expense from environmental, health or safety rules, the compliance costs are far more onerous for small companies that lack specialized knowledge or in-house counsel. And if they try to wing it to save money and then run afoul of the rules, they have a harder time absorbing the resulting legal fees and fines.

Now consider another set of affected parties: individuals whod like to start a new business but cant get the required licenses and permits to do so. Russ Sobel, a professor at The Citadel in Charleston, has researched this issue extensively. One of his studies found a clear and strong relationship between the economic freedom scores of states and their levels of net entrepreneurial productivity.

What happens when overly burdensome regulations suppress business starts, expansions and investment? Among the consequences are lower and more unequal incomes among the general population. In a 2022 paper published in the European Journal of Political Economy, economists Dustin Chambers and Colin OReilly agreed that regulations disproportionately impact small businesses and stifle entrepreneurship, examining a large set of economic data from all 50 states from 1997 to 2015. They found that each 10% increase in federal regulation was associated with an approximate 0.5% increase in income inequality. Applying their findings to North Carolina alone, Chambers and OReilly estimated that since 1997, regulation had increased the number of residents living below the poverty line by about 256,000.

The same logic applies to state and local regulation. We need it, of course. North Carolinians deserve clear air and clear water, for example, and because these are commons rather than personally owned property, some kind of government intervention is required to protect public health and safety.

All too often, however, the costs of imposing and complying with regulation greatly exceed any reasonable expectation of public benefit. Thats why the agencies that issue rules, and the elected officials who authorize them to do so, need to apply rigorous cost-benefit tests to any proposed regulation.

Many of North Carolinas occupational-licensing laws wouldnt come close to passing such a test, by the way. We rank especially poorly in this area, and in the regulation of alcohol-related businesses (40th in the Cato study in both cases).

Cost-benefit analysis is far from the only policy we need to curtail excessive regulation in our state. As my John Locke Foundation colleague Jon Sanders has written, the North Carolina General Assembly should also take the interests of small businesses into account when writing rules, require just compensation when regulations reduce or eliminate the profitable use of private property, speed up North Carolinas review and sunset process for outmoded regulations, and repeal ambiguous laws that surrender too much policymaking authority to unelected agency heads.

Although political debate and news coverage about it might suggest otherwise, regulatory reform isnt some hobbyhorse for special interests. It is very much in the general interest of North Carolinians. We need much more of it.
I had always assumed that my native country of South Africa would forever be my home. But just seven months after I married my wife, we were on a plane to Charlotte to chase an opportunity to work at the church where we are currently both on staff. And while I expected my immigration journey to be one of hardship, I came to realize that I was one of the lucky ones.

I came to the U.S. on a visa I obtained through my wife and became a conditional permanent resident. With the exception of a few hiccups here and there, it was easier for me to assimilate into American society; for example, English is my first language and my accent is easy to understand. But for so many immigrants who come to the U.S., thats not the case. Immigrants no doubt want to assimilate to our culture and learn our language in order to fit in and thrive, but for most, it wont be as easy as it was for me.

Thats why its crucial for local communities and churches to join hands with immigrants and ensure that our newest neighbors are afforded the same opportunities that I was fortunate enough to receive.

As the campus pastor of Elevation Church in my new home, Winston-Salem, I often teach the lessons imparted in John 4:9, when Jesus approaches the Samaritan woman to ask for a drink of water from the well. The Bible references how Jews did not associate with Samaritans, but despite their differences, Jesus breaks that barrier.

In order to break barriers within our own communities, we must first acknowledge our differences and the inherent value that immigrants and their diverse experiences bring to the table. In short, we must afford them the same opportunity to drink from the well.

Here in North Carolina, we have welcomed a growing community of more than 800,000 immigrants, or about 8% of the population. And immigrants make up a significant share of our states agricultural and scientific workforce.

Immigrants are an integral part of our states diverse and thriving communities and make contributions that help us all.

Growing up in South Africa as a white person living in an English-speaking Afrikaans town, I learned that acknowledging our diversity is the first step to creating opportunity. Thats especially true given the countrys fairly recent, dark history regarding racism. Recognizing those differences and working to give everyone a chance is what makes South Africa beautiful.

I further learned the value of acknowledging our differences when I met my wife in 2011 when she traveled to South Africa from California for a study abroad program. As we learned more about each other, we remained fascinated by our different upbringings and saw them as things to celebrate, not things to change.

Our worlds get a little bigger when we open our lives to other people who are not like us. Curiosity can break barriers. I dont need more people like me; I want people who look, think and talk differently. The world is a beautiful place, and sometimes seeing it through someone elses eyes is what you need to expand your own worldview.

America is my home now. It has given me an opportunity to build a life from the ground up and I couldnt be more grateful.

As Ruth said to Naomi in Ruth 1:16: Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people.

I had the privilege of becoming a U.S. citizen in July. In fact, the immigration officer referred to every immigrant at my oath ceremony as American. But I was able to build a life, start a family, own a home and work a job thanks to a far easier legal process.

The fact is that many immigrants are not afforded the same simplicity I was. Many of them seek refuge from political and economic unrest in their home countries. And many face the challenges of an increasingly complex immigration system.

With more and more immigrants joining our communities and worshiping in our churches, we can and must welcome their respective cultures and differences. Only then can we, not just as Christians but as stakeholders in this countrys future, build those opportunities for our newest neighbors to thrive.
Ashland roundabout coming next year

By this time next year, a roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 6 and Nebraska 66 should slow traffic, improve safety  and make it easier for Ashland residents to get in and out of town.

The state Department of Transportation has hired K2 Construction to install a modular roundabout at a cost of about $1.4 million, said Tom Goodbarn, the departments District 1 engineer.

The hard rubber will bolt to the asphalt the state added over the concrete when it restriped the intersection three years ago. That was the first step in improving the area.

And it worked, he said. The thing has got a lot better. It gave people more time and visualization of movement, and we really dont have any accidents to speak of.

But it still had excessive speeds on U.S. 6 and, especially when traffic was diverted from Interstate 80, volumes that made it difficult for Ashland residents to get in and out of town.

During the 2019 flooding  when U.S. 6 became the backup link between Lincoln and Omaha  the state installed a temporary traffic light, and some residents wanted to make it permanent.

The planned roundabout should serve the same purpose.

Roundabouts don't give you a choice, Goodbarn said. You're going to slow down.
By Trend

An extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will be held in Istanbul, Turkiye on October 17, Trend reports on October 16 via Organization of Turkic States.

In addition to the priority issues on the agenda of the OTS, the meeting will discuss preparations for the Summit of the Organization of Turkic States to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on November 11,2022.

Foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, as well as observer countries Hungary and Turkmenistan are expected to attend the meeting.
GRAND ISLAND  Buff City Soap, which offers ready-made and customizable soap products, recently celebrated the opening of its Grand Island location.

The business features plant-based soaps in 30 unique scents, among dozens of soap products, including bar soap, laundry detergent and bath bombs.

It safe to say, however, Buff City Soap is more about the experience than browsing.

Soap Makeries occupy Buff City Soap locations  including Grand Islands. Shoppers can watch products being made, giving customers a chance to see the whole making process live in each Soap Makery, according to a Buff City Soap press release.

Whenever somebody comes in, were always working on something in the Makery, said marketing manager Kacey Russell. Our guests can come in, take a seat at the Makery and watch us, whether were working on lotions, or scrubs or making bath bombs.

Its just so fun just to sit there and watch. It is very soothing, very satisfying to watch.

Product scents are customizable, but vary based on location.

A favorite is laundry soap, Russell said. Laundry soap is the biggest one that people customize  you can pick any of our scents to create your own scent, and then you can name it yourself.

The products are unique, personal choices to users, Russell said.

Still, Russell shared one of her favorites.

The shower oil. I use it basically its like in shower lotion  (or) you can just use it as straight lotion. I put it on the ends of my hair, she said, adding: Thats also the best part is that most of our products have dual purposes. They can be used for so many different things.

As for scents, Good Morning Sunshine is one of Russells  absolute favorites. I do my laundry in Good Morning Sunshine and it smells so good; lemony and orangey with grapefruit.

There are a lot other scents to like, though, Russell said. I go through stages. I will use a scent and then Ill and then I will like switch things up and try something different.

Russell said they have a scent menu and can help customers find what they like best. "You may be a floral person, so we can recommend all of our floral scents for you.

There are also products aplenty.

I would say overall peoples favorite products are either the laundry soap or bath bombs. It depends on the person that youre talking to, Russell said.

Bath bombs can be more than a way to fizz up bathwater; Buff City Soap also has bath bomb parties.

Our guests can come in and make, mold, decorate, and then take home with them their own bath bombs. Its a great thing for birthday parties, corporate parties, girls night out. Our guests are more than welcome to bring in food, drinks, decorations. ...

The Grand Island location is the companys seventh. Other Nebraska locations are in Kearney, Bellevue and Omaha.

Russell said things are going well at Grand Islands store, 3429 W. 31st St.

(Grand Island) welcomed us with open arms. The feedback we got from the community was so great.
To vote for a write-in political candidate, you dont necessarily need to write anything. You can just place a sticker on the ballot. Well, in some states you can.

In Wisconsin, it is strongly discouraged.

The rules surrounding write-in candidates matter more now locally than perhaps they ever have before. In one of the states most competitive races not on ballots across the state, there is a three-way race to represent Assembly District 63, a district that generally comprises the southern half of Racine County west of Highway 31.

While only Assembly Speaker Robin Vos name will be on ballots from Burlington to Mount Pleasant, he is being challenged from the left by Democrat Joel Jacobsen for the third time and from the right by Adam Steen, who lost to Vos in the Aug. 9 primary by only 260 votes.

Ready to wait The District 63 election results could be among the last reported after polls close Nov. 8. If Robin Vos does not win more than 50% of the vote, the write-in votes across more than half-a-dozen municipalities will have to be counted by hand, which could take hours.

No stickers, please

Some states make it easier to vote for write-in candidates, allowing for what are known as sticker candidates.

In those states, such as Massachusetts, a write-in candidate can distribute stickers with their name and possibly their address printed on them to their supporters.

Then, rather than writing the candidates name, the voter can simply place a sticker in a preordained place on the ballot. This can make it easier for ballots to be counted quickly by poll workers and reduce questions raised during hand counts and recounts.

While the practice is not explicitly banned in Wisconsin, it is strongly discouraged by elections officials. They (the stickers) can come loose, said Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen.

The stickers can also get stuck in or otherwise disrupt ballot machines.

Because of the potential for write-in stickers to gum up voting machines, the reality is that poll workers would likely need to remake ballots that have write-in stickers so that they could send them through the voting machine, Riley Vetterkind, Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesman, said in an email.

Regardless, WECs Election Day Manual distributed to poll workers statewide says a write-in sticker placed on a ballot is considered a write-in vote and must be treated as any other write-in vote.

Spelling

If someone wrote in Steens name, but mistakenly wrote Adam Steene, or if somebody mistakenly wrote Joel Jacobson instead of Joel Jacobsen, should their vote still count?

In Wisconsin, the short answer is: Yes, the vote should still count.

It all comes down to voter intent.

If a candidates name is misspelled or there is some other error, but it is still clear that a voter intended to vote for a specific candidate, then the vote should be counted.

When a voter has marked a ballot in a way that does not clearly indicate his or her voting objective, the election inspectors must attempt to determine the voters intention, states a WEC guide.

The final determination on whether imperfect ballots are to be counted is to be made by election inspectors, not ballot tabulators. If a majority of the inspectors agree that the voters intention can be determined, the vote for that office is counted as the majority decided, according to WEC.

Opposing campaigns on same, unusual path

The three-way campaign isnt all that dissimilar to a typical campaign.

Each of the candidates have been taking part in events, posting on social media, sending out mailers, getting signs in supporters yards, knocking on doors, making ad buys and doing all the normal election things.

But theres one major difference, for the challengers at least.

Jacobsen laughed during a phone interview as he spoke about how he is being forced to break one of the general rules of campaigning: avoiding saying the opponents name.

Attack ads typically attack the opposing candidate, but dont even mention the candidate theyre supporting.

In every communication, typically you dont reference your opponent  But, Mr. Vos is the only one in the ballot, Jacobsen said in a phone interview.

The same goes on the other side of the aisle. All of Steens Facebook posts except one since Oct. 6, and several of his posts on other social media websites, include the hashtag #TossVos and/or mention the incumbent at least once.

Jacobsen and Steen both have little choice but to talk about Vos on the campaign trail. Because only Voss name is on the ballot, the challengers have an extra step of voter education to succeed in if they have any hope of winning.

Jacobsen and Steen each need to instruct their supporters specifically how to vote for them: that is, to tell voters to find Vos name, fill in the Write-in bubble below Vos name, and write in the preferred challengers name.

If the bubble on a paper ballot next to the words Write-in is not filled in but a candidates name is still written in, poll workers are still instructed to count the ballot  but the window for human error becomes more likely since the ballot tabulating machines will not be able to recognize that a write-in vote has been submitted.

While that has taken extra explaining, The messaging hasnt changed, Steen said in a phone interview Saturday.

Write-in candidacies are always a longshot, but there have been recent documented wins in high-turnout races. The current mayor of Buffalo, New York, Byron William Brown II, won in a write-in after losing a Democratic primary last year. And one of Alaskas two senators, Lisa Murkowski, won re-election to her second term via write-in after losing a Republican primary to a Tea Party candidate in 2010.

Inner-campaign confusion Adam Steens campaign has had some stumbles in the last month. 1. Last month, in a since-deleted post, an individual identified as Misty Gilbert who had access to Steens official campaign account posted on Steens official Facebook account that she and other members of his team were quitting. This will be my final post, Gilbert wrote, according to a screenshot shared with The Journal Times. Since the launching of Write-in Steen, the beliefs of the team have diverged. Some members of the team will be departing, joining the effort to elect Tim Michels, and re-elect Ron Johnson. Gilbert has not replied to requests for comment. Asked about the situation Saturday, Steen said that three people who joined the campaign after the primary election worked for his campaign for about a month then decided to publicly quit, "and I'm stuck with the consequences," Steen said with a laugh. 2. Steens campaign announced on Sept. 8 that MyPillow Guy Mike Lindell would be coming to the Racine County Fairgrounds for an event promoting Steens campaign Sept. 18. But then on Sept. 10, Steen posted again on social media, saying Oooops! We got the date wrong! Stay tuned for an updated announcement on the Mike Lindell event! No such rescheduled event has been announced, although Lindell said on his podcast last week that he still plans to host a rally in support of Steen, and Lindell said he hopes Donald Trump will attend. Speaking of Trump, Lindell said I know hes behind Adam (Steen). Lindell is perhaps the nations biggest promoter of conspiracy claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump. "We've been pushing to get the president back to Wisconsin again," Steen said Saturday. "His continued endorsement is big," noting that Trump handily carried District 63 in each of the last two presidential elections.

Cash and claims

In normally sleepy District 63, the last two election cycles have been more raucous than ever.

In 2020, a record-breaking $1.3 million was spent combined by both sides, according to tracking from Transparency USA; in 2018, more than $165,000 was spent. In a rare move for an Assembly race, state Democrats had devoted more than half-a-million dollars to the effort to unseat Vos  as Vos remains as one of the most effective conservative legislators in Wisconsin history.

Vos responded by spending more than he ever has and engaging in a mudslinging campaign in 2020 for the first time. It didnt work. When Jacobsen had far less financial support in 2018, he lost by 22 points. Two years later, after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, Jacobsen lost to Vos by 17 points.

Now, as Jacobsen challenges Vos for the third time, the campaign is even more atypical: a (former) president has gotten involved, with Donald Trump endorsing Steen over Vos since Vos has refused to entertain Trumps claims that the 2020 presidential election should be overturned. That claim is central to Steens campaign, who has aligned himself with others who are still seeking to somehow reclaim Wisconsins electoral votes 22 months after Joe Biden was sworn into office.

Like his opponents, Vos again has engaged in mudslinging this year. Mailers claimed Steen was a never Trumper  which Steen said is a lie  and that Steens plan for election reform would disenfranchise veterans.

Steen has repeatedly said that election laws should be defined by eight words: One day, in person, on paper, hand count. Vos then attacked Steen, saying that such a format would make it impossible for those living overseas to vote. Steen took offense to that, now saying that there should be an exception to allow those in the armed forces to vote from abroad.

While both Vos and Steen attest to be fiscal conservatives and both sought the Republican nomination in the Aug. 9 primary, there are sharp differences between them, including:

Vos supports exceptions to Wisconsins abortion ban for cases of rape and incest, and if the mothers life is in danger. Steen supports no exceptions and is opposed to the use of contraception. Jacobsen believes abortion should be legal, and said last month that abortion is the most important thing in this election and in all elections across the United States following the U.S. Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade in June

.

Steen has positioned himself as an outsider, having only once ran for office before; then going by the name Kevin Steen (his full name is Kevin Adam Steen), he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for

. Vos has been deeply involved in state politics for decades, having served in the Assembly

and being the longest-tenured Assembly speaker in state history; hes held the leadership role since 2013. Steen says he supports term limits. Vos told The Journal Times

that he supports term limits at the national level, but not for state legislators.

As the only Democrat in the race, Jacobsen has positioned himself as a third choice for the right-leaning district. While disadvantaged by not having his name on the ballot and running in a reliably red district, Jacobsen may have a shot at victory since the conservative vote will likely be split between Vos and Steen.

We came in late. Our resources are good, but theyre not unlimited, Jacobsen said.

Steen said he expects Jacobsens campaign to help him more than hurt his chances. The Democrats are going to vote for Democrats, Steen said.

Jacobsen said that his campaigns spending in 2022 will come nowhere near the heights it reached two years ago. Theres a lot of people out there who want change, Jacobsen said. Thats why our campaigns are so volatile. But I think theres a great chance I could be in the Assembly in January.
DOVER  The oft-expanded Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery near Union Grove in Racine County is set to grow again.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) announced Oct. 5 that Wisconsin will receive $3,293,695 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to expand the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, in Kansasville in the Town of Dover.

Ensuring our veterans have an honorable and dignified resting place is important to commemorating their service and sacrifice, Gov. Tony Evers said. This grant is an important investment to ensure loved ones and future generations can continue honoring the memories of Wisconsin veterans.

The grant will provide 3,500 columbarium niches, which hold cremated remains, as well as fund related landscaping and supporting infrastructure on approximately two acres of land. These improvements will help ensure adequate resources for future burial needs.

The Wisconsin veterans cemeteries provide a beautiful and dignified final resting place for those who have served and their loved ones, said WDVA Secretary Mary Kolar in announcing the grant award. Its so important we continually improve and maintain these treasured places for future generations.

Grant welcome news

The U.S Department of Veterans Affairs grant award comes as welcome news to Lee Kelley, the three-year director of the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

As we continue to grow and expand here at the cemetery, we feel honored to receive that grant award, Kelley said. Providing burial services to families is of utmost importance to what we do here each and every day. The ability to offer a final resting place for our veterans and fallen is the mission, its what we strive to do each and every day  bring that closure to the grieving families of those that have served our country. It means a great deal to us. When we are awarded these projects, we are grateful for them.

The grant award will fund a year-long columbarium development project that will see the construction of five columbarium structures at the cemetery, two of which Kelley said will be expedited for a May 2023 completion as final existing columbarium niches are filled.

Construction on the columbarium expansion project is slated to start at the end of this month or early November, with an anticipated completion of the five-structure columbarium by the end of 2023.

Were going to be short of (columbarium) space come May of next year, Kelley said. Its really going to be a hand-off. Were going to finish off one structure and jump in the brand new one.

As burial preferences change, Kelley said there has been an increasing shift toward cremation burials, which now account for a little bit over 50% of all burials at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, according to Kelley.

The columbarium is a nice piece for people that they seem to choose on a more frequent basis, he noted.

Nationally, cremation burials are now more popular than traditional casket burials, with cremation accounting for 56% of burials in 2020 versus 27% in 2000, according to Cremation Association of North America (CANA) statistics. The percentage of cremation burials is expected to reach 80% by 2040, according to projections by CANA and the National Funeral Directors Association.

Busy cemetery

According to Colleen Flaherty, director of communications for the Madison-based WDVA, the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery averages six funerals per day with full military honors, Monday through Friday.

The cemetery, 21731 Spring St. in Dover, located adjacent to the Wisconsin Veterans Home and the Southern Wisconsin Center, conducts between 1,300-1,500 funerals annually as the fourth-busiest state veterans cemetery in the nation. To date, more than 23,000 veterans and their spouses have been interred at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

The staff at the cemetery do a fantastic job, said Colleen Flaherty, director of communications for the Madison-based WDVA. I really love working with them. They truly do care so much about the work they do and keeping that place beautiful.

Situated on state-owned farmland at the Southern Wisconsin Center, which serves adult clients with intellectual disabilities combined with physical or mental health disorders, the 105-acre Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery site has undergone multiple expansion phases since groundbreaking occurred for the cemetery on Memorial Day 1996.

The cemetery and its administrative building were officially dedicated on May 31, 1998. The first phase of construction included burial for casket and cremation urns and additional development occurs as needed to accommodate the needs of veterans and their families.

The cemetery, located southwest of Milwaukee in Racine County, will be undergoing several expansion projects through 2025.

Learn more The WDVA operates three veterans memorial cemeteries located in King (Waupaca County), Spooner (Washburn County) and Dover (Racine County). Veterans, spouses and children may be eligible for burial or memorialization at Wisconsins veterans cemeteries. For questions about burial eligibility or preregistration, visit the application portal at mywisvets.com, email at wisvets@dva.wi.gov, or call 800-WIS-VETS (800-947-8387). For more information about the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, visit dva.wi.gov/Pages/memorialsBurials/SWVMC.aspx
RACINE  The man whose semi struck and killed a tow truck driver on Interstate 94 pleaded guilty to a reduced number of charges on the eve of trial.

Jeremy John Phelps, 40, of Amboy, Illinois, pleaded guilty to homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle on Monday, Oct. 10, in Racine County Circuit Court. The additional charge of hit & run was dismissed outright.

The defendant was due to go before the jury the next day.

As a result of the plea deal, the Racine County District Attorneys Office will recommend no more than two years of incarceration.

A sentencing hearing was scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Jan. 13.

Case history

Ramon Echeverria was killed on May 29, 2020, on Interstate 94 near the Seven Mile Road turnoff when he was struck by a passing semi.

He had parked a freeway safety tow truck in lane four, the far right lane, with his warning lights on, in order to remove debris from the roadway. The debris turned out to be the carcass of a dead turtle.

Phelps initially denied it was his vehicle that struck Echeverria, believing it was the semi he was following that hit the man by the side of the road.

However, Phelps did stop his semi a short distance away where he spoke to a witness, who then called 911. Phelps then continued driving.

However, Echeverrias vehicle was equipped with a dash camera that showed Echeverria on the shoulder of the road when the first semi passed. The camera then captured the victim turning to look at the second semi immediately behind the first  indicating he was still alive when the first semi passed.

An inspection of Phelpss semi indicated it had worn tire threads and an issue with the brakes that would have made it unsafe to drive.
At the beginning of the school year, Margret Hinze was both a special education teacher for grades six to 12, and a contestant in the Miss Racine Scholarship Competition.

One of her students joked that if she did not win, Miss Hinze could not be their teacher anymore.

It looks like they get to keep their teacher.
We noticed with interest the fracas in Kenosha where a County Board supervisor is clashing with the citys public librarys choice of a book, Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi, the National Endowment for the Arts choice for the national Big Read program, of which Kenosha plans to participate.

Supervisor Tim Stocker, who is on the Kenosha County Library System Board and is also a member of the Kenosha County Board, said the book describes the rape of a child in graphic and pornographic detail at a County Board meeting in September, and that it is unsuitable for the librarys reading program for teens or adults.

I have tried to encourage a change to this choice, Stocker told the County Board. The librarian is unwilling to change to another book. Therefore, Im bringing my concerns before this board.

We dont quite understand why Stocker thinks he has a say in this matter, and were frankly puzzled why he would take it to the Kenosha County Board. The decision, it seems to us, should stay with the Kenosha Public Library  its their program.

Kenosha Public Library Director Barbara Brattin, who is also director of the county library system, confirmed that the novel will not be withdrawn from the city public librarys participation in the Big Read, nor would it be withdrawn from the city library.

Some background: Homegoing is the story of two Ghanaian half-sisters , one who marries a white Englishman, the other sold into slavery. The story is set in the 18th century. For a time, unbeknownst to each other both reside in the same slave castle on Africas Gold Coast  one in luxury on the upper floors while her sister is held captive in the dungeon and then transported into slavery in America.

Some more background: The Big Read program is funded in part by grants totaling $1,071,140 from the NEA. Kenosha Public Library received a $20,000 grant to participate in the effort to encourage reading, with the aim of inspiring meaningful conversations and connections in communities. It is one of 62 nonprofit organizations  mostly libraries  that received NEA grants.

Brattin told the Kenosha News Gyasi has created a brilliant novel that tells the history of the Gold Coast slave trade and its impact on future generations from the point of view of the conquered.

No one can dispute that the experiences of the enslaved included horrific violence and injustice and Gyasi candidly depicts these horrors, she said. The few violent scenes in the book cause some people to cry for its withdrawal from the Big Read and in some places, withdrawal from the librarys collection, but the book as a whole is so much more than those few scenes.

Lori Hawkins, organizer for Kenoshas Congregations United to Serve Humanity, addressed the County Board about the issue, saying, The writing itself is beautiful. It is not pornographic. Rather, it is graphic because it depicts what happened to enslaved Africans, millions of enslaved Africans, over hundreds of years  violence and the taking away the right to protect ones own body.

Given the kerfuffle, we decided to get a copy of Homegoing and take a look for ourselves. Heres what we found  but, dont take our word for it  get a copy yourself.

Yes, there are a few paragraphs here and there that depict sexual assault in a graphic manner, but those sentences simply underscore the brutality of the slave trade and its devastation on individual humanity. Anyone who seeks out Homegoing expecting to read steamy scenes from a romance novel will be sorely disappointed.

Gyasis novel  fictional though it is  tells the story of the slave trade on two continents  from the feuding tribes in Ghana and their complicity with British and Dutch slave traders, to the waiting ships that brought their captive cargoes to the United States, and then to the cotton fields and coal mines of Alabama and the shipyards of Baltimore. It traces the inhumanity in both places and weaves a story of how that evil treatment persisted for decades and has been woven into the fabric of our nation and Gold Coast countries as well.

It is a remarkable novel that is alternately lush with its prose and sparse with pointed dialogue and harsh  at times brutal  images. In ways it is reminiscent of John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath, which itself was a past NEA Big Read selection, which laid bare the hardships of the Dust Bowl and the savagery of working conditions for the Okies who fled to California.

Homecoming is not an easy read. It is not a book we would choose to curl up with on a winters night. It is unsettling, uneasy, because it shines a light on the fabric of the history of the slave trade and the long shadows it still casts today. It raises questions.

Thats what great literature will do sometimes.

What should Kenosha County Board supervisors do with this? They might want to go out and get a copy.
1. Yes. Using marijuana odor to determine probable cause is vital to police investigations.

2. Yes. As the ordinance is written, it targets police; that shouldnt be allowed to stand.

3. No. The council should leave the ordinance alone and respect the will of the voters.

4. No. The council should repeal the ordinance altogether. It conflicts with state law.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say how the council should proceed on addressing the ordinance.

Vote

View Results
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced plans to launch e-scooters operations in 11 new residential areas starting from next year.

These are Al Tawar 1 and 2, Umm Suqeim 3, Al Garhoud, Muhaisnah 3, Umm Hurair 1, Al Safa 2, Al Barsha South 2, Al Barsha 3, Al Quoz 4, and Nad Al Sheba 1, said RTA in a statement.

With this, the total number of districts in which e-scooters are permitted to operate increases to 21, and the total length of tracks dedicated to bikes, e-scooters, as well as safe and shared routes, rises from 185 km to 390 km.

These tracks relate to main attractions, 10 mass transport stations, and 18 prominent destinations such as public parks and commercial outlets. Also it will enhance the first and last-mile journeys and reduce the reliance on private vehicles, it added.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, said the selection of areas and tracks is based on technical studies and data analysis of various Dubai districts to assess them in terms of safety, traffic volumes, the readiness of the infrastructure, population density, and the proximity to metro and public transport stations.

"By operating e-scooters in these areas, the total length of the bike and e-scooter tracks will jump to 390 km serving 114,503 residents," he stated.

Al Tayer said expanding the scope of operating bikes and e-scooters to cover new districts will help support the efforts of transforming Dubai into a bicycle-friendly city and the migration to less-polluting sustainable transport.

"It also encourages visitors to use alternative mobility means and supports the first and last-mile strategy," he noted.

"Work is up-and-running in those areas to finalise the construction of tracks in line with the top international standards of traffic safety. Improvements currently underway in those districts include ground markings, directional signs, and converting internal roads into safe areas by dropping the speed limit from 40 km/hour to 30 km/hour for the safety of riders," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
KEARNEY  Heres the condensed version of the Josh and Kristen Graczyk story.

At age 14, before he could legally drive, Josh launched a lawn-cutting business in 1998 in Elm Creek.

Elizabeth Earl, his first customer, tracked Joshs work in a notebook. Josh also tracked business in a notebook. The eighth graders customer base was growing and growing.

Eventually, Joshs list included the lawn where Kristen lived.

He did mow my dads lawn, she said, but we didnt start dating until 10 years later.

Romance had to wait because Kristen and Josh went off to college.

Kristen earned an accounting degree at Bellevue University, and Josh attended Southeast Community College in Beatrice. With help from family and a lot of support from the Elm Creek community, he parlayed the book learning into an expanding business. Before that, Josh was renting space in Elm Creek for his business.

His mother, Cindy Graczyk, drove him to his lawn-cutting appointments until he was old enough for a drivers license. In 2006-2007, his dad, Jaime, grandfather, Ed, and uncle Jim helped construct a 40-foot-by-80-foot building to house Joshs lawn care equipment.

Romance blossomed. Josh and Kristen married, and now theyre raising four children in Elm Creek. The family includes son Case, 11, and daughters Charley, 9; Adaline, 6; and Ellis, 4.

Just as their family has grown, so has the business.

After expanding into the rental space and the 40-foot-by-80-foot building, Josh thought his business might level off, but the customer base was spreading to Kearney.

I thought that building was the last building I would ever need, Josh said.

Graczyk Lawn & Landscape made its first move into Kearney by leasing a former dance studio on North Railroad Street in southeast Kearney. Around 2018, Josh and Kristens lawn care business had sprouted into a variety of complementary ventures.

Lawn care remained the focus in spring, summer and fall, but Josh and Kristen found opportunity in the slow months.

Graczyk Lawn & Landscape expanded into landscape design and installation, commercial snow removal and retaining walls. They also expanded into outdoor paver patios and kitchens (Grindstone Hardscapes), paver sidewalks and driveways, and concrete curbing (Curb-It Inc.).

Graczyk also hangs and stores holiday decorations.

With their business now moving in so many directions, the Graczyks set out to build a facility that would support their companys sales and services.

On Thursday, Oct. 20, visitors at the Graczyk Lawn & Landscape grand opening will tour the facility and see how it solved challenges and boosted functionality.

Achieving that was a large task, Josh said, because of the variety of work groups, functions and storage areas the building had to accommodate. The layout includes an 8,000-square-foot showroom and office space as well as 23,200 square feet for the mechanic bay, Grindstone Hardscapes displays, mowing crew, wash bay, Curb-It, fertilizer, treated salt, open-air storage and holiday lights.

I began mowing lawns when I was 14 years old and never would have thought we would have grown this company to what it is today, Josh said. I cant thank our employees enough for their hard work, dedication and a whole lot of grit.

Kristen and Josh said so much of their success traces back to their upbringing in Elm Creek. They said the community of 900 is tightly knit and supportive, and it is experiencing a surge in young families. Its a time for giving back, Kristen said, so she is chairing the Elm Creek School Foundation. The organization has scheduled its annual fundraiser banquet for Nov. 4.

Voters recently approved replacing the towns 101-year-old elementary school. So, as that building rises, the foundation is helping address other needs, including scholarships for graduating seniors.

Also, Graczyk Lawn & Landscape supports Forever Pink. The 501(3) organization provides focus, support and resources in the Kearney area to financially and emotionally assist people battling breast cancer. After beating breast cancer in 2006, Joshs mother passed away in 2015 from thyroid cancer.

We know shes been with us every step of the way and continues to look over us from above, Josh said.

During Graczyk Lawn & Landscapes grand opening and customer appreciation event, customers will have a chance to support Forever Pink.

Josh and Kristen said the grand opening will be an opportunity for them to thank the many people in the Kearney area for their support.

That includes the contractors and vendors who made the building a success.

GRAND OPENING Graczyk Lawn & Landscapes grand opening and customer appreciation event will be 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the new Kearney shop at 1170 30th Ave. The event kicks off with a Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. NebraskaLand Bank will serve hamburgers and hot dogs. Customers and vendors can enjoy food, music and facility tours.

Josh said he drew the plans, then project manager Chad Micek with Chief Construction refined the plans and was around during the entire construction process. Josh and Kristen said they appreciated that Chief Construction allowed them to work with local businesses while building their facility at 1170 30th Ave.

Among those businesses are Blessing Construction, GD Construction, NebraskaLand Bank, Double J. Plumbing, Walters Electric, Brungardt Engineering, Mid-Nebraska Garage Doors, EZ Kitchens, M&J Signs, Cottonmill Enterprises, CMH Interiors, Kucera Painting and Russells Appliances.

Our place is set up very well for high production, and thats important in this business, Josh said about consolidating operations at the facility in southwest Kearney.

Asked what the next business venture might be, Josh said making the operation and its 30 employees operate smoothly together is the current priority.

After you build something like this, you want to make it stable, Josh said. As long as you do things right, success and growth will follow.
La Crosse native Erik Kleven and his business partner Jennifer Lester opened Taqueria Pato Azul restaurant on Monday in the former Fat Porcupine Noodle Bar restaurant at 127 S. Fourth St. in downtown La Crosse.

Kleven and Lester, both of Rochester, Minn., continue to operate the Bleu Duck Kitchen restaurant in downtown Rochester, which they opened in 2016. Pato Azul is Spanish for blue duck.

Kleven said the new La Crosse restaurant serves authentic Mexican food with a Bleu Duck twist. He added, We try to do things a little different at both restaurants.

The La Crosse restaurants menu includes boutique Maine oysters, noodle bowls with a Latin flair, gourmet tacos and a more bites section with such fare as elote dogs (a hot dog with Mexican street corn), ceviche, Mexican fruit cup, tres leches (three-milk) cake and Takis beef sticks.

The beverage menu includes cocktails, several kinds of beer (most of which are Mexican) and Spanish wines.

The La Crosse restaurant can seat about 65 people and is full of bright colors, from its chairs to the paint and decor on its walls.

To start with, Taqueria Pato Azul is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Hopefully, within a few weeks or a month, well be opening at 11 a.m. for lunch, Kleven said. We might be open on Sundays down the road.

Kleven was born in La Crosse, where his family lived until they moved to the West Coast when he was in seventh grade.

For more information, call the restaurant at 608-519-3036 or visit www.taqueriapatoazul.com or Facebook.

Gregg Scharf, owner of Garrison Counseling Inc. at 319 Main St., will open his new Garrison Therapies Driifloat Center on Monday in Suite 300 on the third floor of the Powell Place building at 200 Main St. in downtown La Crosse.

The new dry float therapy center offers float therapy without getting wet, having to change clothes or shower, and has three Driifloat tanks made in England. This is the first Driifloat center in Wisconsin and these tanks are designed to give an authentic float experience without any direct contact with the heated salt water, Scharf said. People choose a 30-, 60- or 90-minute session, remove their shoes, empty their pockets, lay back and float.

Scharf also said that the benefits of floating can be experienced both physically and mentally through promoting resilience, reducing stress, prompting mindfulness, help with pain associated with muscle tension or injury, and even speed up recovery. People come out of a float feeling very relaxed, yet also recharged and ready to take on the day.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Scharf hopes to add weekend hours. People can book floats online or by calling 608-881-6028. For more information, call that number or visit www.garrisontherapies.com or Facebook.

Britt Henze opened Pamperin Salon & Spa on Sept. 1 in the former Pamperin Cigar Co. factory building at 115 S. Second St. in downtown La Crosse.

The new business cuts hair for men, women and children, and also offers coloring, waxing and eyelash extensions, said Henze, who has been a cosmetologist for nearly 11 years. The salon has two hair stylists and has room for two more, she said. She also is looking for a massage therapist or an aesthetician.

The salon and spa also displays and sells artwork created by Dulaney Artworks in La Crosse, and sells environmentally friendly and cruelty-free hair care products. It has a play room for children, and some artifacts from the buildings days as a cigar factory are on display.

Ive always loved this building, Henze said of her decision to open Pamperin Salon & Spa. I used to come in here when it was Kick (shoe store) and loved the vibe in here.

The salon and spa is open Tuesday through Sunday. Its grand opening celebration will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 5, with snacks, refreshments, specials and giveaways.

For more information, call 608-498-5530 or visit the salon and spas Facebook page.

Brilliant Bodywork MedSpa at 314 Main St. in downtown Onalaska will move to 415 N. Sixth St., in the Hub on 6th building in downtown La Crosse, by Jan. 1.

The business is owned by Stephanie Andresen-Stevens and her husband, Adam Stevens, who say it began in 2008 and has outgrown its Onalaska location. The new location has about 6,500 square feet of space, up from 3,500 square feet at the Onalaska site, and will include a community education center that will be available to rent and will host continuing education events.

Brilliant Bodywork has 12 employees and will be able to hire 12 more with the expansion.

It offers such services as skin rejuvenation, massages, acne treatments, tattoo removal, skin resurfacing, permanent hair reduction, chemical peels, body treatments, luxury facials, waxing, body contouring, oncology treatments, microdermabrasion, spa day for bridal parties and weight loss. We also focus on laser skincare procedures and plan to add on IV hydration therapy and cosmetic injections such as Botox and fillers, Adam Stevens said.

The new location also will house the Restorative Ink nonprofit organization, which offers free tattoo removal services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.
South Africa: Exports a way to create jobs in South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the export of South African products to markets in other countries has a lasting effect on the fight against unemployment in the country.

He was speaking at the opening of a Lulu Hypermarket in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during an official State Visit to the country.

Lulu Hypermarket is an international chain which sells South African products in its Saudi Arabian store.

The President said the 500 South African products that are being sold at the hypermarket make an impact on the lives of those exporting the products.

[These products] create jobs in South Africa by those workers who produce this product. But they also create jobs in Saudi Arabia, by those who package them, who repackage them, who present them, and who sell them. So that, in my view, is the smartest of all partnerships that you can ever get. And we should applaud everyone who is involved, he said.

President Ramaphosa highlighted that bringing South African products to other parts of the world means that other cultures can also enjoy and become knowledgeable about the South African way of life.

Im really pleased that you're bringing in ordinary products from South Africa and some products are quite iconic with us, with our culture, with our way of life.

For instance, you are bringing in charcoal, being one of those products that we use for braaingwhich is a very special South African activity over weekends where people relax with their friends and families. We are glad that we are spreading this culture also here in Saudi Arabia, and in the Middle East, President Ramaphosa said.

He added, however, that although South African fresh products are being exported to Saudi Arabia, more work is being done to unlock the meat market.

We are working with the Saudi government to unlock the protocols for our meat products. And I saw a shelf space there that is currently empty, waiting for the meat to come from South Africa.

We look forward to having meat from South Africa being on your shelves. Soon, consumers in Saudi Arabia will be able to put South African meat on their charcoal and create salads and other accompaniments that we saw on the shelves and enjoy typical South African food in the way that we do it in South Africa - with a braai, President Ramaphosa said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-10-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Oman-based Khimji Ramdas Group has announced that one of its units Eshraqa has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education (MoE) to help enhance the infrastructure of government schools in Wilayat Dima Watayeen, by equipping them with smart TV, smart interactive boards and security cameras.

By providing digital amenities such as smart TVs and innteractive boards, Eshraqa aims to help the schools make lessons more engaging, interactive and productive for both students and teachers, said the statement from KR Group.

Built on the premise that the private sector has a responsibility towards the development of local communities and empowering talented individuals in the sultanate, Eshraqa works toward nation-building at the grassroots, said the statement.

It aspires to contribute meaningfully to the education sector by building infrastructure that will lead to the enhancement of knowledge, skills, and capabilities in society, it added.

This constant support to education comes as a continuation of Eshraqas initiatives to develop and improve the sector, by providing infrastructure that is at par with modern education globally and it comes in line with Omans Vision 2040 goals, remarked Nailesh Khimji, the Director of Khimji Ramdas Group, after signing the deal with Majid bin Said Al Bahri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the third Oman Science Festival, held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC).

The infrastructure and learning environment of schools have a direct impact on students and teachers, and on the quality of education, stated Khimji.

"This MoU is thus an endeavour to empower students; and support the efforts of educators in Dima Watayeen, to deliver a comprehensive educational experience that will positively contribute to the future of Omani youth and strengthen the sultanates human capital," he noted.

Lauding the initiative, Al Bahri said: "Children across the country deserve a quality education to embark on their lifes journeys successfully and become the leaders of tomorrow. We thank Khimji Ramdas' Eshraqa for their commitment to the development and progress of local communities; and urge other private sector companies to participate in similar efforts that help strengthen the education sector."

"As a body that focuses on community well-being in multiple capacities, Eshraqa has and will always support learning initiatives as part of its core belief to build better communities through education," he stated.

"Under its core pillar Eshraqa Learns the team has delivered a broad range of initiatives across Oman, since its inception in 2016, and has supported 82 government schools across five wilayats namely Samail, Bidbid, Izki, Ibra, and Bidiyiah," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Possibility is powerful.

The motto for the Womens Fund resonates with Dr. Bobbie Gostout, a nationally recognized expert and leader in gynecologic oncology, a champion for womens health and a cheerleader for those following in her footsteps.

Gostout will be the guest speaker at the Womens Fund of Greater La Crosses Fall Luncheon, being held Tuesday at UW-La Crosse. All tickets have been sold.

Joining Gostout in sharing their stories of leadership, drive and support from both women and men will be Jennifer Livingston, director of community engagement at Mayo Clinic Health System, and Dina Zavala, Ph.D., interim vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion at UW-La Crosse.

This is an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come as women and to have an inspiring conversation about how we can continue to uplift women and girls, says Sarah Ellingson, executive director of Womens Fund of Greater La Crosse.

The event will also serve as a launch for the Womens Fund fall fundraising, with Roz Schnick matching $5,000 in donations in memory of the organizations founder and community leader Signe Schroeder.

Working hard and welcoming support

The Womens Fund  which Gostout calls a  boldly progressive organization by women for women  promotes turning plans to action through its grant funding, and Gostout herself is a true go-getter. Now retired, Gostout was the first women to participate in Mayo Clinics gynecology oncology fellowship and to join the Division of Gynecology Surgery in Rochester. After serving as chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mayo Rochester, she was appointed as vice president of Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Health System, which encompasses Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Medical school was physically and mentally demanding, Gostout recalls, and during surgical training she encountered people who were not supportive of letting women in. But others welcomed her into the fold, and the profession, while her parents, siblings, spouse and sons continuously expressed their pride in her. Today, she remembers the tremendous opportunities she was given more than the challenges, having been uplifted, educated and inspired by so many generous and wise mentors in the healthcare field.

Her supporters included Dr. John Noseworthy, past president and CEO of Mayo, who challenged her and encouraged her as she stepped into the role of president, and her nurse partners and administrative team.

As we know, it takes a village, Gostout says. I honestly could not have blended a surgical career with my leadership roles if it werent for their talent and commitment.

To those driven to pursue a goal, but hesitant for fear of failure, Gostout offers a bit of wisdom.

I dont know anyone who invites or enjoys failure, and obstacles can certainly take the drive out of a striving human, Gostout says. So first we must recognize that fear, failure, and obstacles are our companions throughout life. They are unavoidable.

But the existence of hurdles isnt a reason to give up.

One of the struggles we face as women is envisioning ourselves in major leadership roles, Gostout says. The members of the Womens Fund and their supporters use their power and influence to help women from diverse and varied backgrounds envision possibilities where they otherwise might perceive barriers. That shift to envisioning possibilities changes lives and changes communities.

For Gostout, a sentiment from author Elizabeth Gilbert has helped her push through doubt and worry.

To her fears, she says, Thank you for being my sidekick and keeping me safe for all of these years. I need you and you are welcome to come along as I pursue this path. But, my friend fear, you dont get to drive the ship. You dont get to pick out the route. You dont even get to pick out the snacks.

Says Gostout, That delightful metaphorical conversation always eases the tension for me when I get caught in fear.

Protecting womens rights

With the overturn of Roe v. Wade last June, reproductive health care has been in limbo, with abortion clinics in Wisconsin and other states halting procedures. For Wisconsinites, the closest access to abortion services is in neighboring states Illinois and Minnesota.

In an interview with the Tribune in June, Ellingson noted that local women and girls now have a limit to what they can and cannot do to help take care of their their own health. And we believe that all health care, including pregnancy, is a very personal decision and a very personal matter that should be dealt with and talked to within trusted community of people that they surround themselves with.

Added Ellingson, We want our women and girls to, at the end of the day, grow. We dont want to see them have fewer rights in what we have had so far.

For Gostout, who specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, the government interference is troubling.

I am passionate about womens health, and of course pregnancy is a concern central to womens health, Gostout says. Its almost impossible for concerned non-medical people to understand the scope and complexity of the decision making that happens in the context of caring for womens reproductive concerns. The stakes are often high and hope sometimes hangs on a fragile thread.

Should Wisconsins 1849 abortion ban be enforced, women would only qualify for abortion if their life is at risk, with no exception for rape and incest and no consideration of the persons age, ability to care for a child, domestic situation, mental and physical health or personal choice.

My plea is that we keep rigid laws out of these private and complex medical situations, Gostout says. Rigid and punitive legislation creates an environment of fear for physicians, and fear introduced into decision making has been shown to increase adverse health outcomes for pregnant women in medically complex situations.

Urges Gostout, Instead of the blunt tools of legislation and fear lets use the powerful tools within families, churches, and society to promote ethical decisions and to create pathways of hope.

For more information on the Womens Fund, or to donate visit https://womensfundlacrosse.org/.
Even though voter fraud is rare, in Wisconsin and nationally, many checks exist to prevent and catch it here, whether it be accidental or intentional.

In the 2020 election, approximately 0.003% of the nearly 3.3 million ballots cast in Wisconsin were submitted illegally by felons not yet eligible to vote because they hadnt completed their full sentences, according to the Associated Press. Thats the most common type of prohibited voting in Wisconsin, experts say.

That number is also about the same amount of illegal votes cast by felons in the 2016 election, the AP noted. Former President Donald Trump won that election by about 23,000 votes.

In the wake of the 2020 election in Wisconsin, voter fraud charges have been filed against at least 24 people in 12 different counties, according to the AP. Of those, 16 were allegedly felons not yet eligible to vote. President Joe Biden won the state in the 2020 election by about 21,000 votes.

Because Wisconsin runs its elections at the municipal level, rather than county or state, it has one of the most decentralized election administration systems in the nation, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The state has about 1,850 municipalities.

The Badger Project talked to Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesman Riley Vetterkind, as well as Barry Burden, a political science professor and director of the Elections Research Center at UW-Madison, about the checks in place to deter and catch voter fraud in the state.

1. All voters are required to register.

Residents may register to vote online at www.MyVote.wi.gov, by mail, at their municipal clerks office, or at their polling place on Election Day. Only voters with a valid Wisconsin drivers license or state ID card can register online. To prove residency when registering by mail, at their municipal clerks office, or at the polls on Election Day, voters must bring an official document, like a bank statement or a state ID, that has their current address.

2. Photo ID and witnesses are required for absentee voting.

Voters who request an absentee ballot must be registered to vote. If you request a ballot online at www.MyVote.wi.gov, most voters will need to upload a copy of their photo ID if they havent done it previously, Vetterkind said.

Wisconsin also requires the filling out of absentee ballots be witnessed and signed by another person.

It is not clear that this requirement is effective in inhibiting absentee ballot fraud, but it is an extra step that must be taken to cast an absentee ballot, Burden said.

The state has online tools that let voters and election officials track ballots as they wind their way through the system, Burden said. These tools are quite helpful for providing transparency and as a check on potential crimes such as theft of absentee ballots from mailboxes.

3. Felons cant vote until completing their sentences.

Safeguards are in place to prevent the most common form of prohibited voting  when a resident who is ineligible to vote due to a felony conviction attempts to cast a ballot. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections is required by law to provide the commission with an updated list of people convicted of felonies on a continuous basis, as well as those who have completed their entire sentence and are eligible to vote again, Vetterkind said.

If a person who hasnt completed their full felony sentence tried to register to vote on Election Day, they would most likely get flagged by an election worker. Its not a foolproof system; sometimes individuals slip through, Vetterkind said. But those cases are usually discovered during a post-election audit which is mandated by state law.

This type of illegal voting usually isnt intentional, Burden said. People who are on parole or probation from felony convictions are often unaware of election laws and assume that they are able to vote once their incarceration ends, he said. Their attempts to vote can sometimes be labeled as purposeful vote fraud, but they are typically misunderstandings of the law.

4. Dead people cant vote.

The Wisconsin Election Commission receives regular updates from the Vital Records office in the states Department of Health and Human Services, which issues death certificates, Vetterkind said. Deceased residents are removed from the voter list.

5. Potential vote fraud is investigated.

If voter fraud is suspected, municipal clerks will alert their county district attorneys office for investigation. The Wisconsin Election Commission reports such cases to the Wisconsin State Legislature and posts them online for public viewing. The commission also checks to see if felons still serving their sentence have voted, in which case they would refer that case to law enforcement.

6. Voting equipment is double-checked.

After an election, officials assess the performance of electronic voting equipment by auditing a random sampling of ballots. Compared to 2020, the Wisconsin Elections Commission will double the number of reporting units audited in 2022, from 5% to 10%, Vetterkind said. Reporting units consist of one or several wards.

During this process, election workers hand-count paper ballots. The total is compared to the election night voting system results. Audit materials are submitted to the Wisconsin Elections Commission for review, and any discrepancies are investigated, Vetterkind noted.

7. People cant vote more than once.

Wisconsin is part of a 33-state organization known as the Electronic Registration Information Center that provides reports on potential duplicate registration records in different states and flags registrants who might have died or moved, Vetterkind said.

The organization also detects when somebody tries to vote in more than one state.

The system has become a source of controversy because it is not perfectly reliable in every case, but it is nonetheless a tool that allows the state to look into records that may need to be updated or purged, Burden said. Simply notifying voters that their records have been flagged can be a helpful alert in case another person was attempting voter registration fraud.

8. Anyone can report suspected vote fraud.

If a person suspects theyve witnessed a form of voter fraud, they can report it to local law enforcement or they can file a sworn complaint with the Wisconsin Election Commission, Vetterkind said. The publics eyes serve as another layer of protection for the integrity of the election, he added.
Republicans were predicted to win majorities in the House and Senate after the midterm elections earlier this month, but came up short in the Senate and won one of the narrowest Congressional majorities on record. Why? Paul Ryan told ABC News "The evidence is really clear: the biggest factor was the Trump factor."
A La Crosse-based metalist will show his artwork during an upcoming exhibition at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Luke Achterberg will return to his alma mater for Luke Achterberg: Convolutions, which opens Friday, Oct. 21, in the University Art Gallery, on the first floor of the Lowe Center for the Arts, 333 N. 16th St. The exhibit runs through Wednesday, Nov. 23, and is free.

Working in metal, Achterbergs sculptures celebrate the visual aesthetic of automotive customizing and other highly proficient skills honed on the street, in body shops and through garages across the U.S. He has developed a distinct personal style that is visually sleek and connects to the history of metal workers and the lure of automobiles in American culture.

Achterberg graduated from UW-L in 2004 and obtained a welding technical diploma from Western Technical College the following year. After working as a certified welder at a custom job shop, he attended graduate school at the University of Kentucky where he completed a Master of Fine Arts.

Achterberg has received recognition for his pieces from institutions such as the International Sculpture Center in New Jersey and Art-St-Urban in Switzerland. He has been awarded several commissions and was included in the Wisconsin Artists Biennial 2022.

Achterberg will give an artist talk at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, in Annett Recital Hall. A reception follows in the Gallery from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Gallery hours are 1-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 1-5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays and during events at Toland Theatre. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. Get more information at: www.uwlax.edu/art.
A NO vote on the School District of La Crosse $194.7 million referendum will not solve any of the districts significant challenges.

These include aging buildings, declining enrollments, budget deficits and unsteady state funding.

But a NO vote could lead to a plan that would unite this community, rather than divide it.

It could lead to a plan that is publicly supported and endorsed by the city and its neighbors and stakeholders that include the teachers.

And it could lead to a plan that moves the district forward, treating all students equally, and sets it up for a strong future.

This plan does not do any of those things. And this plan should be defeated Nov. 8.

As you know, the $194.7 million referendum asks district voters to fund a plan that would consolidate Logan and Central high schools into a single facility at the former Trane facility at 3600 Pammel Creek Road. The district would also close its three existing middle schools and convert the high school buildings to middle schools.

Superintendent Aaron Engel and the school board deserve credit in dedicating themselves to taking on the significant challenges of the district and communicating details of this plan.

They were boosted by survey results that showed the majority in our community want good schools and will support them.

But they have significantly misread what the impact of this plan would be, further dividing north and south and putting hundreds of kids on long commutes every day on roads that cant handle it to an unseen building that has more questions than answers.

And this does not factor in the gigantic cost of this plan  the largest in Wisconsin this year  and the impact it likely would have on property values in the north side.

If approved, Engel says, the plan would increase property taxes by $8 per $100,000 of property value. But there are many questions and concerns about that over time.

A recent letter writer, a Logan graduate, described it this way:

This limits opportunity for half of the children in La Crosse, and in some cases, puts children on a bus for almost an hour each day factoring in traffic, Kelly Weber wrote.

Why would we want to limit education and growth in the city of La Crosse, and why would we want families and children on the north side to feel like they are not as important? This is not how we encourage the next generation.

A new high school will result in educational facilities that best prepare our students for careers in robotics, engineering, advanced manufacturing, culinary arts, and health sciences  the good-paying jobs our local businesses need employees for right now, Engel wrote in his most recent of a series of columns.

But does the district need a new expensive state of the art school for that? La Crosse is blessed with three outstanding colleges, and by enhancing existing relationships the district should be able to increase opportunities for many students over time.

La Crosse deserves better  a better plan, one that involves stakeholders and comes together through collaboration.

It deserves to spend time coming up with a plan in public, involving more than the school board, to unite a community rather than divide it.

There are no easy answers, and Engel is right that something must be done. La Crosse cannot continue to operate every building with dwindling numbers.

But its not this plan. Not now.
The citizens of La Crosse appreciate the time and effort put in by the school board. Since the board has endorsed the new high school for the South Side, it only makes sense that the board provide additional information so the voters can make an informed decision on this request.
While working with rural watershed restoration projects across the Driftless Area and western Wisconsin for the past 20 years, I have seen Brad Pfaff work effectively on key conservation and Farm Bill issues. The Farm Bill is the nations largest conservation funding source, as well as a major source of help for farmers in reducing soil loss, improving water quality and leasing public access to private lands for hunters and anglers.

In 2023 the Farm Bill will be re-authorized by Congress for the next five years. Pfaff wont need to be educated about its purposes, history and crucial importance to the 3rd Congressional District. Earlier re-authorizations helped bring millions of dollars to the Driftless Area for stabilizing eroding streambanks and improving fish habitat and water quality.

As staff member to Rep. Kind, Brad Pfaff has already contributed to past Farm Bills, and as the Wisconsin director of the USDAs Farm Service Agency, he worked on the implementation of all its components. As a member of Congress, he will be well-qualified to become the only member of the states delegation to serve on the important House Agriculture Committee.

We need a Congressional representative who knows how the House of Representatives and the Farm Bill work and wont need to be trained. Our 3rd District representatives have been strong on farm issues for over 50 years. Brad Pfaff will represent our district well, and I urge your vote to support him.

John (Duke) Welter
If youve voted on Madisons Near East Side over the last 11 years, most recently at Georgia OKeeffe Middle School, theres a good chance your ballot has been handled by chief inspector Blaise Besant.

While Besant, 58, heads south for the cold months, he makes sure to be in his hometown of Madison for almost every election, except for maybe a few February votes. After starting out as a poll worker in 2011, Besant has spent the last eight years as chief inspector in charge of one of Madisons more than 100 polling locations.

What drew you to being a poll worker?

Ive always been a political wonk to an extent, but I really care about peoples access to voting. When I first started working as a poll worker, I was retired and had moved back to Madison and I didnt have a lot on my calendar, so it was really just a volunteer job. But the process was so fascinating, there are so many checks on the whole system. I recommend that anyone become a poll worker. From the outside you dont understand how many checks there are along the way to make sure that everything balances  that everyone gets the opportunity to vote, but also that nobody can cheat the system.

How has increased scrutiny of Wisconsins election process impacted your work at the polls?

People are acutely suspicious of  and certainly more aware of  the election process. We didnt used to have the number of observers who really came expecting to find an I gotcha moment. I think theyre quite disappointed when they see how mundane it really is and how the process rolls out. So the politicization of it is certainly increased.

Have you experienced threats or harassment as a poll worker?

I have had remarkably good luck with observers. Theres no reason to not have absolute transparency, because were not hiding anything. I personally have had really good relations with observers, regardless of their political affiliation, regardless of why theyre there. I have not had any problems, but I certainly have heard of other inspectors having problems.

It was an entirely different animal when we did the recount of the last presidential election. There were acrimonious times with observers there.

How do you handle those situations?

People will come in sometimes and theyll throw an off-the-cuff comment, like as if my vote counts, or something like that, but they dont stay long enough to have a conversation about it so we can actually explain why it does count and how were ensuring that it does count. I wish people would take the time to really learn how it works, because I think a lot of people have an opinion and they arent willing to listen to reason or maybe change their opinion.

Are there any common errors you run into when processing absentee ballots?

The word municipality seems to cause a lot of trouble. The envelope asks you to list your municipality, but a lot of people think that thats Dane. If they live in Madison, they put down Dane. Youd be surprised how many people put down Dane, Wisconsin and then their ZIP code. And there arent that many people who are witnessing from Dane, Wisconsin.

What do you tell people who want to learn more about elections?

If people have a question about how elections work, I encourage them to become a poll worker. You will find out there really is no mystery behind the curtain, its a very transparent process and its very interesting.
AD Ports will be work with Nafis, a federal programme to increase the competitiveness of Emirati human resources, to recruit 7,500 UAE nationals over the next five years, at a rate of 1,500 jobs annually.

Towards this the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC) and AD Ports Group have signed an MoU to enhance the participation of UAE nationals in the private sector.

During the signing of the memorandum, ETCC was represented by Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Secretary General of ETCC, while AD Ports Group was represented by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group.

Raising awareness

Al Mazrouei pointed out the importance of Nafis partnerships in introducing the programme to UAE nationals and raising awareness of its benefits, as well as encouraging private sector companies to attract local talent and provide them with job opportunities that match their qualifications.

He said: Since Nafis was founded a year ago, we have witnessed numerous partnerships which have resulted in the employment of thousands of UAE nationals in the private sector, as well as providing the opportunity for many more to benefit from the training programmes and qualification courses provided by our partners. Today, we are proud to have AD Ports Group joining the group of our illustrious partners, and we hope that it will result in outcomes which reflect positively on Emirati job seekers, and for those who wish to pursue their career path within the private sector.

Targeting a wide segment

"The achievements of Nafis in the past year bode well for the future. The programme has firmly established its presence in the Emirati community and has been able to highlight to citizens the attractiveness and perks of working in the private sector and contributing to the realising the dreams of thousands. Through Nafis success stories campaign Nafis..Your Way, we have targeted a wide segment of UAE nationals, to encourage them to join the private sector by drawing inspiration from the success stories of ambitious Emiratis already occupying roles in healthcare, technology, engineering, financial services and management consulting. We are looking forward to the seeing what the future holds, and hope that our partnership with AD Ports Group will be a new a fruitful one that helps people find fulfilling careers, he added.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director & Group CEO, AD Ports Group said: We are resolute in our commitment to contribute to the UAEs economic development and diversification. AD Ports Group generated 21% of all non-oil related GDP in Abu Dhabi in 2020, doubled the Emiratisation rate in the last decade, and is proud to continue to support our people in securing fuller and more sustainable careers across the growing trade, transport and logistics sector.

Our wise leadership, through its oversight of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, has created in the Nafis platform a new and innovative approach to career building for UAE nationals. This platform will greatly accelerate the speed at which we are able to both identify these individuals and provide them with opportunities to actively contribute to the UAEs economic growth.

The partnership goals

The collaboration between Nafis and AD Ports Group aims to enhance the close, effective and continuous cooperation between the two parties and achieving mutual benefit by spreading awareness and introducing their initiatives and programmes, and notably Nafis programmes and initiatives.

The partnership also supports initiatives and programmes that encourage UAE nationals and companies to take advantage of the benefits they provide, maintain communication between the two parties to achieve common interests that benefit the nation, exchange knowledge and institutional experiences at various levels, as well as to cooperate on the implementation of the objectives, legislation and programmes related to their operations.

The partnership also aims to encourage private sector establishments and companies that deal with AD Ports Group to register for Nafis initiatives and programmes, offer job and training opportunities on the Nafis platform and employ nationals. The collaboration will also include organising workshops to provide details on Nafis initiatives and programmes and guidance on how to register onto the platform, as well as announcing and promoting relevant programmes from the two parties through the AD Ports Groups various means of communication.-- TradeArabia News Service
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2022

Youth in the Lead at Schiller Institute Conference To Build the New Paradigm, Defeat Green Fascism

Oct. 15, 2022 (EIRNS)Based out of Manhattan, the Schiller Institute sponsored a day-long international policy conference today for both live audience and online, titled, Build the New Paradigm, Defeat Green Fascism. The powerful event was designed and conducted by next generation leaders, and involved 26 speakerssome live, some online, and some via pre-recorded videoof all ages from seven nations: U.S., Haiti, South Africa, France, Germany, Yemen and China. Many of online guests stayed on despite vast time differences during the open discussions. The two panels of speakers featured lively discussion sessions, with questions from the room, and around the world, including Peru and Uganda.

The audience directly attending numbered in the range of over 600 (with over 100 at the full house audience in Manhattan), plus there were hundreds more, counting the group meetings in many nations, at universities, other institutions, and informal settings connected livestream.

The videos of the full conference, including links to each panel and the listing of all speakers, is available on the Schiller Institute site.

The following account by topic reports on some of the speakers, and conveys an idea of the breadth of the discussion.

The sessions opened with music, beginning the morning with a solo Spiritual, Hes Got the Whole World in His Hands, and the afternoon session, with a 12-voice youth chorus, singing the canon Dona Nobis Pacem, and J.S. Bachs setting of the chorale, Jesu, meine Freude.

The moderator was Daniel Burke, a leading Schiller Institute educator, based in the New York-New Jersey region. Burke himself is known in New Jersey for his run in 2020 as an independent candidate for U.S. Senate (LaRouche Was Right Party) against incumbent Sen. Cory Booker, who is currently a national Democratic spokesman for wars in Ukraine, Syria, and elsewhere, and who backs sweeping legalization of narcotics at home.

We gather here today in the midst of extreme danger, Burke opened, and described the purpose of the event, to strengthen and grow an international movement with powerful youth leadership. Saying that, We see an era of the World Land-Bridge as now possible, Burke began the deliberations with an historic June 1997 video from statesman-economist Lyndon LaRouche keynoting a seminar to fight the evil being imposed on Africa, who stressed that, We must choose a new road for mankind. In particular, we are called upon to use the crisis to discredit the enemy of ours within.

Zepp-LaRouche: One Humanity First

There were two conference keynotes. Schiller Institute founder Helga Zepp-LaRouche addressed the first panel. Independent LaRouche candidate for U.S. Senate from New York Diane Sare opened Panel 2.

Zepp-LaRouche, who began with her view that the war can be won for a better future, then made reference to the dramatic example of what happened only three days earlier in New York, when two young men succeeded in ripping apart the sheeps clothing from the warhawks!

On Oct. 12 at a Town Hall in the Bronx, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), AOC, was confronted publicly by LaRouche movement organizers Kynan Thistlethwaite and Jose Vega, for her complicity in causing the danger of nuclear war, her total backing of U.S. arms to Ukraine, including funding known Nazi elements, and her hypocrisy in claiming to be a progressive. The pair contrasted her with former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who had the courage and leadership to quit the Democratic Party one day earlier, denouncing the Democratic Party warhawks. The AOC video has gone viral, with multimillions of views internationally, and coverage all over in print.

Vega and Thistlethwaite spoke on the second panel. Thistlethwaite quoted from poet and political activist Percy Shelley, and urged everyone to intervene to go see their Congressmen, and break the complacency of people in the West, and the United States. Vega likewise urged action, quoting from Shakespeare that, there is a tide in the affairs of men, that taken in the flood, leads on to fortune....

Zepp-LaRouche summed up the present situation as being an early phase of a world revolution. If we can pull the world back from the brink of nuclear war, the world youth movement is playing a major role in building a new system. And this conference is a major part of that. She stressed the importance of the upcoming Schiller Institute conference on Oct. 27, instigated by the Oct. 7 meeting of Ibero-American current and former legislators who seek to collaborate with leaders from all around the world, to sound the voice of reason and policy.

It is morally unacceptable that billions of people lack water, food, power and means of life, which amounts to conditions of colonialism in new clothes. It is time we create an international movement of world citizens to change this. We need a one humanity first movement.

Candidate Sare: Culture of the Good

Senate candidate Diane Sare, saying that she wanted to address arming ourselves spiritually, emotionally, and culturally for the fight were in, presented some history of the psychological subversion of Western society by Bertrand Russell, his fellow-criminal Theodor Adorno, and others. Sare provoked the audience to think through the difference between shallow thinking and soggy sentimentalism in contrast to cultural depth, by having everyone together sing two well-known songs of these two types. First, the words to Amazing Grace, and secondly, the Spiritual, Were You There? She concluded her talk with a video of Elvira Green, former Metropolitan Opera mezzosoprano, performing, Were You There? at a concert from a few years ago sponsored by the Schiller Institute New York City Chorus, which Sare co-founded and conducts to this day.

Young Chicago teacher Dana Anex gave a report on her beautiful work teaching classical music in grade school. She is teaching violin and other stringed instruments, and has an after-school strings program in a school in one of the poorer neighborhoods. Anex presented the principles of the curriculum she has developed and wants to spread elsewhere, and adopted into the general curriculum, in collaboration with other educators.

Economic Crises, Green Fascism

Several presentations and exchanges in the discussion periods addressed questions of physical economic crises, and the green fraud. Many spoke out forcefully for how the energy poverty in Africa and elsewhere must end. From South Africa, Princy Mthombeni, founder of Africa4Nculear, scored the disgusting hypocrisy of COP26, the Group of Seven, and other Western institutions trying to prevent modern power development in Africa by using the excuse of Clean Green and Global Gateway programs. Their policy is green fascism, she insisted.

Jackson Hinkle, a U.S. journalist, blasted the de-growth, depopulation, Malthusian operations going on today, which are targeted against specific groups. He detailed different sectors, from farmers who are experiencing death by debts, to others. Look at the impact of the international sanctions. Do we need to sanction Russia into oblivion?

Fox Green, of the U.S. Space Commune, reported on New Yorks Hudson Valley, which once was home to productive economic activitytextiles, brick-making, cementand now has degraded. We are seeing the de-growth economy reach the stage of controlled demolition.

Green and many speakers drew out the picture of devastation from green mandates. Sameera Khan, for example, who is a U.S. journalist, discussed how she personally was involved in activities to stop climate change, but then I grew up. She asserted that, there is no climate emergency, as scientists have informed the UN. But there are censorship operations being prepared, which go beyond stigmatizing those who say that, to charging anyone with that view, as guilty of hate speech.

Science and Relative Population Potential

Eminent physicist Dr. Will Happer, Cyrus Fogg Brackett professor Physics, Emeritus, Princeton University, spoke on a short video debunking the idea that carbon dioxide is a menace. He said CO2 is the stuff of life. He provided key facts of context, pointing out that by geological history, CO2 levels today are much lower than they ought to be. Look how greenhouses double or triple their CO2, to get much-improved plant life.

Megan Dobrodt, who is the President of the Schiller Institute USA, gave a presentation beginning with the point that, the world is very underpopulated. If we apply the science, technology and projects that express technological improvements, we have a vast potential for more people. How many? Lyndon LaRouche, in a Dec. 10, 1988 speech to the Schiller Institute Food for Peace conference in Chicago, spoke of 100 billion. The great scientist Vladimir Vernadsky in the 1930s spoke of 3 trillion people!

What we do with making scientific breakthroughs, and applying them, is to literally create our environment. We are not confined by happenstance resources. That is how to look at the challenge of travelling and establishing settlements in space.

This concept of development was implicit in the report given on Chinas infrastructure projects in Africa, by Shexiu Huang, a postgraduate at the Guangdong Institute for international Strategies, at the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. She presented maps of the new railroads in Ethiopia and Kenya, and other aspects of development, including education.

Jason Ross, the Executive Director of The LaRouche Organization, addressed head-on the approach required for what he called, A Thought-Through Plan for the Future. We are involved in expanding the human carrying capacity on Earth. He gave a history of improvements from the period of the Iron Age to the present, to provide perspective on how deliberate we must be. He also gave a history of what development programs have been presented by Lyndon and Helga LaRouche and associates over the past half-century, from Africa, to India, to Eurasia and the Americas. Ross denounced the way that the discovery process is not addressed at all in schools, but it is fundamental.

Ross urged everyone to be deliberate about what you are willing to take on, to make yourself a leader for the future. He will be working with people on a series of classes in science, music and other subjects to provide the leadership that the world demands of us today.

A Voice of Reason

There were many other presentations, from Haiti, Yemen, the U.S., and elsewhere, which cannot all be summarized here, but most importantly, they included several spokesmen from France and Germany on the severity of economic breakdown in Europe, and the imminent threat of nuclear war.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche summarized our situation at the end of the discussion in the first panel. We are in a very short countdown to World War III, but at the same time, at the beginning phase of a world revolution. We have to make a break, so that we have to think differently. Nations have to give up self-perceptions of having exclusive interests, in a world of zero-sum calculus. Instead, we have to make the jump to think as world citizens. If we do that, and speak out as a chorus of voices, saying we need a different order, we can succeed.

Zepp-LaRouche called on the youth movement to play a leading roleto be ambassadorsin creating an international movement of world citizens. It is urgent for citizens of all countries to unite to stop World War III and create a better world.
This years results on a U.S. college admissions test are the lowest they have been in 30 years. Experts say the results are the latest evidence of learning interference caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The American College Test, or ACT, is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. The ACT is administered by a nonprofit organization of the same name.

The class of 2022 average ACT score was 19.8 out of 36. It marks the first time since 1991 that the average score was below 20.

In addition, an increasing number of high school students failed to meet any of the subject-area benchmarks, or targets, set by the ACT. This shows a drop in preparedness for college-level studies.

The test results were made public in a report on Wednesday. The report shows that 42 percent of ACT-tested graduates in the class of 2022 met none of the subject benchmarks in English, reading, science, and math.

These benchmarks are considered predictions for how students might perform in college classes. In 2021, 38 percent of ACT test takers failed to meet any of the benchmarks.

Academic preparedness is where we are seeing the decline, said Rose Babington. She is senior director for state partnerships for the ACT.

ACT scores have been dropping steadily in recent years. However, the large drop during this past year is particularly alarming, said ACT chief executive officer Janet Godwin.

Godwin added, We see rapidly growing numbers of seniors leaving high school without meeting college-readiness benchmarks in any of the subjects we measure.

The results also offer a look into systemic unfairness in education that existed before the pandemic closed schools.

For example, students who are not offered high-level classes in high school suffered more during the pandemic, Babington said. Those students usually are from rural areas or come from poorer families and are often students of color.

The number of high school students taking the ACT has dropped 30 percent since 2018. That is because high school graduates are increasingly not going to college. Also, some universities no longer require standardized test scores for admission.

Standardized tests such as the ACT have faced growing concerns that they are unfair to minority and low-income students. Students who take costly test preparation classes or advanced classes in high school often perform better.

Babington defended the test as a measure of college readiness. Now more than ever, the last few years have shown us the importance of having high-quality data to help inform how we support students, Babington said.

Colleges and universities are increasingly ending long-standing requirements for standardized tests. The University of California system even has a test-blind policy. This means that test scores are not considered even if they are supplied.

But many students still take the tests. If their scores are high, they may have an advantage over other students.

Tyrone Jordan is a first-year student at Arizona State University, which does not require standardized test scores. He said he took the ACT and the SAT to get ahead of other students and to help him receive money in the form of scholarships.

Jordan said he wants to study mechanical engineering. He said he thinks the difficult classes at Tempe Preparatory Academy prepared him for college. His standardized test results helped support him and his family financially.

Jordan said, All the test did for me was give me extra financial money.

Im Dan Friedell.

Cheyanne Mumphrey reported this story for The Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.

Quiz - US ACT Test Scores Fall to Lowest in 30 Years Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

standardized  adj. to bring into conformity with a standard

benchmark  n. something that serves as a standard by which others may be measured or judged

decline  n. a change to a lower state or level : v. to tend toward an inferior state or weaker condition

alarming  adj. causing people to feel danger or to be worried or frightened

rapidly  adv. marked by a fast rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence

senior  n. a student in the year preceding graduation from a school of secondary or higher level

income  n. a gain or recurrent benefit usually measured in money that derives from capital or labor

advantage  n. superiority of position or condition

scholarship  n. a grant-in-aid to a student (as by a college or foundation)

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Suicide rates among active members of the U.S. military are on the rise. As a result, the U.S. Pentagon and the secretary of defense are examining ways to change their mental health programs.

Between 2015 and 2020, the number of suicides of active-duty service members increased more than 40 percent. In 2020 alone, the number increased by 15 percent.

The Cost of War Project is a research effort based at Brown University. Last year, it carried out a study on the number of current and former military members who have died in the past 20 years. The study found that the number who died by suicide is four times higher than the number who died while fighting. Its count dates back to the September 11 terrorist attacks.

In March, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced an examination of the militarys mental health and suicide prevention programs by an independent committee.

Austin said it was important that the military takes care of its members. Clearly, we have more work to do, he said.

In 2021, the Army issued new guidelines to its commanders about how to deal with the mental health of its service members. However, many long-term difficulties are still present. Many soldiers do not talk about mental health struggles because of the stigma surrounding it. For those who do speak up, many find out that the stigma is real.

There are charitable organizations for service members that offer additional support programs. Some organizations center their efforts on recreation and outside activities such as fishing competitions in Alaska. Others give support for self-care, including the YMCAs Armed Services programs. These programs offer free childcare so that members with children can find time to attend therapy.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth visited the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson earlier this year. The base is in the far-northern state of Alaska, where suicide rates are especially high.

During her visit, Wormuth heard from healthcare workers who said they do not have enough workers, are burned out and cannot see patients as often as they need. Soldiers there must wait weeks for an appointment.

One longtime therapist said to Wormuth, We have people who need our services and we can't get to them. We need staff and until we get them, we will continue to have soldiers die."

Service members say that when they speak up about needing help, it is difficult to receive the services they need.

Dionne Williamson is a 46-year-old Navy lieutenant commander. After she finished a tour in Afghanistan in 2012, she said she could not feel her feelings. She also experienced other symptoms like memory loss and tiredness, as well as depression.

"It's like I lost me somewhere," said Williamson, "I went to my captain and said, 'Sir, I need help. Something's wrong.'"

Williamson said that she fought for years to get time off and go to therapy.

"It's a wonder how I made it through," she said.

She went into the hospital for a month. She took part in a therapy program that includes horses and horseback riding. The program was a breakthrough for Williamson.

Working with and riding horses has proven to be helpful for people with physical and mental disabilities, especially children. In recent years, horse therapy has also been helping service members with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Williamson now rides horses often at the Cloverleaf Equine Center in Clifton, Virginia. There, riding is combined with other therapies.

Shelby Morrison is Cloverleafs communications director. She said, In order to be able to work with horses, you need to be able to regulate your emotions. They communicate through body language and energy.

Morrison added that service members come with "a lot of anxiety, depression, PTSD.  We use the horse to get them out of their triggers."

The riding sessions helped calm Williamson. She said she feels good for the first time in a long time. But, she said, she still struggles.

"Now even if I can't get out of bed, I make sure to come here," she said. "If I didn't come here, I don't know where I would even be."

Im Faith Pirlo.

Ashraf Khalil wrote this article for The Associated Press. Faith Pirlo adapted it for Learning English.

____________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

stigma  n. a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something

charitable  adj. done to help people who are poor, sick or in need

therapy  n. the treatment of a physical or mental illness

staff  n. workers for a particular organization or company

symptoms  n. a change in the body or mind that shows the presence of a disease

anxiety  n. fear and nervousness about what might happen

post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD)  n. a condition of extreme stress caused by a shocking or severe event in the past

regulate  v. to bring (something) under the control of authority

trigger  n. something that causes something else to happen

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The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has signed an agreement with Bahri, a leader in logistics and transportation, to help boost cooperation across its supply chain operations.

This agreement comes as part of SEC and Bahris ongoing strategic efforts to enhance the formers existing services and widen the scope of its logistics offerings in line with their mutual ambitions and interests, said senior officials at the signing which took place on the sidelines of the Supply Chain Conference in Riyadh.

On the strategic deal, Engineer Khalid Salem Al Ghamdi, the Executive Vice President of Technical Services at SEC, said: "It will enhance bilateral cooperation throughout their supply chain operations. It will also pave the way for greater supply chain sustainability and allow for the provision of innovative logistics services."

"The move will also further enable local content and enhance national industry capabilities while also setting the stage for promising investment opportunities and the exchange of knowledge and expertise," he stated.

Bahri Logistics President Engineer Soror Basalom said that the agreement reaffirmed Bahris commitment to supporting SEC in their efforts to better serve their growing customer base through their industry-leading logistics and warehouse management services.

"Bahri also looks forward to future joint collaborations that will help further their strategic investment and business development objectives," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Alliance International Management (AIM) has signed a partnership agreement with Gulf Bridge International (GBI) to provide digital infrastructure services in the Middle East. These services will be delivered using GBIs Smart Network, using both GBIs subsea and terrestrial fibre assets.

The partnership agreement was signed by AIM, on behalf of Alliance Networks  a new ecosystem of technology providers and investors who strive to strengthen connectivity in the Gulf by bridging low latency connectivity infrastructure with data centres and exchange platforms.

This joint venture will address low latency edge requirements and ensure seamless content delivery to the last mile through a robust footprint of network nodes spread across the region.

Low latency connectivity

Alliance Networks will leverage GBIs Smart Network to provide low latency connectivity to all GCC states, Asia and Europe. The GBI Smart Network will enable Alliance Networks to provide high bandwidth and capacity to carriers, cloud and content providers.

The agreement was recently signed by AIM Chief Executive Business Officer, Adel Al-Daylami and GBI Chief Executive Officer, Cengiz Oztelcan.

Alliance Networks brings a full end-to-end connectivity ecosystem under one roof. This empowers carriers, enterprises, cloud, and content providers with accelerated access to networking and datacentre infrastructure across the region, through a single platform, contract, and experience.

Greater redundancy

Oztelcan said: The GBI Smart Network is well equipped to support our joint venture with Alliance Networks. Our partnership will provide greater redundancy to the Gulf and a reliable alternative route for connectivity customers. We are excited to play a key role with Alliance Networks, providing innovative digital infrastructure services to the region, which possesses all the aspects required to become a global connectivity hub.

Al Daylami added: This strengthens Alliance Networks efforts to accelerate the regions development and enhancement of digital infrastructure capabilities, through interconnecting operators, content, cloud and internet service providers.

Alliance Networks aims to play a key role in the digital transformation journeys of businesses and nation states across the region by elevating digital standard through our services.-- TradeArabia News Service
The Dane County Medical Examiners Office has identified the man shot and killed by a Dane County sheriffs deputy Thursday night as Quantaze D. Campbell, 46, of Madison.

The medical examiner confirmed Campbell died from firearm related injuries.

The deputy shot Campbell while making contact with a vehicle at the Windsor Super 8 hotel, 4506 Lake Circle, at 6:10 p.m., the Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a statement.

DOJ, which is leading the investigation into Campbells shooting, has not released further details on the moments leading up to the incident, the name of the deputy or how many times Campbell was shot or where.

According to court records, Campbell had a warrant out for his arrest since Sept. 20 for missing a court date for charges of being party to a theft between $10,000 and $100,000.

Madison police said a vehicle stolen from a Super 8 hotel in the city was later found at the Super 8 in Windsor. Police didnt respond to a phone call Saturday asking if that vehicle was connected to Campbells shooting.
After the U.S. Marshals Service broke down Sarah Peelers door trying to arrest her son, one question about what she sees as an overly destructive raid stood out to her: Why did marshals obstruct her front door security camera as they prepared to enter the home?

With the proliferation of cheap home security cameras, law enforcement can be filmed like never before as they breach doors, search homes and make arrests. But two different raids in Dane County suggest law enforcement is starting to reposition and obstruct cameras, a practice some legal experts say undermines First Amendment protections for filming law enforcement.

Video of the raid at Peelers home in Marshall shows marshals approaching the door, one of them with a battering ram and some sort of adhesive in hand ready to obstruct the cameras view.

I still dont see what huge threat was posed by my son or my property, Peeler said, standing in the doorway that she only recently fixed for about $2,500.

Marcus Collins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Madison office, said marshals dont disclose operational tactics used during high-risk arrests.

Methods employed during this attempted arrest were done for officer safety reasons based on information that the subject may have been armed with a firearm, Collins said.

Peeler disputes that her son, Kameron Montgomery, has a history of firearms, which was listed as a reason for caution on his Department of Corrections warrant for driving a stolen car and violating his parole.

Montgomery has never been charged with a firearms-related offense either. The warning about guns came from Montgomerys parole supervisor, said DOC spokesperson John Beard.

A supervisor can include that designation on a warrant based on available information not necessarily related to past criminal charges, Beard said.

Lauren Bonds, legal director of the National Police Accountability Project, said obstructing cameras is consistent with how law enforcement often treat civilians who try to film them.

Law enforcement is obviously aware of the proliferation of these cameras, Bonds said.

Federal courts have repeatedly upheld the right for the public to film law enforcement. Beyond that, Wisconsin is a one-party consent state for recording, which makes it legal to record someone without their permission or knowledge, as long as the person doing the recording is part of the conversation, other legal experts noted.

Easier to lie?

Jeremiah Meyer-ODay, a criminal defense attorney at Madison law firm Martinez & Ruby, called the practice of disabling home security cameras illegitimate.

Why else would you cover up the cameras unless you want the ability to lie about what youre up to? Meyer-ODay said.

Meyer-ODay said hes worked on cases in other parts of Wisconsin where law enforcement disabled cameras. In those, hes used it to try to call into question police claims that are contradicted by another witness. But hes seen little success with that argument.

In Madison, home security cameras have captured alleged police misconduct. In 2019, cameras recorded Madison police officers delivering three blows to the head of Black teenager who was resisting their attempts to take him from his foster home to a mental health facility. At the time, a Madison police spokesperson said that the officers violations of policies governing documenting use-of-force incidents and operation of his squad cars video system did not result in any disciplinary action.

Last month, attorneys for the now-20-year-old man signed a $1.1 million agreement with the citys insurer to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit related to that arrest.

Other agencies

When the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration executed search and arrest warrants at a Sun Prairie residence last November, agents approached the front door with adhesive already in hand just like the federal marshals did at Peelers home, a video of that raid shows. Other footage shows law enforcement obstructing the view of three other cameras on the property.

The Sun Prairie raid stemmed from a DEA investigation of Daniel Gibbs, whom authorities arrested at the residence on federal drug distribution charges. The government alleges that Gibbs sold methamphetamine to a confidential source on three different occasions in August and September 2021.

In an interview, Gibbs theorized that law enforcement disabled and covered the cameras to prevent his arrest and the search of the home from being filmed.

The DEA declined comment on the raid due to Gibbs pending court case.

DEA takes all allegations of misconduct and wrongdoing very seriously, the agency said. When such allegations come forward, DEA thoroughly investigates those allegations, and if substantiated, holds those individuals accountable.

2020 unrest

Law enforcement raids sparked controversy amid the anti-police, racial justice demonstrations of 2020. When talking about the federal marshals search of her home, Peeler brings up Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky, during a raid in 2020.

Since the federal marshals had been warned about guns, Peeler is grateful she and her son werent home during the raid.

As for the disabling of cameras, Madison criminal defense attorney Jessa Nicholson Goetz called it a legal gray area and a practice thats problematic from a public perception or optics standpoint.

Such cameras are different from police body cameras, since their use and when they should be turned on and off is governed by internal police policies.

My perspective is, I view that as obstructive conduct because theyre concerned about the search and seizure being recorded, Nicholson Goetz said. Im unclear as to why that would be.
She shapes the question in a voice of rainy-day melancholy, frames it with piano meditation.

All weve been given by those who came before

The dream of a nation where freedom would endure

The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day

What shall be our legacy? What will our children say?

Thus begins American Anthem, Norah Jones theme to The War, Ken Burns magisterial 2007 history of the conflagration that nearly burned down the world in the 1940s. But if the song spoke to the crisis of that generation, its central question also feels relevant to our crisis, 80 years later.

What shall be our legacy? What will our children say?

Of many of us, they will say nothing good.

Thats assuming any memory of America survives to give them a basis for comparison. History is written by the winners, after all, so there is always the chance, if intolerance wins, if ignorance wins, if election denial wins and they shape the future in their image, our children will inherit an America transactional, small-minded and mean and never know that once upon a time, America stood  or at least, sometimes tried to stand  for something loftier. That once upon a time, America was brave.

If the hearings of the Jan. 6 committee, which ended Friday, have demonstrated nothing else, theyve demonstrated how rare that virtue has become. Instead, we find ourselves largely a nation defined by fears.

Because he lacked the guts to accept his election defeat, Donald Trump assembled an armed mob to attack the Capitol.

Because they were terrified the nation is changing without their approval, that mob did his bidding.

Because they were scared of Trump, most of his party swallowed their tongues rather than protest.

Because they have not the basic moral courage one usually learns on the playground  lose with dignity and fight again another day  they are trashing democracy itself. To wit: The majority of Republican candidates for this years midterms reject or doubt the result of the 2020 election, according to The Washington Post. And just 42 percent of us have confidence in the fairness of U.S. elections, according to a July poll from CNN.

America is a nation of sore losers ascendant.

Such pusillanimity throws into sharp relief the acts of courage these hearings have shown us. Such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, captured on video coolly directing efforts to save the Capitol and continue government function even as she fled a mob howling for her blood. And Republican Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger giving up their political careers rather than accede to their partys pact of lies.

Our duty today is to our country and our children and our Constitution, said Cheney. She said this by way of introducing a resolution to subpoena Trump to testify. The committee approved it on a dramatic and unanimous role-call vote.

Trump will likely refuse to appear, though one hopes against hope he does. This moment cries out for accountability. That losers weakness has brought America to a crisis as critical in its way to our continued viability as the one another generation faced eight decades ago. They had to find the courage to send their sons across the seas, to scrimp and save and bear unimaginable loss. We are asked only to find the courage to accept the truth.

What shall be our legacy? What will our children say?

Once upon a time, America was brave. Lets hope, for their sake, it still is.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson has given Wisconsin voters plenty of reasons to fire him in the Nov. 8 election.

The Oshkosh Republican broke his promise not to seek a third term. For years he sponsored a constitutional amendment to limit U.S. senators to no more than 12 years in office. But now that his own rule would apply to him, he has selfishly abandoned the idea.

With our nation facing its worst pandemic in a century, Johnson questioned the science and promoted conspiracy theories, which risked peoples lives.

Johnson has rejected widely popular and bipartisan legislation, such as the most significant gun safety law in 30 years following the massacre of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Even Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was on board.

Johnson loves to oppose and complain. But he rarely gets much done for our state and nation.

Johnson was elected in the tea party wave of 2010 as a budget hawk and business leader who would encourage a strong economy and free enterprise. But when former President Donald Trump spent freely and ran up debt, Johnson mostly caved.

Worst of all, Johnson helped fuel the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol by backing Trumps baseless claims about election fraud that continue to undermine American democracy and civility today. Johnson and his staff even tried to deliver a slate of fake electors to then-Vice President Mike Pence to undermine the will of Wisconsin voters. To his credit, Pence took an honorable and patriotic path instead, rejecting Trump and Johnsons underhanded moves.

The Wisconsin State Journal editorial board called for Johnson to resign two days after the Jan. 6 insurrection, and we still wish he would have taken our advice.

But this editorial is about more than just how lousy Johnson is at representing Wisconsin, or how dangerous he has become at inflaming division and weakening American democracy.

This editorial is an endorsement of Mandela Barnes, the young and capable Democratic lieutenant governor and former state representative who is challenging the stale and negative incumbent. Barnes is the much better choice for Wisconsin voters who want a senator more in touch with ordinary peoples lives, and more willing to seek greater opportunity for all of his constituents.

A Milwaukee native who grew up in a working-class family, Barnes would become the first Black U.S. senator from Wisconsin if elected. He told our editorial board last week that the first thing he wants to pass if Democrats expand their majority in the U.S. Senate is nonpartisan redistricting. Voters across the state have approved advisory referendums demanding fair maps so voting districts cant be surgically drawn to protect entrenched politicians from competition and accountability.

Unlike Johnson, Barnes supports federal legislation to restore reproductive freedom in Wisconsin. Barnes would back legislation allowing women access to safe and legal abortions just as Roe v. Wade had done for a half century. Johnson favored strict limits on abortions in the past. He only tried to soften his position recently to save his reelection bid. He claims he wants to let the public vote on the controversial issue, yet he didnt get behind the Democratic governors attempt to do just that.

Unlike Johnson, Barnes will bring an open mind and much-needed optimism to the Senate. That will be a refreshing change from Johnsons cantankerous and stubborn mistrust of institutional knowledge and norms.

Unlike Johnson, Barnes backs popular proposals for a higher minimum wage, legal marijuana for adults, limits on the size of ammunition magazines and incentives for clean energy. Showing how backward and uninspired he can be, Johnson calls climate change B.S. and unsolvable.

Barnes is far more in tune with Wisconsins values, such as ensuring children get off to strong starts in life. Johnson suggests other peoples children arent his concern.

As lieutenant governor, Barnes has traveled to all 72 counties in Wisconsin to meet and listen to people. Johnson has mostly relied on television ads to rile his supporters with exaggerated claims. He didnt respond to the State Journals repeated requests for a meeting to discuss his campaign.

Barnes has been understandably critical of police shootings of unarmed Black men, and expressed some sympathy for calls to defund police in the past. But he has disavowed the defund movement and understands  much like U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, now does  that representing the entire state requires a broader view than being the representative for a progressive city.

Some of the worst political attack ads this fall have tried to stoke fear and racism over the national trend of increasing violent crime during the pandemic in major cities, including Milwaukee. The ads claim Barnes would coddle criminals and stands with them, not us. Thats absurd. His proposal to eliminate cash bail, which he doesnt describe well, is nonetheless an idea that Republican Chris Christie implemented as governor of New Jersey.

And while Johnson scoffs at Barnes suggestion that Wisconsins prison population could someday be cut in half, neighboring Minnesota already has roughly half as many people in its prisons with a similar crime rate as Wisconsin. Moreover, local and state governments have the most control over law enforcement budgets and programs to divert and rehabilitate offenders, not the federal government.
SALMON  Officials with an Australian companys newly opened cobalt mine in east-central Idaho say it could soon produce enough of the key ingredient in lithium batteries to build 400,000 electric vehicles annually.

Officials with Jervois Global Limited held an opening ceremony last week at the remote, underground mine located in the Salmon River Mountains on federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Officials said the mine will likely start operating at full capacity early in 2023, producing about 2,000 tons of cobalt.

On its website, the company said it wants to become the leading global supplier of responsibly sourced cobalt and nickel materials to serve both the battery and chemicals markets, and to provide a secure, reliable supply to customers in the face of geopolitical and other risks.

President Joe Biden in March directed the Defense Department to consider at least five metals  lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel and manganese  as essential to national security and authorized steps to bolster domestic supplies. U.S. officials want to reduce reliance on China and other countries for metals needed for electric vehicles and clean-energy storage systems.

Gov. Brad Little said he toured the cobalt mine as part of the opening.

Idaho has the capability of meeting our countrys mineral demands through responsible, modern-day practices, Little said in a statement. This project will further boost the economy and support a strategic national supply of critical minerals.

The company said the mine is located along the Idaho Cobalt Belt that formed millions of years ago, possibly during a volcanic event on a sea floor. The company said the belt is at least 40 miles long and up to 6 miles wide.

Several other companies have projects in the area, but Jervois said it is the only one that is mining.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, multiple companies have previously mined cobalt and copper in the region using tunnels and open-pit surface mining.

The most significant of these was the Blackbird Mine, which operated from the early 1900s until about 1960 and is now a Superfund Site due to heavy metals being released into nearby creeks.

The Idaho Conservation League, an environmental group in Boise, in 2021 signed a partnership with Jervois that the league said will have the company contributing $150,000 a year through the operational life of the mine to restore and protect critical habitat for fish and wildlife.

In May, Jervois and the environmental group awarded the first $150,000, with $75,000 going to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to remove two culverts blocking fish access to a Salmon River tributary.

The river contains federally protected salmon, steelhead and bull trout.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha has revealed the marques new expression of the Phantom Series II with a new bespoke masterpiece, Phantom Platino.

Phantom occupies an unrivalled position at the very apex of the luxury world. As our pinnacle product, it represents the very best of Rolls-Royce design, engineering and craftsmanship  a perfect blend of vision, creativity, the finest materials, skill, patience and precision. With Phantom Series II, we have retained and carefully protected everything our clients love about this superlative and luxurious item; subtle, yet meaningful enhancements reflect their evolving tastes and requirements.

Phantom has always been viewed as the 'best car in the world': our Bespoke capabilities mean that, for our clients, it can be the best car for their world, too, said Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Expansive lifetime

Rolls-Royce products enjoy an expansive lifetime, ultimately becoming timeless expressions of good taste, beauty and luxurious perfection. Phantom occupies a unique, pinnacle position in this regard, being revered for its timeless elegance.

The eighth-generation of Phantom was presented in 2017. In creating the new expression, Rolls-Royce designers and engineers have been guided by the requests of clients, who have implored Rolls-Royce not to make any major changes to an already iconic motor car. In answer to these client demands, only the lightest of design touches, embellishments, and adaptations have been incorporated. Indeed, it is not about what should be changed, but in fact, what should be preserved and protected.

A new expression

The most obvious and important feature to be retained is Phantoms commanding presence. This has been further enhanced by a new polished horizontal line between the daytime running lights above the Pantheon Grille. This gives Phantom a new and assertive modernity, reflecting its driver-focused character.

A subtle geometric change to the Pantheon Grille makes the RR Badge of Honour and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot more prominent when viewed from the front. The grille itself is now illuminated, a feature debuted and popularised in Ghost. The headlights are graced with intricate laser-cut bezel starlights, creating a visual connection with the Starlight Headliner inside, and adding further surprise and delight to Phantom's night-time presence.

Phantoms side profile retains Rolls-Royces signature short front and long rear overhang, long wheelbase and broad c-pillar, the latter giving greater privacy for occupants. The silhouette preserves the elegant key lines running from the Spirit of Ecstasy to the tapering rear tail. The split-belt line begins at the front fender and curves gently towards the rear door, emphasising the car's long dash-to-axle proportions, before falling gently towards the lantern-like rear lamps. The heavily undercut 'waft line' creates a strong shadow, visually signalling the marque's unequalled Magic Carpet Ride.

Suite of new wheels

The side profile is further enhanced with a suite of new wheels. A 3D, milled, stainless steel wheel with triangular facets is available to commission in a fully or part-polished finish. Alternatively, Phantom may be graced with a truly elegant disc wheel, recalling the romance of 1920s Rolls-Royce motor cars. This disc wheel is produced in both polished stainless steel and black lacquer, perfectly encapsulating the sense of flight on land.

Responding to Phantom clients who have previously requested a darkened chrome grille surround, black bonnet reins, windscreen surround and side frame finishers, these may now be commissioned. This aesthetic now enables Rolls-Royce to transform Phantom into the lightest of light or the darkest of dark appearances.

Phantoms sumptuous interior remains almost unaltered: the steering wheel has been made slightly thicker, providing a more connected and immediate point of contact for the owner-driver.

Phantom and Phantom Extended have distinct characters of their own, representing two different seats of power. Phantom is now predominantly favoured by the ever-increasing number of clients wishing to be in the driving seat themselves. For those preferring to command the road from the rear seat, Phantom Extended offers the definitive super-luxurious chauffeur-driven experience.

Rolls-Royce connected

Now, Phantom includes the debut of Rolls-Royce Connected. This enables the owner to send an address directly to the motor car from Whispers, the Rolls-Royce private-members Application, providing seamless navigation to an event, restaurant, dealership or even the Home of Rolls-Royce itself.

Rolls-Royce Connected also displays the motor cars location, security status and current 'health' condition on Whispers; at the touch of a button, the owner can contact a preferred dealership for any servicing requirements or information about the car.

The poles of luxury

As the marque's pinnacle product, Phantom attracts an elite stratum of Rolls-Royce clients. Established and successful, at the top of their field and often in the public eye, these are determined and demanding people. It is no coincidence that Phantom attracts the most ambitious and challenging Bespoke commissions ever undertaken by Rolls-Royce.

The resulting creations  each an artistic masterpiece in its own right  illustrate a broader truth: since its inception, Phantom has always been whatever the client wants it to be; not only the best car in the world, but the best car for them and their world.

Self-evidently, there is no such thing as a typical Phantom client. Spanning the poles of luxury, they may be ever-younger or older, modern or traditional, self-made or from long-established wealth. Their commissions reflect a full spectrum of interests and influences. At one extreme, Phantom takes on a subversive, almost rebellious character  youthful, dynamic and daring. At the other, Phantom transforms into an ode to luxury grandeur and timelessness.

The challenge of the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective is to accommodate this vast expanse of client characteristics and desires in one pinnacle product. The eighth-generation Phantom has thus been deliberately designed to offer a blank canvas for Bespoke personalisation, capable of becoming whatever the client wishes it to be, and a true reflection of their individual style and character.

Phantom's great strength and appeal is that it allows clients to position themselves anywhere between these 'poles of luxury', defining luxury on their own terms. And wherever that point happens to lie, they have the assurance that Phantom itself is  technically, materially, aesthetically and dynamically  still the 'best car in the world'.

Phantom Platino: The return of fine textiles

To mark the introduction of Phantom Series II and to illustrate Rolls-Royce's Bespoke capability, the marque has created a new Bespoke masterpiece, Phantom Platino, named after the silver-white finish of the coveted and precious metal, platinum.

Phantom Platino continues Rolls-Royces exploration into fabric interiors, a story which began in 2015 with the launch of Serenity, a truly Bespoke Phantom with a hand-painted, hand-embroidered silk interior. Heralding the next step in this significant journey, Phantom Platino introduces materials other than leather, an area of exploration for Rolls-Royce and a move that demonstrates a greater acceptance of alternative interior upholsteries.

Echoing the marques formative days, the front seats of Phantom Platino are finished in fine Rolls-Royce leather, while those in the rear are upholstered in fabric.

Tone-on-tone

The beautiful tone-on-tone of Platino's interior is achieved by combining two differing fabrics; one created in an Italian mill for its durable yet luxurious appearance, the other derived from bamboo fibres, selected for its lustrous finish.

Both materials share an original repeating pattern based on an abstract interpretation of the Spirit of Ecstasy. In the silken textile, the design is smaller and woven into the fabric to create a more visually stimulating finish. It also appears in Phantoms Gallery, right in the occupant's line of sight, and on key touchpoints such as the armrest and centre console. The bamboo fabric is embroidered with larger icons, presenting a tufted appearance commonly found in interior design. This more resilient material is placed on the lower elements of the interior where they will need to withstand most contact.

The same design also appears on Phantoms dashboard timepiece. The surround is made from a 3D printed ceramic, a truly contemporary execution of a traditional material. Set into an iced finish woodset, the tonal properties of the interior take Phantom to a beautiful and unsurpassed level of opulence.

Starlight Headliner

The largest canvas in Phantom is the Starlight Headliner. In a unique design created especially for Rolls-Royce Platino, the stars are placed to draw the eye rearwards, with whimsical shooting stars following the sweeping arc of the pattern.

Muller-Otvos says: We are acutely conscious of our clients' esteem for and love of their Phantoms. They felt it could not be improved; but while naturally respecting that view, we believe it is always possible, indeed necessary, to gently go further in our pursuit of absolute perfection.

The subtle changes we have made for the new Phantom Series II have all been minutely considered and meticulously executed. As Sir Henry Royce himself said: Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thing.-- TradeArabia News Service
BOISE  The grocery company Joe Albertson founded 83 years ago with a single supermarket in Boise may soon change hands again, this time via a merger with a bigger competitor.

Albertsons Companies Inc. and Kroger announced Friday that they have signed a pact to merge in a $24.6 billion deal, with Kroger buying all of Albertsons outstanding stock.

The news came one day after unidentified sources disclosed to Bloomberg the possible combining of the countrys two biggest traditional grocery companies into a single giant.

If federal regulators approve, the deal may mean some job losses in accounting and other support or service jobs to avoid duplication, a national retail analyst told the Idaho Statesman. That could affect Albertsons corporate offices in Boise.

But it likely would preserve store workers jobs, leave stores names unchanged, lead to additional offerings of refrigerated and frozen foods, and give the combined company greater buying power, allowing stores to sell store brands and other goods for less than they would without the merger, said Burt P. Flickinger III, managing director of the Strategic Resource Group in New York City.

Even the combined company wont command as much of the nations grocery market as Walmart does, Flickinger said by phone.

Because the merger will help the combined company compete, it is the best possible outcome for Albertsons as well as Kroger and the consumers and workers and vendors in the communities where they operate, said Flickinger, who said he has performed strategic and analytical work for both companies in the past but is not involved in the merger.

Unions representing some workers at both companies disagreed that the merger would help them or shoppers.

The proposed merger of these two grocery giants is devastating for workers and consumers alike and must be stopped, said Faye Guenther, president of the United Food and Commercial Worker Local 3000, which represents workers in parts of Washington, Oregon and North Idaho, in a statement on behalf of six of her unions locals and a Teamsters local.

Both companies have heavily unionized workforces, although not in Idaho. Under Krogers purchase plan, the combined company would have stores in 48 states, excluding only Minnesota and Iowa, though some stores would be spun off from Albertsons to offset antitrust concerns.

Albertsons is Idahos largest company and a Boise icon, with $72 billion in yearly sales, 290,000 employees nationwide and more than 5,000 employees in Idaho.

It has 2,273 retail food and drug stores under 24 banners in 34 states, including 39 under the Albertsons banner in its native state.

Fred Meyer employs more than 2,000 Idahoans, including those at a Twin Falls store. Kroger, based in Cincinnati, employs 420,000 people nationwide. That competition is a problem for the companies, as their merger must pass an antitrust review by regulators.

Anticipating that, the companies said they would spin off between 100 and 375 stores into a new company to head off Federal Trade Commission concerns about excessive market concentration. Most are likely to be Albertsons Companies stores, Flickinger said.

Kroger and Albertsons did not immediately say what or where those stores would be, and Albertsons spokepersons did not immediately return calls and emails Friday seeking details.

The companies have significant overlap in California, Oregon, Washington state, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, Alaska and the Washington, D.C., area.

With Kroger in charge, Boise stands to lose one of its two most prominent headquarters for large, publicly traded corporations with national or international reach.

The other is Micron Technology Inc., which employs about 40,000 people worldwide, including 6,000 in the Boise area.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfares Division of Public Health has issued a health advisory for Henrys Lake in eastern Idaho after cyanobacteria was discovered in samples.

According to a press release from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, officials confirmed the presence of three species of cyanobacteria, which can produce toxins that can be harmful to people, pets and livestock.

Cyanobacteria occur naturally in Idahos waters, but when temperatures rise they can bloom and release toxic chemicals into the water. The blooms can vary in appearance but may look like foam, spilled paint or surface scum.

Located 15 miles west of Yellowstone National Park in Fremont County, Henrys Lake is a popular high mountain lake that attracts anglers fishing for cutthroat trout, hybrids and brook trout.

Public health officials urged people to avoid swimming, wading and other activities in the water at Henrys Lake and take extra precautions to ensure children and pets and livestock are not exposed to the water.

Public health officials also urged the public not to drink or cook using water from the lake, adding that boiling or filtering the water wont remove the toxins and could increase the risks.

If people or animals are exposed to the water, skin and pet fur should be cleaned and washed immediately in clean water.

Symptoms of exposure to cyanobacteria can include diarrhea, vomiting, hives or rashes. People with liver or kidney damage are at an increased risk, public health officials said. If symptoms are severe or persist, people should call a doctor or healthcare provider.

Pets may become seriously sick or die within minutes of exposure to toxic cyanotoxins, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials said. Officials urged the public to contact a veterinarian immediately if pets or livestock appear sick after going in or drinking the water.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials said they would issue a follow up announcement when the public health advisory is lifted.
Boise police arrested a 31-year-old man who allegedly threatened and yelled a homophobic slur at two women and intentionally drove his car at them, according to a Boise Police Department news release. Authorities said they had been searching for him since Saturday.

Matthew Lehigh has been charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault.

Officers on Wednesday afternoon responded to a report of a hit and run on the 1000 block of North Americana Boulevard around 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the news release. The two women were standing next to their vehicle when the suspect allegedly drove his car at them. he women dodged his vehicle, causing him to hit their vehicle and immediately flee the scene, police said.

Two hours after the incident, detectives from the Violent Crime Unit located the vehicle and suspect in a parking lot near the 8200 block of West Fairview Avenue. Police said they then identified the suspect as Lehigh.

According to the press release, detectives have been searching for Lehigh after receiving reports of a similar incident that took place in a downtown Boise business near the 700 block of South Capitol Boulevard.

Lehigh allegedly hit a victims arm and used the same homophobic slur at a business on Saturday. The businesss security staff member then followed Lehigh into the parking lot, who then intentionally drove his vehicle toward the worker.

The security member jumped out of the way, police said, and the suspect fled the scene.

Boise police arrested Lehigh and booked him into the Ada County Jail on Wednesday.

Detectives are continuing to investigate as evidence shows Lehigh may be involved in other recent crimes targeting the LGBTQ+ community, police said in the release.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790 or contact the Boise Police Department LGBTQ Liaison Officer, Dan Lister, at dlister@cityofboise.org. To make an anonymous tip, call Crimestoppers at 208-343-COPS.
We have to hold every drug user accountable, Sen. Joe Biden declared in 1989, because if there were no drug users, there would be no appetite for drugs, and there would be no market for them. The mass pardon for low-level marijuana offenders that the president announced last week suggests how far he has traveled since his years as a gung-ho drug warrior, even as it demonstrates that he remains out of step with the times.

Bidens decision applies to anyone convicted of simple marijuana possession under the Controlled Substances Act or the District of Columbia Code. He said the pardons will help thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple possession and who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result.

As an act of clemency, the blanket pardon is massive. But in the context of a prohibition that has generated nearly 29 million arrests since 1965, it looks less impressive. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, notes that more than 14 million cannabis-related records at the state and local level continue to preclude Americans from stable housing and gainful employment.

Because simple marijuana possession is rarely prosecuted at the federal level, the vast majority of such cases are beyond the presidents clemency powers. But Bidens mercy notably did not extend to people convicted of manufacturing or distributing marijuana under federal law, who still languish in prison or carry the lifelong burden of felony records.

The injustice of that situation is especially striking now that most states treat those federal felonies as legitimate business activities. Depending on the jurisdiction, the same conduct that can send someone to federal prison for years, decades or even life can make someone else a rich and respected entrepreneur.

By himself, Biden does not have the authority to resolve the untenable conflict between state and federal marijuana laws. But despite his avowed transformation from an anti-drug zealot into a criminal justice reformer, he has stubbornly opposed efforts to repeal the federal ban on marijuana.

That position is contrary to the preferences expressed by more than two-thirds of Americans, including four-fifths of Democrats and half of Republicans. The most Biden is willing to offer them is his rhetorical support for decriminalizing cannabis consumption  a policy that was on the cutting edge of marijuana reform in the 1970s.

Fifty years ago, when less than 20% of Americans thought pot should be legal, the Nixon-appointed Shafer Commission recommended that possession of marijuana for personal use no longer be an offense. President Jimmy Carter endorsed decriminalization in 1977, when he told Congress that penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself.

Half a century later, Biden has finally come around to that position. Sending people to jail for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives  for conduct that is legal in many states, he said on Twitter last week.

The same thing is true of sending people to jail for growing or selling marijuana, of course, although that is a point Biden refuses to acknowledge. The moral logic of his distinction between simple possession and other marijuana offenses is hard to follow.

Back in 1989, when Biden was keen to show that Democrats could be even tougher on drugs than Republicans, he correctly identified the source of the problem he was fighting: Americans who defied the law by choosing to consume intoxicants that Congress had arbitrarily proscribed. Without those individual decisions, he noted, there would be no black market to suppress.

Now Biden says marijuana use should not be treated as a crime. But if so, how can helping people use marijuana justify arresting, prosecuting and imprisoning anyone?

There is no satisfying answer to that question.
On his inauguration day in December 2018, Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO is his acronym) invoked a word that still transfixes Mexicans who seek honest government. The word: impunity.

In his inaugural address, AMLO swore that under his administration, corruption and impunity will end.

Why was that significant? Because if he pulled it off, AMLO would transform Mexico into a modern democracy. Like, something a talking head would call Canada South.

Now for the obvious bad news: AMLO has failed.

Critical background: For angry and disenchanted Mexican citizens, impunity means embedded injustice within their nations governing institutions and society. When shouted by protesters, it expresses deep disgust with political and economic leaders who cannot  or worse, will not  combat it.

Why dont they?

Im throwing a curve here. Why would the FBI and major American media try to hide the obvious corruption revealed by Hunter Bidens laptop?

We will come back to that in a moment.

Sept. 26 was the eighth anniversary of the Iguala Massacre (sometimes called the Ayotzinapa Teachers College massacre). The Iguala Massacre is a vicious crime become political cause that exemplifies the evil of impunity.

In a column published after AMLOs inauguration I wrote, Impunity directly connects to the Iguala mass kidnappings of Sept. 2014, when 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers College in Guerrero state were murdered. International investigators concluded the (government of then-president Enrique Pena Nietos) investigation was seriously flawed.

AMLO promised to establish a truth commission to answer the questions (related to the massacre) that the Pena administration failed to answer. Two days after his inauguration, he posed for a photo with the parents of the missing students.

With that photo, AMLO put his legacy on the line.

In the last 30 days AMLOs grand commitment to justice has floundered and succumbed to Mexicos corrupt deep state of billionaire oligarchs, corrupt politicians, corrupt cops and corrupt courts.

Bottom line truth: the students were murdered. Several were tortured before they were slain. Some of their remains were hacked with machetes and burned; about 10 bodies were dissolved in acid. Who did it? A drug gang named Guerreros Unidos was involved. Allegedly, the gang had ties to Igualas mayor.

Also involved: members of the Mexican military.

On Sept. 14 it appeared AMLO might keep his word and attack Deep State corruption. That day authorities arrested Gen. (retired) Jose Rodriguez Perez and two former soldiers for participating in the murder of 43 students at Ayotzinapa Teachers College near the town of Iguala (Guerrero state) on Sept. 26, 2014.

In 2014 Rodriguez commanded the Mexican Army battalion stationed in Iguala. In 2020 Rodriguez and the two other soldiers were convicted of being involved in organized crime.

But after Sept. 14 the Mexican national Attorney Generals Office canceled arrest orders for 21 Iguala massacre suspects. Sixteen Mexican Army soldiers were among the 21.

The special prosecutor charged with investigating Iguala resigned in disgust.

After the special prosecutor resigned, someone leaked to the press a study by AMLOs Truth Commission that indicated the special prosecutor lacked police assistance in his investigation.

The leaks indicated the Mexican military ordered the executions and then turned the students over to the drug gang.

Hideous? Yes. Murky? Of course, intentionally so. Fact worthy of a psycho-thriller: The head of Mexicos now-defunct Criminal Investigation Agency during the Pena administration is hiding in Israel. Israel and Mexico do not have extradition agreements.

Youre horrified? Good. I am too

Unfortunately, the U.S. is poorly positioned to criticize Mexico. Think about America since early 2016. Consider the FISA court corruption to target Carter Page, an innocent man accused of being a traitor. Or the FBI using totally fake accusations cooked up by the Hillary Clinton campaign to target Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. Add FBI corruption to suppress public knowledge of Hunter Bidens laptop and its hard evidence of influence peddling and tax evasion.

At least Mexican media demands prosecution and punishment for the Iguala massacre. Russian collusion? Major U.S. media proved to be as crooked as the FBI and Hillary Clintons paid operatives.
A not small percentage of homeless adults first experienced homelessness as children. The figure is 20% for homeless adults in Los Angeles, 18% for Seattle and Santa Cruz and 15% in San Francisco, according to the Department of Education.

They grew up sleeping on other families couches or spare beds. When hosts good will ran out, they stayed in motels, shelters, transitional housing  even for some, sadly, the streets.

Figure most werent raised learning the skills necessary for a functional adult life  showing up when youre supposed to, proper hygiene, simple manners, eating right.

There were more than 1.5 million such children in the school year that ended in 2018. I learned the above statistics reading How Congress Can Reform Governments Misguided Homelessness Policies, produced by a Discovery Institute team headed by senior fellow Robert Marbut, former President Donald Trumps homeless czar. (I also am a fellow at the Discovery Institute.)

The paper exposes the futility of current federal Housing First policies, now embraced by President Joe Bidens administration. Housing First boosters see homelessness as a housing issue, and not a function of untreated mental illness frequently made worse because of substance abuse. So under the Housing First mantle, the government funds unconditional housing, with no requirement that recipients participate in mental illness, drug treatment or jobs programs.

California enacted a law in 2016 that mandated all state housing funds be spent on Housing First programs. As Marbut noted during a talk with journalists Wednesday, if Housing First worked, California would be a national success story on homelessness. Anyone who has traveled to Los Angeles or San Francisco knows that encampments are proliferating, not disappearing.

Housing First advocates speak of ending homelessness in this lifetime. For example, the Obama administrations Opening Doors homeless plan  housing units first, services optional  presented the goal of ending homelessness among veterans in 2015, ending chronic homelessness in 2017 and ending homelessness for families, youth and children in 2020.

They never reach their goals  to the contrary, homeless numbers go up instead of down  yet that does not prompt them to question their failed strategies.

Instead, they write papers that sell the same snake oil, but on a different timetable.

This is not compassion; its giving up on street people who need direction, as well as breeding crime and promoting squalor. While I led this column with a discussion of children who grow up experiencing homelessness, many adults who have lived in the street also need help becoming self-sufficient.

Real reform, the paper notes, would start with ending Housing First, switching to House PLUS that includes supportive services, and prioritizing self-sufficiency.

Marbut offered that Pell Grants, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and unemployment insurance benefits require that recipients attend class with passing grades, participate in the work force or a jobs program.

Uncle Sam shouldnt say: Heres a bed or a room, now do whatever you want. Because thats not really working for them.
Last Tuesday an American radio and internet host discovered that free speech comes with a price. For most of us, the price of free speech is just a little restraint and courtesy. For Alex Jones, the price is $965,000,000.00.

Alex Jones is the host of InfoWars, an ongoing collection of conspiracy theories and rantings thrown like daily dog droppings against the walls of social civility. Mr. Jones has championed such far-right fever dreams as the Washington DC pizza parlor which, he claimed, guarded the entrance to the underground dungeons where Democrats regularly gather to sexually abuse and kill children. That claim led a North Carolina man to drive to Washington and shoot up the restaurant before opening the alleged dungeon door only to find a mop inside.

But Alex Jones greatest claim to fame will surely be his half-decade of unwavering insistence that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newton, Connecticut, which left 20 children and six educator dead, was a hoax. According to Jones, the shooting was a staged event with fake blood and crisis actors so that evil Democrats could storm your house and take away your guns. The community grief, the funerals, the gravestonesall of it was as phony as a three-dollar bill, claimed Jones, daily, for months.

As a result, grieving families were targeted by Jones and his followers for abuse. Many families were told they themselves would now be killed by Joness right-thinking, truth-loving vigilantes, all goaded on by his daily Fantasy-Land rantings. Several families, seeking only the time and space to grieve for their dead children, were compelled to relocate for their own safety, but were inevitably tracked down again for more abuse.

But then the lawsuits began, as the living victims (of both the shootings and Alex Jones) began to fight back. Over time, their momentum has gathered steam. And now it is Jones, and not the parents of dead children, centered in the public crosshairs.

It turns out that, even in America, there are limits to how much scorn and blame you can dump on the innocent before the truth finally circles back to lock its teeth into your sorry rear end.

This hasnt been a good year for Mr. Jones. Last August, a Texas jury awarded $49.3 million of Jones money to families of the Sandy Hook victims. Through that trial and the one that ended this week, Jones offered only one blustery defense: at the time, without any credible evidence to support his outrageous claims, he simply thought he was right. So he went on, year after year, telling his followers he alone was giving them the secret truth that they dont want you to know. And he did it with the reckless and self-delusional notion that he possessed some thoroughly American right to tell his listeners any unproved nonsense he desired, and then, when everything fell apart, claim as his defense that since he thought what he said was true, he would be immune to his victims lawsuits, thanks to that First Amendment free speech thing.

I call it the stupidity defense. It says that I can ruin your life, but since I was just too stupid to know any better, you cant do anything about it.

Personally, I doubt this is what the founders had in mind when they added freedom of speech to the Bill of Rights.

Nevertheless, these days Jones is working overtime to brand himself as the victiman act of stunningly brazen disregard for the misery of the families who are the actual victims of Sandy Hook. Immediately following this weeks verdict, he took to his airwaves, begging viewers to send him money, and to buy even more of the vitamin pills and whatnot he regularly pimps on his website.

Ive suggested in previous columns that the Founders fully understood that the freedoms granted in the Constitution and Bill of Rights would function only if our citizens exercised prudence and restraint in enjoying the blessings of those freedoms. It seems to me that in the absence of even the most minimal efforts of personal discipline and respect for common decency, Alex Jones, and those who share his cynical disregard for the responsibilities our freedoms demand, deserves everything he gets.

Especially when your only defense is your own stupidity.
From Heidi Pinkstons first visits to Martinsville 30 years ago, she fell in love with Piedmont Arts and has been deeply involved since.

And in recent years, after volunteering and then rising through the ranks, its been as executive director.

Pinkston grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, exposed to all forms of art and experienced a strong art presence there, she said. Her mother would always take her to as many art opportunities as possible.

Pinkston said she always enjoys seeing the Winston-Salem Symphony and going to the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. The art scene there was a really amazing art community, she said.

She and her husband, Shane Pinkston, moved to Martinsville in 1992 for his job at Southprint. Before that, she said, she had never heard of Martinsville, even though it was close to where she lived.

As part of getting to know the area, Pinkston stopped at Piedmont Arts and loved it so much she asked how she could get involved  and has been at it since. She said that she was able to see from the beginning what a gem in this community Piedmont Arts was.

Before the pandemic, Pinkston would go to a morning exercise class taught by Anita Hooker at the Martinsville-Henry County YMCA. It was her favorite class, but she now attends Judy Rs class. She also loved to hear live music, especially at Pops Farm.

Pinktson has now worked for Piedmont Arts for 18 years, moving through many of the different positions at the museum. She spent one year on the board of Piedmont Arts and ended her term as chairman, was the education coordinator, then the director of exhibits and is now the executive director.

As executive director, she said, her role changes from day-to-day but the main function is to secure the well-being of the organization and its physical building.

Under Pinkstons leadership, Piedmont Arts aims to bring an impactful arts eeducation to the community and be an accessible art experience for anyone who is interested, not excluding anyone no matter what their background is like. It hosts and sponsors a variety of events, some that have an admission fee and others that are free to attend.

The accessibility of the organization, Pinkston said, is to make the building a safe place that encourages and inspires the people who come inside. Piedmont Arts also aims to showcase a variety of different types of arts, she said, which allows the museum to have something of interest for pretty much anyone.

From visual arts, to written, to auditorythey try to have it all. Pinkston said they have up to five exhibits throughout the year from artists with varying backgrounds. Currently they are showcasing Virginia Derryberrys Private Domain and Davis Chouns Continuity (Color + Texture).

The museum hosts performances such as dance and symphonies and poetry slams and events like Blues, Brews and Stews which took place on a recent Friday. Piedmont Arts works with local schools to provide educational art experiences for local kids.

People who experience art as young children can see positive effects later in life from expressing themselves through all types of art, she said. Piedmont Arts helps children become comfortable in art museum settings and live performances.

They may not realize the impact it has at the time, but later in life, engaging with art experiences and performing arts can help people be more open-minded as they get older and be able to appreciate the arts, Pinkston said.

Compared to the Winston-Salem art scene, Pinkston said that the Martinsville art scene is much smaller, but still produces a high-quality art experience. With Piedmont Arts, Pinkston said, the mission is to bring impactful arts education to the community, and in her opinion, they are succeeding.
A Pink EventBreast Cancer Wellness Symposium & Fundraiser by the MLC Cancer Foundation will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at New College Institute.

The event is to honor the lives of cancer survivors. The foundation was founded by Patricia Via in 2012 to assist cancer patients and survivors. Via has raised over $180,000 since the creation of her organization, which is named for her mother, the late Myrtle Lee Carter.

There will be three speakers at the event: Indira Lindsay Roberts, Dr. Nayo Wills and Dr. Tiffany D. Morris.

Dr. Nayo Wills will explain the common functional medicine tests that she and other specialists do for initial screening. She said her message is just so people can understand some basic information that they would want to know.

This will be Indira Lindsay Roberts third time speaking at the Pink Event for MLC Foundation, and though her message has changed somewhat over the years with new technology and offerings, she said, the bare bones remain the same  to raise awareness of the importance of genetic testing that taking charge of your health.

Dr. Tiffany Morris message at the event will revolve around faith verses fact, she said, diving into the conversation that having strong faith does not mean that you cant also trust science to help heal. In her dissertation, and in her speech, Morris talks about how faith can sometimes be a barrier or conflict of interest when it comes to trusting the science.

Wills received her bachelors degree in anthropology at the University of Virginia and doctor of medicine degree at Jefferson Medical College, and completed her internal medicine residency at Washington Hospital Center. She has board certification in internal medicine from the American Board of Internal Medicine and recently completed her education in functional medicine and received certified practitioner standing at the Institute for Functional Medicine. She is also certified in acupuncture.

Wills has been practicing functional and integrative medicine for almost 17 years now, has been speaking professionally for over 20 years and uses that knowledge to reach her audiences to find answers and get to the root cause of their symptoms.

Roberts is a regional manager in oncology and womens health with Invitae Genetics. She holds a bachelors degree from North Carolina Central University, a masters degree in jurisprudence from Seton Hall School of Law and a certificate of achievement in fundamentals of genetics from Harvard Medical School.

For Invitae Genetics, Roberts sells somatic oncology testing products and part of her job covers the area of Martinsville, she said. She met Misti Williams, a genetic counselor out of Salem, Virginia, who connected Roberts with Telesa Via, Patricia Vias daughter, and the MLC Cancer Foundation.

Morris is a Martinsville local who now lives in Eden, North Carolina. She earned certified nurse educator credentials from the National League of Nursing, a bachelors degree in nursing from the University of Virginia, a masters degree in higher education specializing in integrative studies and a masters degree in nursing. She has a doctor of nursing practice in executive leadership from Grand Canyon University and was inducted into the University of North Carolinas School of Nursing Faculty Fellows program.

Morris is the inaugural chair for Elon Universitys department of nursing. She has been involved with the MLC Cancer Foundation since its beginning, participating often. She became involved because of her connection to the Via family through going to school with Telesa Via.

The money raised will go towards assistance in providing mammographic breast screening and diagnostics to uninsured women, towards financial assistance to cover medical cost for treatments and to cover costs for genetic testing.

Two cancer patients at Saturdays event will be awarded $2,500 toward their cancer medical cost at the event, and all attendees will take home resources to help in their health journeys.

Destination DC, EH Hodge Automotive Group and Donohoe Hospitality are sponsors of the event, and Martinsville-Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness, Martinsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Upsilon Delta Zeta Martinsville Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Martinsville City Police Department and VCU Cancer Massey Center are 2022 Community Partners.

Donations can be made to the MLC Cancer Foundation before, during and after the event at www.mlccancerfoundation.org and clicking the donate button at the top right of the page.
Four candidates are vying for two seats on Martinsville City Council in this years election: two long-term incumbents and two new candidates who have neither run for nor held an elected office.

In this article they share their visions for the Martinsville and their potential roles on City Council.

Jennifer Bowls, 32, is the vice mayor of Martinsville. She is also a public relations specialist for Danville City Police. Bowles has a bachelors degree in African American Studies from the University of Virginia and a Masters in Business Administration from Averett University.

LC Jones, 41, is a Martinsville police officer assigned as a school resource officer at Martinsville Middle School. He has a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Liberty University.

Aaron Rawls, 40, is the chief technology officer for Madison Taylor Marketing and is also a local business owner. He he has a double major in management and marketing from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Danny Turner, 66, is retired. He worked for United Parcel Service (UPS) for 27 years and for 7 years he worked as a lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Business. He went to Patrick & Henry Community College for three years.

With Election Day less than a month away, the Bulletin interviewed all four candidates separately and asked each of them the same 12 questions. The answers are direct quotes, but may be edited as required for length.

What talents and accomplishments do you believe lend to your qualifications to serve as a council member?

Bowles: I have a deep care and concern for the community. I was born and raised here and came back home to make a difference. I get a deep joy in resolving peoples issues.

LC Jones: Im trained as a crime prevention specialist and hostage negotiator. This training and experience gives me insight in dealing with people who are homeless, have mental health issues or drug problems. Ive had crisis intervention training and this allows me to look at our community with a different perspective than anyone else on council.

Rawls: I have professional management experience, worked with large budgets and rehabilitated struggling businesses and owned and operated a professional consulting company that does for businesses exactly what were looking to do for Martinsville: identify and highlight our strengths. We need to orient our mission around this and develop and implement a plan for success.

Turner: Working for UPS and meeting different people has given me an understanding of small business. I was the mayor for two years, and after working different campaigns I know how the process works and how to get things done. I can pick up the phone and call our congressional and state delegation because I have a good relationship with all our elected officials.

Why do you want to be on City Council?

Jones: With my experiences, attachments to the community and as a resource officer Ive seen a side of the community, and I feel I have a duty to protect them. Very few people want to step into this role and take the bashing and criticism. I came to this because of the reversion conversation and didnt want to see my friends and coworkers lose their job. Now it feels like a crusade to do right by our citizens.

Rawls: Martinsville once had a professional Council with a management skill set, and somewhere over time we lost that. Ive found trying to encourage people to run for Council is difficult because many see it as a detriment to their reputation and an ill use of their time. Someone has got to restore Council with people with relevant professional experience, and I encourage other professionals to join me.

Turner: I want to make sure we have an open government and I want to make a difference. Im opposed to the City buying into assets and eliminating the middleman, like the AMP Ohio deal. We dont have the size to assume the risk or absorb the loss.

Bowles: I love being a problem solver for the community. There was a lady with a stormwater issue and I helped her get it resolved. Things like that allow me to be a bridge between the city and the citizens.

What do you see as the top priority for City Council in the next term and why?

Rawls: Six months ago I would have said we need to set our vision, work on growth and work on affordable and good, simple living. A number of issues have been recently introduced, and drug-related homelessness is a serious problem. We need to hit the brakes until this problem is solved. Businesses thrive due to foot traffic, and people will not go out after 6 p.m. Younger couple who bike wont ride bikes uptown. I feel like solving this is critical to Martinsville. Too much of our economy is not legitimate, and we have people nominally providing services they are not providing.

Turner: Well have to see how reversion plays out; its out of hands now. There will be some extra money if reversion goes through so well have to figure out a new budget. There will be growth, especially in uptown, and housing will be a major problem.

Bowles: Improve transparency and communication. Despite using the newspaper or Facebook I want information to go out in utility bills. I pushed for a PIO [public information officer] because the city was not communicating well. Reversion is another big issue, and Im advocating for citizens to vote.

Jones: Repairing relationships with citizens and giving them a voice so they can be heard. I want to give them a space where they can bring value to Council. We also need to repair our relationship with the Henry County Board of Supervisors. I want to stop reversion in a process thats legal and do it together. We need to repair our relationship with the school board so we can talk together.

What is a personal priority of yours that you believe is important to the community and may be overlooked by other members of council?

Turner: Were leaving too much money on table. I held a housing summit and learned that there is federal and state money that we werent considering. Theres opportunities were overlooking through agricultural and other rural programs. [Congressman Morgan] Griffith told me that his office had nine earmarks available and we didnt apply for any of them. These are the kind of opportunities we need to be on top of and we need an administration that we have confidence in and make sure they are performing at their peak.

Bowles: I would like for our meetings to be recorded to Facebook Live.

Jones: Homelessness, mental health and drug issues. We do not have a location inside the city for the homeless; all we have is a Band-Aid. We need a location and a community crisis team where departments work together. We need to come up with a solution to combat those three things and have a long-term plan for the homeless to get back on their feet and become productive again. If they have drug issues we need a way to measure that success.

Rawls: Restoring an appearance of vision and competence and rebuilding confidence in people who might want to come to Martinsville. People will not want to locate here if its not stable.

How are you different from you opponents in this race?

Bowles: I deal with facts and not emotions. People have personal feelings, but I dont let those things get in my way, and I dont have a single issue that Im running on.

Jones: My experience within the community. Weve all got to have a spirit of service. Ive worked closely with people as a patrol officer and now as a school resource officer, and I see it from a different perspective.

Rawls: My professional experience stands alone from all the others. I have real-life management and budgeting experience and real-life problem solving experience. I will never be a very good politician and Im OK with that, because I can always be honest.

Turner: This is the end game for me; I have no higher aspirations. Everyone else has their youth and are looking at higher things, but Im completely satisfied with serving the citizens. When people call me, I go out and see them. There were two Council members that said they didnt get paid enough and the arrogance people deal with when they call City Hall is about as aggravating as it can get. I look for a fair solution for everyone.

What is your position on reversion and why?

Jones: I dont want it to happen and Ill do everything possible to stop it. We need to rebuild relationships and move forward in a professional and amicable way.

Rawls: The current reversion process needs to be halted immediately. The process was handled poorly by the City without input from the citizens and without regard to those impacted. Martinsville has too many opportunities, and we owe it to ourselves to try first before we give up.

Turner: We would have done it 6 years ago, but Former Council Member Kim [Adkins] changed her vote at the eleventh hour so we had to do it all over again. The enterprise accounts are bare bones and now were in a situation that will be very dangerous if it gets to the point that we cant revert for another five years. There is a reason that there are 49 states with no independent cities. There are duplication of jobs in the school systems, and we cant afford a sheriffs department.

Bowles: This [issue] will go to the citizens [who will vote on it by referendum], but initially when I supported it: I thought about the tax burden; people cant afford to pay more taxes. There will be consolidation of schools and services, but schools are the main issue. Martinsville has had very little growth over a very long time and Im proud that we have not had to raise taxes.

We know reversion will result in a tax bill from the town and the county for town residents. What do you believe that combined amount will be relative to the one tax bill a resident now receives from the city?

Rawls: The first year it will be roughly the same, but over the next five to 10 years it will be more. By shifting many of our financial responsibilities to the county, they will have to increase taxes to accommodate for it.

Turner: I think we should give the savings to the citizens right off the bat. Its now at $1.03 (per $100 of assessed value) ,and the new combined rate should be well under 90 cents. The next problem is going to be in another year after the reassessments are done. Everything will skyrocket.

Bowles: If you look at previous reversions in other localities, their [combined] rate was equal [to the previous rate with the former city] or like South Boston it was lower.

Jones: Its all hypothetical, and thats my problem with it. If they presented reversion and gave me a business plan it would make more sense. Even with the status quo were going to make money, not lose money. We may not be doing great but were doing OK so in my opinion. I worry about the unknown and the hypotheticals.

There is concern that Henry County might act punitively toward Martinsville once it becomes a town. How do you see this playing out? Turner: I think Henry County will be responsible and do what is in the best interests of everyone. These talking heads may make threats, but the people in responsible positions will make the best of it and consider whats in the best interests of Martinsville and Henry County. The city has just done a horrible job of getting the information out. Talking down to people is not the way to go. Bowles: When we look at the numbers presented with school studies, after you combine the schools there will be a 26-seat differencenot 26 seats in one grade; thats all grades. Martinsville High School is in the epicenter. I dont believe Henry County will subject children to go to another high school, nor do they want to have packed classrooms. Its just scare tactics and when you hear it without knowing these facts it is scary, but Im taking the emotion out of it. Jones: If we were to continue the current pace with the current council and our lawyer says to let them deal with their problems, I could see the county respond the same way. Ive had an opportunity to meet with some of them and they want whats best for their citizens. Rawls: I dont think on the surface the Board of Supervisors will be vindictive, but there will be a lot of pressure from their constituents anytime they do anything for Martinsville that might be perceived as a favor. If we annex, then we will renew and grow more bad blood. There has been a recent emphasis on the needs of West End, but when neighborhood tours resumed, Council discovered the most blighted area of town is now Southside, yet there has been very little discussion about it. Do you see this as a problem and if so, what do you think needs to be done? Bowles: When we toured Southside we saw a lot of things and we noted those things. We have a list where we talk about what the complaints were and we work through them. Jones: Most of the calls on the 911 call list come out of Southside. Some think West End has more, but no, its Southside. And Southside has a huge Hispanic community so theres a language barrier. We have to get more involved in addressing their needs and those needs are different from a cultural aspect. Southside just doesnt have the voices over there, and there are a lot of dilapidated property issues. Rawls: My focus has been on West End. My vision is for growing Martinsville, attracting people and providing affordable living and West End is awesome for this; its our oldest community and needs to be an integral part. For Southside, I feel that things need to be fixed uptown first, and the drug problem needs to be fixed firstnot just drugs, but the quality of life. Turner: When I held the housing summit and we talked to state officials there was an emphasis on West End and Southside. There are so many rental properties in Southside and Im hopeful that this push for housing and economic development will drive us away from rental property. Southside looks horrible, and its due to the amount of rental property. The city should enforce its ordinances. The city has taken over ownership of the BB&T Building and the National Guard Armory Building. Do you believe it is wise for the city to become involved in real estate ownership such as these, and how do you see these buildings best being utilized? Jones: The city has to be careful. We have so many buildings that just need work and we take something thats hard to sell or may need a lot of work so we have to look at that more and if we take on a building we should have a plan for it. BB&T might make a good building for police and the administration, and the Armory would be a good place for housing the homeless with mental health workers on a 24-hour basis. Another option would be to create a free center like the YMCA that gives kids something to do including programs. Rawls: No. There is no real estate experience on Council and I think Council did residents a tremendous disservice by buying the BB&T Building. My expectation is that the City will have to demolish the BB&T Building. Its an ugly building and with no experience on Council they didnt understand what they were asking for. Turner: The U.S. Army wanted to get rid of the Armory so they gave it to us, and hopefully we will have an international company make use of it. Using the Armory for economic development is the right way to go. We conducted an open house with six different firms for BB&T, but I am concerned about the RFP [request for proposal] being legal. The bank came to the City with a demolition request to tear it down, and we bought it for $25,000. It costs $70,000 a year to maintain it, so we need to get it into private hands. Its 50 years old and qualifies for historical tax credits. Its valued at $2 million and we got a $400,000 grant from the Governors Office to clean the asbestos and lead. Its an attractive building and a good package. Bowles: We had a RFP process to find the best qualified people for the BB&T building. Id love to see something on the rooftop, and we need affordable housing. As for the Armory Ive had conversations with a potential investor; its something innovative. I think in the upcoming months well hear something. If the city were to become a town, would you run for town council or step aside, and why? Rawls: After this, Im done. This is they only moment and set of circumstances for me being on Council. Turner: Its enjoyable for me to help people so if Im fortunate to serve on the Board of Supervisors or the Town Council, then sure. Bowles: Im just trying to get through this election and I have no aspirations for a higher office. I like serving the citizens of Martinsville. Jones: If I dont get on this time, Ill be done altogether. I have no ambition passed these four years. Im here to stop reversion and build relationships. What is your open statement to appeal to the voters of Martinsville? Turner: In my 12 years on Council I have been a true servant of the people. I enjoy serving the people of Martinsville and Im the most active. Bowles: I ask for your vote on Nov. 8 because I have no agenda other than to serve the community, whatever benefits everyone, even if I dont agree. Im elected to serve all of Martinsville. Im a problem-solver and Ill do my best to stand up for the citizens. Jones: Im running for a better future for our kids, their parents and the teachers. Im here for the people, and I want them to have a voice. Rawls: Martinsville is awesome. Lets elect a government that acts like it. Help me bring back a council with a bright vision for Martinsville and lets prove that our best days are not behind us, but ahead of us.
flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, has announced a new agreement with Smartwings, a Czech Republic-based airline, to wet lease four Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft between November 17, 2022 and January 16, 2023.



The Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) agreement with Smartwings will see four-leased aircraft support flydubais fleet of 68 Boeing 737 aircraft, enabling the carrier to add more capacity for its passengers and cater to demand for travel during the busy winter season.



Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: we are pleased to confirm this new wet lease agreement with Smartwings, an IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certified company, well-experienced in ACMI agreements. Having previously worked with Smartwings, we are confident that the leasing of four additional aircraft will provide our passengers with more convenient and reliable options for travel during the winter season.



flydubai currently operates a single-fleet type of Boeing 737 aircraft that includes 32 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800, 33 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and three Boeing 737 MAX 9.



"We are very appreciative to have won the trust of flydubai once again and succeeded in tough competition from other airlines. This agreement stands as testimony to the successful business cooperation of our companies, which we value greatly, said Roman Vik, Board member and CEO, Smartwings.



The all-Economy Class aircraft will operate on select routes on the flydubai network including Chattogram, Colombo, Dhaka, Karachi, Multan, Muscat and Sialkot.



flydubai passengers who are booked to travel on a flight operated by Smartwings will be notified prior to their travel date, an airline statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
During the month of October, we are recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness month at Mission McDowell Hospital. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women next to skin cancer. Each year, 255,000 women receive a diagnosis of breast cancer and sadly, 42,000 women die from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

This is an area of womens health where you and your primary care physician can form a team. Performing a monthly breast self-exam is a critically important task when it comes to discovering anything unusual with your breasts. By doing an exam each month, you get to know whats normal in terms of how your breasts feel and appear. Some changes to watch out for include any change in the size or shape of the breast, any breast pain, a new lump in the breast or underarm area, and any type of nipple discharge (other than milk if a woman is breastfeeding).

A good breast self-exam tutorial is available on the National Breast Cancer Foundation website, at https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam.

A woman and her primary care provider should discuss breast health, her level of risk for breast cancer, and when she should begin having mammograms at her annual wellness exam. There are modifiable and nonmodifiable factors that impact your risk for breast cancer.

Some you cant change include getting older, a family history of breast cancer, early first menstruation, or having the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene, to name a few. Things you can control are lifestyle habits, like avoiding alcohol or drinking it in moderation, staying within a normal weight range, shunning tobacco, getting at least 150 minutes of exercise per week, and talking to your doctor about safe options if youre considering hormone replacement therapy.

It is generally recommended that women begin having annual mammograms at age 40. Your health care provider may advise you to get a mammogram earlier if you have a family history of breast cancer or if you have any symptoms of the disease.

At Mission Hospital McDowell, our highly experienced and qualified mammography technologists perform 3-D mammograms with a state-of-the-art GE Pristina Senographe mammography unit. This is a very advanced way of acquiring images of breast tissue by compiling image data to display slices that can be reviewed individually by our radiologists to screen for pathology.

If anything suspicious is seen on your screening mammogram or you have a positive finding on it, your provider may order a diagnostic mammogram and a breast ultrasound.

If further imaging is needed, our expert and caring MHM staff may perform a breast MRI exam or a stereotactic breast biopsy at your health care providers request. A breast MRI may reveal a tumor that a mammogram missed, while the stereotactic biopsy is a simple and safe procedure that employs technology to help guide the needle that takes the tissue sample to be tested. The abnormality that is biopsied is typically discovered when the radiologist reads the mammogram imaging.

Your providers office can schedule your breast imaging procedure for you or you can call 844-974-3783. For mammograms, choose option 2 or visit missionhealth.org/services-treatments/imaging/.

If you would like to learn more about imaging at Mission Hospital McDowell, call 828-659-5160 or visit the website above. We are proud to offer the best in breast cancer screening and diagnostic services to the women in our community.

I will close by noting that we are also happy to be partnering with local law enforcement agencies to host a Crush the Crisis prescription medication takeback event here at MHM, 500 Rankin Drive in Marion, on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to noon. Though the focus is on safe and anonymous prescription medication disposal, any medications will be accepted at the event; however, we wont be able to accept needles, syringes, lancets, inhalers, or liquids.

Your participation in this event helps keep our community safer and helps to ensure that these medications dont end up in the hands of someone who was not prescribed them.
Operations for diverticulitis decreased in 2020, but severity of disease increased. Credit: American College of Surgeons

The first year of the COVID pandemic significantly altered how patients and providers treated diverticulitis, causing a significant drop in operations to manage the disease but a corresponding increase in the proportion of more severe cases and the need for emergency surgery, according to results of a nationwide study presented at the Scientific Forum of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2022.

Rolando H. Rolandelli, MD, FACS, chair of surgery at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, New Jersey, and professor of surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, presented a study of 12,514 patients who had a colectomy for diverticulitis in 2018 and 10,869 who had the same procedure in 2020 using the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement (ACS NSQIP) database. That decline in 2020 represents a 13.14% decrease in operations for diverticulitis, which is an outpouching of the digestive tract causing painful inflammation or infection. ACS NSQIP is the leading nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based program to measure and improve the quality of surgical care in hospitals. It was created by surgeons to help hospitals gauge the quality of their surgical programs and improve surgical outcomes by collecting robust, accurate, and precise clinical patient information.

"In the first year of the pandemic, 2020, we saw that patients were accessing the healthcare system less frequently for diverticulitis, but those who did were sicker on presentation. As a result, their postoperative outcomes were not as good," Dr. Rolandelli said.

Key findings

Patients were more likely to have emergency surgery for diverticulitis in 2020, with the proportion increasing to 20% of operations from 17.3% (p< 0.001).

The proportion of patients with a known abscess or perforation of the gastrointestinal tract also increased, from 50.1 to 54.55% (p< 0.001).

The proportion of Black patients increased in 2020, from 7 to 7.7% (p=0.032), which was offset by a decline in the proportion of white patients, from 82.4 to 77.7% (p<0.001).

Dr. Rolandelli said the study findings provide two lessons learned.

"One, when we limit access to health care, we do it by setting a priority for patients that are potentially at higher risk of progression of their disease, and in the early phase of the COVID pandemic, the priority was cancer patients," he said. "This situation may have led to physicians prescribing antibiotics as an alternative to surgery for diverticulitis, which may have caused patients' disease to progress. By the time of surgery, they were much sicker."

The second lesson learned: A possible overuse of intubation respirators early in the pandemic. "We had patients who basically had been in a coma for weeks and could not express their symptoms of diverticulitis," he said, which typically include pain in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen and, less frequently, fever and constipation. "We probably saw patients who were developing diverticulitis and we were not realizing it."

Operations for diverticulitis decreased in 2020, but the degree of disease severity increased. Credit: American College of Surgeons

Surgeons' observations

Precautions put into place early in the pandemic may have also contributed to the greater severity of diverticulitis cases at that time, Dr. Rolandelli said. Surgeons were informed that the COVID-19 virus could concentrate in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, including the colon, and that they should exercise caution when using electrocautery to operate on patients with diverticulitis because it could vaporize the virus and cause it to spread. Also, restricted access to computed tomography scansan important imaging technique for monitoring the growth of diverticular lesionsmay have delayed medical treatment or even surgery.

Study coauthor Zoltan H. Nemeth, MD, Ph.D., a research scientist at the department of surgery at Morristown Medical Center and an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University, New York, explained that a strength of the study was its size and the large population in the ACS NSQIP database. The limitation of such databases is that they do not provide granular data on how individual patients were treated.

Next steps

Future research will include analyzing 2021 data to see how they compare to 2018 and 2020, according to Dr. Nemeth.

"I think it's clear that, at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, we were not sure how to approach these patients; it was a learning experience," Dr. Rolandelli said. "So, when we compare it with 2021, when we had a year of experience and we did not place patients on the respirator as often, we're going to be able to sort out the differences in terms of how we're managing the patients and the actual severity of diverticulitis."

More information: Rolandelli, RH et al. How the Covid-19 Pandemic Affected the Severity and Clinical Presentation of Diverticulitis, Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2022.
Non-invasive, less expensive test is effective in early-stage colorectal cancer screening. Credit: American College of Surgeons

Commercially available noninvasive screening tests for colorectal cancera fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and the multi-target stool DNAtest (mt-sDNA; or Cologuard)are equally effective for screening patients with early-stage colorectal cancer. However, a FIT costs about one-fifth of the multi-target DNA test, according to new study results presented at the Scientific Forum of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2022.

Pavan K. Rao, MD, a general surgery resident at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, presented study results looking at 117,519 people in the Highmark claims database who underwent colorectal screening in 2019. Highmark is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association insurer in four Mid-Atlantic states.

From that group, the researchers identified 91,297 people who had noninvasive screening with either the fecal immunochemical test (FIT, n=45,487) or the DNA test (mt-sDNA, n=46,110) instead of having a routine colonoscopy.

Key findings

Among the study population that underwent colorectal screening, 45,487 (38.7 percent) had one of two commercially available FIT tests and 46,110 (39.2 percent) had the mt-sDNA test.

Patients who were screened with either test presented with early disease, staged from 0 to II, at similar rates: 59.5 percent for FIT and 63.2 percent for mt-sDNA test (p=0.77).

Patients within the Allegheny Health Network Oncology Registry diagnosed with colorectal cancer were matched to their claims data to determine distribution of cancer stage. If the noninvasive test indicated signs of early disease, patients were then referred for additional testing to confirm the findings.

The total annual costs for the tests were $6.47 million$1.1 million for a FIT, or about $24 per test, and $5.6 million for mt-sDNA, or about $121 per test. Costs were calculated using Medicare reimbursement rates.

Observations on study results

The study followed guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in 2016 and updated in 2019. Since then, the guidelines were updated again in 2021.

Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Less Expensive Noninvasive Alternative. Credit: American College of Surgeons

"Despite national guidelines suggesting that FIT be used as the primary noninvasive screening modality, we found that on review of our insurer's claims data, a significant proportion of patients still receive a more expensive alternative test. There is substantial cost savings not only to our patients but to our health system with promoting appropriate use of noninvasive testing," Dr. Rao said.

"There was no difference in the clinical stage at the time of diagnosis between the two tests, which again demonstrates the clinical equipoise maintained by switching to FIT," Dr. Rao said of the variation between the two tests.

He added, "When you look at the national data for which the guidelines put forward, they found no difference between the two tests at detecting adenoma versus colorectal malignancy."

Cost savings without compromising care

The researchers determined that transitioning all noninvasive colorectal cancer screening to FIT would result in a $3.9 million savings annually in the study population.

"In the current state of healthcare, we are thinking ever more about efficiency and reduction in costs while maintaining patient outcomes, and not compromising the quality of care we provide," Dr. Rao said. "I think a colorectal surgeon or any specialist who sees appropriate patients for colorectal cancer screening can use this data to provide recommendations of alternative screening tests to patients who primarily do not want to undergo colonoscopy. We cannot only say it is appropriate from a guideline standpoint, but we're also reducing wasteful spending in health care by appropriately using the FIT."

What makes this study unique is the methodology used to analyze the claims data, said study coauthor Casey J. Allen, MD, a surgical oncologist at Allegheny Health Network and an assistant professor at Drexel University College of Medicine, Pittsburgh. The researchers analyzed outcomes in the local health registry and then applied those outcomes to the claims database. "It's not just the cost of the mt-sDNA test kit or the cost of the FIT kit multiplied by the number of members in the healthcare system," Dr. Allen said. "It's the full downstream costs depending on the rates of false-positive and false-negative tests and how much it costs to obtain a colonoscopy when that occurs. The cost of a screening colonoscopy in the database the researchers used was $635.

These results support previous studies out of Japan and the Netherlands that found FIT was more cost-effective than other types of noninvasive colorectal screening tests.

More information: Rao, PK et al. Comprehensive Cost Implications of Commercially Available Non-invasive Colorectal Cancer Screening Modalities: Results of A Large National Insurer Claims Database Analysis, Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2022.
When it comes to posting health information on social media, beware before you share.

Experts say that's an essential step in battling medical misinformation, an escalating problem as more people turn to social media for news, knowledge and advice about all things health-related.

In the wake of rampant false information about COVID-19, the U.S. surgeon general's office released an advisory last year titled "Confronting Health Misinformation." The 22-page report singled out social media for rewarding "engagement rather than accuracy" and quoted one study that found false news stories were 70% more likely to be shared on social media than true stories.

The pandemic has lessened in recent months, but health experts say medical misinformation on social media isn't likely to vanish anytime soon.

To help battle inaccurate info, here are five questions to ask before you share a health story.

Is the source trustworthy?

In the internet age, it's important to do your homework to verify whether an original source is trustworthy. But that's trickier than ever in a web filled with unreliable but official-looking sites.

Lisa Fazio, who studies misinformation, said it's best to check a source through "lateral reading," or getting off the site and doing some research to see what other authoritative sources have said about it.

"Open up a new window and find out what other people are saying about the source," said Fazio, an associate professor of psychology and human development at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Dr. Joseph Hill, who co-wrote a 2019 editorial in Circulation about combating medical misinformation, urged social media users to "vet the message" before spreading it. He recommended checking trusted medical sources such as the Mayo Clinic or American Heart Association and government sites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.

Is it a personal story?

Fazio said social media users have a natural tendency to "cherry pick" personal medical stories that don't reflect the big picture.

"Be wary of anecdotes," she said. "Personal stories are really powerful and persuasive, but they're often one-off events that don't tell you how common something is at a population level."

Also be leery of "people who are promoting their own commercial ventures and have a venal motive," said Hill, a cardiologist and professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "It's reprehensible, but it happens all the time."

Does it make me emotional?

The surgeon general's advisory warned against sharing "emotionally charged information, enabling it to spread quickly and go viral."

"That might mean excitement or disgust or any sort of strong emotion," Fazio said. "Things that make you feel a strong emotion are often things that aren't fully true. It's a signal to think and check the facts."

Do I really need to post it right away?

Strong emotions can trigger a sense of urgency. When that happens, experts say it's best to pause, take a deep breath and wait a few hours before sharing.

"Waiting even five seconds might help," Fazio said. "Take the time to think about why you're posting. Is it to gain followers? Is it to just entertain people?"

In general, Hill said that instead of instantly clicking the "share" button, it's best "to pause and corroborate what you just read. It takes time, but it's a necessary step." Corroboration might involve looking for published peer-reviewed research that backs it up, or checking if many credible media outlets are reporting the same information.

Might I actually be harming someone?

While social media can feel like a fun, innocuous pastime among friends, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said in last year's advisory that sharing medical misinformation "can cause confusion, sow mistrust, harm people's health, and undermine public health efforts."

"The way social media algorithms work, decisions you make can affect a lot of people on the platform, not just a few," Fazio said. "Before we share something, we want to think, 'Am I improving the experience for everyone?'"

Hill was more blunt. "Medical misinformation costs lives," he said. "It's available so freely and rapidly now that it has become a new challenge for our species. If we ignore it, we ignore it at our own peril."

Copyright  2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
When Bryan Curt Kostors, a University of Montana composition instructor, premieres a short film with original music, The River is Everywhere, at the Roxy Theater on Tuesday, the project wouldnt have happened without grant money.

The same is true for The Nature of Change, an original big-band piece that composer Naomi Moon Siegel wrote for the Hellgate Jazz Band, which theyll play for the public for the first time in the school auditorium on Tuesday.

Those are two examples of an incredible burst of creativity, said Tatiana Gant, executive director of the Montana Arts Council. The grants were announced in the spring and required to produce projects by the years end. That means this fall, many will bear fruit.

The money was included in the American Rescue Plan Act. From there, it went to the National Endowment for the Arts, which distributed shares to state and regional arts organizations like the Montana Arts Council, a state agency.

The funds are intended to boost Montanas creative economy as it continues to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic, according to the councils website.

The MAC put out a call for applications and received 268 applications. It was able to fund 89. Thirty-nine artists in western Montana on this side of the divide (plus one on the Blackfeet Reservation) were accepted, for a total of $329,210 in funding.

With $754,000 total, MAC set a cap of $10,000, which is unusually high for an individual artist grant and exceeds the amount they typically give to organizations. (There were separate rounds of funding open to larger groups.) The council received far more highly qualified applicants than it could fund, and put out a call to the public to help review applications.

According to the NEA requirements, the applications need to have a public-facing project of some kind. The artists needed to be professional regarding their quality of work and work history, and the ideas needed to have artistic merit and be feasible with the amount of money they might receive.

The artist grants are project-based, with a maximum award of $10,000 to go toward the creation of new work and to expand audiences, according to the councils site.

Jazz, fiddle and survival skills

The projects are varied, spanning from jazz albums and concert tours to visual art exhibitions and poetry.

Loren Stillman, a Missoula-based jazz saxophonist, started a tour of Montana last weekend at the ZACC Show Room. He and bassist Bob Bowman and drummer Mark Ferber are visiting small towns and larger cities.

Another state-themed project got funding: Johan Eriksson, a UM saxophone professor, proposed Montana Sounds, a state-themed album with a live group comprising UM jazz faculty combo featuring Eriksson (saxophone, flute), Rob Tapper (trombone), Jeff Troxel (guitar), Tommy Sciple (bass), Bob Ledbetter (percussion) and John Wicks (drums). They all contributed tunes: Troxel wrote a funk song, The Hip Strip. Erikssons compositions are named after the Bitterroot Valley and the Hi-Line. Theyve performed in and out of state, for local high schools and at breweries, with more to come. The album will be released later this year, and combined with the performances, the material can be used to help recruit students to the UM School of Music.

Geoffrey Taylor, who plays violin in bands like the Django Reinhardt-inspired group Night Blooming Jasmine, wrote solo works titled 12 Fantasias for 5-string Fiddle: New Music for 5-string Fiddle, that hes releasing as individual YouTube videos.

Buck Hitswithastick of Arlee, a Bitterroot Salish cultural expert and arts instructor, received funding for Old Montana Ways. Hes going to record the process of making primitive tools and weaponry and skills dating before European contact and without the use of metal, in a documentary that will be available to the public, he wrote in an email. He plans to shoot in high-elevation areas in northwest Montana, showing things like boiling water without a pot and starting a fire without modern implements, he said. Once complete, theyll make the videos available for free to schools, universities and other educational organizations.

Filmmaker Andy Smetanka is working on a short documentary, I Am The Wilma Theater, about the historic venue. It will feature Annie Garde, the retired Pea Green Boat host, with a score by John Sporman, a bassist/composer with a history of writing for film and dance.

In visual art, ceramicist Alison Reintjes received a grant for a project called Clay in Context. She made planters, tables and stools that were installed in homes, yards and a business and then photographed by Rio Chantel. The images will go onto her new website and appear in a publication, inspired by design and lifestyle magazines.

Visual music and modular synth

Kostors is eclectic in a very modern way. A lecturer in the UM School of Music and chair of its composition department, he works on orchestral and chamber music with students. Hes also in charge of the music technology courses. Off-campus, hes half of the experimental pop group Queenager and writes visual music, for abstract or narrative original films.

Its a reflection of the activities he could partake in back in Los Angeles, where he got his doctorate at the University of Southern California.

His new work, The River is Everywhere, is a multifaceted creation that likely wouldn't have happened without funding  a concert, a film and an album. The public unveiling is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Roxy. Hell perform the prelude-like section on keyboard and modular synthesizer, followed by the 12-minute film.

The movie was shot in Washington and Oregon, with director of photography Danny Corey. Their actor, Zoe Curzi, is following river systems all the way to the ocean as a way to process grief and forgiveness, Kostors said. Much of his work involves the landscape and in this one, its a way of processing grief.

The album will be released this fall on streaming services and Bandcamp. For the film, theyre going to apply to festivals. The Roxy screening will be rounded out with short films by state and local directors.

The Nature of Change

The pandemic created a sense of uncertainty for live performers that still exists, and trombonist Siegel began thinking of ideas for projects that werent dependent on venues. She moved to Missoula after building her career outside, including Seattle, with Wayne Horvitz, a composer, pianist and bandleader.

For her, composing for large ensembles became an area of focus.

She wrote The Nature of Change for a big band. It recognizes transitions on many levels, she said. One, her collaborator Jesse Dochnal was moving into a new job at Hellgate High School from his previous post at Big Sky. It also was written in light of all the more dramatic, unpredictable, bigger change weve all been going through.

The piece combines written sections with conduction, a method of band-leading created by Butch Morris. She said the written section is kind of a straight-ahead swing piece in a lot of ways, with some dramatic shifts into  rhythm and bouncy harmonic changes. Other times its more repetitive with subtle changes, a tonal reflection of how she sees change in the world.

Sometimes its big and unsettling and discombobulating, and other times its just subtle and could be missed if youre not paying attention, she said.

Conduction is a concept invented by Morris, a classically trained conductor and innovative jazz musician. It allows a bandleader, using hand signals, to guide collective improvisation with a large ensemble. In Siegels version, there are written sections, and then other sections where shell cue an individual player or an entire section. Shes worked in this fashion with players of all levels. For students, she said its a way of leveling the playing field so that instrumentalists of any level who are interested in improvising can try it in a group context thats different from asking them to take a full solo.

Siegel said the project wouldnt be possible without the grant, unless shed been able to connect with a band director who had funding of their own.

Its given me a chance to revisit Butchs work and research him a little more, and feel like Im doing justice, honoring his legacy and giving context while also doing it my own style, she said.

For Dochnals students, he said working with a composer right in the room elevates the depth of engagement. They gain insight about the sometimes intimidating process of creating something new for a jazz band, and get feedback and suggestions about specific parts of the work.

Knowing the composer is right in front of you gives the music unique relevance as they work toward a unified yet individually creative expression, he said.

The performance is Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Hellgate High School Auditorium. Its free and open to the public.

Afterward, the sheet music will go into the Missoula County Public Schools library of big-band music. The repertoire of large-ensemble jazz for high school groups can be somewhat homogeneous, and wanted to add her voice.

Visit art.mt.gov/arpa for the complete list.
DR-femicide - Credit: Erika Santelices/AFP/Getty Images

When Bad Bunny dropped his critically acclaimed album Un Verano Sin Ti, fans flocked to the dream-pop track Andrea, which features the Puerto Rican indie duo Buscabulla. Immediately, many listeners thought of Andrea Ruiz Costas, a Puerto Rican woman who was murdered by her partner in 2021. Though Bad Bunny later said that the song isnt directly about Ruiz, Andrea has become an anthem that speaks to the rampant gender violence and growing femicide rates plaguing his home.

It is perhaps the most poignant moment on the album, one that brings up the deep-rooted history of violence against Puerto Rican women, which includes a forced sterilization program the U.S. ran in the 1950s and coincides with the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, likely to impact access to safe and legal abortion in the U.S. territory. In 2021, Puerto Ricos governor declared a state-of-emergency on the island after growing violence against women, something many grassroots organizations and on-the-groud groups are working to address.

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Puerto Rican women, and women in Latin America overall, will continue to suffer behind white patriarchal ideology, says domestic violence lawyer and professor at Universidad de Puerto Rico  Recinto de Rio Piedras, Mariana Iriarte. She suggests a history of toxic masculinity behind media and culture is a major reason why there continues to be violent behavior toward women in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Although better data on gender-based violence is needed now more than ever, we know the COVID pandemic heightened femicides and attempted femicides, especially in Latin America, where many countries have been grappling with a deep-seated history of unequal gender dynamics. According to emerging evidence from the World Bank Group, Latin America saw increases in gender-based violence that can be linked to stricter social distancing measures: In Colombia, there was a boost in domestic violence calls by 91 percent, while in Brazil, the probability of femicides more than doubled during intense periods of isolation. Databases like the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean aim to annually consolidate and update statistics on womens violent and gender-based deaths, based on the reported incidents provided by governments, which leaves room for egregious and incomplete documentation.

Story continues

The Caribbean continues to have some of the highest rates of violence as well. The Dominican Republic had the second-highest rate of femicides reported in 2020, according to the United Nations. Just one motoconcho ride away from the Dominican Republic, the Haitian feminist organization Neges Mawon hosted a campaign against femicides earlier this year, utilizing street art by local artists like V!cky Onelien. They simultaneously raised awareness about Haitis environmental issues, which they see as a direct correlation with how society treats Haitian women. The organization Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT) in Cuba, as well as the #YoSiTeCreo platform in Cuba, verified 18 femicides on the island this year alone, leading groups such as Red Femenina de Cuba to urge the Cuban government declare a state of emergency for gender violence.

Despite todays widened visibility and social criticism, femicide continues to rise throughout the Caribbean, with women from Black and poorer regions being disportionately affected, Iriarte explains. She helps victims of domestic violence in Puerto Rico obtain protection orders and works intimately with groups such as Taller Salud, a community-based feminist organization dedicated to improving acess to health care, to reducing violence, and encourage economic growth through education and activism for women. An essential part of the work needed is to examine issues of gender-based violence in an intersectional way that addresses the specific challenges and oppression Black and trans women face.

We have to look at this from an intersectional lens; a white cishetero woman is not in the same position as a Black lesbian woman, she says. These intersectionalities are fundamental; we cannot talk about femicide without talking about the femicide rates involving trans women, let alone Black trans women.

One constant obstacle is a lacking support infrastructure and a police system that often works against the interests of Black women in particular. Weve customarily made the association of safety with law enforcement, and the reality is when you look at the stats, the police do not serve us, Iriarte says. They do not serve our most vulnerable. For Black and trans women in particular, police are quite frankly not an option. She continues, If you are a Black or trans woman in Puerto Rico and you seek help from the cops, you yourself risk going to jail, being physically assaulted, or worse, assassinated under their watch.

She urges the redistribution of wealth in the abolition of police. Weve adopted political strategies from the Black feminist political movements of the United States. Police abolition isnt just a matter of deconstructing police, but of redistributing the funds and resources robbed of the communities theyve sworn to protect and serve Thats money taken away from the communities that need it most.

What is happening is alarming and more so in a scenario of economic and political crisis. We ask for help and support from all projects, organizations, and conscious and sensitive citizens, in seeking solutions to this problem, reads an excerpt from a statement of emergency that Cubas Alas Tensas earlier this year, expressing a similar distrust of police from their neighboring activists in Puerto Rico. The PNR [Policia Nacional Revolucionaria] does not do its job, use social networks and make it viral. If you have information about events of this type, write to us, and we will carefully investigate the sources. We need a citizen alliance for the end of feminicides.

In the Dominican Republic, feminist organizations have also been tackling similar issues. The lack of protections women and girls face in the country has also played out in music and popular culture: On April 22, ahead of Bad Bunnys summer soundtrack, dembow rapper Rochy RD was arrested in Santo Domingo for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor and participating in child sex trafficking. According to a lawsuit filed against him and the artist La Demente 1212, the couple recruited and paid low-income girls between the ages of 16 and younger to engage in sexual activities with the rapper. While the recording artist awaited trial inside La Victoria prison, followers and colleagues across social media protested his innocence while blaming victims under the guise of respectability politics.

Aquelarre RD is one such collective that has been raising awareness of what women and girls are up against since 2019. They formed in response to not just the lack of state protection around Black and queer women in the Dominican Republic, but a lack of solidarity and recognition among other so-called feminist movements on the island.

We realized that the Dominican feminist movement, apart from the fact that it is largely concentrated in the capital of Santo Domingo, is not interested in connecting with all bases of feminism, which is to say that this is a movement made up of women who are privileged and from middle-to-upper class society, says Aquelarre RD founder, Esther Giron. They are not interested in connecting with the many different issues that uniquely impact Black women living in barrios, in populous provinces, in campos, where many are fighting over basic needs, like healthcare, access to healthy food, employment, and education.

Currently, Aquelarre RD consists of 13 members from throughout the Monsenor Nouel province in the central city of Bonao. They have dedicated their efforts to creating spaces focused on safety and education for Black and LGBTQ women from neglected environments while championing womens rights and legal protection through popular education (or education in the language of the people), community workshops, and political activism and protest.

In the case of Rochy RD, the violation of various articles of the Dominican Penal Code, including the Code for the Protection of Children and Adolescents were cited, yet local activists understood why justice would likely not be served. There is no social framework for those laws to ever actually be put into action, Dominican cultural critic and educator Zahira Kelly said in a recent interview. The police do not care; theyre the first ones to blame the victim. The laws in this case become useless, because not only does the state not care to enforce those laws, the social norms here say that they should not be enforced either.

In September of last year, many young feminist leaders from various national groups met in Loma de Blanco, Bonao, Dominican Republic to reflect, share, and reimagine the challenges of the womens and feminist movement of the Dominican Republic, hoping to update the nations sex, gender and racial discourse while outlining the deeply fragmented and obscured history of violence against Black and brown bodies.

As a result of that gathering, the National Pre-Encounter of Young Women (PNMJ) issued a political declaration to the state, with a thorough account of demands that include the construction of an anti-racist, plural and popular feminist movement that connects with the demands of Black women of the popular sectors and peripheries, and criticzes the feminism that prevails in the Dominican Republic, which has lost its social base and responds to Eurocentric currents of thought and universalizes the category of women, ignoring the oppressions that go beyond the essentialism of the sex-gender category; such as class and race.

While the fight for womens right frequently focuses on access to abortion, Giron notes that countries in the Carribbean need muli-prong solutions that capture the nuances of the struggles for gender equality. It seems like the Dominican feminist movement stops at abortion, which is super important, but that is simply one struggle, Giron says. We cannot speak about the right to bodily autonomy if we are not considering what that looks like for our most vulnerable women and girls.

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The Division of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification is the Mississippi regulatory agency responsible for regulating and licensing hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and other specialized care facilities.

This division is also responsible for certifying health care facilities for participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs. Since the division requires health facilities to be in compliance with state and federal standards, the level of care delivered is continually reviewed and upgraded so that patients and residents can be better protected from abuse and neglect.

COVID-19 Materials

Health, testing and visitation guidance for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. View

Pilot Freestanding Emergency Rooms: Information of PFERs and how to apply. Details

Registered Nurses: Become a Paid NNAAP Evaluator Registered Nurses (RNs) can help ease Mississippi's nursing shortage by becoming a paid evaluator for the NNAAP Skills exam so that more CNA candidates can become certified. Read more COVID-19 has negatively impacted the number of direct care workers, specifically certified nurse aides (CNA), across the state of Mississippi. The Mississippi State Department of Health is working closely with Credentia, our CNA testing provider, to increase opportunities for MS nurse aide candidates to become certified. Registered Nurses are key to the CNA certification process, functioning as Evaluators for the NNAAP Skills exam. We are asking you to consider becoming an invaluable asset to building your nursing community through the administration of certification testing for nurse aides in Mississippi, with the opportunity to also earn extra income. Evaluators are needed in most areas, so please use the link below to contact Credentia to see whether your area has Evaluator openings, if your availability aligns with the current need, and how you can help. Once you application is received, additional information regarding the position and the requirements will be sent to you by your states Program Coordinator at Credentia Services. Thank you for your willingness to help get more Mississippi Nurse Aides certified!

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File a Health Facility Complaint Please use the link below to file an online health facility complaint: Online complaint filing is preferred, but you may also call the Health Facility Complaint Hotline: 1-800-227-7308.
The WWAMI Medical Education Program is celebrating 50 years of educating medical students from Montana through the University of Washingtons School of Medicine this year.

The program aims to increase opportunities for Montana students to attend medical school while also raising the number of physicians in their home states. Its acronym represents the five rural states that make up the cooperative medical education program: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

There was general agreement when Montana joined WWAMI in 1973 that Montana needed more physicians and this was the way to do it, said Martin Teintze, the director of WWAMI at Montana State University.

Through WWAMI, Montana students are able to pay in-state tuition while earning their degrees, which makes it more cost-effective for many aspiring physicians in the state.

Montanas first WWAMI class started in 1973 at MSU with 10 students. Since then, more than 1,000 Montanans have enrolled in the program and 350 WWAMI graduates serve as physicians in the state. Students who do not work in Montana within a year of completing the program repay a portion of the subsidy they received from the state.

The class size that is admitted to the program has increased over the years. In 1975, WWAMI began accepting 20 students each year, which was raised to 30 students with support from the Montana Legislature in 2013.

A Missoula track was added to Montanas WWAMI program in July 2008 and now offers rotations and clerkships in areas such as anesthesiology, ophthalmology, neurology and multiple areas of pediatric care later in their education.

Educating medical students is a long process beginning with four years of medical school and anywhere from three to five years of residency depending on their specialty.

The average age of the population in Montana is going up, and therefore the need for medical care is also rising, Teintze said. We are also facing a wave of physician retirements at a time when the need for more physicians due to the aging population is increasing and the situation is even more dire in rural parts of Montana.

Montana WWAMI students begin their experience with 18 months of instruction at MSU from professors and physicians at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital. After that, they spend two and a half years doing clinical rotations across Montana and other sites in the WWAMI region.

Within WWAMI is the Targeted Rural Under Served Track, also known as TRUST, which connects 12 students in each class to underserved communities. There are 11 TRUST sites in Montana including Miles City, Libby, Dillon and Glasgow.
WAPELLO  A man who was making phone threats and then attempted to break into a residence with the subjects he was threatening was arrested Saturday after a standoff, according to a news release from the Louisa County Sheriff's Office.

At about 3:55 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, the Louisa County Sheriffs Office received a report that a man was leaving voicemails threatening to kill and harm a person and another resident. The threats included that the male subject, Jacob Strause, 37, homeless, was going to come to the residence to commit these acts. While investigating the males location minutes later, Strause showed up to the callers residence in Elrick Junction, southeast of Wapello.

Strause reportedly attempted to kick in the door of the residence and then left on foot. He was then seen entering a nearby garage. Deputies surrounded the garage, and reports from the caller stated Strause was making further threats of violence against law enforcement and might be armed. Columbus Junction Police Department officials arrived to assist, as well as Wapello Ambulance, and Fire and Rescue, who were on standby near the scene.

Attempts were made to get Strause to exit the garage without incident. Residents in the area were asked to leave their homes until the situation was resolved.

At approximately 5:54 p.m. Strause was called out of the garage by loud speaker and peacefully surrendered without further incident.

Strause was arrested and taken into custody, and firearms were seized. Strause was charged with 1st Degree Harassment and is being held at the Louisa County Sheriffs Office on a $2,000 bond. Further charges are pending.

There were no injuries to any party during this event. The Louisa County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Columbus Junction Police Department, Wapello Fire and Rescue, the Wapello Ambulance Service and bystanders near the event.
Samer Majali, the Vice Chairman and CEO of Royal Jordanian (RJ) was recently awarded the Distinguished Aviation Alumni Award 2022.



The honour was accorded by Professor Dame Helen Atkinson, Pro-Vice Chancellor, School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing at Cranfield University, UK.



The Distinguished Aviation Alumni Award is one of Cranfield Universitys highest honours. It recognizes the individuals who have achieved significant success within the aviation industry, while upholding the highest standards in industry practice.



The award was given to Majali in acknowledgment of his sustained professional achievement at the highest levels; he is regarded as a role model for leadership, having international visibility, influence, and wide experience working across different countries. Majali has also shown a significant impact on the air transport industry, beyond his own role and organization wherever he worked, being highly regarded as one of the Middle Easts most powerful and influential airline CEOs. His illustrious career has seen him take top executive positions.



Majali graduated from Cranfield University in 1983 with an MSc degree in Air Transport Management.



I am both humbled and honoured to receive the aviation alumni award for 2022. It is special, as it is a recognition from a globally recognized institution of learning and innovation, and the one which I have had the privilege of being associated with for many years, Majali said. - TradeArabia News Service


Once again, disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein sits in a courtroom, on trial in Los Angeles while the reckoning the accusations against him launched marks a significant milestone this month: It's been five years since a brief hashtag  #MeToo  galvanized a broad social movement.

The Associated Press went back to Louisette Geiss and Andrea Constand, accusers in two of the #MeToo era's most momentous cases  Weinstein, already convicted in a New York case, and Bill Cosby, once convicted and now free  to learn how their lives have changed, whether they have any regrets, and how hopeful they feel after a decidedly mixed bag of legal results.

The Associated Press does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted or abused, unless they come forward publicly, as Geiss and Constand have.

And we spoke to the woman who originally coined the phrase  Tarana Burke, a longtime advocate for sexual violence survivors and a survivor herself  about her own journey, the movement's resilience, and the challenges ahead.

Read the full story:

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Now in theaters, Till is the story of a mother, a mothers son and the horrific 1955 lynching of 14-year-old Chicagoan Emmett Till, who was visiting relatives in Mississippi at the time of his murder.

The killers were acquitted and lived as free men, long after confessing, proudly, to Look magazine the following year. The decision of Mamie Till-Mobley, Emmetts grieving, quietly galvanized mother, to hold an open-casket funeral for her son, and to allow Chicagos Jet magazine to publish photographs of Emmett Tills brutalized body, sparked a civil rights movement. Generations later, the murders of Black citizens continue, sometimes prosecuted, sometimes not. The events dramatized in Till point like an invisible arrow to where we are today.

But the movie does not work like a tract, or a polemic. Its not that kind of storytelling, and it shifts its perspective to pay careful, sensitive attention to Mamie, played with exquisite emotional insight by Danielle Deadwyler, before and after her sons abduction and slaughter. The events of Till, which have been adapted for television and depicted several times before, are awful to witness. But there is more than one way to handle this American history.

In the hands of co-writer and director Chinonye Chukwu, whose previous feature was the 2019 prison drama Clemency, Till trades in deliberate aesthetic choices to convey what the Tills endured: silence and lingering, expressive close-ups without an overt sense of editorializing or amping-up feelings and actions that need no extra emphasis.

Take, for example, the crucial scene where Mamie is shown the body of her son, at first from a calm remove, with the body itself just out of sight.

As a director, Chukwu told me in a Chicago interview last week, Im thinking: What is this moment about? Its about Mamies emotional experience, seeing the body for the first time. Were taking the body in as Mamie is taking it in. In shooting and editing the scene, we needed to communicate the love and tenderness she has for Emmett. This is her child. We begin with the body obstructed from view by the table. Compositionally that lets us just be with Mamie, preserving the privacy she needs with her son.

Then, we slowly move in toward the body, experiencing the sight of it as Mamie is experiencing it. Not in an objectifying way, but in a humanizing way.

In her callback for the role of Mamie, Deadwyler worked through this scene with Chukwu in a directors session via Zoom, performing in a closet  with actors virtual auditions, this is more common than it may sound  at her Los Angeles residence.

My son was sitting outside, playing Fortnite, she recalled in a separate interview last week. Im, like, Hey, Im about to go in and do this audition so if you hear some noises, dont worry, its OK, just doing my thing. So I go in the closet, we do our Zoom, and Chinonye and I are working it out together.

Her sister comes home mid-audition, and Im doing the scene in the closet, and she and my son hear a wail. She told me later they both looked at each other, in complete shock. And my son goes: Mom says shes on an audition! Shes OK!

More than OK; Deadwyler got the role.

I tend to cast actors for what they can give me here, director Chukwu says, finger-framing her face. Danielle gave me that, times 10. She can communicate the emotional complexities Mamies experiencing in Till in real time.

Chukwu wrote her draft of the screenplay using elements (credited) of an earlier version by Michael Reilly and Keith Beauchamp. The latter made the 2005 documentary The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till. The new films producing roster includes Beauchamp, Reilly and Whoopi Goldberg, who plays Alma Carthan, Emmett Tills grandmother.

Deadwylers audition took place last year, and filming commenced later in 2021, in Atlanta (doubling for Chicago in some scenes), with a few days location work in Mississippi. In preparation for Mamie, Deadwyler used the nonfiction account Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America by Till-Mobley and Christopher Benson as her bible.

The actor, 40, was taught about the Till lynching in elementary school, in an example of the sort of American history certain contemporary conservative forces want to sanitize or sideline altogether.

Im a child of Cascade United Methodist Church, Atlanta native Deadwyler says, and its spiritual leader, the late Joseph Lowery, worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. I did volunteerism as a kid, along with my siblings here. It was a part of our civil rights legacy. So this story is part of my cultural and educational awareness.

Earlier this year Congress passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, a development included in the final credits of Till. No one ever served time for Tills murder.

No accountability, Deadwyler says, quietly. American today finds itself in what she calls a strange crux. This film is asking people to question it, and to challenge it.

Director Chukwu, who is 37, was born in Nigeria, raised in Oklahoma and Alaska. She did her undergraduate studies at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Her life in America has been marked by a series of dislocations. Her perspective on what America was, is and can be filters through both Clemency (starring Alfre Woodard) and now Till.

I grew up going back to Nigeria often, she says. Most of my family is there, my parents actually moved back there soon after I went to film school. Ive been on a constant journey in my formative years figuring out my identity. Cause youre in this limbo. Right? I grew up in America; Im American; I go to Nigeria and see my cousins, we all look the same, but we dont really understand each other.

At 16, she attempted suicide, and has dealt with depression much of her life, a subject she addresses in a 2015 TEDx Talk available on YouTube. This was several years before she pushed her first feature film, Clemency, into existence.

Finding who she was as a Black person in America, then in college finding who she was a Black woman, led to her coming into my own racialized consciousness. Im 37 now. I dont have the time for any more identity crises! She laughs, a huge and rollicking laugh. I really dont have the time!

With Till, the creative collaborators hope to have created a drama light on the customary biopic sanctimony, and more closely drawn to Mamie in particular. I dont think about the message when Im telling a story, Chukwu says. If the storytelling and the filmmaking are done well, then the rest of it will become clear. Thats another reason I needed to humanize everybody, Mamie and Emmett most of all. If I can connect to the humanity, the emotional core  then I got you.
Stanislav Zas: CSTO proposed several measures to help Armenia

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Protests staged in Shanghai over China COVID curbs

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The seventh annual Aurora Award was presented to Jamila Afghani, educator, human rights activist and founder of the Noor Educational and Capacity Development Organization, or NECDO. Jamila has dedicated more than 25 years of her life to giving women in Afghanistan access to education. Her work was recognized during a series of high-level philanthropic events that the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative held Oct. 14-16 in Venice, Italy.

Through August 2021, NECDO has managed to reach more than 100,000 women with literacy programs through the creation of small, community-led centers in many communities. The organization has also provided legal assistance and psychosocial support to more than 10,000 women who have been abused by a family member or partner. Forced to flee Afghanistan, Jamilya continues to help others from a distance.

After the Taliban seized power in her country, Jamila Afghanistan had to leave her homeland, but she has not given up on helping her people. NEDCO continues to support Afghanistan's women and vulnerable families by shedding light on lack of access to education, domestic violence and other contemporary problems women face. At the same time, the organization provides financial assistance to human rights activists, journalists and activists.

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative created the annual Aurora Award on behalf of all survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors. The Aurora Award recipient receives a $1 million award and a unique opportunity to continue the baton of kindness by supporting organizations that help people. As the 2022 Aurora Award recipient, Jamila Afghanistan has chosen to support the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the Noor Education Capacity Building and Development Organization (NECDO). WILPF is an international women's association that seeks to promote world peace by advocating for disarmament, the elimination of violence, women's rights and gender equality, and NECDO is a non-governmental organization that provides humanitarian and social development assistance to women, youth and children in Afghanistan.

Since its founding, the Aurora Prize has transformed the lives of more than 1,000,000 people affected by war, conflict, persecution and other humanitarian problems, with a special focus on helping children, refugees, women and girls. This kind of effective philanthropy, aimed at tangible results, is made possible by the Prize's associates, whose contributions enable it to continue empowering today's heroes.
President Xi says order restored in HK

President Xi says order restored in HK
Beijing will seek to lift China's birth rate

Beijing will seek to lift China's birth rate

The mainland will enact policies to boost its birth rate, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday, as policymakers worry that a decline in China's population could hurt the world's second-biggest economy.



"We will establish a policy system to boost birth rates and pursue a proactive national strategy in response to population ageing," Xi told some 2,300 delegates in a speech opening the once-in-five-year Communist Party Congress in Beijing.



Although China has 1.4 billion people, the most in the world, its births are set to fall to record lows this year, demographers say, dropping below 10 million from last year's 10.6 million babies  already down 11.5 percent from 2020.



The authorities imposed a one-child policy from 1980 to 2015, later switching to a three-child policy.



Its fertility rate of 1.16 in 2021 was below the 2.1 OECD standard for a stable population and among the lowest in the world.



Over the past year or so, authorities have introduced measures such as tax deductions, longer maternity leave, enhanced medical insurance, housing subsidies, extra money for a third child and a crackdown on expensive private tutoring. (Reuters)
'Opec production cut based only on economic factors'

Opec nations say a decision to reduce output by 2 million barrels per day was taken unanimously. File photo: AFP

Opec member states lined up on Sunday to endorse a steep production cut agreed this month after the White House, stepping up a war of words with Riyadh, claimed Saudi Arabia had pushed some other nations into the move.



Iraq, Opec's second largest exporter, said the decision was based on economic indicators and was taken unanimously.



"There is complete consensus among Opec+ countries that the best approach in dealing with the oil market conditions during the current period of uncertainty and lack of clarity is a pre-emptive approach that supports market stability and provides the future the guidance it needs," Iraq's state oil marketer SOMO said in a statement.



Oman and Bahrain also said in separate statements that Opec+  which includes other major producers, notably Russia  had been unanimous in deciding on the 2 million barrels per day reduction.



Algeria's energy minister called the October 5 decision "historic" and he and Opec Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, currently visiting Algeria, expressed their full confidence in it, Algeria's Ennahar TV reported.



The cut came despite oil markets being tight, with inventories in major economies at lower levels than when Opec has cut output in the past.



But some analysts have said recent volatility in crude markets could be remedied by a cut that would help attract investors to a market that was underperforming fundamentals.



US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday that "more than one" Opec member felt coerced by Saudi Arabia into the vote, adding that the cut would also increase Russia's revenues and blunt the effectiveness of sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine.



Oman's energy ministry said Opec+ decisions were based purely on the realities of market supply and demand. (Reuters)
The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India Shaktikanta Das on Sunday said the central bank has been taking progressive measures to improve the availability of digital infrastructure for banking services. Governor Shaktikanta Das said the RBI issued the required guidelines after consulting the Indian Banks Association and other experts in the field, following the announcement made in the Union Budget 2022-23 for setting up of 75 digital banking units. He said that it was heartening to note that the commercial banks - both in the public and private sectors - have responded very positively to this initiative and added that 75 DBUs had been set up in a record six-month time in 75 districts of the country to commemorate 75 years of Independence. The governor said, "Their focus was to harness the benefits of technology and innovation in the banking space. The establishment of DBUs is a step to further augment the digital infrastructure in the country. This will act as an enabler in the digital ecosystem and will improve customer experience by facilitating seamless banking transactions." Shaktikanta Das also added that the DBUs would augment our efforts to promote financial inclusion by providing banking services in a paperless, efficient, safe and secure environment. "The specific financial services to be provided by the DBUs include, among other things, savings, credit, investment and insurance." The governor said on the delivery front, the DBUs will provide end-to-end digital processing of small ticket retail and MSME loans, starting from online applications to disbursals and these DBUs would also provide services related to certain identified government-sponsored schemes. "The products and services in these units will be provided in two modes, namely, self-service and assisted modes, with self-service mode being available on a 24X7X365 basis. The banks are also free to engage the services of digital business facilitators and business correspondents to expand the footprint of the DBUs," the governor said. He also appreciated the efforts taken up by the Indian Banks' Association, the banks which have established these DBUs, the Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance and his colleagues at RBI in setting up these units in such a short time. (ANI)
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said that today's meeting had been the most-engaging one with exporters in Chennai and that he had noted all the points.The minister also added that the southern state was at second place in state GDP (SGDP) and that the state is the major exporter in the sectors of textiles, leather, marine food, auto components. Piyush Goyal was inaugurating stalls of the Union government schemes as part of the public outreach at the Madipakkam bus stand in Chennai. He also said that the country was really proud that Tamil Nadu was supporting national-building and the development of the country. He also mentioned that the future of Tamil Nadu is K Annamalai, the leader of Tamil Nadu. He said there were wonderful things happening in Tamil Nadu, and added, "In 2047, when we are about to celebrate our centenary of our country, $20-trillion economy will surely be achieved in India." K Annamalai is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president in the state. He also added that, "In 2030, service and merchandise exports will increase to $1 trillion and even in other sectors economy." "I salute the women's empowerment of India. The principles, the culture, the heritage and the family value system added economic value to the nation," the minister said. Piyush Goyal also said, "I have the confidence that by our strength, $750-billion of exports will be done soon and India will grow to 11 per cent in exports." He said, "When we work together, we can achieve anything in India. I enjoyed listening to all of your points and I have noted it that I'll try to rectify the issues in a possible manner." (ANI)
'Vanderpump Rules' star Lala Kent, who made headlines back in August when she was spotted visiting rapper 50 Cent after a very public feud, has now shared an update on where she stands with him. In an exclusive interview with E! News, talking about 50 Cent she said, "He reached out and said, 'Come to set. I'm in Los Angeles. Right when I walked in, he showed nothing but love." According to Lala, 50 Cent also had a message about her ex Randall Emmett, who she split from in October 2021. "He said, 'You should have listened to me,'" Lala recalled. "And I was like, 'I know' and we're all good." She then went on to admit that "50 has been my crush since 'In Da Club' came out" all the way back in 2003. "I'll always have a little crush. I have a bigger crush on his girlfriend so figure that one out," Lala said, reported E! News. Speaking of romance, Lala got fans talking earlier this month when she told Jeff Lewis she "might be in love." But while in New York City, the 32-year-old suggested there may be more than one guy impressing her. As per E! News, when asked about the new man in her life, Lala stayed coy before admitting, "I'm having a heyday." She said, "I don't even care. I am independent and fine...I've been locked down for six years. I want to go have fun. I deserve it." (ANI)
Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson recently got candid and opened up about her "bizarre" sex scene with Joaquin Phoenix in the 2013 romance sci-fi movie 'Her'. According to Fox News, Johansson spoke about how gross it was listening to her fake an orgasm on set during Dax Shepard's 'Armchair Expert' podcast. The Academy Award nominee revealed Phoenix also had a difficult time recording audio for their sex scenes in Spike Jonze's movie. "You definitely don't want to hear what you sound like having a fake orgasm," she pointed out. "I remember we came in that day," the "Black Widow" star began to explain, adding, "I've become that actor that's like 'let's get dirty.' I have to because otherwise, I'll be petrified. Joaquin comes in, we try to get through one take, and he was, like, losing it. He was like 'I can't do it.'" She discussed how her co-star already filmed the entire movie, as she replaced Samantha Morton for the voice role and a few scenes needed to be recorded again, reported Fox News. "He was like angry... he had already [filmed the scene], he had done it in person, and now he was with me in this weird theatre, and I'm in this box, and he was like staring at me, and the lights are low, and Spike is there... it was so bizarre," Johansson expressed. Shepard continued to joke around with Johansson and asked if they had any cocktails for some liquid courage before filming the sex scene. "We definitely did not have cocktails," she responded. "I was fine. Joaquin was not - he was so upset about it," she noted, as per Fox News. The movie 'Her' is about a lonely writer - played by Phoenix - that developed an unlikely relationship with an artificial intelligence operating system - played by Johansson -- designed to meet his needs. (ANI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reportedly suffered minor injuries after the steamer in which he was in rammed the pillar of JP Setu here on Saturday. Nitish Kumar, along with officials, was inspecting the ghats of the Ganga ahead of the Chhath Puja. When the steamer reached the JP Setu near Digha, it collided with one of the pillars, as the helsman lost control of the vessel due to the higher level and speedier flow of water in the river. However, the state Public Relations Department denied any collision. In a press release, it said that there was a technical glitch in the steamer on which Nitish Kumar and the officials were on, and it had stalled in the middle of the Ganga. Another steamer was then sent to bring them back to the shore. Nitish Kumar inspects all ghats of Patna more than three times every year. In Patna, there are 105 ghats from Danapur located on the western side to Malsalami in eastern side of the city. Patna DM Chandrashekher Singh directed the authorities to submit reports about the preparation of Chhath Puja on the banks of the Ganga river. --IANS ajk/vd ( 206 Words) 2022-10-15-22:58:02 (IANS)
Government of Telangana received praise from the teachers and students of the state after the Telangana government's efforts for improving the infrastructure in government-run schools were recognized. While speaking to ANI, Azmathunissa Physical sciences SA said that she is very happy that she is working in the school, this school has all the facilities like all the subject labs- Physics, Biology, Computer- are here, and Google lab, library, Digital class is also there. "All the girls are learning a lot from the classes", Azmathunissa added. Faizunissa a student of class 9th of the Government High school (girls) 2nd Lancer, Golconda said remembers a science fair. Where she won a prize for finding the purity of water. Faizunissa explains with joy that we took four types of water and soap in them. Later we measured the foam and found out that borewell water had less foam. She further thanked the Telangana government for providing a very good lab facility in the school. Firdaus Begam a student in class 8th lauded the government school for its facility of having a Biology lab in her school. Earlier in July, it was learned that The Telangana government was operating 188 residential educational institutions in English, Urdu, and Telugu medium for classes 1 to 10, Intermediate and Degree Colleges. Out of this, 69 institutions are for only boys, 103 institutions are for only girls and 16 are co-education institutions. Besides providing free education, the government also provides free uniforms, books, and mid-day meals for students. Moreover, "the government is giving the best computer and sciences laboratory facilities for students in government schools", ANI has learned. Speaking to ANI earlier, Sania Yusuf, a student of BJR Golconda college said, "I study at BiPC in Urdu medium. I get everything for free and the quality of education is good there. There is lab facility and the staff is good too. I thank the Telangana government for this." Afsa Khan, a student of Class 12 in BJR College also thanked the Telangana government for the facilities. Arshiya, a teacher in BJR Junior College in Golconda, has been working there for the last 10 years. She said, "Education is free. All the students are given free education. The number of students is increasing due to the free admission and free books incentives from the Government of Telangana. It's very helpful, especially for studens from the weaker sections." "In future also we expect KCR government will bring other facilities also. The students are very thankful and the teachers and principal are working very hard to uplift the college. We are indebted to the KCR government," he added. (ANI)
Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai remembered the Socialist icon 'Jayprakash Narayan' and refers to him as a 'symbol of giving' at an event of book release in Kochi on Saturday. "Yesterday the politics belongs to givers. It is not wrong to take something or it is not wrong in asking for a position in politics. But the politics of those who give should not disappear. "It was at this time that Jayaprakash Narayan, who gave up the post of Prime Minister, is remembered", Governor Pillai added. Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the statue of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, the Indian independence activist, theorist, socialist and political leader, at his ancestral village Sitab Diara area located on the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border on the occasion of his 120th birth anniversary. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present at the event. During his address at the event, the Home Minister announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to build a research centre with a memorial here for the coming generation. "Modi ji has decided to build a research centre with a memorial here so that the coming generation could give a new impetus to the development of the country by taking inspiration from JP's ideas. After the formation of R&D centre, students will be able to do research on the principles of JP and his work done for rural development by staying here," said Shah. "I'd like to ask the people of Bihar today, leaders who achieved heights through the JP movement, by taking his name are sitting in the lap of Congress today just for the sake of power -are you with them? Is this the politics of the principles of Jayprakash Narayan? JP never did anything for power and worked for principles all his life. Today, people who switch sides for power are CM of Bihar..." said the HM in Sitab Diara. "JP set an excellent example of change in front of the country by staying out of power," he said. Jaiprakash Narayan formed the first non-Congress government in the country by uniting the entire Opposition against the corrupt and unjust rule that imposed emergency. Narayan was a socialist and political leader. He is remembered for leading the mid-1970s opposition parties against Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, for whose overthrow he had called for a "total revolution" (Sampoorna Kranti). In 1999, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in recognition of his social service. Other awards include the Magsaysay award for Public Service in 1965. Jayprakash Narayan was born on 11 October 1902 in the village of Sitabdiara, Ballia district, United Provinces, British India (present-day Saran district, Bihar, India) Sitabdiara is a large village, straddling two states and three districts -- Saran and Bhojpur in Bihar and Ballia in Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)
Noida Businessman- wrongly detained by the Abu Dhabi government over mistaken identity- landed in India in the early hours of Sunday. The Noida-based Businessman namely, Praveen Kumar was detained by the Abu Dhabi Police over mistaking him for a criminal they were searching for. Praveen Kumar was garlanded at the Airport after landing in India from Abu Dhabi, where he was erroneously apprehended by the police- later released. After landing in India, Praveen Kumar told ANI that CID there at the airport detained me once & then let me go, after which they detained me for a second time when I was on my way toward departure. "They kept me overnight, forced me to accept I was someone else, put me in a holding cell in the morning, took me to a different city, held me & questioned me again. Would like to thank PM Modi & CM Adityanath for their quick action in the matter", Praveen Kumar added. Earlier, after the news of Praveen Kumar's detention in a foreign country aired, Gautam Buddh Nagar DM SL Yathiraj, told ANI that one Praveen Kumar from Gautam Buddha Nagar district's Habibpur was detained by Abu Dhabi police at the airport, as per the information given by the family who submitted an application to get him released. Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Embassy & State's Home Ministry was apprised. It is worth mentioning that the local police probed this case as well. Praveen Kumar was released on Saturday, officials said. (ANI)
Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police on Saturday arrested two foreign nationals from the national capital accused of duping a woman on social media site. The accused were identified as Allote Peter (Ghana) and Romance Joshua (Nigeria). A case was registered by the Hyderabad Police after a woman- prey of duping- filed a complaint against the accused. The former Allote Peter introduced himself as Oscar Leone a doctor from the USA and started developing a friendship with the victim through continuous conversation over a social media platform. The accused later told her that he was sending a parcel containing gold Jewelry, electronic gadgets, and some cash, officials said. "Following this, the latter person Romance Joshua duped the victim woman after posing himself as an official from the customs department of Delhi International Airport and demanded her to pay the customs tax for the gifts she has received from Oscar Leon. A total of Rs.2.2 lakhs were collected from the victim for various charges", officials added. During the course of the investigation, the Cyber Crime police arrested the accused from the national capital. On interrogation, it was revealed that they visited Delhi on a student VISA, created fake profiles on social media sites- Instagram and Facebook- using the photos of white people, and sent follow requests to women. Later they chat with mobile numbers starting with +1 and +44 numbers and make the victims believe that they are chatting with foreigners. The accused used to target women for this purpose. They used to develop a friendship with the victim women after gaining their trust. And inform them that they are sending gifts as a token of their friendship. One accused sends photos of gold Jewellery, cellphones, laptops, cash, etc. While the other accused dupes the victims after being disguised as an official from the customs department of the International Airport, Delhi collects money from the victims in the name of customs duty, income tax, RBI charges, conversion Charges, etc. Earlier, in September Mumbai Police arrested four persons for allegedly attempting to dupe a businessman by posing as officers of the Central Bureau (CBI).Four people pretending to be officials of CBI and police entered the office of Aastik Trading Centre in Goregaon and demanded Rs 5 lakh. After being informed police arrived at the spot and arrested four people. Fake CBI and Police ID cards were also recovered from them, the Goregaon Police said.The businessman told police that he needed around Rs 1.6 crore as loan and contacted a person and after some time the fake officials arrived at his office. According to police there were cased registered against the four arrested at several police stations on charges of duping. As per police, the gang used to target rich businessmen and their modus operandi was to trap people by offering them loans and then conduct fake raids and demand money by pretending to be CBI and police officers. (ANI)
Bhartiya Janta Party MLA from Nandigram, West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday wrote a letter to the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal, indicting Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamta Banerjee of "befooling people by renaming the schemes 'already' launched by Central Government". While taking a dig out at Mamta Banerjee's Festive Schemes, Suvendu wrote, "I would like to draw your kind attention towards a specific publicity material published and displayed by the Department of Food & Supplies: West Bengal Government". This poster, a copy of which has duly been annexed herewith. provides information about a 'Festive Scheme' made available to the AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) & SPHH (State Priority Ration Card) Ration Card holders for a limited time period starting from 23rd September 2022 till 30th October 2022." "The message which is being circulated by the Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee, the Department of Food & Supplies; West Bengal Government on the occasion of Sharod-Utsav (Durga Pooja), Kaali Puja, Deepawali, and Chhath Puja is being promoted as a part of the now defunct 'Duare Ration' scheme & so-called (non-existent) 'Khadya Sethi' scheme", the letter stated. "The Duare Ration (doorstep delivery of ration) scheme has always been in trouble since a was launched A vast majority of the Ration Dealers (distributors) objected to it and labeled it as impractical", Suvendu added. "On the other hand, the Khadya Sathi scheme is lust another infamous 'Sticker Scheme' of the Mamta Banerjee Government. You (Piyush Goyal) must be aware that the West Bengal Government has been engaging in renaming the Central Government schemes to befool the general public into believing that the schemes are being provided by the State Government in order to claim credit of the benefits which are being provided by the Central Government. So. Khadya Sathi, is nothing but a label placed on the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana", the letter concludes. So this poster is another attempt to claim credit unethically. The food items that are being offered are actually being provided by the Central Government. But the State Government has made it look like their own in order to deceive people. I also urged you to take note of this 'unscrupulous' act and seek answers from the West Bengal Government for this act", Suvendu Adhikari in his letter. (ANI)
A team from Cyber South District Police Station on Saturday apprehended a gang of fraudsters accused of duping a person for Rs 50 lakhs, by impersonating themselves as belonging to Togo Country. The accused were identified as Praveen alias Deva Hindustani, Vijay Dhondu Bhandkoli, Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, and Mihir Hitendra Panchal. The Cyber Crime Police Station, South District received a complaint on September 3. The Complainant states that he received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number who proposed a profitable business, introducing himself as David Johnson an employee of a company belonging to the country Togo in the name of a Veterinary which is engaged in the business of manufacturing animal vaccines and the raw material (Glucic based Extract) of the same is procured from India. After that, the same person provided the supplier details and contact person namely Miss. Binita. Miss Binita convinced the victim through an email and initially, the complainant placed a sample order of raw material and transferred around Rs. 1,80,000 on September 9 to the account provided by Miss Binita to the victim. Later, the complainant placed a bulk order of 30 Litres and transferred a total amount of Rs.50 Lakh approx. in various account numbers provided by the fraudsters. Following this, the Complainant lodged a complaint against the accused after sensing that he was cheated by the fraudsters. Acting on the tip-off the police started investigating. During the course of the investigation, bank details of beneficiary accounts in which the cheated money was transferred were obtained and all the accounts were found registered in the name of M/S Sharma Enterprises at various addresses in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Thereafter CDR, CAF & IMEI details of alleged mobile numbers were obtained and analyzed thoroughly. After that, the team divided into three parts and departed to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. Through surveillance and technical analysis, raids were conducted and 02 accused persons namely 1. Praveen alias Deva Hindustani and Vijay Dhondu Bhandkoli were arrested from Maharashtra. Further, the accused person namely Dharmendra Kumar Mishra was arrested from Madhya Pradesh and the accused namely Mihir Hitendra Panchal was arrested from Gujarat. They confessed to their involvement in the above-said case. After interrogation, it was revealed that the accused person used an app for Internet calling purposes and lured innocent people on the pretext of profitable business which engaged in the business of manufacturing animal vaccines and raw materials. They keep a secret vault app to store the documents & Banking Apps. After that, the cheated money was deposited in their accounts, and the accused Vijay Dhondu Bhandkoli transferred the cheated amount in several accounts after that he withdraw the same amount through various ATMs. The police recovered Six Mobile Phones, SIM Cards, Debit cards, passbooks, Aadhar Cards, and other documents from their possession. (ANI)
The state chief expressed his grief over the death of the former MLA from Bhanupratappur, calling it an "irreparable loss".

"The sudden demise of Chhattisgarh Assembly Vice-President, senior tribal leader, Bhanupratappur MLA Manoj Singh Mandavi is very saddening for all of us. I pray to God to provide strength to his family to bear this pain. May his soul rest in peace. Om Shani," CM Baghel tweeted.

"It's an irreparable loss. He was a big tribal leader who used to raise issues related to tribals in the assembly. He always worked for the Adivasi community's progress and his constituency's development. His contribution to the state will always be remembered," the CM further said.

During his political career, the three-time MLA held multiple positions including the Deputy Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Assembly as well as the Home Minister of the new state of Chhattisgarh. He also served as the president of Chhattisgarh Adivasi Vikas Parishad.

He was elected as the MLA from the undivided Madhya Pradesh in 1998 and twice from the state of Chhattisgarh in 2013 and 2018.

His last rites will be conducted at Nathiyan Nawagaon in Kanker. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to hold a meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) to finalise the candidates for the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, as per sources. The party can also release the first list of its candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections anytime in the new few days. A meeting of Himachal Pradesh's core group has been called to be conducted in the national capital on Monday which will be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda, organization minister BL Santosh, state Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and the leaders of the state core group. The party has "almost concluded" its preparations for contesting the elections in Himachal Pradesh for yet-another time this year. Amit Shah on Saturday launched the party's campaign song for the assembly election 'Himachal Ki Pukaar Phir BJP Sarkar' at a public rally in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmour. This CEC meeting is expected to give a final list of the candidates for assembly elections in the state, after the necessary consultation with the party's senior leaders. Addressing the rally, Shah said, "Himachal Pradesh is going to set a new custom, 'ek baar BJP, baar baar BJP'. In Uttarakhand, Congressmen used to talk about the change of rule in alternative terms. But such customs were not followed and the BJP government was formed with a two-thirds majority." He also congratulated the Hati community of Himachal for getting the ST status by saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended the community's struggle of 55 years for the status of 'Tribal' as he understands their pain and proudly said "Himachal is mine" as he (PM Modi) has an attachment with the people of this state. He expressed confidence that the BJP will return to power with a two-thirds majority in Himachal Pradesh. The last date for filing the nomination for candidature in Himachal Pradesh assembly polls is October 25 and for the elections that will take place on November 12 for the next government in the state. The results of these elections will be declared on December 8, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday. The term of the Himachal House will end on January 8, 2023. Himachal Pradesh voted to elect its legislative assembly on November 9, 2017. In the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defeated the Congress Party and won 44 seats while Congress secured only 21 seats in 2017. (ANI)
The Indian Army has signed agreements with 11 banks, including the private sector banks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank, for providing banking facilities to Agniveers on enrolment, the Ministry of Defence said on Saturday. The memoranda of understandings (MoUs) were signed by Lt Gen V Sreehari, DG (MP & PS) and senior officials of Banks in a ceremony presided over by Lt Gen C Bansi Ponappa, the Adjutant General of the Indian Army on 14 October 2022, the ministry said. Eleven banks with which the Indian Army has signed the agreement include State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank and Bandhan Bank. The features and benefits offered under Agniveer salary package are similar to the Defence Salary Package. In addition, the banks have offered soft loans to exiting Agniveers to promote and enhance their entrepreneurial skills. The first batch of Agniveers under "Agnipath Scheme" will be joining Training Centres by January 2023, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.This is a major defence policy reform introduced by the Government to usher in a new era in the human resource policy of the Army, Air Force and Navy. The policy, which comes into immediate effect, will hereafter govern the recruitment of personnel below officer rank (PBOR) in the three services, according to the Ministry of Defence. The Agniveers will form a distinct rank in the three services, and will also wear a distinct insignia as part of their uniform. AGNIPATH scheme allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years. Soldiers who are recruited under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. The AGNIPATH Scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces and provide a fresh lease of 'Josh' and 'Jazba' whilst at the same time bring about a transformational shift towards a more tech-savvy Armed Forces - which is indeed the need of the hour, the defence ministry highlighted. It is envisaged that the average age profile of the Indian Armed forces would come down by about 4-5 years with the implementation of this scheme. Agniveers will receive Rs 33,000 in the second year, Rs 36,500 in the third year and Rs 40,000 in the fourth year. They will get Rs 11.71 lakh as Seva Nidhi Package after four years.The 'Seva Nidhi' will be exempt from Income Tax. There shall be no entitlement to gratuity and pensionary benefits. Agniveers will be provided non-contributory Life Insurance Cover of Rs 48 lakh for the duration of their engagement period in the Indian Armed Forces. During this period of service to the nation, the Agniveers will be imparted with various military skills and experience, discipline, physical fitness, leadership qualities, courage and patriotism. The skills gained by each Agniveer will be recognised in a certificate to form part of his unique resume. (ANI)
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Sunday said that it had apprehended a fishing boat with five Sri Lankans off the Kanniyakumari coast in Tamil Nadu. In a sea-air coordinated operation, the Indian Coast Guard ship Shaurya apprehended a Sri Lankan fishing boat 74 nautical miles south of Kanyakumari. "In a sea-air coordinated operation Indian Coast Guard ship Shaurya apprehended Sri Lankan fishing boat IMULA 0628 NBO alongwith 05 crew, 74 nautical miles south of Kanyakumari," the ICG said in a tweet. The ICG handed over the boat with five crew to the Coastal Security Group of Tuticorin for further investigation. "Boat with 05 crew was handed over to Coastal Security Group, Tuticorin for further investigation," the Indian Coast Guard added. Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
Some Karnataka Congress workers were admitted to hospital after suffering an electric shock while tying flags to a pole during the Congress party's ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' led by Rahul Gandhi. The former Congress President informed about the incident on Sunday through his Facebook post. He called the incident "unfortunate" and said that the injured had been admitted to hospital. "An unfortunate incident occured during the Yatra today. A few of our friends suffered an electric shock while tying flags to a pole. They have been tended to in the Civil Hospital, New Moka, Ballari. I am happy to see that they have not suffered any major injuries, and their morale continues to remain high," the Congress leader said in his Facebook post. The MP from Wayanad further advised everybody involved with the Yatra to take safety precautions and "utmost care". "Even in this moment of distress, the spirit of the #BharatJodoYatra took over. Those injured were immediately helped and taken care of, and their safety and health were prioritised. I would like to take this opportunity to tell all those involved in the Yatra to take safety precautions and utmost care while they go about fulfilling their duties as we forge ahead in our mission to unite India." Rahul Gandhi has been leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra since September 7 aiming to cover a distance of 3,500 km, covering as many as 12 states. The Yatra started from Kanyakumari and will end in Kashmir the following year by covering 25 km every day. Currently, the Yatra is in its Karnataka leg and has covered more than 1000 kilometres so far. According to Congress, the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' is being held to combat the divisive politics of the BJP-led Centre and awaken the country's people to the dangers of economic inequalities and social polar and political centralisation. Notably, all the party MPs, leaders and workers along with Rahul Gandhi are staying in containers. Sleeping beds, toilets and ACs are also installed in some of the containers. The arrangements have been made keeping in view the intense heat and humidity with the change of places. The Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held earlier this year and the Yatra is seen as an attempt to rally the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the commencement of medical education in Hindi at Bhopal and said that this launch will bring a positive change in the country. The Prime Minister said that it will open multiple doors of opportunities for students. "This launch in the field of medical education is going to bring a positive change in the country. With this, while lakhs of students will be able to study in their own language, many doors of opportunities will also open for them," PM Modi said while responding to the tweet of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Amit Shah, in a first-of-its-kind step in the country, on Sunday, launched the Hindi version of MBBS course books in Bhopal. "For the first time in the country, medical education is starting in Hindi, launching it in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)," Shah tweeted. While addressing the event, the Home Minister said, "Today is a very important day for the education sector of India. Whenever history will be written in the coming days, this day will be written in golden letters." "Through the New Education Policy, PM Modi has given more emphasis to the mother tongue of students. This is a historic decision. Now under Modi Ji you can avail higher education in any language as per your comfort," Shah said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state medical education minister Vishwas Sarang were also present on the occasion. Madhya Pradesh is the first state to start the MBBS course in the Hindi language in the country. Initially, three subjects have been selected to be studied in Hindi which include Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry. A team of 97 experts have been working on the preparation of books for the last 232 days at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. They have been translating the book from English to Hindi. "It was not an easy task but we prepared it in very easy language. We have prepared it so that it will be helpful in the studies of the students," an expert involved in the translation told ANI. The expert further said the new edition of Medical Biochemistry contains the application of some new chapters which include Sodium, Potassium, Water Homeostasis, Biochemistry Techniques, Radiation, Radioisotopes and Environmental Pollutants and Toxins. Besides, several new line diagrams, tables and text boxes have been added to make information more memorable. Similarly in the Anatomy edition, new chapters of surface anatomy have been added in both abdomen and lower limb sections. New line diagrams, CTs and MRIs diagram tables and flow charts are added to increase the retention of knowledge. (ANI)
Giving a benefiting reply to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remark that only people having money are getting jobs in Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said details of corruption in recruitment during the Congress regime will be sent to him along with full statistics. Talking to reporters at Ambigrama Helipad in KR Pet before proceeding to a function on Sunday, the Chief Minister said, "Rahul may be having selective amnesia or the State Congress leaders not briefed their leader properly. The amount of corruption in recruitment that took place during the Congress regime has never happened in any other state." He said that the incumbent government has ordered an inquiry into the leakage of question papers pertaining to the recruitment of police constables and PU exams. "Details of the probe will be sent to Rahul. Let him see the amount of corruption during his party ruling and then talk," said Bommai. Earlier on Saturday, Rahul Gandhi had said if people had money then they could buy a government job in the State and if they were not able to pay then they would probably have to remain unemployed throughout life. Addressing a public rally at Karnataka's Ballari as part of the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra, the former Congress president said, "Why are 2.5 lakh government posts vacant in Karnataka? If you want to be a police sub-inspector, you can be one by paying Rs 80 lakh. If you have money, you can buy a government job in Karnataka. If you don't have money, you can stay unemployed all your life." Pointing out that the current rate of unemployment in the country was the highest in 45 years, Gandhi said, "Today India has the highest unemployment ever in 45 years. PM had said that he would provide employment to 2 crore youth every year. Where did those jobs go? Instead, crores of youth have become unemployed." Reacting to the Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah's statement that the Congress Party will come back to power, Bommai said, "In 2018, Siddaramaiah had said his party would come to power. But what happened? The total number of seats won by the Congress party came down to 79 from 127. The former CM had said BS Yediyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy would not become the chief ministers and both of them served as the CM for one term. We will request Siddaramaiah to repeat it as it will help BJP." (ANI)
Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday attended a programme organised by 'Maruti Veer Jawan Trust' to support the families of soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty. "Attended a programme organised by 'Maruti Veer Jawan Trust' to support the families of India's bravehearts. The Govt. is committed to the welfare of the families of our soldiers and we are leaving no stone unturned to strengthen that support system", Rajnath tweeted. Rajnath Singh urged the citizens to contribute to nation-building by transcending sectarian barriers and imbibing the qualities of national pride and patriotism, found in abundance in every Indian soldier and freedom fighter. He said, "the Armed Forces personnel, rising above the barriers of region, religion, caste and language, serve the motherland selflessly and protect the people from different threats, the same way our revolutionary freedom fighters laid down their lives for India's independence". "It is the duty of every citizen to carry forward the ideals and resolutions of our freedom fighters & soldiers; protect the unity, integrity and sovereignty of our nation and play their part in building a strong, prosperous and self-reliant 'New India'," said Rajnath Singh, while paying homage to the gallant freedom fighters and Armed Forces personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the Nation. Terming the support to the family members of the fallen heroes as a national responsibility, the Defence Minister asserted that the Government is committed to the welfare of the next of Kin of the serving as well as retired personnel. He described the family as the biggest strength and support system of a soldier and said that the Government is leaving no stone unturned to strengthen that support system. "During my stint as the Home Minister, 'Bharat Ke Veer' fund was one of the major decisions taken to support the families of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) jawans and officers. Recently, the Ministry of Defence launched 'Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot' website to enable people to contribute more to Armed Forces Battle Casualties Fund," he said. Rajnath Singh stressed that bolstering the security apparatus of the country by equipping the Armed Forces with indigenous state-of-the-art weapons/equipment is the Government's top priority and the induction of 'Made in India' ships and other equipment reflects the resolve of soon achieve complete 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence. He said, "strict vigil is being maintained at the borders and the Nation is ready to deal with all challenges. He maintained that "India is a peace-loving nation which has never tried to hurt any country, but if any attempt is made to disrupt peace and harmony in the country, a befitting reply will be given." Singh commended the Armed Forces for always protecting the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country by responding to threats such as wars and cross-border terror activities with courage and promptness. "Therefore, it is the moral responsibility of the citizens to come forward and support the soldiers & their families in the same way they fulfil their duties of protecting the nation," he said. Earlier on Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the 'Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot' website to contribute to the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF) and appealed to the people to contribute generously to the fund. "Launched the 'Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot' website for contribution to Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund. I appeal to everyone to contribute generously to this fund and support the families of India's Bravehearts. It is our moral duty to support them," Rajnath tweeted. According to a statement by the Defence Ministry, AFBCWF is a Tri-Service fund, which is utilised to grant immediate financial assistance to the families of soldiers/sailors/airmen who lay down their lives or are grievously injured in active military operations. "The website (www.maabharatikesapoot.mod.gov.in) will enable people to contribute online directly to the fund. A certificate of online contribution can also be downloaded," it said. The launch event was organised at the National War Memorial Complex in New Delhi on Friday. In his address, Singh paid tributes to the valiant soldiers of the Armed Forces whose sacrifice and unwavering commitment keep the country safe from those who try to cast an evil eye. "Names of great personalities like Maharana Pratap, Veer Shivaji, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Rani Laxmibai, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Ashfaqullah Khan will be etched in our hearts forever. Their sacrifices continue to be an inspiration for all. It is our Armed Forces who are at the core preserving our freedom," he said. Singh commended the Armed Forces for always protecting the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country by responding to threats such as wars and cross-border terror activities with courage and promptness. "Therefore, it is the moral responsibility of the citizens to come forward and support the soldiers & their families in the same way they fulfil their duties of protecting the nation," he said. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated 'Gatha Swaraj ki' gallery in Gwalior's famous HH Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia museum. Amit inaugurated the gallery dedicated to the glorious history of the Marathas in the freedom struggle and visited the museum in Jai Vilas Palace of Scindias in Gwalior. "One special thing is that for the first time the portrait of Laxmibai is being displayed in the museum as a Maratha warrior. It would be fair to say that the Scindia dynasty has been facing constant criticism regarding Rani Laxmibai", Scindia Museum official told ANI. The Scindia museum officials said, "A special guide has arranged for the explanation about the Maratha gallery during the visit of Amit Shah in gallery and guide has explained in deep about Rani Laxmibai to Amit Shah." "After 165 years, a major change is taking place in the Scindia royal family of Gwalior. Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi, the heroine of the first revolution against the British in 1857, playing the bugle of revolution against the British, and it was here that she attained martyrdom. Since then, the Scindia family has been on the target of people regarding this matter. He has been accused of not supporting Laxmibai, but now the guns of these allegations are becoming silent since Sunday evening. Now Laxmibai will be present permanently and forever in the royal palace of the Scindia family", said the Scindia Museum officials. The officials further added, "Scindia Museum was built in Italy style and it's a living example of royal splendour. It has a museum with about 42 rooms, in which things ranging from the splendours of the Scindia dynasty to their public concerns are on display. In fact, this museum is a document of the rich cultural heritage of the Scindia dynasty. Now a new dimension has been added to this museum. A unique gallery focusing on the valour of the Maratha dynasties of the country and their warriors has become part of the museum". "This museum, full of grand rooms, was built by the late Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia in memory of her husband Maharaja Jivaji Rao Scindia. The saga of the Scindia family, the belongings of his family etc have been preserved. This museum is one of the few royal museums in the world, where thousands of visitors from all over the world reach Gwalior every year", informed the museum officials. (ANI)
Another drone that entered Indian territory from the Pakistan side has been shot down by alert Border Security Force (BSF) troops on Sunday late evening. According to BSF, at about 9.15 pm, alert BSF troops of the 22 Battalion thwarted a drone intrusion attempt by shooting down an Octa-copter (8 propellers) in the area of Border Out Post (BOP) Rania in the Amritsar sector of Punjab. The drone is approximately 12 kg in weight. Two propellors sustained damage due to firing by BSF troops. The consignment was also recovered. "Search operation is underway. It is the second drone that BSF troops have shot down in the last two days," said a senior BSF officer. On Friday, BSF troops shot down a drone that entered India in Punjab's Gurdaspur sector from the Pakistan side on the International Border in the early hours. A senior BSF officer said that the drone was spotted by BSF troops on patrolling duty. They immediately opened fire and it was shot down. Pertinent to mention, in the past nine months, security forces have observed the illegal entry of 191 drones into Indian territory from neighbouring Pakistan, raising major concerns in terms of internal security in the country. The central government recently shared the input from the security forces deployed at the India-Pakistan border to maintain such illegal attempts from the Pakistan side. Of the 191 drones observed, 171 entered into Indian territory through the India-Pakistan border along the Punjab sector while 20 were seen in the Jammu sector, a document accessed by the ANI mentions. As per the document, the "UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) observation in Indo-Pak border was seen in Punjab and Jammu frontier with effect from January 1, 2022, to September 30, 2022". The documents further reveal that most of these drones or UAVs managed to flee while a total of seven have been shot down by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, who are deployed along the India-Pakistan border to keep a tab on such illegal activities being orchestrated by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence. Among seven drones shot down this year between January 1 to September 15 were observed in Punjab's Amritsar, Ferozpur and Abohar regions. Officials in the BSF told ANI that drones are being used by Pakistan's side to transport weapons, explosives and narcotics across the international border in Jammu and Punjab from Pakistan. The increased drone activity across the border was brought to the notice of Home Minister Amit Shah in the security review meeting in Srinagar recently with top security and intelligence chiefs in attendance. While BSF, which means the international border with Pakistan in the Jammu sector believes that it has been able to repel drones carrying arms, ammunition and explosives from Pakistan, the state police and the intelligence agencies differ with this assessment. The security forces have seized various AK series assault rifles, pistols, MP4 carbines, carbine magazines, high explosive grenades as well as narcotics which were transported into Indian territory from Pakistan from the drones shot down so far. As per security agencies, BSF intelligence inputs and Jammu and Kashmir Police officials, the drones are also used to drop packets of Afghan heroin for financing terror operations in the Valley and Punjab. It is learnt that the group behind the transportation of weapons, explosives and drugs is Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and other terror outfits which have camps across the International Boundary and are backed by ISI. The Home Ministry is learnt to have directed the concerned agencies to find out a solution to stop drone activities and meanwhile security agencies and law enforcement forces are asked to keep a special watch on such movements. (ANI)
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal took part in a discussion with various experts, academicians, researchers of traditional medicinal practice as well as common citizens as part of the 'Har Din Har Ghar Ayurveda' programme of the Government of India, in Bongaigaon on Sunday. The Union Minister called upon everyone to take an active part in this year's campaign and learn how everyday items of our home can be used for Ayurveda that will enrich our quality of life. Speaking on occasion, Sonowal, said, "To unlock the huge potential of the traditional system of medicines of our country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken many important steps to develop the Ayush sector in the country. With the sustained effort to push the Ayush sector, we have reached a global Ayush market worth USD 18.2 billion today" "The effectiveness of our rich traditional medicinal practices like Ayurveda is time-tested. It helps enrich the lives of human beings. It is with this intent, as per the vision of PM Modi, we are working with the modern system of medicine so that we can evolve a system of both modern and traditional medicinal practices helping people get swift treatment as well as improved quality of life", he added. Speaking about the potential of Bongaigaon, the Union Minister said, "The work at the Multi-Modal Logistical Park at Jogighopa in Bongaigaon is going full steam. This project is going to be a game changer in the EXIM trade of the Northeast region with a revolutionary logistical process. Not only it will improve our trade prospects, but it is also likely to unlock a lot of employment potential in the region. We are also planning to set up a Maritime Skill Development Centre in Guwahati so that the region's youth can benefit from the opportunity that maritime trade has to offer. With the investment to double the capacity of the Bongaigaon refinery, the Modi-led government is firmly committed towards the development of Bongaigaon". The Union Minister also visited the BJP party office in Bongaigaon and exchanged greetings with the leaders and party workers during his visit today. The Senior Leader of the party honoured many senior leaders of the party for their contribution to the growth of the party. The event was also attended by Himani Adhikari, District President of BJP, Ajay Kumar Roy, MLA, Bijni, and Ashok Sharma, former MLA of Nalbari among many others. (ANI)
Governor Harichandan met Governor Gehlot on a courtesy visit, during his official visit to Bengaluru.

On his arrival at Raj Bhavan, Governor Harichandan was personally welcomed by Karnataka Governor Gehlot and felicitated him with a memento and the Karnataka traditional cap.

Governor Harichandan also presented a memento to the Karnataka Governor.

"Both the Governors discussed on the development programmes and welfare schemes being implemented in the respective States," the official statement reads.

Governor Harichandan participated in a programme organised by the Kalinga Bangalore Foundation in Bengaluru on Sunday and will stay there overnight and reach Vijayawada by the afternoon on Monday. (ANI)
A study has shown that teaching children how to manage their attention and impulses in primary school has a positive long-term effect on their later educational success. Self-regulation, i.e., the ability to manage attention, emotions and impulses, as well as to pursue individual goals with perseverance, is not a skill that we usually associate with young children. However, the school closures due to the pandemic and the increased usage of digital media by children have now shown how important these abilities are, especially for children. Studies show that people who demonstrated self-regulation as children go on to have on average higher income, better health and greater life satisfaction. They also show that the ability to exert self-regulation can already be trained in a targeted manner in childhood. How can the training of self-regulation skills be integrated into the standard elementary school day without taking up too much teaching time? Is it possible to teach young pupils an abstract self-regulation strategy in an appropriate way? Does teaching such skills have the potential to improve long-term educational success? An international team from the Department of Economics at the University of Zurich (Switzerland) and from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany) examined these questions. Using a randomized controlled study in elementary schools involving more than 500 first graders, the research team was able to show that even a short training unit led to a significant and sustainable improvement in self-regulation. The training did not just affect self-regulation abilities; the children had significantly improved reading ability and an improved focus on careless mistakes one year after the training, and were also considerably more likely to be admitted to a selective academic secondary school (Gymnasium) three years after the training. "Our study has shown how the training of this skill can be explicitly embedded in primary school teaching at an early stage. An increase in self-regulation enables children to take on more responsibility for their own learning and to set goals on their own and work toward them," says Ernst Fehr, professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Zurich. According to the last author, children's comprehensive key skills that are of fundamental importance for good educational attainment and a successful later life can be improved thanks to the simple scalability of the program. Due to concerns from previous practical experience, the study authors designed the training units in an extremely cost-effective and time-saving manner, in such a way that they could be introduced in any primary school setting: the training unit lasted only five hours, and teachers participated in a three-hour training session and received completely developed teaching materials which they could integrate directly into the regular class schedule. The training units were based on the MCII Strategy ("Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions"), which has already been the subject of excellent research studies in adults and older students. The teachers presented the abstract strategy in a playful manner using a picture book and the role model of a hurdle jumper. In a first step, the children imagined the positive effects of reaching a goal. They contrasted them with the obstacles that might face them on the way ("Mental Contrasting"). The children then identified specific behaviors to face the obstacles and develop "when-then" plans ("Implementation Intention"). "The special feature of our study is the long-term ripple effects that this short training unit can have. These effects benefit the child, and they are transferred in many ways to society as a whole over the course of the child's life," says first author Daniel Schunk, professor of public and behavioral economics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. "The fact that early investments in such fundamental skills not only benefit the child alone, but also society, should be given more attention in education policy." (ANI)
The former Chief Minister was accompanied by his son Nakul Nath, who is a Member of Parliament from Chhindwara.

At Bellary airport, Kamal Nath was welcomed by Congress workers and later he joined the yatra led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Kamal Nath walked with Rahul Gandhi for the yatra and later he met Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, who is one of the convenors of the yatra.

After participating in the yatra, the Madhya Pradesh Congress chief said, "I am overwhelmed to see the enthusiasm, love and the affection of thousands of people present for this journey."

The ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' would reach Madhya Pradesh tentatively by end of November or in the beginning of December, for which the state Congress has made an elaborate plan to welcome the participants of the yatra.

The Madhya Pradesh Congress has planned to carry as many as 17 sub-yatras from all 230 assembly seats in the state, and these sub-yatras would meet with the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' when it reaches Burhanpur district in the state.

The state Congress leadership is all set to use the opportunity to launch its assembly poll campaign. The state elections will be held in December 2023.

Though the yatra would cover seven districts (around 66 assembly seats), the state unit of the party has planned to make the presence of the yatra felt in all the 230 assembly seats.

The 17 sub-yatras will cover a total of 6,440 km in 35 days.

--IANS pd/shs

( 281 Words)

2022-10-16-19:52:02 (IANS)
Telangana's Minister for Finance and Health, T. Harish Rao, alleged on Sunday that the BJP is trying to fool the people of Munugode Assembly constituency with false promises. He slammed the saffron party for promising to enhance monthly pension to various categories of beneficiaries to Rs 3,000 if it wins the by-election and recalled that it had made a similar promise in Dubbak and Huzurabad by-elections. Harish Rao said BJP won the Dubbak and Huzurabad seats but the party never fulfilled its promise. He told reporters that after betraying the people of the two constituencies, the BJP is now trying to mislead the people of Munugode. He said it has become a habit of the BJP to make false promises and spread lies. He also questioned the BJP as to why it is not paying Rs 3,000 pension in states where it is in power. Harish Rao pointed out that in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat, only Rs 750 is being paid while in Karnataka it is Rs 600. He also said that that it was TRS which increased the pension from a paltry Rs 200 to Rs 2,016. The minister claimed that Telangana is the only state in the country which is providing pension to dialysis patients, toddy tappers, weavers and people above 57 years of age. It is also the only state to pay a pension of Rs 3,016 to handicapped persons. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader said the BJP has a long history of making promises during elections and then going back on them. He said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself went back on the promises he made, what is the guarantee that other BJP leaders would stand by their word. Harish Rao also said that BJP is known for its lies and 'jumla', as he pointed out that Modi had promised Rs 15 lakh in every account and later Amit Shah dismissed it as a mere 'jumla'. He said from one vote for two states to doubling the income of farmers and two crore jobs every year, the BJP went back on all its promises. The TRS leader alleged that the BJP insulted Telangana by questioning the process of formation of the state. He recalled Modi's statement that the mother was killed to save the child. "Immediately after the formation of Telangana, its seven mandals were forcibly merged with Andhra Pradesh," he said. Harish Rao said the Centre has still not allocated to Telangana its share in Krishna river water. Though the Niti Aayong recommended that Rs 24,000 crore be provided to Telangana's Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya but the Centre has not given even 24 paise, he added. --IANS ms/arm ( 464 Words) 2022-10-16-21:04:02 (IANS)
Ahead of the Andheri East bye-election, Eknath Shinde camp MLA on Sunday writes to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde requesting to speak with BJP for an unopposed election of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) candidate Rutuja Latke. The letter was a jolt to Eknath Shinde and Bhartiya Janta Party supporters as BJP and Shinde eyes on the 'hot seat' of the Andheri East bye-election slated for November 3. Rutuja Latke, the wife of late Ramesh Latke, was all set to be pitted by the Shiv Sena camp led by former CM Uddhav Thackrey for the Andheri East bye-elections after the Bombay High court on Thursday asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to accept the resignation of Rutuja Latke. Earlier, the Uddhav Thackeray faction alleged that the BMC is under pressure to delay the resignation since Rutuja Latke applied for her resignation on October 3. However, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Iqbal Singh Chahal denied of being under any pressure from the Shinde-led government over accepting Rutuja Latke's resignation. It is pertinent to note that the last date to file a nomination for the by-poll is October 14. "The work is in progress and rules permit me to decide in 30 days. She applied for resignation on 3rd Oct. There is no question of any govt pressure," BMC Commissioner told ANI on the resignation of Rutuja Latke Uddhav Faction (Andheri East) by-poll candidate Mahadeshwar while talking to ANI had said, "The Commissioner is under pressure while he is guiding us about the law, Latke has already submitted her one-month salary along with her resignation letter". "They are purposely delaying the acceptance of the resignation but we have an option to go to court and get justice, the last date to file nomination is on October 14", he said. Moreover, when Rutuja Latke was asked about reports of contact with the Shinde faction she said, "My husband was loyal to Uddhav Ji and our family is loyal to him only and if I will ever contest election then it will be for a symbol of "Marshal" only." Earlier, Maharashtra Navirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray also requested Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not to field a BJP candidate against Rutuja Latke in the upcoming Andheri East Assembly bypolls in respect to the late MLA Ramesh Latke. In a letter to Fadnavis, the MNS chief said, "I am writing this letter with a special request. After the sudden death of MLA. Ramesh Latke, for the Andheri East, the by-poll election has been announced. His widow, Rujuta Latke has filed in for candidature for the same." Thackeray further said that Ramesh was an efficient worker who began his journey up from being a 'shakha-pramukh'. It is reported that Fadnavis accepted that he has received the letter and said that he will discuss this with his party and senior leaders in this regard. (ANI)
Forgetting the plight of Pakistanis who are facing one of the worst floods in the history of the country, the only news making the headlines is the selection of a new army chief. CoAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa is due to retire in November 2022 and all eyes are focused on the appointment of the new army chief of flood-affected Pakistan, reported Islam Khabar. Ousted in April, former Prime Minister Imran Khan recently said that Pakistan should go in for a snap poll in October, so that his political opponents, whom he calls 'thieves', do not select the successor to the incumbent Army Chief, General Bajwa. Imran Khan assumes that he will win the polls and that will prevent his detractors from appointing a 'pliable' army chief who may condone their corruption, reported Islam Khabar. What does Imran Khan really want? Ideally, he would like to choose Bajwa's successor. He had wanted General Faiz Hameed to continue as ISI Chief some time ago, but this suggestion was turned down by the army chief. Faiz Hameed is one of the contenders to succeed Bajwa in November! Most politicians in Pakistan agree that the Army has made 'sacrifices' and its members "staking their lives for the nation" ought not to be subjected to the 'insult' that they say Imran Khan is inflicting. Imran Khan's recent remarks are part of his rhetoric against the army and for the most part, are impractical. Even if elections are announced today, the electoral process, once begun, will take at least six weeks and results, assuming that they would yield a clear-cut popular verdict, would need time for a new government to take office, reported Islam Khabar. Imran's anger is against the army for having let him down last year after propping him to power in 2018. But the former PM continues to maintain his links with the establishment. Reports indicate that he is "in direct touch" with the army, both within the ISI and the senior leadership of the Army. The deep state has reportedly told him that elections would be held in March 2023, four months before schedule. It is speculated that a formal announcement of the polls will be made in January 2023, reported Islam Khabar. (ANI)
Chinese-run companies in Zimbabwe have been dogged by controversy with gross human rights violations and safety norms for mining workers. The recent incident of ill-treating by the Chinese mine owner has once again exposed the exploitation of locals and unethical practices adopted by Chinese employers in the African nation, reported Africa Daily. It is not only ill-treatment but the Chinese investors usually accuse local workers of stealing and verbally and physically abusing them and blatantly violating laws. The Centre for Research and Development (CRD), a Manicaland-based natural resources governance organisation stated that Chinese mining operations in Odzi were blatantly violating laws that regulate health and safety issues. Recently a Chinese-run gold mining company operating in the Odzi peri-urban area of Mutare district, Zimbabwe has been accused of ill-treating workers and flouting the country's labour laws and regulations, reported Africa Daily. Notably, the Chinese company registered as Odzi Resources Zimbabwe Private Limited runs a number of gold mines across the country, including in Mashava, Mbalabala, Bulawayo, Kwekwe and Mazowe. In another incident, the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) appealed (September 19) to the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe to intervene and ensure Chinese investors comply with the laws of the country. China has funded and provided loans for many infrastructure projects across Africa in recent years, including the new parliament in Zimbabwe. Chinese investments have increased over time in African countries mainly to exploit their natural resources to cater to the raw material requirements of their industries. But it pays little attention to social and environmental impacts in the host countries, reported Africa Daily. Tatenda Chikwanha, a former worker claimed ill-treatment of workers at the Odzi mine by the Chinese employer, who was recently fired after speaking out against the rampant abuse. He added that workers were not provided with protective wear, decent meals and accommodation while on duty. Fearing victimisation many workers also could not spell the problems of poor working conditions to the authorities, reported Africa Daily. According to the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA), wages are often very low and in many cases are not paid on time. If someone tries to exercise their right as a worker and demand what is due to them getting assaulted or shot. Nearly 40 workers employed at a Chinese-controlled mine near Doneni, Muzvezve area in Kadoma who have gone for months without salaries, said that they are being treated like slaves by the owners. They also alleged that they are forced to work in the mine shaft without any protective clothing, exposing them to injuries and other health hazards, reported Africa Daily. As per a 2016 report by the Brookings Institution, there are at least 10,000 Chinese nationals in Zimbabwe, many of whom work in the mining, telecommunications, and construction sectors. Chinese-owned companies, however, have become notorious for their mistreatment of workers. In April 2019, workers at a mining company went on strike over lower wages than legally stipulated and demand for the provision of PPE which went unanswered. Workers complained that this has exposed them to hazardous fumes and increased the risk of losing limbs or being burnt, reported Africa Daily. (ANI)
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday told the 20th Communist party Congress that the country has gained full control over Hong Kong and turned it from chaos to governance, according to Reuters news agency. Delivering a report to the twice-a-decade party meeting in Beijing, Xi said China has also waged a major struggle against Taiwan separatism and is determined and able to oppose territorial integrity. Along with the crackdown on Hong Kong, Xi Jinping also defended the military aggression against Taiwan, saying he "safeguarded" the country's "dignity and core interests" for ensuring security. "In the face of turbulent developments in Hong Kong, the central government exercised its overall jurisdiction over the special administrative region as prescribed by China's Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region," state media outlet Xinhua quoted Xi as saying. He said it was ensured that Hong Kong is governed by "patriots" after the "order" was restored in the region. On the self-governed island of Taiwan, he said, "In response to separatist activities aimed at Taiwan independence and gross provocations of external interference in Taiwan affairs, we have resolutely fought against separatism and countered interference." He said that China has demonstrated their resolve and ability to safeguard "China's sovereignty and to oppose "Taiwan's independence." Faced with "changes in the international landscape", the Chinese President said the country has "maintained firm strategic resolve and shown a fighting spirit. "Throughout these endeavours, we have safeguarded China's dignity and core interests and kept ourselves well-positioned for pursuing development and ensuring security." During his speech, Xi also defended his flagship COVID policy by saying his government put the people and their lives above all else and tenaciously pursued a zero-COVID policy. "In responding to the sudden attack of COVID-19, we put the people and their lives above all else and tenaciously pursued a dynamic zero-COVID policy," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying. Regional experts say that Chairman Xi Jinping will undoubtedly extend his term in power for another five years. He will either be re-elected as general secretary of the CCP or will be newly elected as chairman of the CCP, a title that has lain dormant since 1982 and was once the highest position ever held by Mao Zedong. The congress is taking place at one of the most perilous periods in international affairs in recent years. A war is raging in Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin attempts to burnish his credentials as a great Russian leader, and China remains a staunch supporter of this would-be tsar. At the same time, Taiwan Strait tensions are at their highest in decades, as China attempts to pummel Taipei into acquiescence. Besides this, diplomatic tensions with the US, the after-effects of a global pandemic and China's own par and efforts to stamp out COVID-19, and all the ingredients for a brewing storm are present. (ANI)
Pakistan army committed genocide in Bangladesh against Bengalis and Hindus during the Bangladesh Liberation war, stated a newly introduced resolution in the US House that condemns Pakistan's actions and called on President Joe Biden to recognise the atrocities of 1971 war. The legislation brought by Congressmen Ro Khanna, and Steve Chabot, recognise Pakistan's atrocities against ethnic groups constitute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. "...condemns the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Pakistan against the people of Bangladesh from March 1971 to December 1971; recognizes that such atrocities against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus constitute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide; calls on the President of the United States to recognize the atrocities committed against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus by the Armed Forces of Pakitan during 1971 as crimes against humanity war crimes, and genocide," the legislation read. Congressman Chabot said legislation looks to recognise that the mass atrocities committed against Bengalis and Hindus, in particular, were indeed a genocide. "The Bangladesh Genocide of 1971 must not be forgotten. With help from my Hindu constituents in Ohio's First District, @RepRoKhanna and I introduced legislation to recognize that the mass atrocities committed against Bengalis and Hindus, in particular, were indeed a genocide," Congressman Chabot tweeted. "We must not let the years erase the memory of the millions who were massacred. Recognizing the genocide strengthens the historical record, educates our fellow Americans, and lets would-be perpetrators know such crimes will not be tolerated or forgotten," he said further. Adding to what Chabot said, Khanna stated that the 1971 Bengali Genocide, in which millions of ethnic Bengalis and Hindus were killed or displaced, is one of the "most forgotten genocides of our time." The introduction of US legislation is a result of sustained efforts from Bangladesh in the last few years which is seeking the Pakistan government's apology to the people of Bangladesh for its role in such a genocide, according to United News Bangladesh. Bangladesh Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque last month called the greater push for international recognition of genocide carried out on unarmed Bangalees, Bangladesh News Agency reported. Haque said international recognition of the genocide of 1971 could not be realized 51 years after independence. But Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government declared March 25 as National Genocide Day. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host the Defence Ministers of African Nations during the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 12th DefExpo in Gujarat, according to a Defence Ministry press release.

The broad theme of the dialogue is 'India-Africa: Adopting Strategy for Synergising and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation'.

India and Africa share close and historical ties. India's approach towards Africa is guided by the Kampala Principles enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. India's engagement rests on African priorities as outlined by Africans themselves.

The first-ever India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in conjunction with DefExpo on February 06, 2020. A Joint Declaration - 'Lucknow Declaration' - was adopted at the end of the conclave as an outcome document.

In continuance of the 'Lucknow Declaration' and in consultation with stakeholders, IAAD has been institutionalised to be held once every two years on the sidelines of DefExpo.

The IADD will explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagement, including in areas like capacity building, training, cyber security, maritime security and counter-terrorism.

Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) is the knowledge partner for the India-Africa Defence Dialogue. (ANI)
"@IndiaInNepal expresses its deep condolences on the passing away of Nepal's literary luminary #shtaabdiipuruss Shri #Satyamohan Joshi His legacy through his works will continue to be source of inspiration," Indian embassy in Kathmandu tweeted.

Nepal's veteran historian, honoured as Shatabdi Purush, Satyamohan Joshi passed away this morning, according to the hospital.

He was 103-year-old and was diagnosed with pneumonia, dengue and heart problems.

Joshi, who was born in 1919 in Patan, Lalitpur has won Nepal's top literary honour Madan Puraskar thrice, The Kathmandu Post reported.

With more than 60 books, Joshi is celebrated for his work in the field of literature, history, and culture.

Earlier in April, Joshi was admitted to the hospital after complaining about chest pains. He was discharged later. (ANI)
Nepal on Sunday bid farewell to veteran cultural expert and historian Satya Mohan Joshi with state honours who passed away at age of 103. The Government has announced a day of national mourning in honour of a three-time Madan Puraskar winner who was deemed a living history of Nepal as he witnessed the major natural as well as political disasters of the Himalayan Nation. Born in 1977 BS (1920) Joshi witnessed major political turmoil ranging from the overthrow of the Rana Regime to the dawn of Democracy- Panchayat- Royal takeover- abolishment of the monarchy to the federal Republic system of politics. Joshi, breathed his last at 7:09 am (Local Time) at KIST Medical College in Gwarko, Lalitpur. He was recently suffering from a dengue infection and had been diagnosed with prostate and heart problems. He was diagnosed with chest pneumonia and heart rhythm problems along with a dengue infection on October 9. The 103-year-old culture expert was admitted to the hospital on September 23 after he suffered from health problems. Within an hour of his demise, Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba took Twitter and expressed grief over the passing of Bangmaya (Literature) Shatabdi Purush- Satya Mohan Joshi. "I am deeply grieved by Joshi's death. I pray for eternal peace of the departed soul and express my condolences to the grief-stricken family members," the PM wrote in his Twitter post. Later in the afternoon, Prime Minister Deuba reached the Lalitpur Metropolitan City Office to pay homage to Joshi. PM Deuba also laid the national flag over the body of the late historian. Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari also condoled the demise of Joshi stating the nation has lost its guardian. Bhandari in her tweet termed Joshi as a relentless contributor to Nepali art, language and culture. "His active and meaningful life was always an inspiration for all of us," the state head said on Twitter. Other political figures and officials from the Government of Nepal including the former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, former House Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota and other sitting ministers also reached the Lalitpur Metropolitan City Office to bid the final goodbye. The body was then taken back to KIST Teaching Hospital as per the will of Joshi who had wished his body to be donated for research purposes. (ANI)
In order to ensure that its economic and political interests in the Korean Peninsula region are not threatened by the West, China wants North Korea to avoid sabre-rattling, especially during the National Congress, where Chinese President Xi Jinping will be declared President for an unprecedented third term, media reports said. China would never like Western military might to have a dominating presence in the Korean Peninsula, which has a very high importance in China's security mechanism. Peninsula shares a long border with China's industrial heartland in the country's north-eastern provinces, reported Geo Politik. But North Korea has apparently remained insensitive to China's feelings and has undertaken ballistic missile testing at a time when Beijing avoids being distracted by tension at its doorstep. According to Geo Politik, Xi wants National Congress to go smoothly in which he will be declared President for the third time for five-year term as China even called off high-voltage military drills surrounding Taiwan. A lot of these actions by China were taken merely for options to show to the world that it wanted no tension to spiral in and around China during the National Congress. The Party Congress provides a conduit over China's stance in its forthcoming political, diplomatic, economic, and strategic fronts and that is why it becomes crucial for Beijing to remain alert on how it responds and reacts to situations in Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait. North Korea, under Kim Jong Un has however demonstrated that "no compromise" will be made when it came to displaying its military strength in the Korean Peninsula. According to military experts, there is a fear of further escalation of tension. It is especially as North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test, a first by Pyongyang in nearly five years. If, indeed the nuclear test takes place it would aggravate the situation in the Korean Peninsula. If the situation escalates, it will annoy China because it would provoke the US, South Korea, and Japan as all these three nations will run to strengthen their military standing in the Peninsular region. This comes against the backdrop of the US and its allies bolstering its partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. Whatever the might of the Chinese military it still lacks military capability to contain US and its partners in the Indo-Pacific region. China is also mooting to make a strategic shift in utilizing of its military's capabilities amid the Russia-Ukraine war. It is essential to observe that China's People's Liberation Army's last battle was with seasoned and highly-motivated Vietnamese forces who had successfully wrecked Chinese invasion 40 years ago. It was a long time back and since then China has not made any prominent changes in its military strategy. In early 2018, the PLA Daily in an article warned that "decades of peace and prosperity have exacerbated corruption and undermined readiness of Chinese armed forces." According to some experts, China's inadequate military preparedness as the reason for it to push a pause button to its aggression in the Taiwan Strait. (ANI)
A woman in Afghanistan's Ghor province died by suicide before Taliban forces could kill her for running away from home, local media reported citing local Taliban. According to Khaama Press, the Taliban planned to stone the woman, who ran away from home with a married man, on Friday, but before that, she took her life to avoid public humiliation. The man with whom the woman ran away from home was executed on Thursday, October 13, the officials added. Abdul Rahman, the acting spokesperson for the provincial police chief of the Taliban for Ghor, said that the woman was sentenced to publicly stoning due to the lack of a women's prison, Khaama Press reported. According to the Taliban security official, the woman strangled herself with a scarf, ending her life before receiving the punishment. The reports of women running away from home have recently increased in different provinces of the country, while the Taliban government has determined to stone them to death or publicly flog them. This comes after the Taliban imposed several restrictions on women. Starting with placing restrictions on education. The female students above grade six were banned from going to school, according to Khaama Press. The Taliban regime which took over Kabul in August last year has curtailed women's rights and freedoms, with women largely excluded from the workforce due to the economic crisis and restrictions. As a result, women and girls in Afghanistan are facing a human rights crisis, deprived of the fundamental rights to non-discrimination, education, work, public participation, and health. Even taxi drivers and other urban transportation services were forbidden from picking up and dropping off women without a Mahram by the Taliban and imposed decree against the women's dress code was issued after a month. Around 80 per cent of women working in the media have lost their jobs, and almost 18 million women in the country are struggling for health, education, and social rights. Many women, particularly those who worked in security agencies, lost their jobs after the Islamic Emirate was re-established. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a report in August, outlining the human rights situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover. The reports summarized UNAMA's findings with regard to the protection of civilians, extrajudicial killings, torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detentions, the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, fundamental freedoms, and the situation in places of detention. Amid this, the rehiring of women officers comes as a ray of hope for the women facing several severe challenges in the country. Some female police forces urged the Islamic Emirate to allow more women to work in government institutions. "We ask the Islamic Emirate to let all the women return to their jobs," said Mashoqa, a police officer. (ANI)
Warning that Pakistan is on the brink of a "debt default", renowned economist Steve Hanke said that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is failing to save the "sinking ship." "Its sovereign bonds have lost more than 60 pc of their value this year. I'm not surprised. PM Sharif's government is failing to save the sinking ship," he wrote on his official Twitter handle on Friday. Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the long-term deposit ratings to Caa1 from B3 of five Pakistani banks. The rating agency has also downgraded the five banks' long-term foreign currency Counterparty Risk Ratings (CRRs) to Caa1 from B3. The banks, which have been downgraded include Allied Bank Limited (ABL), Habib Bank Ltd. (HBL), MCB Bank Limited (MCB), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and United Bank Ltd. (UBL). "As part of the same rating action, Moody's lowered the Baseline Credit Assessments (BCAs) of ABL, MCB and UBL to caa1 from b3, and as a result also downgraded their local-currency long-term CRRs to B3 from B2 and their long-term Counterparty Risk Assessments to B3(cr) from B2(cr). The BCAs of NBP and HBL were affirmed at caa1," Moody's said in a statement. "The outlook on all banks' deposit ratings remains negative," it added. The downgrading of Pakistan banks reflects the government's reduced capacity to support the banks, which has affected the banks whose ratings benefit from government support. The reduced ratings also show the high credit linkages between the banks' balance sheets and sovereign credit risk, which constrains the banks' Baseline Credit Assessments at the level of the Caa1-rated government; and the lowering of Pakistan's foreign currency ceiling to Caa1, which has affected the foreign currency CRRs of all rated banks. Pakistan rejected Moody's decision to downgrade its banks. The Shehbaz Sharif government said it was taken unilaterally and did not depict the true picture due to information gaps and contradictions. Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said he would give a "befitting" reply in a meeting with its officials if the agency did not reverse the downgrade. "They (Moody's officials) have to meet me. I told them if you don't [reverse] this, I will give you a befitting response in our meeting next week," he was quoted as saying by Dawn. (ANI)
Pakistan's Nishtar Medical University has held police and rescue officials responsible for the pile up of unclaimed dead bodies on the hospital's roof, saying that the police do not take the bodies back on time and hence the medical facility is forced to keep the decaying bodies on the rooftop. Accusing the officials, NMU Head of Anatomy Department Dr Mariam Ashraf stated that the bodies that the medical facility receives from police are usually decayed and they cannot be kept in the mortuary and are placed on the hospital rooftop, reported Geo TV. She also said that the influx of dead bodies was huge because the medical facility could not refuse to accept the bodies as it was bound to take them in as safekeeping. This comes after at least 200 rotting corpses were found on the roof of a hospital in Pakistan's Multan city on Friday while several media reports said that the bodies were recovered in dubious circumstances, indicating that those people are forcibly disappeared Baloch persons. Following the incident, the Punjab government formed a six-member committee to investigate the matter, reported The Daily Times. She made these remarks during a TV program where she accused the rescue officials and police of the piling up of bodies in the morgue and on its roof. "Police and rescue officials ask us to keep it in the hospital," she said and added that the medical facility could not refuse to accept the bodies as it was bound to take them in as safekeeping, reported The Daily Times. "The police and rescue officials do not take them back on time. We have written documents in which we have asked them to take the bodies. Since there is a lag, such things happen," the official said. "Edhi Foundation has not been picking up bodies from our hospital since they do not have burial space in their graveyard," she added. "The only reason for the bodies being kept on the roof is that their influx is huge and they aren't returning back to the police stations in the numbers that they should," she claimed. However, the police and the Edhi foundation rejected the allegations. "We did not refuse Nishtar Hospital to bury the dead bodies; in fact, we contacted them today for the burial," Edhi claimed. Sohail Abro, Chairman of Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM), a Sindhi nationalist party, has termed the recovery of dead bodies from Multan's Nishtar Hospital roof in Pakistan's Punjab province as a "great tragedy in human history." Pro-Baloch groups have voiced serious concern over the recovery of the dead bodies. In a statement, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) spokesperson said that the dead bodies discovered on the roof of Multan hospital and the condition of the dead bodies concern them. The spokesperson said that the news went viral on social media with gruesome videos and pictures that around 500 unidentified mutilated bodies were found. "Those who were thrown on the roof inhumanely, whose flesh was being eaten by vultures and crows. These bodies were identified by Tariq Gujjar, adviser to the Chief Minister of Punjab. Despite this, the Pakistani media has suppressed this news. It also shows this reality, that is why this news is being hidden in media," the BNM spokesperson said. "In this month, the bodies of 168 unidentified people were found in Punjab. Those who were declared unknown persons and buried," the spokesperson added. Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) chief Allah Nazar Baloch described the recovery of hundreds of dead bodies as a huge tragedy and urged the UN and the human rights agencies to take urgent notice of the gruesome incident. (ANI)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi urged India to increase the turnover of trade and also said that the current revenue was not enough, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated. Addressing the India-Egypt Business Forum, Jaishankar said "I had the honor to call on the President. Our two colleagues spoke referring to a trade turnover of a certain point to billion dollars. Presidency Sisi told me he doesn't think it's enough. So, he urged us, saying, find ways of increasing it." Jaishankar further said that one of the ways to expand in business is to focus on the impediments. "See what are the market access issues that we both faced? Look at the possibilities of investments which could either go which has production implications for third countries and other regions or even by-back prosperities," Jaishankar said during the meeting. Talking about the wheat agreement that took place between India and Egypt, Jaishankar said, "This year, is the first year after a gap or perhaps the first year ever that Egypt has bought wheat from India. But unfortunately, for us, it turned out to be a difficult year weather-wise for agriculture, and therefore some value substantial initial supply was not something we could continue." Jaishankar also said that there is a lesson that for Egypt sourcing from India is de-risking of food supply which was otherwise very, very dependent on very narrow geographies." Jaishankar, who is on a two-day official trip to Egypt for his first bilateral visit, held discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi today and highlighted India's commitment to the success of COP27 under the Egyptian presidency. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar underscored that India values the participation of Egypt in the G20 during its chairship. He further underlined that India is fully committed to the success of COP27 under the Egyptian presidency. "Honoured to call on President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt," Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to Egypt, tweeted. Jaishankar conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Egyptian President and handed him a personal message. The EAM deeply appreciated President Sisi's guidance in further developing various dimensions of the India-Egypt relationship. Minister Jaishankar briefed the President on his discussions with finance minister Sameh Shoukry. "As independent-minded nations, India and Egypt contribute to global discourse. And promote the cause of peace, progress, and development," Jaishankar added in his tweet. Jaishankar on Saturday said that he will talk to the Union Minister for Education, Skill and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan about collaborating with Egypt on premier higher educational institutes, like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). (ANI)
Jeremy Hunt has insisted that Liz Truss is still in charge despite her premiership looking increasingly in peril, as he warned of further public spending cuts and failed to rule out more U-turns on her disastrous mini-budget, a media report said. The new UK chancellor, now widely seen as the most powerful man in the government since he took over from the sacked Kwasi Kwarteng, has buried a series of flagship policies that brought Truss to power, The Guardian reported. "The Prime Minister is in charge," he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, even though her authority has been seriously undermined by her decision to allow him to tear up her economic agenda in a bid to calm the markets and mutinous Tory MPs, the report said. Hunt claimed that the Prime Minister had changed, as he defended her credibility as leader. Asked why people should trust what she or the government said, he replied: "Because she's listened. She's changed. She's been willing to do that most difficult thing in politics, which is to change tack. What we're going to do is to show not just what we want, but how we're going to get there." However, the former health secretary appeared to rule out any future tilt at the Tory leadership, saying his desire to lead the party had been "clinically excised" thanks to previous failed attempts. "I think having run two leadership campaigns, and by the way failed in both of them, the desire to be leader has been clinically excised from me," he said. "I want to be a good chancellor. It's going to be very, very difficult. But that's what I'm focusing on." Hunt and Truss are meeting in her Chequers residence on Sunday with tax rises and spending cuts on the horizon, and the new chancellor admitting that "difficult decisions" are coming over the next two weeks, before the new budget on October 31. "Actions speak louder than words," he said, as he promised to reassure the markets, The Guardian reported. Truss has already been forced into a humiliating climbdown on her plans for a top 45p rate tax cut and a freeze in corporation tax, which will now go from 19 per cent to 25 per cent. --IANS san/arm ( 388 Words) 2022-10-16-19:54:02 (IANS)
Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and multilateral donors to modify its policy support amid catastrophic floods. Speaking during a meeting of MENAP (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan), the minister urged IMF to modify its response to Pakistan's situation triggered due to flood calamities, reported Geo News. He urged greater policy support from IMF, assuring the organization of Pakistan's commitment to complete the programme. Dar held several important meetings during his visit to Washington. The meeting in Washington DC was attended by finance ministers of different countries and central bank governors, while the IMF's Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva was also present. Shedding light on the humanitarian crisis and the disaster's scale, Dar pleaded for more policy support for Pakistan, reported Geo News. Dar welcomed new IMF instruments Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) and Food Shock Window under Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) to support countries. He also thanked the IMF managing director for her sentiments and commitment to completing the Fund programme despite challenges. The minister also held a meeting with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa and thanked him for the support provided over the years as a major development partner of Pakistan and also for the recent post-flood commitments, reported Geo News. The ADB president assured the finance minister of approval of the BRACE programme amounting to USD 1.5 billion and of continued support to Pakistan. Notably, Dar was "welcomed" by angry protestors with chants of "liar" and "chor" (thief) at the Washington airport in the US as he arrived in the country to attend meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), reported Daily Times. When Dar arrived at the US airport, an angry protestor was heard shouting "You are a liar. You are a liar" and "Chor-Chor." Dar and his aides, visibly angry at the slew of profanity targeted at the minister were seen retorting, as seen in a video widely shared on social media. "You are a liar," Dar hit back at the person who was directing abuses at him. "Moth**r f**ker...I'll f**k you right here, don't try and be a smart a**," a member of Dar's entourage was heard saying. All of this was caught on camera and the video soon went viral. (ANI)
In a major upset to the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won six National Assembly and two Punjab Assembly seats in by-elections. PTI was contesting from seven constituencies --won the by-elections in six of eight National Assembly seats up for grabs across Pakistan, as per unofficial results, reported Geo News. The PTI chief won the seats in Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Faisalabad, and Nankana Sahib after beating the ruling coalition's candidates. The main opposition party also won two of three Punjab Assembly seats in the by-elections, further strengthening its position in the country's biggest province -- where it rules in coalition with Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q), reported Geo News. The constituencies where polling took place included NA-22 Mardan-III, NA-24 Charsadda-II, NA-31 Peshawar-V, NA-108 Faisalabad-VIII, NA-118 Nankana Sahib-II, NA 157 Multan-IV, NA-237 Malir-II, NA-239 Korangi, Karachi-I. The lower house seats were vacated after NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had accepted the resignations of PTI MNAs -- nine on general seats and two on reserved seats for women. By-elections were also held on three Punjab Assembly seats -- PP-241 Bahawalnagar-V, PP-209 Khanewal-VII, and PP-139 Sheikhupura-V, reported Geo News. The counting of votes started at 5 pm after the polling -- was held without interruptions despite the intense political activity. Sporadic clashes were reported in some constituencies, reported Geo News. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that overall, the polling process remained peaceful, and the commission's central control room received 15 complaints of code violations. As the polling process started, Khan urged the people in the constituencies where the by-election is being held to come out in large numbers to vote. "This is a referendum for Haqiqi Azadi from the cabal of crooks. We are contesting against all of PDM, the Election Commission and 'namaloom afraad'," he said in a tweet. On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asked the voters to decide wisely about who they are voting for as the "development and welfare of your country depends on it". He also urged the people to participate fully in the polling. "This [by-polls] is a constitutional and legal process and only people have the right to elect who they want," he wrote on Twitter. The by-polls were the latest twist in political wrangling that began after Khan's April 10 ouster via a parliamentary no-confidence vote -- making him the first prime minister to be voted out of office. The by-elections come as the nation grapples with the aftermath of devastating monsoon floods that affected more than 30 million people and left a third of the country under water, reported Geo News. The government wanted to delay the elections for at least the next 90 days as it said that security personnel were busy in flood relief works, while there were also reports of terrorist activities during the polls. But the ECP -- despite two letters from the Ministry of Interior -- rejected the suggestion of delaying the by-polls and asked the relevant authorities to beef up the security. (ANI)
The side of a Phoenix Police vehicle is seen.

One man was shot and killed, and a woman was injured at a house party in Phoenix early Saturday morning, according to Phoenix police.

Phoenix police were called to the area near 27th Avenue and Camelback Road around 3 a.m. on Saturday for reports of gunshots.

When police arrived, they saw "numerous vehicles and pedestrians quickly leaving the neighborhood from what was believed to be a party house," according to Sgt. Brian Bower, a spokesperson with Phoenix police.

During the initial investigation it was discovered that two valley hospitals were treating gunshot victims possibly related to the same incident.

One victim, identified as 19-year-old Jarod Tyler, was pronounced dead at the hospital. The other victim, a 24-year-old woman, sustained injuries that are not life threatening.

Detectives took over the investigation and learned that the shooting included dozens of shots being fired within a large area of the neighborhood.

No suspects have been identified at this time.

Reach breaking news reporter Ellie Willard at ellie.willard@gannett.com or on Twitter @EllieWillardAZ.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 1 shot dead, 1 injured at Phoenix house party
Judeah Reynolds and her book A Walk to the Store

Judeah Reynolds was nine years old and the youngest witness to the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

Two years later, Reynolds released "A Walk to the Store," which details what she witnessed that day.

The book includes worksheets and exercises to help children who witness traumatic incidents process.

The youngest witness to George Floyd's death in 2020 published a children's book detailing her perspective and the weeks to follow.

Judea Reynolds, 11, released her book "A Walk to the Store" on Friday, the day Floyd would have celebrated his 49th birthday.

Floyd was killed on Memorial Day 2020, when former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin held his knee to Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes.

Reynolds was nine years old when she witnessed Floyd's death after walking to a store to buy snacks with her then 17-year-old cousin, Darnella Frazier, who had recorded Chauvin and Floyd.

According to ABC News, Reynolds was the youngest witness to testify against Chauvin.

"I was sad and kind of mad cause I felt like he was stopping him from breathing," Reynolds said during the trial, according to ABC News.

"A Walk to the Store" depicts the death of Floyd from her perspective when she was nine, illustrated by Darcy Bell-Myers, and includes worksheets with exercises provided by Aruba Emotional Health Services to help children process traumatic events, according to the book's website.

According to CNN, Reynolds was inspired to write a book by Cameron Brundidge, whose book was authored by her mother, Sheletta Brundidge educated people about autism.

Reynolds would work with Brundidge to author the children's book, according to CNN.

"This book is all about a movement," Brundidge told CBS. "It's not about the sadness she experienced, or the tragedy, but how she turned that into triumph. She took a walk. She walked to the store, she walked away from the store. She is walking into her destiny, and her purpose."

Lily Coyle, the owner of Beaver's Pond Press, the company that published Reynold's book, told CNN that she struggled to find a way to tell Reynold's story without being hurtful.

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"I don't want to put a children's book out in the world that hurts children or makes life harder for people. It needs to be a tool for healing, and we want to bring grace to this horrible situation," Coyle told CNN.

According to the book's website, the publisher is fronting all the cost of the book's productions and paying Reynolds 60 percent of the profits.

"You don't have to be scared of stuff all the time, y'all can be brave and strong and fight for it because sometimes you have to fight for stuff and be brave for stuff," Reynolds told Fox 9.

Read the original article on Insider
Russian servicemen take part in military exercises at the Uspenovskyi training ground outside the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, on September 4, 2022. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

Russian authorities said that 11 people were killed and 15 injured in a shooting at a military training site.

The incident took place during a firearms training class for volunteer soldiers.

The two shooters, from an unspecified former Soviet republic, were killed at the scene.

Eleven Russian soldiers have been shot dead at a military training center, Russian news outlet RIA news agency has announced, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.

News reports state that 11 people were killed and 15 injured during a firearms training class involving volunteer soldiers.

The two shooters were killed at the scene. The attackers were nationals from an unspecified former Soviet republic, Reuters reported.

"During a firearms training session with individuals who voluntarily expressed a desire to participate in the special military operation (against Ukraine), the terrorists opened fire with small arms on the personnel of the unit," RIA cited a defense ministry statement as saying, per Reuters.

Governor of Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov said, "A terrible event happened on our territory, on the territory of one of the military units.

"Many soldiers were killed and wounded. There are no residents of the Belgorod region among the wounded and killed,' Gladkov said in a video post on the Telegram messaging app, per Reuters.

Russia's Belgorod region shares a border with eastern Ukraine.

The mass shooting is the latest blow to Putin's attempt to revive his military campaign in Ukraine. There have been multiple reports of a demoralized, ill-equipped force, with the recent partial mobilization recruiting minors, the elderly, and the sick.

The training camp incident came as the Russian president indicated the mobilization of 300,000 soldiers was a success on Friday.

At a press conference in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, Putin said 16,000 mobilized troops were fighting in Ukraine, and 220,000 had been drafted, reported The Guardian.

Western officials currently estimate that of the 150,000 Russian soldiers that invaded Ukraine on February 24, 70,000 to 80,000 have been killed or wounded as of August, according to The Wall Street Journal.

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Correction, October 15, 2022: An earlier version of the headline on this story overstated evidence that Russian soldiers had opened fire on fellow recruits. While two sources indicated this to be the case, the claims currently remain unverified.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Salisbury police said it is devoting additional resources as part of its investigation after two students were wounded and others sustained injuries during a reported shooting at Livingstone College.

At about 11 p.m. Saturday, police were called to the college during its homecoming concert to investigate what was described as an active shooter on the campus grounds, according to a city of Salisbury news release.

Two members of the local community had a verbal altercation that led to shots being fired, according to a statement from Livingstone, and two students were injured fleeing from it.

During the altercation, a person who is not a student at Livngstone fired at least one shot. No suspects have been arrested.

The investigation up to this point indicates that there was no exchange of gunfire by those involved in the altercation contrary to earlier rumors, according to a news release from police and the college.

Salisbury Police Department said Sunday that it is still investigating and devoting additional resources to solve this crime.

While at the scene, responding officers found two people who sustained gunshot wounds and others injured while attempting to flee the area, the release said. The conditions of the wounded and injured are currently unknown.

Salisbury authorities later indicated that there was no active threat to the college or the community, the release said.

Im saddened that after a week of homecoming activities without incident, our students, alumni, their families and friends had to witness this senseless act of gun violence. My prayer is that the community will respond to Livingstone College in the same manner it responded when gunfire erupted at a holiday basketball tournament in December, Livingstone College President Anthony J. Davis said.

Police have yet to disclose a motive for the shooting.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Salisbury Police Lt. Justin Crews at (704) 638-5333 or send a message to the Salisbury Police Departments Facebook or Twitter pages.
(Getty)

Its a pure delight when celebrities pull out all the stops to bring us the most elaborate and outrageous Halloween costumes. Spooky season is the perfect time of the year for them to stretch their creative wings and transform themselves into someone (or something) else for a time.

But when it comes to celebrity couples, we have high expectations, especially for those who are known for loving all things Halloween. And boy, some of them do not disappoint. From punny pairings to classic couples, our favourite Halloween couple looks are always thoughtful, considered, and, most importantly, epic.

While some celebrities have got their costume choices spectacularly wrong in the past, as shown here, there are others who have pulled it off with flair. Here, weve ranked the best celebrity couple Halloween costumes of all time.

20. Beyonce and Jay-Z

A power couple dressed as another power couple? Power move. In 2016, Beyonce and Jay-Z dressed as iconic Barbie and Ken dolls complete with life-sized packaging boxes to pose in. However, they lose points for not making it a family affair and dressing Blue Ivy up as one of the younger Barbies. At least she wore a leather jacket with Barbie emblazoned on the back to keep it in theme.

19. Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson

(Instagram/Miley Cyrus)

When they were still dating in 2019, Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson went full punk for Halloween by dressing as Billy Idol and his long-time girlfriend Perri Lister. Cyrus turned up the heat in a corset and thigh-high fishnet stockings, while Simpson was fully clad in black leather and studs. Rock on.

18. Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams

(Getty Images)

Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams are big-time fans of Halloween and have previously come out with some seriously good fancy dress, like Eleven and Dustin from Stranger Things in 2017 or David Bowie and Freddie Mercury in 2019. But their 2018 couples costume pun Taco Belle has a special place in our hearts.

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17. Brian Keys and Hunter McGrady

(Getty Images for Heidi Klum)

Plus-size model Hunter McGrady and husband Brian Keys take on Prince Eric and Ariel from The Little Mermaid is super cute. No Ariel costume would be complete without a dinglehopper, which McGrady gamely raked through her red wig while her handsome prince stood by her side.

16. Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson

At the height of Game of Thrones fever in 2017, Khloe Kardashian and then-partner Tristan Thompson turned heads as Daenerys Tagaryen and Khal Drogo. Their highly elaborate costumes involved leather, fur, metallic armour, and fake tattoos. Thompson even sported fake facial hair to bring Khal Drogo to life. Sadly, modern-day Thompson is far from the sun and stars to Kardashian after his paternity scandal. Yikes.

15. Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake

(Getty/Casamigos)

NSYNC-era Justin Timberlake was the most iconic (not least because he was hanging on Britney Spearss arm), and Jessica Biel knows this. So in 2019, the 40-year-old star dressed up like her husband, curly ramen hair and all, and took centre stage while Timberlake dressed like a giant microphone to let his wife live her boyband dreams. Some dreams do come true.

14. Steve Aoki and Nicole Zimmerman

(Getty Images for Casamigos)

The most Halloween-y of Halloween couples, Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, got the pop star treatment in 2019 when Steve Aoki and Nicole Zimmerman chose them for their Halloween look. While Aoki stayed true to Skellingtons signature stripes, Zimmerman glammed up Sallys look with a satin red jumpsuit and a silver-fringed jacket. Well allow it.

13. Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner absolutely killed it as the most romantic of spooky couples, Gomez and Morticia Addams. Perfection; no notes.

12. Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin

(Getty Images for SVEDKA)

We love it when celebrities turn to non-Western pop culture for inspiration. Dylan Sprouse and girlfriend Barbara Palvin have dressed up as anime characters for Halloween at least twice now, but their take on Ashitaka and San from Studio Ghiblis Princess Mononoke in 2019 takes the cake.

11. Josh Duhamel and Fergie

(Getty Images)

The late Karl Lagerfelds love for his Birman cat Choupette ran so deep that he once said he wished he could marry her. He told CNN: There is no marriage, yet, for human beings and animals I never thought that I would fall in love like this with a cat. Looks like Josh Duhamel and Fergie decided to make his wish come true in 2015.

10. Emily Ratajkowski and Jeff Magid

(Getty)

Were not sure how much yellow body paint Emily Ratajkowski and her then-boyfriend Jeff Magid used to transform into Marge and Homer Simpson from The Simpsons in 2015. Twenty tubes? Fifty? Only the couple and their makeup artists will ever know.

9. Antoni Porowski and Kevin Harrington

(Getty Images for Heidi Klum)

Who said VHS was dead? Well, it is at least declared undead thanks to Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski and his boyfriend Kevin Harrington, who dressed up as zombie Blockbuster employees covered in cobwebs and bits of popcorn in 2019.

8. Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld

(Getty Images for Good+ Foundatio)

The Big Bad Wolf revealed himself to be Jerry Seinfeld in 2018 when he and his wife Jessica dressed as characters from childhood fairytale favourite, the Little Red Riding Hood. The pair brought the cautionary tale to life for a good cause in 2018, when they hosted the GOOD+ Foundations third annual Halloween Bash.

7. Christian Siriano and Brad Walsh

(Getty)

Talk about surrealism meets realism. Designer Christian Siriano and his former husband Brad Walsh brought Picassos paintings to life in 2015 when they attended Heidi Klums annual Halloween party as real-life renditions of the artists cubist characters.

6. Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom

(Startraks/Shutterstock)

Are you telling me these arent Hilary and Bill Clinton? we hear you say. Yes, thats correct  its actually Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, who used facial prosthetics to transform themselves into the former US president and Democractic presidential candidate. This costume gets our vote for one of Perrys best ever.

5. Winnie Harlow and Kyle Kuzma

Bride of Frankenstein, but make it fashion, as Tyra Banks would say. Winnie Harlow certainly fulfilled the brief when she and former boyfriend Kyle Kuzma took on Frankensteins Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein in 2020.

4. Jenna Fischer and Lee Kirk

It turns out that The Office star Jenna Fischer and her husband Lee Kirk are bigger fans of The Great British Bake Off than anyone else. In 2019, the couple dressed up as judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. While the latter is still a judge on the show, Mary Berry was replaced by Prue Leith in 2016. Time for some judging of our own  while Fischer nails Berrys national treasure look, we think Kirk hasnt quite got the steely blue-eyed stare Hollywood is known for. Better luck next time.

3. The Weeknd and Bella Hadid

(Getty Images for SVEDKA Vodka)

Legend has it that if you call out, Beetlejuice! three times, The Weeknd will appear.

2. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

In memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, we just had to include Chrissy Teigen and John Legends 2018 Halloween costumes. They dressed as the royal couple, with Legends red costume adorned with medals and Teigen matching the colour of her hat to her coat, just like the late monarch was known for doing. Its what she wouldve wanted.

1. Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz

(Getty Images for Heidi Klum)

Heidi Klum is the undisputed queen of Halloween, and this costume was her ultimate best. At the 20th anniversary of her legendary Halloween parties, Klum set the bar in outer space when she slithered out of a biohazard truck with bloodied glass windows with her husband Tom Kaulitz, who dressed as a zombie astronaut. Presumably, her outfit was so good that it killed him. Heidi remains undefeated.
"I went paragliding in the Andes Mountains. I went to a desert in Peru and went sandboarding," a marketing specialist told Insider. "After doing all that, I just wasn't going to go back to the office." Anonymous

Insider spoke with four remote workers who traveled abroad without their employers' knowledge.

They described tracking the local weather and even covering up an earthquake in Ecuador.

One worker said the ploy had allowed him to pay off debt and improve his quality of life.

Work-from-home policies have allowed employees to log in from their living rooms in their pajamas, but some workers have taken the idea to an extreme, secretly logging in from across the world while keeping their bosses in the dark.

It can be a tough charade to keep up. A marketing specialist based in Chicago who since 2020 has secretly lived in more than five countries while working 9-to-5 jobs recalled joining a Zoom meeting from Colombia as his coworkers lamented a recent storm that had covered the Midwestern city in snow.

"I need to go to the beach right now," he recalled a coworker saying. "I'm so tired of this awful weather."

"Yeah, I really want to go to the beach. This is so terrible," the marketing specialist replied.

Little did his snowbound compatriots know he was actually a 10-minute walk from the Caribbean Sea and had just returned from an outdoor yoga session.

He's one of four remote workers interviewed by Insider who have secretly worked abroad without their employers' permission. They spoke on the condition of anonymity, but Insider has verified their identities and their employment status with documentation.

They say one trick to avoid getting caught is reading the local news and tracking the weather. The marketing specialist said these two best practices helped him maintain the ruse  during which, he says, he earned a pay bump and a promotion. His social-media accounts are public for work, so he posts pictures of his travels only in private Instagram Stories limited to close friends.

When the specialist's company required staff to return to the office earlier this year, he found a new remote job at a nonprofit. He said that even though this employer would likely be more lenient, he keeps his international adventures hush-hush.

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"I went paragliding in the Andes Mountains. I went to a desert in Peru and went sandboarding," he told Insider. "After doing all that, I just wasn't going to go back to the office."

Over the past two years he's traveled to Panama, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico. He said he still pays rent for his apartment in Chicago and subleases it to friends when possible. But even in the months he has to pay rent, he said, he spends less money than he did working full time in the Windy City because other things cost less.

The marketing specialist overlooking Colca Canyon in Peru. Anonymous

For some, traveling full time is indeed more affordable than living in the US.

A former Miami resident told Insider that after his rent was raised to $2,700 a month from $2,150, he and his husband quit their in-person jobs and moved to South America. Once they set up shop in Ecuador, they both accepted fully remote positions in marketing and consulting so they could covertly travel. He said that now their housing costs average about $500 a month for two-bedroom Airbnbs.

The positions required them to be based in the US, but they didn't divulge that they were actually traveling across the world. The couple's new employers and coworkers believe they still live in Miami.

The former resident said they even paid over $1,000 for flights to pick up a work laptop from their former Florida address. But he said that one-time expense was nothing compared with the money they're saving, adding that they'd been able to put 75% of their income toward paying off debt, a financial burden that had made them feel weighed down back in Miami.

"If we tried to do the exact same thing in Miami, as far as paying off our debt that rapidly, we'd be literally living on ramen noodles," he said. "We can get lunch for $2.50 every day. The exact same plate of food in Miami would have easily cost you between $12 and $15."

He said that while the arrangement had made for some awkward encounters with coworkers, who've asked on multiple occasions why he's wearing a windbreaker in Florida, the financial savings are worth it.

When coworkers ask how his weekend was, he said he contrives scenarios based on the couple's past life of brunching and beaching, when in reality they bathed in volcanic hot springs and hiked through the Andes.

But some scenarios are impossible to prepare for, like the time in July when their Airbnb in Ecuador started shaking from an earthquake in the middle of a client meeting.

"Do you know what Florida doesn't have? Earthquakes," he said, adding that he told the client that he was "temporarily" in South America, and they didn't think much of it.

The couple who formerly lived in Miami pictured at the "Swing at the End of the World" in Banos, Ecuador, and at Lake Humantay in Peru. Anonymous

A Berlin-based remote worker at a multinational tech company who has secretly worked from the Canary Islands and Portugal told Insider the key to pulling the scheme off had been respecting his colleagues, working hard, and resisting any urges to show off.

"I didn't tell anybody, even colleagues who I'm friends with outside of work," he said, adding that he doesn't have any social media. "It doesn't feel the best always, but that's the only way I can maintain this lifestyle."

He said he uses his personal computer with a VPN to ensure the company can't track his location and always has the computer's clock set to Berlin time in case he has to spontaneously share his screen. He said he's also aware of any background noises that could give away his location, like the tropical birds in the Canary Islands.

A Berlin-based tech worker secretly spends his winters in the Canary Islands. Anonymous

"There's no birds in Berlin chirping in the middle of winter," he said.

In the summer he returns to Berlin and works from the office about three times a week  an option he said he values as much as his ability to work remotely.

"I really like my job. I really like my team. That's why I don't want to necessarily quit," he said. "But I like my job because they don't ask so many questions  because it's flexible. So those go hand in hand. As soon as they remove that, it's not worth keeping anyway, so if they fire me, it doesn't matter."

A software engineer from Minneapolis left his corporate job this spring to work for a tech startup. Anonymous

While many companies have allowed employees to work remotely full time, most do not permit working internationally because of regulatory concerns and risks regarding taxes, insurance, immigration law, and cybersecurity. It can also create compensation concerns for companies that calculate pay with the local cost of living in mind.

A software engineer from Minneapolis who attempted to work virtually from Puerto Rico this winter said that even though he was connected to a VPN, his company's IT team reported that his IP address was coming from outside the US. He said he got a stern message from his team's director, who told him to get back to the States immediately.

This spring he left the company for a tech startup with more lenient international-travel policies.

"My general philosophy is it shouldn't matter where I'm working," he told Insider on a video call from Spain. "As long as I've been exceeding expectations, who cares if I'm in Spain or South Africa or Minnesota?"

Read the original article on Business Insider
What mattered most at UFC Fight Night 212 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas? Here are a few post-fight musings 

5. The end of Mike Jackson's UFC run?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA  OCTOBER 15: (L-R) Mike Jackson punches Pete Rodriguez in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Its boggles the mind to see [autotag]Mike Jackson[/autotag] has been part of the UFC roster for more than six years dating back to when he was signed to fight Mickey Gall in the CM Punk sweepstakes.

Jackson lost that fight, but ended up keeping his place in the organization long enough to eventually get the matchup with the professional wrestling standout. Then he stuck around to get another fight against Dean Barry in April, which he won by unforeseen disqualification.

Fast forward to Saturday, and Jackson (1-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) once again showed up for the opening fight of the card against Pete Rodriguez. But unfortunately for him, there were no second chances, lucky breaks of bizarre fight endings. He was outclassed by a significantly better fighter, and the end result was a highlight-reel knockout loss.

If the UFC didnt go into the CM Punk business, Jackson wouldve never had a single octagon appearance. Somehow he reached four, but you have to believe this is the end of the line. Although I dont know for a fact, I assume Jackson was brought on a relatively standard four-fight UFC contract. This would mark the end of that, and I cant think of a single reason why he would be signed to another deal.

Jackson is actually a super nice guy and a part of the MMA media as a photographer and occasional writer. He made the most out of his opportunity, so no one can hate that. But to be brutally honest, there was a point in time when UFC caliber fighter actually meant something, and it never meant less than with him.

4. Tatsuro Taira's title potential

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA  OCTOBER 15: (L-R) Tatsuro Taira of Japan punches CJ Vergara in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

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22-year-old [autotag]Tatsuro Taira[/autotag] added to his perfect record with a slick second-round submission win over CJ Vergara in their flyweight bout.

Taira (12-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is arguably the biggest Japanese prospect out there right now, and he keeps showing reasons why in his fights. Despite Vergara coming into the fight three pounds overweight, Taira accepted the fight without batting an eye. Then when he got in there, he threatened with submissions until he locked in a tight armbar to force the tap from his opponent.

To round out a great night for him, Taira got on the mic in his post-fight interview and declared his intentions to become the first Japanese titleholder in UFC history, and said he has no intentions of losing before that belt gets wrapped around his waist.

That would be a huge accomplishment for Taira, and as long as his career is handled wisely, it doesnt seem unreasonable. His size, length and grappling ability is going to make him a problem for a lot of the top names at 125 pounds. If he can make his striking more dangerous, maybe his dream comes to fruition.

3. Raphael Assuncao bounces back

[autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] was one of the biggest underdogs on the card against Victor Henry, and he made everyone look foolish for putting him in that position.

Although hes never fought for a UFC title and failed to win the big one on multiple occasions, Assuncao (29-8 MMA, 12-6 UFC) is one of the best bantamweights in MMA history. His resume is exceptional, but four losses in a row  no matter how great the level of competition  is going to lead to public skepticism.

Pair those losses with the fact Assuncao recently turned 40, and there was good reason to write him off. But it wasnt valid. Assuncao did everything he needed to get back on track. He paired up with a great team at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, went back to his most comfortable style of counter-fighting, then shut out Henry on the scorecards over three rounds.

Assuncao said in his post-fight interview that hes been grappling with the concept of retirement, but didnt want to make any definitive spur-of-the-moment decisions on fight night. He said its coming down the pipeline sooner rather than later, though, and its just a matter of finding the right time.

I could see why it might be hard to walk away on the heels of that performance, but theres also nothing like going out on a high.

2. Jonathan Martinez spoils Cub Swanson's debut

[listicle id=2588623]

All the talk going into the co-main event centered around [autotag]Cub Swanson[/autotag]s first fight at bantamweight in more than 15 years, which seemed just fine for the soft-spoken [autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag].

But when they stepped in the octagon, it was Martinez (17-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) who made the statement. He battered fan favorite Swanson (28-13 MMA, 13-9 UFC) en route to a leg kick TKO finish in the second round to extend his winning streak to four fights.

Its tough to see Swanson go down like that, but its hard not to be happy for Martinez, who is the very definition of a guy who refuses to talk trash, keeps his head down and works hard. Its translating to positive results for him.

Getting a gauge on where Swanson goes in the aftermath of this fight is tough. He said he dropped down from featherweight for a new challenge, but it wasnt the smoothest week for him judging by his word-less media day and stoppage loss. Hes not going to be able to beat the best in either division at this point in his career, and hopefully if he wants to do more fights before wrapping his career, UFC books him in the manner he deserves. Hes truly one of the great role models in the sport.

As for Martinez, his callout of Dominick Cruz may not have been likely, but it was his first sign of some edge in his UFC career. If he doesnt get that fight, hopefully he gets someone in the upper tier because I would be intrigued to see how hed fare and what his ceiling truly is.

1. Alexa Grasso's stance on title shot

[listicle id=2588657]

After beating Viviane Araujo by unanimous decision in her first UFC main event, [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] refused to take a bold stance on the title shot  and thats the correct way to play things.

Theres no doubt Grasso (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) belongs in the conversation to challenge womens flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (23-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) after going 4-0 since moving up from strawweight.

Would this run have her in the same spot of a less stacked division, though? Probably not. Fighters at 125 pounds are automatically expedited up the pecking order due to Shevchenkos dominance and need for new challengers. Thats why Grasso has been getting questions about a title shot for her past three fights.

Grasso isnt allowing the pressure to demand a shot get to her, however. She gave a realistic answer post-fight in saying she really thrived with the experience of her first five-round fight, and would love another against a top-three opponent as the final step.

But Grasso also seems understanding of the reality. Shevchenkos queue has minimal intriguing options, and with Grasso being a name with a strong following  especially in her native Mexico  she gets even more momentum. She said she would take the shot if the UFC serves it up on a silver platter, and thats what most should do because it might never come around again, but being a bit standoffish is a good call.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkies event hub for UFC Fight Night 212.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
The Irish capital city of Dublin is known as the home of Guinness beer and for its pub culture. It was also designated a UNESCO City of Literature due to its legacy of great literary contributions. And while its population is overwhelmingly white (90%), there is a small Black population comprising 1% of the citys population.

Naturally, everywhere we go, we bring our boss mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and hustler work ethic. Black-owned establishments in Dublin include restaurants, clothing boutiques, beauty brands, and many other thriving businesses. Here are five brands to support during your trip to the capital of Ireland.

Sahara

View this post on Instagram A post shared by SAHARA.IE (@sahara.ie)

Sahara sells beautiful, authentic African items straight from the motherland. Their offerings include furniture, home accessories, head wraps, dolls, and baskets. All of their products are sourced from talented artisans in rural communities across Africa, and proceeds from their sales are reinvested back into these communities. Stop by and patronize their store at 69C Georges Street Upper, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.

Ruby Tuesday's Soul Food

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ruby Tuesdays Soul Food (@ruby_tuesdays_soul_food123)

Ruby Tuesdays offers the finest Afro-Caribbean cuisine that is a reflection of the owners Ghanaian and Caribbean background. When she first moved to Ireland, Ruby was unable to find any Caribbean restaurants serving outstanding food. This prompted her to open a restaurant of her own. When youre in town, stop by to try Ruby Tuesdays acclaimed oxtail stew, chicken wings, or curry goat. Check the Instagram page for the latest hours and location.

HBA Studio Hair and Beauty Salon

View this post on Instagram A post shared by #1 Afro Hair Salon in Ireland (@hbastudiodublin)

If you find yourself needing your hair laid while in Dublin, stop by HBA Studio, the #1 Afro hair salon in Ireland. In addition to cuts, ponytails, wigs, and weaves, you can get your hair pressed, braided, or colored. The hair and beauty salon is located at Queen Street 2-4 in Dublin.

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Pillows and Patterns

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pillows and Patterns (@lizellejoseph)

Pillows and Patterns owner Lizelle Joseph is a native of Cape Town, South Africa. Her love for color, print, and creativity began there as she would watch her grandmother make her own home accessories. The designs Lizelle creates today are all original, sustainable, and eco-friendly. Pillows and Patterns can be purchased at markets and events Lizelle vends at around the city as well as on her website.

Nu's Cakes

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nus Cakes (@nuscakes)

Nu, the owner of Nus Cakes, is a self-taught, CIPD-accredited baker. Her delectable cakes and cupcakes are made with love and are not only tasty but aesthetically gorgeous, too. They can be made in a variety of flavors and designs, and can be ordered in advance for delivery around Dublin.

Related: Irish Black History Month: 5 Facts You Likely Didnt Know
To get a sense of who is truly in control of Altice USA, Inc. (NYSE:ATUS), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 58% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Altice USA.

Check out our latest analysis for Altice USA

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Altice USA?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

Altice USA already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Altice USA, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Altice USA is not owned by hedge funds. Patrick Drahi is currently the largest shareholder, with 28% of shares outstanding. Clarkston Capital Partners, LLC is the second largest shareholder owning 6.9% of common stock, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. holds about 5.1% of the company stock.

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We did some more digging and found that 6 of the top shareholders account for roughly 50% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Altice USA

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Altice USA, Inc.. It is very interesting to see that insiders have a meaningful US$751m stake in this US$2.5b business. It is good to see this level of investment. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

With a 12% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Altice USA. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 5 warning signs with Altice USA (at least 3 which are a bit unpleasant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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NAIROBI (Reuters) -The chair of the African Union on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire in Ethiopia's Tigray region and urged parties in the two-year-old conflict to agree to direct peace talks.

The Ethiopian government and its allies have been fighting Tigray forces on and off since late 2020. The violence has killed thousands of civilians and uprooted millions, with hundreds of thousands now facing possible famine.

Both sides have blamed each other for starting the conflict.AU chair Moussa Faki said he was following reports of escalating violence in Tigray with grave concern.

"The chairperson strongly calls for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire and the resumption of humanitarian services," the AU said in a statement.

AU-led peace talks proposed for earlier this month were delayed for logistical reasons.

Tigray authorities said their forces would abide by an immediate truce.

"Efforts to bring about a cessation of hostilities underscore the gravity of the humanitarian catastrophe," they said in a statement.

Ethiopian government spokesperson Legesse Tulu, military spokesperson Colonel Getnet Adane, Redwan Hussein, national security adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Abiy's spokesperson, Billene Seyoum, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

U.S. development agency USAID chief Samantha Power on Sunday joined the call for the joint offensive by Ethiopian federal forces and Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) to stop.

"With as many as one million people teetering on the edge of famine, we urge all parties... to agree to a ceasefire, and call for safe and unhindered humanitarian access and withdrawal of the EDF from Ethiopia," Power wrote on Twitter.

The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez said on Saturday that, in the absence of a ceasefire, he would seek to pass an act imposing sanctions on those undermining efforts to end hostilities or those providing weapons to the warring parties.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel did not respond to requests for comment.

(Reporting by Nairobi Newsroom; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Louise Heavens, John Stonestreet and Nick Macfie)
A staff members blurs past carrying a yard placard for Democratic Pennsylvania Senate nominee John Fetterman at a Democrat's campaign office on October 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Democratic candidate for Governor Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro addressed supporters outside. Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images

An AirTag led police to a dumpster filled with more than 100 stolen campaign signs in Philadelphia.

The Tredyffrin Township Police Department received numerous reports of stolen political signs.

The signs were in support of Democratic candidates or causes such as reproductive health issues.

An AirTag led police to a dumpster filled with more than 100 stolen Democratic campaign signs in Philadelphia, according to the Tredyffrin Township Police Department.

In a press release, the police department said it received numerous reports of stolen political signs from community members between Oct. 10 to Oct. 13.

Police said a person whose signs were stolen told them that one of their signs had an AirTag attached to it which led officers to a commercial dumpster behind the Valley Fair Shopping Center where they discovered more than 100 signs. The department did not disclose the name of the resident who attached the AirTag to the campaign sign or why they did so.

AirTags are a tracking accessory that helps users find whatever the AirTag is attached to by integrating with Apple's "Find My" app.

Law enforcement told BuzzFeed News that the political signs were in support of Democratic candidates or causes such as reproductive health issues and Black Lives Matter. The news outlet spoke with Sandy Gilson, a resident of Tredyffrin Township who noticed four political signs, including one for Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman were missing.

Arlene Talley, Gilson's friend and a member of the Chester County Democratic Committee, told BuzzFeed News she showed up at the dumpster after Gilson told her where they were located and found 118 signs.

"I just started taking them out and putting them in my car," Talley told BuzzFeed.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Melissa Shusterman tweeted her signs had been removed and blamed "local Republicans" for stealing them. In a statement to Insider, Shusterman said "whomever took these signs suppressed my supporters 1st Amendment right to free speech."

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Raffi Terzian, the chairman of the Republican Party of Chester Country issued a statement in response to Shusterman's allegations, saying it was unfortunate that the representative "decided to try to score political points with this issue by using highly charged and divisive rhetoric and pointing blame at local Republicans."

Terzian's statement condemned the thefts and stated that the Republican party had also received reports of signs that had gone missing or were vandalized.



The police department said they have no suspects at this time.

The Apple AirTag has been used to track campaign signs before: In April, a candidate in Florida used an AirTag to track a stolen campaign sign located in a Jeep parked outside the home of his political rival.

The Tredyffrin Township Police Department did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
9,000 Russian soldiers will be transferred to Belarus

The head of the Department of International Military Cooperation and assistant to the Belarusian defense minister, Valery Revenko, said the first units of Russian servicemen have already started arriving in Belarus.

The redeployment will take several days, Revenko tweeted. The total number will be a little less than 9,000 people.

According to the ministers assistant, more information will be provided at a briefing for military attaches on Oct. 17.

Meanwhile, the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus reported that Russia has begun to transfer military aircraft and helicopters that will be part of the aviation component of the regional grouping of troops.

Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced on Oct. 10 that Minsk and Moscow had agreed to deploy a regional group of troops. According to him, the formation of the new force has already begun.

Lukashenko said that the basis of the group would be the Armed Forces of Belarus. At the same time, he ordered to receive and deploy more than 1,000 Russian soldiers on the territory of the republic.

Read also: New group of Russian military personnel arrives in Belarus

According to Lukashenko, this decision was made following the alleged aggravation on the western borders of the Ally State of Russia and the Republic of Belarus.

Accusations against Ukraine like these have been heard from the Lukashenkos regime regularly since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, including from the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.

On Oct. 8, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry handed a note to Ukrainian Ambassador Ihor Kyzym with a statement that Ukraine was allegedly preparing a strike against Belarus.

Kyiv denied this information and called it a Russian provocation.

On Oct. 12, the Belarusian KGB stated that foreign intelligence services were allegedly trailing militants for a full-scale invasion in Ukraine.

Lukashenko threatened that a new grouping of troops joint with Russia would be involved if the level of threat reaches the current level, as it is now.

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In addition, according to the Belarusian media, Nasha Niva, Lukashenko decided to start a mobilization in Belarus. On Oct. 13, the Parliament of the Republic of Belarus adopted a bill in the first reading, which proposes to limit citizens ability to leave the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, announced on Oct. 14 that the regime of counter-terrorist operation had been introduced in the country. At the same time, the Belarusian KGB denied this information.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Pete Rodriguez starches Mike Jackson at UFC on Saturday. Photo by Getty Images

UFC prelims Saturday featured three finishes.

Pete Rodriguez starched Mike Jackson before Mana Martinez's drubbing of Brandon Davis.

Keep scrolling to see highlights from six bouts that preceded the main card in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS  UFC returned to its Apex TV studio after a week-long break to film a Fight Night event in Las Vegas for ESPN+, and boy did it start with a bang.

Pete Rodriguez and Mike Jackson threw slugs in a welterweight opener and, though it was scheduled for three rounds, not even one was fully needed as Rodriguez closed the show early.

Rodriguez roughed his opponent up with body shots, cracked his skull clean with precise punching, and floored him with a horrific knee to the face.

Jackson's legs were buckled as he appeared bent backward. He was unconscious, and he lay motionless for at least one minute  almost as long as the actual fight lasted, at 93 seconds.

Eventually, the Apex crowd began to clap as Jackson gradually regained his senses.

And, with him appearing in good shape once again, replays of the devastating finish got replayed on the big screens.

Watch it right here:

Jackson made a brief statement on Twitter shortly after his crushing defeat.

"Well, that hurt," he said, in a post that accompanied a photo in which he appeared to be receiving further medical attention.

The prelims featured two other finishes

In the very next fight, Tatsuro Taira forced C.J. Vergara to tap with a second-round armbar having transitioned into that technique from a rear-naked choke, in their 129-pound catchweight bout.

Tatsuro Taira makes C.J. Vergara tap. Photo by Getty Images

Watch the submission here:

Joanderson Brito scored one of the preliminary card's early finishes with a first-round rear-naked choke that submitted Lucas Alexander in their featherweight bout.

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Watch Brito's win below:

In the penultimate bout on the prelims, Jacob Malkoun overcame Nick Maximov's power punching in the opener, a round in which he suffered a knockdown, to rally with strong work of his own.

Maximov was well-supported Octagon-side, with numerous members of his fight team  MMA cult hero Nate Diaz included  filming the action and shouting words of encouragement.

Suddenly, though, one of his training partners said, "Why's Nick wincing?"

Nick Maximov. Photo by Getty Images

And, soon enough, it became apparent Maximov was fighting through an injury that was troubling him considerably.

With each minute that passed in the fight, the more damage Maximov seemed to do to himself as he tried to continue despite a bad knee.

Though he was able to defend himself, the momentum had shifted considerably as Malkoun was in the ascendancy, stealing the first round despite Maximov's strong work in the opening minute, before continuing to trouble the Californian in the second.

By the end, Malkoun had done enough to secure the win with a clean sweep of 30-27 scores from the three judges.

One of the best fights was saved for last when Mana Martinez kept clobbering Brandon Davis but, bizarrely, seemed to let him off the hook by failing to follow up and put his opponent away for good.

Between the second and third rounds, Martinez's coach James Kraus implored his fighter to hunt the finish.

That finish never came, though, despite some impressively varied striking from Mana.

By the end, Martinez earned more than a decision win that split the judges  but the right man won.

The UFC Fight Night prelims was broadcast Saturday on ESPN+.

A women's flyweight fight involving Alexa Grasso and Viviane Araujo topped the card.

Read the original article on Insider
Arizona secretary of state and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Katie Hobbs on Sunday failed to name a single restriction on abortion she would support if she were elected governor of the state.

Speaking to CNN host Dana Bash, Hobbs dodged the question about whether she would agree to limits on late-term abortions multiple times.

The fact is right now we are under one extreme 15-week ban that limits healthcare options for women who need them. Theres a potential for a complete ban right now, Hobbs said. She redirected the conversation to Republican candidate for Arizona governor Kari Lakes pro-life views. Under my opponents administration, she would support a full ban. She has called this a great law. She doesnt support any exceptions for rape or incest, Hobbs added.

What do you support?, Bash repeated.

While abortion in the final trimester of pregnancy is not common, Hobbs suggested that it still needs to be permitted.

When youre talking about late-term abortion, that is extremely incredibly rare. If that conversation is happening its because there is something that has gone incredibly wrong in the pregnancy. And politicians do not belong in that decision, she said.

But what do you support? What should the limits be, the CNN anchor urged. Refusing to articulate an abortion cutoff at any fetal development benchmark, Hobbs replied: The decision about abortion should be between a patient and their doctor.

So there should no limits in the law? It should only be decided in the medical office, Bash asked. Government making these kinds of mandates interferes with the care doctors need to provide to their decisions, Hobbs said.

The host requested a final confirmation of Hobbs policy plans for abortion. Just to be clear, if you become governor, you will push for a law that has absolutely no limits in any point of the pregnancy on abortion? Thats your position and what youd want to become the law of the land in Arizona?

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We have very limited options. We need to get politicians out of the way and let doctors provide the care they are trained to provide. Politicians dont belong in those decisions, the Democrat reiterated.

Both Lake and Hobbs have attempted to paint each other as the extremist on abortion, with the former backing widespread state protections for the unborn baby in the womb and the latter backing, evidently, none.

At an October 2 campaign event at the Republican National Committees Hispanic Community Center in Phoenix, Lake was asked a question by a reporter: Abortion is effectively banned in the state right now. Tell me, is that something that you support? On October 7, an Arizona appellate court blocked enforcement of the states 1901 abortion law, which bans all abortions, except in cases in which the mothers life is in jeopardy. That decision came after a lower court in September ruled that the law could stand after a long-standing injunction prevented it from taking effect for decades.

I support saving as many lives as possible, and what I really want to knowand Ive been waiting, I tune into you guys all the timeI want to know where Katie Hobbs stands, but I never hear you guys ask her that. Im pro life, Lake said. My plan would be that every woman who walks into an abortion clinic know that there are options out there, [that] they dont have to choose that. Theres families who would love to adopt a baby. And right now, the way its been going, they go in and they only have one option.

More from National Review
CNN's Dana Bash interviews Katie Hobbs, the Democratic candidate for governor of Arizona, on Sunday, October 16, 2022. CNN

Democratic Arizona governor candidate Katie Hobbs defended her refusal to debate opponent Kari Lake.

On CNN, Hobbs said that Lake avoids "substantive, in-depth conversations" about Arizona issues.

Hobbs' refusal to debate has drawn criticism from Democrats, who have called it "the wrong decision."

Democrat Katie Hobbs, the Arizona secretary of state running for governor, defended her decision not to debate her Republican opponent, Kari Lake.

The move has been criticized by Democrats who have maintained that Hobbs should have debated Lake, a Trump-endorsed candidate who routinely pushes debunked claims about voter fraud.

On CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, host Dana Bash asked Hobbs about her decision, quoting an opinion piece by The Arizona Republic's Laurie Roberts, who wrote that "Hobbs' refusal to debate her opponent on Wednesday represents a new level of political malpractice."

"Why won't you debate her?" Bash asked Hobbs.

"Look, Kari Lake has made it clear time and time again that she's not interested in having substantive, in-depth conversations about the issues that matter to Arizonans. She only wants a scenario where she can control the dialogue, and she's refused to sit down in a one-on-one, lengthy conversation to really clarify with Arizonans where she is on the issues. She's the one who's afraid of talking to voters where she's at," Hobbs said.

Hobbs had previously appealed to change the planned debate to separate, moderated interviews for both candidates, but her request was denied by the local elections commission, 12NEWS KPNX previously reported.

After a back-and-forth between the candidates, the elections commission, and the venue, Hobbs will get an interview on PBS that wasn't originally planned while Lake, who issued an ultimatum to PBS and its owner Arizona State University, will not get an interview, 12 NEWS reported.

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"I guarantee you that when Arizonans who are struggling, when they go to open their ballot, when they're thinking about the fact that they're not sure how they're going to put food on the table, they're rationing their insulin, or they're thinking about having to drive their niece or their sister or their daughter to California to get the health care that they need, they're not going to look at their ballot and say, 'Damn it, Katie Hobbs didn't debate her opponent,'" Hobbs told CNN on Sunday.

Bash countered that Lake sat for an interview with CNN on Sunday morning shortly before Hobbs' interview.

"A lot of Democrats are questioning your decision, and they're saying it's the wrong decision," Bash said. "If you think she's as dangerous as you're saying to democracy, is it your responsibility as a candidate who wants to run Arizona to show and explain who their alternative is?"

"That is exactly what I'm doing right now," Hobbs replied. "There is a lot more ability to have a conversation with you without her interruptions and shouting to do that. And, yes, she did sit down with you. She's refused to do that with any legitimate reporter in the state of Arizona and take her case directly to the voters. She's only interested in creating a spectacle."

Hobbs added that Lake has "centered her entire campaign around" debunked claims of mass voter fraud in the 2020 election.

"This is disqualifying. This is a basic core of our democracy, and she has nothing else to run on," Hobbs said.

A representative for the Kari Lake campaign said in a statement to Insider that Hobbs "lied" about Lake's willingness to do interviews.

"As expected, Hobbs spent her entire CNN interview lying about Kari Lake's record. Hobbs lied that Kari refuses to do one-on-one interviews, despite the fact that she was literally interviewed by CNN moments before Hobbs, and she lied that Kari never talks with reporters in Arizona, ignoring the fact that just last week Kari held one of the biggest press conferences Arizona has seen and took questions from reporters for 40 minutes," the representative said. "The only one who is afraid to talk about the issues in this campaign is Katie Hobbs, who still refuses to debate Kari and runs away from reporters whenever possible."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Maryland State Police arrested a suspect Saturday who has been charged in the fatal shooting of a man in Worcester County.

The suspect, Boris Wade Connor, 18, of Newark, is charged with first-degree murder, second degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault along with firearms-related charges.

He was seen by the Worcester County District Court Commissioner for an initial appearance. Connor will be held in the Worcester County Detention Center awaiting a bond review with a Worcester County District court judge. The victim has been identified as Kamron Michael Lucas, 34, of Newark.

According to a preliminary investigation, at about 12:20 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, the Worcester County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of a shooting that occurred in the 6700 block of Basket Switch Road in Newark. Deputies located Lucas, who was declared dead at the scene.

MORE:Accomack sheriff investigating shooting death of Painter man

MORE:Suspect arrested in shooting death of Salisbury man in Dorchester County

Investigators identified Connor as a suspect in the case and believe that Connor and Lucas, who knew each other, were involved in an argument. Connor then pulled out a handgun and shot Lucas, according to police, who added he fled the scene before being taken into custody.

A trooper from the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack and a deputy from the Worcester County Sheriffs Office located the suspect driving with another person and were able to arrest him following a traffic stop. Following the arrest, the Worcester County Sheriffs Office requested that the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit lead the investigation. The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the State Fire Marshall, the Maryland Natural Resources Police and the Maryland State Police Crash Team also assisted with the investigation.

The case remains under investigation.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Arrest made in fatal shooting in Worcester County
A bookstore. Jeff Greenberg / Contributor/Getty Images

Conservative groups and Republican officials are campaigning to ban books from schools and libraries. Here's everything you need to know:

Is this campaign new?

Attempts to ban books have gone on for decades, but free-speech advocates say the scale of the current effort is unprecedented in this country. In many states, angry parents have filled school board meetings with lists of dozens of books and demands they be purged from classroom and libraries. Most deal with racial issues, homosexuality, and gender. A report by PEN America found 2,532 instances of book banning in 32 states during the past school year. The American Library Association (ALA) counted nearly 1,600 different books  most dealing with race and LGBTQ issues  targeted for bans or restrictions last year, the most in the 20 years they've tracked such efforts. PEN counted more than 50 groups fighting to ban books, including Moms for Liberty, which since its founding in 2020 has grown to nearly 100,000 members in 38 states. Governors, state legislatures, and local officials have joined in the effort.

Where has that happened?

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has called for criminal charges against school staffers who allow children access to books deemed "pornographic"; Oklahoma passed a law removing protection against prosecution for teachers and librarians who distribute "obscene material." In March, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law that bans schools from using books that are "pornographic" or age "inappropriate" and expands parents' ability to challenge books used in classrooms or available in school libraries. In San Antonio, school administrators had librarians pull more than 400 titles dealing with race, sexuality, and gender off the shelves after a Republican state representative, Matt Krause, made a list of 850 objectionable titles and asked school districts to investigate whether their libraries stocked them. Ban opponents say that's part of a growing trend of "soft censorship"  administrators and librarians quietly removing books they fear might draw conservative scrutiny.

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What books are being targeted?

About 40 percent of banned books address LGBTQ themes or have prominent LGBTQ characters, according to PEN. The most-banned books include Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer, a graphic novel about a nonbinary teen, and George M. Johnson's All Boys Aren't Blue, a memoir about growing up Black and queer. Those books include passages about masturbation, oral and anal sex, and sexual assault. Opponents say such content is inappropriate for young people, and that access should be a matter of parental choice. "I would like to protect my kids' hearts and minds from this," said Jennifer Adler, a mother of five in Katy, Texas, referring to It's Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by Lev A.C. Rosen, a graphically sexual book about a cross-dressing gay teen. But others say the main objection to such books is discussion of LGBTQ matters that, as Amber Kaul, a bisexual student in Katy, put it, shows gay, trans, and nonbinary kids that their feelings "are valid and OK." Some of the most frequently targeted books have no sexual content but draw fire for their discussions of racism.

How often is race the issue?

One in five challenged books falls into this category, according to PEN. Books in conservative crosshairs include Ruby Bridges Goes to School, a child's book about the first Black child to integrate a new school, biographies of Nelson Mandela and Duke Ellington, and How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi. One of the most-banned books last year, according to the ALA, was Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give, about a Black teen whose friend is shot by a police officer during a traffic stop. The list made by Krause, the Texas state representative, targets any books that might "make students feel discomfort...because of their race," including William Styron's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1967 novel The Confessions of Nat Turner and Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me, a critically lauded book on Coates' struggles with racism, written as a letter to his 15-year-old son.

Is there pushback on the bans?

Yes, and the battle over books is heating up. Last month a House committee held a hearing where witnesses included librarians, teachers, and students. Committee chair Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) called book bans "a hallmark of authoritarian regimes." In some communities, parents and students have mobilized to fight bans. In York, Pennsylvania, a coalition successfully fought back after the school board banned numerous books dealing with racial matters, including children's books about civil rights icons Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. Similar efforts have succeeded in Annandale, New Jersey, Round Rock, Texas, and Milford, Ohio. Free-speech advocates say that a silent majority does not agree with censorship, and they must speak up or a loud minority will dictate what books and ideas are off-limits. "Now is the time to start building those communities," said Round Rock parent Natosha Daniels. "You're going to need to band together to fight what is coming down."

Librarians in the crosshairs

When Martha Hickson, a high school librarian in Annandale, New Jersey, tuned in to a school board meeting where parents were demanding the removal of several LGBTQ-themed young-adult books with explicit sexual content, she was left "absolutely stunned." A woman in the angry crowd called her out personally, branding her a "pedophile" and "a pornographer," said Hickson, 62. She's one of a growing number of librarians dismayed to find themselves personally targeted amid battles over books. They're being harassed on social media, publicly named and attacked by conservative officials, and even reported to law enforcement; some fear it's just a matter of time before a local police department arrests a librarian or teacher. Some have quit under the strain; others say they've removed books or chosen not to order certain titles that might draw scrutiny  an invisible form of censorship. Librarians and teachers are "making decisions out of fear," said Sarah Chase, a veteran librarian in Southlake, Texas, who took early retirement last year. "Who wants to be accused of being a pedophile or reported to the police for putting a book in a kid's hand?"

This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.

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KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 21:03

Some employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus have been allocated weapons to "protect the motherland" in the event of hostilities. People in Belarus are also being trained to evacuate the population and told about shelters.

Source: Vadim Sinyavsky, the Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, in an interview with the Belarusian ONT TV channel

Details: According to Sinyavsky, some of the employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations may be armed in order to "protect the motherland" in the event of a conflict or military operations, placing them on an equal footing with the army. The orders of the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, were carried out and the weapons were received from the Ministry of Defence, the Minister noted.

Quote from Sinyavsky: "Today, all the weapons that were planned have been received from the Ministry of Defence and placed in our rooms for storing weapons... Calculations have been made and personnel training has been carried out... If it is necessary to take an active part in certain issues relating to the protection of our homeland, these calculations will be sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and to the heads of the Air Force at the regional level, as well as to the Armed Forces; if necessary, calculations will also be made for participation in the relevant actions."

More details: Sinyavsky also said that Belarus has more than 5,000 different closed facilities that can be used to shelter the population in case of missile strikes.

"The leadership of our country... is taking every possible measure to prevent [a military conflict on the territory of Belarus] from happening. But we understand that, unfortunately, the world is such that there may be a situation in which we will have to act quickly, within the limits of civil defence," he said.

Story continues

In particular, according to the Minister of Emergency Situations, the means of notifying the population of possible threats are being verified.

Quote from Sinyavsky: "There are more than 5,000 different closed facilities in the country that can be used to shelter the population in the event of missile strikes, in particular. We will conduct an operational verification of these and will notify people where, when and in which region it is possible to go down into the shelters for protection from these things.This is the first story.

And the second story is evacuation in the event of an immediate emergency. We are training our forces and staff so that we can quickly organise an evacuation if necessary."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
EUROPEAN PRAVDA  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 15:44

A total of 9,000 Russian soldiers will be deployed in Belarus as part of the two countries "joint military group".

Source: European Pravda, quoting Valery Revenka, Aide to the Belarusian Minister of Defence, on Twitter

Quote from Revenko: "The first [military trains carrying Russian troops, members] of the [joint military group], began to arrive in Belarus. The relocation will take several days. The total number will be a little less than 9,000 people. More information will be provided at a briefing for military attaches."

The first troop trains with Russian servicemen who are part of the RGF began to arrive in Belarus. The relocation will take several days. The total number will be a little less than 9 thousand people. More information will be provided at a briefing for military attaches  (@Revenka_Valery) October 16, 2022

Details: On 10 October, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to deploy a "joint regional military group". He said that Belarus agreed to the deployment of additional Russian troops on its territory in order to ensure its security "in light of the rapid change of circumstances".

Lukashenko said on 10 October that Russian troops would soon start arriving in Belarus. "[D]o not count on a large number of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. But it will be more than 1,000 people," said the Belarusian dictator.

The Belarusian Ministry of Defence announced earlier that the first military trains carrying Russian troops have started to arrive in Belarus.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday said Democrats should have the guts to court some supporters of former President Trump.

A number of far-right extremists are likely unreachable by Democrats, Sanders acknowledged, but working class Americans, backing Trump because of their frustration with the American economy, could be pulled across the aisle.

What we need is a Democratic party that has the guts to stand up to them say, yeah, were going to take on the greed of the insurance companies and the drug companies and Wall Street. And I think if we do that some of those people, Im not saying all, will say, you know what, Im going to stand with the Democratic Party because on these economic issues, theyre far preferable to right wing Republicans, Sanders said on NBCs Meet the Press.

The independent senator, who ran for president as a Democrat in 2016, knocked Republicans economic platform and argued that Democrats positions likely align better with the concerns of the everyday American.

Look, I think there are some extreme right-wing voters who are racists, who are sexist, who are homophobes, xenophobes and I dont think youre going to ever get them, Sanders said.

But I also think there are millions of people in this country, working class people who look at Washington and they say, you know what, Im falling further and further behind. I cant afford health care. I cant afford to send my kids to college. I cant afford the outrageous cost of prescription drugs. Who is listening to me?

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) leaves the U.S. Capitol after a cloture vote September 27, 2022 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Sen. Bernie Sanders said some right-wing Americans who are racist and homophobic will never be won over.

Sanders added that many working-class voters may be swayed to vote Democrat over economic policies.

When Sanders ran for president in 2020, he made efforts to court Trump voters.

Sen. Bernie Sanders said extreme right-wing voters who are racist, sexist, and homophobic will never be won over.

During an interview with host of NBC's "Meet the Press" Chuck Todd, Sanders spoke about appealing to Trump voters.

"During 2016 and in 2020, you made a big deal about wanting to court Trump voters. I'm curious if your perspective on this now in an era where a majority of Republican voters think the 2020 election was stolen and that Joe Biden is somehow an illegitimate president. Are these voters still worth courting in your mind?" Todd asked Sanders.

"There are some extreme right-wing voters who are racists, who are sexists, who are homophobes, xenophobes. No, I don't think you are ever going to get them," Sanders responded.

He continued: "But I also think there are millions of people in this country, working-class people, who look at Washington, and they say, 'You know what, I'm falling further and further behind. I can't afford healthcare. I can't afford to send my kids to college. I can't afford the outrageous cost of prescription drugs. Who is listening to me?'"

Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 16, 2022

Sanders added that one way to win over undecided voters is to address corporate greed.

"I think what we need is a Democratic party that has the guts to stand up to them and say, 'Yeah, we're going to take on the greed of the insurance companies and the drug companies and Wall Street.' And I think if we do that, some of those people  I'm not saying all  will say, 'You know what, I'm gonna stand with the Democratic party because on these economic issues, they're far preferable to right-wing Republicans,'" Sanders said on NBC.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A joint operation between two law enforcement agencies led to multiple arrests and dozens of guns seized.

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From Oct. 7-8, the Bibb County Sheriffs Office and Georgia State Patrol conducted Operation Rolling Thunder. The purpose of the operation was to help stop unlawful acts and other criminal activity that affect Macon-Bibb County residents.

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In total, authorities arrested 41 people, including 25 with outstanding warrants, and issued 428 citations. Twenty-three individuals were charged with DUI and 37 guns were recovered, including five that were reported stolen.

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Here are the citizens who were arrested during Operating Rolling Thunder and their list of charges:

Deloris Dominique Jones, 37, has warrants from the Houston County Sheriffs Office and Perry Police Department.

Aarion Palmer, 30, has warrants from Bibb County for a state court violation of probation.

Zykira Akeisha Worthen, 24, is charged with speeding, seat belt, DUI less safe, and DUI of endangering a child under the age of 14.

Shalandra Tamese Santiago-Meyers, 33, has a warrant from the Forsyth Police Department.

Danny Lewis Bolds Jr., 45, is facing charges of two counts of possession of controlled substances Schedule I or II, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and violation of probation.

Jeno Artenz Neely, 41, is facing charges of possession of controlled substances Schedule I or II, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and violation of probation.

Justin Lee Clanton, 30, is charged with giving false name/info/birthdate and four counts of possession of firearm by a convicted felon. Clanton also has warrants from the Johnson County, Lee County and Dawson County sheriffs offices.

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Amy Lynn Taylor, 41, is charged with giving false name/info/birthdate, altered identification with government logo and four counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Zachery Obadiah Labs, 42, is charged with concealing ID of a vehicle, failure to register vehicle, driving without a valid license, making false statements, four counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and trafficking methamphetamine.

Dakota Evan Delph, 35, is charged with driving while license suspended, driving while registration suspended and fleeing/eluding and violation of probation. Delph also has warrants from Bibb County for three counts of fleeing/eluding, impersonating law enforcement, reckless driving, seat belt violation, overtaking/passing, state court violation of probation, driving while license suspended, two counts of possession of methamphetamine and two counts of obstruction on Superior Court bench warrants. Delph has warrants from the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office for two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of criminal damage, fleeing/eluding, reckless driving, driving while license suspended, failure to maintain lane, speeding and DUI.

David Shawn Scott, 45, faces charges of improper lane change and DUI.

Jeffrey Neil Dykes, 47, is charged with two counts of theft by taking.

Jazz Jarvis Taylor, 28, is charged with obscure/missing license plate, driving with suspended registration, driving while license suspended, marijuana less than one ounce, possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

IN OTHER NEWS:




By Jeff Mason

WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden will take on a potential 2024 presidential rival, Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis, in a November campaign event for the Democratic candidate for governor, Charlie Crist.

The White House said on Sunday that Biden will travel to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Nov. 1 to attend a reception for Crist, a former governor and member of Congress who is trailing in polls behind the popular Republican incumbent.

Biden and DeSantis have publicly played nice with each other in recent weeks in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. During a joint appearance on a trip to survey storm damage in Florida, Biden said the two leaders had worked "hand-in-glove."

But the differences between them are stark. And both men could potentially be rivals in 2024 if Biden runs for re-election, which he has indicated he intends to do, and if DeSantis runs for the Republican nomination and succeeds in beating back former President Donald Trump, who is mulling a comeback bid.

DeSantis is popular in the Republican Party and has clashed with Biden on multiple policy issues including COVID-19 vaccines, immigration, and abortion rights.

The president's embrace of Crist and his attempt to boost him in the late stages of the campaign could be a sign that Democrats have not given up on hopes of toppling DeSantis in his home state. It could also reflect an effort to let Biden make a more muscular argument against a man who is a likely presidential hopeful.

Biden just completed a western travel swing in which he sought to boost Democrat Tina Kotek, who is running in a tight race for governor in Oregon. Control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate is at stake in the November midterm elections, but state elections and governors' races are also being closely watched for their potential policy impacts on abortion and voting rights.

Biden will travel to Philadelphia on Thursday to participate in a reception for John Fetterman, Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor and Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Fetterman is running against television doctor Mehmet Oz, the Republican candidate, in one of the more high-profile Senate races. The current Senate is split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, with Vice President Kamala Harris able to break a tie and give control of the upper chamber to the Democratic Party.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Stephen Coates)
MOBILE, Ala. (AP)  Carter Bradley threw three touchdown passes, Marco Lee ran for two scores and South Alabama beat Louisiana-Monroe 41-34 on Saturday night.

Bradley was 25-of-35 passing for 420 yards. Lee carried the ball 15 times for 93 yards rushing.

Trailing 20-17 at the break, Bradley threw 20- and 24-yard touchdown passes within the first five minutes of the third quarter. Lee's 5-yard touchdown run to open the fourth stretched the South Alabama (5-1, 2-0 Sun Belt Conference) lead to 41-20.

UL Monroe capped the scoring with five minutes left before Bradley led a 10-play, 75-yard drive to end it.

Devin Voisin had 141 yards receiving on seven catches for the Jaguars. Caullin Lacy hauled in 12 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown catch. Jalen Wayne made five catches for 127 yards with two scores.

Chandler Rogers completed 20 of 27 passes for 371 yards and threw four touchdown passes for UL Monroe (2-5, 1-3). Tyrone Howell had nine receptions for 244 yards and three touchdowns.

Rogers tossed two TD passes inside the final 10 minutes that included an 83-yarder to Howell.

__

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Sign up for the APs college football newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2
(Bloomberg) -- Brazil will propose Ilan Goldfajn, the countrys former central bank president and current Western Hemisphere director at the International Monetary Fund, to lead the Inter-American Development Bank, according to government officials.

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Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes told his US counterpart Janet Yellen about the decision to nominate Goldfajn to lead Latin Americas top development bank last week during meetings in Washington, according to the officials, who asked not to be named as the decision isnt official yet.

Brazil is the biggest economy in Latin America and the Caribbean to never have had one of its citizens lead the IDB, which was founded six decades ago and lends more than $20 billion per year for development of the region. It will be competing directly with Mexico, which last month unveiled Alicia Barcena as its candidate to lead the IDB.

Yellen had reacted favorably to Brazil naming a candidate but made no commitments, Guedes told reporters in Washington Friday without identifying the person. He added that Brazil is trying to build an alliance with Colombia at the IDB and that Chile will also make a nomination.

Last week, the minister said he would like the next IDB president to be Latin American, to serve a five-year mandate, and to be an extremely experienced person in both public and private sectors.

Brazil is two weeks away of choosing a new president in a runoff between former leader and front-runner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro on Oct. 30.

Argentina will work to build support in the region to put forward a candidate of consensus, Economy Minister Sergio Massa said last week, though he refrained from naming the candidates under discussion.

Story continues

The IMF and World Bank held their annual meetings in Washington last week, bringing global finance and central bank chiefs to the US capital at a fragile moment for the global economy. The IDB also hosted an event with several finance ministers, and nations have until mid-November to nominate candidates.

Read More: IMF Calls on Latin America Policymakers to Avoid Early Rate Cuts

The IDB member nations in September removed the lenders president Mauricio Claver-Carone after a probe into an alleged romantic relationship with a top aide found he probably violated ethics rules. Claver-Carone has denied ever having a romantic relationship with the aide.

(Update with context starting from third paragraph)

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2022 Bloomberg L.P.
On Monday, Gov. Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams, along with Libertarian Shane Hazel, will appear for their first televised debate of the election at the Atlanta Press Club.

The debate will air live at 7 p.m., and all debates hosted by the Press Club will be available for viewers to watch on GPB.org and The Atlanta Press Club Facebook page.

The race is a rematch of 2018, when Kemp and Abrams faced off for the first time. But Kemp has been in Atlanta for the past four years with a chance to follow through on his promises, while Abrams has raised her national profile as a voting rights advocate. With the cost of living top of mind for many Georgians, both candidates are focusing on pocketbook issues  but voting rights, abortion and guns are also likely to be brought up.

Republican gubernatorial candidate and current Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks at the Georgia Municipal Association's conference at the Savannah Convention Center.

2022 Georgia midterm election: Everything you need to know

Promises, promises? What Georgia governor's candidates said in 2018, have done since

Here is a sampling of the topics the candidates are likely to address in the debate:

Cost of living a key issue

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams speaks at the Georgia Municipal Association's conference at the Savannah Convention Center in this file photo.

In a September poll conducted by the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, 19.6% of respondents listed the cost of living as the top issue facing the country, and 15% listed it as the second most important issue.

Both Kemp and Abrams are focusing on these issues, but with different strategies.

Over the summer, for example, Abrams released an extensive list of policies to tackle housing costs across the state, including allowing local governments more flexibility in zoning and inspection, tax incentives for affordable housing, and increased funding to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

"Georgians deserve stable, safe and affordable housing and I'm the only candidate who recognizes this fact and has a comprehensive plan to address Georgia's housing crisis," Abrams said during a news conference on the proposal.

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When Kemp's campaign was asked about the policy proposal, they highlighted the state spending $100 million on nonprofits that work on affordable housing and homelessness, but then pivoted to tax relief as a victory to reduce overall cost of living for Georgians.

"Gov. Kemp has refunded over $1 billion to Georgia taxpayers, signed the largest state income tax cut in Georgia history, and suspended the state's gas tax to provide economic relief to Georgians facing 40-year-high inflation and skyrocketing gas prices under the Biden Administration," campaign spokesperson Tate Mitchell wrote in an email at the time.

Another area of disagreement has been health insurance.

Kemp proposed a limited Medicaid expansion that included a work requirement and would have covered 50,000 Georgians who are without health care, a plan that was rejected by the Biden Administration. He's currently working to expand Medicaid for new mothers for a full year after the birth of a child.

Abrams, meanwhile, has been running on full Medicaid expansion for all Georgians making up to 138% of the federal poverty level, arguing that it is especially important when wages have stagnated.

These different approaches to the issue of inflation and cost of living is likely to be a major issue for both candidates during the debate.

Abortion, voting rights and guns

On some key issues facing the state, Abrams and Kemp have set themselves in opposition.

A year after taking office, Kemp signed a new abortion law that prevented abortion after about 6 weeks, a so-called fetal heartbeat bill. The bill passed with one vote, and was stayed by federal courts before it could go into effect.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and other legal precedent blocking the law, and shortly thereafter Georgia's abortion law took effect. Kemp applauded the ruling, while Abrams used the ruling to take aim at her opponent, saying he achieved his goal "to endanger women, strip away our right to choose, and deny our ability to make medical decisions." If elected, she promises to work on repealing the law.

Voting became a major issue in Georgia in 2020, as COVID-19 and then-President Donald Trump's claims about voter fraud brought election administration front and center. Following that election, Kemp signed SB 202, a controversial law on voting procedures and access following the 2020 election. After losing the 2018 election, Abrams founded Fair Fight and Fair Fight Action, both organizations focused on voter registration and turnout, when SB 202 was signed she called it an attempt to "suppress the vote and seize electoral power."

Kemp also signed a law allowing Georgians to carry concealed firearms without a permit, also called "constitutional carry." Abrams wants to repeal the law if elected.

Some of Kemp's laws on these issues have been more popular with Georgians than others. in a October poll from UGA, a majority of Georgia respondents opposed his laws abortion and allowing Georgians to carry concealed firearms without a permit. The voting law had more mixed results, with a small majority opposing limits on the number of ballot drop boxes but a clear majority supporting absentee voters including a copy of a photo ID.

An expensive contest

Abrams has seen significant fundraising, raising $36 million between the start of July and the end of September, out of $85 million, but she has also been spending heavily  $44 million in the third quarter.

Kemp has raised a total of $60 million, with $28.7 of that raised in the third quarter. He had $15.4 million on hand heading into October, while Abrams had over $11 million.

Millions of dollars have poured into Georgia from across the country to the Senate race and the gubernatorial race as Georgia became a battleground state.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Brian Kemp, Stacey Abrams will face off in debate: What to know
By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. chipmaker Broadcom will seek early European Union antitrust approval of its proposed $61 billion buy of cloud computing company VMware by pointing to competition from Amazon, Microsoft and Google, people familiar with the matter said.

Announced in May, the deal is the second biggest globally so far this year and marks Broadcom's attempt to diversify its business into enterprise software.

Tech deals have drawn intense scrutiny from regulators around the world concerned about power concentration in a few players and the possibility of bigger companies acquiring start-ups only to shut them down.

"This (deal) is creating more competition in the cloud market where there are very big players now. This doesn't have to go to phase two at all," one of the people said, referring to the European Commission's four-month long second phase investigation.

"For the Commission to go to phase two, there has to be a real competition problem - horizontal, vertical, foreclosure risk - and I think we can show those risks don't really exist in this case," the person said.

Broadcom has yet to seek EU approval for the deal.

"We continue to make progress with our various regulatory filings around the world, with that work moving ahead as expected," the company said.

In its review of Dell's $67 billion acquisition of data storage company EMC Corp in 2016, the EU competition enforcer said EMC's VMware had a strong position but not the ability nor the incentive to shut out competitors.

"In the last five years, what we have seen is an exponential growth of competitive pressure on VMWare on the part of those competitors that the Commission didn't take into account," another person said, referring to Amazon, Microsoft and Google, the top three cloud services providers.

"This should be a first phase investigation based on the facts," the person said, referring to the EU preliminary merger review.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Josie Kao)
Bumble

Bumble launched Bantr Live on Thursday and says it plans to host the weekly event until Dec. 31.

The feature is based on the Bantr dating app from Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso starring Jason Sudeikis.

Through the partnership, Bumble users will also be able to redeem a two-month Apple TV+ subscription.

Bumble is teaming up with Apple TV+'s hit show "Ted Lasso" to bring a fictional dating app to life for users.

"Ted Lasso" fans may recognize Bantr as the app used by characters Rebecca Welton and Sam Obisanya on the show. On Thursday, the real-life dating app Bumble launched a Bantr Live feature that allows users to chat for three minutes without seeing each other's photos, according to a news release from Bumble.

Bumble users can RSVP for the live weekly event if they'd like to be connected with someone based on search preferences. After the three minutes are up, both parties can decide whether or not they'd like to match and continue talking. If they both choose "yes," they'll be able to see each other's photos.

"The premise of Bantr is a dating experience many of our members have expressed interest in over the years," said Bumble Global Vice President of Partnerships Olivia Yu in a press release.

"Bantr Live enables our community to connect with someone unexpected and learn more about a person before seeing them," Yu added.

According to the release, Bantr Live will be available on the Bumble app every Thursday at 7 p.m. local time for the rest of 2022. It also is available to users in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Users will be able to redeem a free, two-month trial subscription to Apple Tv+ to watch "Ted Lasso" among other programs, MSN reports.

Spoiler alert: On the show, Sam chats with his boss Rebecca on Bantr without either of them realizing who the other is, and, eventually the pair end up together.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Does the October share price for Wall Financial Corporation (TSE:WFC) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Wall Financial

Crunching The Numbers

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (CA$, Millions) CA$40.1m CA$37.8m CA$36.5m CA$35.8m CA$35.5m CA$35.4m CA$35.6m CA$35.9m CA$36.3m CA$36.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -8.91% Est @ -5.73% Est @ -3.5% Est @ -1.94% Est @ -0.85% Est @ -0.09% Est @ 0.44% Est @ 0.82% Est @ 1.08% Est @ 1.26% Present Value (CA$, Millions) Discounted @ 8.8% CA$36.9 CA$31.9 CA$28.3 CA$25.6 CA$23.3 CA$21.4 CA$19.8 CA$18.3 CA$17.0 CA$15.8

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CA$238m

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After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.7%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.8%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = CA$37m (1 + 1.7%)  (8.8% 1.7%) = CA$528m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CA$528m ( 1 + 8.8%)10= CA$228m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is CA$466m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of CA$14.0, the company appears about fair value at a 2.4% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Wall Financial as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.512. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Wall Financial, we've compiled three important factors you should explore:

Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Wall Financial (at least 3 which are concerning) , and understanding these should be part of your investment process. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Canadian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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STOCKTON, Calif. (AP)  Residents of Stockton, California, were able to rest easier following the weekend arrest of a man suspected of killing six men and wounding a woman in a series of shootings over a period of three months in Northern California, the city's mayor said Sunday.

Mayor Kevin Lincoln said he shed tears of relief when he was informed that the suspect who police believe had terrorized Stockton since July was taken into custody around 2 a.m. Saturday.

Wesley Brownlee was dressed in black, wore a mask around his neck, had a handgun and was out hunting" for another possible victim when he was arrested while driving around the Central Valley city, where five of the shootings took place, Police Chief Stanley McFadden said at a Saturday news conference.

The city was able to sleep a little bit better last night, Lincoln said Sunday morning. No resident of this city should have to walk around town looking over their shoulder in fear.

The mayor credited residents of Stockton who called in hundreds of tips to investigators that eventually led to the arrest of the 43-year-old suspect.

It wasnt immediately clear on Sunday whether Brownlee, of Stockton, had an attorney to speak on his behalf. He was expected to be arraigned Tuesday on murder charges.

This person caused a lot of hurt, caused a lot of trauma, Lincoln said. My prayer, my hope, as mayor is that our community begins the process of healing as a result of the serial killings.

Police had been searching for a man clad in black who was caught on video at several of the crime scenes in Stockton, where five men were ambushed and shot to death between July 8 and Sept. 27. Four were walking, and one was in a parked car.

Police believe the same person was responsible for killing a man 70 miles (113 kilometers) away in Oakland in April 2021 and wounding a homeless woman in Stockton a week later.

Investigators have said ballistics tests and video evidence linked the crimes. A police photo showed the black-and-gray weapon allegedly carried by the suspect. It appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun containing some nonmetallic materials.

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At Saturdays news conference, a moment of silence was held for the victims.

Juan Vasquez Serrano, 39, was killed in Oakland on April 10, 2021, and Natasha LaTour, 46, was shot in Stockton on April 16 of that year but survived. The five men killed in Stockton this year were Paul Yaw, 35, who died July 8; Salvador Debudey Jr., 43, who died Aug. 11; Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21, who died Aug. 30; Juan Cruz, 52, who died Sept. 21; and Lawrence Lopez Sr., 54, who died Sept. 27.

Police said Brownlee has a criminal history and is believed to have also lived in several cities near Stockton, but they did not give further details.

After receiving hundreds of tips, investigators located and watched the place where Brownlee was living.

Based on tips coming into the department and Stockton Crime Stoppers, we were able to zero in on a possible suspect, McFadden said. Our surveillance team followed this person while he was driving."

Investigators watched his patterns and determined that he was out searching for another victim, the chief said.

We are sure we stopped another killing, he said.

McFadden added that Brownlee was detained after engaging in what appeared to be threatening behavior, including going to parks and dark places, stopping and looking around before driving on.

Investigators were still processing evidence and trying to identify a motive for the attacks, Officer Joseph Silva, a police spokesperson, said Sunday. Police said some victims were homeless, but not all. None were beaten or robbed, and the woman who survived said her attacker didnt say anything.

The police chief thanked various local, state and federal agencies that took part in the investigation, including the FBI, U.S. Marshals and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Local investigators had also worked with police in Chicago to determine whether the killings might be linked to two 2018 murders in that citys Rogers Park neighborhood. Authorities said videos of suspects showed a man in black with a distinctive walk.

However, Chicago police said Friday that there didnt appear to be any link.
Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden speaks during a news conference at the Stockton Police Department headquarters about the arrest of suspect Wesley Brownlee in a series of killings in Stockton, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Clifford Oto/The Record via Associated Press

Stockton police arrested a man suspected of a killing spree that left six dead and one injured.

Authorities arrested 43-year-old Wesley Brownlee at 2 a.m. Saturday.

Stockton's police chief said authorities stopped Brownlee while he was "on a mission to kill."

Police in Stockton, California, said they arrested a serial killing suspect early Saturday morning while he was "on a mission to kill."

Wesley Brownlee, 43, was stopped by police around 2 a.m. and arrested on a homicide charge, Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden told reporters at a press conference later that day.

"He was out hunting," McFadden said, adding that Brownlee had been wearing dark clothing, had a mask around his neck, and was armed when officers approached him.

"We are sure we stopped another killing," McFadden said.

McFadden said numerous tips from the public in recent weeks helped authorities zero in on a suspect. Police then began surveilling Brownlee while he drove, deducing his patterns, McFadden said.

He added that a SWAT team also conducted a search of Brownlee's home on Saturday.

Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden speaks during a press conference at the Stockton Police Department headquarters in Stockton, Calif., on the arrest of suspect Wesley Brownlee in the Stockton serial killings on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Clifford Oto/The Record via Associated Press

Stockton police announced earlier this month they believed a serial killer was linked to six shooting deaths and a seventh injury in Northern California. Five of the killings took place between July 8 and September 27, and all were men  most of them ambushed while walking alone.

Stockton police told the Associated Press the Northern California killings had no apparent connection to drugs or gangs, and none of the victims were robbed. Rather, the suspect tended to choose his victims at random, typically ones who were alone in dark areas.

The FBI defines serial killings as the murders of two or more people by the same person or persons during separate events (as opposed to mass murder, in which multiple victims are killed during the same event).

Authorities said one of the linked killings occurred on April 10, 2021, in Oakland, and another linked shooting injured a Stockton woman on April 16, 2021, but did not kill her.

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Authorities said they were able to link each of the killings by using ballistics tests and reviewing surveillance footage. Last month, they released a grainy photo and video showing the suspect from behind, walking through what appeared to be an apartment complex. Authorities then issued a plea to the public for tips.

On Saturday, McFadden said Stockton police are still eager for the public's assistance and urged people to contact investigators if they have more information about Brownlee.

According to ABC10, authorities identified the six male victims as Paul Yaw, 35; Salvador Debudey Jr., 43; Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21; Juan Cruz, 52; Lawrence Lopez Sr., 54; and Juan Vasquez-Serrano, 39. The woman who survived the April 16, 2021, shooting has not been identified.

Read the original article on Insider
An employee holds up a vial of an oncological product under development, at the BioNTech research institute in Mainz, Germany, on October 5, 2022. ANDRE PAIN/AFP via Getty Images

Professors Ozlem Tureci and Ugur Sahin co-founded BioNTech, which partnered with Pfizer to develop a COVID-19 shot.

The scientists told the BBC's "Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg" that a vaccine against cancer is on the horizon.

A cancer vaccine will be widely available for patients "before 2030," said Sahin.

The husband-and-wife team who co-founded BioNTech, the biotechnology company that partnered with Pfizer to develop an effective messenger-RNA (mRNA) shot against COVID-19, has predicted that a cancer vaccine could be widely available within the next decade.

"Yes, we feel that a cure for cancer, or to changing cancer patients' lives, is in our grasp," said Professor Ozlem Tureci during an interview on BBC's "Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg."

The cancer vaccine, which would build upon breakthroughs achieved by the scientists during the development of the COVID-19 shot, may be widely available within just eight years, said Professor Ugur Sahin.

"We believe that this will happen, definitely, before 2030," he told Keunssberg.

BioNTech co-founders Professor Ozlem Tureci, left, and Dr. Ugur Sahin, right. David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The hope is that a vaccine currently in development would train the body to recognize and attack cancers using mRNA technology.

"The goal that we have is that can we use the individualized vaccine approach to ensure that directly after surgery, patients receive a personalized, individualized vaccine, and we induce an immune response that so the T-cells in the body of the patient can screen the body for remaining tumor cells and ideally eliminate the tumor cells," Sahin explained.

BioNTech originally focused on developing mRNA-based technologies for a patient-specific approach to cancer treatment, per The New York Times.

Turecia told Keunssberg that their experiences working in cancer wards as young physicians, who were frustrated at being unable to offer treatment to oncology patients, drove them toward their work in cancer research.

That work was the "tailwind" for the COVID-19 shot development, which, in turn, now "gives back" to their cancer research, said Tureci.

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Keunssberg asked the couple if there was "still a chance" that the cancer vaccine doesn't work.

"I don't think so," replied Tureci. "Everything we have learned about the immune system and about what we achieve with a cancer vaccine shows, in principle, the clear activity  we can induce those killer T-cells, we can direct them."

Tureci said that it remains to be seen how doctors would use other types of medical interventions in combination with the vaccine and what else needs to be tweaked to ensure that patients are cured.

"Every step and every patient we treat in these cancer trials helps us to understand more about what we are against and how to address that," said Tureci.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Oct. 16Voters have a choice this November between abortion rights-backers Betsy Johnson and Tina Kotek for Oregon governor, or anti-abortion candidate Christine Drazan.

The long-simmering topic of abortion erupted into a major political issue in June when the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion. The issue has been thrown back to the states to decide, with about half expected to preserve abortion access and half expected to ban or severely restrict abortion.

Oregon is among the strongest abortion-rights states in the nation. Abortion remains legal with no gestational limits or waiting periods. Medication that induces an abortion in early pregnancy is available by mail after an in-person or telemedicine visit, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.

Abortion is covered by the Oregon Health Plan. This year, the Oregon Legislature created a $15 million Reproductive Health Equity Fund to help cover abortion provider expenses, plus patient costs such as travel and lodging for people who live in Oregon and other states. The spending to help with patient expenses is augmented with private donations.

Betsy Johnson, unaffiliated

Johnson, a nonaffiliated candidate, said she was disappointed in the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. A former board member for Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, she said she doesn't support any restrictions on abortion and does support abortion coverage through the government-funded Oregon Health Plan.

"This is a medical decision between a woman and her physician and her family and whoever else she chooses to include in that decision tree," Johnson said.

Her main difference with Kotek, the Democratic candidate for governor, is that Johnson doesn't support using any of the $15 million Reproductive Health Equity Fund money to help out-of-state patients access abortion in Oregon. Johnson said aid for them should come from donations.

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"Planned Parenthood has plenty of contributions that could help provide access for those women," Johnson said. "But it shouldn't be Oregon tax money."

A summer survey by the nonpartisan Oregon Values and Beliefs Center found 72% of Oregonians think abortion should be legal in most or all cases. That compares with about 62% of all Americans.

With a majority of Oregonians favoring abortion rights, Johnson and Kotek have hammered Drazan, an anti-abortion Republican, in their political ads and campaign speeches.

Johnson is portraying herself as a moderate, saying Kotek is too far to the left and Drazan is too far to the right. Some political observers think Johnson and Kotek could split the pro-abortion rights vote and help Drazan win.

Johnson, a former Democrat, chafes at the notion she is a spoiler in the gubernatorial race.

"I would say that Tina is the spoiler. Tina is spoiling Oregon. Her radical views helped me make the decision to leave the Democrats. So I reject the notion that I am a spoiler in this," Johnson said.

Johnson said Drazan would veto legislation to further protect abortion rights in Oregon, and Drazan's extreme views aren't shared by most Oregonians.

"She's threatened to veto pro-choice legislation. I think that's a very, very serious statement," Johnson said. "Oregon is pro-choice. I am pro-choice."

Christine Drazan, Republican

Drazan, who is endorsed by Oregon Right to Life, declined requests to be interviewed for this article. Her campaign staff provided past interviews with Oregon Public Broadcasting and a Portland television station on the topic of abortion.

Drazan told the television station she is pro-life and her stance is a faith-based decision. Although the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, Drazan noted Oregon law protects abortion. As governor, she said, she would follow Oregon law regardless of her personal opinions.

When asked if she would have vetoed a 2017 Oregon bill that expanded access to abortion, Drazan told OPB, "I would have vetoed legislation which would put Oregon further outside the mainstream on abortion policies, including taxpayer funding for abortion and abortion on demand up until the moment of birth."

About 1% of abortions in America are performed after five months, usually because of fetal abnormalities or because the pregnancy poses dangers to the woman's health or life, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion-rights research group.

When asked whether she would support legislation banning abortion in Oregon, Drazan told OPB, "I will not comment on legislation that has not reached my desk nor even been drafted yet, but I support common-sense regulations on abortion, including protecting life in the third trimester."

As governor, Drazan could block progress and roll back access to abortion at the executive, legislative and judicial level, the Pro-Choice Oregon political action committee said.

As the executive of Oregon's government, Drazan could appoint anti-abortion leaders to state agencies. She could veto bills and budgets from the Oregon Legislature that expand access to abortion, and she could appoint judges who could then rise to higher and higher courts and make anti-abortion decisions, Pro-Choice Oregon said.

Kotek, the Democratic candidate, has been endorsed by a range of abortion rights groups, including Pro-Choice Oregon, Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon and EMILY's List, a group supporting pro-abortion rights Democratic women candidates.

Kotek said the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade ends national protections that stood for five decades.

"We have to make sure that people can have access to health care  and the Supreme Court just took people's rights away in one fell swoop," she said.

Tina Kotek, Democrat

Kotek said she doesn't support government restrictions on abortion.

"These are choices and decisions that a person needs to make in consultation with people they trust. This is about keeping government out of health care decisions," she said.

Kotek said Drazan previously backed a bill that, if it had passed, would have punished doctors for performing safe and legal abortions. She said Drazan openly celebrated when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

"I think she has views that are out of step with Oregonians," Kotek said of Drazan. "And as governor, she could do a lot of damage, even without changing the law. And so when she says she can't do anything, that is not true. She could do a lot as governor to make it very difficult for women to access abortion."

Kotek said she doesn't believe Johnson is a strong champion of abortion rights. Kotek said Johnson picked an anti-abortion Republican to lead her "Republicans for Betsy" campaign.

"This is not a time to have a governor who's lukewarm on supporting access to health care. I am a champion on access to health care, including reproductive health care," Kotek said.

On the issue of whether Oregon should help cover costs for out-of-state people to access abortion, Kotek said she thinks Oregon should help its own residents plus people who live in states where abortion has become illegal or severely restricted.

"I support not only helping Oregonians, but other people who travel here for reproductive health care because that's, I think, the role right now for Oregon  to be the place where people can get access to health care," Kotek said.

She said nonprofit organizations are helping out-of-state people as well, and aid isn't just coming from a portion of the $15 million the Oregon Legislature allocated this year.

Kotek said Eastern Oregonians will have to travel farther for abortion because of an Idaho abortion ban, and some will need help with added expenses. Many previously traveled to the Boise area for reproductive health care.

An Idaho law allows abortion only to save a pregnant person's life or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest that was reported to a law enforcement agency or child protective services. A copy of the report has to be provided to the doctor performing the abortion. Doctors who perform abortions outside those parameters face two- to five-year prison sentences.

The Idaho law also limits the ability of state employees to talk about abortion or provide information about how to prevent conception.

The University of Idaho, which receives state funding, sent a memo to its employees in September warning them they could be prosecuted, lose their jobs and be permanently banned from state employment for promoting or referring someone for an abortion. Professors who appear to support abortion rights rather than being neutral in classroom discussions risk prosecution. University employees can provide condoms to help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections, but not for birth control.

"We are living in a very unique time in our country," Kotek said. "There are young people today who have only known Roe v. Wade. They've only known a country that protected access to abortion. Everyone across the board is upset by what the Supreme Court has done, and it has motivated a lot of Oregonians to be very active in this election year. They understand what's at stake."

Editor's Note: This story is part of a newsroom collaboration for the governor's race, with six newsrooms each tackling where Republican Christine Drazan, nonaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson and Democrat Tina Kotek stand on a key topic. The Mail Tribune wrote about abortion, the Albany Herald-Democrat wrote about wildfires and drought; Ashland News covered health care, including mental health; the Oregon Capital Chronicle covered housing, the Salem Reporter covered education and Yachats News wrote about the economy and cost of living.

Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.

Votes on abortion

HB 3391 (2017 regular session) passed

Established the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which expands coverage for some people to receive access to reproductive health services, including abortion.

* Drazan  (not elected yet)

* Johnson  Yes

* Kotek  Yes

Source: Alexis Weisend from the Catalyst Journalism Project at the University of Oregon
Oct. 15A car show is good for the soul. Not many things will foster a stroll down Memory Lane faster than seeing a well preserved, restored or modified car or truck "just like the one I had back when."

A great car show that benefits some worthy causes is even better.

CARS of Palestine will once again host its premier event during the 2022 Hot Pepper Festival.

The 37th Annual People's Choice Car Show will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 in the Palestine's Senior Citizens Center parking lot, 200 N. Church Street.

Door prizes will be given to the first 100 entrants, and winners will be placed for the Top Ten in the 1995 and newer category and the Top Twenty in the 1995 and older category as well as Best of Show and People's Choice. Music and food vendors will also be part of the festivities. Early registration for the event is $20 and day of registration is $25.

Cars of Palestine was organized in 1986 to provide an opportunity for local car enthusiasts to meet, socialize and maintain the spirit of good fellowship. It encourages the use of these special interest autos in activities which promote the community. Membership with the group, however, does not require ownership of a vehicle.

The People's Choice Car Show is a major part of the club's annual fundraising efforts. Proceeds from the event will go toward high school scholarships as well as other charities including the Stock Pot, Women's Shelters, food pantries, Meals on Wheels, children's homes and more. The club also holds an annual toy and food drive each fall that gathers food and toys for underprivileged families who might otherwise go without during the holiday season.

For more information on these or other CARS of Palestine events call 903-539-5665 or email megeorge66@yahoo.com.

You can also visit the club's website at www.carsofpalestine.com.
This article was provided by HappyValley Industry, an Affinity Connection-run website that highlights local tech companies. Read more and sign up for the newsletter at happyvalleyindustry.com.

When the pandemic hit, there was no time to weigh the pros and cons, listen to employee opinions or create a balanced schedule; COVID-19 necessitated physical distancing and, as a result, many businesses made the switch to remote work.

Soon, many employers started asking questions: Do we really need all that office space? With no time spent commuting to work or traveling, how much more efficient might we become? How would working from home improve our employees quality of life?

On the flip side, employers were concerned about missing that in-person community that develops organically in the hallways and lunchrooms. How else would remote work impact the companys day-to-day operations?

Now, with a solid two years experience, many companies have a clearer picture of the advantages and disadvantages of remote and hybrid work. Heres what Happy Valley business leaders had to say on the matter.

Local companies listened to their employees

AccuWeather President Steven Smith has been with the company for 25 years. The AccuWeather headquarters in State College employs 250 to 300 workers, but there are offices in New York, Wichita and Montreal as well, along with a growing number of remote workers.

When asked how AccuWeather has changed in its approach to in-person versus remote work, Smith said, (The pandemic) normalized remote work. Its now a normal part of our job descriptions and a normal part of our recruiting.

AccuWeather, he said, started to look at things from a job classification standpoint. Teams examined each role in the company, asking, does this need to be an on-site job? Could this be a remote job, or might it be a hybrid position?

Some positions are clear-cut. For example, Smith said, We have a security team at our State College facility. We are doing 24-hour broadcasting, and there are rules that the FCC puts on us, so we have to have a security team. Thats not a remote job; thats not even a hybrid job. Thats a job that has to be on (premises) in the building.

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While some positions operate well as either in-person or fully remote, though, the hybrid model is a bit trickier. Smith said, The word became a battleground conversation because there were a lot of opinions of what hybrid was and would become. Ultimately, we have settled on hybrid as three days in an office.

Smith allows the details of hybrid work as a function of the managers. Most employees have settled on spending Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in-office, while working from home on Mondays and Fridays.

One of the things we talked about was, if youre going to be hybrid, make it purposeful. Dont just come to the office and do Zoom meetings, Smith said, noting he encourages his managers to hold group meetings on those in-person days, so that the team can spend time in-person, together.

Restek, a leading developer and manufacturer of chromatography consumables, already had a pre-pandemic U.S. remote workforce that made up 6.7% of its company. Today, that number is 36.5%, including all fully remote and hybrid employees. Chris Marshall, vice president of human resources at Restek, said, We certainly recognized that the employees view of where and how they do their work changed, and we needed to evolve while still preserving the core elements of our culture.

Marshall heard from employees that remote work allowed them a better work-life balance: It was easier for them to get their kids on the bus in the morning, attend evening activities and get dinner on the table. Certainly, there are studies showing improved mental health for workers who dont have to go into the office every day.

Additionally, Marshall noted that employees save time and money not having to commute to and from work.

Increasing the talent pool, diversifying the workforce

Both Restek and AccuWeather recognize the benefit of remote work in their recruiting efforts.

Smith said, The No. 1 thing (remote work) changed for us was recruiting. Its really allowed us to say, Hey, you dont have to move to State College or New York. You can live in Oregon and join our team. It opened recruiting up, which then in turn increased our diversity  tremendously.

Attracting diverse workers to State College has always been a challenge, and both Smith and Marshall emphasized how remote work has provided a new pathway to diverse talent. Thats something they dont want to lose.

On the flip side, one of the big disadvantages to remote work has been that meetings became scripted.

Meetings became transactional. You schedule a Zoom meeting, but there was nothing serendipitous about what you were doing. We had topic A, we solve topic A and everybody hits the goodbye button, and that became the end of it, Smith said.

There was no after-meeting sharing of ideas, no checking in on one another. In essence, opportunities for building community and creativity idea-generation were lost. Smith said, We are still working to answer the question: How do you create those opportunities to just allow people lean-back time and be the collective mind to drive the organization?

Similarly, Marshall said that, with an increase of remote employees, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy work culture. How do you get new hires integrated into the culture? How do you introduce them to the company? How do you introduce them to their new team? she posed. These are questions companies are continuing to work through.

For employees, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages

Lori Dundon has worked in the marketing department at Restek for the past 15 years. She appreciates the flexibility that remote and hybrid work allows. Working remotely allows me to have Microsoft Teams meetings with my colleagues in Europe and Asia outside of work hours without any undue hassle. It allows me to eat healthier, because I was never very good at packing a lunch, Dundon said.

However, Dundon admits that there are still disadvantages. While one would think that being away from Resteks office would make it easier to separate work and home life, Dundon explained, The biggest disadvantage I can think of is that my work is always in the other room. Its harder to say, Im done for the day and walk away. I tend to take my laptop to the living room and do a little more work after dinner.

Overall, though, Dundon feels fortunate to work for a company that allows its workers so much flexibility, I am very lucky. Our department has members in six countries and I believe most of us are hybrid or full-time remote.

The new normal?

Its clear that the pandemic shifted our view of the traditional workday and, according to Marshall, we may never go back. She said, COVID dropped us in the deep end. It provided us this unprecedented opportunity to think differently about how and where we do our work. I dont think we are going to view work as 9 to 5, youve got to be in the office every day all the time anymore. I just dont see it.
Oct. 16The Odessa Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating Texas Chamber Week Oct. 17-21, with a fun-filled week of Chamber Trivia on Facebook. Trivia questions will posted each day and all correct answers will be entered into a drawing. There will be daily winners and a grand prize at the end of the week.

The Chamber was founded in 1934 with the intentions of uniting small and large businesses in Odessa to represent members' interests. The board of directors establishes additional goals, areas of focus and plans of work to ensure a strong return on investment for partners, chamber officials said.

Chambers of Commerce have often been viewed by some as socializing bodies with the purpose of allowing business owners to network. Although connecting businesses with consumers is still a valuable resource, today's Chamber has developed into more, a news release said. The Odessa Chamber works in numerous capacities to promote economic and community development, while serving as an advocate for Odessa businesses, training future leaders and promoting Odessa and attractions to visitors, all while helping to improve quality of life for local residents, the release said.

Texas Chamber of Commerce week is a time to celebrate the Odessa Chamber's history as a trusted resource leading business-to-business exchange opportunities, the release said. More than 740 members of the Chamber benefit from a broad range of activities that enhance the visibility and reputation of their business, the release said. The Chamber has always taken the lead to celebrate the best qualities of Odessa and make its residents proud of where we live, work and raise families, the release said.

For information about Chamber Week, contact Allison Gray at [email protected] or 432-333-7863.
In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Venezuelan migrants last week head toward the U.S. to surrender to Border Patrol agents. (Christian Chavez / Associated Press)

Six years ago, the four Contrera siblings  two sisters and two brothers  left their native Venezuela to move to Ecuador, joining a mass exodus from a country riven by economic distress and political upheaval.

Last month, the four decided to relocate again, this time thousands of miles away to the United States, where tens of thousands of their compatriots have been admitted in recent months.

They traveled through Mexico and last week presented themselves to U.S. border authorities in El Paso. After being briefly detained, the brothers were released  they joined another sister in New Jersey  while the sisters were sent back across the border to Ciudad Juarez.

It seems like we were chosen with others to be returned completely at random, said the eldest of the siblings, Neymar Contrera, 28. Now my brothers are in New Jersey, chilling out, and we are stuck here in Mexico.

They are among the first families affected by a major policy shift on the border.

Venezuelan migrants discuss their plans as they wait for a bus to take them north at a station in Mexico City on Oct. 13, 2022. (Eduardo Verdugo / Associated Press)

U.S. and Mexican authorities announced Wednesday that Mexico had agreed to accept some Venezuelans expelled from the United States under Title 42, a pandemic measure enacted during the Trump administration that allows U.S. authorities to turn away migrants without giving them an opportunity to file for asylum.

Previously, Mexico had generally only agreed to take back citizens of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador.

In recent months, the Republican governors of Texas and Arizona have been sending Venezuelans and other border-crossers to East Coast cities by bus, increasing the political pressure on the Biden administration to do something.

The Democratic New York mayor, Eric Adams, declared a state of emergency this month, saying that an influx of migrants, mostly from Latin America, was overwhelming the citys ability to house and care for them.

On Thursday, more than 700 Venezuelans were sent back to Mexico from various points along the nearly 2,000-mile border, according to a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity.

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Officials have not said publicly whether Mexico has placed at limit on the number of Venezuelans it will accept. Between Wednesday and Friday, about 600 arrived in Ciudad Juarez across the border from El Paso, according to the Mexican immigration agency.

Until now, U.S. officials have not had an easy way to expel Venezuelans arriving at the border. Washington cut off diplomatic relations with the government of President Nicolas Maduro in 2019, so it cannot send them back home.

And with Mexico refusing to accept the migrants, most were being promptly released and permitted to continue into the United States after indicating that they would file for political asylum or some other form of relief from deportation.

As word spread, the numbers arriving each month began to climb  from about 15,000 per month for much of 2022 to 25,000 in August to 33,000 in September.

Ironically, the Biden administration has been fighting in federal court to end the Title 42 program. But now that the administration has persuaded Mexico to accept Venezuelans, it is willing to use the controversial law to expel them.

Immigrant advocates in the United States assailed the administrations decision.

Given the Biden administrations stated intention to end Title 42 expulsions, it is outrageous that the administration would instead move to expand the Trump-era policy and deny Venezuelans access to the asylum system, Jennifer Babaie of the International Refugee Assistance Project said in a statement last week.

The Venezuelans sent back will join large numbers of other migrants  Central Americans, Cubans, Haitians and others  biding their time in Mexico in hopes of entering the United States at some point. Many have reported being robbed and kidnapped in Mexican border towns, where gangs prey on migrants.

Most Venezuelans arrived here after perilous overland journeys of thousands of miles, including treks through the Darien Gap, the dense jungle that joins Colombia and Panama.

A woman serves dinner to migrants at Templo Embajadores de Jesus, Tijuana's largest migrant shelter, on Oct. 13, 2022. (Elliot Spagat / Associated Press)

In August, Mexican authorities detained a total of 42,408 migrants  including 16,881 Venezuelans. It was the first time on record that Venezuelans exceeded Central Americans.

Under pressure from Washington, Mexico began mandating in January that Venezuelans entering the country obtain visas beforehand. That cut down on the number of U.S.-bound Venezuelans flying into Mexico but increased the ranks of those arriving overland  including the four Contrera siblings.

In Ecuador, they were part of a large Venezuelan diaspora that stretched across South America. When the pandemic struck, economies tanked, and many of those expatriates lost their jobs and faced growing resentment from local populations.

That spurred many to leave for the United States. The siblings set out on Sept. 12 to join their other sister in New Jersey.

Contrera said U.S. border officials never explained why her brothers were allowed to proceed while she and her sister were turned back.

We dont know what we are going to do, she said outside a migrant aid center near the Rio Grande in Ciudad Juarez. We are waiting to see if we can appeal or something.

Special correspondent Minjares reported from Ciudad Juarez. Times staff writers McDonnell and Aleaziz reported from Mexico City and Healdsburg, Calif., respectively. Special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez contributed from Mexico City.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
UKRAINSKA PRAVDA  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 07:17

Newly arrived soldiers from the Chechen Republic have started evicting civilians from their homes to accommodate officers in the city of Rubizhne in Luhansk Oblast.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, information as of 06:00 on 16 October

Details: Over a 24-hour period on 15 October, Russians launched 5 missiles and landed 23 air strikes, and fired from MLRS up to 60 times.

The occupiers hit the vicinities of more than 30 settlements. This refers to Nikopol and Shakhtarske in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast; Hlushkivka in Kharkiv Oblast; Orikhiv and Mali Shcherbaky in Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Dmytrivka in Kyiv Oblast; Bilohirka in Kherson Oblast; and Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast.

The situation on the Volyn and Polissia fronts [Ukraines northwest and north, respectively] remains without any changes. There is a threat of missile strikes, airstrikes, and Shahed-136 attack UAVs being launched from the territory of Belarus.

Russian forces fired on other fronts:

On the Sivershchyna front : on areas in and around Mykolaivka (Chernihiv Oblast) and Pokrovka (Sumy Oblast) with artillery of different types. They have used attack UAVs, as well;

On the Slobozhanshchyna front : on areas of the Strilecha, Ohirtseve, Starytsia, Hatyshche, Pishchane, Kamianka, and Dvorichna settlements, using tanks, mortars, tubed and rocket artillery;

On the Kramatorsk front : along the entire line of contact, with tanks and artillery systems of various calibres. Specifically, the invaders fired at Bilohorivka, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Novoyehorivka, Rozdolivka, and Serebrianka;

On the Bakhmut and Avdiivka fronts : along the whole line of contact with tanks, mortars, tubed and rocket artillery.

On the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia fronts : 15 settlements, including Vuhledar, Vremivka, Paraskoviivka, Prechystivka, and Shcherbaky.

On the Pivdennyi Buh front: more than 25 settlements along the line of contact came under fire.

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The Ukrainian Armed Forces have successfully repelled Russian attacks in areas of Torske and Spirne settlements on the Kramatorsk front; Berestove, Soledar, and Bakhmut on the Bakhmut front; and Marinka, Pobieda, and Nevelske on the Avdiivka front.

The Air Force of Ukraine has carried out 32 strikes, hitting 24 clusters of weaponry and military equipment, as well as 8 positions of anti-aircraft missile systems. Our units of air defence have shot down six UAVs and one helicopter belonging to the Russians. The Rocket and Artillery forces have struck three areas of concentration of manpower, weaponry, and equipment; one ammunition storage point; seven air defence systems, and other military targets.

Information has been obtained regarding the results of certain Ukrainian strikes. As a result of our artillery units attacks in Marfopil in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, an ammunition storage site was destroyed; up to 20 occupiers were injured at the same time. 10 units of military equipment were destroyed and up to 40 soldiers were injured in Tokmak. Up to 30 invaders were injured in Polohy. Seven units of military equipment were destroyed and approximately 40 soldiers injured in Kamianka-Dniprovska. The number of casualties that the occupiers are trying to hide is being clarified.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!




Black culture is so rich that some visual artists cant help but be inspired by it. Some have used that inspiration to create large murals on the sides of buildings for the public to enjoy. All kinds of Black figures have been immortalized this way, including entertainers, politicians and those who met untimely ends due to police brutality.

Heres some impressive street art featuring Black figures.

Harriet Tubman- Maryland

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Rosato (@harriettubmanmural)

Its hard not to be in awe of the power of Take My Hand by Michael Rosato. You can see it on the exterior wall of the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center in downtown Cambridge.

The artist said, when you look at this mural, I wanted it to evoke a number of the words that would describe Harriet Tubman: power, strength love, family. There is so much to learn about Harriet Tubman. This is an incredible American icon, not just a woman, an African-American woman, but it contains all the American spirit.

Rosato has also painted Frederick Douglass and a number of other prominent Black figures. He also painted a mural in honor of the victims of the Tulsa Race massacre.

Multiple People- Washington D.C.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Original Bens Chili Bowl (@benseverything)

While youre on your way to Bens Chili Bowl on U Street, theres no way you can miss this dynamite mural.

Since it was first done in 2012, prominent Black figures across all eras and industries have been included. At least twice, two of them were painted over due to controversy.

The Obamas, Prince, Muhammad Ali and Harriet Tubman are just some of the famous, larger than life faces.

Multiple People- Atlanta

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Capital XTRA (@capitalxtra)

There are many murals along The Beltline, including a portrait of DMX.

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Theres also the Black Lives Matter mural, with the names of police brutality victims written in and around the letters.

Over on 523 Whitehall Street in southwest Atlanta is one of many tributes to George Floyd. It was painted by Renda Writer.

Biggie Smalls- New York

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shotaro Matsuura (@shootarou)

Amid the industrial buildings, nightclubs and quirky restaurants of Bushwick (Brooklyn) are some interesting paintings.

A colorful portrait of Notorious B.I.G dressed in blue is sure to catch your eye.

The beloved rappers likeness appears all over Brooklyn.

Kobe Bryant- All Over

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kobe & Gianna Bryant Murals (@kobemural)

The untimely death of Kobe Bryant in 2020 saddened many around the world.

Even the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, paid tribute to Black Mamba, via a projected image.

Kobes death inspired plenty of street murals, with a large concentration of them in Los Angeles.

The Kobe Mural website is dedicated to highlighting these works. Some are realistic, while others take a more stylized approach.
The snow is here, and it's bringing frigid temperatures with it.

Southeast Wisconsin residents will wake up to chilly and windy weather on Monday, and in the case of some of the area's northern counties, snow on the ground.

CBS58 reporter Emerson Lehmann shared video of snow on the ground in Kewaskum early Monday morning, and meteorologist Justin Thompson-Gee said snow was falling in Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Washington counties.

Light snow is currently falling in Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Washington Counties! A dusting on grass is possible in some areas! If that snow manages to reach Milwaukee and drop a dusting it would be one of the earliest measurable snows ever in Milwaukee! #readywx pic.twitter.com/BITSGCZfgH  Justin Thompson-Gee (@JustinTGee) October 17, 2022

"If that snow manages to reach Milwaukee and drop a dusting it would be one of the earliest measurable snows ever in Milwaukee," Thompson-Gee tweeted.

Well would you look at this. SNOW in Kewaskum. @CBS58 @JustinTGee



(Video courtesy of Mama Lehmann) pic.twitter.com/QmmU6y1JJ0  Emerson Lehmann (@ELehmannTV) October 17, 2022

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for the region, stretching south from Sheboygan to Kenosha and west to Madison, from 3 to 9 a.m.

More than that, the NWS projects snow showers before 10 a.m., switching over to scattered rain and snow showers between 10 and 11 a.m., then scattered rain showers after 11 a.m. with a high near 41 degrees. Winds will be near 20 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 40 mph. New snow accumulation is expected to be less than half an inch.

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The freeze will likely kill outdoor plants, the weather service said.

"It's going to be unusually cold," said weather service meteorologist Sarah Marquardt.

As residents leave their homes for school and work, temperatures will be in the low 30s with wind chills in the upper teens and low 20s.

Wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph are likely throughout the day.

"It's time to start bundling up," Marquardt said.

More: Four tornadoes confirmed so far from Wednesday storms; Here's where they touched down

Freeze Warning in effect late tonight. Brisk nwly winds gusting to 25 to 35 mph will bring a polar airmass to S WI. Also, dress for winter as wind chill temps will be in the teens Mon AM. #swiwx pic.twitter.com/cJpREVmrvt  NWS Milwaukee (@NWSMilwaukee) October 16, 2022

It's possible Milwaukee will set a record for the lowest daily high temperature for Oct. 17. The current record for Oct. 17 is 40 degrees, set in 1948.

The NWS also said there's a slight chance for more snow showers (20% chance for precipitation) between 10 and 11 p.m., with a low around 30 degrees.

It's fairly common to see the first flakes of snow in October, Marquardt said. In fact, it's already happened. Milwaukee recorded trace amounts of snow on Thursday.

Southeast Wisconsin residents hoping to stave off winter a bit longer will be grateful they don't live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where a winter storm is approaching.

Heavy, wet snow is forecast to begin falling Sunday night. Eight to 16 inches of snow is likely, reaching 2 feet in some parts of the peninsula. Wind gusts of 45 to 50 mph are likely. In Wisconsin, only the far northern areas were expected to see substantive snow overnight into Monday, with 1-2 inches possible for Eagle River and 4-6 inches for Manitowish Waters.

A reinforcing shot of colder air moving over the warmer waters of Lake Superior will bring lake effect snow showers into northern Wisconsin tonight into Monday. Parts of northwest Vilas County could see 5 to 7 inches of snow with lesser amounts farther south and east. #wiwx pic.twitter.com/tlmt0GCiAN  NWS Green Bay (@NWSGreenBay) October 16, 2022

Contact Sophie Carson at (414) 223-5512 or scarson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @SCarson_News.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee winter weather advisory Monday with light snow, cold temps
The trial of a Florida woman accused of dressing up as a clown in 1990 and fatally shooting the wife of a man she later married, has been postponed following the disclosure of a law enforcement file containing information about other clown-sighting leads at the time.

Prosecutors informed defense attorneys for Sheila Keen Warren on Wednesday they had found a clown sighting file that defense attorneys had been demanding but prosecutors had been saying they didnt have, according to a court filing by defense attorneys in the Palm Beach County case.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Defense attorneys in the motion asked for a delay in the first-degree murder trial that was scheduled to start the next week. The jury trial was canceled on Friday.

Defense attorneys also are seeking sanctions against prosecutors for what they say are instances of failing to disclose evidence to the defendant, and are asking that Keen Warren be allowed pretrial release from jail.

Read: Sunny Sunday, fall front moving in will bring cooler air and rain next week

The 25-page clown sighting file has the names, addresses or phone numbers of 40 credible leads, according to the court filing from defense attorneys.

Needless to say this will take the defense considerable time and resources to investigate, the defense attorneys said.

Read: Powerball: No winners as jackpot climbs to $480 million

Marlene Warren was fatally shot in the face in May 1990 by someone in an orange wig, red nose and white face paint who handed her carnations and foil balloons after she answered the door of her upscale South Florida home.

Keen Warren was arrested in 2017 in Abingdon, Virginia. Detectives at the time said advances in DNA technology, combined with evidence gathered decades ago, showed Keen Warren was the killer. At the time of the shooting, she was an employee of Marlene Warrens husband, Michael, at his used car lot. They married in 2002.

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Read: Orlando celebrates LGBTQ community, ensures safety during Come Out With Pride festival

Keen Warren has pleaded not guilty.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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.
Oct. 15Police and prosecutors in Colorado and throughout the nation are relying on a company's cellphone location mapping data to help them convict criminal defendants, but a Larimer County judge's recent ruling cast doubt on the technology when he barred its use in his courtroom after finding it unreliable and prone to error.

The defense lawyer in that case and an expert witness for the defense say the ruling by the judge could have far-reaching consequences for past criminal convictions and pending criminal cases that relied on the company's cellphone mapping software.

"Prosecutors and law enforcement throughout the nation have been using data produced by this application to show juries evidence and get convictions in criminal cases," said the defense lawyer, Lee Christian. "Now it's been ruled as junk science. How many juries were overly influenced by something not scientific and false?"

The Sept. 20 ruling from District Court Judge Juan Villasenor prohibited prosecutors from using cellphone mapping technology from a company founded by a former Arizona police officer in the trial of a 43-year-old defendant charged with three felony counts of stalking his former girlfriend.

Prosecutors ended up dropping those criminal charges, though a jury ended up convicting the defendant last month in a companion case of a misdemeanor assault charge that did not hinge on the cellphone location data.

The judge did not take aim at all cellphone mapping data, which is widely used by law enforcement. Rather his ruling was limited to Trax mapping software from Chandler, Ariz.-based ZetX, which produces aerial maps prosecutors and police use to estimate the location of a defendant's cellphone during an alleged crime. In 2021, the analytics data corporation LexisNexis acquired ZetX.

"In sum, Trax and its methods have been routinely (and sharply) admonished by the scientific and legal community, and the people haven't directed the court to any evidence showing otherwise," Villasenor wrote in his ruling excluding the use of the Trax technology in the stalking criminal case.

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"It's very likely that a jury would be misled by Trax's flashy maps and seeming accurate results," the judge added. "But underneath those surface displays lies a sea of unreliability that the jury won't see."

The Gazette found at least 18 other criminal cases during a two-year stretch from 2016 through 2018 that relied on ZetX's Trax technology, at least partially, throughout the nation, including a double homicide conviction in Weld County.

The law enforcement agencies that use the ZetX Trax technology include the Colorado Springs Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office as well as the Fort Collins Police Department among others, said Mark Pfoff, a court-qualified expert in cellular technology and former detective for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, who testified for the defense. Denver police say they do not use Trax software from ZetX.

"The ramifications of this ruling could be statewide and even nationwide," Pfoff said. "Every case that was decided based on information presented by ZetX using Trax could be reviewed and overturned."

Trax produces aerial maps that plot the location of historical cell-site location and GPS data for cellphones. Police and prosecutors use those maps to identify for juries the estimated location of cellphones carried by defendants and their victims at the time of a crime.

Other companies produce cellphone location maps police use, but the maps produced by the other companies don't go as far as ZetX does in determining an estimated location of a particular cellphone. The competitors of ZetX identify a cell phone tower antenna that cellphone records indicate was in use. But those firms typically show only the direction of the cellphone tower antenna the cellphone was using, indicating a broad general swath where a cellphone could have been located, Pfoff said.

In contrast, ZetX draws a concentric circle around a cellphone tower and produces maps that indicate a cellphone using that tower likely was located within that circle. The founder of ZetX, Sy Ray, a former sergeant in the Gilbert Police Department in Arizona, claims the maps produced by the Trax software he created are 94%-96% accurate.

Pfoff said police and prosecutors find ZetX's maps particularly compelling because they reduce ambiguity for a jury and allow law enforcement to dramatically reduce the area where they estimate a cellphone was located.

Villasenor found that Ray, who did not return telephone messages seeking comment for this article, was not a credible witness.

"He inflated his credentials, inaccurately claiming to be an engineer," the judge wrote in his ruling, stressing that Ray had testified that he is "more of an engineer than an engineer."

"As noted, his sole academic degree is an associates, and there's no evidence that it's related to engineering. Nor is there evidence that Ray's taken any engineering classes," the judge continued. "To be sure, he's created a booming business and has successfully pitched Trax to several law-enforcement agencies. But a sound business model doesn't equal an accurate error rate."

Villasenor said in his ruling that he found three earlier cases in which challenges to the use of ZetX's Trax technology were not successful. Judges ended up accepting Trax-related evidence in those cases, but Villasenor said he found those rulings "unpersuasive."

"Most compelling are the complete absence of data to support Trax's purported error rate and the scientific community's wholesale rejection of Trax's methods," Villasenor wrote in his ruling, noting that he had found three other rulings from judges rejecting Trax-related evidence or expressing skepticism of that evidence.

In the case of the man charged with three counts of stalking in Fort Collins, prosecutors wanted to use Trax cellphone data mapping as evidence to show the defendant was repeatedly near the apartment of his former girlfriend, thereby confirming he was defying a restraining order barring him from stalking her.

The Trax maps produced for the Fort Collins Police Department placed the man in the vicinity of his former girlfriend's apartment nearly every day between Dec. 30, 2021, and Jan. 11, 2022, the judge noted in his ruling excluding the maps.

Pfoff testified for the defense that Trax isn't reliable. Pfoff provided as evidence GPS records from Jones' truck that undercut the cellphone location maps produced by Trax in the case. The truck's GPS records showed that when Jones was supposedly at the apartment of the former girlfriend on multiple occasions, he was actually driving on an interstate, according to Pfoff.

"The GPS from the truck showed that on multiple occasions that they were trying to suggest he was in that area of the apartment, he was miles away," Pfoff said in an interview. "He was on the other side of town. They said he was on the west side of Fort Collins, and I could show he was on the northeast side of Fort Collins."

The GPS mapping backed up the man's contention that he had been driving back and forth from his home in Cheyenne, Wyo., and his job in Johnstown instead of stalking his girlfriend, Pfoff said.

In addition, security-video footage of the apartment complex undercut the former girlfriend's contention that she and her son had seen her former boyfriend's red Dodge Ram driving through the apartment complex on two occasions.

The investigating officer reviewed the security footage for the second day and noted that a red truck was driven through the complex, but the truck wasn't a Dodge. The judge in his ruling said the officer found that the truck was a Toyota, and the Toyota had a camper on the back when the former boyfriend's truck did not have a camper.

Larimer county District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin, whose office prosecuted the case, said he still believes ZetX Trax technology is reliable.

"We respectfully disagree with the judge's ruling and will continue to consider such mapping information when provided by law enforcement investigators as part of a case presentation," McLaughlin said in a prepared statement. "However, we have also advised local law enforcement agencies that certain judges may not allow such evidence to be presented at trial, and they should therefore endeavor to use other methods and rely on other evidence when available."

Just how many criminal convictions have relied on Trax mapping technology couldn't be immediately determined. Ray, the founder of ZetX, claimed in a curriculum vitae he submitted in the case that he has provided training to over 8,000 law enforcement officers, prosecutors and defense experts.

He also stated on the curriculum vitae that he had provided expert testimony from 2016 to 2018 in at least 18 criminal cases. Another case in which Ray testified involved the Oct. 15, 2015, double homicide in a marijuana smuggling killing in rural Weld County. Samuel Pinney, who was 36 at the time of his conviction, was sentenced to two life sentences for the killings in that case.

The Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court rejected an appeal of Pinney's conviction. That challenge, however, did not revolve around the cellphone location testimony in the case from Ray, the founder of ZetX. Instead, the appeal concentrated on other issues, such as the trial judge's decision to exclude testimony about alleged coercive techniques used during police interrogations.
Oct. 16TUESDAY

Southern Colorado Women's Chamber Business Lunch  11 a.m.-1 p.m., The Pinery at the Hill, 775 W. Bijou St., $38-$50. Registration: tinyurl.com/356jxn25.

FMLA New Laws  Need to Knows  11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, 166 Second St., Monument. Registration: trilakeschamber.com.

ri-Lakes Chamber Business After Hours  5-7 p.m., Force Broadband, 1945 Deer Creek Road, Unit 108, Monument, free for first-time visitors. Registration: trilakeschamber.com.

THURSDAY

Tri-Lakes Chamber Networking Breakfast  7:30-9 a.m., Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, 166 Second St., Monument, free for-first time visitors. Registration: trilakeschamber.com.

Building Hybrid Teams  7:30-10:30 a.m., Production Point, 11675 Ridgeline Drive, $69-$99 in-person, $49 virtual. Registration: tinyurl.com/54stf5a9.

Community and Business Expo  4-7 p.m., Tri-Lakes YMCA, 17250 Jackson Creek Parkway, Monument; trilakeschamber.com.

COMING UP

Oct. 27: Southern Colorado Women's Chamber Sunset Meet & Greet  5-7 p.m., Production Point, 11675 Ridgeline Drive, $15-$20. Registration: tinyurl.com/frdb2u4z.

Oct. 29: Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC Annual Gala  6-10 p.m., The Broadmoor, International Center, 1 Lake Ave., $220-$320. Reservations: tinyurl.com/83vwdwuz.

Nov. 3: Tri-Lakes Chamber Networking Breakfast  7:30-9 a.m., Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, 166 Second St., Monument, free for first-time visitors. Registration: trilakeschamber.com.

Nov. 10: State of the Region  11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., DoubleTree hotel, 1775 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., $70-$90. Registration: tinyurl.com/2p9c5kp7.

Dec. 5: Legislative Roundtable  4-6 p.m., The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Ave., $50-$80. Registration: tinyurl.com/mwnrnhsz.

Dec. 6: Southern Colorado Women's Chamber Holiday Luncheon Gala  11 a.m.-1 p.m., DoubleTree hotel, 1775 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., $65-$85. Reservations: tinyurl.com/4ffu35ma.

ONGOING

Virtual Apple Club Meeting  With Q&A and presentations, 6-8 p.m. second Mondays; smmug.org. Email for virtual meeting credentials: jeffj@smmug.org.

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Colorado Springs Toastmasters  5:55-7:15 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, Wild Goose Meeting House, 401 N. Tejon St.; 720-989-8944, southad4@d6leaders.org.

Resume Clinic  10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays, Hanifen Employment Center, 14 W. Bijou St.; 719-866-6445.

Customer Service Certification Training  2-4 p.m. First Tuesdays, Hanifen Employment Center, 14 W. Bijou St.; 719-866-6445.

Interview Skills  10 a.m.-noon Thursdays, Hanifen Employment Center, 14 W. Bijou St.; 719-866-6445.
Oct. 16EVENTS

TUESDAY

Homeless Veterans Coalition Stand Down Event  With services for homeless vets and their pets, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., City Auditorium, 331 E. Kiowa St.; communityculturalcollective.org.

Seminar to Help Veterans Understand Death Benefits  Hosted by Tri-Lakes American Legion Post 9-11, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 300 Colorado 105, Monument, 719-271-3050.

SATURDAY

Make a Difference Day  Volunteers from Fort Carson and surrounding communities will work on projects across the installation, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on post. Registration: carson.armymwr.com/acs.

Taste of Charity Ball  To benefit Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center and Wounded Warriors, 5:30-11 p.m., Antlers hotel, 4 S. Cascade Ave., $75. Tickets: tinyurl.com/2s4yj2m9.

NOV. 4

Hoedown for Heroes  To benefit military, veterans and their families, 5:30 p.m., Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers, 13701 Bass Pro Drive, go online for prices. Tickets: hoedownheroes.givesmart.com.

NOV. 5

Denver Veterans Day Parade & Festival  10 a.m.-2 p.m., Civic Center Park, Denver; denverveteransday.com/parade-festival.

NOV. 12

Denver Veterans Day Run  6:30 a.m., City Park, Denver. Go online for prices and registration: denverveteransday.com/run.

NOV. 17

Honoring the Brave Breakfast  To benefit Home Front Military Network, 7:30 a.m., Broadmoor International Center, 21 Lake Ave. Tickets: homefrontmilitarynetwork.org.

ONGOING

Comeback Yoga  Free in-person and virtual yoga classes for military service members and their families; comebackyoga.org.

DAV Chapter 26 Membership Meetings  Hot meal at 5 p.m., meeting starts at 6 p.m., second Tuesdays, 6880 Palmer Park Blvd., open to all veterans and their guests; dav26co.org.

410 Veterans Group Meeting  10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Black Eyed Pea, 887 N. Academy Blvd. All veterans and spouses, all branches and eras welcome; 719-460-6317.

Women's Equine-Assisted Mental Health Group  10:30 a.m.-noon Wednesdays. Hosted by StableStrides for women veterans who have experienced trauma. Call for information: 719-495-3908.

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Men's Equine-Assisted Mental Health Group  12:30-2 p.m. Wednesdays. Hosted by StableStrides for men looking for an active and solution-oriented therapy to manage symptoms of PTSD, depression or anxiety. Call for information: 719-495-3908.

The Southern Colorado Retiree Assistance Council Meeting  11 a.m. second Wednesdays, The Hub, Peterson Space Force Base. Open to all military retirees and surviving spouses; 719-556-7153.

Pikes Peak Veterans Council Meeting  Doors open at 6 p.m., meeting at 6:30 p.m., last Wednesdays of the month, DAV No. 26 Building, 6880 Palmer Park Blvd. All veteran organization welcome, open to the public; Kathy Hanner, 719-651-6967, kathy.a.hanner@gmail.com.

The National Museum of World War II Aviation tours  10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays, 755 Aviation Way, $11-$17, free for WWII veterans. Tickets: worldwariiaviation.org.

Pikes Peak Detachment of the Marine Corps League Meeting  8 a.m. breakfast, meeting starts at 9 a.m., third Saturday, DAV Chapter 26, 6880 Palmer Park Blvd., $10 for breakfast; pikespeakmcl.org.

Dutch Nelsen Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association  11:30 a.m., with lunch at noon, third Saturdays, Elks Lodge, 3400 N. Nevada Ave. Open to all who served in Korea 1945 to present; Mike Thomason, 719-214-6121.

Women's Army United, Chapter 75 Meeting  10 a.m. fourth Saturdays, Sand Creek Police Dept., 950 Academy Park Loop. All women veterans are invited to attend; Cindy, 719-660-3641.

DAV Chapter 26 Bingo  Doors open at 4:30 p.m., bingo at 6:30 p.m., Sundays, 6880 Palmer Park Blvd., 12 or older; dav26co.org.

Want to get the word out about your military or veterans event? Email carlotta.olson@gazette.com with details.
Oct. 15After nearly a decade of legal recreational marijuana possession in Colorado, voters in Colorado Springs, Palmer Lake and Cripple Creek will decide if it's time to allow sales in each locale.

Proponents promise a bump in tax revenues, while opponents argue the social costs are too high.

Palmer Lake and Cripple Creek officials say the tax revenue from recreational marijuana is badly needed to cover costs, such as roads. Conversely, the Colorado Springs City Council passed a resolution last week opposing recreational marijuana sales, urging residents to consider the potential harm of marijuana and how such sales could jeopardize the town's national reputation as a desirable place to live.

As campaigns enter the final weeks, some medical marijuana business owners in Colorado Springs are anxiously awaiting a decision that could financially save them after a change in state law.

"The city needs to know the businesses are literally hanging on by a thread in the Springs. ... So rec would turn it around," said Ryan McGuire, owner of Zipz, a local dispensary.

A law passed in 2021, House Bill 21-1317, aimed to address concerns around high-potency marijuana and introduced limits on how much medical marijuana concentrate can be purchased in one day, revising the limit down from 40 grams to 8 grams, among other changes. Recreational marijuana stores already had a cap of 8 grams of concentrated marijuana per person per day.

Higher-concentrated marijuana can be more effective for those using it to address pain, he said, and someone using it every day for medical reasons can go through 8 grams a week.

Before the purchasing limits, medical marijuana patients would drive in from out of town to stock up for a month, said Andrew Heaton, who is selling his Colorado Springs medical marijuana business WTJ MMJ Supply. Heaton and other industry representatives said they believe patients are turning to the illicit market out of convenience.

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Following the new purchasing limits, the number of people coming into Zipz each day dropped from about 30 to eight or 10 people, McGuire said. The dropoff in sales also forced layoffs and business closures in the industry, Heaton said.

Marijuana revenues statewide are expected to decline this year because both recreational and medical marijuana sales are on the decline, said Truman Bradley, Marijuana Industry Group executive director. The decline in recreational marijuana sales has been driven, in part, by other states legalizing recreational marijuana, particularly Arizona and New Mexico. But recreational sales in Colorado Springs could drive an uptick for the state by making it so convenient for so many people, including tourists, he said.

The market is also likely maturing nationally, with 19 states allowing recreational sales and other countries such as Canada legalizing it. Colorado's international destination status for its marijuana culture is likely over and lower prices are likely here to stay, said Jason Warf, Southern Colorado Cannabis Council executive director.

"It's really just the market settling, like it would in any new industry," he said.

If voters approve recreational marijuana sales in Colorado Springs it would allow only the existing 114 medical marijuana shops to transition to recreational sales if they choose. Voters could also enact a separate special 5% sales tax on those sales to fund veteran services, public safety and mental health programs.

The transition could keep residents that normally shop in Denver, Manitou Springs or Pueblo local, multiplying demand in Colorado Springs shops and helping to keep them open, McGuire said.

The Your Choice Colorado Springs Campaign estimates that $150 million in revenue has been lost since the city has declined to allow recreational marijuana sales.

The campaign to allow recreational sales had $137,521 on hand earlier this month to help reach voters, according to filings with the city of Colorado Springs; the Colorado Springs Safe Neighborhood Coalition had not raised any money.

Elected officials on the Colorado Springs City Council and School District 49 board last week urged residents to vote down the questions.

D-49's resolution focused on how students could be more easily exposed to marijuana if sales were allowed, and warned of the drug's dangers to developing brains.

The Colorado Springs City Council statement, which passed on a split vote with three council members opposed, covered a myriad of issues such as how sales could hurt the labor pool by limiting who can pass drug tests, and how the change could impact public safety agencies in town.

"We are going to add another addiction-for-profit industry," said Dr. Kenneth Finn, who addressed the council and worked on marijuana issues at the state level.

The Colorado Springs Police Department did not respond to repeated requests for comment on legalizing recreational marijuana sales.

As to black market activity in the state, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Assistant Director Dan Volz said he couldn't speak to an overall trend following legalization.

"It's really impossible to know if the illicit market has increased or decreased because we never had a clear indication of the illicit market to start with to measure against. What we can say is that our teams stay very busy and basically work at maximum capacity at this point," he said in a written statement. The bureau's teams focus on illicit marijuana cultivation mostly in rural areas.

The CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank, studied multiple states following marijuana legalization and found that crime "neither soared nor plummeted."

In the smaller communities that are considering legalization, officials are looking to marijuana to help solve revenue problems.

In Palmer Lake, voters will decide whether to allow two existing medical marijuana shops to transition. After several previous attempts to allow recreational marijuana sales, Trustee Darin Dawson said he thought attitudes could be changing but felt it was important to let voters decide because of the history of failure on the ballot.

Dawson said additional revenue is critical to keeping full-time police and fire departments and fixing roads.

"We need to look at revenue and find revenue sources that maintain what we all feel we want," he said.

The board tied a question to raise property taxes to allowing recreational marijuana sales; if both questions pass, the mill levy would go up 15 mills rather than 30. A 15-mill increase on a $400,000 house would add about $390.75 to a tax bill. Palmer Lake already has a special 5% tax on recreational marijuana sales.

In Cripple Creek, the marijuana question could clear the way for the first marijuana shops in Teller County. If the question passes, the town could issue four marijuana licenses  two medical and two recreational  said Kyle Blakely, a spokesman for the campaign. A single business could hold both a medical and a recreational license, he said, reducing the number of shops.

Town Councilman Charles Solomone said he believes the community is largely split on the question, but added the need for more tax revenue is clear.

"If you drive around town, the roads are in deplorable condition," he said.

Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell has said allowing pot sales would increase the need for emergency services response, increase the cost for law enforcement regulation and response, and would increase hospitalizations.
Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Welcome to this weeks edition of Royalist, The Daily Beasts newsletter for all things royal and Royal Family. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Sunday.

Former PM Major says The Crown is barrel load of nonsense

Prince Harry was under new pressure to disown the Netflix series The Crown Sunday, after his former special guardian and ex-British Prime Minister Sir John Major described the show as damaging and malicious fiction and a barrel load of nonsense.

Major, who governed Britain from 1990 to 1997, made his comments to the Mail on Sunday after the paper reported that the first episode of the new series shows Charles lobbying Major to urge the queen to abdicate.

The Mail reports that in the episode Charles, played by Dominic West, discusses Edward VII, Queen Victorias son with Major and says: It was said that Queen Victoria had no confidence in him, thought him dangerous, free thinking. He longed to be given responsibilities, but his mother refused. Even forbade him from seeing State papers. Yet when his time came, he proved his doubters wrong and his dynamism, his intellect, his popular appeal made his reign a triumph.

Why King Charles Should Really Be Worried About The Crown Season Five

The fictional Major asks him to clarify his point and Charles responds: I am saying what a pity it was, what a waste that his voice, his presence, his vision, wasnt incorporated earlier. It would have been so good for everybody.

Major himself has now issued a lengthy statement to the Mail, saying, in part: If the scenes you describe are broadcast, they should be seen as nothing other than damaging and malicious fiction. A barrel load of nonsense peddled for no other reason than to provide maximumand entirely falsedramatic impact.

Majors intervention is likely to put pressure on Prince Harry, who has signed a multi-million dollar production deal with the streaming giant, to publicly criticize the show as Major was one of Harrys trusted advisers.

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He was appointed special guardian to William and Harry after Dianas death and was responsible for the legal and administrative matters relating to William and Harry.

The relationship endured, and Major was the only British politician invited to attend Harry and Meghans wedding.

Sneak preview of The Crown

The London Sunday Times has been given a sneak preview of all ten episodes of Series 5 of The Crown, and has a comprehensive series of teasers in todays newspaper.

They dont quite rise to the levels of spoilers, but if you want to maintain 100 percent surprise, look away now, and dont come back here till the fifth series streams on November 9.

Among the plot lines that The Sunday Times reveals is Prince Philips rumored affair with Penny Knatchbull, and in one scene Penny is dressed down by the queen who tells her, Why dont you come in the car with me to church this Christmas at Sandringham? Nip all that in the bud.

The show also explores the queens fear she was poor at parenting, saying that in one scene she is seen speaking to the Archbishop of Canterbury and she says that her childrens divorces look like parental failure of the most awful kind.

Interestingly, The Sunday Times says that the Diana interview with Martin Bashir, isnt recreated in the show but says there are suggestions, which were raised by Andrew Morton in a recent interview with The Daily Beast, that Diana believed her communications were being bugged.

However, the most incendiary claim is that Charles explicitly lobbied John Major to get his mother to abdicate (see above).

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

King Charles not planning to move to Buck House

The king is not planning to move into Buckingham Palace.

The palace is midway through a massive restoration and repair job, which is not expected to be complete until 2027, and might provide some handy political cover.

A source told The Sunday Times: I know he is no fan of the big house, as he calls the palace. He doesnt see it as a viable future home or a house thats fit for purpose in the modern world. He feels that its upkeep, both from a cost and environmental perspective, is not sustainable.

Another royal source said: It is certainly true that Camilla doesnt want to live at Buckingham Palace.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: It is expected that the necessary works will be completed for Their Majesties to take up residence in 2027. In the interim period, the Palace will be fully utilized for official business wherever practicable.

Subscribe here to get all the latest royal news and gossip with Tom Sykes and Tim Teeman.

Ghislaine Maxwell suggests Andrew photo is fake

In her interview from jail with the Sun, Ghislaine Maxwellas well as saying that she feels so bad for her dear friend Prince Andrewalso says that the notorious picture of Andrew with his arm around a teenage Virginia Giuffre is a fake, saying: At this time, I no longer believe that to be a true image, and I don't believe that it is what it appears to beThere are so many things that are wrong with it As soon as my appeal is over, I will be very happy to discuss it.

She added: I dont know exactly how many points there are, but there are over 50 problems with the pictureI dont believe its a true picture.

Maxwell also said that there were question marks over Epsteins death, saying there was a lack of transparency at the Bureau of Prisons adding, There is a culture of untruth that frankly needs to be brought to lightIm saying he [Epstein] is one among many. But I wouldnt know. I just find it suspicious.

Ghislaine Maxwell in 2005. Robin Platzer/FilmMagic

Maxwell told filmmaker Daphne Barak for the Sun that she had also been cut off by Bill Clinton, despite having had a special friendship, which continued over the years, but said Donald Trump had stuck by her.

We knew each other and mingled in the same circles, in New York, Palm Beach. I was very grateful when he wished me well after [the arrest]. He got bad media for it, but he dared, while others didnt.

I was honored he remembered me. Well, he is known to say what he thinks. It gave me a big boost.

Questions, questions

A curious story on Page Six this week suggested that Harry and Meghans show for Netflix contradicted what Harry has written in his book. Were confusedif a senior Netflix source has actually seen and read Harrys book, unlike anyone else on the planet, we want to know about it please!

Royals cut racing involvement

Queen Elizabeth II adored racing and bloodstock and spent a good deal of time and energy breeding and training racehorses. The king, however, is less enthusiastic and is to sell 12 thoroughbreds at auction later this month, the Mail reports.

The sale represents a cull of about a third of the royal stable. A source described as close to the Royal Sandringham stud in Norfolk told the Mail, The royal stud could be a museum in three years. It would be a real shame.

This week in royal history

A year ago today Buckingham Palace was bathed in green light ahead of the first ever Earthshot Awards. Prince Williams brainchild, the palace said, had led a worldwide search for the most inspiring and innovative solutions to todays environmental challenges.

Unanswered questions

How will the royal attack machine continue to target The Crown to safeguard King Charles reputation, as the new season highlights the most scandal-ridden period of his life? What new access to Buckingham Palace will the public get if it simply becomes an operational HQ?

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Prosecutors have dropped plans to seek the death penalty against a man accused of killing a man and wounding a woman when he opened fire inside a movie theater in Pennsylvania almost three years ago.

Twenty-three-year-old Anu-Malik Johnson is charged with first- and third-degree murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangering and related offenses in the December 2019 shooting of 22-year-old Andre White Jr. at Regal Cinemas 13 in West Manchester Township.

A judge two years ago declined to bar York County prosecutors from seeking capital punishment, but this week the district attorneys office dropped plans to do so, citing a mitigation report from the defense and other considerations.

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Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake sparred with CNNs Dana Bash over unfounded claims of mass election fraud in 2020 during an interview on Sunday.

You called the 2020 election corrupt, stolen, rotten and rigged, and there was no evidence of any of that presented in a court of law or anywhere else that any of those things are true. So why do you keep saying that? Bash asked Lake on CNNs State of the Union.

Well, theres plenty of evidence, Lake responded. We had 740,000 ballots with no chain of custody. Those ballots shouldnt have been counted.

A series of investigations into Arizonas 2020 elections failed to find evidence of substantial fraud that would have overturned President Bidens victory in the state.

The state attorney generals interim report suggested it was possible that between 100,000 and 200,000 ballots were transported without a proper chain of custody, but the report did not allege that mass fraud occurred.

Lake went on to portray the media as covering only one side of the issue, while Bash repeatedly contested Lakes claims of electoral fraud.

Are you undermining faith in elections by saying that the 2020 election was stolen when theres absolutely no evidence to support that? Bash asked.

In 2018, Stacey Abrams never conceded. She still hasnt, Lake said. I dont hear CNN calling her an election denier.

We have the right  its protected with our First Amendment  to question our government and to question elections, Lake continued. We still have the First Amendment, and when you start seeing the media cancel people for questioning their government, then thats when we have a problem.

"Why do you keep saying that?"@DanaBashCNN presses Republican gubernatorial candidate for Arizona Kari Lake about her claims on the campaign trail that there was election fraud in the 2020 election. @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/dDuZDrQ7ns  CNN (@CNN) October 16, 2022

Bash subsequently played clips of former Attorney General William Barr and former acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue testifying before the House Jan. 6 committee that former President Trumps claims of election fraud in 2020 were false, asking Lake why she doesnt believe them.

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Dana, you want to have me on here and talk 2020 election, and youre  Lake said.

I would never bring this up ever had you not been bringing this up consistently on the campaign trail, Bash responded.

During a subsequent interview on State of the Union with Lakes opponent, Katie Hobbs, the Arizona Democrat lambasted Lakes position.

This is disqualifying, Hobbs said. This is a basic core of our democracy, and she has nothing else to run on.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery." Netflix

Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc in "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," in theaters Wednesday.

The mystery at the heart of it is simpler than in the first movie, which might frustrate some fans.

But "Glass Onion" is filled with intriguing layers and backed by a brilliant ensemble cast.

Daniel Craig and director Rian Johnson are back again with another incredible murder mystery with "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery."

The first movie already won over many fans with a thrilling mystery, amazing ensemble cast, and poignant social commentary about elite families. "Glass Onion" does the same in a way that doesn't feel like Johnson is trying to recreate the magic of the first film.

In fact, Johnson breaks every murder mystery rule in the book while filling the film with several blink-and-you-missed-them references to the genre's hall of fame.

The mystery in 'Glass Onion' is simpler than in 'Knives Out,' but the movie is still worth watching

Glass Onion

The cast of "Glass Onion" includes Kathryn Hahn, Madelyn Cline, Edward Norton, Leslie Odom Jr., and Kate Hudson.John Wilson / Netflix

A big part of the appeal of "Knives Out" was the ingenious murder mystery and multiple plot twists that kept the audience confounded until the end. That feat would have been hard to follow up in the first place but Johnson does not appear to be attempting that with "Glass Onion."

Instead, he provides multiple mysteries, some simpler than others, that ultimately fit this central contradictory metaphor of a glass onion: Something simple that actually turns out to be very layered or something layered that turns out to be very simple.

In the sequel, Benoit Blanc is invited along with a group of wacky celebrities to a murder mystery on an island in Greece.

Many of the cast adopt the well-known roles of a murder mystery which has been slightly updated for the modern age. The bumbling fool is now an oblivious internet celebrity (Kate Hudson) who makes several insensitive tweets. The chauvinistic man is now a men's rights streamer (Dave Bautista) who carries a gun everywhere.

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However, just when you think you know where the story is heading a twist occurs that turns all these iconic murder mystery elements on their head. By the end, it feels like Johnson has been taunting us throughout the journey, leaving obvious breadcrumbs before distracting you.

Despite numerous spell-bounding performances from the ensemble cast, Janelle Monae and Kate Hudson are the clear stand-outs

Glass Onion

Janelle Monae has an incredible performance as Cassandra "Andi" Brand.John Wilson / Netflix

Often satires fail by making the characters become the message. Whatever commentary the writer is trying to convey supersedes anything about the character that could make them feel genuine and relatable. Instead, the "Glass Onion" cast and Johnson's script does well in making each character more complicated than they first seem.

Hudson's Birdie Jay is sure to be a fan favorite, but not only because she wears gorgeous outfits in every scene. Hudson is hilarious and has several moments where the mask drops allowing the audience to see the character's truth in very moving scenes. The same sort of layer-peeling occurs with all the characters. Craig plays a more laid-back and fun Blanc but we still are left in the dark about the character's background making him a distant lead character.

Janelle Monae's performance was my personal favorite due to the range she brings to Cassandra Brand, the outcast of the celebrity group. She starts out as stoic and cold but later on you truly feel her anger and betrayal and want to root for her.

'Glass Onion' is on a bigger scale than the first movie but does not forget its roots

Glass Onion

Kate Hudson as Birdie Jay and Jessica Henwick as Peg.John Wilson / Netflix

The sequel is more ambitious than its grounded first movie with its numerous cameos and almost outlandish plot. Yet, the social-political commentary is still strong in "Glass Onion."

Instead of rich families, Johnson targets pop culture celebrities from tech leaders to "progressive" politicians. He breaks down their mythos in such an entertaining way and exposes the simple truth that they are all stupid, flawed humans like the rest of us.

With stunning cinematography and scores which heighten the tension in crucial scenes, Johnson creates a more thrilling thought-provoking ride with his "Knives Out" sequel. A simple but cleverly layered puzzle audiences will love over the holidays.

"Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" is in theaters for a limited time from Wednesday. It arrives on Netflix on December 23.

Read the original article on Insider
People are coming together Sunday morning in Jacksonville Beach to raise awareness around suicide and mental health.

The Out of the Darkness Community Walk begins at 10 a.m., kicking off from the Seawalk Pavilion.

The walk is meant to bring awareness to mental health and honor those lost to suicide and raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The foundation said suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the country.

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The latest numbers show nearly 46,000 people died by suicide in 2020 and in that same year, there were 1.2 million suicide attempts.

To learn more about how you can take part in the walk, or donate to this cause, click here.

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Women in Iran and abroad are fighting for their right to choose after the death of Mahsa Amini.

Amini died in September after Iran's morality police arrested her for not wearing the hijab properly.

3 women share why they've chosen to give up or keep their hijabs, and what the choice meant to them.

Women in Iran and abroad are taking to the streets, burning headscarves and cutting their hair to protest the death of Mahsa Amini in September.

Amini died after Iran's morality police arrested her for failing to wear the hijab correctly. Their fight follows a decades-long history of rising up for a woman's right to choose.

Young women around the world shared with Insider why they chose to give up  or keep  their hijabs, and what the choice meant to them. Some have requested to go by their first names only to protect their privacy.

'The harder they policed it, the less it felt like it was my choice to wear it'

"I grew up in a fundamentalist Muslim family. My mom is a white American and my dad is from Saudi Arabia. We went to the mosque every Friday and did prayer five times a day  we had a speaker system in the house and the alarm would go off for prayer."

"My parents kept me sheltered from the 'outside world.' I was homeschooled my entire life, except for one year in an Islamic academy, and my parents even had a problem with that. I didn't have friends, and grew up around other Muslim families. I wasn't even allowed to talk to male family members."

"I first started wearing the hijab before I was five years old, which is pretty early. When I was seven or eight years old  right after the election of Obama  a lady walked up to me in the grocery store and ranted about the future of the US. She grabbed the front of my hijab and pulled it, ranting to my mom that I was an abomination. I didn't even know what the word meant, but I remember crying. It was one of the most traumatizing events of my life."

"As a child, I just wanted to be like my mom, so I wore my hijab. Instances of bigotry actually made me feel empowered to wear it."

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"But I felt like a walking symbol for my religion in a way my brothers weren't."

"I started rebelling in my teenage years. I'd argue with my parents all the time about whether my pants were too tight, whether my sleeves covered my wrists, whether my hijab was worn correctly. They warned me that God was following me and watching me at all times, and told me I was lucky I could wear pants and not wear a full-length burka."

"The harder they policed it, the less it felt like it was my choice to wear it."

"The protests right now give me hope that there can be a future where women can choose to wear the hijab. It's empowering to have the choice and make it, as opposed to being told it's something you have to do to be seen as any good in the eyes of god."

 Saadia, 21 years old, Tennessee

'I can't imagine my hijab being anything but a choice'

"I started wearing my hijab a month before I turned 14. It is the best decision I made in my life. I have never once regretted it."

"Wearing a hijab has nothing to do with society. I was never forced to wear it. I did it for Allah and for Him alone."

"I did not mind that it exposed me, made me a target even though it still made me afraid. I was willing to fight for it because the hijab became more than just a headscarf. It was a friend, a spiritual connection, a shield. More importantly, it is a statement. My body belongs to me and I get to choose what I can wear. I chose to cover. I will continue to do so."

"I lost count of the negative comments I received online for wearing the hijab, and for being a Muslim in general. I have even been called a terrorist."

"On my first day of college, I was the only Muslim in class. I sat awkwardly with people who were disinterested in my attempts at conversation. The second day was better, and that's when I realized that as a hijabi, first impressions work differently for me. They want to know whether I'm dangerous first before they think to find out if I'm nice."

"The protests in Iran are both heartbreaking and inspiring. I can't imagine my hijab being anything but a choice and it is really disturbing to not only see it being forced on women but also being used as a pathetic excuse to senselessly kill them."

"It is ironic that people would advocate women's rights while demanding that women take off the hijab. And I think people are under the impression that those who continue to wear hijab in the light of what is happening do not care about Iran. That is a big, big misconception. If anything, being a hijabi in a non-Muslim country taught me to empathize more with those who do not have the right to choose like I do."

 Mezka Manaal Mazeed, 20 years old, Sri Lanka

'We don't ask for this pressure, this shame culture'

"My parents were raised in their villages in Afghanistan and came here in the late 70s. Afghan culture played a big role in my day-to-day life growing up, same as a lot of other immigrant children: You have your culture in your house, and then when you leave your house and go to school, you're immersed in American culture."

"I went to an Islamic middle school from third to eighth grade. I learned a lot about my religion, Sunni Islam. We celebrated Eid  Ramadan was a very fun time. When I was younger, I wasn't really aware that something was religious or cultural. It was all just part of my life."

"I had to wear the hijab in middle school as part of my uniform, and for Sunday school at our local masjid. As soon as I came home, I'd take it off. I started wearing it when I was 12 outside of school because my other family members, Afghan neighbors, and friends started wearing it. There was this unspoken sense of community."

"When I started high school and college away from my Muslim friends and family, I began to think, 'Am I wearing it for myself, or am I wearing it because people around me are?' I started wearing it differently, like a turban, then eventually on and off."

"When women wear hijab, they're subjected to this expectation from others. You expect her to have really good morals, to not make mistakes in front of other people, and do all the religious things that a Muslim does. It's a lot for women to take because we don't ask for this pressure, this shame culture."

"I remember the day I didn't wear the hijab to work, a Muslim coworker asked, 'Are you not Muslim anymore?' I was so flabbergasted. How do the two correlate? What does a woman's attire have to do with her faith?"

"Some Muslim women express faith differently. For me, the hijab started to lose its meaning of faith. I wasn't comfortable wearing it because I didn't feel like myself. I finally took it off after deciding that this is my body, and that the only person who knows me the most is myself."

 Naseema, 27 years old, New York

Read the original article on Insider
LAS CRUCES - This election is about the right to vote and access abortions  not just the candidates. That's the message democrats hoped to impart to a crowd of eager supporters during a rally in Las Cruces Saturday.

City Councilor Johanna Bencomo led a slate of speakers featuring former councilor and current US Congressional District 2 Candidate Gabe Vasquez, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju, and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

"We have an incredible list of speakers for you today," Bencomo said. "To be really honest with you, we have some powerhouses."

Counter-protestors with anti-abortion signs and iconography also attended the rally. Around 100 people walked around the perimeter of Albert Johnson Park holding signs and crosses. They stopped periodically to pray.

Participants in a counter-protest to a rally to promote Democratic candidates and abortion rights sign up and pick up signs on Oct. 15, 2022. The counter-protestors gathered on a corner of Albert Johnson Park.

The two groups did not mingle, and no violence occurred during the event. However, dozens of police officers checkered the park, and a New Mexico State Police tactical team staged in a neighboring parking lot. Bencomo also started the speaking slate by asking the abortion rights crowd to abstain from engaging counter-protesters.

"The best engagement with counter-protesters is no engagement at all," she said. "So, can I get that commitment from you for your safety?"

Dems speak out on abortion access, voting

Vasquez, a first-time Congressional candidate challenging Republican incumbent Yvette Herrell, was the event's first speaker and also the event's only male speaker.

"Today, we face a very difficult time in our country, where we have seen that this extreme Trump-appointed Supreme Court has reversed women's health care rights and has taken us back to the Stone Age of American politics," Vasquez told the crowd. "We have to make sure that we elect a congress and that we elect a Senate that will be able to codify Roe v. Wade into law in the next two years."

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On June 24, the Supreme Court overturned the right to access abortion in the United States.

For the court's conservative majority, Justice Samuel Alito wrote, "procuring an abortion is not a fundamental constitutional right because such a right has no basis in the Constitution's text or in our Nation's history."

Gabe Vasquez, a candidate for US Congressional District 2, speaks to the crowd during a rally to promote Democratic candidates and abortion rights on Oct. 15, 2022.

The move triggered a series of laws in Republican-led states to ban abortion, Texas being one of them. That put bordering states like New Mexico in the crosshairs of those looking to protect and expand abortion rights and those looking to revoke them.

It also put border communities like Las Cruces in the spotlight. The same clinic at the center of the ruling that overturned Roe vs. Wade found a new home in Las Cruces earlier this year. Lujan Grisham also pledged to spend $10 million on a new clinic in Dona Ana County.

Vasquez and the other speakers seemed to hold that top of mind Saturday morning.

"I get this question asked all the time by reporters, 'what are Latinos thinking about abortion?'" Vasquez said. "You know what I tell them? I'm proud to be a Roman Catholic and Latino Democrat that supports every woman's right to choose."

Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico's Secretary of State, spoke next. Toulouse Oliver spoke about her personal experience regarding abortion. She said she became pregnant unexpectedly when she was 21.

"I had to make that really hard choice," she said. "I was looking at my entire future and thinking, gosh, you know, if I have a child right now, all of my plans for my future could go completely astray."

She said she decided to see the pregnancy through  but emphasized she was glad the choice remained hers.

"It was my choice," she said. "And I got to make that choice; I chose my son."

Toulouse Oliver also spoke about elections. She said that if Democrats did not turn out to vote this midterm, then they would lose the right to vote.

Toulouse Oliver is facing Republican challenger Audrey Trujillo, who referred to the 2020 presidential election as a coup and promoted false theories about election rigging and hacking of tabulation machines.

The crowd viewing rally to promote Democratic candidates and abortion rights numbered above a hundred on Oct. 15, 2022 at Albert Johnson Park.

McGill Johnson and Timmaraju  both from out of state  spoke about a mismatched system of access that began after the Supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade in June.

"This is about power and control," McGill Johnson said, referring to the efforts to restrict abortion access.

McGill Johnson lauded Lujan Grisham's actions surrounding abortion, including the $10 million pledge.

"We have so much to be grateful for having a leader like Michelle." McGill Johnson said.

'We're gonna win'

Lujan Grisham, the keynote of Saturday's event, is seeking a second term as New Mexico's governor. Republican Mark Ronchetti, a former television weatherman and candidate for U.S. Senate is the challenger.

"Elections are harder and meaner and less about the truth and protecting our equality than they've ever been," Lujan Grisham said. "A lot of people, even me, feel like it's just too hard or it's just too angry."

Despite that feeling, Lujan Grisham told the crowd they had the power to affect change. That power would have to be utilized, she said, because outside forces were eyeing New Mexico.

"They're coming for this state," she said. "This is the toughest climate with the highest risk I have ever seen as a New Mexican in my entire career."

Michelle Lujan Grisham poses with Las Cruces City Councilor Yvonne Flores after a rally to promote Democratic candidates and abortion rights on Oct. 15, 2022, at Albert Johnson Park.

She framed that statement in the context of polls showing her leading Ronchetti ahead of the Nov. 8 election. Nevertheless, she told the crowd not to be complacent. Otherwise, the whole of democracy was at risk, she said.

"Maybe New Mexico can be the place, because of you, where we teach these positive lessons to the rest of America and make sure that she is a beacon for the rest of the world. And that this isn't just an experiment, that this democracy and this republic is the gold standard for the rest of the world," she said. "I believe that with every ounce of my 4'10" being."

In a gubernatorial debate last week, Lujan Grisham and Ronchetti each talked about their stances on abortion. The incumbent repeatedly touched on her advocacy for legal access to abortion procedures. The challenger voiced support for a ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with limited exceptions, while advocating for a statewide referendum on whether to impose new restrictions.

Others are reading:

Justin Garcia is a public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached by email at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Dems rally in Las Cruces over abortion access amid counter-protest
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and conservative state lawmakers are frequent critics of Floridas higher education system. They say universities are offering degrees in "zombie studies" and label campuses socialism factories.

But they are doing more than just lambasting universities and colleges for perceived liberal bias.

DeSantis and Florida Republicans, in an attempt to reshape the states 40 colleges and universities, installed GOP allies in top university posts and pushed legislation that could change tenure, limit how university professors can teach lessons on race and even how Florida higher education institutions are accredited.

Most recently, the governors chief of staff helped Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) navigate the University of Florida presidential selection process, ultimately assisting the senator in becoming the sole finalist to lead the states flagship university, a move that caused hundreds of University of Florida students this week to protest.



DeSantis over the summer also appointed a top GOP legislative ally, state Sen. Ray Rodrigues, as Floridas chancellor for higher education  a position from which he will wield enormous power over the states 12 public universities.

They want to take over higher education, and this is one way to do that, Andrew Gothard, president of the United Faculty of Florida union, said of Sasses selection as a finalist to lead the states flagship university. Gothard is a faculty member at Florida Atlantic University.

Conservatives in recent years developed an antagonistic relationship with academia, viewing college campuses as proving grounds for progressivism. And, fueled by the populist movement that elected Donald Trump, many Republicans have declared war on elitism  and used higher education as a symbol of what theyre fighting.

But DeSantis, considered a leading contender for president in 2024, seems to be taking the notion a step further. The governor and GOP state lawmakers are expanding Republican efforts to reshape K-12 education in America, an undertaking that DeSantis has made a key pillar of his agenda.

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The governor has pushed legislation that would allow parents to sue schools if they teach critical race theory in classrooms, prohibit teachers from leading classroom discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation for young students and reject math books that contain elements focused on race- and social-emotional learning.

Many of these GOP-backed laws drew condemnation from Democrats and teachers' unions, who accuse Republicans of politicizing childrens education. But they are also proving popular among conservatives and in particular many parents that have grown frustrated by their local education systems.

Some of DeSantis higher education moves have also sparked a backlash, including Sasses pick as a finalist to lead the University of Florida. His selection was aided by a new law that shields university presidential searches from Floridas public records law, ending a tradition of open searches for the coveted and pivotal roles. The change in law was made possible by Floridas Republican majority in the Legislature, but several Democrats also supported it since it needed a supermajority to pass.

The new law, which Democrats and union leaders are criticizing, makes private all personal identifying information classified for candidates seeking college or university president posts. Names, however, must be unmasked either 21 days before a final selection is made or when a finalist group emerges.

Policymakers credit the new law with aiding UF gather a dozen highly qualified diverse candidates, including nine sitting presidents at major research universities and seven AAU universities, in its search.

We would have never gotten a sitting U.S. senator or multiple sitting presidents at  universities to apply without the search exemption, said Rodrigues, the new higher education chancellor, who for years led efforts to pass the legislation. I think its accomplished its goal.

Faculty, students and Democrats, however, are raising questions about the selection process and want university officials to release the names of other top finalists, something the school is not bound to do.

Every student frustrated with the way UFs presidential finalist was chosen should understand that this unfolded exactly by design, Democratic state Sen. Lori Berman, who opposed the legislation, tweeted Monday. Florida Republicans passed a law to drape the search process in secrecy, giving you, the student body, less ability to weigh in and speak out.

Legislative action

The legislation clearing the way for Sasse's pick was one of several bills that ushered in changes to Florida's higher education system in 2022.

Florida colleges and universities are searching for new accreditors in light of a state law passed by the Legislature this year that requires schools to find a new accreditation board by their next cycle.

Accreditation agencies generally ensure higher education institutions meet standards of quality. Florida Republicans, led by DeSantis, argue that they have too much authority over the states schools.

Floridas new law requiring the state to find a new accrediting agency was spurred partly by fights between higher education leaders and lawmakers and Floridas longstanding accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACS.

Those conflicts included SACS opening an investigation into the University of Florida after the school blocked three professors from testifying as expert witnesses in a federal lawsuit challenging a new law that places restrictions on mail-in ballots and drop boxes. The GOP-backed Legislature approved the voting law at DeSantis request.

Conservatives across the country, like the National Association of Scholars, praised Florida for its effort to reform such a vital  and woefully broken  component of higher education. They claim that accreditors are abusing their power by imposing political views and interfering with university governance.

Florida is also facing several legal challenges to one landmark piece of legislation requested by DeSantis, the Stop-WOKE Act, which targets how lessons surrounding race are taught in classrooms and the workplace. In one of the lawsuits, conservative free speech group FIRE argues that the law makes professors unsure about which lessons are government-approved or could result in punishment, including termination.

The new law, according to FIRE and other critics, constrains the ability of professors to play devils advocate and forbids them from advancing viewpoints even for the sake of Socratic discussion. And aside from race, faculty members are concerned about even broaching other topics like gender out of fear they could ultimately lose their jobs.

Its having a really far-reaching effect on the stifling of speech from what I hear from the colleagues who are consulting with me, said Robert Cassanello, a professor at the University of Central Florida who teaches classes on the civil rights movement, emancipation and the Reconstruction era and is a plaintiff in one lawsuit.

Lawmakers and state higher education officials, however, contend that the law doesnt outlaw any specific curriculum.

Its very clear what the act prohibits  you cant place guilt on individuals for actions committed by others or by prior generations, Rodrigues, the new higher education chancellor, said. I would submit we should not have anyone teaching that one race is superior to another and be paid by taxpayers for that.

Another new state law approved by Floridas GOP-led Legislature in 2021 requires all state universities and colleges to survey students, faculty and staff annually about the intellectual freedom in schools. The voluntary questionnaire is believed to be the largest-scale campus survey in the nation.

The law was approved by Florida Republican leaders who were worried that schools are biased against conservatives. It has already drawn a legal challenge.

Upcoming efforts

One recent report also shows that the DeSantis administration had even bigger plans for higher education this year, ideas that were left on the cutting room floor and could emerge in 2023.

Draft legislation obtained byindependent journalist Jason Garcia this year shows that DeSantis sought to centralize more power in boards run by the governors political appointees and make universities more dependent on money controlled by lawmakers in Tallahassee. The proposal aimed to grant the 17-member board that governs the states university system greater power to launch investigations of school presidents, veto school budgets and fire university employees.

Florida in 2022 did, however, pass legislation allowing the state to adopt rules requiring tenured faculty to take part in a comprehensive review every five years.

Faculty at the University of Florida broached the issue with Sasse on Monday when the senator visited the campus, asking how he would protect tenure while noting that he ended it during his stint as president of Midland University, a Lutheran school in Nebraska.

Sasse said he would be a zealous defender of tenure at the university, outlining that it is necessary for a major research school like the University of Florida that differs from Midland, which has a fraction of the Florida institutions more than 55,000 students.

But qualms about potential tenure tweaks remain a top issue among faculty throughout Florida as they await forthcoming rules from university system leaders.

A draft of proposed system tenure rules indicated that reviews must consider any biased teaching or indoctrination constituting discrimination under Florida law by the professors, along with history of professional conduct and unapproved absences. Its unclear, though, if these policies will be included in the final cut of the tenure rule. The Board of Governors canceled its September and October meetings and convenes next on Nov. 9.

Gothard said lawmakers in Florida are relying on a cartoonish representation of what is happening in higher education to make policy moves.

He pointed to the extremely low response rate to the political diversity survey offered to students and faculty throughout the system as evidence that the issues brought up at the statehouse arent as prevalent on campuses.

Floridas students deserve the best education possible, and they deserve better than to be tinkered with, interfered with and harmed by the actions of politicians, he added.

Gary Fineout contributed to this report.


Devin Haney (right) was a unanimous-decision winner against George Kambosos Jr in both fights (Getty Images)

It was deja vu Down Under for Devin Haney on Saturday (15 October), as the American outpointed George Kambosos Jr to remain undisputed lightweight champion.

Four months on from their first fight, 23-year-old Haney was once again a unanimous-decision winner against Kambosos Jr, 29, on the Australians home turf.

At Melbournes Marvel Stadium in June, Haney claimed undisputed status with a comprehensive points victory over Kambosos Jr to take the titles that the home fighter had won from Teofimo Lopez in 2021.

Haneys first win against Kambosos Jr also marked the first loss of the 29-year-olds professional career, and he was handed a second here by Haney, who emerged a 119-109, 118-110, 118-110 victor at Melbournes Rod Laver Arena to remain unbeaten.

Per the judges scorecards, he did so by an even greater margin than he had against Kambosos Jr in June.

I knew he was looking for the jab, so I wanted to show other tools in the arsenal, Haney (29-0, 15 knockouts) said. The right hand won me the fight tonight.

I should definitely be on the pound-for-pound rankings. I showed how versatile I am. I came to Australia not once but twice, I honoured [a rematch clause] and beat the man in his hometown twice. He made every excuse in the book for the first fight.

Kambosos Jr (20-2, 10 KOs), meanwhile, said: I gave everything I had in this fight. Im very proud of myself.

This guys a hell of a fighter [...] a pound-for-pound top-five fighter in the world. His skills, his movement  he can move up to 140lbs and be dominant as well.

This guys going to be around for a long time. Im very humble to be in there for 24 rounds.
Election Day is fast approaching. Do you know who you're voting for?

All eyes are on Pennsylvania as voters choose a U.S. senator to replace retiring Republican lawmaker Pat Toomey, and the state's new governor.

The first general election since new legislative and congressional maps were drawn will also see voters choose who they'll send to Washington and Harrisburg in the new year.

To help you make informed decisions at the polls, the Bucks County Courier Times and The Intelligencer sent questionnaires to candidates running in the Pennsylvania election, asking them their stances on issues from abortion and gun control to voting rights and the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Live coverage of Election 2022: Bucks County allowing voters to 'cure' mail-in ballots

As of Monday, Bucks County has 79,330 mail ballots returned out of 98,204 requested, according to the state. There are roughly 480,795 total voters in Bucks County as of the Oct. 24 deadline to register to vote in the midterm.

Read on to learn more about the races.

Fetterman, Oz square off in contentious Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz have been locked in a heated battle for Toomey's seat in the U.S. Senate. Democrat Fetterman has held a lead over Oz in the polls, while the Republican has hammered his opponent for ongoing health issues and his stance on crime.

Read on:Your guide to the candidates for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania

Voters to choose between Mastriano, Shapiro for Pennsylvania governor

Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro faces Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano in the election for Pennsylvania's next governor. The race pits the two-term attorney general, who touts his record on crime and consumer protection, against the state senator from Franklin County, who rose to prominence during COVID shutdowns and has found support in the far right.

What the candidates say:Your guide to the candidates for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania

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In 1st District, Fitzpatrick faces challenge from Ehasz

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Middletown, is running his third re-election campaign against a challenge from Democrat Ashley Ehasz. Ehasz, a former fighter pilot and Bensalem resident, has taken aim at Fitzpatrick's stances on abortion, while Fitzpatrick has touted his bipartisan record.

FItzpatrick vs. Ehasz:Your guide to the race for U.S. Congress' 1st district

Who will represent Bucks, Montgomery counties in the General Assembly?

Redistricting has shaken up the Pennsylvania Legislature, and many voters in Bucks and Montgomery counties will see new names on the November ballots either because they're now located in different voting districts, or their current legislator is retiring.

Read on:Election 2022: Who you'll be voting for in Pennsylvania House, Senate races in Bucks and Montco

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the race for the 10th district state Senate seat

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the race for the 6th district state Senate seat

Election 2022:Your guide to the race for the 12th district state Senate seat

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the race for the 141st state House district

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the race for the 142nd state House district

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the race for the 143rd state House district

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the candidates for the 178th State House district

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the race for the 144th state House district

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the race for the 29th state House district

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the race for the 152nd state House district

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the race for the 18th state House district

More:Election 2022: Your guide to the race for the 145th state House district

What you need to know about voting in the Pennsylvania election

Election Day is Nov. 8. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To check your registration status, or update your address, party affiliation or other information, visit vote.pa.gov.

Not registered? You can do so online before Oct. 24, or visit any county voter registration office, county assistance offices; Women, Infants & Children program offices; PennDOT photo and drivers license centers; Armed Forces recruitment centers; county clerk of orphans courts or marriage license offices; area agencies on aging; county mental health and intellectual disabilities offices; student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education; offices of special education in high schools; and Americans with Disabilities Act-mandated complementary paratransit providers.

How do I vote by mail?

Despite challenges to Pennsylvania's mail-in ballot expansion, the opportunity to vote by mail still exists.

Registered voters can request a mail-in or absentee ballot online. Applications must be received by a voters county election board by 5 p.m. Nov. 1. "On demand" mail ballots also are available at Bucks County election offices in Doylestown, Quakertown and Bristol, or in the Montgomery County Voter Services office in Norristown.

If you voted by mail in the last election cycle, in 2021, you need to re-apply for a mail ballot.

Completed mail ballots must be received by county election offices by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks do not count.

If taking advantage of a ballot drop-box, note that you can only deposit your own completed ballot. If you're unable to drop off or mail your ballot, you can fill out an authorized designated agent form allowing someone else to do it for you.

If you have a mail ballot but decide to vote in person, bring the entire ballot, including security envelope, to the polls. If you don't have the mail ballot but still show up to the polls to vote in person anyway, you'll be able to cast a provisional ballot. But counting your ballot could be delayed until it's determined you didn't also vote by mail.

Bucks County announced it would open its first three drop boxes on Monday, Oct. 17. They are:

Upper Bucks Government Services Center, 261 California Road, Quakertown. 8 a.m. to 4 :30 p.m. weekdays

Lower Bucks Government Services Center, 7321 New Falls Road, Levittown. 8 a.m. to 4 :30 p.m. weekdays

County Administration Building, 55 E. Court St., Doylestown. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays

These locations will also be open noon to 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5.

"Ballot drop boxes will open in the coming weeks at 11 locations throughout the county, including three boxes at county government buildings opening Oct. 17. Drop boxes will open the week of Oct. 24 at eight libraries located throughout the county," according to a news release.

County library locations that open Oct. 24 are:

Bensalem Library, 3700 Hulmeville Road.

Bristol Borough Hall, 250 Pond St.

New Hope Library, 93 W. Ferry St.

Northampton Library, 25 Upper Holland Road, Richboro.

Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave.

Riegelsville Library, 615 Easton Road. Open until 5 p.m.

Warminster Library, 1076 Emma Lane

Yardley-Makefield Library, 1080 Edgewood Road

Hours vary at the library locations.

All drop boxes are supervised by a Board of Elections employee while the boxes are in operation. Ballots are collected from the boxes at least once per day, and returned to the main Board of Elections Office in Doylestown where they remain secured and unopened until 7 a.m. Election Day, officials said.

Voters may only return their own ballot unless they have been authorized as a designated agent for another voter.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsylvania Voters Guide 2022: What you need to know at the polls
Two experienced local legislators will face each other in the race to represent Oregon Senate District 10 in the November election.

Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, and Rep. Raquel Moore-Green, R-Salem, both feel they have the experience, knowledge and passion to best serve Senate District 10, which includes parts of Salem, Monmouth and Independence.

If re-elected, incumbent Patterson  who joined the Senate via special election in 2020  said she will focus on affordable healthcare, funding and support for K-12 schools and higher education, and investments in housing and wrap-around services for those who are homeless or housing insecure.

Support for local businesses, climate action, reproductive rights and "common sense gun laws" are also among her priorities.

Challenger Moore-Green said she wants to "bring balance to the Senate," as well as ensure legislation that will improve educational standards, support law enforcement and reduce the tax and regulation burdens on local businesses.

Government accountability, affordable healthcare and protecting small and private farms, fisheries and dairies from continued regulation are also among her priorities.

Patterson draws on her background

Patterson, 66, is an ordained clergywoman in the United Church of Christ, currently serving a rural congregational church in the Mid-Willamette Valley.

Prior to her return to active ministry, she was the executive director of the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, according to her legislative biography. She has also served on a variety of governing boards for health and human service organizations, including hospitals, transitional housing, residential care and community-based services.

Patterson holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music, a Master of Health Administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and master's and doctoral degrees from Eden Theological Seminary, according to her bio.

She is married and is the mother of two young adults.

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Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, represents District 10 which includes South and West Salem, Monmouth, Independence, Turner and Aumsville, and parts of Four Corners and unincorporated East Salem.

Patterson is largely running on her personal and professional experiences and success as a senator. Her background in healthcare is also a large part of her campaign.

Having directed an international health organization for over a decade, Patterson said, she has seen first-hand how other countries provide lower-cost, quality care to all. So, when former-President Donald Trump started rolling back protections for the Affordable Care Act, that's when Patterson decided to run for state Senate.

"I felt it was really important that we have elected officials representing us who wanted to fight for affordable, quality healthcare and the other things that are needed ... when you strive to have an equitable society," she said.

During her time in the Oregon Senate, Patterson, among other things, sponsored legislation that put in transparency measures and staffing ratios for long-term care workers. She also helped lead Senate Bill 844, which put together a pharmaceutical drug affordability review board.

"Big Pharma spent $2 million to try to kill that bill," she said. "And as a freshman Senator, getting that across the finish line was huge."

Patterson also supported historic investments in K-12 education and legislation to lower class sizes.

"We must do more to give our children a head start, to support strong community schools that respect and reflect the diversity of Oregon and to make college and vocational training more accessible for everyone," she said.

Patterson said she's supported legislative funding for homeless resources, mental health services and affordable housing.

"Homelessness and housing insecurity are often a vicious cycle and so having these wrap-around services is critical to keeping folks off the streets," she said.

Patterson has focused on small businesses in her campaign as well, saying she envisions a future where "each working person can join a union and where critical services like child care, housing, long-term care, and a secure retirement are affordable." She's supported legislation to bring Oregon to 100% clean energy by 2030, she said, and she supported legislation that invested in wildfire prevention and protection.

Patterson said she supports investments into public transportation, access to gender-affirming care, birth control and abortion, and what she describes as "common sense gun safety laws," such as universal background checks and safe storage laws.

On your ballot: Read more about the candidates and measures on your ballot

Patterson has some legislative concepts already prepared for the upcoming session, which include investments in the public health workforce, removing barriers for people in homeless shelters with pets or service animals, insurance coverage requirements for invitro fertilization and additional PERS access for eligible police and fire retirees.

Among others, Patterson has been endorsed by AFT-Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon, Moms Demand Action, the Oregon Education Association, PCUN and the Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon.

Patterson's campaign in 2022 has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in combined cash donations from the Cigna Corp Employee PAC, Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, SSF, UnitedHealth Group PAC, the United Food and Commercial Workers Int'l Union AFL-CIO FED and other out-of-state contributors.

According to 2022 campaign filing records with the Oregon Secretary of State, Patterson's campaign reported about $656,118 in contributions and $606,759 in expenditures, as of Oct. 14. Friends of Deb Patterson has a balance of $97,150 from the previous year.

Moore-Green seeks balance

Moore-Green, 67, has served in the Oregon House of Representatives for three years now, representing Salem's House District 19.

Similar to Patterson, she had a less traditional path to office. Moore-Green was first appointed to the role in 2019 and was then elected in 2020.

"As the first Republican of direct Puerto Rican heritage to be elected to the Oregon State House of Representatives, I am uniquely positioned to navigate multiple traditions, customs and approaches to the many issues currently facing all Oregonians," she states in her biography.

Moore-Green participates in and supports many aspects of the local community, she said, including the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Business Alliance, Union Gospel Mission and the Salem Police Foundation. She previously volunteered with the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, which has since dissolved, serving as the volunteer coordinator for the annual fun run Awesome 3000 for six years.

Born and raised in California, Moore-Green has lived in Salem for nearly 30 years with her husband. They have three children and 13 grandchildren.

Rep. Raquel Moore-Green, R-Salem, represents House District 19.

Moore-Green sees the move from the House of Representatives as an "opportunity to restore balance" to the Senate.

"The effect of a lopsided House and Senate over the last several years has resulted in lower educational standards for our children, a rise in crime, and both small and large businesses struggling," she said.

The Bring Balance to Salem PAC gave Moore-Green's campaign a $166,000 cash contribution and a $107,100 in-kind contribution this month.

The new political action committee is largely funded by timber and construction groups. Nike founder Phil Knight is the largest contributor to the PAC, according to campaign filing records, having given two $1 million cash contributions in 2022.

Moore-Green participated in 2020 when Republicans walked out of the Oregon Capitol to block the passage of a greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade bill. In a debate at the Salem City Club, Moore-Green defended the action.

"Every tool that we have in our tool belt should be used," she said. "There were 1000s upon 1000s upon 1000s ... of Oregonians who wanted to vote on cap-and-trade. They were not given that opportunity."

Among other things, Moore-Green is advocating for additional funding for law enforcement officers, as well as support for services that address mental health issues, alcohol abuse and drug addiction, and provide job skill training. And she wants to protect small and private farms, fisheries and dairies from continued regulation.

Regarding education, Moore-Green argued Oregon's recent lower graduation standards fail to equip students for the real world.

Senate Bill 744 in 2021, in part, directed Oregon's education department to review existing requirements for earning each of the state's diplomas and alternative certificates. It also temporarily suspended the requirement for students to demonstrate proficiency in the state's nine "Essential Skills," which include the ability to read and comprehend a variety of texts, write clearly and accurately, and apply mathematics in a variety of settings.

Moore-Green voted against the Senate bill; Patterson voted in favor of it.

Findings from the Oregon Department of Education's review were published in a report this September.

It's not yet known if the findings will lead to the state changing its graduation requirements. But they do point to inequities in Oregon's current system and assert Oregons high school diploma credit requirements are among the most demanding in the country.

Though Oregon's numbers have generally risen over the years  and graduation rates serve as only one data point for understanding student success  the state historically ranks in the bottom five in the nation.

"We need comprehensive education that's rigorous, transparent, and inclusive of parental input," Moore-Green said.

Rep. Raquel Moore-Green, R-Salem, on the first day of the short legislative session at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Feb. 3, 2020.

Concerning climate change, Moore-Green is aware of the push for zero-emission initiatives. But she wants to make sure the state is "going green" in a coordinated manner that pays attention to cost.

"Everybody's utility bills are going up," she said to the Statesman Journal. "So, how can we do that in a cost-effective manner? How can we do that so, if there are jobs to be created, they're Oregon jobs?"

In terms of legislative concepts being prepared for 2023, Moore-Green pointed to her plans to reintroduce House Bill 2179 from the 2021 session. "As Oregon moves forward with infrastructure for electric vehicles," she said, "we need to make available rebates for farm tractors and farm equipment and other heavy-duty vehicles."

Among others, Moore-Green has been endorsed by the Jackie Winters Leadership PAC, the Oregon Farm Bureau, Sheriffs of Oregon and the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce.

Friends of Raquel Moore-Green in 2022 has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in combined cash donations from the Johnson & Johnson Corporate Political Fund, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, Astellas Pharma US, Inc., the PNW Pharma PAC, Koch Industries, Inc. and other out-of-state contributors.

According to 2022 campaign filing records with the Oregon Secretary of State, Moore-Green's campaign reported about $1,261,833 in contributions and $1,115,611 in expenditures, as of Oct. 14. Friends of Raquel Moore-Green has a balance of about $172,837 from the previous year.

Natalie Pate covers education for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at npate@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6745. Follow her on Twitter @NataliePateGwin.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Election 2022: Patterson, Moore-Green compete for Senate District 10
SpaceX ex-talent chief says Elon Musk is a "combination of Einstein, Tesla, and Rockefeller." Theo Wargo/Hulton Archive/Fred Stein Archive/Getty Images

Elon Musk is smarter than Einstein, the former talent chief of SpaceX told a BBC documentary.

Dolly Singh said Musk's legacy would be a combination of Einstein, Rockefeller and Tesla.

Musk's mother, Maye, said everyone admires her son but admitted no one would want to be him.

Elon Musk should be thought of as a combination of Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, and John D. Rockefeller, according to the former talent chief of his rocket company SpaceX.

Dolly Singh, who worked for SpaceX from 2008 to 2013, made the comments in a BBC documentary called The Elon Musk Show, which uses interviews with Musk's family, friends, former employees  and enemies  to explain his rise to become the world's richest man. The first episode was broadcast in the UK on Wednesday night and Insider has had a preview of the remaining two episodes.

In the second episode, Singh said she believed Musk was smarter than Einstein.

"He learned everything about Tesla and Einstein. He has learned everything that they knew and he's trying to take it to the next level," she said. "I think he's the closest thing that we have to that kind of a figure in our day and age."

Once Musk "has done building his legacy, it will be unquestionable that he is a combination of Einstein, Tesla, and Rockefeller," Singh added.

Albert Einstein is best known for his theory of relativity, which revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe. Nikola Tesla made several breakthroughs in the production, transmission, and application of electric power and Musk named his electric car company after him. John D. Rockefeller was one of the world's wealthiest men and a major philanthropist.

Singh added: "When you set out to do something incredibly hard, there's gonna be a lot of hard days that go along with that."

The tech mogul's mother, Maye, was also featured in the documentary. She described him as a "genius," but despite many people admiring his achievements, she admitted that "no one wants to be him."

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"With those companies, he gets a lot of hate," Maye said. "Stop being mean to him."

His 76-year-old father, Errol, said Musk loved reading when he was younger, especially about Alexander The Great. He also had Napoleon's last will and testament in French.

The Elon Musk Show will not be broadcast outside the UK due to rights issues, the BBC said. The first episode is available on iPlayer.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The author's frantic searching ultimately led to a diagnosis  and some much-needed relief. (Photo: Erikona via Getty Images)

The author's frantic searching ultimately led to a diagnosis  and some much-needed relief. (Photo: Erikona via Getty Images)

I first felt the dull pang in my head on a Wednesday in mid-July 2021. I didnt think much of it, because like most people, Im used to having the occasional headache  usually from PMS or not drinking enough water. I popped an Advil, took a test to rule out COVID, and continued about my day.

That weekend, I still had a headache but, nevertheless, took a pre-planned trip to visit a friend in New York City. I stowed a big bottle of extra-strength Tylenol in my backpack and hopped on my flight. The visit was great, but I found myself taking pain relievers twice a day in order to lessen the ache and feel as much like my usual self as possible. I flew back home to Detroit two days later and pushed on with my week. Still, the pain in my head remained.

My naturally anxious and analytical mind began questioning why this might be happening. Was it stress? I was a recent grad living at home, I was working a job I hated, my house was in disarray from a bad flood the previous month, and the pandemic was still raging on. I wondered if the combined pressures might be enough to push my body over the edge. I convinced myself this was the case  until I also started feeling dizzy and seeing spots.

I scheduled a doctors appointment for the following week. By then, a pulsing whoosh in my ear had begun, and my for-driving-only glasses had become a permanent fixture on my face to combat my spotty vision. I saw a new doctor at my regular clinic, and while she listened to me thoughtfully as I described my ailments, she also noted the history of anxiety and depression on my chart. Taking all of this into account, she told me she suspected I had a tension headache. I was prescribed muscle relaxers and instructed to keep a headache journal to track possible triggers. Then a nurse came in to flush my ears out with water, a particularly nauseating experience that did nothing to alleviate the tinnitus.

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Due to my trust in doctors and because my anxiety often did contribute to extreme tension in my upper body, I went home believing that it would all be over soon. Being the proactive overachiever I am, I even booked a myofascial release massage with my grandmothers favorite masseuse in hopes of relieving every ounce of tension in my body. I remember lying face down on that table in the dark, incense-filled room as I explained to the masseuse that the doctor thought my anxiety was causing my head pain. She was quick to agree, assuring me that the answer to the tension she was attempting to knead out of my body was relaxing more. Genius.

I left the appointment feeling sweaty and disheveled but the pounding in my head was still there. I started spending my evenings with an ice pack wrapped around my head.

Things took a sharp turn 2.5 weeks into my unrelenting pain. My mom asked if I wanted to take a trip to the mall, but as soon as we hit the highway, a wave of nausea quickly rose inside of me. I reclined the passenger seat as far back as it could go, closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing with laser-sharp focus. I feared if I opened my eyes even a sliver, I would throw up all over her car.

The nausea must have been a forewarning of worse things to come. The next morning, I woke up early to run an errand and, during the six-block drive from my house to my destination, realized I couldnt see. It wasnt that everything was dark, but more so that I no longer had any depth perception. I could see the houses on either side of the street, but my vision folded in the middle, leaving me unable to see the road. It was like I was trying to read a book, but all of the words were printed in the crease where the binding is centered. I was unable to see where I was going. I discovered the only way I could regain clarity was by closing one eye, so I drove that way for all six blocks there and back. Surprisingly, this was the first time amid all of the symptoms that I felt genuinely scared  it was now obvious something was very wrong and this wasnt just simply a stress-related issue.

I went back to the doctor the next day and explained the frightening new development. She couldnt give me any concrete answers, but she did order an MRI. When I called to make an appointment, they told me the earliest they could get me in was two weeks later at an office an hour away (thank you, American health care system!).

I lay awake that night tortured by the pounding and the whooshing. I was even tempted to endure the chaos of the emergency room if it meant this would all be over. I wept on a telehealth appointment with my therapist that week, frustrated that I had no concrete answers for my unending nightmare and terrified as my mind raced with the worst-case scenarios. Everyone in my life offered well-meaning advice to stay calm and positive, but they couldnt feel the panic permeating every cell in my body.

One night later that week, I decided to give into my anxiety and do what every mental health professional would probably advise against: Google. I fell into a black hole of frantic symptom-searching and read article after article. I only resurfaced when I discovered a Mayo Clinic page titled Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension). It explained a rare condition in which pressure increases in the head due to the inability to drain cerebrospinal fluid, which mimics the symptoms of a brain tumor.

I decided to give into my anxiety and do what every mental health professional would probably advise against: Google. I fell into a black hole of frantic symptom searching and read article after article.

I could check off every symptom listed on the page, and was especially convinced that Id found a plausible explanation when one of them was a whooshing sound in your head that pulses with your heartbeat. There werent very many causes offered, but it said that the use of tetracyclines could contribute. I quickly Googled examples of tetracyclines and bingo! There was the name of a medication I had been taking for four months: doxycycline, an antibiotic prescribed by my dermatologist to treat my acne.

I immediately felt a rush of relief and self-assurance. I had been right to feel fear and panic, and giving in to my anxiety had provided me with an answer that no doctor had been able to offer thus far.

I told my parents about my revelation, which they met with hesitation (understandable, as I lack a medical degree and my only evidence was my internet self-diagnosis). However, my dad called an ophthalmologist friend, who agreed that it sounded like a pseudotumor. I also called my dermatologists office, which advised me to stop taking the doxycycline just in case. My sister came home from summer camp that weekend, and she was the first person to outwardly meet me at the level of concern that I was feeling inside. She immediately pointed out that when I thought I was looking her in the eye while talking to her, my eyes were actually focused in a completely different direction. Scary.

Coincidentally, I had my yearly eye exam scheduled a few days later. I was quickly passed off from my optometrist to an ophthalmologist, who showed me my retinal imaging full of dark, ominous-looking spots surrounding my optic nerve (which was also hemorrhaging due to the pressure)  a clear diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri.

The office called ahead to the emergency room, where I was admitted as an inpatient to receive a CT scan and MRI. I started crying at the suggestion that I might have to receive a spinal tap in order to relieve fluid, but later found out that because I stopped taking doxycycline a few days prior, this could be avoided. Another win for my intuition.

Oddly enough, the night I spent in the hospital was the most restful sleep Id had in weeks, despite being frequently woken up to get my vitals taken. I felt like Sylvia Plath, the old brag of my heart reassuring myself, I was right, I was right, I was right.

I was released from the hospital the next day with orders to follow up with my ophthalmologist and to check in with a neurologist, and I spent the better part of the next year seeing them on a regular basis in order to ensure the fluid fully dispersed. I also went back to my dermatologist to tell her what had happened, but she frankly could not have cared less about what I went through. I havent been back there since.

Pseudotumor cerebri can cause permanent vision loss if not treated quickly enough, which terrified me at the time. Luckily, my eyes have gone back to normal for the most part. However, now when I go to the eye doctor for routine check-ups, I notice that the letters they put on the wall collapse in the middle of my vision. I can see the two letters on either side of the center, but the fifth one disappears into the middle, a new blind spot I have as a result of my former condition.

I was lucky that my condition could be traced back to a medication I was taking. This meant that for me, recovery only required stopping the doxycycline and taking a new medicine, diamox, which decreases the rate at which spinal fluid is produced, for six months. However, in most other cases, this condition doesnt have a clear cause  or a guarantee that medication or surgery will cure it. Im not quite sure what it means for me, or whether my condition will resurface in any way in the future, so Im committed to monitoring it with regular check-ins with my doctors.

I have spent much of my life convinced my anxiety was my downfall, and I worked to minimize and mitigate it as much as possible to maintain any sense of normalcy on my surface. I had never considered that leaning into it would be more helpful than hiding it would ever be. Aside from learning that sometimes anxiety can be an asset  a useful signal that something is truly wrong and needs to be addressed  Ive also discovered that doctors dont always get it right. Theyre susceptible to human error, which means they might be missing something thats right in front of them. Sometimes its up to us to take the situation into our own hands.

Maybe that means speaking up and pushing harder when our doctor offers a solution that feels wrong. Maybe that means getting a second or third or fourth opinion. Or maybe it means doing our own research and seeing if anything fits. Regardless, we know ourselves best and have to do whatever we need to do to get the care we deserve  especially in a country where doctors are overworked, women are often susceptible to gender discrimination in medical treatment, and too many people dont have access to the care they need in the first place.

Along with my blind spot, the thumping in my ear remains, an artifact from this journey that will not seem to go away. Its not constant, but it happens often enough to be disturbing. Ive noticed that it tends to be aligned with my anxiety, the intensity of the whooshing increasing and decreasing with the ebb and flow of my internal mental health landscape. My medical trauma is forever intertwined with the facet of my mind that ultimately saved me. Ironic, isnt it?

Alexandra Niforos is the operations associate for HuffPost and BuzzFeed News. When she isnt assisting in newsroom operations, she is probably over-analyzing an aspect of her life, either in writing or in voice memos to her friends. She is a native Michigander currently based in New York City.

Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

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PROVIDENCE  A jury has convicted a former corrections officer at the Adult Correctional Institutions of having sexual relations with two female inmates over the course of a year.

Collins Umoh, 44, of Warwick, on Thursday was found guilty of three counts of criminal sexual conduct with an inmate under his direct custodial supervision between 2017 and 2018 after a five day trial before Superior Court Judge Joseph A. Montalbano, according to an announcement by Attorney General Peter F. Neronhas office.

The state was unable to proceed with four additional counts that were subsequently dismissed, said Brian Hodge, spokesman for the office. He declined further comment.

Providence: Purple fentanyl, cocaine and hundreds of thousands of dollars seized by police

Collins Umoh

Umoh had been a corrections officer for 11 years at the time of his arrest in May 2019. Authorities at the time accused him of having sex with three women housed in the Gloria McDonald Correctional Facility between July 2017 and August 2018.

This agency has no higher priority than running safe, secure and constitutional facilities, and the protection of ACI inmates from sexual misconduct is something we take particularly seriously," Patricia A. Coyne-Fague, director of the state Department of Corrections, said in an email at the time of his arrest. "Anyone involved in sexual misconduct will face significant consequences.

Assistant Attorney General Daniel Carr Guglielmo prosecuted the case, with State Police Detective Herb Tilson leading the investigation with the assistance of the Department of Corrections Office of Inspections.

Umoh is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 15. The charges are punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000.

Umoh's lawyer, Stefanie Murphy, could not be reached immediately for comment.

Phoenix Project: They spent much of their lives in prison. This program helps them break up with their past.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Ex-corrections officer found guilty criminal sexual conduct with inmate
A massive fire broke out at a pumpkin patch in Texas, filling the air with explosions and thick black smoke as flames engulfed over 70 vehicles, officials told news outlets.

Videos shared to social media show families running to safety on Saturday, Oct. 15, many with young children and infants, even as others make their way toward the smoldering parking lot  perhaps in an effort to save their car, truck or SUV.

It looked like something out of a war zone, John Bessick told TV station KXXV.

The veteran was visiting the farms fall attraction when the fire began and helped others escape the area amid the chaos and explosions.

Since I have PTSD, its kind of nerve-racking, Bessick said, according to the TV station.

The fire started around 1 p.m. at Robinson Family Farm, near Temple, the farm said in a social media post warning visitors to keep away.

Firefighters from many departments in the area responded and managed to extinguish the blaze, but not before at least 73 vehicles were destroyed, KCEN reported.

Nobody was injured, the farm said.

While some were able to get in their vehicles and away from the parking lot before flames reached them, others werent as lucky.

Any guesses what Im replacing for my 30th? RIP Pixie (my truck) 2021-2022, one man wrote in a Facebook post.

We are OK!!! but my Tahoe is gone, said another. Its currently burning in a field at the pumpkin patch.

Authorities are investigating the blaze, which they believe may have been caused by a cigarette.

We are seeking information on a possible person who may have discarded a cigarette into the grassy parking area, the Bell County Fire Marshals Office said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the fire marshals office on Facebook or by dialing 254-933-5589.

The Robinson Family Farm closed for the weekend but promised to open again the following week, according to an Oct. 16 post.

We are so thankful to report that no one was harmed & that is of the most importance to us, the farm said. Thank you all for you patience as we recover from this & we cant wait to make more fall memories with you soon!

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Couple wake up to airplane wheel by their bed after deadly Cessna crash in Minnesota

Grocery bags of gasoline ignite inside car, severely burning man, Arizona police say

11-year-old accused of starting fire that destroyed a Dollar General, MD officials say
Associated Press

The extended Senate campaign in Georgia between the Democratic incumbent, Raphael Warnock, and his Republican challenger, football legend Herschel Walker, has grown increasingly bitter as their Dec. 6 runoff nears. With Democrats already assured a Senate majority, its a striking contrast from two years ago, when the state's twin runoffs were mostly about which party would control the chamber in Washington. Herschel Walker aint serious, Warnock told supporters recently in central Georgia, saying that Walker majors in lying and fumbles the basics of public policy.
ROME (AP)  Italys far-right political leadership marked the 79th anniversary of the World War II roundup of Romes Jews on Sunday with calls for such horror to never occur again, messages that took on greater significance following a national election won by a party with neo-fascist roots.

Giorgia Meloni, who is expected to head Italys first far-right-led government since the wars end, phoned the leader of Romes Jewish community, Ruth Dureghello, to commemorate the anniversary, according to a community spokesman.

Meloni said in a statement that the anniversary serves as a warning so that certain tragedies never happen again. She said all Italians bear the memory that serves to build antibodies against indifference and hatred, to continue to fight anti-Semitism in all its forms.

On the morning of Oct. 16, 1943 during the German occupation of Italy, 1,259 people were arrested from Romes Ghetto and surrounding neighborhoods and brought to a military barracks near the Vatican, bound for deportation to Auschwitz. Only 16 survived.

Meloni called it a tragic, dark and incurable day for Rome and Italy, that ended with the vile and inhuman deportation of Roman Jews at the hands of the Nazi-Fascist fury: women, men and children were snatched from life, house by house.

Melonis Brothers of Italy party won the most votes in Sept. 25 national election  about 26%  and is expected to head a government along with the right-wing League and center-right Forza Italia. Her party traces its roots to the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement, or MSI, which was founded in 1946 by the remnants of Benito Mussolinis final government in the Nazi puppet state in Salo, northern Italy. It remained a small right-wing party until the 1990s, when it became the National Alliance, which sought to distance itself from its neo-fascist origins.

Meloni, who joined the MSI as a teenager and headed the National Alliance youth branch, founded Brothers of Italy in 2012 along with another former MSI and National Alliance member, Ignazio La Russa, who was elected president of the Senate this week. La Russa has proudly shown off his Mussolini memorabilia collection and, early on in the pandemic, suggested Italians use the fascist salute rather than shake hands in a tweet that he blamed on an underling that was quickly removed.

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On Sunday, La Russa also commemorated the anniversary of the roundup, saying it was one of the darkest days of our history.

It is the duty of everyone, starting with the highest institutions, to pass on the memory so that similar tragedies will never happen again in the future. To the Jewish community, today as always, my sincere closeness, he said in a Facebook post.

Italys other political leaders also commemorated the anniversary with tweets, messages and statements. Romes mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, attended a commemoration in the Ghetto itself alongside Dureghello and other members of the Jewish community. They paused for a moment in front of a wreath outside Rome's main synagogue alongside Romes chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni.

The community launched a social media campaign #16ottobre43 with a video scrolling the names of the people killed whose only guilt was that of being Jewish.

Dureghello recalled that the anniversary marked the date in which we remember the first Nazi-Fascist deportation of the Roman Jews. Men, women and children torn from their homes and sent to die. Keeping the memory alive is a moral imperative that serves to extinguish the sirens of hatred and fanaticism.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Sunday that theyve given $420 million to help those struggling in Florida from Hurricane Ian.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

FEMA said they are providing rental assistance, hotel stays, repair assistance, reimbursement for temporary lodging and other forms of help.

They are also providing Critical Needs Assistance for residents displaced from their homes. This assistance is a one-time payment of $700 per household.

In addition, they have Disaster Survivor Assistance specialists going door-to-door in Florida neighborhoods to help individuals register for assistance.

Read: Disaster recovery centers open to help Central Florida residents after Ian

$65.4 million in low-interest disaster loans have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for homeowners, renters and business owners.

FEMA inspectors have performed over 73,000 home inspections for those who have applied for federal disaster assistance.

Those affected can visit one of 14 Disaster Recovery Centers operating, including Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Lake and Volusia counties.

Read: Second phase of Florida D-SNAP program opens Monday for Orange and Flagler County residents

For more information, visit the FEMA assistance website.

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.
Partial mobilization in Russia was announced on September 21

The Russian mobilized soldiers died just a few weeks after the announcement of partial mobilization by dictator Vladimir Putin on Sept 21.

According to the Guardian, "the first coffins are now returning to Russia from Ukraine, bringing the remains of ordinary Russians who at first were promised a quick special military operation and now have been drafted to go and fight in a war."

Western journalists believe that their deaths "may mark another inflection point for Russia in this conflict."

In particular, on Oct. 13, the Chelyabinsk region reported the death of five mobilized soldiers from a single military enlistment office. Four more people died in the Krasnoyarsk region.

Citing data from the BBCs Russian Service, the Guardian writes that another 14 people died before reaching the front for reasons including suicide, heart attacks, and being killed in fights.

The newspaper also quotes Putin, who at a press conference in Kazakhstan on Oct. 14, said that 16,000 mobilized soldiers were already fighting in Ukraine and that 222,000 Russians had already been drafted.

It is noted that some of the deaths clearly indicate that men are sent to war without proper training.

"Russias mobilization drive has been plagued by reports of neglect, unexplained deaths and suicides," the newspaper writes.

The Guardian also cites several similar examples. In particular, one man is reported to have shot himself dead during a training exercise at a military base near St. Petersburg; While a resident of Siberia cut his own throat in a mess hall.

Kremlin dictator Putin announced a "partial mobilization" after the Russian army suffered a heavy defeat in Ukraine, losing swathes of formerly occupied territory in Ukraines Kharkiv Oblast.

According to official data from the Russian Defense Ministry, the plan is to draft about 300,000 reservists. However, the part of the published decree ordering the mobilization dealing with the number of draftees is marked only for official use.

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According to Russian opposition media, the secret paragraph of the plan details the mobilization of around one million Russians for the war in Ukraine.

After the announcement, Russians began to buy tickets abroad en masse to avoid participation in their countrys full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(Twitter/ Vahid Online)

Four people inside Evin Prison in Iran have died after a fire broke out, authorities have said.

The inmates, who were held in the prison in Tehran on robbery convictions, died of smoke inhalation after the blaze was sparked on Saturday.

At least 61 people were injured, including 10 that were hospitalised  four in serious condition, the Iranian judiciarys website said on Sunday.

The fire was extinguished after several hours and no detainees escaped although a number of them had tried, the Iranian state media reported.

The blaze broke out after a fight between prisoners, it added in an apparent attempt to separate the incident from protests that have been raging across Iran  sparked by the death of a young woman in police custody.

Hundreds of people are imprisoned at Evin, where charities have reported repeated abuses of human rights.

More follows
STUTTGART, Germany  France, with its 2,000 miles of domestic coastline and over one dozen overseas territories, has long understood and invested in seapower. The countrys key budget plan, the 2019-2025 military programming law, included significant investments in the navys surface ships, submarines, and naval technologies that seek to protect Frances populations and exclusive economic zones around the globe.

The nations top naval officer, Chief of Staff Adm. Pierre Vandier, discussed a range of topics in emailed responses to Defense News ahead of the biennial Euronaval conference to be held Oct. 18-21 outside of Paris. Topics included the status of key programs of record, critical technology needs, and NATOs aspirations for the Indo-Pacific region.

Halfway through the 2019-2025 loi de programmation militaire (LPM), how would you assess the progress of the French Navy so far? What elements have been successful so far, and what are your priorities for the next several years?

The very energetic boost given by the 2019-2025 LPM has made it possible to put an end to 30 years of equipment and capability cuts and to assert a renewed ambition. This 2019-2025 LPM initiated a revival of the fleet and the preparation of future capabilities such as the third-generation SSBN ballistic missile submarine and the next-generation aircraft carrier.

The design and construction of a combat ship takes more than a decade. This requires a long-term effort, which is now beginning to bear fruit. The past year has seen some great successes in this revival to renew the Navys capabilities. The most emblematic examples are :

SSN Suffren, Frances new nuclear attack submarine, was accepted in active service on June 1, 2022. The French Navy is proud of this new submarine with its exceptional performance, which brings two major capabilities: to strike far and discreetly with cruise missiles, but also to be able to conduct a special operations underwater thanks to the dry deck shelter which allows the discreet deployment of commandos.

The FREMM air defense destroyer Alsace is first of its type and was commissioned in November 2021. This ship deployed as part of the Clemenceau 22 carrier strike group at the beginning of 2022. Lorraine , the latest FREMM, will be delivered at the end of the year. With the arrival of the fregate de defense et dintervention (FDI)  defense and intervention destroyer  very soon (the first frigate is to be launched in the fall), this renewed backbone offers the Navy technologically advanced prospects.

Efforts are also being made to protect our maritime areas overseas. The new patrol boat Auguste Benebig began its trials in July. It will arrive in New Caledonia in early 2023. The Terrieroo a Terrierooiterai has just been launched in Saint Malo, France, and will sail to Papeete, Tahiti, after her trials. This has opened up the replacement of our naval capabilities overseas.

The latest example is the batiment de ravitaillement de force (BRF), or force replenishment ships, which will give a new lease on life to the logistics fleet. The Jacques Chevallier, the first of this new class, was launched on April 29, 2022, and will begin sea trials at the end of the year. This new type of vessel will offer double the capacity to supply fuel, food and ammunition and is a major operational gain to sustainability and the ability to continue the fight at sea.

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The efforts made in recent years have made it possible to initiate the renewal of units and will continue in the coming years with the arrival of the first FDI, the continued delivery of overseas patrol vessels, the development of destroyers, etc.

Which major programs and technology investments will most profoundly shape the French Navy in the coming years? How will the new aircraft carrier, modern frigates like the FDI and FREMM, and the Barracuda nuclear attack submarine be force multipliers for the service?

In the face of the worlds upheavals, what will profoundly shape the Navy in the incoming years is the increased possibility of confrontation at sea, which poses naval combat as a working hypothesis.

Beyond the programs you mention, there is clearly a need to gain in strength, where it is intelligent and possible to do so. This is particularly the case for complex munitions for which stocks must be adapted to the more demanding and uncertain context that is emerging. While we need to make progress in the technological field, we also need to guarantee our ability to last in combat, which requires a certain degree of rusticity and in sufficient stock.

Although technological factors play a significant role in naval combat, the elements of victory are not only related to the quality and quantity of ships. As the naval officer and historian Alfred Thayer Mahan said: good sailors with bad ships are better than bad sailors with good ships. So the goal is to have good sailors appointed on good ships.

The increase in threats and the assertion of the will of our competitors means that we have to train harder. The change in the world means that we have to be prepared for the unexpected, for shocks, for breakdowns, for everything that today is considered improbable. We must therefore go beyond the basics and train ourselves to adapt, to review plans in a very short loop, to find solutions for tomorrows fight with the tools we have today.

I ask the crews to master their systems thoroughly. To know them perfectly, from the most automatic modes to degraded modes of operation, to advanced performance by going for the corners of the domain, which will allow us to gain the upper hand as well as improve our resilience by being able to cope with breakdowns, combat damage or losses.

More than just training actions, it is a matter of imprinting a state of mind that aims to develop in our sailors the genius of execution, i.e. knowing how to seize opportunities, mastering ones art, and making your own luck. It is by forging the mastery of todays fundamentals, the open-mindedness and the pugnacity of our sailors, that we will be able to transform our operational preparation into combat engineering for tomorrow.

In November 2021, the entire Navy was involved in the POLARIS exercise, which brought together the carrier strike group, 24 ships, 65 aircraft, and 6,000 military personnel, including 4,000 sailors from 6 nations, for 16 days. It was the initiating boost for a renewed approach to the Navys operational readiness  Train as you fight. It let us seek training conditions that move ever closer to the reality of combat. In 2023, a major exercise called Hemex-Orion, involving all the French services, will allow us to continue to move in this direction.

Former Defense Minister Florence Parly released Frances first seabed warfare strategy earlier this year. How does the navy plan to respond to that directive, and what new equipment and technology do you need to tackle undersea warfare?

The seabed is a discontinuous and complex environment that is hostile to man and difficult to reach. It therefore remains largely unknown.

The seabed is becoming an issue of sovereignty for several reasons: because more than 95 percent of our information flows depend on undersea cables, and because at a time when resources are increasingly scarce, the wealth of the seabed attracts covetousness and predation.

What is not monitored, is one day plundered and what is plundered is one day contested. Based on this observation, France has therefore defined a seabed strategy, which has been adapted for the Navy.

First and foremost, we need to know about this new and largely unknown environment. Less than a fifth of the topography of the seabed is accurately understood and more than three quarters of the seabed is located at depths of more than 3,000 meters, where the pressure is more than 300 times greater than atmospheric pressure.

Then we need to monitor to find out what is happening in this environment, to identify any disturbances.

Finally, we want to have an intervention capability, to be able to act in this environment. Our ambition is to be able to act at a depth of 6,000 meters. With this equipment, 97 percent of the seabed can be reached.

To achieve this ambition, we have identified with the French military procurement office, the Delegation Generale pour lArmement (DGA), an increased need for underwater drone systems. Firstly, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to understand and monitor, then remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to intervene up to 6,000 meters.

Where do you see the most promising applications for new unmanned systems (mini-drones, unmanned underwater systems, etc), artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and space applications in the navy? How is the service exploring these?

Technological innovation is one of the keys in naval combat. Indeed, technological lapses are unforgiving and very difficult to recover from. There is therefore a major challenge to develop new means, to make full use of the imagination and inventiveness of our engineers. The available technology offers great prospects that we must seize: mass data processing, predictive maintenance, directed energy weapons, et cetera.

In naval combat, the one who wins is the one who adapts the fastest. The fundamental challenge for the Navy today is therefore to accelerate in order to maintain technological superiority.

It is a question of finding capacity boosters, of finding new techniques with a strong leverage effect. Drones are a good example. The deployment of the SMDM (mini-drone system for the Navy) on patrol vessels will give a new depth of detection and identification to ships built in the 1980s. In another area, directed energy weapons offer new perspectives in many fields and more specifically in the fight against drones. It is a solution that will make it possible to deal with this low-cost, low-tech threat without firing expensive anti-aircraft missiles designed to deal with much more complex threats.

An incremental approach of regularly upgrading our systems is the way to go in all areas of naval combat. Our agility is crucial in this area.

History also shows that over-reliance on technological novelty can also lead to a dead end. It is therefore necessary to experiment at sea, to test new systems as soon as possible at sea. This allows the real added value of a new system to be quickly evaluated, and acquire feedback from the first day at sea in order to develop a doctrine of use without waiting.

France has long had a presence in the Indo-Pacific thanks to its many overseas territories in the region. But NATO and other individual allies have begun to prioritize the Indo-Pacific as well, most notably in the alliances most recent strategic concept document. How will the French navys approach to the Indo-Pacific change in response to this increased focus, and where might new partnerships be made with your allied navies in the region?

Through its overseas territories, France is an Indian and Pacific Ocean nation. 1.6 million French people live in the Indo-Pacific region. The responsibility we have to protect these populations, these territories and the areas associated with them leads us to look beyond the continental horizon of Europe.

Moreover, our economic stakes are global. Our trade is global. Following the conflict in Ukraine, our energy supply is being disrupted by the geopolitical situation. Consequently, our security is global.

In view of the current upheavals in the world, Frances strategic interests do not diminish with distance from the Hexagon [France, in reference to its outline]. Our points of attention are as close to the national territory, such as the operations to protect the arrivals and departures of our SSBNs, as they are far away, such as the surveillance of the Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). As the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron said at the ambassadors conference on Sept. 1: Never have our problems been so essentially global. Having a capacity for global action at a distance from the territory is therefore decisive in protecting our sovereignty.

I also see the importance of coalition work at sea. We must seek out in cooperation with allied navies what we do not have or do not have in sufficient numbers, in order to use alliances as a force multiplier. This means working on the interoperability of our systems at the highest level, whether within the European Union, NATO or with neighboring navies. This issue is a daily challenge in which the French Navy is fully committed alongside its partners.
A known gang member was arrested for having a gun after attempting to flee officers following a traffic stop Saturday in Merced, according to police.

Merced Police Department gang officers stopped a vehicle about 12:20 p.m. near West Childs Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way, according to a social media post by the agency.

As the vehicle pulled over, police said, a passenger got out and was holding a firearm. Carlos Sandoval, 29, of Merced, fled on foot, according to police.

During the chase, police said, Sandoval tossed away the gun and was found hiding in an empty building nearby.

Sandoval already was wanted by probation authorities and was arrested on the outstanding warrant.

In addition, he was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, gang enhancements, and resisting and obstructing a peace officer.

Sandovals bond was set at $377,000, according to jail records.

Merced police are asking anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Sgt. Jeremy Salyers at 209-388-7771 or by email at SalyersJ@CityofMerced.org.
One man is behind bars in connection with an armed robbery that happened Saturday afternoon.

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Bibb County deputies were called to a Goodwill donation booth in the parking lot of 245 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd. around 5:07 p.m.

Officials state that a man, identified as Wallace Johnny Youngblood, 46, approached the worker with a gun and demanded money.

Youngblood ran away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

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While deputies were searching the area, they saw the suspect on a bike. Deputies followed Youngblood to a Metro by T-Mobile store, where they arrested him.

Authorities found a pellet gun they believe was used in the armed robbery.

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Youngblood is currently behind bars. He is being held without bond and facing a charge of armed robbery. He also has an unrelated charge of contempt of city court.

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ANTANANARIVO, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) always adheres to the principle of "serving the people" and "strives to find all means to bring a better life for the Chinese people," former Malagasy Prime Minister Norbert Ratsirahonana has said.

There is a "total symbiosis" between the CPC and the Chinese people, he told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview.

Having made four visits to China, 83-year-old Ratsirahonana noted during his last trip in December 2019 that "the advances have been even greater," not least the increase in real estate infrastructure, the improvement of road networks and the beautification of cities.

"China's growth rate has had an impact on the daily lives of the Chinese," he said.

Thanks to the firm "political will" of the CPC, absolute poverty was eradicated in China, he said.

The CPC, he said, not only listens to the interests of the Chinese people, but also promotes the common interests of all humanity.

In today's turbulent world, China's proposal of building a community with a shared future for mankind shows that it shoulders responsibilities not only at the national level, but also at the international level.

By advancing this idea, China has shown its determination to contribute to world peace, he explained.

"China is willing to share the benefits of its growth with other countries, with other populations that are still in poverty," he said.

Ratsirahonana said China's help to Madagascar speaks to that truth.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, there have been relations of brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation between Madagascar and China, he said, citing tangible aid provided by China in such fields as health, agriculture and infrastructure.

Highlighting the technological cooperation between Madagascar and China in the field of hybrid rice, Ratsirahonana said, "such cooperation really touches the daily life of every Malagasy."

He voiced his hope that China will continue to provide support, assistance and cooperation to help Madagascar achieve food self-sufficiency in the near future.

Regarding the upcoming 20th National Congress of the CPC, Ratsirahonana said the decisions that will be taken during the meeting will affect not only the lives of the Chinese people but also the lives of other countries in the world.



Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Annalena Baerbock

She said her position was backed up by the Russian mass air and missile strikes carried out against Ukraine on Oct. 10. About half of the missiles were intercepted by air defense, "partly thanks to the weapons from Germany," she said.

Further support with air defense systems will continue, Baerbock added.

Read also: More MARS II and PzH 2000 will be delivered to Ukraine, German Defense Minister says

"Tanks, as you've mentioned, are sent through other countries as part of the so-called chain swap. Ukraine desperately needs them. Moreover, as Ukrainian troops advanced further into the eastern direction, a great number of Russian vehicles have been taken over and are now being used. So, the issue of tanks is not as urgent at the moment as the issue of air defense is," the German Foreign Minister said.

Ukraine's air defenses were given top priority at the Ramstein-format meeting of Ukraines allied on Oct. 12. Last week, Ukraine received the first of four German IRIS-T air defense systems that Berlin had promised to supply.

The other three systems are to be delivered only next year, however.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(Bloomberg) -- Germany wants to expand investment in Mongolia to help secure strategically important raw materials including copper and rare earths, according to Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The East Asian nation sandwiched between Russia and China can be a reliable partner for Germany as it seeks to diversify suppliers and guarantee access to the materials it needs in areas like battery and chip production, Scholz said Friday after talks with Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai in Berlin.

What is important now is that very concrete projects are identified where cooperation can be taken forward, Scholz told reporters at a joint news conference. Germany wants many good partners around the world as it looks to avoid placing all of its eggs in one basket, he added.

Major economies like Germany are competing fiercely for increasingly scarce resources and access to metals and rare earths is crucial for their climate and digital transitions.

Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine has also been a wake-up call for Germany, which built up a heavy reliance on imports of Russian fossil fuels in recent decades and is now seeking to diversify suppliers of the materials it needs to keep its economy running.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last month that commodities like lithium and rare earths will soon be more important than oil and gas.

She predicted that EU demand for rare earths alone -- which are used in anything from electric motors to wind turbines and portable electronics -- will increase fivefold by 2030.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell at Royal Ascot on June 22, 2000. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Ghislaine Maxwell spoke about her "dear friend" Prince Andrew in a jailhouse interview with the Mail on Sunday.

In legal documents, Andrew's lawyers previously insisted the pair are not close.

Several reports cast doubt on this, suggesting that the pair may have even dated in the past.

Ghislaine Maxwell used an affectionate term to refer to Prince Andrew in a rare jailhouse interview, potentially undermining the Duke of York's claims that the pair aren't that close.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex-trafficking girls for Jeffrey Epstein, referred to Andrew as her "dear friend," reported the outlet.

During the interview, which took place over the summer from the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York, Maxwell, 60, went on to say that Andrew is "paying such a price" for his association with Epstein.

"I care about him, and I feel so bad for him," she told the Mail on Sunday.

Last August, Virginia Giuffre sued Andrew. She said Epstein, Maxwell, and Andrew forced her to have sex with Andrew when she was 17 in Maxwell's London home. Andrew denied the allegations, later reaching an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre.

As part of her complaint, Giuffre's lawyers described Andrew as a "close friend" of Maxwell. Andrew's legal team denied this  a claim which many have cast doubt on.

Insider previously reported on a former royal police officer describing the denial as "nonsense," adding that he saw Maxwell and Andrew together at least a dozen times. They were often spotted together in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and were even rumored to have been dating.

Two sources who were interviewed for the ITV documentary, "Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile," said that Andrew and Maxwell were so close that Buckingham Palace staff believed them to be in a relationship at one point.

Andrew said in his infamous November 2019 interview with BBC Newsnight that he'd known Maxwell since her university days.

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When presented with Andrew's lawyers' claim that she and the Duke of York are not close, she told the Mail on Sunday: "I accept that this friendship could not survive my conviction."

Maxwell said that she is uncertain if their friendship will ever recover. "I don't have an expectation," she told the news outlet. "People who I have been friends with  and very close friends with  whoever they may be, well, I can't think about what they will want to do or not do. I can only control what I do."

Maxwell was also asked by the Mail on Sunday about the infamous photo showing her with Andrew and then-17-year-old Virginia Roberts  now Guiffre.

Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre, then known as Virginia Roberts, along with Ghislaine Maxwell. This photo was included in an affidavit where Giuffre claimed Prince Andrew directed her to have sex with him. Florida Southern District Court

Andrew has claimed the photo was doctored, saying that he had reason  but not proof  to believe it was not genuine. Maxwell agreed with this in the interview, despite experts saying it is legitimate, per the Mail on Sunday.

The Duke of York's publicity team declined to comment.

Read the original article on Insider
Democrats are sounding the alarm about the possibility of Republican election deniers winning statewide office in key swing states.

Some Republican gubernatorial candidates, like Kari Lake in Arizona and Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania, and secretary of state candidates like Jim Marchant in Nevada and Kristina Karamo in Michigan, have gained notoriety for casting doubt on the last presidential election, with some even suggesting they would not have certified the 2020 results.

Now Democrats and even some Republicans are worrying about the effect these candidates could have in further undermining confidence in future U.S. elections should they win office, especially as the country stares down the likelihood of another polarized presidential race in 2024.

In terms of its impact on 24, I mean, again, I think its not hyperbole to say that they could trigger a constitutional crisis, and that may simply be the  intent, is that if [Donald] Trump runs and loses, throw as much shit against the wall and see what can happen, said one GOP strategist who requested anonymity to speak candidly when asked how these candidates could impact the certification of 2024 or other elections if they were elected in November.

And it certainly sounds like in Michigan  and in Arizona and some other places, there will be willing participants in trying to force that issue.

Arizona has emerged as a particular concern, with Lake and Mark Finchem (R), running for secretary of state, either tied or ahead of their Democratic opponents in several recent polls.

I think Arizona is a good example. Its an important state. Its a state that Democrats broke through in 2020 and could win in 2024. But they could be in a situation if Lake is governor and Finchem is [the] secretary of state, that Joe Biden could get the most votes and still not get the certification he needs for the electoral vote, Democratic strategist and The Hill opinion contributor Brad Bannon said, describing a hypothetical situation where Biden ran in 2024.

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Both secretary of state candidates Finchem in Arizona and Marchant in Nevada have said they would not have certified Bidens 2020 win in their states had they been in office last cycle. Karamo, who worked as a poll watcher in Michigan during the last election, has also made dubious claims about 2020.

Data from the pro-Democracy nonprofit States United Action have shown several key findings: that a candidate that the nonprofit has categorized as an election denier will appear on the ballot for nearly half of the countrys secretary of state races. For attorney general races, that percentage stands at one-third. More than half of the gubernatorial races will also see an election denier on the ballot.

What we call election deniers are going to win this fall because theres just so many running, said Simon Rosenberg, a former adviser for the House Democrats campaign arm. I think what were talking about is so ridiculous, and borderline crazy, that its not really sustainable, in my view, for a Republican Party to continue down this path.

That appears to be true for some candidates who have been trailing their competitors since they won their primary. A Monmouth University poll released earlier this month showed that 54 percent of respondents in Pennsylvania said they would definitely or probably vote for Shapiro, compared to 38 percent who said the same for Mastriano.

But in other cases, surveys show that some of these Republican candidates are polling competitively  or even leading  their Democratic counterparts. A Fox 10-InsiderAdvantage poll released on Thursday found Lake leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hobbs, 49.3 percent to 45.6 percent. An OH Predictive Insights poll released last month found Finchem leading Democrat Adrian Fontes 40 percent to 35 percent in the Arizona secretary of state race.

Those candidates have also set off alarms among some Republicans, who have voiced their support for the Democrats in those races. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a widely known Trump critic, endorsed Fontes, Hobbs and other Democrats in contested statewide races through his leadership PAC Country First.

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who lost her primary earlier this year to Trump-backed attorney Harriet Hageman and has been another fierce opponent of the former president, said that if she lived in Arizona, she would be voting Democratic in the gubernatorial and secretary of state races.

Marchants campaign brushed off any criticism, saying in a statement, Still waiting for the story on how candidates like Cisco Aguilar dont support the most basic of election integrity measures like voter ID, which the overwhelming majority of Americans support.

Some Democrats, Republicans and other political observers suggested they thought it was unlikely the candidates, even if they win, could seriously impact the certification of the 2024 election.

Some argued there was a difference between campaigning and governing. Others suggested that there were checks and balances to stop bad actors from seriously compromising election results.

We have checks and balances in place no matter what the outcome of this years midterms is. We saw that in 2020, when responsible state officials from both sides of the aisle and the courts stood up and defended the results, Thania Sanchez, senior vice president for research and policy development at States United Action, said in a statement.

But Americans need to vote this November like our democracy is on the linebecause it is. We need officials in these positions who believe in free and fair elections.

Still, Sanchez and strategists  on both sides of the aisle  say the sentiments offered by the Republicans who have sowed doubt in the American election system and 2020 race are troubling.

The more you call into question an election without ever providing proof, or backing up your findings, the more you make people less inclined to participate in the process, said a second GOP strategist. And by the way, thats an issue, make no mistake, that damaged Republicans in the runoff in Georgia last cycle, and potentially cost us the ability to control the U.S. Senate.

That strategist argued that the baseless allegations and questioning of an election that found no major fraud  despite numerous audits and investigations in battleground states  could undermine peoples faith in elected officials, too.

Theyre kind of aftershocks of the earthquake, the GOP strategist said of the candidates. The question is, do they portend a future major earthquake again or [are] they just the remnants of the last one? Be interesting to see. I pray for the former.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NEW YORK (AP)  In Donald Trump's assessment, Mike Pence committed political suicide" on Jan. 6, 2021.

By refusing to go along with the then-president's unconstitutional push to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Pence became a leading target of Trump's wrath and a pariah in many Republican circles.

But the final weeks of this year's intensely competitive midterm elections suggest that the former vice president's fortunes have shifted as he lays the groundwork for his own potential 2024 White House campaign. The man who was booed last year at a conservative conference is now an in-demand draw for Republican candidates, including some who spent their primaries obsessively courting Trumps endorsement, in part by parroting his election lies.

Pence has traveled the country, holding events and raising millions for candidates and Republican groups, including signing fundraising solicitations for party committees.

For some campaigns in tight races, Pence is seen as something of a neutralizing agent who can help broaden their appeal beyond Trumps core base of support. That's the case in Arizona, with a critical Senate race this year and where the 2024 presidential campaign will be hotly contested. Last week, Pence endorsed Senate nominee Blake Masters, who has struggled to pivot from the primary and win over moderates in a state where one-third of voters are registered independents.

He takes a little bit of the edge off Masters with a lot of voters, veteran GOP strategist Scott Reed said. You know Masters is new to this, first-time candidate, said some silly things he probably regrets during the campaign. But now its all about undecided voters in Maricopa County. Theres not a lot more science behind this.

The endorsements can seem jarring given that Pence has spent much of the past year pushing back on Trumps election lies, which spurred the violent mob that descended on the Capitol on Jan. 6 while Pence was trying to preside over the formal congressional certification of Joe Bidens election victory. Pence and members of his family had to be rushed to safety and were held for hours in an underground loading dock as the marauders roamed the building's hallways. Some rioters chanted Hang Mike Pence! and erected a makeshift gallows outside.

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Pence agreed to endorse Masters even though Masters, during the primary, baselessly denied the 2020 election results. Masters recorded a video in which he said he thought Trump had won and claimed on his website that if we had had a free and fair election, President Trump would be sitting in the Oval Office today. Trump endorsed Masters in June, saying in a statement: Blake knows that the Crime of the Century took place, he will expose it and also, never let it happen again.

Pence made no mention of that in Phoenix on Tuesday.

What I came here to Arizona to say is not only is Blake Masters the right choice for the United States Senate, the people of Arizona deserve to know Blake Masters may be the difference between a Democrat majority in the Senate and a Republican majority in the Senate, Pence said.

The former vice president, along with Masters and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, took just three questions, two of them from conservative websites. When a television reporter noted that Masters has questioned the 2020 election, a spokesman for Masters cut him off before he could finish his question.

Masters is not the only election denier Pence has endorsed or assisted.

Two days after the Masters event, Pence was in Georgia headlining a fundraiser for Burt Jones, the nominee for lieutenant governor. Jones not only embraced Trumps claims of widespread election fraud and called for a statewide investigation into the 2020 race, but he also signed on to be one of his states fake alternate electors  a scheme now under criminal investigation.

Last month, Pence was in New Hampshire for Senate nominee Don Bolduc, a retired Army general who also spent his primary campaign telling voters the race was stolen from Trump.

Marc Short, a longtime Pence adviser, declined to set a red line for candidates Pence would and would not endorse.

Its more about making sure that hes being a team player where he needs to be," Short said. I think as a lot of these candidates look to solidify the party behind them, Pence can be helpful."

There is no evidence of any widespread fraud or manipulation of voting machines in the 2020 election, underscored by repeated audits, court cases and the conclusions of Trumps own Department of Justice. Still, support of false election claims run deep among GOP candidates this year.

The Masters endorsement notably came days after a debate in which he made headlines for seeming to have shifted from his most outrageous rigged election claims. Masters instead blamed Trump's loss on big tech, big media and the FBI, and under repeated questioning, acknowledged he hadnt seen evidence the vote count or results were manipulated, as Trump has claimed. (After the Pence visit, Masters told Fox News he stood by what he had said on his now-modified website, adding: I think if everyone followed the law, President Trump would be in the Oval Office.)

Short said Pence was happy to support candidates who had moved past 2020, as the former vice president has urged the party to do.

"If people sort of acknowledged a mistaken position before, he certainly wants to reward that, Short said. I think he wants to help conservatives first and foremost, but if people who were elected are now adopting new position about the events of Jan. 6, Short said, then thats a positive.

Jones and Bolduc have also tried to distance themselves from their previous statements.

In interviews, Jones has tried to play down the fake elector slate as a procedural move, while noting that voters rarely mention the 2020 race.

Look hes been consistent that he does not believe the 2020 election was rigged. He said that Joe Biden is president," said Jones campaign spokesman Stephen Lawson, who noted that Pence and Jones have a long-standing relationship and, like Masters, share former Pence staff.

For us, it was sort of a no-brainer because the vice president's still very well liked in Georgia, very well received. And were in that final stretch where any Republican coming to raise money, support, is a value add," he said.

I think its certainly a nod to more mainstream kind of moderate Republicans. I think thats a fair assessment," he said.

Bolduc claimed throughout the primary race that the 2020 election had been stolen. During a debate, he proclaimed that "Trump won the election, and damn it, I stand by and adding, Im not switching horses, baby.

But right after the GOP primary  and a day after appearing with Pence  he told Fox News it was time to move on. You know, we live and learn, right? And I've done a lot of research on this and I've spent the past couple of weeks talking to Granite Staters all over the state from every party. And I have come to the conclusion, and I want to be definitive on this: The election was not stolen, Bolduc said. He described Biden as "the legitimate president of this country."

(Earlier this month Bolduc changed his position again, saying he wasn't sure what happened with the election. I cant say that it was stolen or not. I dont have enough information.")

Reed, the party strategist, said he understood the rationale behind Pence's endorsements.

Hes a big picture party guy. And it doesnt surprised me that hes hustling as hard as he is for people who may not be 100% Pencers, he said. By doing these kinds of events, he added, theyre going to take another look at him if he decides to run.

Pences political future is an open question. Trump, who is widely expected to run again, remains deeply popular with Republican primary voters and would almost certainly be an early front-runner for the 2024 nomination. Pence has said his own decision about running will not be influenced by Trump, though allies often voice skepticism that Trump ultimately will end up on the ballot.

Beyond his endorsements, Pence has spent his time since leaving office performing a careful balancing act. He has distanced himself from Trump's most corrosive statements while promoting what he calls the Trump-Pence agenda. Pence, like generations of could-be candidates, has used the primaries as an opportunity to forge new relationships and build goodwill, and continues to align himself with conservative causes. His trips often include college visits and speeches before anti-abortion groups.

Other potential 2024 candidates have campaigned for the Republican cause, including Texas Sen. Ted Cuz, who is on a monthlong, 17-state Take Back America bus tour. Trump has held rallies and finally begun spending a small part of his vast political fortune to help his favored candidates.

I think he and all these guys are out there really helping the Republicans to win back the House and win back the Senate. It's an effort that everybody needs to contribute to, said David McIntosh, president of the influential Club for Growth, who has joined Pence at several events.

McIntosh, who has been at odds with Trump in recent months, said he believes the electorate is moving on" from 2020 "to whats on the ballot this election. He said candidates such as Masters "want to show that they've got support from all different types of Republicans, everyone that's out there, so there's a unity theme.

It's always been my view," he added, "that leaders like that help themselves by helping.

But being popular enough that candidates want to campaign with you is very different from being popular enough to be competitive in a presidential primary, and right now, Pence routinely polls in the single digits, far lower than Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Around here people talk about DeSantis and Trump," said Georgia GOP strategist Brian Robinson, adding that attention is largely focused on the Nov. 8 midterms.

Pence's policy group recently held a retreat in Utah at the Montage Deer Valley that was attended by GOP donors such as Matthew J. Bruderman, a New York investor who praised Pence's election-year efforts.

Hes been extremely effective and deserves credit for continuing to help elect people who he believes will help advance conservative principles," Bruderman said by email, adding that he would support him or any fiscal conservative of courage and character that wins the nomination in 2024.

Art Pope, another donor who attended the retreat, said he personally would love to see Vice President Pence run in 2024.

"Yes there are frictions and there are divisions" in the GOP, he said, but the party is uniting behind its nominees now that primaries are over.

Vice President Pence is both benefiting for that unity and helping lead that unification," he said.

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Associated Press writer Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report.

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Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ap_politics
NEW YORK (AP)  In Donald Trumps assessment, Mike Pence committed political suicide on Jan. 6, 2021.

By refusing to go along with the former presidents unconstitutional push to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Pence became a leading target of Trumps wrath and a pariah in many Republican circles.

But the final weeks of the intensely competitive 2022 election suggest the former vice presidents fortunes have shifted as he lays the groundwork for his own potential campaign for the White House in 2024.

The man who was booed last year at a conservative conference is now an in-demand surrogate for Republican candidates, including some who spent their primaries obsessively courting Trumps endorsement, in part by parroting Trump's election lies.

Pence has been traveling the country, holding events and raising millions for candidates and Republican groups, including signing fundraising solicitations for party committees.

For some campaigns in tight races, Pence is seen as something of a neutralizing agent who can help broaden their appeal beyond Trumps core base of support. That includes Arizona, with a key Senate race on Nov. 8 and what is expected to be a hotly contested stop in the 2024 presidential campaign.

Last week, Pence endorsed Senate nominee Blake Masters, who has struggled to pivot from the primary to win over moderates in a state where one-third of voters are registered independents.

He takes a little bit of the edge off Masters with a lot of voters, veteran GOP strategist Scott Reed said. You know Masters is new to this, first time candidate, said some silly things he probably regrets during the campaign."

Yet the endorsements can seem jarring given that Pence has spent much of the past year pushing back on Trumps election lies, which spurred the violent mob that descended on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, while Pence was trying to preside over the formal congressional certification of Joe Bidens presidential victory. Pence and members of his family had to be rushed to safety and held for hours in an underground loading dock as the marauders roamed the hallways, some chanting, Hang Mike Pence! and erected a makeshift gallows outside.

Story continues

Masters, during the primary, baselessly denied the 2020 results, recording a video in which he said he thought Trump had won. Masters claimed on his website that, if we had had a free and fair election, President Trump would be sitting in the Oval Office today.

Trump said when he endorsed Masters in June: Blake knows that the Crime of the Century took place, he will expose it and also, never let it happen again.

Pence made no mention of that in Phoenix on Tuesday.

What I came here to Arizona to say is not only is Blake Masters the right choice for the United States Senate, the people of Arizona deserve to know Blake Masters may be the difference between a Democrat majority in the Senate and a Republican majority in the Senate, Pence said.

Pence, along with Masters and Gov. Doug Ducey, took just three questions, two of them from conservative websites. When a television reporter noted that Masters has questioned the 2020 election, a spokesman for Masters cut him off before he could finish his question.

Masters is not the only election denier Pence has endorsed or assisted.

Two days after the Masters event, Pence was in Georgia headlining a fundraiser for Burt Jones, the nominee for lieutenant governor. Jones not only embraced Trumps claims of widespread election fraud and called for a statewide investigation into the 2020 race, but also signed on to be one of his states fake alternate electors  a scheme that is now under criminal investigation.

Last month, Pence campaigned in New Hampshire for Senate nominee Don Bolduc, a retired Army general who also spent his primary campaign telling voters the 2020 race was stolen from Trump.

Marc Short, a longtime Pence adviser, declined to set a red line for candidates Pence would and would not endorse.

Its more about making sure that hes being a team player where he needs to be, he said. I think as a lot of these candidates look to solidify the party behind them, Pence can be helpful.

There is no evidence of any widespread fraud or manipulation of voting machines in the 2020 election, underscored by repeated audits, court cases and the conclusions of Trumps own Department of Justice. Still, support of false election claims run deep among GOP candidates this year.

Short said Pence was happy to support candidates who had moved past 2020, as he has urged the party to do.

If people sort of acknowledged a mistaken position before, he certainly wants to reward that, said Short. I think he wants to help conservatives first and foremost, but if people who were elected are now adopting new position about the events of Jan. 6, he said, then thats a positive.

Reed, the Republican strategist, said he wasnt surprised by the candidates Pence had chosen to back.

Hes a big picture party guy. And it doesnt surprised me that hes hustling as hard as he is for people who may not be 100% Pencers, Reed said. By doing these kinds of events, he added, theyre going to take another look at him if he decides to run.

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Associated Press writer Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report.

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Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ap_politics
Colorado Republican Senate nominee Joe ODea on Sunday said he would actively campaign against former President Trump if Trump mounted another bid for the White House.

ODea has previously indicated he does not want Trump to run in 2024, and during an appearance on CNNs State of the Union with co-anchor Dana Bash, the GOP nominee said he would look to support other rumored Republican candidates.

I dont think Donald Trump should run again, ODea said on Sunday.

Im going to actively campaign against Donald Trump and make sure that weve got four or five really great Republicans right now, he continued, referencing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.).

DeSantis, Haley and Scott are all seen as potential 2024 GOP contenders, although polling indicates Trump will likely cruise to the nomination if he runs.

They can run and serve for eight years, ODea said of the non-Trump candidates. Im going to do my job as a U.S. senator to make sure that they have good campaigns in the primary here so we have a good selection of candidates for 2024.

ODea has branded himself as a moderate in his challenge to incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), at times breaking with Trump, a stark difference from the many battleground GOP Senate candidates who gained their nominations after being endorsed by the former president.

I believe that Jan. 6 was a black eye on the country, ODea told Bash. Ive been very vocal that I thought he [Trump] should have done more to keep the violence from heading towards the Capitol. Anybody that was violent at the Capitol or tore something apart, they should be held accountable.

Polling shows ODea is facing an uphill battle in his campaign.

A Marist survey released Tuesday found that Bennet had a 7-point lead among registered Colorado voters, and virtually all other polls have shown Bennet with at least a slight lead.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as lean Democrat.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In the 4+ years since my 7-year-old granddaughter Kayden was brutally beaten to death by her biological father during an unsupervised visitation, hundreds more children have been harmed or killed in domestic violence cases involved in the family court system throughout our country.

Yesterday, Oct. 15, was Kaydens birthday; she would be 12 years old. October is now Domestic Violence Awareness Month; November is Family Court Awareness Month.

Lets review where progress has been made to help prevent further risk of harm and death of our children caught up in the family court system here in Pennsylvania.

Shown here in 2017, Kayden Mancuso, of Lower Makefield, attends a community Memorial Day Parade. [ARCHIVE PHOTO]

Kaydens Law was passed in the Pennsylvania Senate in June of 2021 by a vote of 46-4. More than a year later, the bill is still under consideration in the House. Kaydens Law at the federal level was added as an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) formally signed into law in March of this year. Kaydens mother, Kathryn Sherlock, was recognized and honored at the Presidential reception in Washington D.C. for her efforts to promote a federal response to this crisis.

This federal law will provide millions of dollars to each state that establishes a similar measure of its own. Money that can be used to fund a supervised visitation program to protect our children. Money that can be used to help provide orientation and training for family court judges and staff, especially those who are new to the court. Kaydens Law makes sure that every child involved in the family court system is protected; the childs safety and indeed their life should always be the highest priority.

Parental rights, giving each parent 50/50 contact with their children is not always the fair and right goal to achieve. When one parent (or even both) is proven to be violent and/or abusive (even if not directed toward the child) consideration must be given to protecting the child above all else. Violent behavior by any individual is a real threat.

Kaydens father was supposedly considered to be no threat to Kayden even though he was violent toward Kathy and his own mother. Not to mention his altercations with other people outside the family (bar fights, physical injuries). The evidence of violent behavior was well established; the psychological examinations recommended mental health treatment and yet he was still awarded unsupervised visitation. One representative of family court explained that the man just went off. Thats true. He did just that on that fateful weekend of Aug. 4-6, 2018.

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Did no one see it coming? All the evidence indicating his violent behavior, his manic-depressive personality, was well established. Kayden would still be with us if someone, anyone, had recognized it and taken the steps to ensure Kaydens safety.

Instead, unsupervised visitation was the judges decision and Kayden is gone forever. Pennsylvania must pass Kaydens Law. How many more children will we sacrifice before the family court system makes the changes necessary to ensure every child is protected? November is Family Court Awareness Month, lets get it done.

Tom Giglio is the maternal grandfather of Kayden Mancuso and an advocate with Kayden's Korner in Yardley.

This article originally appeared on The Intelligencer: Op-Ed: As another birthday comes and goes, Kayden's Law languishes
The Haverhill school system and its teachers were unable to reach a resolution to their contract dispute after seven hours of negotiating Saturday. Its an outcome that inched the two sides closer to a proposed strike on Monday.

Both the Haverhill teachers unions, the Haverhill Education Association, and Maldens teacher union, the Malden Education Association, agreed to strike on Friday after failed contract negotiations with their respective districts.

According to a jointly released between the two unions, Haverhill Educators are fighting for desires such as more reasonable schedules, smaller class sizes and better compensation.

@HaverhillEd

Educators in Malden and Haverhill Authorize Strike



Two unions say districts are failing to meet students needs

1/9 pic.twitter.com/0U9zvWbZR2  Malden Edu. Assoc. (@MaldenEduAssoc) October 15, 2022

According to the Haverhill Teachers Negotiating Subcommittee, the Haverhill teachers union would not settle for financial compensation that was less than double than that of what Boston teachers are paid.

We are truly disappointed with the unions seeming disinterest in serious negotiations. Their total rejection of our unprecedented financial offer shows that the union leadership is only interested in walking off the job, despite the order from the state Department of Labor Relations to cease and desist from striking or threatening to strike, said Haverhill School Committee member Christian Wood in a statement.

In a statement on Facebook, the Haverhill Education Association threw the blame at the feet of Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini.

To be completely transparent, this is entirely THE FAULT OF THE MAYOR OF HAVERHILL. In our observations, the School Committee team is just as frustrated as we are with his unwillingness to budge and provide us with the compensation we deserve, the union stated on its Facebook page.

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From the bargaining team: NOTHING!! A 7 hour bargaining session--through a mediator that the HEA and MTA solicited--... Posted by Haverhill Education Association on Saturday, October 15, 2022

The Haverhill Public School Facebook page stated that the two sides are set to resume negotiations on Sunday and a decision would be made regarding Mondays school schedule tomorrow.

The Malden Education Association was also not able to reach an agreement with their school system. The union stated on their Facebook page that the next negotiating session was set for Sunday at 9:00 a.m. at Malden City Hall.

NEXT BARGAINING SESSION: -Sunday, October 16 -9:00AM -Malden City Hall Posted by Malden Education Association on Saturday, October 15, 2022

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Oct. 16Dedrick Parson rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns and Timmy Chang earned his first win as Hawaii head coach against a FBS opponent with a 31-16 victory over his old team, Nevada, tonight at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex.

Brayden Schager threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Zion Bowens and Hawaii's defense played well for the second week in a row to improve to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in Mountain West Conference play.

John Tuitupou's strip-sack of Nevada quarterback Nate Cox was recovered by Kolby Wyatt with 4 :10 remaining to put the game away.

After giving up at least 45 points in its first four games against FBS opponents, Hawaii has held its first two conference foes to 16 points each.

Nevada running back Toa Taua was held to 23 rushing yards on 12 carries and Nevada finished with only 89 yards on the ground in 28 attempts.

Tylan Hines added 70 rushing yards on 12 carries for UH, which featured a heavy diet of runs in the second half to tally 223 yards in the game on the ground.

Parson scored on touchdown runs of 1, 9 and 2 yards as Hawaii never trailed in the game. Matthew Shipley put the final touches on the win with a 27-yard field goal with 1 :37 to go.

Cox finished 22-for-37 for 188 yards for Nevada and ended up as its leading rusher with 52 yards on six carries.

Up next for Hawaii is a road game at Colorado State next Saturday.
From storybook towns to otherworldly landscapes, the Central Apennines is one the most underrated destinations in Italy.

Rachel Chang

Sitting on the gentle slope of the hill above the town of Barrea, Italy, I took in the ethereal view of the golden sunrise piercing through the clouds, casting a soft glow on the mountains above the creamy blue waters of Lago di Barrea and the red roofs adorning every home. But above all else, one thing stood out: the quiet.



Located less than a two-hour drive east of Rome, Barrea is just one of 25 charming towns in the 123,000-acre National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise in the Apennines Mountains, a range running through the length of the Italian mainland. Despite the crowded sites in the capital of Italy, about 100 miles away, this region  the central Appenines  is far less trafficked, to the extent that most Italians I talked to throughout my travels couldn't believe a foreigner was visiting.



The national park  the second oldest in the country, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year  is a natural paradise, primed for hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, and, most importantly, wildlife spotting. After all, this region is known as the "wild heart of Italy" because of its tremendous biodiversity, with golden eagle, deer, otter, chamois, and Apennine wolf, mingling with its most cherished endemic creature, the Marsican brown bear.



Courtesy of Exodus Travels

It was precisely the pursuit of this species, currently classified as "critically endangered," that brought me to the area on Exodus Travels' Rewilding the Apennines trip. The itinerary was designed to introduce travelers to both the region through visits to provincial towns, like Pescasseroli (the birthplace of philosopher Benedetto Croce) and Pettorano Sul Gizio (flanked by the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Regional Nature Reserve, a corridor connected to the national park), and to the conscious efforts made by locals working to preserve the area's fauna.



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"The Italian wilderness is different," Exodus local leader Umberto Esposito, who has written and photographed hiking guides for the region, told Travel + Leisure. "It still holds memories of layers of human history, both evident and concealed, among untamed mountain ranges. And that provides an incomparable example of balance and harmony." The result, he added, is a "richer and thicker" landscape, which provides coexistence between humans and wildlife in an unmatched way.

Among the activities on the trip are visits to the Bear Smart Communities to see how that bear-to-human relationship is fostered to increase the current count of about 50 bears, as well as a hike to an overnight stay at the isolated Mountain Refuge Bisegna, with a bit of wildlife tracking while en route.



But the true delight comes from organic experiences that arise along the way. During our visit to the cobblestone-lined town of Pettorano Sul Gizio, we met with RA Art Projects' Eugenio Vitto Massei, who invited us into his family's ancestral home, packed with relics and photos for a peek into the Apennines lifestyle. While there, we climbed a steep mountainside to participate in the rewilding efforts, helping remove hundreds of feet of barbed wire while taking in another breathtaking view of the region with a river winding through the village.



Rachel Chang

During the hike to the mountain refuge, our leader Andrea De Angelis  who innately knew every inch of the trail from his dozens of trips there  veered us off course to a sprawling valley, where he recounted stories of the animals he'd seen in the area. The passion in his eyes grew as he told us of the time he saw a herd of wild boars at the bottom of the valley, and when he and his travel companions saw three wolves peaking over the ridge.



"Peering down at us confidently and staying there like kings for more than an hour made an impressive view," he said. "But there was some more still to come. Next to the mountain pass, two unmistakable shapes perched on a white limestone cliff made such a sight. A golden eagle pair, resting for some time on the ridge and sharing the same scenery with the wolves and, of course, with the most delighted humans."



While the animal kingdom didn't reveal itself the day we were there, it still struck me how vast the landscape was  and how it entirely belonged to the animals.



Even without seeing the bears in their natural habitat, it was still clear this was their land. But it was also apparent they needed our help. During our journey to remove the barbed wire, we came across tufts of bear fur, proving the rewilding work to be critical.



And, beyond drinking in the stunning views, I learned to appreciate the fact that taking a trip far off the trodden routes of a popular destination can not only help alleviate the impact of overtourism, but can also open our minds to the magic of the places that don't get the marquee treatment.



Rachel Chang

"Rome still makes an unmatched case of both landscape and architecture excellence  nevertheless, to fully understand the city's essence and history, any demanding traveler should take their time to visit the geographic context of the mountains," Esposito said.

As Esposito added, the quick trip from the city center takes you "amid old-growth forests landscapes, majestic mountain ranges still roamed by brown bears and wolves, making for one of the most incredibly exciting traveling experiences in Europe."



The six-night Rewilding the Apennines tour, starting at $3,199 per person, will be offered in May and September 2023. For more information and to book, visit exodustravels.com.



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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
(Reuters) - Honeywell International Inc on Sunday lifted its outlook for business jet deliveries, as the COVID-19 pandemic brought in a wave of first-time users and buyers in the private flying market.

Honeywell forecast up to 8,500 new business jet deliveries worth $274 billion from 2023 to 2032, up 15% from last year's outlook, while the usage in 2022 is expected to climb 9% higher.

Private flying demand boomed during the pandemic as wealthier passengers opted for charter planes due to concerns about exposure to the virus.

Passengers who used to fly first class on a commercial airline have now increasingly switched to private flying. Honeywell's survey showed nearly 74% of new users expect to keep the same level of flying in 2023 as they did in 2022.

Business turboprops and small cabin jets each make up 35% of the fleet carrying these new users, followed by medium jets and large long-range jets, the company said, citing its survey.

"Demand for new business jets is as high as we've seen it since 2015, and we expect high levels of demand and expenditures for new aircraft for several more years," said Heath Patrick, Honeywell Aerospace president, Americas aftermarket.

Surveyed operators reported new jet purchase plans on par with 2019 levels, benefiting major players operating in the business aircraft market such as Airbus SE, Boeing Co, Bombardier Inc and General Dynamics Corp.

In August, Bombardier Chief Executive Eric Matel flagged a heavy trend in the fleet operating business, as not all customers are owning a jet.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
(Bloomberg) -- Representative Steve Scalise, the number two House Republican, defended his partys approach to Medicare and Social Security, which has become a campaign issue ahead of US midterm elections in November.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Its a mis-characterization to say the GOP plans to cut the programs, Scalise said on Fox News Sunday.

That is not something we have proposed, he said. We have proposed strengthening and shoring up Medicare and Social Security.

He noted that under current law, the trust funds of both programs will become insolvent and be forced to cut benefits. Medicare faces insolvency in 2028 and Social Security in 2035 according to the trustees of the programs.

Scalise is a member of largest House GOP caucus, the Republican Study Committee, which has proposed changes that would result in lower benefits for some future recipients. Scalises office said in an email he hasnt specifically signed on to the RSC plan, however. His office pointed to the GOPs Commitment to America, supported by the entire Republican caucus, which says only that the party plans to save and strengthen Social Security and Medicare.

To avoid insolvency in the programs, spending would need to be cut, revenue raised or some combination of the two.

The RSC proposal would gradually raise the eligibility ages for both programs and slow the growth of benefits for higher earners in Social Security. Medicare would transition to a new model where seniors would receive premium subsidies to buy a government run public option or privately run insurance.

Some Democrats have proposed raising payroll taxes on the wealthy to address the insolvency threat, without making eligibility or benefit growth changes.

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In interviews with Bloomberg Government this month, leading Republicans said they are considering leveraging the need to raise the US debt ceiling next year to demand changes to Medicare and Social Security solvency.

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders renewed the Democrats line of attack on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday.

Are you going to support a party that wants to give more tax breaks to the rich, cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid, or are you going to support people prepared to stand up for working people? the Vermont senator said.

Now Im not here to tell you that the Democrats are perfect -- believe me, they are not, he said. But on virtually all of the issues including climate change, the choice is pretty clear.

(Updates with comment from Scalises office in fifth paragraph.)

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2022 Bloomberg L.P.
"Can I tell you something? My dad is in jail."

According to human rights scholar-activist Dr. Angeles Maldonado, that's what Akemi, 8, told her while she was conducting interviews with children from various schools and pro-immigrant organizations in Phoenix as part of a university project on the impact of immigration laws.

Akemi's testimony impacted Maldonado, and after finding out more about the little girl's family situation she realized that the girl's father was not incarcerated, but was being held in an immigration detention center.

When I found out about the situation, I felt the need to explain to the girl that her father did nothing wrong, Maldonado, who works as an office administrator for the Ybarra Maldonado Law Group in Phoenix, said. (Children) are taught that if you go to jail it is because you did something bad. In this case, they (detained Akemi's dad) just because he was undocumented and that confuses (children) a lot."

The first thing that occurred to her was to look for books that would help these children understand immigration laws and understand more about the subject, but it was very difficult for her to find them.

There are many books on immigration, but it is difficult to find bibliographical material on immigration that is aimed at children. Books that are digestible and easy to understand for them just aren't there, she said.

Backed by her experience writing for some media outlets, Maldonado had the idea of creating something that would contribute to this cause. She thought of writing a book that would give these children a message of encouragement and hope. That's how "Where is Daddy?" was born.

Dr. Angeles Maldonado flips through the pages of the children's book she authored, titled "Where is Daddy" on Oct. 1, 2022, in Phoenix. The book is illustrated by Edward Dennis.

The 42-page book is eye-catching for children, with a full-color cover featuring an illustration of a girl walking hand-in-hand with her parents. It is also easy to read, with a format similar to that of a children's story. The illustrations were done by local artist Edward Deniss.

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In the book, a little girl  whose story is based on Akemi's testimony  shares how sad she felt because her dad couldn't be present on her birthday. She says that sometimes he calls her on the phone, that sometimes she visits him in a detention center in Eloy and talks about her experience participating in immigration protests in Phoenix.

From Guanajuato, Mexico, to Phoenix, Arizona

Maldonado was born in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, Mexico, and was brought by her parents to Phoenix when she was 8 years old.

Maria Maldonado, Angeles Maldonado's mother, said that from a very young age her daughter showed leadership, from her home to the community.

"She was the one who organized her sisters to do their homework, she was the one who organized the parties. She has always distinguished herself by having the initiative and making her own decisions," Maria Maldonado said.

She grew up near 20th Avenue and Indian School Road. She studied at Central High School while her father worked as a bartender at a nightclub and her mother cleaned homes.

That is why I always identified a lot with the immigration issue. My parents were always very hardworking ... and did everything possible to give me studies and move the family forward, said Maldonado.

Dr. Angeles Maldonado, author of "Where is Daddy?" poses for a portrait at her home on Oct. 1, 2022, in Phoenix.

She earned her bachelor's degree in justice studies from Arizona State University, as well as a master's in public administration and a doctorate in education.

As a human being, she is a very noble person, and if someone asks her for help, she is always ready to help," her mother said.

Another of the qualities that Maria sees in her daughter is the dedication she always put into her studies, distinguishing herself from her because of her intelligence.

"She was always a very studious girl, very intelligent. During the two years she did in Mexico she got first places, and at school here in Arizona she made pure 'A's.' I am very proud of her," said Maria Maldonado.

Maldonado is now the CEO of Ybarra Maldonado Law Group, a Phoenix-based firm that serves Spanish-speaking communities dealing with criminal and immigration cases.

She is also the founder and executive director of The Border Crit Institute, a nonprofit also based in Phoenix "whose mission is to foreground the voices and experiences of people of color living in the borderlands (through social justice education and pedagogy, borderland research, and the publication of counter-narratives of resistance)," Maldonado's site reads.

Dr. Angeles Maldonado flips through the pages of the children's book she authored, illustrated by Edward Dennis, and titled "Where is Daddy" on Oct. 1, 2022, in Phoenix. The book is based on a true story and highlights the impact of immigration laws on young children.

The book "Where's Daddy?" can be ordered through The Border Crit Institute website, or you can go directly to www.dondeestapapi.com where it is available for Kindle download.

Maldonado said she is in talks with a publisher to be able to print it cheaply, and make it easier to market.

Janet Rocha has known Maldonado since 2017 and said she is a person who cares about helping others.

She is passionate about organizing within the community, said Rocha, who works with her at the law firm. She always finds a way to say 'yes' to help the community, whether it's at protests, events or community service."

Rocha was present in some of the interviews that Maldonado conducted with children as part of the work behind "Where is Daddy?" The work that Maldonado did in order to make that book a reality resonates deeply with Rocha.

"My ex-husband and I had to go through a deportation process, we had a 3-month-old girl, (my ex-husband) was deported and did not return to the U.S. until she was 2-years-old," Rocha shared. (My daughter) does not remember that separation, but she has read the book and is moved without knowing that she experienced something similar. The book opened the door for her to ask questions and understand the situation she went through, and that is something that happens to many children."

Storytelling through art: Phoenix woman brings awareness to issues affecting undocumented people

More than a book, a resource

"What would you do if you were President of the United States?" was another of the questions that Maldonado asked those children during the interview rounds.

While some responded that they would build a large chocolate fountain or build more amusement parks, Akemi replied that she would knock the border down with sticks, as if it were a pinata.

"These are very innocent responses, but in a certain way they reflect the frustration they feel due to the absence of their loved one, and with this book, I seek to contribute a little relief to the bad situation they are going through," Maldonado said.

According to a report by the American Immigration Council, a total of 4.4 million American children under the age of 18 lived with at least one undocumented parent in 2018. In addition, half a million U.S. citizen children had at least one parent deported between 2011 and 2013.

Many affected children find themselves questioning their identity, their sense of security, their capacity for action and their belonging. This experience of crossing geographical and cultural borders is the impetus for writing this book, Maldonado said. Create a story that resonates with the lived reality of immigrant children and offer words of encouragement and hope.

Dr. Angeles Maldonado flips through the pages of the children's book she authored, titled "Where is Daddy" on Oct. 1, 2022, in Phoenix. The book uses a mixture of Spanish and English.

Maldonado said that many of the quotes attributed to the main character are actual quotes from young children living in Arizona.

While Arizona has a long history of anti-immigrant rhetoric, especially while former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was in office and the controversial "show me your papers" law SB 1070 was implemented in 2010, Maldonado said that the issues many immigrant and Latino families face continue to be a serious problem.

When we were under the Trump Administration, even under Joe Arpaio, everything was more public. But today the problem continues. Latino families continue to be victims of discrimination in housing, at work and in many other areas, Maldonado said. We continue to see families that are being separated. It is a reality. We must move forward to try to alleviate the situation or help families who are going through this.

Her firm and nonprofit aim to help the community by providing legal and education resources. In order to meet community need, she has also collaborated with several local organizations such as Chicanos Por La Causa, The American Civil Liberties Union and La Union del Pueblo Entero.

Immigration resources

Freedom For Immigrants, a nonprofit organization that protects the rights of people detained in immigration centers, has useful resources on its website for people facing deportation proceedings.

Since 2010, Immigration and Customs Enforcement opened an ICE Detainee Locator on its website that allows people to locate people who are detained by the agency. They also have a family support line where those interested can call 209-757-3733. Website: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/

The Executive Office for Immigration Review has created a toll-free phone number 1-800-898-7180 for immigration courts where individuals can receive information about their cases through an automated system 24/7.

The U.S. Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review maintains a list of free legal service providers by state: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers

If you choose not to use one of the resources listed above to find an immigration attorney, check out the USCIS website and read about how to avoid scams: https://www.uscis.gov/es/fraude-estafas-y-fallas-en-el-desempeno/evite-las-estafas-de-inmigracion

For more information, those interested can visit the Freedom for Immigrants website: https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/

Reach La Voz reporter and editor Javier Arce at javier.arce@lavozarizona.com or on Twitter @javierarce33.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix activist Angeles Maldonado helps kids understand deportation
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP)  Dae Dae Hunter's fourth-quarter touchdown run from a yard out lifted Liberty to a 21-20 win over Gardner-Webb in a non-conference game on Saturday.

Liberty earned its sixth win of the season and fourth straight following a 37-36 loss to No. 19 Wake Forest.

Shedro Louis scored on a short run early in the second quarter to put Liberty up 14-7, but the Bulldogs rallied behind two Jay Billingsley field goals, the longest from 41 yards out, and Bailey Fisher's 10-yard touchdown strike to T.J. Luther to take a 20-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Hunter's score capped a 10-play, 67-yard drive by the Flames

Fisher was 23 of 43 for 239 yards and a touchdown but was picked off twice. T.J. Luther had eight catches for 131 yards for Gardner-Webb (2-5), his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season. Narii Gaither 21 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown.

Johnathan Bennett was 17 of 30 for 222 yards and a touchdown, but threw two interceptions. Hunter finished with 76 yards on nine carries for Liberty (6-10).

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Democrat Thomas McDermott tried to spark his underdog challenge to Indiana Republican U.S. Sen. Todd Young on Sunday by attacking his positions on issues spanning abortion, federal spending and marijuana legalization.

Young responded with criticism of President Joe Biden and the Democratic-controlled Congress for sparking higher inflation and gasoline prices as the candidates faced each other during their only scheduled televised debate ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

McDermott, who is the mayor of Hammond, and other Democrats have campaigned heavily on protection of abortion rights in the wake of Indianas Republican-dominated Legislature voting over the summer to make it the first state to enact an abortion ban after the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated federal abortion protections by overturning Roe v. Wade in June.

McDermott has called for a federal law reinstating abortion rights and criticized Young for voting to confirm three conservative Supreme Court justices nominated by former President Donald Trump who helped form the courts majority in the abortion ruling.

He gerrymandered the Supreme Court so that Roe vs Wade was overturned, McDermott said.

Young said he believed that state Legislatures should decide what abortion policies should be and that what he called a conversation in all 50 states should continue.

I do accept exceptions and Ill accept whatever the people of Indiana decide, Young said.

The Indiana ban, which state courts have blocked following a lawsuit filed by abortion clinic operators included exceptions allowing abortions in cases of rape and incest, before 10 weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and physical health of the mother; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly.

Libertarian candidate James Sceniak said politicians should not act as physicians and called, instead, for working to reduce the number of abortions not through bans but by looking for ways to help pregnant women and making contraception more easily available.

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Young, who is s eeking a second six-year Senate term has followed a front-runner strategy of mostly ignoring McDermott, who has been Hammonds mayor since 2004 but is little known outside northwestern Indiana. Sundays debate, which was organized by the nonprofit Indiana Debate Commission and broadcast on several TV stations around the state, will likely be their only face-to-face meeting.

Despite Democrats and Republicans fiercely fighting for control of the current 50-50 Senate, Indianas Senate race hasnt seen the tens of millions in outside spending that it attracted four years ago when Republican Mike Braun defeated Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly and in 2016 when Young won the Senate seat over former Democratic U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh.

McDermott assailed Young for numerous votes to increase federal spending during his six years as a senator and previous six years in the U.S. House and then trying to blame the Biden administration for the worldwide problems with inflation.

He wants us to believe that Joe Biden is responsible for 100% the nations problems right now and he shares responsibility for that, McDermott said. Senator Youngs been in office for 12 years and he needs to take responsibility for the spending that hes created.

Young countered that the economy was improving before Biden and congressional Democrats pushed through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan earlier this year.

Unfortunately, the first thing they did in the office is rush through a stimulus bill, Young said. This is the last thing you want to do a stimulus bill which led to all manner of inflation.

Young defended his push in the Senate for providing billions in federal money to encourage more semiconductor companies to build chip plants in the United States, saying it was needed in the face of an ambitious China.

McDermott, a lawyer and U.S. Navy veteran, also advocated for federal marijuana legalization as the drug remains illegal for all uses in Indiana.

McDermott called Indianas law an ancient policy retained by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb and GOP legislative leaders that threatens people who legally buy recreational marijuana in Michigan or Illinois with jail once they enter the state.

Young said marijuana legalization would probably be a third-tier priority for him, citing inflation, national security and crime among those needing more attention first, while saying he would work with states that enact their own marijuana laws.
Photo: Pixabay

I just feel like if I stop pushing this boulder uphill for a second, its going to start rolling back downhill again. Maybe even run me over.

There is a delicate balance to sharing with strangers on the Internet. This comment was entirely too honest for comfort.

The addressed group was an online writing community, and a good one. Some online creative groups are merely thinly veiled self-promotion machines. This group celebrated each others accomplishments, gave feedback (when invited to), and twice a week wrote together (separately) over video in silenceexcept for the occasional rustle of paper or laptop keys tapping in the background. Occasionally we aired our (uncomfortably honest) frustrations and disappointments with our creative endeavours, and the success (or lack thereof) we found in them.

I just wrote a great piece for a local magazine, the man who uttered the above comment continued. For a few days, I had a big increase in traffic to my website, even a few signups to my newsletter. But a week later, those same traffic numbers were down, the lowest theyve been in over a year.

I mean, does any of this have any momentum if I stop pushing, if Im not constantly selling myself?

There were a lot of murmurs of agreement. That one hit close to home.

It would be one thing if our entire collection of writers were simply novices, lacking the necessary experience, skill and discipline to create something worth reading. But this was a talented group, littered with notable accomplishments.

Many of them have written articles regularly picked up by well-known websites and print magazines. A few wrote novels distributed and produced by respected publishers. A handful were creators of top ranked podcasts. At least one quit their day job to pursue writing and creating full-time (and though they might be hungry or even malnourished, insisted they were not starving). Many received various awards that all said, in essence: Its good. Keep going.

By many metrics, many of them were successful writers. But these success stories didnt feel very successful at that particular moment.

A week later, another successful artist posted online about a recent windfall.

I just hosted a book signing and meet-and-greet at the largest bookstore in downtown Vancouver, on a Saturday. My publisher was so excited. I was so excited I was there for four hours. I sold three books. What am I doing wrong?

Even the greatest writers of our time dont seem immune to this disappointment. In her seminal book on writing Bird By Bird, Anne Lamott reveals that after her first book was published, she disappointedly realized that it seemed that I was not in fact going to be taking early retirement.

She explains similar expectations for fame and fortune would be repeated and dashed with the publishing of many of her subsequent books.

That disappointment is hardly the sole possession of writers. Some form of what am I doing wrong? has likely been asked by every single person in all fields of creative work, especially after some encouraging success. We all look for the momentum to build. We all check our website traffic or total downloads too often. We all hope for that viral post, that golden opportunity, that windfall. We all prepare for the fanfare and fame. We all secretly dream of early retirement.

We all want to be successful artists, but with each new and fleeting success, our frustration and disillusionment grows. Maybe weve been measuring our success all wrong. Maybe we need a new vision for what the work even is.

One of my favourite written works, Poem of the Woodcarver (a Taoist tale, usually attributed to Chuang Zu) addresses the complex relationship between creativity and creation, pride and prosperity, work and wonder.

Khing, the master carver, made a bell stand of precious wood.

When it was finished, all who saw it were astounded.

They said, it must be the work of spirits.

The prince of Lu said to the master carver:

What is your secret?

Khing replied: I am only a workman: I have no secret.

There is only this:

When I began to think about the work you commanded I guarded my spirit, did not expend it on trifles, that were not to the point.

I fasted in order to set my heart at rest.

After three days of fasting, I had forgotten gain or success.

After five days, I had forgotten praise or criticism.

After seven days, I had forgotten my body with all its limbs.

By this time all thought of your Highness and of the court had faded away.

All that might distract me from the work had vanished.

I was collected in the single thought of the bell stand.

Then I went to the forest to see the trees in their own natural state.

When the right tree appeared before my eyes the bell stand also appeared in it, clearly, beyond doubt.

All I had to do was put forth my hand and begin.

If I had not met this particular tree, there would have been no bell stand at all.

What happened?

My own collected thought encountered the hidden potential in the wood;

From this live encounter came the work which you ascribe to the spirits.

The Poem of the Woodcarver does not fix or address any of the (legitimate) disappointments of my writing group, or my own. Understanding the concepts in this poem will not increase readership, will not procure book deals, will not increase website traffic or newsletter sign ups. It will not sell more books at book signings.

All of those concerns and hopes are understandable, but they are also secondary, illusionary or even distracting. The Poem of the Woodcarver is a tale of singular focus. That is what both infuriates and intrigues me. I want to know how to see the bell stand within the tree and be paid and praised for it! I want to write the work that is true and transcendent and increase my web traffic and downloads.

I want to write the novel, and get the publishing deal. These things are deeply entangled, but are not at all the same. The master carver needed to forget about success, esteem and even his own self for a time.

There is a reason he fasts and does not enter the forest for seven days. It takes a long time to let go of the wrong metrics.

Fortunately, the poem offers us some much better metrics as well, even if they are more exacting. It reminds us that there is some deep work of infinite value that has nothing to do with the summons of royalty or the court (success), nothing to do with praise or criticism (self worth) or even our own self (ego).

It reminds us that there are some works of art so sublime that they are both timely and timeless, natural and otherworldly.

If we have to choose only one singular focus, its clear that the work is ultimately its own reward, and that of incomparable value.

Just after Anne Lamott warns the reader of the pitfalls of publishing, she says publication is not all that it is cracked up to be. But writing is. Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises.

This is the work we get to be about. The live encounter at the intersection of our preparedness and lifes wild, hidden potential. A chance to reveal the staggering beauty hidden in plain sight. Something ascribed to the work of spirits.

Now thats something worth striving for.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
A building in Bila Tserkva, southwest of Kyiv, destroyed in a Russian strike with what local officials said were Iranian-made drones, on October 5, 2022. SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Iran is set to increase its supply of arms to Russia, the Washington Post reports.

Iran is to send attack drones as well as new Iranian-made surface-to-surface missiles.

Earlier this week, Zelenskyy said Russia used drones from Iran in a barrage across Ukraine.

Iran is set to add new missiles to its supply of arms to Russia to aid its attempt to ramp up its attacks on Ukraine, according to the US and allied security officials, The Washington Post reports.

The Post reports that officials in Iran have agreed to send new surface-to-surface missiles and more attack drones to deploy against Ukraine's troops and cities.

Speaking anonymously, US officials told the Washington Post that a recent intelligence assessment said that Iran is preparing its first shipment of two powerful short-range ballistic missiles, Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar missiles, capable of reaching targets 186 and 435 miles away.

Russia has used up or lost a huge quantity of military equipment during the fighting in Ukraine, which began with its invasion on February 24. Its supply of precision-guided missiles is dwindling, according to the Post.

Ukrainian military officials and experts have confirmed that the Russian military is firing Iranian-made "kamikaze or suicide drones." The new shipments will include more of these drones and new types of drones, the Post reports.

A view of a drone during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on August 24, 2022 Iranian Army/WANA handout via Reuters

Earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia used a mixture of Shahed-series "suicide drones" from Iran and home-built missiles in a wave of strikes targeting Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities, Insider's Mia Janckowicz reports.

Russia has ordered more than 2,400 Shahed-136 drones from Iran, said Zelenskyy, reported CNN. The Shahed drone is light and quick and carries a payload of around 5-30 kg.

Ukrainian officials have said that Iran supplied the majority of drones deployed by Russia in southern Ukraine, The Post said.

Iran has denied supplying Russia with weapons. Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said in a readout call with his Portuguese counterpart, "the Islamic Republic of Iran has not and will not provide any weapon to be used in the war in Ukraine. We believe that the arming of each side of the crisis will prolong the war."

US officials said earlier this month that Russia's hunt for weapons in countries like Iran and North Korea is a sign that things are going poorly on the battlefield and that Russian President Vladimir Putin is becoming increasingly desperate, Insider's Jake Epstein reports.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Iranian Fateh-110 surface-to-surface missile

According to the newspaper, on Sept. 18, Tehran sent officials to Russia to finalize terms for additional arms shipments, including two types of surface-to-surface missiles.

Read also: Ukrainian soldiers tell how they deal with Iranian kamikaze drones used by Russia

Ukrainian and U.S. officials have seen intelligence reports that shows Iran is preparing the first batch of Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar missiles, two short-range Iranian ballistic missiles. They are capable of striking targets at distances of 300 kilometers and 700 kilometers respectively, the Washington Posts source said.

Experts consider the latest versions of the Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar to be both powerful and reasonably accurate over relatively short distances, the newspaper writes. Some models are equipped with electro-optical guidance systems, allowing missile operators to guide them during the final approach to the target.

Read also: Iran refuses to recognize Russian sham referendums

Iran has previously given the same missiles to Houthi fighters in Yemen. If the agreement is implemented, it will be the first delivery of these missiles to Russia since the start of a full-scale war against Ukraine.

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Secretary, Oleksiy Danilov said that the time when Russia will run out of a critical number of its most accurate missiles is "already approaching." According to him, the invaders may have 25-28% of the total missile stock as of Feb. 24.

Earlier, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia could probably agree with Iran on the supply of Arash-2 drones.

On Sept. 23, Ukraine withdrew the accreditation of the Iranian ambassador due to the supply of drones to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing intelligence, said that Russia ordered 2,400 Shahed kamikaze drones from Iran.

Read also: Ukraine intel says Russians targeting Uman with Iranian drones to attack Hasidic Jews

Later, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that Russian troops have about 300 Iranian-made drones. According to him, the invaders are trying to buy several thousand more.

Tehran has denied making deliveries of drones to Moscow, but these denials are false.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Jeremy Hunt refused, when invited, to say Liz Truss is a 'confident leader' who 'has a grip' on the country. (PA)

New chancellor Jeremy Hunt has refused to back Liz Truss as a confident leader who has a grip on the economy.

In a sign of just how weak Trusss political authority is after an extraordinarily damaging week, Hunt instead chose to sympathise with his new boss, saying she is under extraordinary pressure.

Hunt was appointed as chancellor on Friday after the sacking of Kwasi Kwarteng, but is now widely seen as more powerful than the prime minister herself. In interviews on Saturday, he effectively trashed the policies that brought Truss to power last month.

Appearing on the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Hunt was asked if he thinks Truss is a confident leader whos got a grip of whats going on in the country.

Watch: Jeremy Hunt: Who is the UK's new chancellor?

He would only say: I think shes been under extraordinary pressure. I know how difficult that job is having seen many prime ministers at close range over many years.

But I would rather a prime minister who recognises when things need to change [and] is prepared to take difficult decisions. To change your chancellor is a very difficult decision for a prime minister to take - shes been prepared to do that.

After just 40 days as PM, Truss is battling to stay in power amid widespread reports of Tory plots to replace her.

Liz Truss at the brutal Downing Street press conference on Friday. (PA)

Rishi Sunak - the defeated contender in this summer's Tory leadership contest and former chancellor - and defence secretary Ben Wallace have been among the names flagged as potential replacements.

In an attempt to shore up her leadership on Friday, she sacked Kwarteng, who was made the scapegoat for the pairs disastrous growth plan announced in the mini-budget only three weeks prior. It caused major economic turmoil amid market concerns about the impact of the 43bn tax giveaway on public finances.

But Tory anger only grew following a brutal press conference later that day. Organised with the intention of re-asserting Truss's authority, the briefing lasted only eight minutes and was abruptly ended by the PM after she took just four questions from the media.

Story continues

Read more: Daily Star running live stream that asks: 'Can Liz Truss outlast this lettuce?'

Amid this disruption, Hunt was asked why people should trust the PM. He said: Because shes listened. Shes changed. Shes been willing to do that most difficult thing in politics, which is to change tack.

The chancellor is now beginning the job of putting together a fresh budget for 31 October.

He said the next two weeks will see the government go through a process of taking difficult decisions that will affect lots of walks of life.
Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake on Sunday declined to say if she would accept the results of her election if she loses next month.

Im going to win the election, and I will accept that result, Lake told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union.

If you lose, will you accept that? Bash followed up.

Im going to win the election, Lake responded. And I will accept that result, because the people of Arizona will never support and vote for a coward like Katie Hobbs who wont show up on a debate stage.

Hobbs has refused to debate Lake, calling it a spectacle after previously describing Lake as a conspiracy theorist when asked about a potential debate.

Hobbs and Lake participated in dueling interviews the past two weekends on the big network Sunday morning talk shows. Both nominees appeared on State of the Union on Sunday after appearing on CBSs Face the Nation last week.

Former President Trump endorsed Lake in her primary last fall, one of many candidates who attracted the former presidents support after endorsing his claims of mass electoral fraud.

She is single handedly destroying a 20-year tradition of gubernatorial debates because of her cowardice, Lake said of Hobbs. So I know already: no momentum behind her, the polls are in our favor, and were going to win this election. Im 100 percent confident of that.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as a toss up.

Lakes refusal to say if she will accept a loss in November came after Bash and the Arizona Republican sparred over unfounded claims of mass electoral fraud in the 2020 election.

Bash repeatedly contested Lakes view of the election, while Lake accused Bashs dismissal as evidence of a biased media.

When you start seeing the media cancel people for questioning their government, then thats when we have a problem, Lake said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). Alex Wong/Getty Images

Rep. Adam Kinzinger said it's now up to the American people to stop another insurrection.

In an interview with ABC, 'This Week' Kinzinger added that Trump is required by law to testify.

He said the committee will be gathering facts and putting out a report.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a member of the January 6 House committee said it's now up to the American people to prevent another insurrection.

"The torch has been passedyes to DOJbut also to the American people," Kinzinger told ABC 'This Week' host George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.

Kinzinger, one of just two Republican lawmakers on the committee, said the panel is gathering facts and putting forth recommendations.

"Now, it's up to you to stop this from A. happening again, and really take control as a self-governing country, what kind of country do you want to live in," Kinzinger said. "This is not acceptable what we've been doing. We can do way better."

During the same interview, Kinzinger emphasized that former President Donald Trump is required by law to testify after the committee subpoenaed him last week.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Daniel Craig in "Glass Onion." Netflix

"Glass Onion" director Rian Johnson confirmed at a press conference that Benoit Blanc is queer.

In a particular scene in the "Knives Out" sequel, it appears Blanc has a male lover.

"Glass Onion" opens in theatres on November 23 and arrives on Netflix on December 23.

"Knives Out" director Rian Johnson confirmed that lead character Benoit Blanc is queer.

Daniel Craig returns as the mysterious detective for the highly-anticipated sequel "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" along with a new all-star cast.

A particular scene in the sequel, seen by Insider, indicates that Blanc is living with a man. When asked during a press conference at the London Film Festival, whether this means the character is queer, Johnson replied: "Yes, he obviously is."

Johnson added, referring to the actor who cameos as Blanc's lover: "And there's nobody in the world I can imagine in bringing me more joy for Benoit Blanc to be with."

Craig then said: "No spoilers [but] who wouldn't want to live with that person?"

While "Glass Onion" arrives on Netflix on December 23, the movie will have a limited theatre run across the US on November 23. The main cast includes many up-and-coming stars as well as established actors such as Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr, and Janelle Monae.

According to the film's trailer, Blanc is on a trip to Greece to solve his latest case which involves a new set of eccentric characters. The actors themselves also went to Greece to film the movie during the pandemic, which Hahn said brought the cast closer.

"It did feel like we were this traveling circus together which added, I think, to the texture of the movie," The "WandaVision" actress said during the press conference. "That kind of closeness that we were able to create under those circumstances really added [to the movie]."

Read the original article on Insider
It's almost time for South Dakotans to head to the ballot boxes to choose their representatives on the state level.

Absentee voting began Sept. 23 and South Dakotans have until Oct. 24 to register to vote. The general election will be Nov. 8.

The Argus Leader gathered biographical and professional information about the candidates running for state-wide office in the Sioux Falls area. Those elected will be headed to Pierre in January to begin their terms in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

South Dakota Legislative District 25 encompasses rural Minnehaha County and Moody County.

Some candidates like Herman Otten, Brent Hoffman and Tom Pischke will go straight to Pierre, after having won their primary earlier this year or are not facing a challenger.

Below, readers have the chance to meet the candidates through a series of questions asked by the Argus Leader.

Editor's note: Answers have been edited for clarity and conciseness.

More:South Dakota gubernatorial candidates Kristi Noem, Jamie Smith weigh food tax special session

District 6 House

Aaron Aylward: Did not respond to questions in time for publication.

Ernie Otten: Did not respond to questions in time for publication.

District 9 House

Nick Winkler: Did not respond to questions in time for publication.

Kenneth Teunissen:

Age: 73

Profession : Retired

Party Affiliation : Republican

Political/public service experience: New candidate for House of Representatives

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

There are options for healthcare currently available that Im looking at. Medical Marijuana is currently legal in South Dakota and Im undecided on recreational marijuana.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

A balanced budget is the next big challenge.

Bethany Soye: Did not respond to questions in time for publication.

District 10 House

Erin Healy:

Age: 35

Profession: Patient experience strategist

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Political/public service experience: Incumbent in the House; has served two terms in the SD Legislature

Story continues

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I plan to vote yes on both measures. I strongly support Amendment D. Medicaid expansion would increase access to healthcare and improve health for low income families. With the expansion of Medicaid, rural hospitals and facilities that are currently at risk of closure will be able to be kept open for South Dakotans in need of health care.

South Dakotans already voted in 2020 to legalize marijuana and I will always honor the will of the people. Our state is one of two states where it's a felony to use marijuana. Prosecuting adults turns non-violent citizens into criminals, which leads to a higher incarceration rate and places a costly burden on taxpayers. Legalizing marijuana will add revenue to our state's economy, send fewer people to jail for non-violent crime, and stop racial disparities in marijuana enforcement (a study from 2018 shows that one out of every ten arrests made in SD was for a marijuana offense and on average, the arrest rate is five times higher for Native Americans and Black South Dakotans than it is for white citizens).

More:South Dakota has a second chance to legalize recreational marijuana. What does it mean?

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

We are seeing a worker shortage across many industries in South Dakota and I'm worried about the shortage in teachers and nurses. We must prioritize teacher pay to attract and retain teachers in our state, otherwise we will lose them to surrounding states. I'm hearing from teachers that they're feeling undervalued and undermined as we see an increase in the politicization of education through the proposed social studies standards. We must include them in building curriculum and education policy and trust their expertise.

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the shortage of nurses in every healthcare setting  hospital, clinic, outpatient, and skilled nursing facilities. We need to assess the situation and work with our healthcare systems to understand from a policy perspective what can be done to fix this problem. I also think we should look into investing more in nursing programs so we can train more nurses and incentivize them to stay in South Dakota once they've completed their degree.

Kameron Nelson:

Age: 32

Profession: Philanthropy

Party Affiliation: Democratic

Political/public service experience: Policy advocate with the Department of Social Services and Department of Human Services. Served on the 2020 Minnehaha County Absentee Ballot Task Force. Active member of Sioux Falls Rotary West. Volunteer with Junior Achievement of South Dakota and Lost & Found.

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I support Amendment D to expand Medicaid eligibility. Over a five-year term, its estimated to save over $162 million in general funds and bring over $1 billion of SD taxpayer money back to the state. Medicaid expansion could cover over 42,500 eligible South Dakotans. It's past time to expand Medicaid in South Dakota. As a private citizen, I will vote yes on Amendment D.

More:SDSU Poll shows race for governor's seat is heating up between Kristi Noem, Jamie Smith

I support Initiated Measure 27 to legalize possession, use and distribution of cannabis. South Dakotans supported this by an overwhelming margin in 2020 and as a legislator I intend to uphold the will of the people when it passes again. As a private citizen, I will vote yes on IM 27.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

I anticipate the largest discussion during the next legislative session will center around reproductive rights and access to abortion in South Dakota. I support access to safe, legal, and affordable abortion. Abortion is a healthcare procedure, and in my opinion, the government should not have a role in this intimate decision between a person and their healthcare provider. As a legislator, I will work to ensure health privacy is restored to the people of South Dakota.

Another significant challenge facing South Dakota is our workforce shortages and how that intersects with our need for more affordable childcare. Our families are cost-burdened by many external factors and are navigating how to afford childcare so they can get to work. South Dakotans are hard workers. We have a 2.3% unemployment rate, as reported in August by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, yet nearly every business is still hiring. We must continue building public and private partnerships to remove barriers of entering the workforce by expanding child care access and supporting our labor force.

Tom Sutton:

Age: 72

Profession: Retired, small business owner

Party Affiliation: Republican

Political/ Public Service Experience: Air Force Veteran and American Legion Member. Serves on the Alpha Center and Hope Harbor Boards. Participated in the local and state political arena for 35 years.

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I plan to vote against Medicaid and legalizing recreational marijuana. I do not believe either one of these initiated measures is good for South Dakota. Medicaid expansion will expand our government and legalizing recreational marijuana will harm our kids. Statistics show that children under the age of 18 have severe effects from using marijuana. The marijuana today is not the same as what was used 25 years ago.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

We have a tremendous work force issue, we need employees to support our local communities. Our businesses are faltering; they are either cutting business hours or are even closing because of not having enough employees. We need to emphasize education, focus on trade schools or areas that will better prepare the next generation.

More:Your South Dakota 2022 midterm election guide: Gubernatorial, federal races, ballot measures and more

John Mogen:

Age: 73

Profession: Retired public school teacher, piano instructor, professional musician

Political affiliation: Republican

Political/public service experience: No political experience

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I plan to vote no on Medicaid expansion. Too much of the money will end up in hospitals. I plan to vote no on recreational marijuana. Medical marijuana is needed.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

Responsible spending by the state government is vital.

District 11 House

Margaret Kuipers:

Age: 61

Profession: Phlebotomist

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Political/public service experience: Held several district and state offices in the SD Emergency Medical Services Association. Volunteered as a 4-H leader. Volunteered with Charles Mix County and Minnehaha County Emergency Management.

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I plan to vote for Medicaid expansion because too many working families and individuals are not able to get adequate healthcare coverage through their jobs.

I plan to vote for recreational marijuana because it was approved by SD voters in our last election and blocked by the current administration.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

We need to address the proposed Social Studies curriculum that was created without input from our current public education educators and administrators. I encourage everyone to look at the curriculum and attend the community meetings when they are in your area.

Kim Parke:

Age: 54

Profession: Underwriting Associate

Party Affiliation : Democrat

Political/public service experience: President of the Sioux Falls Education Assistants Association (part of SDEA).

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I will vote yes to expand Medicaid. I am a strong supporter of expanding Medicaid eligibility. Everyone should have access to quality, affordable care. I believe it is unacceptable to return federal tax dollars, paid by South Dakotans for expansion when so many people are in need of healthcare. The expansion would enable 42,500 people to become eligible, 60% of these people work. Studies have shown that other states who have opted for expansion have actually reduced healthcare costs and increased workforce productivity.

I will vote yes to legalize recreational marijuana. The people of South Dakota have already voted and approved this legalization. Unfortunately, the law was ruled unconstitutional based on a wording technicality. The language of laws must be carefully examined to prevent this type of situation. Too much time and money has been wasted to resolve this issue. We will vote again in November to legalize recreational marijuana. Assuming the same result, we will then have to determine best practices for our state and its people.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

There will be so many challenges this session. The past few years have been quite the train wreck for our state's legislation, impeaching the state attorney general, ethics cases against our governor, infighting within our legislature, and the passing of some of the most divisive laws our state has ever seen. Our legislature should be working on more meaningful, relevant legislation regarding issues and REAL problems facing our state. We need to work on state tax reform, increasing funding for education, healthcare, protecting our civil rights and liberties and so much more. South Dakota can do better, South Dakota will be better.

Chris Karr: Did not respond to questions in time for publication.

Brian Mulder:

Age : 46

Profession: Managing Director of Volunteers of America, Dakotas

Party Affiliation: Republican

Political/public service experience: Served as Executive Pastor at Central Church Sioux Falls. Served on several local non-profits boards, including Collision and The Community Outreach. I am a member of the Downtown Rotary.

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

The Medicaid issue is a tough one for me, as I understand the need for it, but I am concerned with existing Medicaid services already not receiving 100% funding. Adding more obligations is concerning. Also I believe there could have been a different path forward rather than changing the State constitution through a ballot measure.

As an executive leader in an organization that provides chemical dependency treatment, I will personally be voting no on recreational marijuana. But I am willing to carry out the will of the voters.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why, and what can be done?

Although there are many important issues that need to be addressed, like Medicaid expansion, abortion rights, and recreational marijuana, I believe as always that putting together a sustainable balanced budget is always the biggest priority, as those resources are what allows us to continue to run effective state government.

District 12 House

Erin Royer:

Age: 31 (32 on Election Day)

Profession: Genetic Counselor

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Political/public service experience: I ran in 2020 for this same seat, SD House District 12. I am on the board of two local non-profits.

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I will vote yes on both of these. Medicaid expansion is a no-brainer for helping South Dakotans access healthcare, supporting rural hospitals, improving access to nursing homes, and boosting the economy of SD by investing in the health of our communities. Recreational marijuana was already approved by voters in SD.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

The next big challenge is to improve our public education system by making sure teachers are paid fairly for their professional skills and efforts, ensuring our students learn a broad-based curriculum, and our schools have the staffing to support students and educators needs. This will include raises for educators, educational standards developed with input from education professionals and communities, and improved funding for school-based services outside the classroom.

Greg Jamison:

Age: 58

Profession: Small business owner/commercial real estate broker associate

Party Affiliation: Republican

Political/public service experience: Sioux Falls City Council 2008-2016, South Dakota House of Representatives 2016-2018 and 2020-2022

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I plan on voting yes on both Amendment D and IM27. For me Amendment D is about helping the poorest South Dakotans among us. I believe Amendment D also helps mothers keep their unborn babies and when the child is born, they will both have access to care helping them live healthy lives.

IM27 is like the end of prohibition of alcohol in 1933. Marijuana is used by many and ultimately the public will decide the outcome. The use of marijuana has many problems like alcohol, and we will do our best to create a safe and well-regulated system.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

Presumptive probation, parole and new prisons should be tackled this session. We need to stop the revolving door on dangerous felons and fund the development of new prisons. I will be proposing changes to the Presumptive Probation program to help stop felons from returning to the street only to offend again. Plus, I will offer and support proposals to fund our prisons to fix the overcrowding issues along with needed modernization of our correction system.

Amber Arlint:

Age: 35

Profession: Insurance agent

Party Affiliation : Republican

Political/public service experience: New candidate

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

If voters pass Amendment D, my role as a legislator is to implement the will of the people. As a state we have a responsibility to take care of people that truly cannot care for themselves. Voters will need to evaluate if they believe Medicaid expansion belongs in South Dakotas Constitution. They will also need to consider the funding sustainability and its potential impact on other budgetary priorities like education, infrastructure, and public safety.

In the past, the citizens of South Dakota have voted to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana. If recreational marijuana passes again, I will implement the will of the people, work to stop illegal use, and protect children from exposure.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

As Sioux Falls continues to grow, so do our challenges as a large city. My goal as a legislator is to focus on policies that improve public safety, strengthen our public schools, and address the affordability of day-to-day life in todays economic environment.

Follow Annie Todd on Twitter @AnnieTodd96. Reach out to her with tips, questions and other political news at atodd@argusleader.com or give her a call at 605-215-3757.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Meet the candidates running for the South Dakota House districts 6-12
It's almost time for South Dakotans to head to the ballot boxes to choose their representatives on the state level.

Absentee voting began Sept. 23 and South Dakotans have until Oct. 24 to register to vote. The general election will be Nov. 8.

The Argus Leader gathered biographical and professional information about the candidates running for state-wide office in the Sioux Falls area. Those elected will be headed to Pierre in January to begin their terms in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Some candidates like Herman Otten, Brent Hoffman and Tom Pischke will go straight to Pierre, because they have either won their primary in June or are not facing a challenger.

More:South Dakota has a second chance to legalize recreational marijuana. What does it mean?

Below, readers have the chance to meet the candidates through a series of questions asked by the Argus Leader.

Editor's note: Answers have been edited for clarity and conciseness.

District 9 Senate

Brent Hoffman:

Age: 59

Party Affiliation: Republican

Political/public service experience: United States Military (Air Force), Sioux City City Council, Economic Development, Volunteer Organizations, Christian Church, School Board.

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

As Ive visited with the constituents I work for these past months, a majority have encouraged me to vote no on both measures. The proposal to legalize recreational marijuana is more pernicious and would likely have widespread implications on law enforcement, education and mental health. I dont believe marijuana use makes for better decision-making and a more free, productive society.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

As always, the budget will be at the forefront of discussions and will include a focus on education and prison reforms, among other things. But I also think it important we look to systemic changes that truly make our great state better. Thats why Ill stay focused on the three main issues that my constituents expect and demand of me: term limits, tax rates and transparency.

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More:South Dakota gubernatorial candidates Kristi Noem, Jamie Smith weigh food tax special session

District 10 Senate

Liz Larson

Liz Larson:

Age: 47

Profession: Independent consultant in economic development

Party Affiliation : Democrat

Political/public service experience: More than 20 years of experience in economic development in policy and private public sector partnerships.

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I will be voting to support Measure 27 because the voters of South Dakota have already spoken on this issue, and their will should be upheld. The previous vote was clear.

I will be voting to expand Medicaid to the 42,000 hard working South Dakotans who now are lacking medical coverage. Right now, in South Dakota, given the cost of health care, any family without medical coverage is one emergency away from financial ruin. This is not good for our economy and it does not represent our values. Families are hindered from taking innovative business risks or building assets. Furthermore, by continuing to limit Medicaid in SD, we are forgoing a significant amount of federal funding. These are our tax dollars which flow out of state, and then dont come back. Thats not a good value for South Dakota; it is a loss for us.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

There are a range of important issues which will come up in the next session, among the most important will be education. Not only are we hearing about this issue in the local headlines, but I am hearing it regularly when I speak with voters at their doorsteps. Low pay, and lack of other support, is creating a teacher shortage in our state which positions South Dakotas kids for a rocky future. Against the backdrop of an increasingly difficult economy, it is not only harder for teachers to do their jobs, but for families to support their students. There are so many opportunities we can focus on to strengthen the education of our students, including strengthening mental health services, and developing a robust strategy on early learning.

Maggie Sutton: Did not respond to questions in time for publication.

More:What we learned from the South Dakota gubernatorial debate

District 11 Senate

Sheryl Johnson:

Age: 59

Profession: Just retired from 12 years at Roosevelt High School

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Political/public service experience: Current Democratic chair in District 11, many years of community, church and school volunteering.

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I will vote to support Medicaid expansion so that we can help working families who dont get health insurance from their job(s) but cant afford to buy into any subsidies. It will also help hospitals and nursing homes that currently have to write off all the expenses of people who cant pay.

I still am not sure how I'll vote on legalizing recreational marijuana as I have never used marijuana and dont plan to, but I know many people use it already and if someone wants it they can get it. You never know what is in the marijuana being sold on the streets and it is often mixed with other things. Legalizing it may help prevent that.

Since it has been illegal for so long, I do have concerns about long term use but feel that decriminalizing it may free up space in our jails and police can focus on other crimes. I also think that alcohol can be just as bad and kills more people yet we allow that to be legal. In either case we need to educate users about any risks.

I will support whatever position my district votes for and at the last vote they overwhelmingly voted to legalize recreational marijuana.

More:Your South Dakota 2022 midterm election guide: Gubernatorial, federal races, ballot measures and more

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

We need to redo the proposed social studies standards. They are not age-appropriate and include many religious issues that are best left to religious schools or Sunday schools to teach.

To totally throw out what the first [social studies] committee had proposed and go to an out-of-state school with an unaccredited teaching program for a new program and pass it with a committee that had very few educators on it was just irresponsible and is not the best program for our students. It also wasted a lot of our tax dollars on an out-of-state business.

We need students who are capable of thinking critically and not ones who are indoctrinated. Teachers are professionals, we need to let them teach without interference from legislators and we need to pay them like the professionals that they are.

Jim Stalzer:

Age: 76

Profession: Retired - Information Technology

Party Affiliation: Republican

Political/public service experience: Two terms (four years) SD House of Representatives; Three terms (six years) SD Senate

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I oppose Medicaid expansion. While it will provide coverage to 40,000 plus low-income mostly adult males, it will also remove many of them from their current insurance which is 100% federally funded. In addition, the new inflation reduction act will pay for three years of coverage for these people on the silver plan with no cost to the state of South Dakota. If we pass Medicaid expansion, the state will be responsible for 10% of the cost now and potentially 40% to 45% of the cost in three years.

In addition, a number of providers do not accept Medicaid causing people to potentially have to shop for a provider.

I also plan to vote against recreational marijuana. States that have passed recreational marijuana have seen an increase in use by those under 21. With the evidence that use by children reduces IQ and leads to an increase in psychosis, I cannot support it.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

The biggest current challenge facing SD at this time is a lack of workforce and then housing once we find the people to work. To some degree we can use COVID-19 money to build housing, but the increased wages to attract workers drives up the cost of everything, creating even more inflation.

District 12 Senate

Jessica Meyers

Age: 45

Profession: Healthcare staffing

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Political/public service experience: Board chair Transformation Project. South Dakota Democratic Party Executive Board member

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I will be voting yes on Amendment D. Medicaid expansion is long overdue and opens up coverage to affordable and much-needed coverage to thousands of South Dakotans. The legislature has had the opportunity since 2010 to put a framework together and nothing has been done. With the passage of Amendment D, which has bipartisan support, more families will have access to the incredible health systems we have in our state.

The people of South Dakota already voted to approve recreational marijuana in 2020 by 54% before the legislature overturned the results. I will be voting yes on IM 27. It is very important to know that the voters are the people that get to decide the laws of the state and the legislators need to uphold the will of the people. We saw the state legislature overturn IM 22, government transparency with campaign finance, in 2016 although that was widely supported by the people and we saw a second overturn of a vote, recreational marijuana in 2020, which is creating a dangerous precedent in Pierre. We must end the overturning of election results because a small handful of people in Pierre don't agree with thousands of voters at the ballot box.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

South Dakota has a trigger law [on abortion] and it instantly restricted physicians from providing appropriate care to their patients. Although there are very few limitations to this law, it wouldn't take much to eliminate these safeguards completely. Medical decisions are private and should be made between the patient and their medical provider.

Arch Beal:

Age: 67

Profession: Business owner

Party Affiliation: Republican

Political/public service experience: Eight years in the House of Representatives, two years as majority whip and two years as the assistant majority leader

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

While representing District 12, I have supported their election outcomes on ballot measures.

More:Circuit judge signs order to partially vacate case relating to preservation of election records in Lincoln County

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

The challenges we face in the next legislative session will be dependent on the ballot measures. We as a legislature have spent the last two sessions preparing the state for recreational marijuana if it is passed. If the Medicaid expansion passes, the legislature will need to find the funding. The overturn of Roe v. Wade will also bring several abortion clarification bills. As people feel the impact of big government spending, plans for tax increases, inflation, and the possibility of recession, I am committed to holding the line at the state level. These pocketbook issues are the ones that most impact our families. Our government needs to work for the taxpayers, not the bureaucrats.

District 13 Senate

Lora Hubbel:

Profession: Broker/owner of Great American Homes Real Estate

Party Affiliation : Registered Republican running NPA (No party affiliation or independent)

Political/public service experience: Served in the SD Legislature between 2011-2013

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I intend to vote no on Medicaid expansion. Ive read Tom Daschles two books on ObamaCare. He writes that the ACA (Affordable Care Act) is not about healthcare, it is the biggest social experiment of all times. This act took away the doctors rights to practice medicine per their instincts and education and gave it to the government. Now we are at the mercy of some bureaucracy deeming best practices whether or not they even apply in our case. Medicaid expansion is the final nail in the coffin for medical freedom.

Medicaid expansion will not help the little guy, it will help all the big corporationsjust look at who is promoting itbig government and big business.

I intend to vote no on legalizing recreational marijuana. Initiated measure 27 might as well be read, Legalize recreational guillotines. We promise they will only be used for recreation, like chopping onions  we promise! Of course, that is absurd, just as absurd as telling us that legalizing recreational marijuana is all rainbows and unicorns. It is not, it is deadly.

Granted we need to tweak our pot laws as they should not ruin a persons life if they get caught with a small amount, but all-out legalization is not a measure that rose up from South Dakotas grass roots.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

South Dakota has no balance of power anymore. Power has been placed into a few hands. We see a super strong Governor and a bureaucratic system that wields power by legislating, lobbying, and lying....that is absolutely unconstitutional but we do it anyway. Legislation is supposed to be solely in the hands of the legislators who bring bills from the people up to Pierre. That doesn't happen. When good old grassroots bills come up they are crushed by the governor's thumbs up or thumbs down.

Why do I say the balance of power is the most important? Because all issues hinge on it. Absolute power has absolutely corrupted South Dakota.

Jack Kolbeck:

Age: 70

Party Affiliation: Republican

Profession: KAM-Beal Dist Inc.

Political Experience: Six years in the Senate serving District 13

South Dakotans are voting on two ballot measures this year: one to expand Medicaid and one to legalize recreational marijuana. How do you plan to vote on those measures and why?

I will be voting on these two ballot measures at my polling place and in private. People who know me know of my conservative values and my willingness to listen to the issues. If this were to pass, we need to find a way to continuously fund Medicaid expansion without implementing an income tax on our hard working South Dakota citizens.

We will have numerous social issues develop with the legalization of marijuana, a federally illegal drug. Our kids need to be protected in South Dakota.

What is the next big challenge for South Dakota ahead of Januarys legislative session that will need to be tackled, why and what can be done?

As an appropriator for the past for four years, the expenditure of people's tax money has always been my priority. We know that there will be one-time monies available next year. I will do my best to see that these one time monies be spent as best needed for the people of South Dakota. This will all take place next session in the legislature as we work through the budget process.

Follow Annie Todd on Twitter @AnnieTodd96. Reach out to her with tips, questions and other political news at atodd@argusleader.com or give her a call at 605-215-3757.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Meet the candidates for South Dakota Senate districts 9-13
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Sunday called for swift measures to resume all services offered by Kakao Corp and Naver Corp, a day after a fire at a data centre damaged their servers and caused outages.

Service disruptions, some of which continued into Sunday, hit some of the country's most-used apps and websites, including Kakao messenger and the company's online payment, gaming and music streaming services.

The outages highlighted how reliant South Korea is on Kakao messenger, which is the default form of communication for many government and business services.

"We ask that government ministries also make every effort to ensure that Kakao and others can responsibly and promptly restore services," Yoon said, according to his spokeswoman.

Yoon ordered the science and ICT minister to provide personal support, and called for an investigation to identify the exact causes behind the incident.

He also said measures should be taken to prevent such an incident from happening again, including ensuring data was backed up and accidents were reported quickly.

Science and ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho visited the damaged data centre in Pangyo, just south of Seoul, and said the government will look for systemic support measures in case of another failure of this kind, Yonhap news agency reported.

The companies involved apologised to customers for the service disruptions.

Kakao's messenger app Kakao Talk has more than 47 million active users in South Korea and 53 million globally, the company said in a report in August.

(Reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Photo: The Canadian Press Ontario Provincial Police officer Adam McCourt, left in plainclothes, and Sgt. Jonathan Bouchard, obscured, salute the arriving procession carrying the bodies of two South Simcoe Police officers who were killed responding to a call, in Innisfil, Ont., Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

The funeral for two Ontario police officers killed in a shooting in Innisfil earlier this week will be held in Barrie on Thursday.

Const. Morgan Russell, 54, and Const. Devon Northrup, 33, died after responding to a call about a disturbance in Innisfil on Tuesday night.

The Special Investigations Unit, which is investigating the shooting, specified Friday that a 22-year-old man at a home shot the two officers, who died in hospital.

The South Simcoe Police Service says the public is invited to observe the funeral procession for Russell and Northrup, though the funeral service will not be open to the public.

The procession will travel from the Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Services to the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Homes to the Sadlon Arena, where the service will be held.

The two deaths this week mark three officers shot dead in Ontario in a month after the fatal shooting of Toronto Const. Andrew Hong in Mississauga in mid-September.
Two weeks before his death, a Miami Valley veteran got the thank you of a lifetime.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Veterans welcomed home as Honor Flight Dayton returns to skies after 2 years

On Saturday, veterans from across the Miami Valley got that same thank you during the final Honor Flight Dayton of 2022.

More than 100 veterans spent the day in Washington D.C. touring the National Memorials that honor those who serve our country.

This was the second Honor Flight since before the pandemic, with the first one being in August.

During the last trip, News Center 7s Brandon Lewis spoke with Jim Risner, a Vietnam War veteran, who was emotional and grateful for the experience.

I probably wont be able to sleep for days, Risner said. Itll be on my mind for a long time, thats for sure.

About two weeks after the Honor Flight, Risners family reached out to News Center 7 saying the 74-year-old passed away.

He had a massive heart attack shortly after that on September 13th, and that was really hard, said Jennifer Landess, Risners step daughter-in-law.

Risner was a man his family said was loving, kind and would give you the shirt off his back.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: PHOTOS: Honor Flight Dayton

His family said his care for others is what got him into military service to begin with. They said he was not drafted, rather he volunteered to serve in the Vietnam War after two of his friends were killed in action.

It absolutely set something off in Jim, it angered him and it hurt him, Landess said.

Landess says Risner felt he needed to go fight, and he did.

Risner was in Vietnam from 1967 to 1970 as a jet engine mechanic in the U.S. Air Force.

He loved his country and he loved everything about serving, Landess said.

Vietnam War veterans did not get a heros welcome when they came back. It wasnt until the Honor Flight trip, more than 50 years after Risner returned from Vietnam, that he got a true welcome home.

People stopped in the restaurant at the airport, they left their plates of food just to come out and applaud them, total strangers, Landess said.

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His family said the trip moved him and showed that his sacrifices mattered. While theyre heartbroken hes gone, theyre glad he had this opportunity to feel appreciated.

Huge comfort to know he got to go, he got to be a part of that, he got to have that love and respect from the rest of the world that he did not have at the time, Landess said.

Risners family said hes buried at the Dayton National Cemetery in his Honor Flight shirt.

They said he talked about Honor Flight every day until he passed away.

Organizers said the next honor flight is scheduled for sometime next April.

For more information, you can visit the Honor Flight Dayton Facebook page.

Photo from Family








IRAN-POLITICS-WOMEN-PROTEST-PRISON

This image obtained from the Iranian news agency IRNA on October 16, 2022, shows damage caused by a fire inside the building of the Evin prison in Tehran, Iran. Credit - AFPGetty Images

At least four people were killed and another 61 injured when a fire broke out at Irans Evin prison, known for housing political prisoners and infamous for its human rights abuses, the countrys judiciary said Sunday.

Iranian authorities alleged the fire, which started Saturday evening, was extinguished hours later and that no prisoners had escaped. Ten people remain hospitalized with four in critical condition, according to Irans Mizan News agency. Those that were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, the news agency also reported.

Was the fire linked to the Iranian protests?

Tehran Gov. Mohsen Mansouri claims the fire started in the sewing workshop of the prison after a fight broke out among incarcerated people in that wing, according to NPR, leading some to set prison uniforms ablaze. Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi also claimed that the fire had nothing to do with the ongoing protests linked to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, according to IRNA, Irans state run news agency.

Footage from outside the prison shows people chanting death to the dictator, while gunshots and explosions can be heard in other clips circulating online. Iran International initially reported the explosions were caused by people who had attempted to escape confinement and moved towards landmines in the northern part of the prison, but the outlet later reported that no mines had exploded.

And despite state television footage showing that the facility continued running as usual following the fire, Iranian journalist Masoud Kazemi, who was previously incarcerated at the prison, said the footage only showed areas that had not been affected by the fire and alleged fight.

Relatives of those imprisoned at Evin allegedly had difficulty contacting their family members due to blocked roads and disabled phone and internet connection near the prison during the fire, per the BBC.

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Evin prison currently holds dual nationals like Siamak Namazi, who has been wrongfully detained in Iran for the past several years under charges including collusion with an enemy state, according to the National Iranian American Council (NIAC). Namazi was temporarily offered furlough on October 1, though it has since been revoked, forcing him to return to the prison last week.

When asked about the fire, President Joe Biden called the Iranian government oppressive and praised protestors for taking to the streets.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price tweeted they were watching the events at Evin prison with urgency, adding that Iran is fully responsible for the safety of our wrongfully detained citizens, who should be released immediately.
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP)  Four years before Category 4 Ian wiped out parts of southwest Florida, the state's Panhandle had its own encounter with an even stronger hurricane, Michael. The Category 5 storm all but destroyed one town, fractured thousands of homes and businesses and did some $25 billion in damage.

With damage from Ian estimated at several times that and the Fort Myers area beginning a cleanup that will be even larger than after Michael, the two areas are collaborating on a way forward as south Florida residents wonder what their area will look like in a few years.

Mayor Greg Brudnicki and other leaders from a rebuilt Panama City traveled to the southwestern coast this week at the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis to help officials plan a way forward. Keeping crews and trucks in the area to remove mountains of debris is job No. 1 because all other progress hinges on that, Brudnicki said, and that can mean obtaining loans as a bridge until federal reimbursement money shows up.

You cant fix anything until you get it cleaned up, Brudnicki said.

Tiny Mexico Beach, which was nearly leveled by Michael in 2018, still has fewer structures and people than it did before the storm. The town's mayor, Al Cathey, said one of the biggest challenges recovering from a natural disaster is fundamental: looking ahead, not back.

With little left in town after Michael, Cathey said, residents gathered daily at a portable kitchen to map out the way forward after the hurricane, and there was an unwritten rule.

When we had our afternoon meetings at the food truck, all we talked about is, What are we going to do tomorrow?  not what didn't get done four days ago, Cathey said.

Michael was blamed for more than 30 deaths. With more than 100 fatalities, Ian was the third-deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland this century behind Hurricane Katrina, which left about 1,400 people dead, and Hurricane Sandy, which killed 233 despite weakening to a tropical storm just before landfall.

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Recovery will be more complicated in southwest Florida than it was in the Panhandle because of population, Cathey said. Bay County, which includes Panama City and Mexico Beach, has only 180,000 residents, while Lee County, where the Fort Myers area is located, is home to almost 790,000 people, many of whom are retirees.

Simply removing the boats that were thrown onto land around Lee County could take months, and there are the remains of homes and businesses scattered by 155 mph (250 kph) winds or flooded by seawater that surged miles inland along creeks and canals.

One of the damaged vessels and waterlogged homes belongs to Mike Ford, who is braced for a prolonged recovery that could change the character of the area.

The flooded-out mobile home park where Ford lives  one of hundreds of such communities in the region  would be better off as an RV park where people can come and go than as a permanent neighborhood, he said. Residents might be ripe for a buyout or conversion after Ian, particularly since he and others had to repair damage after Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Ive got enough money to rebuild, but I cant see it because what Ive (already) done is rebuild, and now this happened, said Ford, who lost a valuable collection of guitars and Beatles records to Ian. "It kind of takes the wind out of you.

A neighbor of Ford's, Chuck Wagner, said some people already are getting frustrated after Ian. Many southwest Florida residents are retirees who only live in the area half the year, spending the hot summers in the north, and they're hearing that aid might not be available to part-time residents.

Everything is up in the air," he said. "It might take years. Who knows?

Progress is measured in incremental steps. Over the weekend, officials announced that power had been restored to the first few homes on Fort Myers Beach, one of the hardest hit places. As of Sunday, FEMA had approved $420 million statewide for lodging and home repair assistance for residents unable to live in their homes following Ian.

In Mexico Beach, Tom Wood, 82, is proof that progress will happen  slowly and painfully.

His beachfront business, the Driftwood Inn, was blown apart and filled with ocean water when Michael made landfall with sustained winds of 160 mph (258 kph) on Oct. 10, 2018. Initially, he said, the only logical step seemed to be giving up.

But the storm passed and the Gulf still beckoned, Wood said, so he decided to rebuild. The new Driftwood Inn reopened in June with 24 rooms at its original location after a $13 million outlay and a lot headaches from insurance, government regulations and contractors.

Mexico Beach still desperately needs a grocery store to avoid the more than 10-mile (16-kilometer) drive to the nearest one, he said, and a pharmacy and more restaurants would be good. But looking back, Wood said, he believes he made the right decision to rebuild and hopes people in Fort Myers Beach do the same.

I am so glad that we did it, not only us but for the town," he said. "It just makes the town better, I think.
(AFP via Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp admitted he deserved to be sent off in Liverpools 1-0 win over Manchester City and said he was not proud of losing his cool and going over the top.

The Liverpool manager was shown a red card by referee Anthony Taylor for yelling in the face of assistant referee Gary Beswick.

But Klopp said he was aggrieved that the officials ignored what he called the clearest foul I ever saw for Bernardo Silvas challenge on Mohamed Salah, who scored Liverpools goal.

Red card, my fault, I went over the top in the moment, Klopp said. I know myself, I am 55 and I deserve a red card. I lost it in that moment and it is not okay but a little bit as an excuse I would like to mention, how on earth can you miss that foul? How is it possible?

It is the clearest foul I ever saw in front of the linesman and he is not bothered. I had the perfect view of the linesman, we were 1-0 up and the moment when I snapped. I am not proud of it.

Klopp was delighted with his sides display as they became the first team to defeat City in the Premier League since Tottenham won at the Etihad Stadium in February.

He added: Against the best team in the world it is incredibly hard, but we deserved the three points with an incredible performance. It was a top performance from all the boys.

Klopp said that it was a mistake when Salahs number appeared on the board as he prepared to make substitutions, a few minutes before the forward scored the decisive goal.

The one concern for Liverpool in an injury-hit season when Diogo Jota was hurt in added time. They will assess the forward to see if he will be sidelined.

Klopp added: I can see someone kicked his foot and maybe the muscle got overstretched after 96 minutes.
(Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool condemned Manchester City supporters for singing vile songs about the Hillsborough and Heysel disasters and for vandalising part of Anfield during Jurgen Klopps sides 1-0 win on Sunday.

Some of the visiting fans chanted murderers and always the victims, never your fault, referencing the 39 people who died at Heysel in 1985 and the 97 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives in and after the 1989 FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield.

And Liverpool said in a statement: We are deeply disappointed to hear vile chants relating to football stadium tragedies from the away section during todays game at Anfield. The concourse in the away section was also vandalised with graffiti of a similar nature.

We know the impact such behaviour has on the families, survivors and all those associated with such disasters.

We are working with the relevant authorities and we will also work with Manchester City in order to do our utmost to ensure these chants are eradicated from football altogether.

Klopp, meanwhile, criticised Liverpool supporters and said sorry to Pep Guardiola after coins were thrown at the City manager.

Horrible, I am sorry, he said. I apologise for that. It never should happen.
A man is in critical condition after he was shot in Pittsburghs South Side Flats Sunday.

According to Pittsburgh police, first responders arrived at S. 14 Street and East Carson Street around 2 a.m. for reports of a person shot during an altercation.

Police said emergency crews found a male victim with a gunshot wound to the chest.

The victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Police said there are no arrests or suspect information at this time.

The investigation is ongoing.

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KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 16:45

Currently, the ratio of the losses between Ukrainian and Russian forces in Ukraines south is approximately 1 to 6.5.

Source: Hanna Maliar, the Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, citing Andrii Kovalchuk, the Commander of Operational Command Pivden (South), on Facebook

Details: Maliar revealed that she had witnessed how Kovalchuk motivates the Ukrainian troops to fight the occupiers. For example, he "told them curious facts about the enemys embarrassment in [Ukraines] south and the ever-growing enemy losses".

Quote: "The ratio of the losses is approximately 1 to 6.5. Kovalchuk states that the critical point of the ratio would be 1 to 8. After the Russian army reaches this line, it will begin to "crumble" psychologically.

The commander said that Russians were already in a tough spot in the south, but it is too early to relax. On the contrary: we must gather all our strength and power, and drive the Russian forces out of our land".

Background: According to the General Staff of Ukraine, as of 16 October, the Russian occupiers have lost at least 65,000 of their troops in Ukraine.

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Police are investigating after the body of a man was found in a Port Royal retention pond Saturday afternoon, according to a Port Royal Police Department news release.

The mans name or other identifying information will not be released from the Beaufort County Coroners Office until a family member has been notified.

Officers from the Port Royal Police Department were called out to Madrid Avenue at 12:08 p.m. after getting calls that a body was floating in a retention pond. Police and firefighters were able to pull the man from the water.

Neighbors told police that they remembered the man walking in the area the day before around 8:30 p.m. near 9th Street.

As of Sunday, police believe the mans death was an accident and is not related to a crime or an animal attack, officials said in the news release.

Anyone with information regarding this incident may call Detective John Hogue with the Port Royal Police Department at 843-986-2220.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Some family doctors are calling the provinces decision to give them only a limited number of flu doses, targeting those who cant access vaccination clinics, as both absurd and inefficient.

The majority of vaccines are being funnelled to pharmacies and clinics under the B.C.-wide rollout, with booking through the provinces GetVaccinated system used for COVID-19 shots.

Salt Spring doctor Clare Rustad, who has experience with a clinic vaccinating as many as 1,500 patients in a weekend, had planned with six colleagues to immunize about 450 patients against the flu in a day  until she and many other family doctors were told by the health authority this week that under no circumstance would they provide us with flu shots for this purpose.

On social media Wednesday, Rustad criticized what she called the layers of [expensive] bureaucracy higher up that came up with this ridiculously inefficient system of delivery.

A Saanich doctor who said his patients are asking him for a flu shot called the provinces immunization plan really stupid.

The Times Colonist obtained Island Healths instructions to physicians, in which doctors are told to only order influenza vaccine for patients who would have difficulty accessing vaccination clinics  for example, those with mobility issues.

Due to the very limited vaccine supply in the 2022-2023 season, physicians are only to offer influenza to those who require home visits, says the memo from public health nursing for Island Health, adding: Primary Care Provider Influenza vaccine ordering should be the exception and not the norm this season.

The rationale is that flu shots will be more accessible through health authority clinics providing both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, and whole community clinics through October and November.

This is why family doctors are burning out, wrote Rustad. We literally came up with a flu shot clinic plan and had buy in from every single member of our clinic.  My patients are desperate for flu shots. I am desperate to not see influenza this winter.

Rustad said patients have been asking about flu shots since August. The average age in her community is 55 and people are very keen to not get the flu, she said. Yet now patients are needlessly waiting for invitations from the provincial GetVaccinated system, she said. Why create any barriers to immunization? Just immunize people as quickly as possible.

Comox Valley family physician Dr. Nancy McFadden said a 92-year-old patient was trying to book a flu vaccine. The patients child reported calling the provinces 1-800 number for three days before getting through.

The 92-year-old patient was given the option to go to Campbell River, a 45 to 60 minute drive, or Cumberland, a 20 to 30 minute drive. At this point, McFadden called a nearby pharmacy that advertised walk-in flu shots but that pharmacist said all their vaccine was spoken for by people who booked through the GetVaccinated site.

So, this 92 year old, is not able to attend their own pharmacy for their vaccine, instead their family is going to have to drive them 30 minutes for it, when they are within walking distance of their own pharmacy, and pharmacists they know, said McFadden. Very frustrating indeed.

Pharmacist Vikram Bawa said hes holding a walk-in clinic Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at his Fort Royal Pharmacy in Oak Bay for those asking for their flu shots, many of whom are seniors. No one is doing walk-in clinics for the flu shot, said Bawa.

While people are being instructed to wait for invitations to get the shot, many who arent tech savvy or havent received their invitations are concerned, he said. The system the government is doing is pretty confusing.

The rollout has been plagued by technical problems, with many people trying to call the GetVaccinated line (1-833-838-2323) unable to get through. People have been trying for hours on the phone to get through, Bawa said. Even if people get an invitation to book a shot, when they go online, theyre often being told there is nothing available in their vicinity, he said.

In response to questions from the Times Colonist, the Health Ministry issued a statement saying that sending the initial allocation of influenza vaccine to pharmacies and health authority clinics supports the urgent need to provide both [COVID-19 and influenza] vaccines to as many members of the public as possible.

The ministry said it plans to send more influenza vaccines to physicians toward the end of October when more supply becomes available, noting that the fall flu campaign has begun about two weeks earlier than previous years, and to date, about 140,000 flu shots have been administered.
Phoenix police have arrested a suspect of fatally stabbing a 36-year-old man on Saturday.

Phoenix police have arrested Dassise LaBamba, 34, on suspicion of fatally stabbing a 36-year-old man on Saturday.

Officers responded to a stabbing emergency call near North 37th Street and Thomas Road at around 2 p.m. Phoenix Fire Department also responded and took the victim to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

Officers arrested LaBamba on scene. Police did not release the identity of the victim.

Reach reporter Lillian Boyd at lmboyd@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man fatally stabbed in east Phoenix, suspect arrested
Photo Illustration by Erin O'Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty

Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, is in rough shape.

Nearly a year after its much ballyhooed rebrand, the companys stock plummeted an eye watering 57 percent. CEO Mark Zuckerberg lost roughly $70 billion of his net worth, making him just the 20th richest man in the world (cue the worlds smallest violin). The financial strain also forced the company to slash budgets across its workforce and freeze new hiringeven ones that were already accepted.

Much of Metas woes can be pointed to grim financial outlooks across the entire tech industry and the world at large. However, its also a hurdle of their own making At a shareholders meeting in May, Zuckerberg made the surprising announcement thatdespite sinking billions of dollars into the metaversethe platform isnt really going to be a meaningful contributor to the business until at a minimum much later in this decade. He added that profits arent expected to really take off until the 2030s at the earliest.

Waiting a decade to turn a meaningful profit isnt likely going to let investors sleep easy at night. Neither does it bode well for their public brand which has taken a lashing in the past year. It doesnt help that, after getting bullied online because his avatar on Horizon Worlds, Metas de facto metaverse platform, looked like it was legless character from a PS1 game, he decided to roll out the red carpet and hype the announcement that the avatars now do indeed have legs actuallywhich resulted in him getting roasted even harder on the internet. (And even that declaration is running into pushback.)

Legs. Legs. Meta

Its easy to take delight in the schadenfreude of one of the richest and most powerful companies in the world taking L after Lespecially when theyre attempting to create something that seems like a ludicrous pipe dream at best and an absolute waste of time, money, and resources at worst.

However, the truth is the metaverse is inevitable. Not only that but, in many ways, its already hereand has been here for decades.

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Even Neal Stephenson, who first coined the term metaverse in his 1992 book Snow Crash to describe a fictional virtual reality world, has alluded to this. In a tweet from June, he said that when he first came up with the term, he didnt conceive of the fact that a metaverse might not be through VRbut then came along a video game called Doom.

Thanks to games, billions of people are now comfortable navigating 3D environments on flat 2D screens. The UIs that they've mastered (e.g. WASD + mouse) are not what most science fiction writers would have predicted. But that's how path dependency in tech works.  Neal Stephenson (@nealstephenson) June 8, 2022

Stephenson touched on a key component of any successful metaverse that many folks within the web3 (a term used to describe the next evolution of the world wide web) and metaverse space tend to miss: video gamesor even just gaming in general.

Its not so much that the metaverse is the future of games. The future of the metaverse is games, Jon Radoff, the writer of the Building the Metaverse blog and founder of metaverse consulting firm Beamable, told The Daily Beast. Games are going to be what the metaverse is all about.

In fact, Radoff believes that the origins of the metaverse go back even further, to the creation of games like Dungeons & Dragons, saying that the popular tabletop game is actually one of the first metaverses. Its a space for social experience, storytelling, shared imagination, and everything thats happened since then are technologies that break down spatial and temporal barriers for participation in that, he said.

The most successful metaverses now like Roblox, Second Life, and Fortnite are based in video games. By co-opting the term with their rebrand, Meta might have inadvertently done themselves more harm than good. Rather than accepting the fact that there are already plenty of thriving metaverse platforms like Roblox and building off of those existing technologies, the company has instead backed itself into a corner where the only way to access their rendition of the metaverse is by purchasing an expensive and cumbersome piece of equipment.

Currently, the Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headset retails at $400, while the recently announced Meta Quest Pro runs for a staggering $1,500. These are not exactly prices that someone who has zero experience or knowledge of VR platforms would likely want to purchase, especially when they could spend that money on something like a PS5 or a new phone. But those same products are the very foundation of Metas future if it ever hopes to have one. The company needs people to buy into them.

The ergonomics of the technology are terrible, Radoff said. He added that this is an issue with much of the recent wave of web3 trends from clunky blockchain and crypto platforms that are hard to use and learn for most new users. The hardware itself, like the VR headset, is still pretty heavy. Were not at a point where people are going to be wearing it all day long to do anything. Theyre fun for a little bit at a time to play a game or show up for an experience. But were not at a point where this stuff is all going to fuse and integrate into our daily lives in the way that phones are.

However, Radoff said that one of the things that Meta is doing right is that its recognizing and meeting most people where they are in terms of their comfort level with new technologies. For example, Horizon Worlds is getting a mobile app treatment. That could be a good way to introduce the companys concept of the metaverse to a wider audience.

Before these things get huge on VR headsets, theres an opportunity to bring it to the masses using a mobile phone you already use, Radoff explained. That stuff maybe isnt sexy enough to talk about, but I think its important in terms of executing a strategy to get these experiences in front of people on a global basis regardless of their ability to purchase a $1,500 device.

For now, though, they can and should take a page out of the playbook for current successful metaverses like Roblox or Fortnite. These are platforms that have fostered communities filled with people with digital personas and identities that are just as importantif not more soto the users as their own actual in-person identities. Its only by creating fun and engaging environments that they were able to thrive, grow, and ultimately succeed.

The Metaverse Is Going to College. But Will It Suck?

Meta on the other hand seems to be taking a top down approach, trying to force unwanted and unasked for technology into the hands of the masses based on their deep pockets.

No matter the approach however, Zuckerberg and Meta were always in store for a Herculean task. Theyre trying to create a product like the cellphone in much less time than it took for the cellphone to arrive in our pockets.

Radoff actually believes theres something noble in these goalsespecially when it comes to how Meta is willing to take big risks to develop potentially groundbreaking technology.

Meta gets a lot of credit for taking on some super challenging problems, Radoff said. Hardware like sunglasses-style AR/VR with a battery life akin to mobile phones arent exactly easy to build after all. These are epicly complex undertakings, he said. I do think they deserve a little bit of credit for taking on that amount of technological risk. It just takes a lot of courage to do that.

Time will ultimately tell the story of whether or not that courage actually bears fruit. For now, the fact remains that the metaverse has already been here for a whileand itll continue growing and developing into new and different ways for people to socialize and collaborate. It just might not be the one that Zuck has in mind.

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Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast; Getty

The nightmare kicked into high gear with something that seemed innocuousone of those innocuous but annoying living-in-New-York-City things: A flood in my upstairs neighbors apartment had led to a flood in my apartment, causing a lot of damage. We had to move into a hotel for a few days while repairs were made.

So at 7:00 a.m. on the morning of April 9, 2018, my wife and I were sitting together having breakfast in the Loews Regency Hotel, when there was a knock on the door. Nobody knocks on your door in a hotel unless you call for room service. We hadnt.

I walked to the door in my shorts and T-shirt, looked through the peephole, and saw what must have been two dozen men and women in black suits standing in the hallway. No one was smiling. It was pretty obvious who they were, but I had no idea what they wanted.

So, I opened the door and said, Can I help you?

The lead agent was central casting: standing about six foot two, broad-shouldered, well-manicured. Over his right shoulder was one of the biggest men Ive ever encountered. He was at least six inches taller than the lead agent, and actually had to step sideways to pass through the doorframe. He didnt say a word; he didnt need to.

Manhattan DAs Star Witness: Indict Trump Now or Im Out

We didnt know it at the time, but meanwhile, simultaneously, 48 other agents converged on my apartment that was undergoing renovation due to the flood, as well as my law office and our safety deposit box at TD Bank.

The lead agent handed me a federal warrant, issued by the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorneys Office, dated 4/08/2018 and signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman at 7:54 p.m.not even twelve hours before. The warrant said my home, hotel room, and offices were to be searched for evidence related to conspiracy, false bank entries, false statements to a financial institution, wire fraud, bank fraud, and illegal campaign contributions.

The agent asked me to unlock and hand over my cellphones, and step into the hallway.

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Knowing that I was a licensed firearm owner, he asked me if I had any guns with me. I told him I had two, on the night table in the bedrooma Glock-43 and a Glock-27. The agent asked me if they were loaded, to which I responded that they were. He then asked if the guns were chambered. I responded that they were not. We stepped back into the room as they secured the firearms for the duration of the search. Upon conclusion, they returned them to me.

Despite the presidents later allegations that they had busted down our doors and ransacked our properties, I want to emphasize that that wasnt true. They were very cordial, very professional. They had even waited for my son to leave for school before coming up to the room. We offered them tea or coffee. They didnt want any.

They spent five hours going through our rooms. They went through the sofas, looked behind curtains. They looked on top of and beneath cabinets, and even removed, checked, and photographed all of my daughters stuff in her underwear drawer. They photographed everythingeven going through pillowcases. To this day, I still dont understand the need to photograph my college-aged daughters underwear.

To make matters more disturbing, in the middle of it all, in walks my daughter herself, meaning to surprise us with a visit from college. Instead, the surprise was on her. She sat with us for the duration of the hours-long raid, watching the spectacle unfold. (She would later tweak the agents on social media about their examination of her underwear drawer, noting that all theyd found was a pack of cigarettes shed been hiding from Laura and me. Busted, she tweeted.)

Each of the bedrooms had a safe, and I was directed to open them. In the master bedroom the safe contained some assorted jewelry as well as an envelope containing nine thousand dollars. On the outside of the envelope was written Real Real.

The agents had laid out everything they found on the master bedroom bed and fanned out the $9,000 found in that Real Real envelope and photographed it as if it were Pablo Escobars millions in his safe house.

They asked why we had the cash. Laura told them, This is my Real, Real money.

One of the FBI agents turned around and said he didnt understand, Do you have money that isnt real? Maybe he thought I was a counterfeiter too, who knew?

Laura calmly explained Real, Real was a high-end consignment shop that sells merchandise like shoes and dresses. She had been saving over the course of six months to shop there.

I couldnt tell if they were disappointed not to find the 10 million in cash that the Steele [Dossier] claimed I possessed to pay off the Russians for [Paul] Manaforts deals and mistakes.

Interestingly enough, as Laura and I sat on the couch watching television while the agents continued to search our hotel room, a commercial for the Real Real came on and I yelled at the agent in charge to come take a look. Hey, the Real Real has a commercial on, come take a look, I called out.

Throughout, we didnt get upset. Not in the slightest. There was nothing that we had done that would have caused us any worry.

So I was beyond surprised when they walked out of the hotel apartment with a dozen boxes.

Handout

Excerpted from Revenge, by Michael Cohen; published by Melville House, 2022.

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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Quarterback Payton Thorne threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jayden Reed in the second overtime Saturday to lift Michigan State to a 34-28 victory over Wisconsin.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Spartans (3-4, 1-3 Big 10 Conference). It is the first loss for Wisconsins interim coach Jim Leonhard who replaced Paul Chryst two weeks ago.

The game-winning throw was set up after Michigan States Jacoby Windmon stripped the ball from Braelon Allen on the first play of the second overtime and defensive tackle Dashaun Mallory pounced on the ball. Three plays later, Thorne hit Reed in the right corner of the end zone with the game-winner.

They had walked their (linebacker) up off the edge," said Thorne who completed 21 of 28 passes for 265 yards. We really hadn't seen that look all day. So I'm thinking he's probably coming, and even if he's bluffing, they might be bringing something from the other side which on the play we called it's not great.

Thorne continued: "So I saw (Reed) was out there, looked like he had single coverage. So I said screw this, let's protect this thing up and throw and let's go get in the end zone. He did a great job coming down with the ball."

On the first play of the first overtime, Reed threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman at the goal line, giving the Spartans a 28-21 lead.

Things have been tough this year," said Reed who also had nine catches for 117 yards. "But I think you guys can see that were a team that cares.

Wisconsin's Graham Mertz tied the game when he connected with Chimere Dike on a 25-yard scoring pass.

Just really proud of our guys, just the way theyve stuck together, handled adversity, responded to adversity, blocked out the noise," said Michigan State coach Mel Tucker. "We had very good intentional focus today as a football team.

After Michigan State took a 21-14 lead, Mertz marched the Badgers 52 yards to even the game at 21 with 2:04 remaining on his 3-yard touchdown pass to Keontez Lewis.

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On the ensuing possession the Spartans had an opportunity to win the game in regulation by driving to the Badgers' 29-yard line. However, a bad snap on a 37-yard field goal forced holder Bryce Baringer to throw a pass that was intercepted by John Torchio.

Trailing 14-7 at halftime, Michigan State's Elijah Collins tied the game at 14 with 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter when he capped an eight-play, 97-yard drive with a 1-yard run. Tight end Maliq Carr keyed the march when he caught a 72-yard pass and was forced out at the Wisconsin 12 by Kamoi Latu.

Thorne tossed a 29-yard scoring pass to Coleman with 7:23 left to give the Spartans a 21-14 lead. The drive was kept alive by two pass interference penalties, including one on fourth and 4 from the Badgers 44-yard line.

Allen put the Badgers (3-4, 1-3) on top 7-0 when he capped their first drive with a 1-yard dive over a pile on fourth and 1. He gained 31 of Wisconsins 63 yards on the drive.

Michigan State tied it at 7 with 20 seconds left in the first when Wisconsin transfer Jalen Berger broke free for a 12-yard touchdown run. The score was set up following Windmons interception of Mertz at the Badgers 12-yard line.

Allen, who finished with 123 yards, gave Wisconsin a 14-7 lead on another 1-yard run early in the second. He started the 75-yard drive with a 34-yard before being run out of bounds.

Great battle tonight," Leonhard said. Obviously the way this one ended, it hurts. Id never question the effort of our guys tonight. They put it all out there. Unfortunately we didnt execute as well as we needed to in the second half. Obviously, in the second overtime as well. Thats the difference in the game.

THE TAKEAWAY

Wisconsin: The Badgers defense gave up 389 yards, its most since allowing 539 to Ohio State on Sept. 24. Wisconsin will need to improve their pass defense against Purdue to avoid a two-game losing streak.

Michigan State: After giving up an average of 528.5 yards over the last four games, the Spartans played one of their best defensive games of the season. Michigan State gave up only 283 yards to Wisconsin, including only 131 passing yards.

UP NEXT

Wisconsin: Hosts Purdue on Oct. 22 in a key Big Ten West game and then has a bye week.

Michigan State: Has a bye week and then goes on the road Oct. 29 to play Michigan.

___

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the APs college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25.
Less than a month before the 2022 midterm election, a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll will share the results of a head-to-head matchup between U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican, and retired Navy Admiral Mike Franken, a Democrat.

The first results from the October Iowa Poll will be published online at 6 p.m. Saturday at DesMoinesRegister.com. The results will also be published in the Des Moines Sunday Register.

The poll also tests Iowans' opinions on the governor's race, in which Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds faces Democrat Deidre DeJear and Libertarian Rick Stewart. Other results will follow over the next several days, highlighting Iowans opinions on the attorney generals race, the Iowa races for Congress, abortion and the gun rights constitutional amendment.

More:Iowa Poll page

Each article will be published online and in print. The quickest way to receive the results is by signing up for news alerts through the Des Moines Register app.

You can also find results, as well as more ace political reporting, in our daily politics newsletter. You can sign up for the free newsletter at DesMoinesRegister.com/politicsnewsletter.

The Iowa Poll, a Register exclusive since 1943, is a closely watched indicator of candidate strength.

Selzer & Co., an Iowa polling firm rated highly by political and polling insiders, conducts the Iowa Poll.

The Iowa Poll is produced in collaboration with Mediacom, the largest cable company in Iowa and the nations fifth-largest cable company based on video customers.

We've been the news Iowa depends upon since 1849. Subscribe to help us continue our mission.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: New Iowa Poll will look at 2022 elections, U.S. Senate, governor races
Age: 41

Party: DFL

City: Northfield

What qualifies you to hold this position? As the Executive Director of a rural clean water organization, Ive had the opportunity to assist in creating, testifying, and supporting a bill that became law that rewards farmers for the great work they do to safeguard our rivers and streams, keeping their soil on their land, and ensures profitability for future generations.

What would your top priorities be if elected? I know we can, and must, do better for the future of Minnesotans young and old- no matter your zip code, your race or religion, your gender or your political party. I care about families not going bankrupt because of medical bills, supporting our educators and kids, safeguarding our democracy and having a livable planet.

Politics has become very divisive in recent years, if elected, what would you do to improve the tone?

When rural places get painted with a broad brush, many in my area feel left behind. I believe we have so much in common and that we all want the same things for our families. I want to bring the lessons learned from working with rural leaders on clean water, soil health, and climate state-wide for a better, more just, more beautiful future.
A Missouri police department issued a warning after a parent said she found THC gummies in her child's Halloween candy.

Some locals were suspicious of the warning, calling it a political move by those who oppose recreational marijuana use.

An expert said he has never found a verified report of a child killed or seriously hurt by a contaminated treat.

A Missouri police department issued a warning about a report of THC gummies found in a child's Halloween candy, but some locals and an expert have expressed doubt about the longstanding panic over drug-laced candy being given to children.

The St. Charles Police Department issued a safety alert on Sunday asking those who attended a "Trunk or Treat" event at a local restaurant on Saturday to check their children's candy after a parent said she found THC gummies in her child's candy bag after the event.

"We have a single report of a parent discovering a small bag of Delta 88 Edibles which appear similar to gummy worms," the department said on Facebook, though a spokesperson later corrected that they were "Delta 8" gummy worms.

"Officers went to the car show and could not locate anyone passing out any Delta 8 gummy worms. We believe the gummy worms were somehow mixed in with a container of candy someone was passing out. This report has been isolated to this single incident which leads us to believe there was no malicious intent and was accidental, however, we are trying to determine how it occurred," a spokesperson for St. Charles PD said in a comment to Insider.

Warnings of nefarious plots to drug children's candy around Halloween have persisted for years, despite little to no evidence.

Melissa Kuhl, a photographer based in St. Charles City, called the report "nonsense," while Leigh Kaufman from O'Fallon called it a "typical scare tactic used around Halloween." Both made their doubts known with comments on St. Charles PD's Facebook post.

When asked about the skepticism of local St. Charles residents on Facebook, the St. Charles PD spokesperson said: "As far as the veracity of the incident, it did occur as reported above."

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A relative of the mother who reported finding the THC gummies declined an interview on her behalf, citing harassment that she's received since filing the report.

Warnings of drug-laced candy 'always' loom around Halloween

Kuhl told Insider that she could not believe that the police department had issued a statement without "doing a more thorough investigation."

"There are always those memes that go around about people handing out drugs this time of year but this year it's been worse than others," Kuhl told Insider. "I don't use marijuana or any THC products but I have a low tolerance for false stories. Nothing about this story adds up."

Kaufman, who told Insider she runs a Facebook group called "MO Medical Marijuana," said the timing of the police department's warning seemed "all too coincidental" considering that recreational marijuana use is on the ballot in Missouri next month.

NAACP chapters in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County have all endorsed the amendment on the ballot, though the Missouri state NAACP chapter opposed it, stating that it would criminalize marijuana possession, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. That claim has been disputed by the Legal Missouri 2022 campaign, which said the amendment doesn't include any criminal penalties past a misdemeanor charge on the third offense instead of the felony charge currently in place, per the Post-Dispatch.

"This industry has fought negative stigmas: 'reefer madness' mindsets for decades and is used to seeing these types of stories pop up. Especially when it is a single report, it is very hard to believe," Kaufman said. "I can assure you that those of us that consume cannabis and cannabis products keep a very close eye on our edibles and would not just give them away, especially to children. We have spent decades fighting the negative stigmas and would not jeopardize that."

An expert 'can't find any evidence' of contaminated treats

The lore of poisoned or dangerous treats on Halloween dates back decades. Before it was marijuana or THC, there were warnings of poison in candy bars and razor blades in apples, according to The New York Times. Though the reports have persisted, evidence backing up the claims is scarce, one expert told Insider.

Joel Best, a sociology and criminal justice professor at the University of Delaware, told Insider he has studied decades of news and police reports of drugged or dangerous candy at Halloween.

"I can't find any evidence that any child has been killed or seriously hurt by a contaminated treat picked up in the course of trick-or-treating," Best told Insider, noting that there have been "deaths that have been reported, and in each case, the story's been retracted. It turned out that there were health problems or something like that."

Best added that "you cannot prove a negative" that no child has ever received a drugged treat, but he said there would be little payoff for someone to poison children on Halloween.

"You cannot prove that nobody's ever died. You can't prove that nobody's ever received a contaminated treat. But I don't think that this is a big thing to worry about," Best said. "It's a possibility that somehow a gummy bear of the wrong variety got mixed in with the candy. It's possible that somebody did this as a prank. It's possible somebody did it hoping to harm some child. You can't know."

Best said parents may impose any safeguards they want to prevent dangerous trick-or-treating incidents, but he added that there are dozens of other ways kids regularly hurt themselves on October 31.

"Halloween's very dangerous. You send tens of millions of kids out into the dark one night a year, and they wind up in the emergency room," Best said. "They get hit by cars, and they trip over their costumes and fall down and hurt themselves, or they can't see out of their mask. All kinds of stuff happen to them, but they aren't getting poisoned."

Read the original article on Insider
A cross-county investigation into the case is underway following the rescue  but stories of murdered and missing Black women in the area were reported by many Black residents earlier in September.

A 22-year-old Black woman on Oct. 7 escaped from the basement of a 39-year-old white male who allegedly sexually assaulted her and murdered her friends  weeks after the Kansas City Police Department dismissed initial reports of the kidnappings as completely unfounded.

Missouri man Timothy Haslett Jr., who is white, was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping, and second-degree assault on Oct. 7, according to the Excelsior Citizen.

According to the Kansas City Defender, a Black woman identified in court documents as T.J. was discovered that day after Excelsior Springs police received reports of banging on doors and screams for help heard in Halsetts basement.

Clay County Court documents recounting T.J.s report allege that Halsett kept her in a small room in the basement that he had built. He kept her restrained in handcuffs on her wrists and ankles. In addition, Haslett whipped her while she was restrainedthere were injuries on her back that were consistent with this description.

(Adobe Stock)

The documents report that T.J. was able to get free when he left to take his child to school, and that upon the [police] officers arrival at the residence, they found T.J. She was wearing latex lingerie and had a metal collar around her neck with a padlock, and duct tape around her neck. T.J. advised that a man by the name of Timothy picked her up on Prospect in Kansas City at the beginning of September 2022.

Per the outlet, a cross-county investigation into the case is underway following the rescue  but reports of murdered and missing Black women in the area first surfaced from many Black residents earlier in September.

Tony Caldwell, a local Kansas City bishop, addressed the issue in a video published by the Defender in mid-to-late September. In the video, Caldwell says the missing women seem to be being kidnapped near the citys Prospect Avenue.

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In response to the claims from Kansas Citys Black community, KCPD released a statement calling the reports completely unfounded rumors, which led multiple news outlets to run stories dismissive of the community testimonies, per the Defender.

Following the charges filed against Halsett, Caldwell told the outlet: That was the description of the guy we were talking about and that was the location we said they were being taken from. Thats exactly what we were telling people.

Per the Citizen, local resident Ciara Tharp welcomed T.J. into her home following the rescue, providing food and warmth with the help of Tharps grandmother.

She made the comment about her friends. That they didnt make it and that he had killed them, Tharp told the Defender. Im really hoping that they find evidence about her friends.

In response to the newly uncovered evidence contrary to KCPDs earlier statements, the department defended dismissing residents claims.

We base our investigations on police incident reports of criminal activity. We do still maintain that there is no indication that what you guys reported was accurate and there was no indication that there was anything that supported that claim, KCPD told the outlet.

We share what information we can publicly, many times from the scene, of incidents of violent crimes when there is a report or an investigation underway, there had and has not been anything that corresponded to your reports on social media and the web which is why we refuted that report and said that the claims were unfounded, KCPD added.

Per the Citizen, the ongoing investigation into the potential series of kidnappings and assaults at the hands of Halsett is expected to take days, possibly weeks to complete.

Caldwell told the Defender: Im just sorry that it took so long, but Im grateful that she found a way out. Im sorry people didnt act on it sooner, and its absolutely tragic that the other young ladies didnt make it. Its horrible.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Missouri police arrest murderer who targeted Black women after calling the claims unfounded appeared first on TheGrio.
Photo: The Canadian Press A Canada Border Services Agency officer speaks with a traveller at the Nexus office at the airport in Ottawa, Tuesday, May 8, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The Business Council of Canada says it is concerned over the continued closure of the Nexus trusted-traveller program.

Business Council of Canada CEO Goldy Hyder says it is deeply troubling that the U.S. government has not reopened 13 Nexus enrolment centres, in a letter to David Cohen, the American ambassador to Canada, obtained by The Canadian Press.

The two countries are in dispute over a long-standing request by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency that its agents be afforded the same legal protections inside Nexus facilities in Canada that they currently have at ports of entry like airports and the Canada-U.S. border.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has cited the principles of Canadian sovereignty in explaining why U.S. customs officers can't have the same legal protections at the Nexus centres that they do at airports and the border.

Hyder says in her letter to Cohen she fears the dispute will hurt businesses whose employees do not already have a Nexus card and she strongly urges the ambassador to recommend reopening the enrolment centres.

Canadas envoy to the U.S., Kristen Hillman, said last week the trusted-traveller program is being "held hostage" by unilateral American efforts to renegotiate the 20-year-old preclearance agreement between the United States and its northern neighbour.
Roman Tsymbaliuk

 What is known about those who were recently mobilized in Russia? They have already been sent to fight in Ukraine. How many dead invaders were sent back to Russia?

Putin usually lies, but he told us that he had already sent 16,000 (Russians) to Ukraine to die. This is the first delivery. It is clear that some of them are already returning back. It is quite difficult to count them from open sources, because Russia hides its losses.

Read also: Ukrainian army advances to Svatove as criticism of mobilization in Russia mounts  ISW

But when Russians are being buried every day in every region, its great news. What's great is that they are buried not only in Buryatia. Now Moscow has joined this process and so did St. Petersburg. The war continues, and the Russians, who came here with weapons in their hands, are dying.

This doesnt mean that they have stopped supporting the war against us. This doesnt mean that they are against missile attacks on Ukraine. They cannot understand one thing: Why did it have to be us? We support Putin. Why are we being killed?

Our task is to explain to them what is happening.

In fact, just yesterday Putin "hit reverse." He promised the Russians that there will be no full-scale mobilization. He promised that these unfortunate 300,000 losers would be gathered in two weeks, and that would be it.

Read also: Putin plans to mobilize a lot more than 300,000 troops, analyst says

But everyone knows that his words have no weight. He is a liar. Therefore, it doesnt matter what Putin says. It matters what the Armed Forces of Ukraine do.

In Astana, where the CIS summit was held, it was more interesting to listen not to Putins answers, but to sycophants questions which are pointing out that Putin made many mistakes. They complain that people without military training were sent to Ukraine and were killed there. They don't wonder why they went there, but they still complain. They ask whether the mobilization will expand. They say that Russians shouldnt be arresting people for listening to Ukrainian songs in a car.

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 What questions are most often heard in the Russian media space now?

 If we are talking about Russian television, then they demand carpet bombing of Ukraine, they say "let's kill them all as part of denazification." They are frank  "let them have hunger and cold." It seems that the happiness of Russians will depend on this.

Television is a different story, it's for morons. It is influential. In fact, Putin's most precise weapon is Russian television.

Read also: Russia boosts security of military commissariats due to growing arson attacks

In the eighth year of the war, a former gas trader receives questions: Will Ukraine and Russia remain as a result of these hostilities? It seems, everyone has already been convinced on the Ukraine part. If people near the maniac (Putin) ask a question about the future of Russia, then I want to ask: maybe it makes sense to stop all this? But no  they won't stop.

I liked the moment from that event when they asked him: How so, 80 years after the great victory, are German weapons killing Russian people again?"

I wonder why, when they are killed by HIMARS, this isnt a problem. French CAESARs generally mow them (Russian invaders) down like weeds.

Interestingly, they ask many key questions that the maniac doesnt have an answer to. These are changes that we are all happy about.

 How does the Russian propaganda machine counteract this? Did they receive new manuals on how to talk about the war; how to explain to those who cautiously begin to ask questions and doubt whether it was worth starting this phase of the war?

The Russian leadership, the military in particular, pins all the blame on Russian generals  on (Russian Defense Minister Sergei) Shoigu, on (Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Valery) Gerasimov, on (Commander of the Central Military District Alexander) Lapin, and on (Head of the Command of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine Sergey) Surovikin  to this entire gang.

Now theyve ended up in a situation when the situation at the front lines can only be received in Telegram channels, from people like terrorist Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov)  people who, as far as I understand, work in the information service or the FSB (Russian security service), or from the Kremlins puppet in Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, or someone else. Some people want to frighten them or even bring them to justice for defiling the honor of Russian soldiers. Like its forbidden to say that Russian soldiers are being killed in Ukraine. But Russian soldiers have been killed here and will continue to be killed, and there is no need to be surprised.

 It's good if at least the military bloggers began to realize that they were being killed here. Or they dont get it either?

 It seems to me that right now they will be given a general instruction to reduce the amount of negativity. Something like  "you have no right to criticize Marshal Shoigu." People who criticize the Russian army, they dont criticize it in the context of what they are doing in Ukraine. Their critique goes like  why are you so bad at killing Ukrainians?, why are you such bad soldiers?. The guys like Girkin are representatives of the ultra-fascist party. They demand strikes on the critical infrastructure (of Ukraine).

Earlier, Putin said that now there is no need for mass missile strikes. But I don't think they dont have the ability. It is clear that they will be here to kill people for a long time. But when someone tries to reach for a nuclear bomb or something like that, on the eighth month of the war, it seems to me that they have some problems at work there.

 They say that Girkin was sent to the front because he criticized the army. How confirmed are these rumors?

 I dont think that he was sent to the front for this, because he publicly spoke more than once about his desire to personally join in the murder of Ukrainians. This is a man imbued with the ideas of Russian Nazism. He is very simple in that regard: if you say that you arent Russian, but Ukrainian, it means that you need to be killed.

Considering that Strelkov is a retired FSB colonel who can lead people, the Russian Ministryof Defense tried to prevent him from going to the front line. They were afraid that he would start saying that the Russian government is criminal, and embezzled all the foot cloths and ammo.

Now he seems to be in military uniform. Obviously, he will pop up somewhere at the front. I wouldn't be surprised if the Russians themselves would waste him and say: "Evil Ukrainians killed him." Perhaps thats how it will be.

In our case, it is best to capture him and send him to The Hague.

 Recently, several publications wrote that the Russian elites are starting to ask questions about what kind of abyss Russia is heading into. And they are considering the possibility of removing Putin from power. Is such a scenario possible in Russia in its current state?

Everything here is both simple and complicated  either yes or no. Everyone who created the Russian economy, complex enterprises, joint ventures with the Germans, the Americans... In terms of doing business, Russia is better than we are on multiple levels. They have a better system. It is a fact, supported by international ratings. I don't like that we're behind in this regard. Well, anyway, its all gone now.

People who have really invested their lives and their thoughts in the Russian economy arent happy. This applies, in particular, to large Russian businesses. But this is how they created the system: the rich and influential businessmen from the cities dont have influence on the Kremlin. It would be nice for them all to chip in a billion each and drop a Russian nuclear bomb on the Kremlin when Putin is there. It would be cheaper for everyone. Or may be drop it on Zavidovo (Moscow region - ed.), where his (Putin - ed.) residence is.

Removing Putin from power in any way is primarily in the Russian interest.

This isolation of Russia leads to the fact that the market is changing, the business structure is changing. The Russians are trying to strategically switch to the East, but their Chinese friends say: You traded gas with the EU for 50 years, you had rules there, long-term contracts, but here we will be establishing them. We ourselves will tell you at what price you will give us your goods.

This doesnt mean that tomorrow Russia will default or everything will fall apart. This suggests that the structure of the economy will change, the structure of society will change. A million Russians left. We will not analyze whether they are good or bad Russians, but these are the most active, smart...

 Those who had the money and the opportunity run.

 The smartest ones transferred their money abroad before Feb. 24 (the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine).

The trend is that they are moving manpower here, Russian cannon fodder, they are being killed here. Now there are fewer people in Russia and there are fewer military men. The question is: what's next? Putin doesnt answer this question. There is no answer to this key question, but there should be.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Chicago has welcomed more buses of migrants who arrived Friday, according to city officials.

City officials said in a statement released Saturday that a total of 3,313 asylum-seekers have arrived from the Texas border, including 86 who arrived on Friday.

The group included families and individuals, who are receiving help from state, county and city agencies, according to the statement. Children and infants are among those who arrived.

Immediate shelter and support for basic needs was provided, according to the statement, which also noted that many who arrived had walked hundreds of miles, navigating great danger through multiple countries.

Illinois is a welcoming state, the statement said. We are committed to assisting each family and individual, providing human services with respect and dignity.

Republican governors have been sending migrants to Democratic strongholds without advance warning for several weeks. The practice escalated last month with buses arriving at a wealthy summer enclave in Massachusetts and the home of Vice President Kamala Harris in an apparent taunt of immigrant-friendly sanctuary cities.

What happens once the migrants arrive here is unclear, immigration experts have told the Tribune. Immigration law applies to people differently depending on their circumstances.

People seeking asylum have the same rights under the Constitution and are given a court date to gain legal status.

The National Immigrant Justice Center has so far offered legal information to more than 2,000 people trying to navigate the process, which has been made more difficult due to the chaotic way people are arriving, said the centers executive director, Mary Meg McCarthy.

This is not the way we should be welcoming people, said McCarthy. There is a better way. I have been doing this for more than 20 years. Its a real hard time. ... We are really trying to respond to the situation in a way that is humane and ensures that peoples rights are respected and they are treated with dignity.

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Unlike those who enter a country with refugee status, asylum-seekers arrive with nothing, the experts have said. Refugee status means a person can immediately apply for government benefits.

The City of Chicago noted several places to make donations or learn how to offer support:

- A rapid response wish list set up by Instituto del Progreso Latino in partnership with the City and nonprofit partners can be found at www.InstitutoChicago.org.

- The city of Chicago has established a website with donation drop off locations at www.chicago.gov/support.

- Cook County has a link to wish list for families at https://cchealthfoundation.org/2022-migrant-campaign/.

- Further information on how to make a monetary donation to trusted sources can be found at https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/Asylum.aspx.
This illustration shows the Lucy spacecraft passing one of the Trojan Asteroids near Jupiter. Credits: Southwest Research Institute

Southwest Research Institute

People around the globe spotted a bright light zipping through the sky on Sunday morning  but it wasn't a shooting star.

That light was NASA's Lucy spacecraft, which passed 200 miles above the Earth's surface during the one-year anniversary of its mission.

Lucy, which NASA says was visible around 7:04 a.m. ET, passed Western Australia and eventually the Pacific Ocean, giving Earth residents something to observe as the spacecraft was on its way to explore the Trojan asteroids orbiting Jupiter.

"In the original plan, Lucy was actually going to pass about 30 miles closer to the Earth," Rich Burns, Lucy project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in a release. "However, when it became clear that we might have to execute this flyby with one of the solar arrays unlatched, we chose to use a bit of our fuel reserves so that the spacecraft passes the Earth at a slightly higher altitude, reducing the disturbance from the atmospheric drag on the spacecraft's solar arrays."

RELATED: NASA Astronaut Megan McArthur Reflects on 'Incredible' First Month (of Six!) on ISS: 'It's Fun'

In order to zip past our planet, Lucy had to navigate dense areas of satellites and debris, meaning special procedures had to be put in place to prevent any accidents, and to avoid a "potentially catastrophic collision," Coralie Adam, the team chief for the Lucy deputy navigation team from KinetX Aerospace, said.

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"If the team detects that Lucy is at risk of colliding with a satellite or piece of debris, then  12 hours before the closest approach to Earth  the spacecraft will execute one of these, altering the time of closest approach by either two or four seconds," Adam said.

Sunday morning marked the first of three total times Lucy is expected to zip by the Earth, as entering the planet's orbit will give it a boost to continue its mission, CNN reports.

RELATED: NASA Launches DART Mission to Collide with Asteroid: 'Turning Science Fiction into Science Fact'

Lucy, which is the main part of a $981 million mission, first hit the sky in October 2021, with a 12-year mission goal of exploring the Trojan asteroids, which have yet to be observed in the history of space exploration.

The exploration means Lucy may finally be able to provide the first high-resolution images of the asteroids. The spacecraft was named after Lucy, the fossilized human ancestor, which was named after The Beatles song, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

One year ago today, a little spacecraft by the name of Lucy left this planet to go explore other worlds - and now, shes back briefly for a gravity boost! She keeps getting me up in the wee hours of the morning for some reason, but she knows Ill keep coming back for more.  pic.twitter.com/rAn6jpsBQi  Lauren Duda (@deepspaceduda) October 16, 2022

"I'm especially excited by the final few images that Lucy will take of the Moon," John Spencer, acting deputy project scientist at SwRI, said in the release. "Counting craters to understand the collisional history of the Trojan asteroids is key to the science that Lucy will carry out, and this will be the first opportunity to calibrate Lucy's ability to detect craters by comparing it to previous observations of the Moon by other space missions."

With Lucy's appearance in our atmosphere, people across the world were encouraged by NASA to share whatever images they can grab of the spacecraft flying above, using the hashtag, "#WaveToLucy."

#SpotTheSpacecraft update: The Lucy Team in Boulder and Littleton, Colorado were stuck with overcast skies, but two intrepid team members made a roadtrip to Scottsbluff, Nebraska and spotted Lucy with a telescope and shared what they saw. Whoot! #LucyMission#EarthGravityAssist pic.twitter.com/8LYhFBNdqp  Lucy Mission (@LucyMission) October 16, 2022

"The Lucy Team in Boulder and Littleton, Colorado were stuck with overcast skies, but two intrepid team members made a roadtrip to Scottsbluff, Nebraska and spotted Lucy with a telescope and shared what they saw," the Lucy Mission Twitter account shared. "Whoot!"
J.D. Vance, Republican candidate for the Senate, with former President Trump on Sept. 17 in Youngstown, Ohio. (Tom E. Puskar / Associated Press)

Three weeks before election day, the race for control of the U.S. Senate sits on a razors edge.

The stakes are enormous. With Republicans expected to win a majority in the House of Representatives, a GOP-led Senate could help the House dismantle President Bidens agenda. A Democratic-led Senate, on the other hand, could defend Bidens programs and confirm his nominees, including to the Supreme Court if a vacancy opens.

So the course of national politics over the next two years or more depends on the outcome of half a dozen Senate races that are too close to call.

Some have captured national attention, thanks to colorful candidates and dramatic twists: Georgia, where Republican candidate Herschel Walker is battling reports that he paid for a girlfriends abortion, and Pennsylvania, where Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who suffered a near-fatal stroke in May, is competing against television doctor Mehmet Oz.

But for a contest that will gauge the evolution of American politics in the Biden era, its hard to beat the slightly less lurid one in Ohio, a state once so closely divided that it determined the outcomes of presidential elections.

Ohio is the quintessential Obama-Trump state. President Obama won there in 2008 and 2012, but President Trump won in 2016 and 2020, by a stunning 8% margin each time. The key difference was the defection of white, working-class voters, once part of Democrats electoral base, to Trumps conservative populism.

This year, the Democrats Senate candidate, Rep. Tim Ryan, is trying to win back many of those disaffected voters. He has not only cast himself as a moderate Democrat with roots in Ohios rust belt; he has openly criticized his partys national leadership and parts of its program.

I dont have time to defend a bad Democratic brand, he said recently. His party suffers from a disconnect with working-class people, he explained.

Ryan has opposed Bidens student debt forgiveness plan, noting that most Americans dont have college degrees. He has volunteered his advice that Biden should not run for a second term. He supported Trumps tough policies on trade with China. In 2016, he challenged Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) for the House speakership. (He lost.) This year, like many Democratic candidates, he has avoided campaigning with Biden.

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Ryans spirited, Ohio-centered campaign has boosted him to a dead heat against his Republican rival, Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance, who also boasts a working-class pedigree  plus a full-throated endorsement from Trump.

At a rally last month in Youngstown, with Vance sitting in the front row, Trump twitted the candidate for his devotion. "J.D. is kissing my ass  he wants my support so bad," he boasted.

Ryan quickly turned the moment into a slogan, which he featured when the candidates debated: Ohio needs an ass kicker, not an ass kisser.

Good line, acknowledged Scott Jennings, a Republican strategist and former aide to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). It moved the debate outside party ideology.

But Ryan and his allies say they face one big problem: National Republican groups are pouring millions of dollars into Ohio to boost Vance with television advertising, but national Democratic groups havent done the same on Ryans side.

McConnells super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund, has bought or reserved $28 million in television time in Ohio with more on the way. The Democrats counterpart, the Senate Majority Fund, hasnt spent a dollar in Ohio; another Democratic super PAC has spent about $3 million.

Those numbers dont tell the whole story, however. Ryan has vastly outraised Vance, enabling him to buy slightly more television time so far. But Ohio Democrats are braced for a tsunami of negative super PAC ads against Ryan in the races final weeks and frustrated that their party isnt coming to the rescue.

We dont have the national support that we want, Ryan complained last week.

National Democratic officials say the partys funding decisions have been a matter of hard-nosed calculation  nothing personal.

The partys first responsibility is to protect endangered incumbents like Sens. Raphael Warnock in Georgia and Catherine Cortez Masto in Nevada, they argue.

And given Ohios recent history  polls incorrectly projected close outcomes there in both 2016 and 2020  they dont trust the surveys that show Ryan and Vance neck and neck.

Ryan and his frustrated allies have raised another possible motive  a complaint that conveniently dovetails with his message that he's an independent voice not beholden to the national party.

Washington, D.C., Democrats sometimes have a problem supporting working-class candidates like me, Ryan said last week on MSNBC.

"We think thats part of it, a top Ohio Democrat told me. We hear things like, Your candidates running as a Republican. Thats not fair. Hes not being a cheerleader.

Some of this is merely the pitiless calculus of campaign finance: Money is finite, and not every candidate makes the cut.

But Democrats appear to be passing up a chance to test an important proposition  that centrists who veer from their partys progressive positions can win back some of the blue-collar voters who were once the core of Democratic support.

If party leaders dont send more money Ryans way, they may never find out.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
North Carolina state government has spent roughly $2.5 million on Executive Mansion repairs during Gov. Roy Coopers tenure -- expenses that a state official said were needed for critical safety, security and other upkeep for the over 130-year-old building.

The Department of Administration, which maintains state-owned buildings, confirmed recently to North State Journal the total for expenditures and associated costs on the governors official residence since 2017.

The Raleigh mansion, which first opened in 1891 and is a state historic site, also functions as office and venue space in addition to providing housing for Coopers family on the second floor.

ALSO READ: Gov. Cooper pushes to decriminalize some marijuana possession in North Carolina

The building had water damage in the basement and walls and needed foundation repairs and brick restoration, along with repairs to 50-year-old plumbing, department deputy secretary Mark Edwards said.

For several months, we had to close all the exterior porches because they were unsafe for people to walk on, Edwards told WRAL-TV. The needed repairs, after years of tight budgets, caused delays for Cooper to reside in the mansion when he took office in early 2017.

The department declined to provide a line-item accounting of the expenses, with Edwards citing the special security measures for the building.

But he said everything performed was necessary  with no creature comforts or cosmetic changes for Coopers family -- and went through the required procurement process. Appropriations in state budgets have covered the expenditures over the years.

(WATCH BELOW: Billy Graham Rapid Team lends a hand to mourners in Raleigh following mass shooting)




Five years after #MeToo was adopted by the mainstream, Tarana Burkes focus remains on the Black communities in which her activism was forged.

Editors note: This is the second of a two-part interview with Tarana Burke in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the #MeToo movement. The first installment was published on Saturday, Oct. 15.

During one of her speaking engagements overseas this past summer, Tarana Burke noticed a group of Black men in the audience. After her talk was over, one of the men approached her.

Sis, I have never heard you speak before,' Burke remembers him saying. I didnt know what to expect. And I stuck around cause I wanted to hear what all the fuss was about.' He added, Im just pleasantly surprisedI was sitting here telling my boys, We got to protect her at all costs.'

#MeToo founder Tarana Burke poses for a portrait after the Stereotypes of Masculinity  Exposing the link to attitudes about Women panel at Inkwell Beach during Cannes Lions

on June 22, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Richard Bord/Getty Images)

Heartened by his words, Burke recalls responding, Please, could you spread the word that I love Black men? Could you spread the word that theres no part of me that is anti-Black anythingand that loving and wanting to protect Black women has nothing to do with tearing down Black men?'

To those familiar with Burkes story prior to the explosion of the hashtag that catapulted her already-established #MeToo movement into the zeitgeist (note: then as in now, the organizations name is hashtag-free), her response isnt revelatory. In her 2021 bestselling memoir, Unbound, Burke chronicled the years of organizing and advocacy she has been engaged in since adolescence, propelled by her love for Black people and communities. However, with the mainstream appropriation of #MeToo and her rising profile came a common misunderstanding, both of Burkes priorities and the communities she still seeks to serve, and that #MeToo is a Hollywood movement, rather than a homegrown one.

Its in the zeitgeist; its a part of the lexicon now, said Burke, admitting that shifting the cultural conversation around sexual violence has been bittersweet, as #MeToo has become both a touchstone and a catchphrase often carelessly employed in popular culture. I just wish people were more thoughtful about language, even as a trigger for people, like for survivors, she told theGrio ahead of the movements fifth anniversary. But its challengingso we do a lot of work trying to just get good information out there and get it out in the world so that people have something to balance all of the misinformation with.

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There is more than just saying #MeTooevery hashtag that said #MeToo represents a human being. And we want to go beyond the hashtag to make sure that those human beings have what they need and that theyre represented. Tarana burke

With regard to the #MeToo movement as weve come to know it in the past five years, Burke attested that the impetus of the movement itself hasnt changed much, despite the fact that both its platform and she undeniably have. It is still a movement about healing and action, she said. I think whats changed more than anything is that we dream bigger. We think bigger. I think our ideas around shifting narratives have been more influenced by the last five years.

Definitely, I can say five years ago, I wasnt thinking that narrative work would be a part of my movement workthe importance of language; the importance of how our stories could be used; stories of survival as opposed to stories of trauma, she explained. Ive grown; my analysis has grown and evolved. Ive sort of matured in how I see things because Ive been exposed to another reality. I had no understanding of how to utilize mainstream media because I didnt have access to mainstream mediaThose kinds of things have changed. Ive expanded my thinking, but now the trick is taking that same thinking around working for Black folks and mainstreaming it.

For the organizations fifth anniversary, a yearlong celebration titled Beyond the Hashtag, the goal was to launch a different type of digital revolution than the one that made headlines in October 2017. With the launch of a comprehensive social and justice framework, the #MeToo movement has doubled down on its efforts to provide much-needed support to individual survivors. Our website is something that we put a lot of resources into to make sure that it is a place where survivors, all kinds of survivors, survivors of color, neurodivergent and survivors with disabilities, survivors who identify in multiple ways can find themselves, find resources, find space for themselves on our website, Burke explained, referring to the Survivors Sanctuary launched on site in April.

However, #MeToos next initiative is to reshape community responses and resources through its soon-to-be-launched Community Healing Circles. Twelve-week workshops are intended to train and help participants to understand sexual violence as dangerous and as prevalent as any other violence affecting their respective communities, says Burke.

I talk a lot about individual healing, but I also believe in what I call community healing. Meaning when a person experiences sexual violence in a community, oftentimes we think about what they need as an individual or we think about only the individualsthe person who got harmed and the person who caused the harm. But I think that we have to think about it more collectively, she explained.

Like when a person is shot in the community, we think more expansively. We think [about] who got shot, the person who did the shooting, and also we think about the safety of everybody else who could potentially be shot. And thats the way we have to frame the way we think about communities, so all communities have to all heal from all the violence that happens inside of them, including sexual violence. So thats the kind of work were going to be embarking on with our community healing circle; this is what we have to look forward to.

In her work and countless appearances over the past five years, Burke has frequently referred to the spectrum of sexual violence, ranging from seemingly benign and often discounted verbal aggressions to brutal physical assaults. Both ends of that spectrum can have an extreme impact on an individual life or community; as she discussed the action needed now, Burke applied that same framework to activism.

I think if there is a spectrum, it consists of the multiple types of interventions that are neededwe need that spectrum in the movementand in this particular movement, that would be from the Instagram, Twitter, social media activists all the way to the person who puts their body right on the frontlines of this work, she said. But I think all of it is necessary because we need every type of intervention that is useful and that moves the work forward in order to continue to move the needle.

So there will be people who are gonna be check writers. There are going to be people who are going to be marchers and protesters. There are going to be big thinkers; there are going to be journalists; there are going to be writers. There are going to be performerspeople who are going to influence the narrative by producing plays and writing movies and writing songs and [making] cultural interventions. There are going to be all kinds of peoplethe people who do the research; the people who are on the front lines, she continued. And I think thats the spectrum that we have to look at, and [that] Im grateful for in this movement. Its a huge spectrum, but all of it is necessary. All of it is relevant. All of it is incredibly important because the issue, the problem is so big, so the spectrum has to be really big.

With #MeToo becoming one of the most recognizable hashtags in the world, does Burke ever worry the movement has gotten lost in its social media presence? The hashtag was important and it propelled the movement into the mainstream, but were moving beyond the hashtag because we want people to know that there is more than just saying #MeToo, she said. Theres what happens after you say #MeToo and that every hashtag that said #MeToo represents a human being. And we want to go beyond the hashtag to make sure that those human beings have what they need and that theyre represented.

Still, leading and representing a global movement is an overwhelming task. Reflecting on the man who approached her this summer, Burke noted, Its definitely moments like that that make me feel like the work is worth it; that make me feel like we have to keep going; that make me feel like people are getting it, and this is why were here. I am forever eternally grateful for the people that hear me and hear us and take a minute, just give us a second.

Chuckling, Burke channeled an evangelist as she joked, Its like, you know, Do you have a moment to hear the good news? Just give us a second to get in your earwhen we have those opportunities, it just makes all the difference. It really does.

Read more from #MeToo founder Tarana Burke in the first part of her interview with theGrio, published on Saturday, Oct. 15

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 Whats next for #MeToo? Bringing healing home to our communities, says Tarana Burke appeared first on TheGrio.
Oct. 16SOME WELL FAILURES in rural Uganda are frustrating New Hampshire engineers working to bring clean water there.

Could be problems in the pipeline.

It's been nearly three years since New Hampshire members of Engineers Without Borders USA last traveled to Gwase, Uganda, where the volunteers began installing six drinking water wells for local villagers in 2018.

While they've been able to work on three new well projects remotely since then with help from the nonprofit's Uganda office, the latest wells have failed repeatedly.

Jeff Benway, who has made the trek to Uganda three times, hopes to pinpoint the problem when the group returns for a monitoring trip early next year.

"It's been a headache. This is worse than we've ever had. I don't know why," Benway said last week.

He suspects the problem has something to do with the pandemic supply chain. The stainless steel used for piping in the hand-pump wells might be something less than the SAE 304 industry standard  cheap stuff that quickly corrodes.

A well the group installed remotely in December with the help of their Uganda counterparts failed within a week. The one they completed in January lasted about three weeks.

The wells have failed four times now since the first of the year. The pipes leak and crack.

"The pumps rely on having water in the pipes all the time. If you lose that, it's really hard to get them started again," said Benway, a retaining wall engineer with SFC Engineering in Windham.

For the engineers, frustration is mounting over how to keep wells operating that cost $9,000 to $10,000 for drilling costs alone. For village residents, it means losing a newfound luxury.

"These poor villages, they get water for a week, and then there's a month or two when they don't have any," said Benway, who said the group may try using PVC pipe instead. "I'd like to take a piece of that stainless steel and run it to a lab."

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Travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have kept the New Hampshire engineers stateside these past three years. During a trip early next year, the group will examine the wells and make sure they are functioning properly.

On Monday, the group is hosting a fundraiser at 900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza in Manchester to help raise money for the project. From 5 to 9 p.m., a portion of all sales at the restaurant from customers who mention Engineers Without Borders will be donated to the New Hampshire chapter. There will also be a 50/50 raffle that night. (Visit ewbnh.org or facebook.com/ewbnh for more information.)

While the presence of an Engineers Without Borders office in Uganda has enabled the New Hampshire chapter to continue working on the project remotely, doing so means spending an additional $2,000 on implementation projects to cover the office's expenses. Engineers Without Borders relies on grants and corporate donations.

"They are now our eyes and ears on the ground because we couldn't travel," Benway said. "It's not our preference. We like to travel. It's just like playing the phone with a can. It may get lost in translation. It makes it tough."

The New Hampshire professional chapter, which has been collaborating with a student chapter at the University of New Hampshire, was formed in 2015. Since 2016, 11 members have traveled to Uganda, some more than once, over four trips to the African nation.

Cara Bove, an engineer with Haley & Aldrich Inc. in Bedford who has been promoting the fundraiser, said the group plans to install additional wells.

"We're hoping to partner with another three villages in the next year or so," she said.

Mike Cote is senior editor for news and business. Contact him at mcote@unionleader.com or (603) 206-7724.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not represent the views and opinions of the sponsor, its members and affiliates.
The man charged with fatally shooting a 15-year-old inside a Queens subway car was held without bail Sunday as his defense attorney claimed he had acted in self-defense.

Just tragic, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. At a bare minimum, we in New York City have a right to use our subways and have the ability to get home safely to our families. The defendant will be held accountable and has been charged with murder.

Keyondre Russell, 18, was charged with the murder of Jayjon Burnett, 15, who was killed Friday during a dispute between two groups on a Far Rockaway A train, according to police.

Russell was one of two men who boarded the train at the Beach 25th St. station when one of the groups called for backup, sources said.

He was arrested Saturday afternoon and charged with criminal possession of a weapon in addition to murder. It was his first arrest, police said.

Russell, of Far Rockaway, fired off the shot that killed Burnett, Katz said.

EMS took the victim to Cohen Childrens Medical Center, but he could not be saved.

Russells attorney claimed his client was acting in self-defense during a chaotic dispute, adding that murder was an overcharge.

He was jumped by a number of individuals, lawyer Peter Saint George Davis said at Russells Sunday arraignment in Queens Criminal Court.

This was not a murder case, he said, adding that the maximum charge should be first-degree manslaughter. My client should never have been charged.

If convicted, Russell faces up to life in prison.

Burnett was killed days before his 16th birthday, his mother wrote on a GoFundMe page that had raised almost $10,000 as of late Sunday night.

The woman described her son as an A student in the 11th grade looking forward to going to college in Florida.
(Reuters) - No civilians were killed in the attack at a military base in Russia's Belgorod region, but many soldiers were killed or wounded, the governor of Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov said early on Sunday.

"A terrible event happened on our territory, on the territory of one of the military units," Gladkov said in a video post on the Telegram messaging app.

"Many soldiers were killed and wounded ... There are no residents of the Belgorod region among the wounded and killed."

Gladkov did not say how many soldiers were killed. The state RIA news agency cited the defence ministry as saying that 11 people were killed and 15 others were wounded. [nL1N31G0HK}

(Reporting in Melbourne by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Michael Perry)
JaLana Dunlap, a 22-year-old Black woman in Fayetteville, North Carolina, says officers assaulted her and unlawfully put her in handcuffs when she was doing her job as a property manager. Dunlaps attorneys released cellphone footage this week to show what happened during the confrontation with police in September, ABC News reports.

Dunlap said police questioned her when she was taking pictures of the property she oversees on behalf of the owner, who had received a citation from the city because people were illegally dumping furniture and trash on the site.

I was planning to take pictures because we had already hired somebody to clean it up, Dunlap told ABC News. So, I was just making sure that they did their job.

Dunlap said she finished taking photos and returned to her car when two officers approached her. The officers, who were searching for a suspected fugitive, asked why Dunlap was on the property, the Fayetteville woman said.

After being questioned, Dunlap said she gave her name and explained what she was doing. When an officer asked her to provide identification, the 22-year-old said she declined to do so.

Dunlap said she knew that North Carolina is not a Stop and Identify state, meaning people are not legally obligated to provide ID if they havent committed or been suspected of committing a crime.

I know my story checks out, Dunlap said. I know if I didnt do anything wrong, I shouldnt have to give you my ID.

When the officer continued to demand for an ID, the property manager said she started to record the encounter with her phone because she feared for her safety.

Dunlap said another officer then reached into the car and grabbed her left arm. The young woman can be heard in the cellphone video as she tells the officers to please stop.

Officers eventually asked Dunlap to step out of the car. When she refused, the officers told her to stop resisting.

Although some parts of the incident isnt seen in the video, Dunlap said the officers pulled her out of the car, slammed her against the trunk and placed her in handcuffs.

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They were actually trying to yank me back up with the handcuffs behind my back to the point where I had to ask, Yall please stop so I can finish throwing up,' Dunlap said, adding that she has sickle cell anemia and she began hyperventilating due to the stress.

The property manager said she was released after the officers grabbed her ID from the fanny pack around her waist and verified her identity.

Dunlap, who says she was left with a bruised hand, filed a formal complaint to the Fayetteville Police Department.

Gina Hawkins, Fayetteville Police Chief, said in a statement that she is making a formal request for an area judge to permit the release of police body camera footage. The chief also said officers approached Dunlap in an area where a potentially violent suspect ran away from police.

Dunlaps attorney, Harry Daniels, said he plans to file a federal lawsuit on behalf of his client.

Quite frankly, I believe that Ms. Dunlap would not be subjected, would not be here today having this discussion if she was a different race, Daniels told ABC News. Im not gonna sugarcoat it. I think they intimidated her because shes a person of color. And we are here to fight on her behalf.

Dunlap said the terrifying experience has caused her to resign from her job as a property manager.
Police lights

Two are dead and one is injured after a shooting broke out Saturday night at a house party in Rimrock, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

Just before 11 p.m. on Saturday, YCSO received multiple calls with reports of a shooting at a home on Top O The Morning Drive in Rimrock, a small town near Lake Montezuma.

When authorities arrived, they found two people fatally shot and one with minor injuries from a gunshot wound, the Sheriff's Office said.

The two victims have been identified as 27-year-old Rafael Zapata from Camp Verde and 27-year-old Efrain Arreola from Rimrock.

The shooting occurred during a party that was hosted at the house when an altercation started between the two victims and the shooter.

One man, Edgar Arreola, has been taken into custody on first degree homicide charges.

Residents are asked to avoid the area.

Reach breaking news reporter Ellie Willard at ellie.willard@gannett.com or on Twitter @EllieWillardAZ.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rimrock party shooting leaves 2 dead, 1 injured
YPSILANTI, Minn. (AP)  Harrison Waylee ran for 158 yards and a touchdown, Antario Brown added two TD runs and Northern Illinois beat Eastern Michigan 39-10 on Saturday.

NIU's 295-pound lineman James Ester opened the scoring by batting a pass into the air and jumping to secure it in the end zone. Brown broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown six minutes later and then added a 6-yard score that stretched the Huskies lead to 29-10 late in the third.

Brown finished with 86 yards on 17 carries for Northern Illinois (2-5, 1-2 Mid-American Conference). Waylee had a 76-yard touchdown run that capped the scoring with 7:14 to play.

Taylor Powell was 11-of-23 passing and threw a touchdown and interception for Eastern Michigan (4-3, 1-2).

The Huskies have a 35-16-2 advantage in the series and are 21-4 against the Eagles since 1998.

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Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, rapper and entrepreneur Kanye West, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, John Raoux/AP, Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

Celebrity politicians' government financial filings provided clues to trouble at home.

Disclosures are meant to defend against conflicts of interest.

West in particular could learn a big lesson if he runs for president in 2024.

In October 2020, Kanye West  now known as Ye  filed a mandatory financial disclosure document with the federal government as part of his independent presidential campaign during which he declared that "families are the building blocks of society, of a nation."

Federal law almost always requires presidential candidates to disclose their spouses' assets and income, too, as a check against potential conflicts of interest between a couple's personal finances and public aspirations.

But in a highly unusual move for any political candidate, West invoked an obscure legal dodge that provides exemptions for "unusual circumstances," most notably marital strife  and the billionaire rapper/entrepreneur refused to reveal financial assets for wife Kim Kardashian West.

Four months later, Kardashian West filed for divorce.

The situation illustrates how often-overlooked government documents occasionally reveal deeper truths about politicians who use positive portrayals of their personal and family lives as currency toward earning voters' support and affection.

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, for one, puts her marriage first among her qualifications for elected office.

"Marjorie Taylor Greene is a conservative wife, mother of three, a successful business woman and job creator. Marjorie is a proud American, and deeply believes in Pro-America, Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, and Pro-Trump," Greene's campaign website states.

Next to the text: pictures of Greene and her husband, Perry Greene.

The congresswoman's financial disclosures, however, indicate that her husband increasingly did not account for MTG's arch-conservative political positions when making his own big-dollar stock trades.

In June, for example, Perry Greene poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into stock shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation, Goldman Sachs Group, Home Depot, Intel Corporation, Nestle, Procter & Gamble Company, United Parcel Service, and Visa Inc.  companies that openly support social efforts that Marjorie Taylor Greene vehemently opposes, such as the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ+ rights. (Marjorie Taylor Greene, too, has sometimes herself invested in companies that clash with her social sensibilities.)

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In September, Perry Greene filed for divorce, citing a marriage that is "irretrievably broken."

Then there's Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina.

On April 3, 2021, he married Cristina Bayardelle, an event he trumpeted across his various social media accounts.

"I ran for Congress because Cristina and I didn't want to raise a family in the America many on the left seek to create," Cawthorn wrote in a Facebook post on April 4, 2021. "I am supremely confident that with Cristina by my side, we can push our nation forwards, towards a better future for our children and their children."

He then tweeted that his marriage was the "greatest honor, privilege, and adventure" of his life.

But their love story would end all too soon.

"Together, we realized that balance was not attainable and that we had irreconcilable differences between us," Cawthorn wrote on December 22, 2021, in announcing the couple would divorce.

Months later, Cawthorn would reveal in his annual personal financial disclosure that he and Bayardelle, despite their splashy nuptials, had never pooled their finances or jointly owned reportable assets.

Rep. Madison Cawthorn watches results from the North Carolina primary election with staff, volunteers, family and friends at his campaign headquarters in Hendersonville, North Carolina, on May 17, 2022. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Changes to disclosure laws?

Cawthorn should have revealed some of that information much earlier. But like dozens of other members of Congress, Cawthorn ignored or otherwise blew past federal deadlines for disclosing stock, cryptocurrency, and other financial trades in violation of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012.

Penalties for violating the STOCK Act are equally light and inconsistently applied, offering politicians little incentive  beyond doing the right thing  to comply, particularly those who wish to delay or altogether withhold curious or troublesome details about their personal finances.

In all, Insider and other media organizations have since 2021 identified 72 members of Congress who've violated the STOCK Act's disclosure provisions. Dozens more have demonstrable financial conflicts of interest, such as those who serve on congressional committees that oversee the nation's defense policies  and buy and sell stock in weapons manufacturers with massive government contracts. The executive branch is rife with financial conflicts, too, as the Wall Street Journal this week revealed.

Congress is now actively debating whether to ban lawmakers  and other top government officials  from trading stocks at all. A vote on a bill introduced by Democratic House leaders, or perhaps a yet-to-be-introduced bill in the Senate, could come after the 2022 midterm elections in November.

Cawthorn  beset by numerous problems beyond his failed marriage  lost his congressional primary and will exit Congress in January, no longer obligated to file financial disclosures.

Greene, in contrast, is well-positioned to win re-election in November. If she does, she'll be required to continue disclosing details about her copious financial trades, and those of her estranged husband, too, unless she goes full Kanye and cites her breakup as reason to withhold information about Perry Greene's wheeling and dealing.

From billionaire to billionaire, Michael Bloomberg could teach Kanye West a lesson about how to hide one's personal finances when running for president. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

What's next for West

As for West, it's been quite a month  a disturbing one.

Most notably, he lost access to his Twitter account after going on an anti-Semitic rant in which he declared he's "going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE  You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda."

West, who is Black, also wore a "White Lives Matter" t-shirt to a fashion show earlier this month in Paris.

Yet West says he's on track to again run for president in 2024, even though his 2020 effort translated into a slap-dash mess where he failed to qualify for most state ballots and earned fewer than 67,000 votes nationwide, according to NBC News  just a tiny fraction of the almost 81.3 million votes Joe Biden earned en route to winning the presidency.

Were West to formally enter the 2024 presidential race, federal law will require him to again disclose details about his personal finances. That could prove unattractive to a man who's one of the wealthiest people on Earth, and who got burned the last time he did so.

If so, West could learn a lesson from fellow billionaire Michael Bloomberg.

As Bloomberg ran for president himself in 2020, he twice asked for (and received) 45-day extensions on the standard 30-day window new candidates have to disclose their personal finances.

All the while, Bloomberg pumped hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money into his Democratic primary effort that flopped fantastically.

But when Bloomberg withdrew his candidacy before his twice-extended personal financial disclosure deadline came due, Bloomberg did so without ever giving voters a digit of data about his income streams and how he managed his wealth. He faced no repercussions.

As West once rapped: "I love knowledge."

Read the original article on Business Insider
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 18:26

The Russians have begun the process of evacuating so-called state institutions from the occupied part of Kherson Oblast to the occupied Crimea.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 18:00 on 16 October

Quote: "The occupiers are intensifying filtering measures in Kherson Oblast and have begun the process of evacuating so-called state institutions.

According to available information, employees and property of banks and a pension fund are being taken from Kherson to the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea."

Details: The General Staff also reported that the level of the moral and psychological state of the population in the border areas of the Russian Federation has significantly decreased. In particular, this is caused by the lack of medical care for civilians.

"According to the available information, due to the mobilisation of medical workers and the increase in the flow of wounded, civilians are being denied medical services in hospitals of Belgorod Oblast," the message says.

In general, the occupiers are trying to hold the occupied territories, disrupt the intensive actions by the defence forces of Ukraine in certain areas and conduct offensive operations on the Bakhmut and Avdiivka fronts.

Over the course of today, Russian forces carried out one missile strike, ten airstrikes, and eight attacks using multiple-launch rocket systems [MLRS].

More than ten cities and towns came under fire. Among them are Strilecha and Terny (Kharkiv Oblast), Pavlivka and Novosilka (Donetsk Oblast), Pravdyne and Bilohirka (Kherson Oblast).

On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, the situation remains unchanged. A planned rotation of units of the Armed Forces of Belarus involved in the protection of the state border is being carried out. There is still a threat of missile strikes and air raids, as well as the use of Shahed-136 UAVs, from the territory of Belarus.

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On other fronts, the occupiers delivered attacks:

on the Sivershchyna front  from different types of artillery, in the areas of the cities and towns of Senkivka, Hasychivka, Mykolaivka and Prohres (Chernihiv Oblast) and Bachivsk, Sosnivka and Pokrovka (Sumy Oblast);

on the Slobozhanshchyna front  from tanks, mortars, tubed and rocket artillery, near the areas of the cities and towns of Kozacha Lopan, Strilecha, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Vovchanski Khutory, Zybyne, Lyptsi, Zarichne and Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi (Kharkiv Oblast);

on the Kramatorsk front  from tanks and artillery systems along the entire line of contact. Specifically, at Hrekivka and Bilohorivka (Luhansk Oblast) and Zarichne, Rozdolivka, Serebrianka and Yakovlivka (Donetsk Oblast);

on the Bakhmut and Avdiivka fronts along the whole line of contact with tanks, mortars, tubed and rocket artillery.

on the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia fronts : occupiers fired more than twenty cities and towns, including Vilne Pole, Vremivka, Velyka Novosilka, Novopil, Zolota Nyva and Vuhledar (Donetsk Oblast) and Zelenyi Hai, Shcherbaky, Orikhiv and Charivne (Zaporizhzhia Oblast).

on the Pivdennyi Buh front: more than thirty cities and towns along the line of contact came under fire, including Bilohirka, Novooleksandrivka, Sukhyi Stavok (Kherson Oblast) and Shyroke, Kyselivka, Ternovi Pody and Stepova Dolyna (Mykolaiv Oblast).

Ukrainian defenders continue to restrain the occupiers, eliminate their manpower and destroy their equipment.

Ukrainian combat aircraft have launched twenty air strikes over the current day [16 October]. They hit seventeen clusters of weaponry and military equipment, as well as four positions of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, Ukrainian air defence units shot down one Russian UAV.

Rocket Troops and Artillery units hit one Russian control point.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP)  Sieh Bangura ran for two touchdowns, Nathanial Vakos kicked four field goals and Ohio cruised past Western Michigan, 33-14 in Mid-American Conference action Saturday.

Ohio's defense dominated Western Michigan after intermission, stopping the Broncos on downs twice and picked off five passes to thwart all seven second-half possessions.

Torrie Cox and Zack Sanders each had two interceptions for Ohio (4-3, 2-1). Kurtis Rourke was 22 of 34 passing for 264 yards with an interception and Bangura had 77 yards on 25 carries. Vakos kicked a personal-best 55-yard field goal just before halftime.

Jack Salopek ran eight yards for a touchdown and connected with Corey Crooms on a 74-yard touchdown in the first half and finished with 249 yards on 17 of 31 passing and threw all five second-half picks for the Broncos (2-5, 1-2).

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My late father, may he rest in peace, was a two-footed driver. Left foot on brake and right on gas. As my brother and I entered teendom and got our licenses, we frequently told him this wasnt a great idea, as he was prematurely wearing out his brakes and diminishing his miles per gallon. Yes, we actually talked about that in our family in the early '70s. Even with our corrective actions, he continued to do this throughout his motoring days.

Mr. Random strikes again? Nope. We, the United States, are basically (on a macroeconomic level) doing the same thing in the second quarter of the 21st century. How so? OPEC plus. The plus is who/what? The plus is Russia. The Russia ruled by Vladimir Putin. The guy currently trying to subjugate the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Thats the one. The Russia threatening to cut the natural gas pipelines between Russia and the democracies of western Europe? Correct again!

Jeff Raywood

Which nation is the muscle behind OPEC plus? The nation ruled by the Killing Prince. MBS. The guy who had a moderate Saudi journalist, Jamaal Khashoggi murdered in the Saudi consulate awaiting his proof of citizenship so he could marry. His fiancee was waiting outside the consulate while this transpired. The guy old Joe went to plead for restraint on oil prices. Old boy was basically rebuffed. One can imagine that was awkward.

You may say, Well, well we in the USA dont need or use Saudi oil. You would be incorrect. When I purchase my orange juice at Aldi, the label says, and yes I do read labels, contents from USA and/or Brazil. It could be 98% from Brazil, or vice versa. My maple syrup from Aldi, yes I like Aldi, says contents from USA and/or Canada. See above percentage example.

The gas pumps I rarely visit now, for professional purposes (two magnificent part-time jobs in retirement) never give me country of origin for the petrol I am pumping  somewhat akin to my maple syrup and orange juice examples. Some of it very well may have come from Saudi Arabia or even Russia. What happens in the Gulf stays in the Gulf. Some not-so-honest middle men in the oil biz. Actually quite the rogues gallery!

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But wait, now. We have sanctions against Russia, so that isnt true! MBS, our killing Prince, is a big supporter of Vlad the Impaler. That is the reason MBS has decided OPEC will restrict production: to help Vlad continue the war against the valiant Ukrainians. Wars are expensive, money wise as well as lives lost. Restrict OPEC output petrol prices rise and President Putin pockets more coin to use against our Ukrainian allies.

By continuing to use copious amounts of oil for our transport needs we are supporting MBS and Putin. We are driving with both feet. We are paying more for oil and at the very same time sending lots and lots of very high-tech military hardware to Ukraine to defeat the Russki incursion. With this increased cash flow Putin is able to continue the war and we will continue to send more tax payer funded weaponry to defeat him. We will also continue supporting MBS and the bin Laden construction companies that hold a virtual monopoly over Saudi construction projects.

Not only are we ruining Gods wonderful earth and imperiling our childrens futures, but we are also funding global instability and murder, havent even mentioned the Yemeni civil war, in Ukraine through our continued reliance, addiction, to oil. We now have credible, reliable, home grown options, people. Do the right thing! Kick GAS!

 Jeff Raywood is a resident of Holland.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: My Take: Oil, the blood of our Earth (literally)
The death of the 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini at the hands of the Islamic Republic of Irans morality police has sparked ongoing protests. In courageous acts of protest, Iranian women are marching in the streets, burning their state-mandated Islamic headscarves, and chanting: Women, Life, Freedom. These are unprecedented acts of defiance in the history of the Islamic Republic.

A protester holds a placard during a demonstration in support of Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini during a protest on Oct. 3, 2022, in Nantes, western France, following her death in Iran. - Amini, 22, died in custody on Sept. 16, 2022, three days after her arrest by the notorious morality police in Tehran for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women. in Nantes, western France on Sept. 29, 2022.

For those unfamiliar with Iranian history, it would be easy to see the current protests as narrowly contained to current circumstances. In fact, these protests are part of a longer history of struggle for democracy in modern Iran.

As early as 1905, Iran was the first place in the Middle East to experience a revolutionary movement seeking a democratic form of government. In the short term, the Constitutional Revolution was defeated by both internal divisions and external interventions.

However, Irans democratic aspirations were not extinguished. After three decades of royalist absolutism and foreign occupation, the 1940s witnessed the new growth of political parties, a vibrant Iranian press, and new educational opportunities that empowered citizens from all walks of life, especially women.

This era culminated with the rise of Mohammad Mossadegh, the prime minister who rallied the democratic will of the Iranian people to nationalize the British-controlled Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. The fear that communism was lurking within Mossadeghs broad-based democratic coalition, led the American CIA and the British MI6 to foment internal unrest leading to the coup detat of August 1953 that overthrew Mossadegh.

The next 25 years of Iranian history are a contradiction. The newly restored shah ruled with an iron fist and limited political freedoms. At the same time, however, Iranians made remarkable social progress during this era. Iranian women gained the right to vote in 1963  by royal decree  over the objection of the clerics. Reforms to family law were also initiated in 1967 and 1975, granting women rights in marriage, divorce and the custody of children, also over the objections of religious authorities.

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These social reforms so empowered Iranian women that by the time of the revolution of 1979 Iranian women joined the struggle against the shahs autocracy.

It is forgotten today, but the revolution that toppled the monarchy in January 1979 did not begin as an Islamic Revolution. The initial revolutionary spark began, not in 1979, but in 1977, and was led by democracy advocates. Their initial demands included the release of political prisoners and the guarantee of free elections.

These Iranian calls for democracy in 1977 were inspired by an already well-established democratic tradition within Iran. By 1978, however, the course of Irans revolutionary process took unpredictable turns, and advocates for democracy quickly found themselves outmaneuvered. In the emotional context of the revolutionary struggle, liberal calls for civil rights and free elections seemed insufficiently revolutionary.

After the fall of the shah, Iranian democracy was once again thwarted, this time by the emerging authoritarianism of the Islamic Republic. Women lost many of the social rights that they had gained in the previous decades, including the right to choose for themselves to wear the Islamic headscarf.

In the years since, calls for democratic reform have not disappeared inside Iran. The failure of successive waves of reform, such as the presidency of Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) and the Green Movement of 2009, revealed the deep structural obstacles to working within the Islamic Republics political system.

As we have seen during the past weeks in Iran, this newest generation of advocates for Iranian democracy are no longer satisfied with working within the system and are demanding fundamental changes to Irans form of government.

How this process will unfold in the weeks and months to come is unknown.

What is known is that this newest effort to build a democratic Iran is the product of more than a century of struggle. It is an enduring struggle that deserves our support and promises to rewrite the history of modern Iran and its relationship with the United States.

Afshin Marashi is a professor and the Farzaneh Family Chair in Modern Iranian History at the University of Oklahoma's College of International Studies.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma professor: Iran's struggle for democracy has a long history
Olivia Wilde opted for a sheer, sparkly dress to attend the Annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles. (Getty Images)

Olivia Wilde opted to wear a daring outfit to the second Annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The 38-year-old actress and director bared her nipples in a sheer, sparkly dress at the film industry event.

Designed by Alexandre Vauthier, the silver long-sleeved, floor-length gown also featured a pink, feathered hem.

Wilde finished off her look with glowy make-up and styled her hair in glossy waves.

The Don't Worry Darling director bared her nipples in the silver, floor-length look. (Getty Images)

Other high-profile stars in attendance at the event included Hailey Bieber, Julia Roberts and Amal Clooney.

Wilde's stylish ensemble comes after Florence Pugh, the lead in Wilde's latest film Don't Worry Darling, also stepped out in a series of sheer designs.

Read more: Don't Worry Darling: The cast drama overshadowing Olivia Wilde's new film

Watch: Olivia Wilde says people assume she has 'abandoned' her two children

The actress, 26, wore a fuchsia pink tulle dress that showed off her nipples to the Valentino Haute Couture show in Rome in July.

She was forced to defend the "incredible" look after receiving a slew of body shaming on Instagram.

Pugh wrote: "Whats been interesting to watch and witness is just how easy it is for men to totally destroy a womans body, publicly, proudly, for everyone to see."

The gown also featured a pink, feathered hem. (Getty Images)

Florence Pugh, who stars in Wilde's latest film, also recently wore a sheer ensemble. (Getty Images)

She added: "Thankfully, Ive come to terms with the intricacies of my body that make me, me. Im happy with all of the flaws that I couldnt bear to look at when I was 14.

"So many of you wanted to aggressively let me know how disappointed you were by my tiny tits, or how I should be embarrassed by being so flat chested. Ive lived in my body for a long time. Im fully aware of my breast size and am not scared of it."

Read more: Florence Pugh's best outfits, from *that* see-through Valentino dress to her Venice co-ord

Reflecting on the uproar to Harper's Bazaar, Pugh said: "I was comfortable with my small breasts. And showing them like that  it aggravated [people] that I was comfortable.

"It was just alarming, how perturbed they were. They were so angry that I was confident, and they wanted to let me know that they would never wank over me. Well, dont."
By Maha El Dahan, Aziz El Yaakoubi and Yasmin Hussein

CAIRO (Reuters) -OPEC+ member states lined up on Sunday to endorse the steep cut to its output target agreed this month after the White House, stepping up a war of words with Saudi Arabia, accused Riyadh of coercing some other nations into supporting the move.

The United States last week said the cut would boost Russia's foreign earnings and suggested it had been engineered for political reasons by Saudi Arabia, which on Sunday denied it was supporting Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz said the kingdom was working hard to support stability and balance in oil markets, including establishing and maintaining agreement of the OPEC+ alliance.

OPEC+ comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers including Russia.

The Saudi defence minister, King Salman's son Prince Khalid bin Salman, also said the Oct. 5 decision to reduce output by 2 million barrels per day (bpd) - despite supply tightness in oil markets - was unanimous and based on economic factors.

His comments were backed by ministers of several OPEC+ member states including the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE's energy minister, Suhail al-Mazrouei, wrote on Twitter: "I would like to clarify that the latest OPEC+ decision, which was unanimously approved, was a pure technical decision, with NO political intentions whatsoever."

His comment followed a statement from Iraq's state oil marketer SOMO.

"There is complete consensus among OPEC+ countries that the best approach ...is a pre-emptive approach that supports market stability and provides the guidance needed for the future," a SOMO statement said.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation Chief Executive Nawaf Saud al-Sabah also welcomed the decision by OPEC+ and said the country was keen to maintain a balanced oil markets, state news agency KUNA reported.

'PURELY TECHNICAL'

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Oman and Bahrain echoed the comment in separate statements.

Algerian energy minister Mohamed Arkab, meanwhile, called the decision "historic" and said that he and OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais expressed full confidence in it, Algeria's Ennahar TV reported.

In a statement to Reuters on Monday, Arkab said the OPEC+ decision, was "a purely technical response based on purely economic considerations".

Oil inventories in major economies are lower than when OPEC has cut output in the past. Some analysts have said that recent volatility in crude markets could be remedied by a cut that would help attract investors.

Umer Karim, a research fellow at the University of Birmingham, said OPEC countries are attempting to project unity.

"The emphasis on the word 'technical' also suggests that these member states are sending a message to the U.S. that they are not a party in this row between Riyadh and Washington," Karim said.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Thursday said that "more than one" OPEC member had felt coerced by Saudi Arabia into the vote, adding that the cut would also increase Russia's revenue and blunt the effectiveness of sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine.

King Salman said in an address to the kingdom's advisory Shura Council that the country was a mediator of peace and highlighted the crown prince's initiative to release prisoners of war from Russia last month.

Khalid bin Salman on Sunday said he was "astonished" by claims his country was "standing with Russia in its war with Ukraine".

"It is telling that these false accusations did not come from the Ukrainian government," he wrote on Twitter.

(Reporting by Moataz Mohamed, Yasmin Hussien, Maha El Dahan and Aziz El YaakoubiAdditional reporting by Nayera Abdallah, Ahmed Tolba and Ahmad Ghaddar in LondonEditing by Louise Heavens, Will Dunham, Alexandra Hudson and David Goodman)
Commanding Officer Tyrone G. Martin welcomed Queen Elizabeth II aboard USS Constitution, along with Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf, center, and Prince Philip, in background, on July 11, 1976.

William J. Middendorf is a former secretary of the Navy and the author of "On My Watch," to be published in 2023. He lives in Little Compton.

We had not seen anything like it, and it was the only chance we would ever have to throw a 200th birthday party for the nation. It started on the anniversary of Paul Revere's ride, April 18, 1975, ran through the high point of July 4, 1976, and continued to the end of that year.

On July 11, 1976. Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, visited the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) as part of our country's bicentennial celebration of the American Revolution. Boston was the last stop on the queen's 1976 USA tour, when she visited Washington, Philadelphia, New York City, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Newport. As secretary of the Navy, I greeted the royal couple as they came on board, shortly after Her Majesty's yacht Britannia received a 21-gun salute from Old Ironsides.

It was the only time a sitting monarch ever stepped foot on the decks of America's Ship of State. Army helicopters, National Guard officers, local police and Secret Service were all present to ensure the queen's safety.

Various bands and dance ensembles entertained thousands of spectators as they eagerly waited outside. I will never forget the Queen's opening remarks. "We have been very moved by the welcome we have received in this city, particularly since it was here  in Boston  that all began and it was not many miles from here, at Lexington and Concord, that the first shots were fired in the war between Britain and America, 201 years ago," the queen said.

"If Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and other patriots could have known that one day a British monarch would stand beneath the balcony of the Old State House, from which the Declaration of Independence was first read to the people of Boston, and be greeted so kindly, I think they would have been surprised. But perhaps they would have been pleased to know that we eventually came together again as free people and friends and defended together the very ideas for which the American Revolution was fought."

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After presenting the queen with a silver chalice made by Paul Revere, I took the royal couple on a tour of the USS Constitution. I had done my homework, carefully learning about the ship's armament, range and firepower. I had also carefully studied the many knots that seamen had to master at that time. I thought I was well prepared, but the queen, politely but firmly, corrected some of my misconceptions. I was told that she operated as a mechanic during World War II. After listening to her explain all of the nautical knots and the ship's firepower, I had no doubts about her mechanical ability.

The royal visit ended on the Britannia, where a private party took place before the ship set sail to Canada, where the queen was slated to open the Olympics.

My impression of the royal couple was that Queen Elizabeth II was a very gracious and extremely bright lady. Prince Philip was quiet, but it was apparent that he provided a tremendous support system for the queen. We exchanged a few private jokes during our tour of Old Ironsides. I understood why the queen described Prince Philip as her anchor and steadying force when he died on Aug. 9, 2021.

When Queen Elizabeth II died on Sept. 8, I was not at all surprised that she had become the longest-ruling monarch in English history.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Opinion/Middendorf: The queen's Bicentennial visit to where the Revolution began
Thousands of people flooded the streets in downtown Orlando for this years Come Out With Pride festival on Saturday.

All eyes were on Lake Eola for the fireworks show Saturday evening, which finished off a day filled with music, dancing and a sea of colors in the packed crowds.

Eric Messer attended the parade earlier in the day and said he loved seeing people celebrate and accept everyone for who they are.

My fiance and I came up for Pride with our friends because we love to celebrate and be proud, Eric Messer said.

That feeling of pride and joy was the same story for most people at this years Come Out With Pride festival.

Read: Guide to pride: What to know about Coming Out with Pride Orlando this weekend

But for others, being at big events still brings a sense of uneasiness and concern.

When you hear that sound ... with everything going on, it is kind of like instinct to, like, duck and cover, Angelie Oyola said.

Oyola was referencing the last time there was a big event around Lake Eola.

Crowds ran for cover when people thought they heard gunshots during the Fourth of July fireworks, but the noise was nothing more than a scare.

Later in July, seven people were hurt in a downtown shooting outside of some bars near Wall Street Plaza and Orange Avenue, and Oyolas sister witnessed the scene.

She was just shocked it was happening the same time (that) she was there, too, she said.

City councilors passed a new downtown safety plan about a month later.

Read: Heres what the new ordinance to keep downtown Orlando safe could include

Andrew Blake said he has seen a difference in the police presence.

I used to not see very many cops at all, but now theyre at every corner, Blake said. Theyre lurking.

While the city always ramps up security during major events, Killian Cromwell said this years Pride festival was on another level.

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Theyve stepped up with everything: with security, blocking off roads, making sure people get safe to their cars, he said.

In addition to more officers on the ground, this years events also included the Secret Service protecting First Lady Jill Biden, who made an appearance at the event.

Read: Come Out With Pride festival kicks off in Orlando, First Lady Jill Biden speaks

She was part of the festivities and spoke to the Orlando community at City Hall before the parade, urging people to vote in the upcoming election and make sure their voices are heard.

Youve been on the front lines, speaking up, showing up, demanding the dignity and justice that you deserve, the first lady said.

There are still more events happening on Sunday. Click here for more information.

Share your photos and memories here.

For more events in Central Florida, visit our event calendar here.

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.
A person was injured in East Memphis, then died at the hospital.

On Oct. 15 at approximately 4:30 PM, Memphis Police went to St Francis Hospital, after a person was taken by ambulance on Park Avenue.

On October 15, 2022, at 4:30 pm, officers were dispatched to St. Francis Hospital regarding a victim who was transported from the 5900 Block of Park Avenue by ambulance. The victim was pronounced deceased at the hospital. This is an ongoing investigation. pic.twitter.com/yBsEI7nLiz  Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) October 16, 2022

The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

This is still an ongoing investigation.

Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.

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Crime scene tape

A 17-year-old girl died following a shooting after a bar fight outside the Queen of Hearts Pub went awry last month.

The girl was identified as Khaterra Griffin. She was previously transported to a local hospital in critical condition, but died Saturday morning.

A second victim, 30-year-old Shamira Rhodes was killed, and a third, a 42-year-old woman identified only by her initials, S.B., was injured shortly before 5 a.m. on Sept. 25.

Columbus police arrived at the East Side shooting, on the 5500 block of East Livingston Avenue.

They arrested 28-year-old Amara Battle for the murder of Rhodes last week.

More: Police investigate separate weekend shootings that kill three, injure several others

Griffins death is the 112th homicide in Columbus this year.

Dispatch reporter Erica Thompson contributed to this report.

Ceili Doyle is a Report for America corps member and covers rural issues in Ohio for The Dispatch. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift at https://bit.ly/3fNsGaZ.

You can reach her via email at cdoyle@dispatch.com or follow her on Twitter at @cadoyle_18

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police arrest suspected shooter after fatal East Side fight
Cambridge police are asking for public assistance identifying robbery suspects that allegedly stole police equipment and two cars early Sunday morning.

According to the Cambridge Police Department, officers were dispatched to a gas and service station on Massachusetts Avenue at approximately 5:20 a.m. for a report of an alarm. During the investigation, the officers found that the gas station was broken into and a 2007 gray Mercedes SUV was missing. After finding the vehicle, the officers also found that an off-duty Cambridge police officers personal car was broken into nearby. The officers personnel identification card, a ballistic vest and two loaded firearm magazines were stolen from the car.

Police say that the two suspects appear to be a white female with blond hair and a black male.

Police also learned that a black Ford Taurus were also stolen from the gas and service station. Police are still actively searching for the vehicle.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call Cambridge Police at 617-349-3300.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office issued a community alert Saturday requesting help to locate a car and person connected with a reported carjacking Saturday morning at a local Wendys.

Deputies report the carjacking was located at Wendys at 1830 US 1 South by State Road 312.

The vehicle is a red Nissan Sentra with a New York license plate HAZ8945.

A picture of the suspect they are attempting to identify was posted to Facebook.

Anyone with information on the carjacking is asked to contact their nearest law enforcement agency or call the SJSO at 904-824-8304 or by dialing 911.

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Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Premier Investments Limited (ASX:PMV) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Premier Investments

The Model

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$411.3m AU$354.2m AU$363.4m AU$344.2m AU$286.3m AU$274.7m AU$268.4m AU$265.6m AU$265.2m AU$266.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x6 Analyst x5 Analyst x4 Analyst x2 Est @ -4.07% Est @ -2.29% Est @ -1.04% Est @ -0.17% Est @ 0.44% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.5% AU$386 AU$313 AU$301 AU$268 AU$209 AU$189 AU$173 AU$161 AU$151 AU$142

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$2.3b

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The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$266m (1 + 1.9%)  (6.5% 1.9%) = AU$5.9b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$5.9b ( 1 + 6.5%)10= AU$3.2b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$5.5b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$23.4, the company appears quite undervalued at a 32% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Premier Investments as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.981. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Premier Investments, we've compiled three essential elements you should look at:

Risks: Take risks, for example - Premier Investments has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does PMV's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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DUBAI (Reuters) - President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday blamed his U.S. counterpart for inciting "chaos, terror, and destruction" in Iran, the official IRNA news agency reported, amid protests that have rocked the country for the past four weeks.

"The American president, who allows himself through his comments to incite chaos, terror and destruction in another country, should be reminded of the eternal words of the founder of the Islamic Republic, who called America the great satan," Raisi said.

"Iran has to end the violence against its own citizens simply exercising their fundamental rights," U.S. President Joe Biden said on Saturday.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; editing by John Stonestreet)
By Yew Lun Tian and Martin Quin Pollard

BEIJING (Reuters) -Here are some initial reactions to President Xi Jinping's speech on Sunday opening the 20th congress of China's ruling Communist Party, a week-long event where he is widely expected to win a third leadership term and cement his place as the country's most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong.

JOHN DELURY, PROFESSOR OF CHINESE STUDIES, YONSEI UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, SEOUL

"While Xi's tone was unapologetic, the speech came across as less expansive than five years ago (and thankfully much shorter). Instead of confidently entering his guaranteed second term, Xi at this Congress is entering uncharted waters of a paramount rule with no set time limit.

"Given the economic and social strain caused by sticking to an increasingly unpopular COVID zero policy, Xi's speech might sound defensive to many Chinese citizens, insisting that the Party has their best interests in mind. The central concept of the speech seemed to be 'security', a word Xi used in myriad ways to justify not only his approach to foreign policy, but also the economy and public health.

"Mao Zedong promised to make people revolutionaries. Deng Xiaoping promised to make them rich. Xi is promising to keep them safe."

ALFRED WU, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, LEE KUAN YEW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

"It is obvious that security is Xi's greatest concern. His narrative is - China faces many dangers, the country is in a war-like state, figuratively, and he is the saviour. With this narrative, he can get people to unite around him.

"In the past, Chinese leaders based their legitimacy on their ability to provide economic growth. Now with the economy slowing, Xi tries to shift the basis of legitimacy from economic growth to security - that he can be the one who saves and protects China."

ZHIWU CHEN, PROFESSOR OF FINANCE, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

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"One significant change is to de-emphasise economic development and economic reform.

"From the 14th to the 19th Party Congress, economic development was, each time, explicitly stated as the central mission for the Party, whereas this time there is no such mention; instead, the emphasis is on 'complete' and 'all-rounded' development. That is, it is not just economic development but also political, social, environmental, and cultural development that the Party will devote efforts to."

BATES GILL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR CHINA ANALYSIS, ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE

"This speech said 'continuity' and full speed ahead. Seemed to be very little indication of adjustment to policy, even though the domestic economy and international relationships face increasing headwinds.

"But this was not intended as a policy speech. This was about lauding past accomplishments, exuding confidence in the Party and its chosen path, and exhorting its membership to press forward even harder. It was about extolling the Party and, by definition, his leadership, as he breaks recent precedent and looks to stay in power indefinitely.

CHARLES PARTON, FELLOW, COUNCIL OF GEOSTRATEGY, LONDON

"Innovation and education have always been at the top of Xi Jinping's mind, but the emphasis seems to be even greater in this report. Particularly in light of the United States' measures to limit science and technology cooperation with China, it has become a lot more important for China to produce its own science and technology."

SCOTT KENNEDY, SENIOR ADVISER AND TRUSTEE CHAIR IN CHINESE BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, WASHINGTON

"Xi gave an unapologetic defence of the Chinese Communist Party's current approach to everything, domestic and international ... The most significant theme was his emphasis on developing a unique 'Chinese style' to many elements of public affairs, from modernization to diplomacy to socialism.

"Xi wants the CCP, China and the international system to go in a very different direction than that laid out by the United States and the West over the last century."

YU JIE, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW ON CHINA, ASIA-PACIFIC PROGRAMME, CHATHAM HOUSE

"In the 20th Party Congress report, the language on Taiwan has been revised, reflecting the changes in tone and the policies of the CCP senior leadership. In addition to the conventional 'peaceful reunification' term, there is also an addition of more hawkish language on Taiwan to: 'Not exclude the use of force as a last resort'. Xi also suggested that 'Resolving Taiwan Question should be in hands of the Chinese', sending a further warning to the U.S. and other Western allies which are perceived as interfering in Taiwan affairs."

JA IAN CHONG, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

"I think the fact that nothing really new stood out is also remarkable in the sense that it fits with this idea that while there is this unstable and dangerous world outside that Xi talks about, he wants to portray China and his leadership as one that is stable.

"I did notice the uptake in the discussion of security, which is not surprising because on several fronts, China has much more to be concerned about today than five years ago.

"First, the competition with the U.S. has got more intense, then there is the uncertainty surrounding the war in Ukraine and Xis support for Putin. The world today looks more contentious than the world five years ago, with COVID, too, there are issues with supply chains that dovetail with U.S. efforts to limit Chinese access to technology so on the security side China has a lot more to worry about today than five years ago."

(Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard, Eduardo Baptista, Kevin Yao and Yew Lun Tian in Beijing, Ben Blanchard in Taipei, Xie Yu in Hong Kong; Editing by Tom Hogue and William Mallard)
In Edison, New Jersey, a bulldozer, which has become a symbol of oppression of Indias Muslim minority, rolled down the street during a parade marking that country's Independence Day. At an event in Anaheim, California, a shouting match erupted between people celebrating the holiday and those who showed up to protest violence against Muslims in India.

Indian Americans from diverse faith backgrounds have peacefully co-existed stateside for several decades. But these recent events in the U.S.  and violent confrontations between some Hindus and Muslims last month in Leicester, England  have heightened concerns that stark political and religious polarization in India is seeping into diaspora communities.

In India, Hindu nationalism has surged under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party, which rose to power in 2014 and won a landslide election in 2019. The ruling party has faced fierce criticism over rising attacks against Muslims in recent years, from the Muslim community and other religious minorities as well as some Hindus who say Modi's silence emboldens right-wing groups and threatens national unity.

Hindu nationalism has split the Indian expatriate community just as Donald Trumps presidency polarized the U.S., said Varun Soni, dean of religious life at the University of Southern California. It has about 2,000 students from India, among the highest in the country.

Soni has not seen these tensions surface yet on campus. But he said USC received blowback for being one of more than 50 U.S. universities that co-sponsored an online conference called Dismantling Global Hindutva.

The 2021 event aimed to spread awareness of Hindutva, Sanskrit for the essence of being Hindu, a political ideology that claims India as a predominantly Hindu nation plus some minority faiths with roots in the country such as Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. Critics say that excludes other minority religious groups such as Muslims and Christians. Hindutva is different from Hinduism, an ancient religion practiced by about 1 billion people worldwide that emphasizes the oneness and divine nature of all creation.

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Soni said it's important that universities remain places where "we are able to talk about issues that are grounded in facts in a civil manner, But, as USC's head chaplain, Soni worries how polarization over Hindu nationalism will affect students' spiritual health.

If someone is being attacked for their identity, ridiculed or scapegoated because they are Hindu or Muslim, I'm most concerned about their well-being  not about who is right or wrong," he said.

Anantanand Rambachan, a retired college religion professor and a practicing Hindu who was born in Trinidad and Tobago to a family of Indian origin, said his opposition to Hindu nationalism and association with groups against the ideology sparked complaints from some at a Minnesota temple where he has taught religion classes. He said opposing Hindu nationalism sometimes results in charges of being anti-Hindu, or anti-India, labels that he rejects.

On the other hand, many Hindu Americans feel vilified and targeted for their views, said Samir Kalra, managing director of the Hindu American Foundation in Washington, D.C.

"The space to freely express themselves is shrinking for Hindus, he said, adding that even agreeing with the Indian government's policies unrelated to religion can result in being branded a Hindu nationalist.

Pushpita Prasad, a spokesperson for the Coalition of Hindus of North America, said her group has been counseling young Hindu Americans who have lost friends because they refuse to take sides on these battles emanating from India.

If they dont take sides or dont have an opinion, its automatically assumed that they are Hindu nationalist," she said. "Their country of origin and their religion is held against them.

Both organizations opposed the Dismantling Global Hindutva conference criticizing it as Hinduphobic and failing to present diverse perspectives. Conference supporters say they reject equating calling out Hindutva with being anti-Hindu.

Some Hindu Americans like 25-year-old Sravya Tadepalli, believe it's their duty to speak up. Tadepalli, a Massachusetts resident who is a board member of Hindus for Human Rights, said her activism against Hindu nationalism is informed by her faith.

If that is the fundamental principle of Hinduism, that God is in everyone, that everyone is divine, then I think we have a moral obligation as Hindus to speak out for the equality of all human beings, she said. If any human is being treated less than or as having their rights infringed upon, then it is our duty to work to correct that.

Tadepalli said her organization also works to correct misinformation on social media that travels across continents fueling hate and polarization.

Tensions in India hit a high in June after police in the city of Udaipur arrested two Muslim men accused of slitting a Hindu tailor's throat and posting a video of it on social media. The slain man, 48-year-old Kanhaiya Lal, had reportedly shared an online post supporting a governing party official who was suspended for making offensive remarks against the Prophet Muhammad.

Hindu nationalist groups have attacked minority groups, particularly Muslims, over issues related to everything from food or wearing head scarves to interfaith marriage. Muslims' homes have also been demolished using heavy machinery in some states, in what critics call a growing pattern of bulldozer justice.

Such reports have Muslim Americans afraid for the safety of family members in India. Shakeel Syed, executive director of the South Asian Network, a social justice organization based in Artesia, California, said he regularly hears from his sisters and senses a pervasive fear, not knowing what tomorrow is going to be like.

Syed grew up in the Indian city of Hyderabad in the 1960s and 1970s in a more pluralistic, inclusive culture.

My Hindu friends would come to our Eid celebrations and we would go to their Diwali celebrations, he said. When my family went on summer vacation, we would leave our house keys with our Hindu neighbor, and they would do the same when they had to leave town.

Syed believes violence against Muslims has now been mainstreamed in India. He has heard from girls in his family who are considering taking off their hijabs or headscarves out of fear.

In the U.S., he sees his Hindu friends reluctant to engage publicly in a dialogue because they fear retaliation.

A conversation is still happening, but its happening in pockets behind closed doors with people who are like-minded, he said. Its certainly not happening between people who have opposing views.

Rajiv Varma, a Houston-based Hindu activist, holds a diametrically opposite view. Tensions between Hindus and Muslims in the West, he said, are not a reflection of events in India but rather stem from a deliberate attempt by religious and ideological groups that are waging a war against Hindus.

Varma believes India is a Hindu country and the term Hindu nationalism merely refers to love for ones country and religion. He views India as a country ravaged by conquerors and colonists, and Hindus as a religious group that does not seek to convert or colonize.

We have a right to recover our civilization, he said.

Rasheed Ahmed, co-founder and executive director of the Washington D.C.-based Indian American Muslim Council, said he is saddened to see even educated Hindu Americans not taking Hindu nationalism seriously." He believes Hindu Americans must make a fundamental decision about how India and Hinduism should be seen in the U.S. and the world over.

The decision about whether to take Hinduism back from whoever hijacked it, is theirs.

Zafar Siddiqui, a Minnesota resident, is hoping to "reverse some of this mistrust, polarization and build understanding through education, personal connections and interfaith assemblies. Siddiqui, a Muslim, has helped bring together a group of Minnesotans of Indian origin  including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and atheists  who meet for monthly potlucks.

When people sit down, say, over lunch or dinner or over coffee, and have a direct dialogue, instead of listening to all these leaders and spreading all this hate, it changes a lot of things, Siddiqui said.

But during one recent gathering, some argued over a draft proposal to at some point seek dialogue with people who hold different views. Those who disagreed explained that they didnt support reaching out to Hindu nationalists and feared harassment.

Siddiqui said that for now, future plans include focusing on education and interfaith events spotlighting India's different traditions and religions.

Just to keep silent is not an option, Siddiqui said. We needed a platform to bring people together who believe in peaceful co-existence of all communities.

___

Giovanna Dell'Orto in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger gives closing remarks during a January 6 Committee hearing on July 21, 2022. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Rep. Adam Kinzinger said Donald Trump is required to testify before the Jan. 6 panel after it subpoenaed him.

In a letter responding to the subpoena, Trump did not say whether he would testify.

Trump has told some aides that he would speak before the panel if his testimony is broadcast live.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger said former President Donald Trump is "required by law" to testify before the House January 6 committee.

Kinzinger's comments come after Trump sent a letter responding to the committee's recent subpoena in which he repeated his disproven claims about the 2020 election being stolen from him.

"We made a decision  in front of the American people, not behind closed doors to begin the process of subpoenaing the former president. He is required by law to come in, and he can ramble and push back all he wants. That's the requirement for a congressional subpoena, to come in," Kinzinger said on the ABC News show "This Week" on Sunday.

He added that statements from the former president, often made on his platform Truth Social, have been "increasingly long and even more rambling."

Trump has told those close to him that he might comply with the subpoena if it is broadcast live, according to The New York Times. Advisors close to Trump have said "he should not" testify during a live broadcast, Insider previously reported, citing a report from The Daily Beast.

Kinzinger said that the committee would negotiate with Trump on that matter if he makes that request to them.

"I think that's going to be a negotiation," Kinzinger said on ABC News. "I'll only address that when we know for sure whether or not the president has tried to push to come in and talk to us live."

Asked if the Justice Department should hold Trump in criminal contempt if he refuses to testify, Kinzinger said that is "a bridge we cross if we have to get there."

"We want to speak to the president. Look, he's made it clear he has nothing to hide, is what he said. So he should come in on the day we asked him to come in. If he pushes off beyond that, we'll figure out what to do next," Kinzinger said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
According to the General Staff, the Russians want to steal museum exhibits from Crimea

Earlier, the Ukrainian militarys General Staff said that the occupation "authorities" in Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimea had issued an "order on the procedure for "evacuation of museums"  internal (within the occupied region) and external (to the territory of Russia).

Read also: Russian invaders steal Scythian gold from Melitopol museum, Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine says

They noted that Russians prioritized taking out exhibits that have the greatest material value.

Such a massive export of cultural property by Russian occupiers from the territory of Ukraine will be proportional to the looting of museums during the Second World War and should be qualified accordingly," the Ministry of Culture said, pointing out that this also constitutes a war crime.

Read also: Russian military stole all valuable exhibits from Mariupol museums

The department calls on UNESCO and all international partners:

to prevent another violation of international law by the aggressor state;

to refuse to cooperate with Russian museums and other institutions;

to counteract the illegal trafficking of cultural property and the legalization of misappropriated property by Russia under the pretext of exhibitions from the collections of Russian museums or excavations in the Russian-occupied territories carried out after 2013.

The Ministry said that as of 2013 there were about 1.2 million museum objects in Crimea. There were 26 museums and five historical and cultural reserves on the peninsula.

Read also: Ukraine may enter occupied Crimea by late spring, says intelligence chief

As of Aug. 3, 2022, the Culture Ministry recorded 500 counts of Russian war crimes against Ukrainian cultural heritage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for the expulsion of Russia from UNESCO. According to Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko, the Russian military looted almost 40 Ukrainian museums. The losses are estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SATURDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2022, 23:22

The families of conscripts living in Fokino in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, have appealed to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, asking for their relatives to be sent back to Russia.

Source: Russian Telegram channel SOTA

Details: The womens relatives had previously passed through the Soloti training ground in Belgorod Oblast, where, according to the Telegram channel, a shooting took place on 15 October.

The women say the conscripts were threatened and officers robbed them, taking away their uniforms.

"The whole organisation of the conscription was wrong from the beginning... conscripts have been dumped in occupied territories without any training," one of the women says in the appeal to Putin.

"Yesterday, Friday [14 October], it was only three weeks since he [the womans son  ed.] was mobilised; today is 15 October. Why has he been in occupied territory for a week already?" says another woman.

"We are ready to defend our territory, but the boys should be trained. It's just a betrayal that they are going there unprepared," says a third woman.

"The officers of the Soloti unit are threatening the conscripts with criminal liability, [but theyre] not refusing to go and defend our Bryansk Oblast. They don't want to be cannon fodder for them," said one of the women.

Moreover, according to SOTA, another 200 conscripts, including some from Bryansk Oblast, have been in occupied territory in Ukraine for over a week, without either food or constant communication and not knowing their exact location. In their rare calls to relatives, they ask them to persuade the military leadership to evacuate them to Russia.

Previously: On 15 October, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that citizens of "a CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] country" had opened fire on "volunteers" preparing to fight against Ukraine at a training ground of the Western Military District in Belgorod Oblast; 11 people were killed in the attack and 15 were hospitalised.

According to SOTA, 22 people may have been killed and 16 wounded. A source among the mobilised mens relatives told SOTA that the Belgorod Oblast shooting took place at a training ground in the village of Soloti.

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SEOUL, South Korea  Groups of Russians have sailed to South Korea to avoid being conscripted for the war in Ukraine  only for most of them to be refused entry at the border.

South Korean coast guard records show five boats carrying 23 people have reached the country since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the partial mobilization" of military reservists last month after having suffered military and territorial losses in Ukraine.

After Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said 300,000 reservists would be called up, Russian men of fighting age have scrambled to leave the country to avoid the draft, with thousands pouring into neighboring countries such as Georgia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, as well places farther afield, like Turkey.

Car traffic brought border crossings to a standstill, and some flights were sold out, but now it seems some Russians are taking even more extreme measures to avoid conscription.

An Ho-young, a lawmaker with South Korea's opposition Democratic Party, said by phone Thursday that all 23 Russian nationals had applied for tourist visas.

Russia Ukraine Military Operation Partial Mobilisation (Alexandr Kryazhev / Sputnik via AP)

But he said 21 were denied approval because of insufficient documentation and unclear objective" for entering South Korea.

The two successful applicants had documents showing records of having previously been in South Korea.

It is likely that Korea is becoming an intermediate stopover as more people attempt to escape Russia, An said, adding it was urgent for the government to come up with measures to handle a potential influx of men fleeing mobilization, such as dedicated procedures for handling what could turn into a diplomatic and human rights issue.

Russian nationals are allowed visa-free entry to South Korea, but immigration officials can deny permission to enter the country, he said.

Another boat, a 17-ton yacht carrying 10 Russian nationals, entered South Korean waters but did not dock in the country.

It was spotted in the East Sea on Oct. 1 and requested permission to dock in the city of Busan, An said, adding that immigration authorities refused the Russians permission to enter the country, citing their lack of a verifiable travel purpose.

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The boat eventually docked in Pohang, North Gyeongsang, north of Busan, and set out to sea again at 5 p.m. last Tuesday with all of its passengers, An said.

A 6-ton yacht also arrived in South Korea on Oct. 1, according to the coast guard. The boat requested permission to dock in the city of Sokcho to allow six passengers to come ashore  but again it was turned down.

The boat instead set sail for the east Russian port of Vladivostok on Oct. 5, but it was forced to make a stopover on Ulleung Island because of adverse weather and dangerous seas before it finally departed South Korean waters Tuesday.

An said the coast guard record showed that one boat from Russia is still docked in Pohang after a patrol boat discovered it at sea last Tuesday. All four people aboard were denied entry.

The Russian visitors went through a regular routine immigration process like everybody else, and those denied of entry to South Korea were because they did not meet the visa requirements and regulations, a South Korean Justice Ministry spokesperson said in a telephone interview Friday.

Anyone wishing to enter South Korean territory must provide at least the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), KETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) or other forms of visa, but those Russian visitors denied entry failed to provide any forms of entry visa, the spokesperson said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Ukrainian military

Theyre afraid that the rest of the bridgehead on the right bank (of the Dnipro) will decrease (in size), he said.

Read also: Liberation of Kherson a matter of time says Israeli military expert

We understand the logic here is iron-clad and straightforward: the smaller the bridgehead, the harder it is to hold. Everything is being squeezed. And the small territory, which is surrounded on three sides, is shot through. No army in the world can withstand this for a long time.

Arestovych did not say what exactly is happening in the south, since Ukraines General Staff has not yet officially announced any details about the ongoing counter-offensive in the area.

Read also: Winter will be harder for invaders than for Ukrainian military, says former US general

Meanwhile, the adviser to the head of the Presidents Office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said Russian dictator Vladimir Putin expects that Russian military will be fighting to the last for Kherson so that he can save his face.

Putin expects that Russian military will be fighting to the last for Kherson so that the leader can save its face, Podolyak tweeted on Oct. 15.

But they are busy: dividing and taking away the loot, waiting for escape. When looting becomes part of the system, there is no room for discipline and fighting spirit.

Read also: Putin announces end of partial mobilization in Russia, likely over postponed autumn conscription, says ISW

Earlier the head of Kherson regional military administration, Yaroslav Yanushevych, announced that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had liberated 75 settlements in Kherson Oblast since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion.

Natalia Humeniuk, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian militarys South Operational Command, said on Oct. 7 that the area of liberated territories in Kherson Oblast had increased to 500 square kilometers.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Gazprom says it will stop gas supplies to Europe if EU imposes price cap

He stated that the introduction of a price limit for Russian gas, which the EU is considering as part of sanctions in response to the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine and provoking an energy crisis, allegedly violates the terms of contracts.

Read also: EU fails to agree Russia gas price cap, but will introduce windfall tax on energy companies

We are following the contracts that have been signed, Miller said. Such a unilateral decision is, of course, a violation of the essential terms of the contract, which entails the cessation of supplies.

Earlier, Russia also threatened to cut off oil supplies to countries that introduced price caps.

Read also: Nigeria and Morocco to build gas pipeline to Europe

The EU countries have been discussing for several weeks caps on the price of gas that Russia supplies, but have not agreed on this yet.

Next week, Brussels will unveil proposals to start joint gas purchases within a few months and develop an alternative gas price benchmark as part of efforts to tame volatile energy prices.

Read also: Russian state gas company Gazprom reveals drops in production and sales

After the start of the Russian full-scale war against Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the EU, as part of its sanctions, imposed an embargo on Russian oil (except for pipelines) and coal.

However, due to the blocs significant dependence on Russian gas, the EU countries havent yet given up taking supplies from Russia.

Read also: Gas prices in Europe up by 20% amid Gazprom-Naftogaz conflict

With current gas prices nearly 90% higher than a year ago, most EU countries are keen to set a price cap for the fuel, but it is difficult for them to agree on what form this should take  be it capping the price of all gas, or pipeline gas, or only gas used to generate electricity.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico supports procedures for free, fair, safe and accessible elections and encourages all citizens to be actively engaged in understanding the existing processes that support election integrity and in working to strengthen them.

What are the procedures that already provide strength and integrity in our county and state? Online registration saves money, streamlines the process for computer-savvy voters, and contributes to the accuracy of voter lists in allowing voters to check and change their information at nmvote.org. Same-day voter registration happens at voting locations, where voters may also update address changes. Voter rolls are maintained continuously by the Bureau of Elections through checking obituaries, voter registration records, motor vehicle information, returned mail and Social Security records.

Once voting begins sample ballots are also available from nmvote.org, so voters may learn about candidates, bonds, and amendments before voting. Early voting dates and voter convenience centers give voters more access. Machine tabulators are programed and certified so that voters in the county may vote in any of the voting locations. Absentee ballots do not require the voter to have an excuse and these can be tracked and returned by mail or in person. There are secure drop boxes at the voting locations. The use of paper ballots is a very important part of the voting process. Under federal law, any U.S. citizen has the right to cast a provisional ballot, used when there is a question about the voters eligibility. These ballots are held for counting until officials determine if the vote should be accepted or not.

Machine tabulators accurately count ballots and are not connected to the internet. They are tested for function and accuracy before voting begins. Your machine-tabulated ballot is safe with the paper ballot available if a recount is needed.

After local election officials examine the results, ballots are routinely reviewed by the Secretary of States Office. A post-election audit by a qualified independent auditor is also required, with a transparent and specific process clearly spelled out in state statutes. The auditors reports are found on the Secretary of States website and reveal the consistent accuracy of our election administration.

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What are some additional ways elections in New Mexico could be reformed and strengthened?

Mailing ballots automatically to all registered voters increases access and participation. The state of Utah provides a good example. All-mail ballots have been used in the state for several years. According to the Salt Lake Tribune for Nov. 24, 2020, 90.1% of the states registered voters cast a ballot in 2020. While turnout in New Mexico in 2020 was the largest in state history, the rate was only 69.7%, according to the Sun-News of Jan. 26, 2022.

Using Ranked Choice Voting changes how candidates campaign. Campaigns are more issue-focused, cost less and winners are elected with a true majority. Voters have the option to rank candidates or vote in the general manner of selecting only one candidate. For more information, go to https://rcvis.com

To learn about the 2022 candidates in their own words, go to VOTE411.org. The Leagues printed guides are found in the Oct. 7 Las Cruces Bulletin in English and the Camino Real Media in Spanish.

More from the League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico:

Kathy Brook and Eileen VanWie are co-presidents of the League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: League of Women Voters: Safe and secure elections in New Mexico
Saudi Arabias defense chief, Prince Khalid bin Salman, on Sunday said he was astonished by suggestions that the country is siding with Russia in its war against Ukraine, after the kingdom led a push to cut global oil production that will bolster Russias energy revenue.

We are astonished by the accusations that the kingdom is standing with Russia in its war with Ukraine. It is telling that these false accusations did not come from the Ukrainian government, Prince Khalid said on Twitter.

Saudi Arabia leads OPEC+, or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies. The coalition of 13 member nations and 11 nonmembers, including Russia, recently announced a major cut in oil production, raising concerns about prices at the pump in the U.S.

The Biden administration and a number of lawmakers were outraged by the decision. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said shortly after the announcement that its clear that OPEC+ is aligning with Russia.

A number of Democrats have called for the U.S. to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia in response.

But the Saudi defense chief on Sunday said the nation is still aligned with Ukraine and that the OPEC+ decision was a purely economic move rather than a signal of allegiance to Russia.

Iran is also a member of OPEC, does this mean that the Kingdom is standing with Iran as well? Prince Khalid asked in another tweet. Iran and Saudi Arabia have no diplomatic relations and are historic rivals in the Muslim world.

The defense chief shared an update from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the pair had spoken to discuss Saudi support for Ukraines territorial integrity and the recent United Nations resolution to condemn Russias annexation of occupied Ukrainian territory.

We agreed to interact in the release of prisoners of war. We agreed on the provision of macro-financial aid to Ukraine, Zelensky said. Saudi Arabia mediated a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine earlier this year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty

Longtime Republican operative Roger Stone grew so upset after not being granted a second pardon that he lashed out at Donald Trump, threatening to support the outgoing presidents impeachment.

In a newly released clip from a forthcoming documentary, Stonevisibly shaking with angersaid that if Trump ran for office again, he would get his fucking brains beat in.

Im done with this president, Stone fumed in the video. Im going to go public supporting impeachment. I have no choice.

He has to go, he has to go, Stone added. Run again; youll get your fucking brains beat in.

Footage from Jan 20 2021. Stone supports impeaching Trump:Run again youll get your fucking brains beat in. pic.twitter.com/HDiCaehRg7  Christoffer Guldbrandsen (@cguld) October 15, 2022

Danish filmmaker Christoffer Guldbrandsenwho captured the moment for his upcoming film A Storm Foretold told The Daily Beast on Sunday morning that the clip was filmed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on President Joe Bidens Inauguration Day in 2021.

Asked who Stone was on the phone with, Guldbrandsen said, dont know.

Stone didnt return The Daily Beasts request for comment on Sunday morning.

Trump Hates When Anyone Except Him Grifts Off the Trump Name

Over the past summer, in conversations with The Daily Beast, two Trump advisers have said that Stone has long been on the outside looking in when it comes to the former presidents post-presidential orbit.

One of the sources said Stone hasnt been in the mix in a very long time.

A Trump spokesperson didnt return The Daily Beasts request for comment.

On Friday, The Daily Beast exclusively reported that on that same dayJan. 20, 2021Stone threw a fit and raged at Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who was considered a point person for managing Trumps pardon list.

Roger Stone Threw a Fit After Not Getting Pardon, Called Ivanka Abortionist Bitch

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Jared Kushner has an IQ of 70. Hes coming to Miami. We will eject him from Miami very quickly; he will be leaving very quickly, Stone raged. Very quickly.

When it came to Ivanka, Stone called her an abortionist bitch.

Fuck you and your abortionist bitch daughter, he continued.

Over the past few days, the self-proclaimed dirty trickster has insisted that the footage captured by the Danish filmmakers is fake but has repeatedly slipped up with his denials.

I am not a fan of Jared Kushner or his pro-abortion wife, Stone wrote on Telegram Saturday. On Alex Jones InfoWars, he said that he is working on cleaning up my language...I promised my wife and my pastor.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here

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Wisk Generation 6 air taxi Wisk Aero

The goal of air taxis is simple: fly above vehicle traffic to the office, dinner, or airport.

The Wisk Gen6 has a top speed of 138 mph and a range of 90 miles.

The WiFi-enabled air taxi has mobile device charging docks and cup holders.

The race is on to see which air taxi will be the first to market and Boeing's Wisk hopes to cross the finish line first ahead of Uber, Airbus, Honda, and a host of other competitors.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

The Wisk Aero Generation 6 is the first candidate for Federal Aviation Administration certification of a self-flying, passenger-ready electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, according to the Boeing-backed company.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Airlines like United and American are betting on electric air taxis that could change the way we get around and between cities  here's the 8 companies they're partnering with

The goal of air taxis is everyday flights for everybody that fly above vehicle traffic and get you to the office, dinner, or the airport faster. Wisk's price target  $3 per passenger, per mile  is intended to rival airport shuttles and ride-sharing services.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

The Advanced Air Mobility company was the first in the US to successfully fly an autonomous air taxi.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Wisk hopes that history will help it stay ahead of competitors like Delta Air Lines-backed Joby Aviation, United Airlines-backed Eve Mobility, and American Airlines-affiliated Vertical Aerospace.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Delta just gave the clearest indication yet of how electric flying taxis will change the experience of flying with airlines

United just ordered 200 more flying taxis  see inside Embraer's Eve eVTOL, which can fly up to 150 mph

Flying taxi ordered by American Airlines successfully completes first test flight

Wisk's four-passenger eVTOL air taxi flies autonomously with human supervisors on the ground that can intervene if needed.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

The lack of a human pilot in the cockpit could take some getting used to for early adapters.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Each passenger has their own Help call button on the ceiling  in case of emergency or a simple question.

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Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

A simplified design with fewer moving parts improves safety while redundant systems with no single point of failure reduce the chance of an accident to one in a billion, according to Wisk.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

High-tech decision-making software tied to sensors on the air taxi is designed to detect and avoid near misses and crashes.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

With a top speed of 138 mph, the Wisk Gen6 has a range of 90 miles at an altitude of 2,500 to 4,000 feet above the ground. The electric air taxi can recharge in 15 minutes.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Wisk has settled on a distinctive and proprietary 50-foot wingspan design with 12 propellers  six in the front and six in the rear.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

The raised wing design with extended prop booms has allowed Wisk to increase stability, improve propulsion, and reduce in-cabin and exterior noise.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

The rotating front propellers tilt to shift from lift to thrust.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

The skyward-facing fixed rear propellers help improve range, control, and energy efficiency.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

The Wisk G6 opts for helicopter-style skids rather than airplane-style wheels.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Inside the cabin, the Wisk Gen6 has four automotive-style seats  two more than the Gen5.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Each seat has a four-point harness seat belt.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Interior consoles in the front and back rows of the WiFi-enabled air taxi feature mobile device charging docks. There are even cupholders.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Passengers use a touch screen to go through a pre-flight checklist and

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

 track their flight progress.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

The frunk trunk in the front of the air taxi

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

stows four carry-on suitcases for trips to and from the airport or any short-range vacation destination.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Wisk has been perfecting its air taxi for 12 years with the Gen1 through Gen6 models logging more than 1,600 successful test flights without an accident.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

The Gen4 and Gen5 Wisk air taxis have been in the air since 2017.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Wisks proof-of-concept Gen1 eVTOL that took off in 2011 was small enough to fit in a parking space.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

The San Francisco Bay Area-based company merged in 2017 with Kitty Hawk Corp.  the air taxi rival financed by Google co-founder Larry Page that just called it quits a few weeks ago.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Kitty Hawk, the flying-car company backed by Google cofounder Larry Page, is winding down

Boeing doubled down on Wisk with an additional $450 million investment earlier this year.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Boeing invests a further $450 million in the air taxi startup launched by Google cofounder Larry Page to develop pilotless aircraft

Wisk hopes Boeing's 100-plus years of aviation experience and manufacturing scale will give the air taxi maker an advantage in the ultra-competitive eVTOL market.

Wisk air taxi Wisk Aero

Read the original article on Business Insider
VALENTYNA ROMANENKO  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 16:15

The Russian military command deploys conscripted soldiers, who have not even been properly trained, on the front line, using them as cannon fodder.

Source: SOTA, Telegram channel / Russian news outlet

Quote: "SOTA got hold of an audio recording of the story of a soldier from the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in Russias far east who was mobilised on 22 September. At the moment, he is getting treatment for the injuries he received on the front [the editorial office has photos of the injuries  ed.]. He states that by now, all 400 people mobilised from the island of Sakhalin in Russias far east have been either killed or injured [later, this phrase disappeared from the original message on the Telegram channel; the released audio contains only the information that 400 mobilised people were deployed on different fronts  ed.]".

Details: The geographical names mentioned by the soldier indicate that the events he described occurred on the Donetsk front.

The main points are as follows:

Soldiers are hardly trained; they get a one-day training course in Russia and some training on the border with Ukraine; the training on the border with Ukraine lasts less than a week and amounts to drinking and casual shooting [i.e. in the air].

Due to the absence of medical examinations, one mobilised man died from a blood clot.

The mobilised personnel are being transported to Rostov Oblast in Russia on civilian planes.

The troops on the front are hardly fed: they receive food only once every three days.

The mobilised men are deployed first on the front line, ahead of the contract soldiers. In fact, they are used as a human shield.

Unlike the Ukrainian army, the Russian army [presumably, the man referred to certain units, not the entire army  ed.] has no modern armaments such as drones or high-precision artillery.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
EUROPEAN PRAVDA  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 19:36

A number of Russian [and later, Ukrainian] media have spread false information about the temporary closure of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Initially information to this effect appeared on Russian sites, in particular Ura.ru, EADaily and on the website of the Tsargrad TV.

The above-mentioned outlets are controlled by the Russian government and are systematically used in special information and psychological operations.

Quote: "The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Ukraine was temporarily closed today. Three diplomats and one more employee of the embassy left Ukraine and were safely evacuated," EADaily wrote, claiming that they quoted a message from the Serbian Foreign Ministry.

As of today, 16 October, Belgrade [the capital of Serbia  ed.] did not issue such a statement.

Furthermore, all publications refer to messages from the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Ukraine. Information about the temporary closure of the embassy and the evacuation of staff to Belgrade had indeed been published there, without specifying the date of publication.

However, as Oleh Nikolenko, spokesman for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, explained in a comment for European Pravda, in fact, the closing of the Serbian Embassy took place immediately after the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation began.

Quote by Nikolenko: "Employees of the Serbian Embassy left Ukraine at the beginning of March. Since then, Serbian diplomats continue to work from Belgrade."

It is possible that the news about the closure of the Serbian Embassy was published deliberately, to create the impression of increased threats to Kyiv.

Background: Earlier, Kazakhstan announced plans to evacuate part of its embassy staff in Kyiv. However, they also said that the embassy would continue its work.



Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 17:42

Denys Shmyhal, the Prime-Minister of Ukraine, emphasised that Ukraine managed to retain its energy stability after Russians launched up to 130 missile attacks and attacks with kamikaze drones in only three days.

Source: Shmyhal on Facebook

Quote: "Ukraine retained its energy stability after Russias massive attacks.

Within just the first three days of this week, Russians launched up to 130 missile attacks and attacks with kamikaze drones on civil and energy facilities, especially in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

The Russians tried to intimidate Ukrainians and paralyse the energy sector of Ukraine but did not manage to achieve their goal. Ukraine was ready for this scenario. We mobilised our efforts for emergency repair work and restored electricity supply in 4,000 settlements".

Details: Shmyhal remarked that Ukrainians showed how energy-conscious they are by decreasing electricity consumption by 10% on average.

"We are expecting that Ukrainians will again resist overconsumption of electricity in the morning and in the evening during the next few days",  he added.



Background:

On 10-11 October, Russia launched massive missile strikes on critical infrastructure facilities, and in particular on the energy sector, in the capital and various regions of Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities have called on people across the country to limit their energy use.

About 30% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been hit by Russian missiles since Monday, 10 October, Ukrainian energy minister Herman Halushchenko said on Tuesday.

On 14 October, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 15 targets that the Russians wanted to destroy with their attacks this week had been completely restored.

As a result of the morning attack by the invaders on 15 October on the Kyiv region, an energy infrastructure facility in the Kyiv region was severely damaged. Ukrenerho warned of the possible application of rolling emergency power cuts, but managed to do without it.

Ukrenerho reported that Kyiv and the entire central region spent the evening of 15 October without a power outage due to the fact that in the evening Ukrainians deliberately limited the use of electrical appliances, in some places  up to 20%.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SATURDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2022, 22:16

Citizens of "a CIS [ommonwealth of Independent States] country" have opened fire on "volunteers" preparing to fight against Ukraine at a training ground of the Western Military District in the Belgorod region; 11 people were killed in the attack and 15 were hospitalised.

Source: Kremlin-aligned news outlet RIA Novosti, quoting the Russian Ministry of Defence; Russian Telegram channel SOTA

Details: Russias Defence Ministry has reported that two citizens of a CIS country have committed an "act of terrorism" at a training ground of the Western Military District in Belgorod Oblast.

During a fire training session with the "volunteers", who were training for the so-called "special operation" [as Russian propaganda calls the war against Ukraine], the "terrorists" fired on the units personnel using small arms.

11 people died in the attack and 15 people were taken to hospital with wounds of varying degrees of severity.

The two "terrorists" were killed by return fire, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported.

Earlier, Russian Telegram channels had reported that a shooting had occurred on the territory of a military unit in Belgorod Oblast, resulting in people being killed and wounded. According to SOTA, 22 people may have been killed and 16 wounded. It was reported that the shooters were apparently three servicemen, two of whom were killed on the spot, while one managed to escape.

A source among the mobilised mens relatives told SOTA that the Belgorod Oblast shooting took place at a training ground in the village of Soloti.

Previously this training ground had over 100 conscripts from Bryansk Oblast, Russia, who categorically refused to be sent to Lyman in Ukraines Donetsk Oblast. SOTA says that the military leadership spent a week trying to persuade them to start an assault on the city

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The Medicare open enrollment period allows seniors to consider switching to a Medicare Advantage plan.

Its that time of year for older adults looking to find a Medicare managed care or prescription drug plan for 2023.

Open enrollment started Saturday for the Medicare Advantage managed care plans and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. The optional plans are available for everyone covered by Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people 65 or older and some younger disabled Americans.

Enrollment continues through Dec. 7. Changes are effective Jan. 1.

More:When does Medicare open enrollment take place? Here's what to know when picking your plan.

Choosing a 2023 Medicare plan?:Help is available in person, virtually and over the phone

Consumers can include prescription drug coverage in Medicare Advantage plans. They also have the option of picking a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to use with original Medicare, retiree medical coverage or a Medicare supplemental plan, also called a Medigap plan.

What's new for 2023?

In 2023, all recommended vaccines, including shingles and tetanus, will be fully covered by Medicare Part D, which is either a stand-alone prescription plan or part of a Medicare Advantage plan, said Francine Chuchanis, director of entitlement rights for Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities. However, to avoid a co-pay for the vaccine, consumers need to get their vaccines at a pharmacy and not at their doctors office, she said.

For people who are not yet eligible for Medicare but will turn 65 next year, there are some changes that require you to plan ahead, said Chuchanis.

In 2023, if a person enrolls three months before turning 65, coverage will begin the month the person turns 65 unless the birthday falls on the first day of the month. In that case, the coverage will begin the month prior. If a person waits to sign up during their birthday month or three months after, coverage will not begin until the first day of the following month after enrollment.

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The number of Medicare Advantage managed care plans available in each county will vary, depending on which providers offer coverage.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, there are 216 Medicare Advantage plans available in Ohio for 2023, up from 202 in 2022.

The average monthly Medicare Advantage plan premium decreased from $18.17 in 2022 to $16.03 in 2023, according to CMS.

Chuchanis, who reviews the Medicare Advantage plans offered in Summit, Portage, Wayne and Stark counties yearly, said she noticed premiums in the Akron area are stable for 2023.

This year, there are 24 Part D prescription plans offered statewide in Ohio, up from 23 last year.

Part D plans cover prescription drugs for consumers who are not on a Medicare Advantage plan, which usually includes prescription drug coverage.

Chuchanis said she noticed that Ohios Part D premiums were higher than the national average.

The national average premium for Part D plans is $31.08, according to CMS, while the Ohio average Part D premium is $47.07, she said.

There are no Part D plans with no premium and four plans with $0 deductible.

Top 10 tips to consider when shopping for Medicare plans

Heres some advice from Chuchanis, who presents workshops throughout the region for seniors, and Chris Reeg, director of the Ohio Department of Insurances Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP).

1. Do a plan check up every year. You should receive an annual notice of change letter, which outlines if your premium will go up or other changes. A plan for 2022 may or may not be best plan for you in 2023.

2. If you want to stay with the same plan, you dont need to do anything. You will roll over automatically. We still encourage folks to review whats available, said Reeg.

3. Call your existing doctors to see if they are in your plan. Providers can sometimes leave a plan in the middle of the year, so confirm that the doctors you want to see are in your plan, said Chuchanis.

4. Consider your particular needs and costs. This is not one-size-fits-all, said Chuchanis. Dont pick the same plan as your neighbor; it may not be a great plan for you, she said. Even husbands and wives need to look at their particular needs and what plan fits best, said Reeg.

Look at your out-of-pocket costs for the services you use most, like specialists or medications, when comparing Medicare Advantage plans, said Chuchanis.

5. "Free" in this case can be good, but watch costs. Unlike the old adage of you get what you pay for, the government offers subsidies for Medicare Advantage plans, so thats why many can offer zero premiums. But Reeg still warns please dont choose just on marketing material.

6. Choose a plan to cover you if you have the worst health year ever. Watch the maximum out-of-pocket limits so you know what it would cost, said Reeg. Some plans have a $3,000 out-of-pocket limit and some have $12,000, she said.

7. Extras are nice, but dont base your decision on them. Most plans offer vision and dental and gym memberships. If you are joining a plan because of the perks, know the limitations, said Reeg.

Chuchanis said she has heard this year that there are some lucrative extras like cash cards, but that information is not on Medicare.gov, so youll have to look at websites or marketing material. Some plans also added home health and transportation coverage. But as always, Chuchanis said, make sure the plan covers your medical needs the best before choosing from perks.

8. Check star ratings. CMS has updated how it does its star ratings slightly this year and put more emphasis on consumer assessments, including customer service, said Chuchanis. The ratings are out of a five-star system. Chuchanis said she does not recommend plans below a 3-star rating.

In Summit County, there are four Medicare Advantage Plans with the highest 5-star rating: Devoted Health, MedMutual, Prime Time and SummaCare. There are three plans that fall below a 3-star rating for some of its plans: Cigna has some with 2.5 stars, Lasso Health Care has a 2 star and Wellcare has some with 2.5 stars.

There are no statewide Plan D prescription drug plans with a 5-star rating.

9. Check if the plan will cover you out of state and out of the country. Some Medicare Advantage plans are national and some can have foreign travel coverage. If you travel or are a snowbird, check to make sure your coverage follows you.

10. Be careful of fraud. Plans are not supposed to call you or telemarket, unless you are already enrolled in the plan. Medicare does not call you to find a new plan. Reeg said her department already had more than 50 complaints from people who believe they have been misled.

Beacon Journal staff reporter Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ. To see her most recent stories and columns, go to www.tinyurl.com/bettylinfisher.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Tips for picking a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan for 2023
OFF THE FARALLON ISLANDS, Calif.  Twenty-eight miles off San Francisco Bay, the sea is alive with whales. Spout after spout shoot from the water as more than two dozen humpbacks feast on glittering schools of anchovies.

From the prow of a small boat, Bekah Lane, program coordinator for the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, scrambles to track them all.

"There's a group of five over there, and another three over there, and at least four moms with calves," she said, binoculars scanning back and forth over the water. "We're just surrounded by whales here."

Unfortunately, the abundant fish that draw humpbacks here mean these whales are effectively having a picnic on a freeway  and they don't know they're in danger. These rich feeding grounds are smack in the middle of the path to the fourth-busiest ports on the West Coast. Ships the size of the Empire State Building power through daily to reach docks in Oakland and San Francisco.

Bekah Lane of the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA takes photos of whale flukes to help identify the whales feeding more than 20 miles offshore of San Franciso Calif. Each year, more than 80 whales die after being struck by ships off the West coast. She is uploading whale data to Whale Safe, a computer system that went live on September 21, 2022 that notifies ships when whales are present so they can slow down and hopefully avoid such ship strikes.

More than 80 whales are struck and killed each year in West Coast shipping lanes, the roadkill of robust international trade. So far, 2018, 2019 and 2021 have been the worst years on record for whale-ship collisions.

Lane and other scientists are part of a recently launched tool called Whale Safe that's working to give the mammals a fighting chance by getting ships to slow down when whales are present, just as cars slow down in school zones.

Attired in a wetsuit, marine biologist Douglas McCauley sits on the deck below Lane, his eyes picking out mothers and their calves in the roiling waters. He helped construct the system. Now he's about to jump in the water to do some adjustments to the acoustic buoy that's busy listening for whales even when they're deep underwater, invisible to the humans above.

As intelligent as they are, he explained, whales haven't yet learned how to avoid ships in part because so many interactions result in death.

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In late August, a humpback mother with a calf that had been tracked by whale watchers for years had her skull knocked off her spine in a ship strike. She was known as Fran, and her body washed ashore near San Francisco. Researchers are still looking for her calf.

MORE: Fran, California's 'most popular' whale, likely killed by ship collision

Whale Safe was first launched off the Southern California coast two years ago. In September, San Francisco was added, which scientists hope "can help protect whales like Fran all along the California coast," McCauley said.

Eventually, they want to add Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, to protect these enormous creatures as they travel the West Coast between their winter feeding grounds near Alaska and their breeding grounds near Mexico.

Telling ships how 'whaley' it is

Working with scientists at universities and research groups around the world, Whale Safe hinges on an acoustical buoy that listens for whales.

The bright yellow beacon, designed and built by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, doesn't look like much in the water. But it's a half-million-dollar piece of equipment that carries a high-tech hydrophone that constantly listens for whale songs, translating them into a count of whales and species using an onboard computer.

Taking a deep breath, McCauley falls backward into the 55-degree water, then dives to the bottom of the buoy.

Douglas McCauley inspects an acoustical buoy that helps track whale activity offshore of San Francisco. Each year, more than 80 whales die after being struck by ships off the West Coast.

The system uses information from the buoy, sightings logged by trained researchers such as Lane, and a predictive model of blue whale habitat preferences and oceanographic data.

Combined and posted online, these give passing ships an hourly "whale presence" rating of low, medium, high or very high. In the past month 126 humpbacks have been sighted and the buoy has heard blue and fin whales in the vicinity, giving most days a "very high" rating.

Whale Safe can't give exact locations for individual whales, but captains don't need that, McCauley said.

"What we're giving the shipping industry is a risk index," McCauley said. "We're telling them how 'whaley' it is on any given day and how important it is that they slow down then."

That, at least, gives them a chance.

Even a 330,000-pound blue whale is no match for a 300-ton ship.

Its not like a deer and a car. Its more like a deer and a skyscraper, McCauley said.

OFF FLORIDA COAST: NOAA wants boats to slow for right whales

Asking nicely hasn't helped whales

For years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has asked the enormous ships that ply the shipping lanes heading into San Francisco Bay to voluntarily cut their speed during whale migration season.

Some do, but many don't.

The scientists behind Whale Safe hope that by giving ships  and the companies that run them  near-real-time updates on when whales are present, they'll be more inclined to slow down.

"It can also be made available directly to the captain of the ship; they can get it on their phone as well," said Kathi George, director of field operations and response at the Marine Mammal Center.

More: Follow USA TODAY's climate change coverage

Whale Safe also assigns a letter grade based on safe speed to companies running large ships in the area. An "A" means whale-saving speeds. An "F" means too many ships barreling through.

Most people have never heard of the shipping companies, but they carry the things Americans buy every day, McCauley said.

"I don't think people realize there's an opportunity for saving whales every time they go into a store," he said. By pushing retailers to use only shippers that are whale-safe, "consumers can have some leverage."

The Whale Safe tool makes report cards for companies running ships of more than 300 tons.

Together with other efforts by NOAA, the Southern California Whale Safe program is seeing success. Compliance with the voluntary speed reductions has increased each year, from 47% in 2019 to 62% this year, said Callie Steffen, Whale Safe project scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

That system, together with other initiatives  such as Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies, a program that incentivizes companies to slow their ships  has helped make a difference, said Sean Hastings, policy and information officer at NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary off the Santa Barbara coast.

NOAA scientists calculate that if 90% of the large ships cooperated with the Vessel Speed Reduction Program, the risk of lethal ship strikes would be reduced by as much as 30%.

Preliminary figures show that this year the cooperation rate in Southern California is just shy of 70%, Hastings said.

It's not enough. "We really do need 100% cooperation," he said.

Whales and ships sharing the sea

Lacking mandates, Whale Safe hopes information and public shaming will encourage companies to slow down.

This year, the world's largest shipper, MSC, got an A. It has incorporated the data stream directly into its ships' navigation software and is setting the standard for others, Hastings said.

"They're slowing their ships down over 90% of the time," he said. "It's a beautiful thing."

Other companies say they can't.

Matson, a Honolulu-based company that mainly ships to Alaska, Hawaii and Guam, said it's not able to slow down because of the urgency of its cargo. It slows its ships "to the greatest extent possible" but can't always because "when a ship is late, our communities see empty shelves," said spokesman Keoni Wagner.

Whale Safe data for Matson ships entering or exiting Los Angeles and Long Beach ports found that 57.5% of Matson ships traveled 12 to 15 knots in the go-slow area.

A NOAA study showed that because slower speeds result in fuel efficiency, slowing to 10 knots in shipping lanes during the months whales are present in Southern California would result in only a 2% increase in total costs for shippers.

Conservationists have also strongly advocated for shifting sea lanes slightly to avoid areas where whales tend to congregate. The NOAA study found this decreased ship transit times, so doing so plus slowing in ship lanes actually lowered costs by 1.6%.

The problem is only going to get worse, said John Calambokidis, a cetacean expert with Cascadia Research, a nonprofit organization in in Olympia, Washington, that focuses on whale research. Whale populations are recovering just as international shipping is increasing. Today there are more whales and more large ships in the oceans, and those ships are bigger and moving faster than ever before.

Though Whale Safe isn't a total solution, it is a valuable piece of the puzzle, said Cotton Rockwood, a senior marine ecologist with Point Blue Conservation Science, a nonprofit that contracts with NOAA to study whale populations.

Companies really do want to end ship strikes. "Nobody wants to kill a whale. It's heartbreaking when it happens," he said.

Without mandatory speed restrictions, it's hard to get industry buy-in because voluntary slowdowns put companies doing the right thing at a disadvantage. "It's got to be a level playing field," he said.

That's part of Whale Safe's secret weapon. By making speeds public, consumers can pressure businesses they buy from to pressure shippers.

At the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary office, Hastings thinks most Americans would be glad to factor the value of whale's life into the timing of their next purchase.

"I'm pretty confident," he said, "that you and I could wait an extra minute for our iPhone to hit the shelf."

Elizabeth Weise covers climate and environment issues for USA TODAY. She can be reached at eweise@usatoday.com.

EARLIER THIS YEAR: Dead fish are piling up on San Francisco Bay Area shores. A toxic algae bloom is likely cause.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pacific Ocean speed limits? Ships kill endangered whales each year
Singapore President's Vietnam visit to bolster all-around cooperation

The State visit to Vietnam by Singapore President Halimah Yacob will contribute to consolidating political trust, promoting all-around cooperation, connecting the two economies on a digital platform.











Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and her husband will pay a state visit to Vietnam from October 16-20 at the invitation of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.



This is the first state visit of a foreign head of state to Vietnam since the 13th National Party Congress and the first oversea trip of the President of Singapore since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.



The visit takes place amid both nations looking forward to the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership in 2023.



Over the past years, the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership has seen positive development. Despite complicated developments of COVID-19, the two sides still maintained the exchange of delegations, letters of congratulation, and high-level visits.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has presided over and arranged many online talks between the two sides' leaders, with the cooperation in the Party, Government, State and National Assembly channels being constantly expanded.



The two sides have effectively utilized bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the mechanism of the Ministerial Conference on connecting the two economies chaired by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and political consultation at the deputy foreign ministerial level.



In 2022, in the context that the COVID-19 pandemic was under control, the two economies saw the recovery and growth. Both sides exchanged many high-level delegations, in which, the highlight was the State visit to Singapore by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (from February 24-26, 2022) with many substantive results.



Parliamentary cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore has been promoted in recent years. The top legislators held online talks to discuss the substantive cooperation between the two legislatures.



The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two NAs on the occasion of the President of Singapore's official visit to Vietnam in May 2022.



Besides high political trust, economic cooperation continues to be considered a bright spot in bilateral relations. As soon as the pandemic was basically under control, Vietnam and Singapore lifted travel restrictions and resumed commercial flights in March 2022.



Despite being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the total trade turnover between the two countries reached US$8.3 billion in 2021, in which, exports stood at US$4 billion, and imports were US$4.3 billion, posting a year-on-year rise of 23.3%. Two-way trade hit US$ 6.9 billion during the first nine months of this year, up 16% on-year.



The island-city state remains ASEAN's largest investor in Vietnam, ranking 2nd out of 139 countries and territories investing in the country. As of August 20, Singaporean investors had 2,974 valid projects with a total registered capital of US$ 69.9 billion, accounting for 16.3% of total investment capital poured into Vietnam.



Meanwhile, by July 2022, Vietnam had 136 valid investment projects worth more than US$538 million in Singapore. The projects focus on such areas as science and technology, wholesale and retail, car and motorbike repairing, information and communications, and manufacturing and processing industry.



By the end of 2021, Singaporean investors had invested in building infrastructure facilities for 11 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) in Vietnam, with a total area of around 7,517 hectares.



In terms of transportation, Singapore is one of the aviation markets of special importance to Vietnam with the number of passengers arriving in Vietnam ranking 6th according to 2019 data.





Currently, the two nations' airlines have basically restored regular commercial flights, while cooperation in other fields such as security - defence, finance - banking, education - training, natural resources - the environment, law - justice between the two countries continues to be strengthened.

Both sides have closely cooperated in pandemic prevention and control. Singapore was one of the first ASEAN member states to provide medical equipment and supplies to Vietnam, with 122,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.



Currently, the Vietnamese community in Singapore numbers about 13,000, including roughly 7,000 students; more than 1,000 postgraduates and intellectuals, over 2,500 brides, and 2,500 workers.



Regarding the purpose and significance of the State visit to Vietnam by Singapore President Halimah Yacob, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung stated that the visit aims to deepen the strategic partnership signed by the two countries more than 9 years ago and at the same time concretize the results of bilateral cooperation in recent years.



Talking about the prospects for cooperation between the two countries after the visit, Ambassador Mai Phuoc Dung expressed his hope that within the framework of the visit, the two countries will sign an agreement on promoting cooperation in renewable.



During the visit, Singapore President Halimah Yacob will pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi, hold talks with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and pay courtesy calls to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.



She will receive the Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, and visit the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park 1 (VSIP1) and work with leaders in the northern province of Bac Ninh.



The State visit to Vietnam by Singaporean President Halimah Yacob is expected to contribute to strengthening political trust and multi-faceted cooperation in such fields as politics-diplomacy, defence-security, economy, investment, labour and technology.



In particular, the visit will help further boost economic cooperation between the two countries towards a new height of connecting the two economies on a digital platform.


Migrants from the Texas border arrive in a chartered bus on Oct. 14, 2022, at Chicagos Union Station. They were transferred to CTA buses. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago has welcomed more buses of migrants who arrived Friday, according to city officials.

City officials said in a statement released Saturday that a total of 3,313 asylum-seekers have arrived from the Texas border, including 86 who arrived on Friday.

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The group included families and individuals, who are receiving help from state, county and city agencies, according to the statement. Children and infants are among those who arrived.

Immediate shelter and support for basic needs was provided, according to the statement, which also noted that many who arrived had walked hundreds of miles, navigating great danger through multiple countries.

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Illinois is a welcoming state, the statement said. We are committed to assisting each family and individual, providing human services with respect and dignity.

Republican governors have been sending migrants to Democratic strongholds without advance warning for several weeks. The practice escalated last month with buses arriving at a wealthy summer enclave in Massachusetts and the home of Vice President Kamala Harris in an apparent taunt of immigrant-friendly sanctuary cities.

What happens once the migrants arrive here is unclear, immigration experts have told the Tribune. Immigration law applies to people differently depending on their circumstances.

People seeking asylum have the same rights under the Constitution and are given a court date to gain legal status.

The National Immigrant Justice Center has so far offered legal information to more than 2,000 people trying to navigate the process, which has been made more difficult due to the chaotic way people are arriving, said the centers executive director, Mary Meg McCarthy.

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. >

This is not the way we should be welcoming people, said McCarthy. There is a better way. I have been doing this for more than 20 years. Its a real hard time. ... We are really trying to respond to the situation in a way that is humane and ensures that peoples rights are respected and they are treated with dignity.

Unlike those who enter a country with refugee status, asylum-seekers arrive with nothing, the experts have said. Refugee status means a person can immediately apply for government benefits.

The City of Chicago noted several places to make donations or learn how to offer support:

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- A rapid response wish list set up by Instituto del Progreso Latino in partnership with the City and nonprofit partners can be found at www.InstitutoChicago.org.

- The city of Chicago has established a website with donation drop off locations at www.chicago.gov/support.

- Cook County has a link to wish list for families at https://cchealthfoundation.org/2022-migrant-campaign/.

- Further information on how to make a monetary donation to trusted sources can be found at https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/Asylum.aspx.
St. Sabina Church parishioners gathered Sunday morning for a joyful service, pushing back against a newly surfaced sexual abuse claim against their senior pastor, the Rev. Michael Pfleger.

A man in his late 40s filed a claim with the Archdiocese of Chicago Friday alleging the South Side priest sexually abused him at St. Sabina in the late 1980s.

As an investigation is launched into the claim, Pfleger has stepped aside from his church duties and has been asked by Cardinal Blase Cupich to live away from St. Sabina.

But Pflegers parishioners appear to remain as faithful as ever to their pastor.

Soft organ music played as churchgoers filed into the pews before Mass started, some wearing black shirts that read We stand with Father Pfleger in red, yellow and green letters.

The service was uplifting. When I heard the news, I didnt feel like coming because my heart was hurting, said Catherine Strong, who was wearing one of the T-shirts. My heart was broken a little bit, but I also know my pastor. And I know his heart.

The Rev. Tom Walsh led the 10 a.m. Mass, taking a moment during the homily to direct those in attendance to greet Pfleger, who was reportedly watching the service via livestream.

For Mike  I know youre watching this  we love you, Walsh said.

Pfleger was sidelined from his ministry for several months in early 2021 after two adult brothers filed claims accusing him of decades-old abuse.

Im kind of tired of the same thing, cause we know hes innocent, parishioner Sonia Hudson said. She said she got ready to go to church as soon as she heard the news Sunday morning in order to support her pastor.

Pfleger returned to St. Sabina in the summer of 2021 after a review panel found insufficient reason to suspect that he was guilty of the allegations.

This time, parishioners hope the investigation wont take as long.

I hope its not going to be a few months; I hope its going to be speedy quick, said Strong, who has been with St. Sabina Church for almost 30 years.

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Pfleger wrote a letter to the St. Sabina community in which he maintained his innocence. The letter was posted to St. Sabinas website, and on Sunday it was printed and distributed among churchgoers before Mass.

While I am confident that the new allegation will also be determined to be unfounded, this process is so unfair and painful to me and to the community I serve, Pfleger wrote in his statement.

Gina Raifords family has been part of the church for 24 years, and both of her children attended St. Sabina Academy. She calls Pfleger a part of her family.

When I read the letter, I was devastated, Raiford said, calling the allegation unfounded and unwarranted. It brought tears to my eyes, as it does now. Because this man fights for justice and he provides. I feel like its an attack.

In his letter, Pfleger referenced town hall meetings, vaccine clinics, and coat and food drives he has led at St. Sabina recently and planned for the coming months.

We know our pastor. Hes strong, hes good, hes a great man  and hes going to be back, Strong said, tearing up.

Chicago Tribunes Christy Gutowski contributed.

adperez@chicagotribune.com
President Joe Biden. STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Lawsuits and applications for relief have made the student-loan-forgiveness timeline uncertain.

Student-loan payments are set to resume in January.

Some experts and lawmakers have expressed concerns with how quickly borrowers can get relief.

President Joe Biden's student-loan-forgiveness plan is a big win for millions of borrowers  but the unprecedented move also comes with a lot of uncertainty.

As a January payment restart looms, the application for relief has been made available during a beta testing period but is not yet officially live for processing, and multiple lawsuits seek to challenge Biden's move in court, leaving many borrowers and advocates wondering how it will all shake out.

The $1.7 trillion student-debt load in the US has been a crisis decades in the making, but Biden is the first president to act on it broadly by announcing up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness for borrowers making under $125,000 a year. While some borrowers will receive automatic relief, the vast majority will have to apply through a form that should go live in October.

While the Education Department expects there will be a flood of traffic to the website when the form goes live, administration officials maintain the process will be smooth.

"We have been hard at work because we know the interest, we know the excitement, we know the potential demand. So we are using all our best practices to make sure that we can handle that volume," an official told reporters during a Tuesday press call. "At the same time, I think it's important as we communicate to borrowers, this is going to be available through December of 2023, and that is a set period of time including by which new people can apply."

Payments are still set to resume in January 2023 after being on pause for over two years during the pandemic. When announcing the debt relief, Biden said the extension of the payment pause through December 2022 would be "final," while also noting that the application to apply for relief would go live in early October.

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In response to a number of conservative lawsuits seeking to halt the relief in court, the administration backed off from the "early" October messaging. The White House reiterated, though, that the form will be available sometime in October and previewed what the "simple and straightforward" application will look like for borrowers earlier this week.

Borrowers are also waiting for a judge to rule on a lawsuit filed by six Republican-led states following a Wednesday hearing in which their attorneys argued the relief will hurt their states' revenues and should be paused.

While the Education Department recommends borrowers submit their applications by mid-November so the relief can hit their accounts before payments resume, it remains to be seen how effectively student-loan companies will implement the relief.

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar told Insider that while canceling student debt was a "massive victory," it is "only as effective as its implementation."

"We must ensure that the application process is smooth and simple, without bureaucratic red tape," Omar said. "And the Administration must implement this relief as swiftly and efficiently as possible, so that everyone eligible can access this critical relief. We must also ensure there is clear communication with borrowers ahead of repayment so folks don't have to deal with the anxiety of not knowing if and how much repayment will be."

"Another concern is with the loan servicers  we must ensure that they aren't engaging in deceptive or illegal behavior, and holding them fully accountable if they do," she added. "Our goal must be to get people all the relief they are eligible for."

Louise Seamster, a nonresident fellow researching debt at the Brookings Institution and a sociologist at the University of Iowa, told Insider that she's "hopeful the process will go smoothly," but she also wants the department to consider past issues with loan servicers as reasons to further extend the payment pause.

"I really would want the Department of Education to be aware of any potential challenges given the history of servicers in administering student debt generally, and especially special programs or initiatives" like Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or PSLF, Seamster said.

She added that "given the trajectory of loan servicers up to this point, I think it's reasonable to be concerned about how well cancellation will be administered, and I would want any roadblocks along the way to be managed by them rather than to additionally burden borrowers."

Loan companies have had past issues with implementing relief

Leading up to and following Biden's announcement of relief, lawmakers raised concerns with how effectively the forgiveness would be implemented. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, has frequently expressed the need for quick implementation. Virginia Foxx, the top Republican on the House Education Committee, wrote in a letter that the relief should be "a comprehensive, smooth operation that follows careful planning and thoughtful consideration about all aspects of an initiative, from communications to implementation."

But these concerns are not new. PSLF  which was intended to forgive student debt for public servants after ten years of qualifying payments  had a 98% denial rate to the program when Biden took office because of a backlog of applications and mismanagement in processing the forms, warranting reforms to the program that are expiring on October 31. And income-driven repayment plans, which are intended to give borrowers affordable monthly payments with the promise of loan forgiveness after at least 20 years, had the same issue  recent reports found loan companies had failed to track payments borrowers had made.

Foxx told Insider she isn't seeing any improvements and the "Biden administration is pushing an already strained system to the point of collapse."

"Democrats are exacerbating the federal student loan program's problems by failing to restart repayments, issue adequate guidance to servicers, and provide clarity to over 40 million borrowers," she said. "Unfortunately, I don't expect much to change. Borrowers and taxpayers should expect more of the same from the Biden administration: chaos and confusion."

But Seamster said that the history of carrying out targeted relief should raise concerns regarding loan companies' abilities to process new PSLF forms, implement Biden's broad relief, and resume payments in just a few months without an extension of the pause.

"Loan servicers have just not shown that they have the capability to manage all the things happening at once effectively, and we know when they can't manage, the borrowers pay the price," Seamster said.

The Education Department has not indicated if it will further extend the payment pause, and all borrowers can do right now is take Biden's word that the process will be smooth  and wait to see if loan companies will live up to expectations.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Oct. 15The application process for one-time federal student loan debt relief was opened Friday as part of a beta launch of the Biden administration's federal student loan program.

Borrowers can go to studentaid.gov to apply. According to the site, applications are being accepted during the beta period, allowing applicants to begin signing up prior to the website's formal launch later this month.

The application takes about five minutes to complete and doesn't require borrowers to log in or upload any documents. The application will be available on and off during this testing period and there is no advantage to applying before the full launch, the website states.

After the site's formal launch, the application will be available to borrowers through Dec. 31, 2023. A paper version will also be available for those who can't apply online.

Announced in August, the program proposes canceling up to $10,000 of federal student loans and up to $20,000 for students who had Pell Grants. Borrowers must make annual income during the pandemic of under $125,000 (for individuals) or under $250,000 (for married couples or heads of households).

The administration also changed the rules for loan repayment based on income, capping it at 5% of monthly income, and extended the deadline to begin repaying federal student loans to Jan. 1.

According to the Education Data Initiative, a nonprofit that collects education data, the average Ohioan has $34,721 in debt. A little more than 15% of the state's population has student loan debt, according to the same source, and about half of Ohio's student loan borrowers are under 35 years old. The state's student loan total is about $62.3 billion.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday indicated President Biden will not meet with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at next months Group of Twenty (G-20) summit.

The White House has said it will reevaluate the U.S.-Saudi relationship after Riyadh and its oil-exporting allies agreed to a production cut, which infuriated the Biden administration and lawmakers.

He has no plans to meet with the crown prince at the G-20 summit, Sullivan told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union, a reference to next months meeting of the leaders of the worlds 20 wealthiest democracies in Indonesia.

Earlier this month, OPEC+ decided to cut daily oil production by 2 million barrels per day, putting upward pressure on prices by reducing supply and also likely boosting Russias oil-exporting revenue to finance its invasion of Ukraine.

The move was a blow to the Biden administration, which has grappled with high oil prices and inflation exacerbated by Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The president said during his campaign he would make the country a pariah for the killing of Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, which the U.S. intelligence communitys assessment concluded was ordered by the crown prince.

But Biden traveled to Saudi Arabia in July, although the White House has insisted the trip was not to lobby for an increase in the countrys oil exports.

[Biden] is focused, however, on making sure that through every engagement that he has across the board, hes looking out for not just the U.S. but for our allies as well, Sullivan said on CNN.

One of the things that he was able to achieve in that meeting in July was the historic opening of Saudi airspace to Israeli commercial air traffic, the first step Saudi Arabia has ever taken on a path towards normalization with Israel, which we believe was a positive thing for him to be able to deliver for a strong partner of ours, Sullivan continued.

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After OPEC+ announced its production cut, some lawmakers suggested the U.S. should stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia and withdraw troops from the country in response.

This is a relationship that got built over decades on a bipartisan basis, Sullivan told Bash on Sunday.

And so the president isnt going to act precipitously, hes going to act methodically, strategically, he added. And hes going to take his time to consult with members of both parties, and also to have an opportunity for Congress to return so that he can sit with them in person.

-Updated at 10:54 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A suspect was taken into custody in Stockton, California, early Saturday morning in connection with a serial killing investigation, authorities said. The man was apprehended during a traffic stop.

Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said Wesley Brownlee, a Stockton resident, was taken into custody at about 2 a.m. local time. He had been under surveillance.

Officers "determined early this morning, he was on a mission to kill," McFadden said in a Saturday afternoon news briefing. "He was out hunting."

He was armed with a gun, wearing dark clothing and had a "mask around his neck" when he was arrested, the police chief said.

"We are sure we stopped another killing," McFadden added.

Brownlee was booked for homicide. A SWAT team later raided his apartment.

Wesley Brownlee was taken into custody in Stockton, California, on Oct. 15, 2022, in connection with a serial killing investigation. / Credit: Stockton Police Department

Investigators had been searching for a suspect, who, according to police, was believed responsible in the fatal shootings of five men in Stockton, and a sixth man in Oakland, dating back to April 2021. The latest killing occurred in September. A woman was also believed to have been shot and wounded by the suspect.

McFadden said that Brownlee was identified as a suspect thanks to a tips from community members.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar told reporters Brownlee will be arraigned Tuesday. The exact charges he faces have yet to be determined. This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.

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Putin could drag the world into a global nuclear war, warns Max Tegmark

The world has been facing increased likelihood of the use of a nuclear weapon for several months, ever since it became clear that Russias military would not be able to effect regime change in Ukraine, and that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin would not come out of the war victorious.

Read also: Putin may conduct nuclear test on Ukraines borders, says NATO

Because of this, many experts fear that the Russian dictator may once again raise the stakes as high as he can. The use of tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) will not give a serious advantage on the battlefield but may be the last trump card in Putins eyes to break the resistance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The probability of a nuclear strike has increased many times in recent weeks. The Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to conduct several successful counter-offensive operations at once, one of which, in the Kherson area, is still underway.

The announcement of the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson oblasts allegedly paves the way for Putin to use TNW: according to Russian military doctrine, the military can strike with a nuclear bomb to defend territories it considers its own.

The opinions of experts differ here: there are those who believe that Putin is bluffing by threatening the world with a nuclear strike, while others believe that sooner or later the dictator may issue such an order.

Read also: Putin will use nuclear weapons only if he knows no consequences will follow, says Zelenskyy

Russias use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine wont lead to the achievement of any military goal, says Nina Srinivasan Rathbun, Professor (Teaching) of International Relations at the University of Southern California, the United States.

It will pollute the territory that Russia considers part of its historical empire and will probably cause damage to the Russian territory. It will also increase the possibility of direct intervention by NATO and will ultimately destroy Russias image in the world.

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However, almost all researchers agree on one thing: the use of nuclear weapons will multiply the probability of a global war in which everyone will suffer. Especially Ukraine, as it has been Putins main goal for many years.

Many publications have analyzed what a TNW strike at Ukraine might lead to, but what is the probability of such an escalation? How will the West respond? And what are our worlds chances of avoiding a global nuclear war?

Swedish scientist and president of the Future of Life Institute Max Tegmark has now tried to answer these questions.

He suggests the probability of a nuclear war between the United States and Russia is equal to losing in Russian roulette: one in six, or 16.66%.

Picture "Formula" of Tegmark's calculations. Red arrows lead to nuclear escalation: 30% x 80% x 70% ~ 1/6 MaxTegmark

The researchers calculations are all based on the probabilities of the occurrence of certain events.

The victory of David (Ukraine) or the victory of Goliath (Russia) are relatively short-lived events: the initiative in the war was initially held by Russia, now it has been seized by Ukraine. The victory of Goliath (i.e. Russia) tentatively leads to an outcome called Kosovo, a scenario that is considered unacceptable for Ukraine, while Davids victory leads to the Vietnam scenario, which is unacceptable for Russia.

Read also: Biden does not believe Putin will use nukes

Because of this, the sides do not give in and try to strengthen their positions in every possible way (terrorist attacks against the civilian population, mobilization and nuclear blackmail against new sanctions, supply of weapons, training of soldiers, etc.). Russia cannot compete with the United States and Europe due to its dependence on them and the impossibility of such a long game, Tegmark believes.

Therefore, the only way out for the Russians to prevent the Vietnam scenario is a qualitative escalation (such as, for example, the mass missile strikes on Oct. 10), whose most extreme form takes the use of nuclear weapons.

Attempting to annex territories and start negotiations is only a way to grab at least some victory in the war and get out of it, Tegmark says.

I find it extremely unlikely (less than 10%) that Putin will accept the Vietnam scenario without first using nuclear weapons, because that would almost certainly lead to his overthrow, imprisonment, or assassination, the professor writes.

On the other hand, I also consider it extremely unlikely (less than 10%) that the West will accept the Kosovo scenario.

Read also: Russia to get strong military response if it uses nuclear weapons against Ukraine, Borrell warns

This means that there is a very high (more than 80%) probability that the battle of David and Goliath will end either with the intermediate de-escalation scenarios such as Libya/Korea/Finland (smoldering war, frozen war, and peace agreement, respectively), or, on the contrary, with another increase in the stakes  a TNW strike at Ukraine.

Given the general consensus of Ukrainian society, leaders and the West against peace talks that would allow Putin to come out as the winner, as well as the general understanding that the Russian dictator is highly unlikely to accept the Vietnam scenario, Tegmark believes the probability of the Kaboom scenario (a TNW strike at Ukraine) is 30%.

The other 70% are various options for de-escalation or further continuation of active war and Russian terrorist attacks.

Further developments depend on the Wests reaction. Given the rhetoric of NATO allies, there is a high probability (80%) of a non-nuclear but strong response. Options discussed include, for example, the sinking of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, but very little information has leaked into the public domain about what actions are being considered in the United States and Europe in response to Russias use of tactical nuclear weapons.

Its hard to imagine that Russia wouldnt consider this (NATO strikes at the Russian territory) as a declaration of war, Tegmark says.

Read also: Russias use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine may be its last mistake, says Finnish defense minister

The most likely scenario (70%) I see after this is Russian attempted retaliatory strikes followed by rapid escalation on both sides. This figure is based on the worlds long history of dealing with nuclear weapons  both the United States and Russia are far less competent at de-escalation than at escalation.

In his opinion, such a scenario could lead to a full-scale nuclear war. Otherwise, such an increase in rates will leave almost no options to return to intermediate scenarios  with a 30% chance that things will revert to the Kosovo/Vietnam scenario depending on the winners of this game.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan will not back down on its sovereignty or compromise on freedom and democracy, and its people clearly oppose Beijing's idea of "one country, two systems" management for Taiwan, the self-ruled island's presidential office said on Sunday.

The statement came shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech at the opening of a the Communist Party Congress in Beijing that it is up to the Chinese people to resolve the Taiwan issue and China will never renounce the use of force over Taiwan.

Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region is the common responsibility of both sides and meeting on the battlefield is not an option, Taiwan's presidential office said in the statement.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Writing by Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by William Mallard)
MADISON - Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and his Republican challenger Tim Michels met Friday in their first and only debate as they battle in the most expensive governor's race in the country for an office that will help decide the outcome of the next presidential race.

Evers, a Democrat, barely defeated one of the state's most formidable politicians in 2018 and is seeking a second term, arguing his veto pen  which he used more over the last four years than any governor has before him  is keeping the Republican-controlled Legislature from enacting voting restrictions and policies for public schools he has characterized as draconian.

Michels, who unsuccessfully challenged former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold in 2004, is seeking a new statewide office more than a decade later after leading the largest construction company in Wisconsin. He is focusing his argument against a second term for Evers almost entirely on crime, blaming the governor for not doing more to address a skyrocketing number of violent offenses in Milwaukee.

More: Where Tony Evers and Tim Michels stand on abortion, crime, marijuana and education

Here are key moments from Friday's debate, which took place in Wisconsin's capital city:

Michels moderates on abortion

Michels sought to moderate his position on abortion, which until recently was to oppose the procedure in any situation, by suggesting he would not block women from crossing the state border to seek abortions.

"I'm a reasonable guy. And people say to me I have a lot of common sense. So, you know, that's something that I wanted to sit down and work out but you know, I'm not going to be this radical guy with checks at the border," Michels said in response to a question about whether he favored criminalizing the mailing of medication that trigger abortions, or would block women from crossing state lines to get abortions.

Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels is seen before a televised debate Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Madison.

More: How abortion and the overturning of Roe v. Wade is shaping Wisconsin's race for governor

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It's unclear if Michels will accept the outcome of the race

When asked whether they would respect the results of the Nov. 8 election, Evers said he will. Michels didn't answer directly.

"Yes, of course I will certify the next election," Michels said instead.

Evers said: "Yes, absolutely."

When asked by the Wisconsin State Journal earlier this month, Michels said through a spokeswoman he would accept the results if he believed the election was conducted fairly and securely.

Michels has embraced former President Donald Trump's false claims of widespread voter fraud in 2020 and has said he would consider decertifying the last presidential election if elected, despite the move being illegal and impossible.

But on Friday, Michels also committed to certifying the next presidential election.

Michels forecasts changes for DNR

When asked about climate change, Michels suggested he would drastically overhaul the state Department of Natural Resources if elected.

Michels called the agency "close to being broken," suggesting he might make changes that could return the agency to an approach used by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who with GOP lawmakers, eased regulations.

Michels also pledged to hold accountable businesses that purposefully pollute water sources.

Evers wants history taught by teachers. Michels wants parents to decide.

One question addressed the issue of how to teach history in light of widespread Republican criticism of academic lessons on systemic racism.

Evers said teachers should continue to provide a full accounting of history, citing the World War II-era internment of Japanese Americans as an example.

Michels blasted "woke educrats" being gatekeepers to such decisions and said parents should decide how history is taught.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers prepares for a televised gubernatorial debate, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Madison.

A contrast in gun policies

Evers reiterated support for laws that allow judges to seize weapons from people deemed to be a danger to others and for expanding background checks on firearms. Michels suggested he opposed such policies.

We need to make sure we uphold the Constitution and law-abiding gun owners are not having their guns confiscated, Michels said.

Evers said "responsible gun owners dont have to worry about red flag laws because it will never be an issue for them."

It was a dramatically different debate from the U.S. Senate race

Unlike Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, the candidates in the governor's race struggled to answer questions during their debate.

Evers at times on Friday had a difficult time putting words together to answer in the allotted time, and Michels rarely directly answered the panelists' questions.

More: Five takeaways from second Wisconsin U.S. Senate debate between Ron Johnson, Mandela Barnes

This is it  no more debates in the race

Voters will decide their pick for governor without another chance to hear the candidates answer questions. Friday's debate was be the only time the candidates meet before the Nov. 8 election.

Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Takeaways from Evers-Michels Wisconsin governor debate
Have you ever dreamed what it would be like to splurge an entire paycheck on a single dining experience? If youre on Instagram, Baller Alert published a post about some of the worlds most expensive restaurants.

The caption reads as follows:

For some, there is no limit to a quality meal. After all, good food in beautiful settings can be hard to come by. If youre in the mood for something new or have been looking for a reason to take a trip, let one of these fin- dining restaurants be your excuse to pack your bags. We must warn you, however, that to feast at these restaurants, you must be prepared to drop a bag. Though we promise you wont regret a dollar of it.

Some of the comments were comical. One person asked, wheres the food? while another wrote, none of em looked worth any penny. I can get sushi anywhere and can always eat at the aquarium (a reference to Ithaa Undersea Restaurant).

Are you willing to throw down big bucks to chow down? Here are five of the worlds priciest restaurants.

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant- Maldives

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Agrodolce (@agrodolce.it)

This gem in the Maldives is the worlds first undersea restaurant. It opened in 2005.

Ithaa is Dhivehi for Mother of Pearl, and this restaurant is 16 feet below sea level. The New York Daily News called it the most beautiful restaurant in the world.

It goes without saying that the price tag capitalizes on the unusual ambiance. And obviously, people are willing to pay it.

Enjoy a six course meal while tropical fish and other marine life swim above your head.

The cost? Approximately $300 per person.

Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama- Japan

View this post on Instagram A post shared by  KYOTO KITCHO (@kyotokitcho_official)

This Toyko establishment spares no expense. According to Baller Alert, it gets top marks for service, food and decor.

Baller Alert writes, this dining experience costs anywhere from $380 to $570 a head, with six locations throughout Japan to choose from. However, the one in Tokyo appears to be the most popular. Enjoy dishes such as sea urchin rice and conger eel, made from the freshest ingredients.

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Bar Masa- New York

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bar Masa (@barmasanyc)

Its no shocker than one of the countrys most expensive cities would make this list.

This Japanese bar and restaurant is located in Columbus Circle.

The founder, Chef Masayoshi Takayama, takes an experimental approach to Japanese cuisine. And the staff is well- versed in his approach.

The assortment of sushi platters, hot meals and the cocktails are eye-catching. Equally so are the prices. You could be looking at $1,000 per person, excluding drinks!

Per Se- New York

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Per Se (@perseny)

Heres another New York staple thatll have no mercy on your wallet. Coincidentally, its at the Deutsche Bank Center, next to Bar Masa.

Founded by Thomas Keller in 2004, this Michelin-starred establishment offers enviable views of Columbus Circle and Central Park.

According to the website, two tasting menus are offered daily: a nine-course chefs tasting menu, as well as a nine-course vegetable tasting menu. No single ingredient is ever repeated throughout the meal.

The wine list includes 2,000 different bottles.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay- England

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Restaurant Gordon Ramsay (@restaurantgordonramsay)

This London restaurant didnt make Baller Alerts list. But it should have because you need to be making bank to dine there.

Itll run you a couple hundred pounds per person.

According to The Richest, its one of three London restaurants that holds three Michelin stars.

The space is small and reservations are hard to secure. But if roast pigeon, suckling pig and lemonade parfait with sheeps milk yogurt sound appetizing, go off.
via Twitter

Accidental TikTok star Emmanuel the emu is in the midst of a health crisis after avian flu swept through the Florida farm where he lives, killing off all but a few birds.

Emmanuels caretaker, Taylor Blake, revealed his dire condition on social media on Saturday night, blaming the outbreak on wild geese that invade the farm nightly.

We lost every single chicken and duck on our farm. We lost all of our geese. We lost our 2 female black swans. We lost both of our turkeys, Blake tweeted.

We lost 50+ birds in 3 days. I am still trying to wrap my head around it. We thought we were out of the woods, when Emmanuel unexpectedly went down this past Wednesday.

I will do anything and go into any amount of debt to save his life. My vet came out and was able to sedate and stabilize him until I could find an avian specialist. I have been treating him around the clock since Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/ajlvQq2L5U  eco sister (@hiitaylorblake) October 15, 2022

Emmanuel has more than 2 million TikTok fans, largely due to his hilarious attacks on Blakes cellphone while she is making videos about farm life.

Blake said she has been tending to him around the clock since Wednesday with the help of a vet who sedated and stabilized him. She posted a series of photos of herself and her girlfriend trying to nurse the ailing emu back to health.

Currently, he is stable. His neurological symptoms have subsided but he still wont eat or drink on his own. I am hand feeding him & giving him subcutaneous fluids every 2hrs around the clock, she said.

The issue we are having is he has a bit of nerve damage in his right leg and foot, he went down in the middle of the night and we didnt know until the next morning. He spent hours lying on one side and its caused some damage.

I am trying my best to remain hopeful, tap into my unwavering faith, and trust that God is in control. I am also doing my best to remain thankful in the face of loss, for I have so much to be grateful for Thank you for reading. pic.twitter.com/z0ozJ1yWCO  eco sister (@hiitaylorblake) October 15, 2022

She said it was miraculous that he wasnt killed like the other birds.

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I have so much gratitude in my heart that Emmanuel is still alive. That he is fighting. That my best friend is making a comeback. I am going to be ok, we are going to be ok!

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A criminal complaint alleged this semi-automatic assault pistol was part of the payment in a murder-for-hire plot that led to the execution-style slayings of a suspected police informant and his girlfriend in 2018. (U.S Attorneys Office)

Dante Dockett is by his own admission a ruthless killer.

A longtime member of Chicagos Wicked Town gang faction, Dockett pleaded guilty in federal court to fatally shooting six people and trying to kill two others over a four-month span beginning in 2016, a trail of bloodshed stretching from the streets of Chicagos West Side to a quiet home in Kankakee.

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But even a gang loyalist like Dockett has a tipping point. He told a federal jury last week that after learning in 2018 that members of his own gang had executed his longtime friend over suspicions he was a snitch, he decided to do the unthinkable  wire up for federal agents and help them solve the crime.

He was like a little brother to me, Dockett, 44, testified of his friends slaying Wednesday. I wanted justice.

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Docketts unlikely turn as a federal cooperator took center stage in the racketeering trial of two of his longtime associates in the Wicked Town gang, Donald Lee and Torance Benson, who are accused of participating in a criminal enterprise responsible for a string of murders, attempted murders, robberies, assaults and drug trafficking stretching back more than 20 years.

Among the incidents charged in the indictment was the brutal January 2018 slayings of Docketts friend, Donald Holmes Jr., and Holmes girlfriend, Diane Taylor, who were shot in the back of the head execution-style while sitting in a car on West Arthington Street.

After wiring up for investigators in Cook County Jail, Dockett captured two Wicked Town associates, Darius Murphy and Demonte Brown, allegedly talking about their roles in the slayings, leading to murder-for-hire charges filed against them in 2019.

Of all the cooperators who have testified in the trial so far, Dockett has the most baggage. Even before he took the witness stand Wednesday, prosecutors referred to Dockett in open court as a serial murderer and a sociopath.

The comment came during an argument to bar evidence that in addition to killing multiple human beings, Dockett also abused and tortured dogs as part of a dogfighting operation.

I know it sounds crazy, but people who hear about dogfighting are going to have a really hard time Assistant U.S. Attorney John Mitchell said outside the presence of the jury. U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin agreed, allowing only limited testimony that Dockett had faced animal cruelty charges in Cook County that were later dropped.

Still, attorneys for Lee and Benson had plenty of ammunition. In an often heated cross-examination that stretched for hours, they mocked his purportedly altruistic motives for testifying, noting that he went from facing a possible death sentence or life in prison to a plea deal where prosecutors have agreed to seek only 20 to 30 years behind bars.

Dante Dockett, 44, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy involving six murders, two attempted murders and drug trafficking on behalf of the Wicked Town gang enterprise. (Chicago Police Department)

You killed six people in four months? attorney Steven Shobat, who represents Lee, asked Dockett at one point. So if you get 20 years, that works out to about three years and four months (in prison) per murder?

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Dockett, dressed in orange jail clothes and with a slightly graying goatee, blinked back at Shobat through large, round eyeglasses. Correct, he said without expression.

Deep ties to gang

Like several other cooperators who have testified in the trial, Docketts gang history goes back to his early teens, when he was blessed in to Wicked Town, a notoriously violent faction of the Traveling Vice Lords headquartered in the 500 block of North Leamington Avenue.

Dockett testified that he was in and out of prison beginning in 1996, when he was 18, for convictions ranging from possession of a firearm and robbery to narcotics trafficking. In 2005, he was arrested for shooting and wounding a rival gang member and was eventually sentenced to 12 years in custody for aggravated battery with a firearm.

Dockett testified that the gang scene was vastly different after his 10-year stint in prison. The oaths theyd taken as young members of the Traveling Vice Lords to love and protect one another seemed to be meaningless to the younger members of the gang, he said.

I seen no more unity when I came home, Dockett said. Everyone was out for himself.

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By that time, Dockett was considered a five star, an older member of a gang who didnt necessarily need to follow anyone elses orders, according to courtroom testimony. It was that status that led to him taking matters into his own hands.

On Aug. 16, 2016, Dockett shot a rival gang member in the wrist as part of an ongoing dispute over drug turf, he said.

The next month, another drug dispute led to a confrontation with a Four Corner Hustler nicknamed Ruthless. After driving into rival territory with Lee with the intent to discuss the issue, Dockett said he saw Ruthless approaching their car with what appeared to be the butt of a gun sticking out of his pocket. Dockett said his body language was threatening, prompting him to open fire.

Jurors watched surveillance video of the incident showing three muzzle flashes before Ruthless falls to the ground, shot twice in the chest. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition, but survived.

Just two days after that shooting, Dockett testified that he was contracted by another gang member, Donald Holmes Sr., the father of his good friend, to travel to Kankakee and find a drug supplier who Holmes believed had robbed him of narcotics and cash during a home invasion several years earlier.

Dockett picked up two associates and made the 60-mile drive to the home of the victim, Reginald Neal. Dockett said they knocked on the door, and after Neals son let them in, they immediately pulled guns and accused Neal of robbing the gang.

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When Neal, 56, protested, one of Docketts associates shot him in the head, Dockett testified. Dockett then went to Neals son, Dangelo, 24, and shot him in the head as he was lying on the floor. When Neals other son, Davante,, 21, heard the commotion and opened the door to his bedroom, Dockett shot him in the head too.

Dockett testified that he killed the sons because he thought they would be witnesses. On the way out of the home, they grabbed money off a table and Dockett fired one more bullet into the fathers lifeless body, he testified.

Dockett said he did it so that each of his associates would know they were culpable in Neals shooting and no one would tell on each other.

The Kankakee slayings were followed two months later by a double-murder back in Wicked Towns territory, Dockett testified. Two days before Christmas 2016, he confronted rival drug dealer Derrick Jones, who was suspected of stealing from the gang, on the street in the 500 block of North Laramie Avenue.

According to Docketts testimony, he shot Jones cousin, Stephen Tucker, 20, in the head before chasing Jones, 21, into a basement stairwell and firing several shots, fatally striking him in the body.

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The final murder in Docketts string of violence occurred in February 2017. He told the jury he had been working with an associate of the Black P. Stones to distribute narcotics when a fight broke out between the associate and Antoine Watkins. During a chase, Dockett opened fire on Watkins with a .45-caliber pistol, striking him fatally.

Watkins body was found hours later by police in a vacant lot in the 600 block of North Long Avenue, according to a Tribune report.

A break from the life

Docketts two violent years of freedom ended in September 2017 when he was arrested by Chicago police on weapons and drug charges as well as a misdemeanor count of mistreatment of animals, records show.

Dockett said he was still in custody on that case when he learned that his friend, Holmes Jr., and Taylor, who was a cousin of Docketts girlfriend, had been ambushed and slain. He said when he heard it had happened right outside Murphys apartment, he immediately suspected Murphy was involved but kept quiet at first.

Federal investigators first approached Dockett about cooperating in 2018, before his indictment in U.S. District Court. He said he agreed to wear a wire on Murphy and Brown, who were in custody in Cook County Jail on unrelated charges, and try to get them to talk about the slayings of Taylor and Holmes.

In a series of recordings played for the jury last week, Murphy told Dockett that their fellow gang associate, Deshawn Morgan, had contracted the hit on Holmes, who Morgan suspected incorrectly was cooperating with law enforcement.

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Deshawn Morgan, 40, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, admitting he participated in three murders, two attempted murders, as well as drug trafficking on behalf of the Wicked Town street gang. (Chicago Police Department)

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. >

In one conversation on Oct. 15, 2018, Murphy told Dockett he didnt know (Holmes) from a can of paint. So it aint my fault I killed him, according a transcript provided to the jury.

I aint gonna worry about it, Holmes said.

Lee was later captured in intercepted jail calls talking with Wicked Town members about his suspicions that Dockett had flipped. Not you. Not you Dante, he lamented in one call played in court, saying that even the toughest (expletives) seemed to be turning against them.

The gang member on the other end of the line told Lee that once you put on a wire for the government, You killed yourself.

Once you put that (expletive) on, youre their agent forever, he said.

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jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
WASHINGTON  Donald Trump attacked Jewish Americans on Sunday for not giving him enough political contributions and again suggested, falsely, that they have dual loyalties to the United States and Israel.

Jewish Americans need to "get their act together" and appreciate what they have in Israel "before it is too late," Trump said in a social media post, unexplained comments that many took as a threat against political opponents.

Political commentator David Rothkopf likened Trump to a "mob boss" seeking to "shake down" Jewish donors  or else.

"We've been menaced by fascists before, you two-bit goon," Rothkopf tweeted at Trump. "We recognize the the threat you represent from the darkest pages of our history. That's why we'll never submit to your threats."

OnPolitics: Get political news, fast and to the point, delivered to your inbox.

Jewish Democrats:Trump: Jews voting for Democrats show 'great disloyalty'

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, tweeted that "we don't need the former president, who curries favor with extremists and anti-Semites, to lecture us about the US-Israel relationship. It is not about a quid pro quo; it rests on shared values and security interests."

He added: "This 'Jewsplaining' is insulting and disgusting."

Trump's unexplained post

In a post Sunday on the website Truth Social, Trump said, "No President has done more for Israel than I have," but "our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S." He did laud his support in Israel and said he could be prime minister of that country.

Trump closed his message by saying: "U.S. Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel - Before it is too late!"

Trump did not explain what he meant by the phrase "too late," but many interpreted it as a warning.

Story continues

"If thats not an antisemitic threat, I dont know what to call it," tweeted Laurence Tribe, law professor emeritus at Harvard.

Alex Holder, a filmmaker who made a documentary on Trump, called the outburst irresponsible and dangerous. "As a Jew," Holder said on Twitter, "I experienced this language firsthand while interviewing Trump."

The Trump post came just days after a sometimes ally  the musician Ye, also known as Kanye West  was locked out of Twitter and Instagram accounts for antisemitic statements.

Trump's previous comments on Jewish people

This is not the first time that Trump has attacked Jews for not supporting him politically and saying they should back him over policies toward Israel.

A year before his failed reelection bid in 2020, Trump said: I think any Jewish people who would vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty."

At a White House Hanukkah party in 2018, Trump told guests that Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, had great affection for Israel: "And they go there and they love your country. They love your country. And they love this country. Thats a good combination, right?

Stereotypes:'Vile and bigoted remarks': Left-leaning Jewish groups accuse Trump of antisemitic stereotypes

In light of Sunday's post, Aaron David Miller, a former State Department Middle East adviser under Democratic and Republican administrations, said Trump's policies have not been good for Jews anywhere.

"He has enabled forces of extremism fueling anti-semitism in this Republic," tweeted Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, "and pursued a policy that has politicized US-Israel relations undermining key source of relationships strength - bipartisanship."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump attacks American Jews in post, claims he could lead Israel
The following is a transcript of an interview with Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova that aired Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, on "Face the Nation."

MARGARET BRENNAN: Charlie D'Agata, thank you and we are joined now by Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Makarova. Madam Ambassador, good to have you back. Let's pick up where my colleague just left off. Last time President Zelenskyy was on this program at the end of September, he talked specifically about the delivery of air defense systems, thanking the United States, but they still have not been delivered. What is the holdup in the delivery of American weapons?

UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. OKSANA MARKAROVA: Thank you for having me and thank you for talking about that. Yes, we still need all the weapons we're talking about with air defense being a priority after this horrible strike that we all see in return, and not only to select cities, but everywhere in Ukraine, and especially in Kyiv, and infrastructure before the winter. Unfortunately, these systems are difficult to produce, and they're not ready on the shelves waiting. But we're doing everything possible and asking our partners to do everything possible to speed up not only the delivery, but also the ordering of the system. So hopefully, you heard your president been very clear on trying to accelerate the delivery of those and we are counting on more systems to be announced and decisions taken to produce because we do need to start to secure as many places in Ukraine as possible as many children in Ukraine as possible from Russian rockets.

MARGARET BRENNAN: The Pentagon has said it's still been a month before those NASAMS come. Let's talk about what we just heard on Friday from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said that the mobilization drive to increase the number of soldiers will end in the next two weeks, and that massive strikes are no longer needed. What does your Government assess he means by this? What are you preparing for?

MARKAROVA: Well, as we said, you know, 235 days, no limits and no moral restrictions from- from Russian aggressor. So we should be prepared for everything. And it's actually irrelevant. But at this point what he says because this partial mobilization has been a big failure. People in Russia do not want to be mobilized. They're not equipped. They're not prepared. They're not motivated, yet there are a lot of them. But it has been a failure in Russia. They're probably not forcing it because they will have the plant mobilization in the autumn. We don't know. All we- all we are focused on in staying the course. And defending our country everywhere and being prepared for anything that can come from the Russian Federation. We have seen all the war crimes, we have seen all the rocket attacks. We have seen them using this Iranian Shahed drones on civilian residential areas killing families. So what he says is actually irrelevant, because what they do, and everyone see what they do. This is what we have to pay attention to.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you about billionaire Elon Musk. He seemed to have reversed his position yesterday, at least publicly in saying that Starlink, which is an internet service that he has made available in Ukraine, which has helped your military communicate on the battlefield that he will pay for it. This was after some back and forth to the Pentagon about not paying for it. What's the bottom line? Can your military depend on this for communication or not?

MARKAROVA: Well, look, I have disagreed with Elon Musk on some of his views about Crimea, and we were happy to discuss it with him. But with regard to the company, we have started cooperation with Starlink ,excellent cooperation. Before this phase of the war. We got the Starlinks in Ukraine very quickly, in some areas for humanitarian support, it's the only connection that we have. And it's very important to continue having it and I'm positive that we will find a solution there-

MARGARET BRENNAN: So It's not resolved yet?

MARKAROVA: It's there. It's working. We will need to be working for a long time. And look, we're proud to be one of the fastest growing Starlink country globally to, but the payment, who's gonna pay it? I'm sure we will find the solution there.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Because the Financial Times had reported that there were outages from the satellites that had a direct impact on the battlefield, particularly in the east of the country. Is this payment dispute hurting your military?

MARKAROVA: Well, look, there is no payment dispute, per se. I mean, there are discussions on that we need more and where we need them and how we will need them but the actual reason for the outages is Russian aggression, and the fact that they are booming our infrastructure and this- this- this disrupting the- the connectivity of all the cellular operators and trying to interfere also with with others. We're trying to resolve it in many possible ways. And Starlink has been instrumental part of the solution.

MARGARET BRENNAN: France's President drew a lot of scrutiny this week because he said if Russia carries out a nuclear attack on your country that his country would not respond with nuclear weapons. What exactly is the level of risk right now from the nuclear threat, whether it's from tactical weapons on the battlefield, or what's happening at your nuclear power plant?

MARKAROVA: We cannot rule out anything. And as you- as you said, you know, the nuclear threat is already there, because Russians illegally control one of the largest nuclear plant in Europe. And the situation there deteriorates as it's not returned to Ukraine, because it's the personnel there is not in the- in the quantity that needs to be there. They are threatened by Russians, we don't know exactly what happens to them. And the station has to be returned to Ukraine in order to decrease the risk. So this is a big risk. And we need Russia to get out with regard to the use of nuclear weapons. I think again, it's issue it's much bigger than Ukraine, we in Ukraine will resist and we will not give up regardless of what Russian Federation is using against us. We have, I think, proven it, from rockets, to atrocities to anything that they try to do in Ukraine. It doesn't break our will. So there is no point for Russian Federation to use anything else because it will not stop us in defending our homes. With regard to the global response. It has to be very harsh, even for the talks of Russian Federation and Putin about using the nuclear weapons because this is a clear red line. This is on, you know, on what the whole security infrastructure of Europe and global is built

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, when the French president says something like that, does it muddy that line? Does it blur that line?

MARKAROVA: Well, I just- I just hope that everyone understands that the way it should be understood. In 1994, Ukraine became the country that voluntarily gave up the third largest nuclear arsenal and received assurances of our safety, because we gave up our nuclear weapons. And if a nuclear weapon will be used by a nuclear power and aggressor against non-nuclear country like Ukraine, then the whole nuclear deterrence system is going to be under risk. So I think we all together cannot allow Russian Federation to use it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador, thank you very much for your time. Always good to have you with us. We'll be back in a moment.

Ukrainian civilians battered in heaviest bombardment since invasion began

Economist Betsey Stevenson says core inflation rate is "the stuff that's hard that's to bring down"

Buttigieg calls employment numbers "strong as hell"
TROY, Ala. (AP)  Gunnar Watson and Jarret Doege threw touchdown passes and the Troy defense stifled Texas State in the second half to give the Trojans a 17-14 victory on Saturday, their fourth straight.

The Bobcats took a 14-10 lead as Layne Hatcher connected with Lincoln Pare for a 64-yard touchdown on the third play of the second half. Texas State only had 41 yards on its final five drives.

Carlton Martial led the defense with 11 tackles.

The Trojans put together a nine-play, 79-yard drive capped by Doege finding RaJae Johnson for a 23-yard touchdown with 11:45 remaining.

Watson found Tez Johnson down the middle for a 74-yard scoring catch-and-run in the second quarter and added a late field goal for a 10-0 lead for Troy (5-2, 3-1 Sun Belt Conference). Texas State (3-4, 1-2) went 75 yards in just over two minutes, scoring on a 3-yard Lincoln Pare run with 22 seconds left in the first half.

Watson (240) and Doege combined for 299 yards as Troy had 406 yards of offense. Hatcher threw for 207.

There was just one turnover and five penalties in the game.

___

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the APs college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
Sandro Kopp/A24

Director Joanna Hogg and Tilda Swinton may only be on their third feature film collaboration, but theyre deep into their fifth decade of friendship. Perhaps thats what makes their newest partnership, The Eternal Daughter, so emotionally resonanttheir enduring connection that spans not only lifes great milestones but its minutiae as well.

Its true that weve known each other for a very long time, Swinton told the audience when the film screened recently at the New York Film Festival. Ive not only known Joanna, but Ive also known her mother since I was a child, and weve been talking about our relationships with our mothers for 50 years. All of that talk and all of those wonderings have only got us so far. We still have to involve fantasy.

That fantasy now comes in the form of a chilling British ghost story, The Eternal Daughter, slated for a potential December release from A24, the distributor that has become known (somewhat to its detriment) for bringing smaller-scale, avant-garde horror to the big screen. Whether one would call The Eternal Daughter a proper horror film is at the viewers discretion; it certainly doesnt share many of the elements that were used to seeing in a piece of modern horror cinema. But like the most effective entries in the genre, its a film that settles itself in the bones for days after, lingering and mutating like a memory.

A24

Memory, and all of the tricks it plays on us, is the subject at hand in The Eternal Daughter. The film tells of Julie, a skilled filmmaker, who brings her mother Rosalind to the Moel Famau hotel in the Welsh countryside for a birthday trip. The hotel used to be a family estate, and Julie hopes that their getaway will be both a pleasant source of nostalgia for her motherwho has long spoken of the happy times she had on the grounds as a childand inspiration for a film that she longs to write about their relationship. From the moment their taxi driver tells them of ghosts hes seen in the windows of the hotel on winter nights, Julie is spellbound. Ghosts are exactly what she hopes to confront at the Moel Famau, be they literal or just specters of Rosalinds past.

Swinton plays both Julie and Rosalind, donning a gray wig and a smattering of old-age makeup for the latter. This is not the first time Swinton has played multiple characters of different agesin even the last five years alonebut this is undeniably a potent pair of roles, given Swintons history with her director. First collaborating on Hoggs 1987 short film Caprice, the two have since gone on to work together in 2019s The Souvenir and 2021s The Souvenir: Part II. Like The Eternal Daughter, The Souvenir saga was a work of meta-fiction dissecting Hoggs life. In those films, Juliea version of Hoggwas played by Swintons daughter, Honor Swinton Byrne, with Swinton playing the role of Rosalind.

Though both installments of The Souvenir powerfully mined Hoggs relationship with her mother, Rosalind was but an ancillary character in Julies story of mid-twenties self-discovery. The Eternal Daughter thrusts the two into the present-day, examining the ways that their connection differs now that Julies older and how it stays the same.

Tilda Swintons Daughter, Honor Swinton Byrne, Is Hollywoods Next Big Thing

The Eternal Daughter may be a pseudo-continuation of the story in The Souvenir parts one and two, adding to the texture of Hogg and Swintons previously woven tapestry. But the film also stands alone perfectly well, as its own haunting tale.

When Julie and Rosalind arrive at the Moel Famau, theyre greeted not only by the hotels ancient, creaking wooden staircases and eerie shadows, but also by an equally perplexing receptionist (Carly-Sophia Davies). Curt and self-important, she gives them a cold welcome and ushers them to their roomnot the one Julie reserved months prior and called to confirm the week before, but another drafty selection. Julie cant seem to figure out why her original reservation was given away when she and her mother seem to be the only ones staying at the hotel, but Rosalind doesnt mind. Each room in the estate holds a muddle of memory; Rosalind draws them forth with glances at wallpaper and protracted gazing into space, remembering old furniture layouts and scattershot glimpses of a childhood more fraught than Julie realized.

Despite her mother making her life stories readily available for adaptation, Julie cant seem to get settled into her work. A banging from an open window in an upstairs room during the night doesnt help, nor do her unsettling late-night walks and the glow of green light that appears to follow her through the barren hotel. Julie may be burdened by her inability to start writing, but Rosalind takes comfort in the rituals of their days together in the hotel. Unlike Julie, her joy doesnt stem from their conversations. Rosalind enjoys just being with her daughter.

A24

Swintons turn as both mother and daughter never feels like a gimmick but rather a necessity. There are few manipulated two-shot scenes in the film. Instead, Hogg and cinematographer Ed Rutherford opt for filming each woman alone in their respective frames, connected in their mutual insularity. Swinton embodies both of her characters so naturally that the novelty of one person playing both Julie and Rosalind slips out the window in seconds. Like all of us and our mothers, there are indications of samenesslittle suggestions that help us to remember that our experiences are connectedbut we remain fundamentally different.

Its within those differences, and our pursuit of connection despite them, that Hogg taps The Eternal Daughters poignant well of empathy. Her greatest skill as both a writer and a filmmaker is her ability to depict lifes inherent frailty. Her work exudes an unending amount of compassion, using clouds of ideas instead of proper scripts to excavate the improvisational nature of our own existence. While The Eternal Daughter may be a deeply personal story for both Hogg and Swinton, their artistic pairing will prove piquant for everyoneor all children of parents, as Swinton so aptly put it during her and Hoggs Q&A.

In one scene in The Souvenir: Part II, Julie accidentally breaks an ornate sugar jar that Rosalind has made in a pottery class, a recent hobby that shes taken up and is exceedingly proud of. As most mothers would, Rosalind comforts Julie and tells her it was simply a mistake; she chooses to move forward with a strong upper lip, despite her obvious heartbreak. Julie, unable to accept her mothers reassurance in the overwhelming face of the bigger picturethe idea of her mothers pride existing in this one piece of ceramic artcant stop herself from sobbing. Rosalind sits with an affected smile next to her daughter, as she talks to her husband instead.

The Best Performances From This Years Toronto International Film Festival

The Eternal Daughter crafts a parallel to this scene, more heart-rending now that the two characters are even further into their lives. On Rosalinds birthday in the hotel restaurant, Julie is frustrated that the trip hasnt been going as planned, and she cant help but begin to cry when her mother fusses about not being hungry. Every memory, both painful and pleasant, comes rushing to the forefront of Julies consciousness as shes confronted by the state of their relationship. More than that, shes also haunted by the ghosts of her mothers past and their mutual mortality.

At once, Julie sees the past aligned with both the present and the future. Despite their best efforts to communicate, a mother and daughters long-standing barriers cant always be broken. Memories are like ghosts, haunting us by watching all the time; theyre not necessarily malevolent, just omnipresent. Drifting through one plane of consciousness to the next, forgotten until tales of the past are called upon once more. As with most scenes in the film, its somehow both droll and extremely movingjust like life.

Rosalind and Julies complicated but loving relationship expands and contracts like the fog on the moors of Moel Famau. Its as mercurial as the weather, shifting seamlessly into its next stage, but informed by the changing pressure of what came before it. The peculiar beauty of both the film and the pair lies in its unpredictability, and though we can lament our inability to change these dynamics all we want, we cherish them regardless.

Julies desire to probe the wreckage of her mothers past is unwittingly an invitation to unearth a wealth of hidden spirits in their present. In that respectalong with its sparse but macabre score and perturbing sound designthis is a classic ghost story. But The Eternal Daughter is even rarer than that: Its a study of the inconsistencies between memory and reality, and the ultimate irrelevance of their intersection. Joanna Hogg and Tilda Swinton have concocted a stunning portrait of the paranormal ties that bind families, the ones that seem to unravel the more we tend to them. As fragile as they are, all they require is a flicker of memory to repair.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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By Mike Scarcella

(Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Sunday moved to dismiss an antitrust indictment against two former Pilgrim's Pride Corp executives who were the remaining defendants in a conspiracy prosecution that has failed to secure any convictions.

Federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico to dismiss the case against Jason McGuire, who was a former executive vice president of sales at Pilgrim's Pride, and Timothy Stiller, a former general manager.

They and other defendants were charged in 2021 of fixing prices in the poultry industry.

A Justice Department spokesperson on Sunday declined to comment.

In July, a Colorado jury found three other Pilgrim's Pride executives, and two executives of Claxton Poultry Farms, not guilty. It was the third trial, after two earlier mistrials. The defendants who were acquitted then included former Pilgrims Pride chief executives William Lovett and Jayson Penn.

The government said it was moving to dismiss the case against McGuire and Stiller after Domenico on Oct. 14 "effectively" limited the evidence that jurors would be allowed to hear at an upcoming Oct. 31 trial.

Domenico said in his ruling that the Justice Department "has not met its burden of demonstrating a price-fixing or bid-rigging conspiracy by a preponderance of the evidence." Prosecutors said the order "departs from prior rulings in the district concerning the same conspiracy."

The government asked Domenico to dismiss the indictment against McGuire and Stiller "without prejudice," which would give the U.S. an opportunity to try to bring a new case.

Defense lawyers for McGuire and Stiller did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Domenico in a separate order last week denied a bid from McGuire and Stiller to dismiss the case. Still, the judge said in his order that "the government's evidence in this case has been far from convincing."

Pilgrim's Pride agreed to pay a $110.5 million fine in 2020 after pleading guilty to the Justice Department's price-fixing charges.

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Liz Truss is in charge of the government, her newly appointed finance minister Jeremy Hunt said, rejecting the idea that the party should replace her after a tumultuous start to her term in office.

"The prime minister is in charge," Hunt told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Sunday, when asked who was running the government.

Asked about calls to replace Truss, he said his constituents wanted stability: "The worst thing for that would be more political instability at the top - another protracted leadership campaign."

(Reporting by William James; Editing by William Schomberg)
Tesla chief Elon Musk has recommitted to providing Starlink satellite internet service to war-torn Ukraine days after complaining that it was too expensive for his company.

The h*** with it  even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, well just keep funding Ukraine govt for free, the multibillionaire tweeted yesterday.

SpaceX had reportedly written to the US Pentagon last month asking the US military to cover its satellite internet costs in Ukraine, estimating it would come to about $400m for the next year.

This comes as Russian president Vladimir Putin said the partial mobilisation of army reservists ordered last month would be completed in two weeks, boosting Russias fighting force in Ukraine.

Mr Putin said he would even be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russias territorial integrity and warned that a direct clash with Nato troops could lead to a global catastrophe.

The Russian president added he did not have any regrets in relation to the conflict in Ukraine, insisting that Russia was doing the right thing

Elon Musk recommits to providing Ukraine Starlink internet

04:46 , Vishwam Sankaran

Tesla chief Elon Musk tweeted that hed continue to provide Starlink satellite internet service to Ukraine after he complained earlier that it was too expensive for his company.

Last month, SpaceX had reportedly written to the US Pentagon saying the company was not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine, or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time.

The hell with it  even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, well just keep funding Ukraine govt for free  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 15, 2022

Now, taking a U-turn, the multibillionaire tweeted that even though Starlink is still losing money....well just keep funding Ukraine govt for free.

Story continues

Elon Musk recommits SpaceX to providing Ukraine with satellite internet

France to train up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers

05:15 , Vishwam Sankaran

French president Emmanuel Macron has reportedly backed a proposal to train up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers.

The president... has approved a training plan that will allow up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers to be welcomed in France, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Saturday.

He added that France would also provide Crotale short-range anti-air missiles to Ukraine to intercept low-flying missiles and aircraft.

Ukrainian soldiers will be assigned to French units for several weeks, according to the French newspaper Le Parisien.

Shooting at Russian military range leaves 11 dead, 15 injured

05:39 , Vishwam Sankaran

Two volunteer soldiers at a military range in the Belgorod region of southwestern Russia shot at other Russian forces preparing to fight against Ukraine, killing 11 and wounding 15, the countrys defence ministry said.

The ministry described the shootings as a terror attack.

It said the two volunteers were from an unnamed former Soviet nation and fired on other soldiers during target practice, and were killed by return fire.

During a firearms training session with individuals who voluntarily expressed a desire to participate in the special military operation, the terrorists opened fire with small arms on the personnel of the unit, RIA, the state-owned domestic news agency said, citing a defence ministry statement.

Volunteer soldiers shoot dead 11 troops at Russian military firing range

Russias deportations of Ukrainians likely amount to ethnic cleansing, report says

06:15 , Vishwam Sankaran

A report by The Institute for the Study of War suggests Russias deportations of Ukrainians amount to deliberate ethnic cleansing.

Russia continues to conduct massive, forced deportations of Ukrainians that likely amount to a deliberate ethnic cleansing campaign in addition to apparent violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the report noted.

The report cites Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin who said several thousand children from Ukraines Kherson Oblast are already in other regions of Russia, resting in rest homes and childrens camps.

US 'growing frustrated' over EU's delay in assisting Ukraine

06:43 , Vishwam Sankaran

The US is reportedly growing frustrated over EUs delay in financially assisting Ukraine.

The Washington Post reported that tensions are rising between the US and the EU over Ukraines deteriorating economy.

US treasury secretary Janet Yellen has reportedly called on its western allies to both speed up and increase money going to Ukraine.

Meeting Ukraines needs will require a unified and coordinated effort, and I continue to call on donors to speed the delivery of economic support. Together, we can help Ukraine win and rebuild, Ms Yellen said.

No civilians killed in Russian military base attack, region's governor says

07:19 , Vishwam Sankaran

No civilians were killed in the attack at a military base in Russias Belgorod region in which two volunteers killed 11 Russian soldiers and wounded 15 others.

A terrible event happened on our territory, on the territory of one of the military units, the governor of Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a post on the Telegram.

Many soldiers were killed and wounded...There are no residents of the Belgorod region among the wounded and killed, he added.

City administration building in Donetsk hit by shelling

08:05 , Vishwam Sankaran

Shelling by Ukrainian forces has damaged the administration building in the city of Donetsk, the Russian-backed administration of the city said on Sunday.

The city has been controlled by Russian-backed Donetsk Peoples Republic since 2014.

The citys administration said in a post on the Telegram messaging app that the main entry into the administration building was hit and many nearby cars damaged.

Russia's overnight shelling in Nikopol wounds civilian

08:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

Over 40 Russian shells were reportedly fired into Nikopol overnight.

The shelling injured a 47-year-old man, according to a Telegram post by Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Valentyn Reznichenko.

More than 30 high-rise buildings, residences, cars, and gas transmission lines were damaged in Nikopol, he said.

Romania to allocate $400,000 to Ukraine

09:20 , Vishwam Sankaran

Romania will allocate $400,000 to Ukraine as part of a Nato assistance package.Romanias Foreign Affairs minister Bogdan Aurescu said the country has allotted $1.4 million as a voluntary contribution to Nato Trust Funds for enhancing resilience and defense capacities of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Jordan.

According to his tweet, $400,000 will be transferred to Ukraine, $600,000 for Moldova, $300,000 for Georgia and $100,000 for Jordan.

11:05 , Vishwam Sankaran

The Independent is temporarily pausing live coverage of the Ukraine war.

More to follow
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 22:39

Soledar and Bakhmut are the hottest spots in Donbas; the Armed Forces of Ukraine have destroyed Russian equipment in the south, and during the offensive, the exchange fund [of prisoners of war to be swapped for Ukrainian captives in Russia - ed.] was significantly replenished.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening address

Quote from Zelenskyy: "The situation on the front line has not undergone any significant changes over the past day. Soledar and Bakhmut are the key hotspots in Donbas, with very heavy fighting continuing there. The occupiers have thrown everyone they could at our forces, including 2,000 "prisoners" - they are among mercenaries right there. And these are "convicts" with long sentences for serious crimes. They are kept at the front not only with money, but also with the promise of amnesty.

This is how the Russian state sponsors terror - it looks for murderers in prisons and promises them freedom if they kill again. Does anyone in the world still doubt whether Russia should be officially labbeled as a terrorist state? I dont think so".

Details: Zelenskyy also praised the 60th Inhulets Infantry Brigade, the 17th Separate Kryvyi Rih Tank Brigade named after Kostiantyn Pestushko, the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Zakarpattia Brigade, and the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Handziuk, for "coordinated actions on the Kherson front and effective destruction of enemy equipment".

The President went on to say that "I would like to mention today those units that provided us with a replenishment of the exchange fund I thank the 54th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion named after Mykhailo Tysha, the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade and the 92nd Separate Mechanised Brigade, which during the offensive significantly increased our ability to bring Ukrainians home".



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ROMAN PETRENKO  SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2022, 09:45

As of 16 October, Russian occupiers have suffered up to 65,000 casualties among their military personnel since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: Total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February and 16 October 2022 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

65,000 (+300) military personnel;

2,529 (+5) tanks;

5,193 (+14) armoured combat vehicles;

1,589 (+7) artillery systems;

365 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems;

186 (+0) air defence systems;

268 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;

242 (+0) helicopters;

1,224 (+14) operational-tactical UAVs;

316 (+0) cruise missiles;

16 (+0) ships/boats;

3,959 (+8) vehicles and tankers;

143 (+1) special vehicles and other equipment.

The Russian forces have suffered the greatest losses on the Kryvyi Rih and Bakhmut fronts.

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Last month, residents filed into a church in Logan Square to hear from three progressive mayoral candidates at the first forum of the 2023 election cycle.

Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, activist JaMal Green, and state Rep. Kambium Buckner were eager to show off their bona fides and earn endorsements from the progressive organizations hosting the event. But before the mayoral hopefuls made their pitch, co-moderator Ken Barrios urged the candidates to focus their fire on Mayor Lori Lightfoot, not each other.

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If you wish to contrast yourself with someone, please contrast yourself to the current mayor, quipped Barrios, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Nobody likes her.

People in the audience laughed. But the comment underscored how dissatisfied many Chicago progressives are with Lightfoot as they seek an alternative to the first-term incumbent while also trying not to spark an internecine battle that harms their effort to elect one of their own.

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As progressives gear up for the 2023 election, it is not yet clear who will emerge as their top choice for mayor. In 2015, many prominent liberals and influential labor unions rallied behind then-Cook County Commissioner Jesus Chuy Garcia against Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Four years later, many of the same backed Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in her unsuccessful runoff campaign versus Lightfoot. This time, some organizations are lining up to support Johnson, a longtime Chicago Teachers Union organizer who has not yet formally announced, while others are so far sitting it out or waiting to see if Garcia, now a congressman, mounts another run.

Eight candidates have declared their intent to run for mayor, meaning challengers and Lightfoot alike will need to find a base of support to carry them into a likely runoff between the top two vote-getters in the February election. Businessman Willie Wilson, Southwest Side Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas are running to the right of Lightfoot. That leaves Buckner, Green and Johnson  if he runs  vying with Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th, and Ald. Sophia King, 4th, for support from progressives.

Mayoral candidate Ja'Mal Green outside City Hall on Sept. 20, 2022. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago progressives have tried to get a candidate into the mayors office on City Halls fifth floor for years. In 2015, they helped push Emanuel into the citys first mayoral runoff but failed to unseat him. Lightfoot handily beat Preckwinkle in 2019, though the two campaigned on nearly identical platforms and claimed the progressive mantle.

[ Chicago mayors race 2023 lineup: Who is in, who is out, who is undecided ]

Lightfoots political support from progressives has shrunk in recent years, however, as she has clashed with the CTU and reneged on promises to advocate for a hike to the real estate transfer tax and use the money for people who were without homes. She also has battled left-leaning groups over Chicago police spending and criticized criminal justice reforms, all of which has helped create an opening for progressive challengers.

One of the key considerations here is that its not just what you say you want to enact when and if you become mayor. Its not just what you say you want to do. Its how you plan to do it and will you plan to do it with people who have been on the front lines of this struggle in the first place, said Emma Tai, a Johnson supporter and executive director of United Working Families.

Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson speaks at a gathering in support of Indigenous Peoples Day in Potawatomi Park in 2021. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Still, theres no guarantee progressive support can carry a candidate to City Hall over Lightfoot. Progressives could also harm each other or the broader effort to unseat Lightfoot if they fracture their coalition before the runoff. Rebecca Williams, a veteran political strategist who has advised progressive candidates, said the campaign will be a delicate thing.

Progressives are going to need to get into the runoff and beat each other at the same time without beating each other to a pulp, Williams said. That finesse, not going for the jugular but getting through the finish line, is not always a strong suit among progressives.

Lightfoot also will try to argue that she is a progressive mayor. Though she abandoned some high-profile promises supported by progressives, such as the elected school board plan that passed in Springfield, she has quietly built a strong relationship with some labor leaders who appreciate her record on worker issues.

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[ Chicago will get elected school board over opposition from Mayor Lori Lightfoot ]

In her first few months as mayor in 2019, Lightfoot pushed through the fair workweek ordinance that requires large Chicago employers to give workers at least two weeks notice of their schedules and compensate them for last-minute changes. Later that year, Lightfoot passed her first budget, which set the stage for a $15 minimum wage long sought by local unions.

She reached a compromise with aldermen to create an elected civilian police oversight agency  albeit with far weaker powers than she campaigned on  and closed loopholes in Chicagos Welcoming City ordinance to prohibit police from cooperating with federal immigration authorities to deport immigrants living in the country without legal permission who have criminal backgrounds.

We need a uniter

Despite Lightfoots efforts, she is not popular with many grassroots progressives. Last months forum was hosted by several Northwest Side progressive groups, including 33rd Ward Working Families and United Neighbors of the 35th Ward. The groups are politically powerful and have run up a string of electoral victories, including in a race for Congress in which state Rep. Delia Ramirez scored an overwhelming victory in the Democratic primary over her more moderate opponent, Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th.

Lightfoot was not invited to the event at Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church, just blocks from her home, though outside the church her campaign workers handed out literature hailing Mayor Lori Lightfoots Progressive Accomplishments.

In addition to Johnson, Green and Buckner, organizers invited Garcia, King and Sawyer but the latter three did not attend. After brief introductions, Johnson got to the point and declared to the crowd: This is our moment.

State Rep. Kam Buckner, right, greets people on Oct. 6, 2022, at the Palmer House Hilton during the Illinois Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

There will be individuals that will try to break us. They will try to divide us. We need a uniter. Someone who understands what real coalition building is, he said. Lets go into every single neighborhood, and lets bring a revival.

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Green drew on his background as a South Sider who grew up on the front lines of the citys gun violence epidemic to warn against politicians who dont understand whats really going on.

This is the time that we can elect someone that is fresh, Green said. Thats an outsider. Thats a true progressive.

Buckner cast himself as a political promise keeper and cited legislative victories he helped orchestrate in Springfield, including assisting with the passage of the Chicago elected school board.

You dont have to wonder or question or pontificate about who I am, what Im going to do, Buckner said. Im showing you who I am.

They dont want Black people here

The first question at the forum focused on the national reckoning on racism and police brutality that unfolded more than two years ago: Will you commit to not raising the (police) budget any further and instead invest in data-proven crime reduction strategies?

Johnson and Green both said, Absolutely yes while Buckner referenced his public safety plan that called for investments in both police and community resources.

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Though no one in the room uttered the phrase defund the police, the conversation was a nod to the defund movement that gained traction during the 2020 marches against racial violence following the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer.

The debate over whether law enforcement budgets should be reallocated toward other investments became a litmus test in progressive circles that year, though it was rejected by President Joe Biden, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Lightfoot, who largely dismissed the movement as a nice hashtag.

Johnson, who sponsored a nonbinding resolution that said Cook County should redirect funds from policing and incarceration to public services not administered by law enforcement, said at the forum that law enforcement, prisons and jails are wicked tools of violence executed against Black and brown people.

I know that there are individuals that believe that we can police our way out of this, Johnson said. Its just not true, yall.

Later, when asked to address Chicagos shrinking Black population, Johnson invoked Mayor Richard J. Daleys orders that police shoot to kill arsonists and others protesting after Martin Luther King Jr.s assassination. Johnson put Daleys orders in the same breath as Lightfoots decision in 2020 to raise the bridges downtown that prevented protesters from marching through much of the Loop.

Lets just name it yall: Its the Negro Removal Act,  Johnson said, to the loudest applause of the night. Can we just be honest? They dont want Black people here. And every administration has been willing to do that, whether its calling for shoot to kill or raising bridges. Its a wicked, unjust system.

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Do you want somebody thats actually from you?

While Johnson made the forums boldest remarks, Buckner tried to shift focus to his legislative feats. He noted that in addition to his elected school board efforts, he was an architect behind state laws that prohibit making, selling or owning untraceable ghost guns and ending cash bail in Illinois.

The day after the forum, Buckner stood before columns of boarded-up windows at the former Ward Elementary School that was shuttered during 2013s mass school closings. He called for a sweeping agenda for Chicago Public Schools that included working with Springfield to shift the school funding model and installing one nurse, one social worker and one librarian at each campus.

I just hope that people dont get too bogged down into conversations about what ideologically well do without, once again, having a track record of doing it, Buckner told the Tribune. Theres talk, and then theres proof thats in the pudding.

Green attempted to set himself apart at the forum as an anti-establishment crusader, seeking to spin his lack of public office experience as a positive by highlighting his time putting up reward money for gun violence victims and protesting the Chicago police murder of Laquan McDonald.

Green argued the CTA should be free and promised to establish a public bank to rebuild Black Chicagos wealth and undo the effects of decades of redlining.

I know many other candidates may not say it, Green said regarding his CTA plans, though he did not elaborate on how hed pay. Folks say affordable, and I say free. 

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In a news conference earlier that week, Green rolled out his Bank of Chicago proposal that would be governed by a nine-member voting board to determine where the funds will go. Three will hail from banking backgrounds, three will be community members and three will be elected. The bank will start with $250 million from the citys reserves, $250 million from the state and more would come from federal relief dollars.

You now have a decision on the type of leader that you want, Green said during the forum. Do you want someone who may have ties due to their position or affiliation to interests that might not represent you, or do you want somebody thats actually from you?

Bread-and-butter issues

Sawyer, a member of City Councils progressive caucus and son of the late Mayor Eugene Sawyer, has criticized Lightfoot about the mayors campaign promises on police oversight and more.

On the other hand, he did not shy from working with Emanuels administration, with the former mayor thanking him for supporting his agenda by writing a $20,000 campaign check that Sawyer ended up donating to community groups.

In an interview, Sawyer said he would resonate with progressives, noting he was a lead sponsor of the ordinance to implement a citizen panel to oversee Chicago police and that he co-led a fight to raise Chicagos minimum wage to $15.

He added he wasnt worried about vote-splitting among progressives either  or about a darling among the left, such as Garcia, stepping into the race.

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If he gets in the race, God bless him, Sawyer said. He will resonate with some people that have a more extreme progressive view. I dont think thats the entirety of the city of Chicago.

Asked about how hed pitch to progressive voters, Sawyer espoused a pragmatist approach of returning City Hall to its bread-and-butter: constituent services. He said, as mayor, he would restructure government from top to bottom to restore trust in elected officials.

Thats my number one progressive policy, Sawyer said. Thats a policy that resonates with pretty much everyone. Shouldnt you want to know what is available to you?

Ald. Sophia King, 4th, marches in the Bud Billiken Parade on South King Drive on Aug. 13, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

King said if she were elected mayor, she would bring the power of and  to approaching issues such as crime.

We can have safety and justice, King said. We can uplift the police and hold them accountable. So safety will definitely be my top priority, but we will bring a progressive approach to that.

One example King pointed to as proof of her two-pronged approach to public safety was her plan to allocate the $100,000 microgrant given to each alderman to spend on their ward as part of this years city budget. She is in the process of securing both unarmed private security patrols and street outreach workers aimed at preventing gun violence.

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Other progressive accomplishments King touted include, like Sawyer, helping to usher in the $15 minimum wage in Chicago and the civilian police oversight board. She also took credit for the upcoming $3.8 billion Bronzeville Lakefront housing and commercial project on the site of the former Michael Reese Hospital, a megadevelopment that she said will uplift the community.

King suggested Lightfoot was not a true progressive, pointing back to the Northwest Side candidate forum that snubbed the mayor.

I think that her not being invited spoke to how the people feel about her in the progressive space, which is really whats important: what the people think, King said. And they invited everybody they thought was in the progressive space.

gpratt@chicagotribune.com

ayin@chicagotribune.com
The UN is confident that the grain agreement will be extended

"Everything Ive heard would intimate that it will not only be extended but potentially expanded," said the official.

Read also: UN hopes to prolong grain deal, but Russia seeking to limit Ukrainian exports

The agreement, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July, paved the way for Ukraine to resume grain exports from Black Sea ports that were closed after Russia's invasion. Moscow received guarantees on its own grain and fertilizer exports.

The agreement helped avert a global food crisis: Russia and Ukraine are the world's two largest grain exporters, and Russia is the number one exporter of fertilizer.

Read also: Grain corridor to be used only for Ukrainian agricultural exports, official says

However, Moscow has repeatedly complained that it still faces difficulties selling fertilizers and food, and there are fears that it may find reasons to scupper the grain export deal.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
While a father and his kids were at the beach in Ocean City, New Jersey they made an unexpected find.

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Right off Cardiff Road on Bayside Beach in Ocean City, Ryan Leonard saw a purple urn with words that read, In Loving Memory Mom, Paulette Eva Rose (Tricoche), 7-22-1949 and 6-24-2021.

The mystery of how the ashes of a Georgia woman ended up almost 900 miles away from where she died is slowly unraveling.

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Leonard posted a picture of the urn in a Facebook group after not receiving much luck from a Google search.

He included the link to Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home, which had Tricoches obituary.

Tricoche, 71, died June 24, 2021, at Pine Pointe Hospice. The obituary said services would be held at a later date.

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Leonard believed the urn still contained the ashes of Tricoche because it was full, but he didnt want to force it open.

With an update posted to Facebook on Oct. 11, he said the urn was returned to the womans family in Cape May Court House.

He thanked Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home and Low Country Cremation & Burial for helping with the connections.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  The U.S. and Canada sent armored vehicles and other supplies to Haiti on Saturday to help police fight a powerful gang amid a pending request from the Haitian government for the immediate deployment of foreign troops.

A U.S. State Department statement said the equipment was bought by Haitis government, but it did not provide further details on the supplies flown on military aircraft to the capital of Port-au-Prince.

A spokesman for the U.S. militarys Southern Command said he could not provide further details on the supplies sent, though he added it was a joint operation involving the U.S. Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force.

This equipment will assist (Haitis National Police) in their fight against criminal actors who are fomenting violence and disrupting the flow of critically-needed humanitarian assistance, hindering efforts to halt the spread of cholera, the State Department said.

Video: Medical charity tackles Haiti cholera surge

The Pan American Health Organization said there are more than 560 suspected cases of cholera, some 300 hospitalizations and at least 35 deaths, with experts warning the numbers are likely much higher than what i's being reported.

The equipment arrived more than a month after one of Haitis most powerful gangs surrounded a fuel terminal and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Demonstrators also have blocked roads in major cities to protest a sharp rise in fuel prices after Henry announced in early September that his administration could no longer afford to subsidize fuel.

Since then, gas stations have closed, hospitals have cut back on services and banks and grocery stores open on a limited basis as fuel, water and other supplies dwindle across Haiti.

The owners of the fuel terminal announced Saturday that armed men had attacked their installations for a second time and fled with more than 28,000 gallons of petroleum products after overpowering surveillance and emergency personnel at the facility.

It was the second time this week that armed men broke into the terminal, which stores more than 10 million gallons of gasoline and diesel and more than 800,000 gallons of kerosene.
The U.S. and Canada have sent armored vehicles to Haiti after its government called for foreign help in defending against gangs threatening to oust acting prime minister Ariel Henry.

Henrys government faces a mounting political and security crisis after the prime minister last month announced an end to fuel subsidies, spurring crippling shortages and soaring prices.

In a statement on Sunday, a State Department spokesperson said that a joint U.S.-Canadian aircraft arrived at the capital city of Port-au-Prince with equipment including tactical and armored vehicles and other supplies.

This equipment will assist (Haitis National Police) in their fight against criminal actors who are fomenting violence and disrupting the flow of critically-needed humanitarian assistance, hindering efforts to halt the spread of cholera, the State Department said.

The spokesperson added that the joint initiative will also help train Haitian authorities and local law enforcement in an effort to combat the ongoing wave of crime in the country.

The delivery comes after a Haitian gang known as G9 and Family last month demanded the resignation of Henry amid growing protests over the rise in petroleum prices.

G9 and Family also demanded the government grant amnesty to its members, while also declaring its intention to seek seats in the Haitian parliament, according to the Associated Press.

Haiti is still reeling from the assassination of former president Jovenel Moise more than a year ago and devastating earthquake that rocked the island country soon after. Thousands of Haitian immigrants have fled the country to seek asylum in the U.S. as crime and poverty increase.

Local gags have been fighting over territorial control of the country. Combined with the gas shortages, the violence has disrupted hospitals, gas stations, banks, and grocery stores.

At a meeting of the Organization of American States summit in Lima, Peru on Friday, Haitian Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus called for an international police force to help secure the country, according to an Al-Jazeera report.

Story continues

Haitis ambassador to the U.S. Bocchit Edmond made a plea for U.S. and Canadian support earlier in the week, according to CBC.

We wish to see our neighbours like the United States, like Canada, take the lead and move fast, he reportedly said.

If nothing is done quickly, there is a risk of another head of state [being] killed in Haiti, he added.

The State Department statement Sunday urged other countries to follow through on their commitments to support Haitis most pressing needs.

We encourage partner nations to contribute to the UN Basket Fund to restore peace and citizen security for the Haitian people, it said.

Together with the Government of Haiti, the United States and Canada affirm the importance of working together to support the restoration of security in Haiti.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The major-party candidates hoping to represent Pueblo in the Colorado Senate have a lot in common: theyve been previously registered as members of the other party, have served in the military and are not originally from Pueblo.

Republican Stephen Varela is challenging incumbent Democrat Nick Hinrichsen for his seat at the Colorado General Assembly, which Hinrichsen was appointed to in February 2022 after Leroy Garcia left for a position at the Pentagon.

The race has garnered significant attention statewide. Colorado Senate District 3 slightly leans Democrat but is one of the most competitive races this November. If Varela wins, it could help Colorado Republicans regain control of the state Senate, where Democrats have held the majority since 2019.

More:Meet the candidates: Lucero and Musso compete to be Pueblo County's next sheriff

Hinrichsen has a background in logistics and transportation from his service in the Army and works as the operations supervisor at Pueblo Transit. He lives in Pueblo with his family  his wife, Bri Buentello, served as the representative in the state House District 46 for two years.

Varela has also served in the Army and the Colorado National Guard. He previously worked at the Pueblo Veterans Affairs community living center, including as the head of its union. Varela has a masters degree in social work from the University of Southern California but has not been registered as a licensed social worker in Colorado. He is the board president of Chavez Huerta Preparatory Academy.

The two candidates have only spoken at the same event once, at a candidate forum hosted by the Colorado Farm Bureau in September where they gave asynchronous 3-minute speeches. Varela pulled out of the only scheduled in-person debate hosted by the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce two days before it was held.

Alex Mugatu, a Pueblo Republican, is also running for the seat as a write-in candidate.

How the candidates view key issues impacting Pueblo

Varela is running on a platform of Pueblo values, which he linked to Pueblos diverse, blue-collar background.

Story continues

Everybody (in Pueblo) has always had to work together, no matter what your color, your race, your ethnicity. And those values are what I believe we're missing right now in politics in general  it's bringing that middle ground back, Varela said.

He said he is focusing on issues that people discuss with him while hes canvassing, such as community safety and inflation.

Varela has a history of switching party registration between Republican and Democrat, which he's done a total of 18 times over the past 11-and-a-half years. Hes been a registered Republican since February 2021.

Stephen Varela speaks at a Chavez Huerta board meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

More:Both candidates in Pueblos state Senate race have swapped parties at least 10 times

He said he's a fiscal conservative, but socially awesome and clarified that he is very neutral on social issues. He said that he is not an election denier and that he supports people who identify as LGBTQ+, but would not share his personal opinion on abortion access.

Hinrichsen has also switched party affiliations at least 10 times and has been registered as a Democrat since early 2016. He previously told the Chieftain that he changed his affiliation largely because of the influence of former President Donald Trump.

Hinrichsen said the cost of living and public safety are the two biggest issues that Puebloans are dealing with. In dealing with those issues at the state legislature, he cited his sponsorship of legislation this spring to put a pause on a 2-cent gas tax increase, as well as reconfiguring 2021 TABOR refunds to go out earlier than scheduled and be distributed more equitably.

He said that he would support repealing the 1992 Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which restricts how governments in Colorado can spend money and requires voter approval for tax increases, but as long as we have TABOR, I do want us to be thoughtful about how that is administered in a way that is as fair as possible, he said.

What I would like to see happen is that we repeal TABOR and we create a progressive income tax where we permanently lower income taxes for middle-class families. Right now, Colorado middle-class families pay some of the highest real income tax rates in the country, and the wealthiest Coloradans pay some of the lowest real actualized tax rates  and that's because of TABOR, Hinrichsen said.

To address public safety, Hinrichsen said he would support continuing reform of prior offenders who can possess weapons. Colorado currently bars people convicted of violent crimes from having a weapon, but he wants motor vehicle theft to be added to the list of previous convictions that prohibit weapon possession.

Since the Supreme Court struck down the precedent of Roe v. Wade, many Republican-led states have passed laws severely restricting and banning access to abortion. The Democratic-led Colorado General Assembly passed a law this spring that enshrines access to reproductive health care in state statute.

Varela repeatedly declined to share his opinion on abortion rights with the Chieftain, saying that voters should decide on the issue.

(Abortion access) is a very polarizing issue. And being the representative, I believe I would need to give that back to the voter, Varela said. It just wouldn't be fair for me with as much as is going on in our community. I would push, personally, to have it go on the ballot.

Coloradans have rejected multiple ballot measures restricting abortion access, most recently against a proposition banning abortion after 22 weeks of gestation in 2020, with 59% of voters statewide dissenting. The majority of Pueblo County voters also voted against the 2020 proposition.

Hinrichsen has publicly pledged his support for access to reproductive health care and abortion.

Fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, has been a major issue in the 2022 midterms, with many Republicans blaming Democratic leadership in Colorado for an uptick in overdoses.

The Colorado legislature passed a bill in 2019 that made possession of up to 4 grams of illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, a misdemeanor. A contentious bill passed this spring strengthened the penalties for possessing 1-4 grams of fentanyl to a class 4 felony and bolsters funding for drug treatment.

Varela told the Denver Post he does not support the current law and would want to make any possession of fentanyl a felony.

Hinrichsen voted along with many Senate Republicans on a proposed amendment while the bill was in the works. He shared a story on the Senate floor of a family member who died of an overdose, saying that fentanyl is different from other drugs.

He said he has gone against his party with housing code to avoid raising costs on families, as well as on some crime bills.

Hinrichsen outlines legislative priorities, Varela 'focused on the election'

Varela said he would want to reduce business regulation, support law enforcement and bolster programs for veterans if elected. He declined to elaborate on specific regulations he would like to amend if elected, saying that he has "been focused on the election.

Right now, my biggest thing is winning this election. I don't think it would be fair for me to be thinking about what committees I want to serve on, or even thinking about what specific policy I'm going to dig into. But I know what areas I want to champion, Varela said, saying that he wants to work for small businesses, education, crime and safety.

I want to clean up our communities. But when it comes to the actual digging in the weeds of the policy, I'm not there yet, we need a win. And this win is so important for our community.

Hinrichsen said that his background in transportation planning and logistics informs his perspective on future infrastructure needs for healthy growth.

Transportation planning and development is critical to bringing the capacity for business growth, especially the type of businesses that we're in a primary position to recruit, Hinrichsen said. My background is in transportation management in the military, the private trucking industry, oil and gas deliveries and public transit, so it's all a realm that I know  and I have a good idea of where we need to go to be successful.

He said that Pueblos geography and direct connections with interstate transportation networks makes the area a desirable spot for the manufacturing and distribution industry.

The legislature has some jurisdiction over the Colorado Department of Transportation and some infrastructure projects, Hinrichsen said, such as expanded rail logistics and more air cargo traffic at Pueblo Memorial Airport.

We're not a big city. We're not going to be a passenger hub, ever, Hinrichsen said, adding that there is potential for businesses and manufacturers to use the facility for air cargo shipments.

Election day is Nov. 8.

Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com or on Twitter, @annalynnfrey.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Meet the major-party candidates for Pueblo's state Senate seat
The Georgia State Patrol is investigating a crash that left a woman dead.

According to findings from the GSP investigation, on October 15, at 3:50 a.m. a Trooper reported a hit and run on GA 279/Old National Highway involving a pedestrian.

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The Trooper on the scene found a woman suffering from injuries from a car accident.

The investigation indicates there was no vehicle at the scene when first responders got there.

The Trooper said the woman was walking across GA 279 Old National Hwy when a vehicle coming down the lane hit her and continued driving without reporting the hit or helping.

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The woman, who relatives and friends say is Wanda Wardlaw, was taken to Grady Memorial in critical condition, where she later died.

There are many people that love Wanda she was an angel and today she got her wings, said Tiffany Elliot, a close friend to Wardlaw.

The Wardlaws family is holding a candlelight vigil for her at 6 p.m. on Sunday on Old National across Valero Lot near VIP wings.

Elliott, has organized a GoFundMe to help Wardlaws family during this time.

Troopers say the year, make, and model of the vehicle is unknown at this time.

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Photo Illustration by Erin O'Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty, HBO Max and Discovery

When the team behind The Gordita Chronicles first found out that their shows corporate overlord was headed for a merger, all hands were on deck. Eva Longoriaan executive producer on the series alongside Zoe Saldanaallegedly went straight to the top and called HBO exec Casey Bloys.

She really hunted him down, showrunner Brigitte Munoz-Liebowitz recalled with a laugh during a recent interview with The Daily Beast. The chief content officer seemed reluctant to give a straight answer, the showrunner said, but Longoria wasnt having it. He hemmed and hawed a little bit, and then he said, Yeah, I dont think were gonna be able to make it work. The reason? HBO Max would no longer be producing family content.

That explanation never made much sense to Munoz-Liebowitz, who noted during our interview that the Gordita creators always saw the series as a straight sitcom. And besides, the showrunner said, Gordita Chronicles was never discoverable under the streamers Family or Comedy categories; it only appeared under Latino.

As questionable as the Gordita team found Bloys family content explanation for the shows cancellation, another detail he allegedly shared might be even more telling. As part of Warner Bros. merger with Discovery, Inc., the team learned, premium HBO Max shows would migrate to HBO proper. Gordita Chronicles just wasnt one of them.

A bitter irony tinged the showrunners voice as she looked back on the moment. So were not premium? Okay. This was, after all, the same company that was more than happy to trot out the shows creator for its market diversity pamphlets. To unceremoniously boot the show after just one season, Munoz-Liebowitz said, was egregious.

Laid-Off HBO Max Execs Reveal Warner Bros. Discovery Is Killing Off Diversity and Courting Middle America

As frustrating as the situation might have been, what happened to The Gordita Chronicles was not an anomaly within the industry. Frances Negron-Muntanera Puerto Rican filmmaker, writer, and scholar whose 2016 study The Latino Disconnect examined the effect of mergers on Latinx representationhas found that generally, as she told The Daily Beast, the word merger, for Latinos, equals disempowerment. Combine media consolidation with often lazy or misguided marketing for Latinx shows and an apparent lack of support for Latinx programs, and the abysmal statistics we see each year regarding the communitys representation in Hollywood start to make sense.

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Advocates for mergers will often argue that these moves not only reduce costs and increase consumer choice, but also that theyre good for diversity. Negron-Muntaners study, which focused primarily on the merger between Comcast and NBCUniversal in 2011, indicated otherwise. What we found is that, notheres less diversity in some cases [but] definitely not more diversity, Negron-Muntaner said. And people that manage to hang on to the boat have less power.

In the case of Comcast and NBCUniversal, this played out as Telemundo executives who once ruled the roost at the network found themselves subordinate to their (white, non-Latinx) corporate overlords from NBC. Overall, the report states, non-Latino leadership at Telemundo rose at a higher rate than Latinos within NBCUniversal as a wholefurther diluting the influence Latinx workers had within the conglomerate.

Negron-Muntaners study examined NBCUniversals TV line-up for three years before and after the merger and found that the only representational gain was a measly 0.8 percent among directorsfrom 3.6 percent during the 2008-2009 season to 4.4 percent in 2014-2015. All other categories decreased. Even more striking, the scholar wrote, the small gain in Latino television on-screen representation was accompanied by a surge in stereotypical roles: from 34.1 percent in the 2008-2009 season to 52.5 percent in the 2014-2015 season.

The Gordita Chronicles cast HBO Max

The number of Latinx characters who fell into stereotypical typesmaids, janitors, inmates, copsalso tripled during this period. As one former NBCUniversal executive said in the study, If a business is integrated into another, jobs will be lost. But in the case of a minority business, it additionally creates an imbalance by making the Anglo voices bigger, stronger and more pervasive.

Structurally speaking, theres a disempowerment going on, Negron-Muntaner told The Daily Beast. And that disempowerment can translate into different kinds of programming, different priorities, et cetera.

The homogenization among top executives at Warner Bros. Discovery has actually made headlines. When news of mass layoffs broke in August, The Daily Beast reporter Adam Manno revealed that about a dozen non-white executives had been let go as the newly formed conglomerate targeted Middle America. As one former executive told The Daily Beast post-layoffs, I dont think anyone knows just how white the staff is.

Whether its Warner Bros. Discovery firing a dozen non-white executives or Netflix wiping out editorial operations largely staffed by women of color and queer people, marginalized groups always seem to be first out the door when large corporations need to save money. As Negron-Muntaner pointed out, that might have something to do with the nature of the business itself: Its an industry that also has to keep control of the storyof who or what America is, who lives here, what they want, and what theyre about.

So, what happens when just a handful of menand as Munoz-Liebowitz put it, we all know what they look likeget to decide what content is premium and what is disposable?

The dust has yet to settle from Warner Bros. Discoverys merger. Executive exits and layoffs keep making headlines. At least 68 titles have been scrubbed from the platform, and two nearly completed filmsincluding Batgirl, which carried a $90 million budgethave been shelved. Last week, the studio announced that it would end its decades-old writers workshop and its equivalent directing program, both of which fostered young, diverse talent within the industry, but reinstated the program within 24 hours after widespread backlash, primarily because it violated DGA rules. (The program has been transferred to the companys Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion division.)

This corporate cannibalism were witnessing doesnt feel particularly different from mergers past, said WGA research director Laura Blum-Smith. Its just not often a newly merged studio will drop the pretense of goodwill as quickly as Warner Bros. Discovery has.

The company is using its enhanced market power to slash programming, reduce the content available to consumers, and cut costs by squeezing workers, Blum-Smith said. For writers, what this means here is theyre losing a potential employer. Theyre losing jobs on existing projects; theyre losing access to their own work; theyre losing out on future residuals when content is canceled or pulled. Its a bad moment.

Media consolidation has already shrunk the number of venues competing for talent in Hollywood, and the lack of competition has brought catastrophic effects for workers who dont have rich parents and, therefore, a robust financial cushion. Support staffers like assistants and script coordinators are taking on five-figure debts just to keep their jobs in the hopes of getting promoted to one with a livable paycheck. Streaming has decimated the pay structures that once allowed writers to string together a career in what is essentially a freelance industry. And the lack of competition for workers talent means pay rates have languished as residuals deteriorate.

SOPA Images/Getty

Adam Conover, whose truTV series Adam Ruins Everything ended during the Time Warner-AT&T merger, told The Daily Beast that this years corporate bloodbath felt like an echo of the merger that killed his show. To me, it looked literally the same, he said. In the seven years since Conover first pitched Adam Ruins Everything, his list of pitchable venues has diminished to a fraction of its original length. Divisions that once competed for contentlike truTV and TBShave been folded under shared umbrellas and, too often, eventually dissolved as original content hubs.

This means fewer network homes for shows that cater to so-called niche audiences or fall outside the box. According to Munoz-Liebowitz, if there are fewer outlets for a writer to pitch, and an increased number of those outlets are catering primarily to Middle America (whatever that means), it just narrows the target.

I thought our show was for everybody, personally, she said. But if the people who are curating content dont hold diversity and representation as a value, there wont be [any]. And there will be erasure of content like ours.

Based on her research, Negron-Muntaner has noticed that Latinx and Asian American representation in Hollywood face a similar challenge: While these populations have increased exponentially in the U.S. over time, on-screen and behind-the-scenes representation has never consistently risen for either group. Instead, Negron-Muntaner said, the trend lines shes observed fluctuate up and down, up and down.

Negron-Muntaners 2014 benchmark study The Latino Media Gap noted several institutional barriers to representation, including advocates observation that Latinx people are generally viewed as new arrivals and foreigners. Their inclusion, therefore, is not perceived as a public good.

The notion that all Latinx and Asian American people are recent immigrants is an obviously bigoted and ahistorical narrative. Just ask Jeff Valdez, who created The Brothers Garcia and its sequel series, The Garcias, based on his own familywhove lived here since 1540.

Our whole brand and everything were doing is completely what we call new mainstream, Valdez told The Daily Beast. Theyre an American family. They havent migrated Its kind of hard to be an immigrant when youve been here for 500 years.

And yet, when it came time to market the original series at Nickelodeon, one image kept coming back up: sombreros.

I dont think they were evil, Valdez said of the Nickelodeon marketing team at the time. They were just uneducated. I dont believe it was some kind of racist, horrible thing they were trying to do, but it was offensive, obviously.

The CEO of Nickelodeon at the time, Herb Scannell, happened to be half-Puerto Rican, Valdez recalled, so a simple phone call was all it took to resolve the hiccup. But when a new marketing team came aboard four years later and proposed sombreros once more, Valdez had to call Herb again.

Now, just like The Gordita Chronicles, The Garcias appears to have gotten sidelined during Warner Bros. Discoverys corporate downsizing. The series premiered within a week of the mergers completion back in April, and during the lead-up Valdez and his team found themselves underwhelmed with the marketing their series had received. So they did something a little unorthodox: They took over their own marketing one week before the shows premiere.

The Garcias cast HBO Max

We had, like, a week before launch to ramp up an internal marketing team and create a plan and go with it, Valdez said. So we had to be like a SWAT group.

Then HBO Max allegedly tried to avoid submitting The Garcias for Emmy consideration. After some discussion, Valdez said, the company agreed to submit the show for Outstanding Comedy Seriesa consistently competitive categorybut refused to submit its cast or directors for specific consideration. He and his colleagues came up with countless guerrilla marketing tactics to get their For Your Consideration message across: yard signs, skywriting, a flash mob, a digital billboard on Sunset Boulevard, and even an FYC sign plastered on the Naked Cowboys derriere.

Marketing appears to be a major hurdle for Latinx programming in Hollywood, in part because studios wont give up the idea that this audiencecomposed of viewers from dozens of countriescan somehow be treated as a monolith. As Negron-Muntaner put it, the Holy Grail for marketing executives in Hollywood appears to be, Just tell us how to reach all the Latinos, all at once. Her response? Well, thats never going to happen.

Rather than try and understand Latinx viewersor any marginalized group, for that matterValdez said some studios seem content to just check the box and say, We made a show with Latinos, or LGTBQ, or whatever rather than curate and support a robust offering. I always say that would be like me buying one or two stocks and calling it a portfolio, Valdez said.

Youve got to invest in your content, the showrunner continued. Because if you dont invest in the marketing and things fail, well then how do you ever really know if theres a market?

Its not unusual for fans of a canceled series to call upon other networks and streamers to save the show by picking it up and producing more seasons. At this point, however, Gorditas search for a new home appears to be officially over. The team received a number of explanations for their rejectiona common one being, We already have a Latinx show.

And who needs more than one? After all, were only talking about 17.4 percent of the population, and only $1.5 trillion in buying power, according to The Latino Disconnect.

How long will this remain a population Hollywood can afford to ignore?

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Good, Peaky Blinders (Johan Persson )

Its been a week of intriguing new shows, with theatre mixing with other art forms via a Peaky Blinders dance show and an opera based on the life of Kurt Cobain. Plus, there was a major return to the West End for Doctor Who star David Tennant.

Join us next week when well be reviewing the RSCs production of Studio Ghibli hit My Neighbour Totoro and the new Royal Ballet show from Crystal Pite.

Good  Harold Pinter Theatre a a a aa

We are good people, says Anne, John Halders lover in Good. But can they be? The playwright Alan Plater described CP Taylors 1982 play as the definitive piece about the Holocaust in the English language. It tracks how Halder  a liberal and decent professor from Frankfurt  falls into arguing in favour of the Final Solution. In the lead role, David Tennant is stonily cold and compassionless in his sink from goodness, but Dominic Cookes confused production needs more clarity for it to fly.

Elliot Levey, David Tennant and Sharon Small in Good' (Johan Persson)

Cooke has made the unsatisfying decision to shrink the usual cast of 10 down to three. The supporting actors, Sharon Small and Elliot Levey, have the mammoth burden of playing all the other parts  which, despite their enthusiasm, come off at varying levels of success. The text is baffling in form, with scenes that dont always follow a linear narrative order, while the characters lack of definite identity prevents the production from ever feeling truly disturbing.

Still, as Halder, Tennant is terrifically hypnotic. Stiff and empty, he keeps us at arms length as he swaps between his internal monologue and public face. He seems physically anchored to the stage as the wickedness buried inside of him wades out slowly. Tennant is an actor unafraid to take his time and it is a meticulous performance; each move has purpose, every jerk has considered aim.

The plays conclusion is not a totally shocking one, but it does have power. Good is an alarming lesson on the dangers of narcissism and passivity that demands we think of more than just ourselves. Anya Ryan

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Read the full review here.

Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Tommy Shelby  Troubador Wembley Park Theatre a a a a a

With a swagger, Steven Knights Peaky Blinders has gone from an award-winning television series to an ever-expanding brand. There are plans for a film and a spin-off series, a festival, clothing brands and more. Now Rambert Dance translate the 1920s Birmingham gangsters into movement, mixing rock gig energy with urgent physical power.

Choreographed by Ramberts director Benoit Swan Pouffer and created in collaboration with Knight, the new show is a stylised dance drama. Taking a free hand with the series, it focuses on the love story between Thomas Shelby and Grace Burgess. There are snatches of narration from Benjamin Zephaniah, but the story is told in dance, and through its fierce, stylish production.

The cast of Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby' (Johan Persson)

Naya Lovells Grace carries herself with magnetic poise, pulling every scene into focus, while Guillaume Queaus Thomas Shelby is a bold mover, with a sense of physical threat. Musa Motha, who is an amputee, plays Barney with stark conviction. Working with crutches, Motha and Pouffer weave distinctive silhouettes into vivid storytelling.

Throughout, theres a sense of Rambert positioning itself for a new audience, trying to find a new way to connect. The companys fine dancers give it total conviction, whether plunging into brawl scenes, spilling offstage into the auditorium, or swooping into period style. Its a smart, confident show. Zoe Anderson

Read the full review here.

Last Days  Linbury Theatre a a a a a

In 2005, the filmmaker Gus Van Sant  best known for his hauntingly beautiful My Own Private Idaho  made a fictionalised arthouse movie titled Last Days. It chronicled Kurt Cobains final disappearance: 100 minutes in which nothing happens, beyond muttering and grunts from the protagonist as he stumbles about in his domain. Boring? You can say that again. But weirdly, some people love that movie, and one of those people is the French star Agathe Rousselle, who claims to have seen it 15 times.

Agathe Rousselle in Last Days (Camilla Greenwell)

Enter composer Oliver Leith, director Matt Copson, and choreographer Anna Morrissey, who have turned Van Sants film into an opera with Rousselle in the leading (non-singing) role. When they asked Van Sant for a copy of his script, his reply was simply: Do your own thing  and theyve done that. So, here we are, in a beautiful little wooden theatre in the bowels of the Royal Opera House, watching the fruits of a collaboration between the ROH and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The surprise is that this show avoids all the cliches one might have predicted. Nobody tries to reproduce Cobains voice (Rousselle limits herself to a single snarl of rage), and none of his trademark songs are trotted out. There is a shotgun, but it hangs on the wall and is not fired. What this talented team have created is extraordinary, something visually and vocally closer to the Japanese aesthetic than to anything Western, while the closing scenes suggest a Bach chorale put tenderly through a screen of ecstatic atonality. It will be fascinating to see what these people do next. Michael Church

Read the full review here.
BEDFORD  The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) are dedicated to ensuring those who fought for independence are not forgotten. Standing at attention Saturday before a backdrop of mountains and farmland, Virginia SAR Chapter members in historic garb were a striking reminder of the conflict.

Leadership from Virginia SAR Chapters and members of the Children of the American Revolution (CAR) chapters gathered at the Logwood Family Cemetery in Bedford on Saturday to place two patriot markers at the grave of Capt. Thomas Logwood, a Revolutionary War veteran.

Representatives of local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapters also were in attendance at the ceremony. Members of SAR, CAR and DAR are descendants of patriot participants in the American Revolutionary War.

Paula Schwoerer, sixth-great granddaughter of Logwood, provided a brief biography of her ancestor. She stood on his farmland, feet in front of his grave, and within view of the grand white brick house he built and died in.

According to Ken Bonner, President of Loudons Sergeant Major John Champe SAR Chapter, it would have been a typical layout for an 18th-century farm to have a family cemetery within walking distance of the main home.

Logwood was born in Henrico County in 1740, the son of English immigrants. He and his first wife Anne had seven children, a few of whom are also buried in the cemetery.

Logwood came to Bedford County in 1773 and bought an initial 300-acre parcel that would grow to a 5,000-acre estate near what is now Sedalia.

The main part of the house on this property was constructed by Thomas Logwood before the Revolutionary War, Schwoerer said. It is made of bricks made on this property. The exterior walls are 18 inches thick and are solid brick.

Logwood was a captain in the Bedford County militia and fought at Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina, receiving three wounds in battle. In 1777, he signed the Bedford County Oath of Affirmation along with 150 other Bedford residents.

After the Revolutionary War, Logwood served as High Sheriff of Bedford County, one of two Commissioners of the Tax in 1787 and a member of the Virginia General Assembly in 1789. He and James Buford surveyed the road from his farm to the town of Bedford, then known as Liberty.

Captain Logwood died in the house behind us on the 10th of September 1821, just over 201 years ago. He was a well-respected citizen of his community, a family man, land speculator and a patriot of the American Revolution, Schwoerer said.

Schwoerers grandson Jacob, and Logwoods eighth-great-grandson, is a SAR and CAR member and removed shrouds over the brass markers with great solemnity.

What we try to do is we try to honor every American Revolutionary War patriot, including anyone who contributed to the patriot cause, even those who didnt take up arms, former President of Winchesters Patrick Henry SAR Chapter Dale Corey said.

We have over 5,000 Revolutionary War patriots buried in the state of Virginia, Corey added.

Former President of Charlottesvilles Thomas Jefferson SAR Chapter Pat Kelly explained Virginia was the largest and richest colony during the Revolutionary War. When you paid the 1783 property taxes in Virginia you were paying off the national debt for the war, Kelly said. So everyone who paid their 1783 property taxes in Virginia is considered a patriot.

Kelly called the Bedford County venue stupendous. Placing an honorary marker on the grave of a patriot buried on his land, next to the house he built, Kelly added: It doesnt get much better than this.
Billionaire Ken Griffin on Friday sold his five-bedroom, 7,400-square-foot Near North Side condominium on the 37th floor of the Waldorf Astoria for $10.22 million.

The Waldorf unit had been Griffins longtime home until his June announcement that he would relocate his hedge fund firm, Citadel, and his own family to south Florida, after his complaints about Chicagos crime. Shortly afterward, Griffin placed many of his high-end Chicago condominiums on the market  including some that he previously had lived in and several that he has never occupied.

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The Waldorf residence, at 11 E. Walton St., is different for two reasons. First, unlike the other condos, the 37th-floor unit is the one that until recently was Griffins legal residence. Second, Griffin took a sizable loss on the Waldorf condo. In 2014, he paid $13.3 million through his GCC3 LLC Delaware limited liability company to buy it from former Chicago Mercantile Exchange CEO James McNulty. As a result, Griffin sold the Waldorf for about 23% less than he paid for it eight years earlier.

Griffin had a relatively quick closing on the Waldorf unit. He listed it on July 26 for $11.5 million and went under contract on Sept. 26, meaning the time from contract signing to closing was just two and a half weeks.

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The condo has five full bathrooms, two half-bathrooms, two offices, two fireplaces, a bonus room, a private gallery entryway with floor-to-ceiling wood paneling, a living room with bespoke custom built-ins and Sapele mahogany floors, and an eat-in kitchen with custom cabinets, a custom built-in pantry and bar, stone countertops, two large wine refrigerators and stainless steel Wolf, Sub-Zero and Miele appliances.

The condos primary bedroom suite has a grand terrace with two exposures, three walk-in closets, two bathrooms with Calacatta marble and a private office with a terrace.

The unit had a $130,209 property tax bill in the 2020 tax year, along with another $69,840 a year in homeowners association dues.

Griffins listing agent, Nancy Tassone, declined to comment on the sale.

Public records do not yet identify the condos buyer. The sale is the latest in a string of $10 million-and-up condo deals in Chicago. It joins Mexican billionaire German Larreas $20.56 million purchase of a high-floor duplex in the St. Regis Chicago, private equity executive Bryan Cresseys $20 million purchase of the 89th-floor penthouse in the Trump International Hotel & Tower and the $17.4 million sale of the full-floor condo on the 34th floor of the building at 9 W. Walton St.

In terms of houses, $10 million-plus residential deals in 2022 include billionaire Justin Ishbias $16 million purchase of a lakefront house in Winnetka that joined his collection of nearly $40 million worth of properties on Lake Michigan, the $12.75 sale of a vintage mansion on the lake in Winnetka, the $11.25 million sale of a newly built mansion in Winnetka and the $10 million transfer of a Lincoln Park mansion that Griffins ex-wife, Anne Dias, has inhabited.

Griffin continues to have three other Chicago condos on the market: a four-bedroom, 7,085-square-foot 35th-floor condo in the building at 9 W. Walton St. for $14 million; a six-bedroom 8,000-square-foot condo on the 66th floor of the Park Tower for $13.25 million; and a six-bedroom, 9,250-square-foot penthouse on the 67th floor of the Park Tower for $15.75 million.

Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.

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By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. That line from Shakespeares Macbeth is what I thought of in reading the News & Advance coverage of the recent CEO Summit Week hosted by Liberty University (LU hosts CEO Summit Week, Oct. 8). I thought of that play because Liberty dished up a heaping helping of eye of Newt for the attendees. Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, certainly seemed to get LUs cauldron bubbling with his comments.

First things first, I have to wonder why a man who has hardly led an exemplary Christian life was invited to speak at an event calling world-class leaders to unite in transforming the world through Judeo-Christian business practices. I likewise wonder what constitutes such practices. I didnt read that the speakers and attendees were committed to getting corporations to put people over profits and to develop a sense of civic responsibility. From what I can tell, our major corporations are operating according to the Gospel of Milton Friedman. He was the economist who famously preached that a corporations only social responsibility is to its shareholders. And CEOs throughout the country saw the light  the light of greed, that is. But for now, Im mainly vexed by the incongruity of including Gingrich in an ostensibly Christian forum.

Lest we forget, Gingrich was forced not just out of the Speakers seat but out of the House for numerous ethics violations  the most unchristian of which was having an affair with a woman 23 years his junior. Our current hyperpartisan political polarization, moreover, traces back to Gingrich. He devised a lexicon of words with negative connotations Republicans were to use in referring to Democrats and their policies words such as bizarre, fascist, traitors, lie, pathetic, radical, shame, and steal. It was Gingrich, moreover, who first forged a cynical, unholy alliance between the Republican Party and the Christian Right  an alliance that has proved to be more about empowerment than righteousness.

The Christ I learned about is the Prince of Peace. He enjoined us to forgive our enemies. Gingrichs remarks, as reported in this paper, were not peaceful but strident. He believes we are locked in what he views as a great cultural civil war that Christians must win at all costs. He went on to say that you cannot sustain a society without religious belief. Our Founding Fathers thought otherwise. If you dont believe that, read the First Amendment. He further said that a life without God is not a life worth living. Really? Are all agnostics and atheists despondent? But what really got me as a veteran was his claim that the anti-Vietnam War movement on college campuses ... ruined peoples lives. Try telling that to the loved ones of the over 58,000 Americans and the two million Vietnamese who died in Vietnam.

It occurs to me that what Liberty University could do to win my heart and mind would be to host a truly Christian reconciliation summit. The point would be to bring liberals and conservatives together to talk out their differences and to find common ground. That could go a long way toward ending the bitter divisions in our country. But in the words of the poet, Ah me! I fondly dream.
Isabella Marlow is only a few weeks into her new job at Midlands Humane Society, but shes already seen lots of animals find their forever homes.

Marlow is a Council Bluffs native who went to Thomas Jefferson High School. She graduated from TJ in 2019 and later spent some time in the capital city studying at Des Moines Area Community College. Shes back home now, and she recently took a job working with the cats, dogs and other animals at Midlands Humane Society.

While shes new to the job, Marlow is quite familiar with the shelter as she spent some time volunteering in the past. She said she knew back then that Midlands would be a place shed love to work at, and she said her feelings have been correct ever since taking the job. She said her coworkers are amazing, and at the end of the day everyones priority is making sure the shelters animals are taken care of and on their way to finding a loving home.

Marlow also grew up with lots of dogs, so Midlands is even more of a good fit for her. A year ago, she took in her first cat, Mochi, whom she found wandering the streets with an eye infection. Hes a brown tabby that is thought to have a bit of Maine coon in him as well, and hes living a good life now thanks to Marlow. Marlow said she doesnt know where shed be without the animals in her life, and she wants to make sure guests at Midlands can find their own loving pets. She said its been rewarding seeing people leaving the shelter happy, and also seeing the animals depart for a home to call their own.

In her free time, Marlow loves doing things outside. Shes always looking forward to the next hike. She is also a creative person, and she crafts jewelry, paints and more. She is a self-proclaimed master chef, and shes always looking forward to making her homemade pasta recipe.

More information about fostering, volunteering and donation opportunities can be found at midlandshumanesociety.org or by calling 712-396-2270.

Like their Facebook page to keep up with daily shelter news. The shelter can also be found @midlandshumane on Twitter and @midlandshumanesociety on Instagram.
The Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce invited candidates for local and state office to speak with chamber members last week.

Advocacy is a core tenet of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce and an important way to keep our members informed about local, state and federal politics is by hosting events such as this that give them easy access to our elected officials at all levels of government, chamber president and CEO Drew Kamp said.

On Friday, State House District 19 candidates Elizabeth Christensen (D) and Brent Siegrist (R), and District 20 candidate Josh Turek (D), and Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors candidates Scott Belt and Susan Miller, participated in the candidate forum at Council Bluffs Country Club.

Candidates for these offices will be making critical decisions on our behalf and it is our responsibility as the voice of the southwest Iowa business community to provide our members every possible opportunity to interact with and engage these individuals, Kamp said.

With chamber members sitting around tables, each candidate was allowed a few minutes to introduce themselves, after which they visited each table in turn to speak with attendees, who asked questions about the economy and how the county might best promote itself as a tourist destination.

We were very pleased with the candidate forum, Kamp said. This was a new format that we were trying for the first time, and it was effective and well received by candidates and attendees alike.

House candidates Sarah Abdouch and Matt Windschitl, and Supervisor candidates Jeff Jorgensen and Jeff Shudak, were unable to attend due to work commitments.
Vote no on strict scrutiny

Your November 8 ballot contains an amendment to the Iowa Constitution, Public Measure 1, an amendment that would subject future gun laws to strict scrutiny. Vote NO.

This proposed amendment is not the Second Amendment which reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

A broad over reach of the Second Amendment, this proposed amendment reads: The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The sovereign state of Iowa affirms and recognizes this right to be a fundamental individual right. Any and all restrictions of this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.

What will be the impact of strict scrutiny? Strict Scrutiny is the highest level of scrutiny a court uses to decide whether a law is unconstitutional. Inserting gun rights with strict scrutiny into the constitution would tip the balance of power elevating access to guns above public safety. Common sense gun laws would likely be struck down when challenged in court.

Responsible gun owners and gun dealers oppose this amendment because it could prohibit reasonable, responsible safety measures they support like universal background checks, gun safety training, and requiring a license to carry a gun in public. Iowans, by 80-90 percent, support responsible gun laws.

If passed, the proposed amendment puts the right to posses and carry a gun without any infringement above the right to public safety for communities. It could lead to invalidation of existing and future reasonable gun safety measures that keep Iowans safe.

Vote NO on this amendment. For more information go to iowansforresponsiblegunlaws.com.

Jane Goldsmith

Treynor

We deserve better than more of the same

I have never seen folks argue so passionately for more of the same than three candidates for county supervisor did last Sunday in the Daily Nonpareil. Theyre not wrong. They represent exactly that  more of the same for our county. More low growth (only 400 people added to our population in the last 10 years), unpaved roads, potholes you could lose a tire in, Iowa West pulling the strings and five people on the board who all think the same, act the same and nod their heads when the others speak. More of buying ski hills for three times their assessed value and sweetheart deals for the folks who grease the right hands.

Theyre right. Thats not me.

I build things for a living. I make pipes flow and plumbing work. I stand shoulder to shoulder all day long with people who turn wrenches for a living. And you know what? We deserve better than more of the same. Thats why Im running.

Im not running to be another yes man for big money interests. Im not running to just go along with whatever the folks in power want for themselves. Im running to be a voice for the workers whose taxes pay this boards salaries. Im running to make sure we vet our vendors and put our contracts out to bid instead of hiring some board members relative or next-door neighbor. Im running to make sure you get the best value for your taxpayer dollars and that we dont waste one penny of your hard-earned contributions. I know what your tax dollars represent  your blood, your sweat and your time away from your family. I take that seriously.

Beyond that, Im running because every person in this county deserves to have access to these board members, to be able to voice their concerns and be listened to, and to know what decisions are being made with their money  not after the fact, but as theyre happening. The Freedom 3, as theyre calling themselves, apparently want you to trust that theyll do the right thing behind closed doors. Who is that freedom for? Certainly not for you.

You have the freedom to vote on Nov. 8. Pick somebody who wants to work for you, not the ones who just want you to keep working so they can retire and collect a county supervisors salary.

Jeff Shudak

Council Bluffs

The senator we need is the senator we have

Mike Franken, Democrat candidate for Iowa United States Senator, wants to usher in governmental policies that would be disastrous and liberty stripping for Iowa and our farmers. I appreciate his service to our country as a Navy veteran. However, Frankens vision for Iowa, and the world, will only benefit the political elites, hurt Iowa farmers and drive food prices up further.

As an agriculture state, Iowa relies on farming to support our economy about 10 times more than the rest of the country. Mr. Franken wants to roll out policies that the political elites support and sacrifice Iowa farmers for the environment. The environmental movement is all about control of the individual, their land and monetary grift. No one cares more about the environment in Iowa than our farmers.

In every authoritarian society, those who make the rules always come for the farmers first. Mr. Frankens vision for Iowa should cause concern for anyone paying attention to the political landscape. They need to ask themselves  what does Mr. Franken gain from the radical changes he wants to impose upon the citizenry of Iowa? Read the book Behind the Green Mask written by Rosa Koire and you may find that answer.

Iowa needs to protect our farmers, our liberties, and our food supply. That starts with stopping Mr. Franken and the policies he supports. The senator we need is the one we have  Senator Grassley.

Dawn Conrad

Underwood
Morocco was elected to two key positions within the organization United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG-World) during he 7th World Congress of the international organization, which took place this October 10  14 in the South Korean city of Daejeon.

The mayor of Rabat, Asmaa Rhlalou, was elected treasurer of the organization, while Mohamed Sefiani, mayor of the city of Chefchaouen, was elected Special Envoy of UCLG-World to the United Nations for food systems by the world congress that was attended by delegations from 140 countries.

The two officials were also appointed members of the presidency of UCLG-World, the highest decision-making body of the organization.

The election of the two Moroccan officials illustrates the key role that Morocco plays within this global organization.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has pointed out in his latest annual report on the Moroccan Sahara to the Security Council, the political development and Moroccos diplomatic achievements in the Sahara over the past year.

The UN Secretary General has thus informed the Security Council members about the holding of general, legislative, regional and local elections, on September 8, 2021, in Morocco, including in the Sahara, stressing that the turnout in the Sahara region, was the highest at the national level. This is a new confirmation, through the ballot box, to the irrefutable attachment of the citizens of the southern provinces to their Moroccanness, as it was underlined by Morocco.

In addition, Guterres emphasized the economic and infrastructural development of the Sahara, as well as the continuation of Moroccos investments in its Saharan provinces.

Morocco continues to invest in the development of infrastructure in the Sahara, he said, recalling in this connection the signing of four agreements relating to a seawater desalination project in the city of Dakhla, which should have a capacity of 37 million cubic meters of water per year.

Also, Guterres noted the development of infrastructure in the region of Guergarat. In this context, he informed the Council members that the MINURSO Force Commander visited the Guergarat region in September 2021, where he observed new commercial developments, infrastructure and facilities.

The Security Council is scheduled to examine the Sahara issue later this month to renew the mandate of the MINURSO that expires on October 31.
The Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution reiterating its support to the political process conducted under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations for the settlement of the regional dispute over the Sahara.

The resolution, adopted Friday, calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the UN Secretary General and his personal envoy to achieve a political solution to this regional dispute on the basis of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council since 2007. It thus supports the political process based on the 18 resolutions of the Security Council since 2007, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara issue.

The text praises the efforts made in this direction and calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General, and with each other, in order to achieve a political solution that is mutually acceptable.

This resolution, like its predecessors and those adopted by the Security Council over the past two decades, makes no mention of the referendum, which has been dead and buried by the UN Secretary-General, the General Assembly and the UN Security Council.

The UN General Assembly also welcomes in this resolution the commitment of the parties to continue to show political will and to work in an atmosphere conducive to dialogue, based on the efforts made and the developments since 2006, thus ensuring the implementation of the Security Council resolutions since 2007.

It should be noted that the only new development in the political process since 2006 is the presentation by Morocco on April 11, 2007 of the autonomy initiative.

In this regard, the text supports the resolutions of the Security Council since 2007, which have enshrined the pre-eminence of the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco, welcomed by the executive body and the entire international community as a serious and credible initiative for the final settlement of this regional dispute within the framework of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom.

The text also supports the recommendations of resolutions 2440, 2468, 2494 and 2548, enshrined in resolution 2602, adopted on October 29, 2021, which determine the parameters of the solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, namely a political solution that is realistic, pragmatic, sustainable and based on compromise.

All these resolutions have enshrined the roundtable process and defined, once and for all, its four participants, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the polisario. These texts actually mention Algeria and Morocco five times each, thus reaffirming the role of Algeria as the main party in this regional dispute.

These Security Council resolutions also commend the measures and initiatives taken by Morocco for the promotion and protection of human rights in its southern provinces, and the role played by the National Human Rights Council Commissions in Laayoune and Dakhla, as well as Moroccos interaction with the mechanisms of the UN Human Rights Council.

The texts also reiterate the request of the UN executive body for the registration and census of the populations of the Tindouf camps, and demand the deployment of the necessary efforts to this end.

The resolution of the 4th Committee of the General Assembly makes no reference to a so-called imaginary war in the Sahara as claimed by Algeria and its puppet polisario. Thus, after the Security Council, the 4th Committee exposes the lies propagated by Algeria and the polisario about the situation in the Moroccan Sahara marked by tranquility, stability and development
Southern Union students are bucking the trend:

While it could be thought that a student would have to go to a large school to advance in health sciences, people graduating from Southern Union State Community College every semester disprove that narrative.

Our nursing students, our surgical techs, radiology techs, our paramedics, they go through our training here, said Todd Shackett, President of Southern Union State Community College. They do their clinicals, their preceptorships with the hospitals, and they tend to stay around.

Morgan Lewis-Moore, a registered nurse; Kelsi Smith, a paramedic; and Justin Whitlow, a radiologic technologist are three examples of students who were able to earn their associates degrees in health sciences from Southern Union and fill much-needed medical jobs in the Opelika-Auburn area. The school provided them with hands on training, clinicals, and helped with job placement in their respective fields.

I really feel that the teachers at Southern Union genuinely care about our education and care about how were going to be once we get into our professions, said Smith, now a paramedic with East Alabama Health. Its made me want to help the students that come in here to do clinicals exceed.

Morgan Lewis-Moore

Morgan Lewis-Moore works for East Alabama Health as the nursing manager at the Freestanding Emergency Department in Auburn. She has been in her current position for three months and previously worked as a nurse supervisor for a year in the same location.

Lewis-Moore worked three full-time jobs as a single mom to support herself and her family while she went to nursing school at Southern Union in Opelika. She graduated December of 2017 with her associates degree in nursing. Morgan-Lewis says she had heard a lot of positive feedback on Southern Unions nursing program and knew she wanted to attend there.

Ive always wanted to be a nurse and life happened, Lewis-Moore said. I actually went to paramedic school first at Southern Union. And I did that, and I enjoyed it, but I still knew nursing was my calling.

Lewis-Moore was able to use Southern Unions mobility program to move into nursing. The program allows licensed practical nursing or paramedic students to bridge over to Southern Unions registered nurse program.

I took my test to get my paramedic license and then I was able to start nursing school, Lewis-Moore said. And so instead of doing the whole five semesters I only had to do three semesters.

Lewis-Moore says that while the program was challenging, the hands-on aspect of Southern Unions classes was particularly helpful in preparing her for her career.

They prepare you well for the workforce, she said. What Ive noticed is sometimes in nursing, you can explain things from the book but you cant really perform those skills. But I feel like Southern Union prepared me to use my skills.

Nursing jobs are in abundance right now, especially after the emergence of COVID-19. Were struggling right now for nurses, Lewis-Moore said. Its a great need, especially in our community.

Lewis-Moore said finding a nursing job after she graduated wasnt difficult at all.

I started applying for jobs my last semester, she said. I applied for three or four jobs. They offered all of them to me, so it was just more of finding where I felt like was home where I could best use my skills.

Lewis-Moore says there are plenty of opportunities for advancement in the nursing field. She was promoted to a charge nurse position within the first year and a half of her career. She then began to see her own aptitude for leadership and worked her way up to nurse manager.

Theres lots of room for advancement, Lewis-Moore said. People think of nursing just as patient care but theres so much more that you can do with it.

Kelsi Smith

Kelsi Smith, 23, graduated from Southern Union State Community College in 2021 with her associates degree as a paramedic. She currently works with Emergency Technical services through East Alabama Health in Opelika. She grew up in Orlando but has lived in the Opelika area for the past three years. Smith had originally studied for her nursing degree but changed to Southern Unions paramedic program. She finished the program in five semesters.

The teachers are very hands-on, and they genuinely care about your education, Smith said. They want you to be successful. A lot of my teachers said Im going to try to get you through this class so that I feel comfortable with you coming in and taking care of my kid or my parent, and that just shows that they care about how we can help patients and interact with them.

According to Smith, the training she received through Southern Union gives students practical lessons that apply directly to their career.

Southern Union I would say is a lot more hands-on than the other colleges, Smith said. I feel like a lot of people now, especially in my generation, seem like theyre a lot more hands-on rather than reading it and learning it.

Smith says Southern Union gave her plenty of employment options once she graduated. Care Ambulance and Haynes Ambulance were both possibilities for her as well as East Alabama Health.

Southern Union had multiple people come and talk to us or reach out and say, you know, if we ever need anything, were always welcome and theyve given us options, Smith said. She added that there is a very big need for paramedics in the area right now.

Theres a lot of full-time paramedics, but then theres also some that are part-time, Smith said. Even if we had more part-time or people who are in school and trying to get different types of degrees as well as working, we could always use help.

Smith also says there are plenty of options and opportunities to grow as a paramedic and in other medical fields.

Being able to intubate people and have that experience and training can help you become a CRNA [Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist] as well, Smith said. Theres also flight medic, critical care paramedics theres a million different avenues you can take in EMS itself. You can try to get a manager position, supervisory positions.

All honesty, I had no interest in ever working on a truck and said I would not be caught on a truck over my dead body, Smith added. As soon as I got into the basic program, I fell in love with it. I just love being on the truck now and couldnt imagine another job.

Justin Whitlow

Justin Whitlow, 22, is a radiologic technologist at East Alabama Medical Center. Whitlow began working at EAMC as a transporter  someone who carries patients around the hospital  when he first started school at Southern Union. While he liked the position, Whitlow said he wanted to do more and became interested in radiology. He began his career as a student tech at EAMC in spring 2021. Whitlow became a registered Rad Tech after he graduated from Southern Union in spring 2022 with his Associate in Applied Science in Radiologic Technology.

I was still at Southern Union when I decided to be a Rad Tech, Whitlow said. I was undecided my very first semester and then I applied to Rad Tech school, and I didnt get in. But then I began taking the prerequisites the next semester and the next year I was able to get in.

The program itself is five semesters with clinicals at the end. Towards the end you just go to class one day and its three days of clinicals. It was great. I liked it, Whitlow said. You just had to study and you would be OK. It wasnt too bad.

Whitlow said the classes he took through Southern Union prepared him well for his career as a Rad Tech.

Basically, everything you learn is what you do on the job, he said. You go to clinicals three times a week and that just preps you for what you are going to do every day.

We take x-rays of patients, Whitlow said. We do fluoroscopy which is where we look at the inside of the body at the time you take the picture.

One of his professors, Buddy Galdwell, worked at EAMC for close to 30 years. Mr. Gladwell knew a lot about clinicals, he had been doing it so long, Whitlow said. He had a lot of stories about clinical stuff.

When he first began looking at schools, Whitlow said his original plan was to go to University of Alabama at Birmingham. However, he noted Southern Union being smaller and less expensive as reasons to go to school locally instead.

You can figure out exactly what you want to do, Whitlow said. They can be a little bit more hands-on because its smaller and help you out.

Regarding opportunities in his field, Whitlow said there were different modalities. Theres CT and MRI, he said. Youd have to take another registry, thats like the test you take to become a registered tech. You have to go to classes and get your MRI registry and the CT one too.

It helped me: It just trains you for everything youve got to do when youre an x-ray tech, Whitlow said.
Over the past 20 years, the school has also become a major player in the local economy by providing jobs in both the health sciences and in the manufacturing fields as well as providing employment training for local industries. This is particularly true with the Opelika-Auburn area.

If you look at all the factories that have moved to this area in the last 25 years, their technicians typically come from Southern Union, said Todd Shackett, President of Southern Union State Community College.

For those who are looking to grow and make a change in their life, Southern Union might just be the place to start. The industrial market is in need of trained tradesmen and women, particularly in East Alabama. The Opelika Chamber of Commerce recently said that it had over 1,000 job openings just in Opelika alone.

Lori Huguley, Opelika director of economic development, confirms this.

You name it, its pretty much needed, Huguley said. Industrial maintenance, welding, robotics, mechatronics; theres just a wide, wide array of opportunities right now.

Its these opportunities that Southern Union seeks to fill. With training for industrial fields such as mechatronics and machining among others, the school aims to open the doors for students to move on to do great things in great paying jobs

Technical and trade jobs are usually some of the higher-paying jobs, Huguley said. So if you have someone that can make higher wages, then that increases their income and so theyre able to maybe buy another house, spend more in the community. It just increases their quality of life.

That quality of life can improve pretty quick, they say.

We have students coming out of here with a two-year degree that are making $75- $80,000 a year right off the bat at 20 years old, six figures by the time theyre 24-25, Shackett said. Thats unusual, even going to a four year school.

Adam Baker, 32, is just one Southern Union success story. He moved to Alabama from South Carolina in 2018 to escape a life of drugs and to better himself. Baker graduated from Southern Union in May 2022 with his Associates in Advanced Manufacturing Technology. He is now employed as an industrial maintenance technician with WestRock in Lanett. He went through Southern Unions program and learned about mechatronics. Baker said he spent between $20,000 and $25,000 on his degree.

My first year out of school, Im not shy about saying I will make over six figures this year, Baker said. And to be able to go from not making that to making that with such a small investment in monetary value, I think its great.

Mechatronics is essentially a multi-craft technical field that teaches students about industrial robotics. Those in the field  mechatronics technicians or industrial maintenance technicians  are trained in the electrical, mechanical, and programming sides of robotics.

Mechatronics is basically Industrial Maintenance Technology, Baker said. Its the new fancy way of saying the term maintenance, but I think thats a good thing.

Right now, there is a critical need for mechatronics technicians. Industry has made leaps and bounds over the past 15 years in robotics. Simple tasks people once did like picking up pallets is now done by robots instead. But People are still needed to take care of those robots. WestRock, for example, has 13 robots being used in its factory in Lanett. Companies as varied as Baxter, Rapa, and West Fraser are using them as well.

This change in industrial production has meant local municipalities have had to work closely with Southern Union to provide updated training for potential employees.

In this market over the last 10 years weve really seen a progression of more complex machinery, which in turn, requires the person trained to understand more, said Amy Brabham, director of workforce development for the City of Auburn. It was a shift in a training mindset to stop training in specific areas and give someone a broader view so that they had all of those things under their belt before they graduated.

Mike Williams, a maintenance supervisor at WestRock, sees a lot of opportunities for young mechatronics technicians. He sits on Southern Unions Advisory Committee for Industrial Maintenance.

There is a tremendous opportunity, Williams said. Once you get into this program and you get your teeth sunk in and know you want to do it, theres so many opportunities out here. All these plants up and down this interstate, I guarantee they could have a job in two days.

Apprenticeships and internships are common for Southern Union students entering into manufacturing fields. According to Shackett, students that go through these programs have a 100% rate of entering the job field after graduation.

The F.A.M.E. on the Plains program (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) is probably one of the most well-known. The program allows a consortium of local manufactures including WestRock, Baxter and others to work with Southern Union in making sure perspective mechatronics employees meet their needs.

F.A.M.E. on the Plains is led by business industry, Shackett said. We facilitate it, but they run it, meaning that they have a group of companies that discuss the needs of the program. Every company has its own specific needs, but theres a common cluster of skills that all of them need.

Thats where they get their on the job training and understand all those different aspects and elements of their industry, which is different than another industry that might have the same students in the class, he added.

Mechatronics, however, isnt the only big job field right now. Industries in the area are also looking for machinists. Companies as varied as G.E. Aviation, Regal Rexnord, and Sodecia are all in need of machinists.

In the Auburn-Opelika area there are a lot of job opportunities within machining, said Eric Sewell, director of technical education at Southern Union. That program is definitely increasing in popularity, and I think a lot of that is due to the local job need of companies.

At its core, machining is taking a block of metal and cutting it down into mechanical parts. The job is particularly important in automotive and aviation industries. A student that goes through Southern Unions Machine Shop Technology program can build a solid career machining parts for industries in the Opelika-Auburn area. Pay rates can start out between $20 and $25 an hour.

Joseph Scarborough, 22, graduated from Southern Union in May 2022 with his associates degree in Machine Shop Technology. He said he has always had an interest in fabrication and knew he didnt want a regular desk job. Scarborough is now employed full-time as a machinist with Regal Rexnord in Auburn making drive couplings.

If youre a machinist, then youre going to be setting up parts from scratch on lathes and mills from raw stock and turning out a finished in tolerance part, Scarborough said of his job. We turn a lot of stuff from raw bar stock. Itll come in as just a round chunk of steel like a cylinder and it will exit your area as a finished part.

Chip Stallings, a production supervisor at Regal Rexnord, says the company has a large need for machinists right now.

Our facility has nine current machinist openings that have not yet been filled for expanding business as well as traditional staffing turnover, Stallings said. Regal Rexnord is certainly not alone in finding qualified personnel for these highly skilled positions.

Southern Union is helping to fill these positions through its Registered Apprenticeship Program. The apprenticeship program is how Scarborough got his start with Regal Rexnord. By taking an apprenticeship, Scarborough was able to step into his field after just one semester at Southern Union and get hands on experience as a machinist while completing his degree. After he graduated, he chose to stay with the company.

If youre interested in just staying there, then you can stay there and work your way up for literally as long as you want to, Scarborough said. If youre really determined and youre a go-getter then they will take notice.

Stallings also speaks highly of the apprenticeship program.

Southern Unions apprenticeship program has and will continue to be a valuable resource of reaching potential job applicants, Stallings said. The students we have seen who have come through the Machine Technology program at Southern Union enter the workforce with the skillset needed to succeed and excel in the machining industry.

Its these kind of relationships with businesses that Southern Union aims to foster. Its a bit of an adaptive symbiotic relationship: Not only does Southern Union provide trained employees, but they also listen when businesses tell them what they need.

Through advisory committees, such as the one for industrial maintenance that Williams sits on, Southern Union is able to react directly to new industrial needs.

We just discuss the curriculum and anything that we want to introduce thats new that will be beneficial to the students, Williams said. We can have a discussion around: is that important enough to put in the curriculum or is there some other approach that we could cover to go along with other things they currently have.

We make sure we have advisory committees for almost all of our programs, Shackett said. Its where industry and the customer  which is these businesses  tell us what they need in a graduate. We enhance our curriculum to make sure that our students come out relevant and ready.

Southern Unions cooperation doesnt just end with its students though. They also provide employment training for existing companies. When national businesses with local footprints such as West Fraser or Briggs & Stratton need to skill up their associates, they will often send them to Southern Union. According to Sewell, the school does all West Frasers millwright and electrical training east of the Mississippi River.

They send people to us for training just about every week throughout the year, somewhere between 10 to 30 folks, Sewell said. Its more about long term partnerships with these companies and being able to, as they see the needs that they have, to reach out to us.

Shackett agrees with this philosophy.

We dont develop the training on our own, we develop in conjunction, he said. Then they would either send their employees here or wed send an instructor to their location. And we go over the training, typically a week, and then theres some sort of certification process at the end.

Sewell said when new businesses come into Auburn or Opelika, the cities are ready to work with Southern Union. The Department of Commerce helps new businesses initially. When benefits run out, Southern Union steps in to partner as well.

At that point, thats where the community college stands in, Sewell said. They get everything started up and going and then were here as a long term partner to be able to help and support.

Its a process that Brabham sees as a positive for when new businesses do come to town.

We will know how many employees they need in a certain sector, Brabham said. We meet with Southern Union, number one to see if we can fill those needs, and number two, see if we need to skill up folks that might be underemployed or not have those skills.

And providing those skills to students is ultimately what Southern Union aims to be about.

They provide a great product, Huguley said, which would be a student that would be trained for going into work in one of our companies.
City Council is exploring a new rule proposed by Mayor Daniel Biss that would require referrals  actions introduced for City Council and its committees  to receive at least two co-sponsors for guaranteed committee placement.

Evanston residents spoke against Biss proposed rule at the Oct. 10 City Council meeting, saying it would suppress out-of-the-box ideas.

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While Im sure we all want council members to work together and support each others ideas, I believe firmly in giving creative ideas every chance at being heard, activist and resident Darlene Cannon said.

Current rules assign all referrals to a committee, usually by the Referrals Committee, for discussion prior to reaching City Council unless its considered a special order of business. Biss proposed rule would still allow sponsors to introduce a referral without co-sponsors and would still appear before the Referrals Committee for initial consideration and possible committee placement.

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Biss proposed rule was initially greeted with hesitancy from alderpersons but passed the rules committee 9-1 with Ald. Devon Reid opposed on Sept. 19.

Reid said he opposes the idea because it creates a barrier in the legislative process.

Our sole power as council members is our legislative authority so to create a barrier for legislators to do their job doesnt make a lot of sense, Reid said. There are items that have come up in this term  and historically  that may not have always had (support in) the beginning.

Reid said a group of referrals aimed at revisiting potentially unconstitutional ordinances, including the burglars tool ordinance and an ordinance concerning public nudity, are examples of that.

I made the burglars tool referral and (a local news organization) covered it in a way that was misleading so some of my colleagues were wondering what is this, Reid said. I was able to refer it and it got a hearing at the Human Services Committee. Because of this, our law department looked into it and determined that this ordinance has been found unconstitutional.

The burglars tool ordinance originally made it illegal to carry items that could be used to execute a burglary. Reid said he questioned what defines a burglars tool considering something as simple as a credit card could be used.

Under the original ordinance, Evanstonians had to prove to law enforcement officials that the item they were carrying wasnt being used for burglary but as an everyday item, Reid said. The laws language was eventually tweaked to be in line with state law.

At the Sept. 19 Rules Committee meeting, Biss said the Referrals Committee believes it wouldnt be constructive to move some referrals forward  that it eats up time and staff resources to eventually go nowhere. Biss said he would like to give the Referrals Committee the power to kill referrals fitting this category but he still wanted to provide referrals guaranteed committee placement if it has enough support. Other communities have policies similar to this, according to Biss.

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One proposal Ive heard from a lot of people, which is what is done in a lot of other communities, is that you have to get some statement of support from the majority of City Council before significant staff time is put into something, Biss said. That would be four co-sponsors. That felt like too much. To me, it felt like there should be some intermediate stage (so thats why its two).

The proposed rule was tabled until November so the Rules Committee can discuss further.

Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
Im not against him helping a Weinstein victim, but its a shame Gibson never faced his day in court for abusing his girlfriend.

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Mel Gibson should be sharing a cell with Weinstein.

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I dont understand this at all, there has to be more to the story. The entirety of his testimony would be hearsay unless the sole purpose is not to prove Harvey actually did anything or that whatever she said back about any interactions was true, just that the victim had a negative reaction period. Unless the rules of evidence are 1000% different than my state, which I doubt, this is just so weird. Plus, why would the prosecutor want to bring in an antisemitic piece of shit against a Jewish defendant? Its touched on in the article but likedont they have enough to convict one piece of shit without getting another one on the stand? If I were a juror, it would hurt credibility not assist. Id still find Weinstein guilty as duck but as an attorney this is -very- WTF.



Edited at 2022-10-16 01:28 pm (UTC)

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I think the purpose of MG testimony is to show that Jane Doe 3 did tell other(s) about her assault, which is one of the tenants of believability if the victim didnt immediately alert the police. Eg victim may have been hesitant to go to authorities but they did inform other(s) that an assault took place.

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The fact that she told people is not really relevant except for ~maybe~ what I mentioned in my last comment and Im not convinced it would get around hearsay. You cannot bring in out of court statements to prove the truth of what was said.

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i feel like this is pretty common though. like for domestic violence cases women are generally advised to tell at least one person that it's happening so that if they go to court they can have people testify that they were told. i think if nobody else in their life knew the defense would certainly ask about it and use it to make the victim look like they're lying. it just builds credible character to have people verify they were told about it.

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I dont disagree thats how things should be, its just that there are rules that must be followed. Ive been a lawyer for almost 15 years and dont know of any. But I could be wrong, which is why I asked that other person for a source. Im not aware of any mechanism allowing such testimony to go forward.

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...if the above purpose is state correctly, this purpose is quite literally not for the truth of the matter. it's to prove that the victim said something not that it was accurate.



now...whether it's more probative then prejudicial is probably what the judge is going to rule on.



eta: looked at the next comment and it is for the truth of the matter which is wild to me lol. i guess we both learned something new here.



Edited at 2022-10-16 04:41 pm (UTC)

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Question for ONTD lawyers, wouldnt MGs testimony be considered hearsay?

Even more important question, did MG work with HW after hearing of JD3s horrible experience with HW?

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Look up.

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Commented above, but I think that those testifying on behalf of the victims is all hearsay unless they were present, but its allowed to offer independent validation an assault occurred because the victim did confide in other(s), if not law enforcement, that something happened.

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 its allowed to offer independent validation an assault occurred because the victim did confide in other(s) - never heard this before. Do you have a link?

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Its sometimes called The First Complaint doctrine; the naming convention and boundaries differ by state.



See also: above in post writeup and at source, that the CA judge knows already that its hearsay but will allow it depending on how Jane Doe 3 describes her interaction with MG.

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Interesting. Had never heard of this.

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I think its also referred to as "fresh complaint."

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wild that someone's well-known bigotry is seen as not relevant information for a jury to know when testifying against them or that MG can't possibly be bias because he was willing to work for HW. not how that works



can they both drop dead already

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This could be the origin story of the "Worst Person You Know..." meme

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The irony

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FYI  Jane Doe 4 (who Daphne Zuniga is a witness for) is documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California governor Gavin Newsom. She previously described the assault on the Huffington Post in October 2017 (the day after the New York Times article about Weinstein came out).

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If she's Jane Doe in the trial, why are we sharing her name here? I assume there's a reason she's anonymized.

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It was made public last week when her lawyer announced it. Her name was also included in the previous post about the Weinstein trial.

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Alright then.

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i believe it but am truly shocked that masseuse felt safe confiding something like that in Mel Gibson

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I wouldnt be surprised if this nazi fuck has it in for HW tbh. Its a perfect fit for him and his agenda. Can he incriminate himself somehow while on the stand? That would be real justice.

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I dont feel good about this simply because hes a known antisemite, but if it can help a victim/survivor



Ugh. This is why I could never be a lawyer or judge. Hell, even being part of the jury would haunt me forever.

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I do have an issue with the idea that MG would not have animosity towards HW given hes an antisemite. Bigots take the money of people they hate all the time, if anything they think they're entitled to it and I'm sure bc HW is jewish MG probably feels that way ten-fold

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and also the film didnt win Best Picture.



This is sending mexD





Anyway MG is an ass but I hope he does the right thing here and his testimony helps JD3s case.

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The case is being closely watched, as it could have wide-ranging repercussions for artists whose work centers on appropriation. https://t.co/efTFTxDOSD  artforum (@Artforum) October 14, 2022

During his lifetime, Andy Warhol created silkscreen prints of many different celebrities. Now, one of his most famous series is at the heart of a Supreme Court case being heard this week that is of enormous importance to all sorts of creatives.Lynn Goldsmith is a famous photographer of rock stars and other celebrities, and whose work appears on over 100 album covers. In 1981, Goldsmith was commissioned to shoot a series of photos for up-and-coming artist Prince for Newsweek. She styled him for the shoot and even set her photography umbrellas to create pinpricks of light in his eyes. Ultimately, the picture wasnt selected but Goldsmith kept it and other photos from that session for future licensing opportunities.Fast forward to 1984. Prince is a superstar now, and Vanity Fair commissioned Andy Warhol to make an illustration of Prince in an article they were running. The magazine specifically wanted to use one of Goldsmiths photos as a reference point and paid her $400 for licensing and the promise that it was a one-off in writing. There is no proof that Warhol knew about this agreement, but we do know that he ultimately created a set of 16 silkscreens (which he then copyrighted). Only one image was used for the Vanity Fair article, while the others have been sold and reproduced for hundreds of millions of dollars.After Prince died in 2016 Vanity Fair created a tribute featuring many Prince photographs, and paid the Warhol Foundation $10,250 to run Orange Prince on the cover. Upon receiving no credit or compensation this time, Goldsmith sued the foundation for copyright infringement and also claimed that they owed her potentially millions in unpaid licensing fees and royalties.The Warhol Foundation hit back, saying that not only was the series copyrighted, it was also transformative in the sense that his artistic rendering is very different from the original photograph. Changes included cropping and resizing the image, altered the angle of Princes face, and changed the tones, lighting and detail. He also added unnatural colors and hand-drawn outlines and shading that exaggerated Princes features.Each side has its experts, and the lower courts have disagreed on this matter with one ruling that the Warhol series conveyed a different message from the original photograph and is therefore fair use. Another court disagreed, saying that judges "should not assume the role of art critic and seek to ascertain ... the meaning of the works at issue." If the Supreme Court agrees, the Warhol Foundation will have to pay royalties or licensing fees, and potentially other damages to the original creator, Goldsmith.No matter what the decision, a lot of industries have been watching this case closely. So far, some three dozenbriefs have been filed arguing one side or the other representing everyone from the Motion Picture Association of America to the Library Futures Institute, the Digital Media Licensing Association, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the Recording Industry Association of America to the unions that represents NPR's reporters, editors and producers, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.The outcome of this case could shift the law to favor more control by the original artist, but doing that could also inhibit artists and other content creators who build on existing work such as:- Collage Artists (like David Carlsons latest work)- New Media Artists (who often use snippets of already existing code as a base to write their own code for projects)- Artists who use AI to generate their work- Musicians who use sampling- Documentaries (who often use archival elements and film) ONTD, what do you think, because its all very messy. Goldstein got paid for the usage of her photograph for one picture for VF, while Warhol made a whole damn set of silkscreens outside of the scope of work that was agreed upon. However, he changed the look considerably from the original source, each of the 16 silkscreens are different, and most importantly he copyrighted all of them. It can also be argued that the 16 silkscreens are "versions" of the final work that Warhol created for Vanity Fair (and therefore would be under the umbrella of the original agreement). While I think the Warhol Foundation might owe some money, exactly how much is debatable. Discuss.More Information/Sources:
General Electric (GE) plans to make major job cuts in its U.S. wind operations and will consider its other markets too as windfarms are proving to be a major expense in the wake of Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Continued supply chain disruption and the high cost of wind turbines are deterring companies from investing in wind energy, as they look for cheaper alternatives. Its a question that has been being asked for years - are wind and solar power more expensive and less reliable? The two renewable energy sources have been repeatedly criticised for their intermittent power provision. Meanwhile, as the prices of steel and other materials continue to rise, solar and wind farms are proving to be more expensive to construct than previously hoped.

The prices of solar and wind power had been decreasing as technological innovations were made, thanks to huge amounts of investment worldwide in research and development. But in the wake of a pandemic that has wreaked havoc on global supply chains, the price of components has risen again and again. So, can the improved efficiency of wind turbine technology balance with rising material prices?

This month, reports suggested that GE would be laying off around 20 percent of its onshore wind workforce in the U.S., with employees in North America, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa being notified of changes to the company. An assessment of its Europe and Asia wind markets is expected to follow. Last week, GE employees received a letter stating, We are taking steps to streamline and size our onshore wind business for market realities to position us for future success. These are difficult decisions, which do not reflect on our employees dedication and hard work but are needed to ensure the business can compete and improve profitability over time.

According to several sources, GE is planning to restructure and resize the business, citing weak demand, rising costs, and supply-chain delays as the primary challenges. GE confirmed it was streamlining its onshore wind operations, although has the firm has not commented on job cuts. A GE Renewables spokesperson stated: These are difficult decisions, which do not reflect on our employees' dedication and hard work but are needed to ensure the business can compete and improve profitability over time.

Related: The Most Consumed Energy Sources In Every Country Of Europe

This example highlights the broader challenge, as companies have been battling with the rising cost of wind power as they pump bigger investments into renewables in a bid to decarbonise operations. And wind turbine manufacturers that have seen demand soar in recent years are still struggling to turn a profit.

Even wind energy majors, such as Vestas Wind Systems, General Electric Co., and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, are feeling the stress of high raw material and logistics costs as they race to build the tallest turbines. Ben Backwell, CEO of the trade group Global Wind Energy Council, explained What Im seeing is a colossal market failure. He added, The risk is were not on track for net zero [emissions] -- and the other risk is the supply chain contracts, instead of expanding.

The potential move away from wind power could have major consequences, as the leading non-hydro renewable energy source globally. Wind power is expected to strongly support the worldwide transition away from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives. In addition, the geopolitical landscape could change if North American and European energy companies reign in their wind power funding while Asian powers, such as China, increase their investments in wind.

Earlier this year, several Western turbine manufacturers said they were competing for fewer projects in fewer markets, with plans to raise prices, streamline their product lineups, and cut manufacturing costs to strive for profits. This comes at a time of great potential for renewable energy projects, as the world faces fossil fuel scarcity and rising energy costs. But wind turbine makers have experienced losses in 2022, with rising material costs and stiff competition in the market.

Vestas and Siemens Gamesa, which together control around 70 percent of the market outside China, reported losses for the first quarter of 2022. The CEO of Siemens Gamesa, Jochen Eickholt, said: The competition is rather fierce and, in the past, there was an element where people wanted to gain market share at the expense of profitability too often. The two firms have increased their prices by a double-digit percentage over the last year and have both turned down low-paying projects, taking the business in another direction. Eickholt backed the bold change in strategy, but Siemens order intake between January and March fell 69 percent below estimates.

For the last decade, and particularly following COP26, the future of wind power appeared to be a given. Energy companies, governments, and environmentalists had high hopes for wind power, as it continued to become bigger and better than ever. But the spillover effects of the pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine have made this outlook less certain, as companies battle with the realities of rising costs and lower profits.

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The U.S. Northeast is importing LNG from foreign producers to meet its gas demand.

Regulatory hurdles are stymieing growth in natural gas production in the Marcellus-Utica basin, the largest U.S. gas-producing region, which is set to miss out on the expected boom in American liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in the coming years.

Not only is Marcellus-Utica missing the opportunity to export and monetize natural gas in a world scrambling for LNG supply, but it is also unable to provide more natural gas to the regions close to it in New England, analysts and the pipeline industry say.

In one of the most ironic twists in American energy these days, the U.S. Northeast is importing LNG from foreign producers to meet its gas demand.

New Englands predicament is the result of the regulatory hurdles the U.S. states in the Northeast have posed to natural gas pipeline infrastructure, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America says. The association calls for permitting reform and regional support to pipeline companies that are ready to build infrastructure but have seen a lot of projects delayed and tied up in lengthy court battles, which have swelled costs.

One such project was the Atlantic Coast project, a pipeline from West Virginia to North Carolina along a route that had to pass through the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. In the summer of 2020, despite a major win on the right-of-way issue at the U.S. Supreme Court, the developers of the pipeline definitely scrapped the project due to ongoing delays and major cost overruns.

This announcement reflects the increasing legal uncertainty that overhangs large-scale energy and industrial infrastructure development in the United States. Until these issues are resolved, the ability to satisfy the countrys energy needs will be significantly challenged, the top executives of Dominion Energy and Duke Energy said at the time.

Related:

Over the past few years, developers havent proposed many new gas pipelines in the U.S. Northeast due to permitting issues and bans from states such as New York.

The midstream infrastructure capital has shifted from Marcellus-Utica down to the U.S. Gulf Coast, Kevin Little, senior vice president for natural gas at Macquarie Energy, said during Hart Energys Americas Natural Gas conference.

Projects for LNG exports are now being developed in Texas and Louisiana, and despite the fact that greenfield natural gas projects are tough to develop even in Texas and Louisiana, Americas LNG exports are set to double by 2027, Little said.

On the East Coast, the hurdles are greater.

If you have to get an act of Congress to get your permits to build a pipeline, if youve got to go to the Supreme Court and you still cant build a pipeline, this is not a great environment to build midstream infrastructure, the expert said, as carried by Hart Energy.

In the U.S., LNG export capacity is growing as new trains at Sabine Pass and Calcasieu Pass came online this year. But in order to continue growing, the LNG industry will need more domestic midstream infrastructure - pipelines - to carry natural gas from production centers to LNG export terminals on the U.S. Gulf Coast and demand centers on the Eastern Seaboard.

More pipeline capacity is also needed for New Englands energy demand, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America said last month as energy prices spike in the region.

Without additional energy infrastructure, New Englanders will continue to face uncertainty and the risk of future energy shortages, INGAA said in September.

BandAid fixes to New Englands gas supply such as suspending the Jones Act to temporarily ease receipt of more LNG imports and federal assistance in paying for New England consumers energy bills, are not lasting or affordable solutions to addressing electric reliability concerns, INGAA president and CEO Amy Andryszak wrote in an op-ed in Boston Herald last month.

While all eyes have been on Europe for how their energy crisis will play out, the reality is many American consumers face similar reliability issues here at home, particularly in New England, Andryszak said, but noted that theres one significant difference between New England and Europe.

The U.S. is the No. 1 gas producer in the world, and New England is a stones throw away from the most prolific natural gas resource basin in the country  the Marcellus and Utica shale formations in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, Andryszak wrote.

Rather than hoping to get their hands on an LNG tanker when in a bind, New England could expand American energy infrastructure and change course for future generations.



By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Maybe if Saratoga had made it as a town, North Omaha would be todays home of Memorial Stadium and the Nebraska State Fair.

Saratogas founders and promoters received a charter for a University of Nebraska. They created a fairgrounds that hosted the state fair several times. They also could have had a resort that would have rivaled Hot Springs, Arkansas, or namesake Saratoga Springs, New York.

While it had greater advancement than the paper towns of Douglas County detailed in last weeks column, Saratoga too was undone in large measure by the Panic of 1857. Many of its original residences were moved to Omaha. One of its last vestiges was a hotel that became home to Brownell Hall, the start of todays Brownell Talbot School.

Saratogas boundaries stretched northwest from about 11th and Locust Streets. The holdings of the promoters, the Sulphur Springs Land Co., included the bluff east of 16th Street, all land between 16th and 24th Streets from Locust to Fort Streets and most of the land between 24th and 36th Streets, Bedford to Fort.

Below the bluff was a sulphur spring northeast of todays 14th Avenue and Wirt Street. The first settlers learned of it from Native Americans, probably Omahans. Their chief White Eagle was buried on the bluffs. Old-timer Joe Redman in 1891 said White Eagle was fatally wounded in a battle with the Pawnees and was buried in a sitting posture on his horse.

The Sulphur Springs Reserve, connected to Omaha by a bluff road, was 30 acres. A steep bank led to the spring, said to be impregnated with iron, sulphur and other ingredients of medicinal value. A grove was on the north, shrubbery and vines covered the hillside and it had view of the Saratoga Bend of the Missouri River. Twenty years and one major flood later, Saratoga Bend was cut off from the river and is todays Carter Lake.

Much of the Saratoga land came from the claim of Council Bluffs storekeeper William Clancy, who opened a second store in Omaha  the Big 6 between 13th and 14th Streets on Chicago Street  weeks after Nebraska Territory was open to settlement in 1854. He was the first White man to profit from the sulphur springs. In his advertisement in the Sept. 8, 1854, Omaha Arrow, a good fresh drink of sulphur water from his celebrated spring can at all times be obtained there. The Big 6, the third building in Omaha, also served as a saloon and meeting place.

Clancy soon sold the business to Taylor G. Goodwill. Included in the purchase was Clancys 160-acre claim. Thats only 48 blocks. Hardly enough for a town. Goodwill, from upstate New York, persuaded others, especially Thomas Hart Benton Jr. (the nephew of the American statesman claimed 160 acres to the west), to see his vision of a new town between Omaha City and Florence and be able to rival them  especially to be the terminus of the proposed Pacific railroad  until they all came together.

Omaha, Saratoga and Florence have the appearance of one vast city. They are so nearly connected with improvements. A few years will show them as one man  an unprecedented assembling of people, improvement and enterprise was the opinion of the Nebraska Advertiser in October 1857.

The Sulphur Springs Land Co. was incorporated in October 1856 with Benton as president, Le Roy Tuttle treasurer, William Young Brown secretary and C.B. Smith, Samuel Owens, A.F. Salisbury, Edwin Patrick, Goodwill and James C. Mitchell also involved. Benjamin Knight and Nahun Harwood made the preliminary survey. There were 256 lots made available by the speculators to churches, schools and individuals that would start building by July 1, 1857,

Saratoga was bustling in the spring and early summer of 1857. J.H. Seymour disembarked the Florence, the first steamboat (and one of only two recorded) to stop at Saratoga Landing on the Missouri River, and opened a brickyard near the Big Central Spring. A saw mill with lumber yard also was started. In May, about 100 men were working on the foundation of the hotel, to be known as the Central House, and the grading of Pacific and Saratoga Avenues.

Homes were encouraged to be placed 15 to 20 feet away from the street as to allow for front yards. A little attention to this subject now at the commencement of building, and the cultivation of a few ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers will ultimately add greatly to the comfort, the beauty and loveliness of the place, Brown included in an ad.

The Saratoga Hotel Co., formed by Tuttle, Goodwill and Salisbury, had Central House built for between $50,000 and $100,000. Stockholders in the land company were assessed $20 per share to furnish the hotel and grade the streets. With William Lehmer the proprietor, the hotel opened that August with a Grand Opening Festival for an estimated 200 guests dining on roast pig, beef and veal.

Lehmers daughter Elizabeth in 1910 recalled that the hotel, like that of many of Saratogas dwellings, was prefabricated back east and transported by steamboat.

Grays Pioneer Store, receiving stock from Cincinnati, sold dry goods, clothing, footwear, groceries, liquor and other provisions. Edwin Patrick was appointed the towns first and only postmaster. A circus came through.

In the middle of it all was Erastus Beadle, whose diary supplies much of the Saratoga history. The future publisher of the popular Beadles Dime Novels, from Buffalo, New York, first visited Omaha in 1856 and returned the following April. He invested in Sulphur Springs and his first task was conducting the lottery of building lots, 15 to each stockholder.

By fall, bustling Saratoga went bust. The financial panic took down the Western Exchange Fire and Marine Insurance Co., the first financial institution chartered by the territorial legislature. Benton was president, Tuttle cashier and future U.S. Treasurer A.U. Wyman teller. It hastened the crumbling of Sulphur Springs Land Co. and Saratoga.

The first blow had been the death of Goodwill from typhoid. Beadle was elected to replace him on the executive committee. But Benton went back to Iowa and Beadle to New York by summers end. Beadle recalled in his diary that there were two houses on the site when he came in the spring and a week before his departure there were 56 completed buildings and others under construction.

Shortly after we arrived here, there was a panic, banks failed and people were frightened and wanted to go back east, Elizabeth Lehmer recalled. The Kountzes were here at that time. They stayed, but they acquired (building) lots of, and from, people who wanted to go back simply by paying them the amount of their transportation back east. And the people were glad to get rid of it at that price.

Pioneer contractor Frank Dellone in 1908 said he moved as many as 150 homes from Saratoga and Florence to Omaha.

Part of the Central House, Elizabeth Lehmer said, burned after Saratogas demise but was rebuilt before Episcopal bishop Joseph Talbot started Brownell Hall for girls in 1863. A country school already had been started down the street as Saratoga School was in Douglas County School District No. 2.

As Saratoga became part of one vast city and transformed into a suburban, then urban, neighborhood, its original ground gave rise to the Omaha Driving Park on the fairgrounds, the Trans-Mississippi Exposition of 1898 and the University of Omaha (now UNO) at 24th and Pratt Streets in 1908.

Beadles diary is an interesting read. Its available as Ham, Eggs & Corn Cake, A Nebraska Territory Diary (2001) with an introduction by Nebraska Wesleyan professor emeritus Ronald Naugle. Beadles time in Omaha, especially his claim of land where Rockbrook and Happy Hollow Club are, is another column to tackle.
A man was found dead after Omaha police were called to a business early Sunday near 84th and Grover Streets.

Around 3 a.m., police were called to investigate a man found down in a parking lot. The death was determined to be suspicious, and police are investigating it as a homicide.

Police also were investigating several injuries to people that occurred about 2:45 a.m. at the Tudor Heights apartments in northwest Omaha. Douth Gouk, 19, was taken from an apartment at 3414 N. 105th St. to Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy with critical injuries, a police spokesman said.

Officers also found Didmar Jimenez, 18, with stab wounds a short time later outside a nearby fast-food restaurant at 108th Street and West Maple Road. Jimenez was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center with serious injuries.

A 24-year-old man with stab wounds went by private vehicle to the Nebraska Medical Center about 2:30 a.m. and was later transferred to Bergan. Investigators determined that Brandon Aguayo-Enriquez had been wounded near 33rd and O Streets.

Anyone with information about these incidents may contact Omaha Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP or at www.p3tips.com or by downloading the p3tips mobile app. Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest in a homicide.
Tree-planting event

Events connected to the Oct. 22 tree-planting event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at sites along the North Omaha Trail. Fabric Lab, 2514 N. 24th St., will serve as the meeting point for the day's activities.

8:30 a.m.: A community walk, hosted by GirlTrek Omaha, starts on the trail. Heartland Bike Share will provide free e-bikes, and passes to use Lime and Spin scooters also are available. Attendees can bring their own bicycles, scooters, skates or skateboards.

10 a.m.: Coffee, tea, baked goods and music will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fabric Lab.

Noon: North Omaha Legacy Tours, hosted by Preston Love Jr., will showcase the trail while also highlighting North Omaha's past, present and future.

12:30 p.m.: Tree planting starts.
The Nebraska State Patrol has identified the woman whose body was found in the car that a Texas teenager crashed near Grand Island on Friday.

The woman was 49-year-old Michelle Roenz, according to a press release from the patrol. Roenz was the mother of 17-year-old Tyler Roenz, the driver who led law enforcement on a high-speed chase shortly before crashing the car.

Both Roenz and his mother had been reported missing from the Houston area Thursday, according to the Harris County Sheriffs Office in Texas.

The Sheriff Office notified the Nebraska State Patrol on Friday that a Mazda 3 believed to have been involved in a homicide was in Nebraska.

Troopers found the vehicle around 3 p.m. traveling west on I-80 near Grand Island, the patrol said. A trooper tried to stop the car, but Roenz fled at speeds reaching over 110 mph.

After about 9 miles, Roenz tried to slow down, but the car hit the back of a semi truck and left the road, hitting a tree in a ditch.

He was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island with injuries that were not life-threatening, and was later transferred to a hospital in Omaha, according to the patrol.

Once the car was stopped, troopers found the body of Roenzs mother in the cars trunk.

The patrol is working with the Harris County Sheriffs Office to extradite Roenz once he is released from the hospital, according to the release.
Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design and patriarch of the extended Smithe family, has died at age 86. - Original Credit: Colleen Smithe (Walter E. Smithe Furniture / HANDOUT)

Walter E. Smithe Jr. led Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, an Itasca-based, custom-order furniture firm that was an offshoot of a Northwest Side appliance store that his father had formed in 1945.

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He was really proud to work with so many talented and charismatic people, said his granddaughter, Maureen Smithe.

Smithe, 86, died of natural causes on Oct. 9 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, his granddaughter said. He was a North Side resident and previously had lived in Park Ridge and Lake Barrington Shores. .

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Walter Edward Smithe Jr. grew up on the Northwest Side of Chicago and graduated from Fenwick High School in 1954 and the University of Notre Dame in 1958. Smithe then served a stint in the Army at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana before returning to Chicago and embarking on a career in the computer industry, with jobs first at General Electric and then as a printing and publishing specialist at IBM, according to a company biography.

In 1967, Smithe joined the family business, which his father had co-founded in 1945 with Bill Shanahan under the name Tone Appliance, according to an interview he gave to the Daily Herald newspaper in 2016. They soon changed the name of their single appliance store, which was at 5500 W. Belmont Avenue on Chicagos Northwest Side, to Smithe & Shanahan, and they eventually moved the store to the corner of Belmont and Central Avenues.

Smithe eventually convinced his two brothers to expand their business into custom-order furniture, and it was such a success that they opened a 4,500-square-foot store in Park Ridge selling custom-order sofas and chairs. Smithe then wanted to open a second store, but at that point, he and his brothers came to an amicable parting, in which he sold them his interest in Smithe & Shanahan and they sold him their interest in the Park Ridge furniture store.

In 1982, Smithe changed the business name to Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. He oversaw further expansions of the chains store base.

We looked at a map of the Chicago area and realized it formed a crescent. So we decided to open stores throughout that crescent, from north to south, so that all the stores were within a half-hour of each other and located in communities with name appeal, Smithe told the Daily Herald in 2016. We opened a store in Schaumburg, followed by one in Arlington Heights, and on and on  up until the recession.

In the 1990s, Smithe semi-retired from work, turning over day-to-day operations of the chain to his three sons. However, he remained president of the company and continued to meet clients and assist designers in our showrooms every weekend, his granddaughter said.

My sisters and I looked forward to his daily email recap where he shared stories about the clients he interacted with and compliments for our staff, his granddaughter said.

Smithe loved being onsite at the business showrooms, according to his family.

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In the family business, we are all taught from an early age that hard work and a humble heart go a long way, Maureen Smithe said. There were times he was sweeping the floors and times when he was working with clients and every job in between. This is the magic of a family business, and he was a master at it.

Outside of work, Smithe enjoyed studying antiquity and culture, and in 1980, he earned a masters degree in anthropology from Loyola University of Chicago. He wrote a thesis based on archeological sites that he had observed on land that he and his wife had owned in Ireland, according to a company biography.

Smithe also enjoyed volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, both in the U.S. and in Central America, according to a company biography.

In addition to his granddaughter, Smithe is survived by his wife of 64 years, Florence; three sons, Walter III, Tim and Mark; four daughters, Cindy Perry, Margaret, Hope Byrne and Amy; 15 other grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Tomm and Gary; and a sister, Nancy Waters.

A visitation will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21 at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 S. Northwest Highway, in Park Ridge. A funeral mass will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22 at St. Paul of the Cross Church, 140 S. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge.

Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.
LINCOLN  Whether Nebraska bans abortions, allows permitless concealed carry or promotes private school scholarships with tax dollars next year will depend on who gets elected to the Legislature this fall.

All three issues failed this year when supporters fell a few votes short of getting the 33 needed to overcome a filibuster.

Republican leaders responded by setting a goal of gaining one or more legislative seats next month, in hopes of prevailing on those and other issues next year.

Overcoming the 33-vote threshold is crucial to the future of conservative values in Nebraska, stated a recent tweet from the Douglas County Republican Party. This November, we will change that.

But its far from clear whether they can pick up a seat, let alone ensure they have 33 votes on filibuster-ending cloture motions, a pair of longtime legislative observers said.

You may have 33 Republicans elected, said Walt Radcliffe, a veteran lobbyist. Are we going to have a 33-vote, iron-clad Republican majority to end filibusters? I dont think so.

Perre Neilan, a political consultant and strategist, said it would be possible but difficult for Republicans to net another seat. But he said that doesnt mean they can get all party members to agree on an issue or be available for key votes.

The Nebraska Legislature is nonpartisan, meaning that candidates appear on the ballot without a party designation and lawmakers serve without regard to party membership. In addition, political parties are not part of the legislative structure.

However, some votes split along party lines, particularly when bills involve issues with clear partisan differences. Both major political parties work to elect their own members to the Legislature.

Of the 25 seats up for election this year, 18 are held now by registered Republicans and seven by registered Democrats. Sixteen of the total are unlikely to change, including three uncontested seats and seven in which both candidates are of the same party.

The remaining nine races are competitive. Each features a Republican facing a Democrat or, in one case, a nonpartisan candidate, and either candidate has a shot at winning. Eight are in the Omaha metro area; the ninth is in northeast Lincoln.

Neilan said Republicans are targeting three in particular. He predicted an onslaught of independent expenditures in the three districts.

In Omahas District 6, State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh emerged as the winner in a three-way primary. But GOP leaders see her as vulnerable because she garnered less than half of the votes in the primary.

Cavanaugh, a Democrat, is being challenged by Christian Mirch, an attorney and former chairman of the Douglas County Republican Party. The district is a toss-up politically, with virtually equal numbers of registered Democrats and Republicans.

In Lincolns District 26, Republican candidate Russ Barger claimed a surprising win in a four-way primary. His showing has Republicans cautiously optimistic despite the districts long history of electing Democrats, including the incumbent, Sen. Matt Hansen. Term limits bar Hansen from running again.

Barger, an attorney, is squaring off with George Dungan, a Democrat and a Lancaster County public defender. Neilan said both candidates are campaigning hard. Democrats have the edge in registrations in the district.

In northwest Omahas District 10, Sen. Wendy DeBoer is one of two incumbent Democrats that the GOP said they were targeting. The college instructor is seeking reelection in a district that changed dramatically during redistricting and in which Republicans have a registration edge.

Still, DeBoer came out of the primary 6 percentage points ahead of Lou Ann Goding, a Republican and former Omaha Public Schools board member.

Republicans have a good chance to pick up south central Omahas District 12, which has been held for the last four years by Sen. Steve Lathrop, a Democrat. Lathrop opted not to run for reelection.

Merv Riepe, the Republican whom Lathrop defeated four years earlier, is running to reclaim the seat. Riepe, a retired hospital administrator, won a four-way primary. But he drew less than 50% of the vote, leaving an opening for Robin Richards, a business manager and Democrat.

But Democrats also have the potential to flip two seats.

In northwest Omahas District 18, Democrat and business owner Michael Young eked out a narrow win in a three-way primary. Christy Armendariz, a strategic sourcing specialist and Republican, claimed second place by a margin of only 20 votes.

The two will go head-to-head in November in a district that has been represented by Sen. Brett Lindstrom, a Republican who is term-limited. Although the district became more diverse and independent with redistricting, the largest number of voters are Republican.

In the Millard-area District 31, Sen. Kathleen Kauth is running for election after having been appointed in June. The seat became vacant in late April when Sen. Rich Pahls died halfway through his four-year term.

Kauth, a Republican business owner, is facing Tim Royers, a Democrat and teacher, who ran for the seat against Pahls in 2020. He has the benefit of his former campaign, but she has backing from Gov. Pete Ricketts and a GOP registration advantage.

Three other seats appear likely, but not assured, to stay in Republican hands.

In west Omahas District 4, Republican Brad von Gillern claimed a 5-point victory in the primary against Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek, who is registered nonpartisan. Von Gillern is a director of business development at a construction firm. Maxwell-Ostdiek co-owns a financial and insurance services firm.

The district has been represented by Sen. Robert Hilkemann, a Republican who is term-limited. Nearly half of voters in the district are registered Republican.

In central Omahas District 20, Republican attorney Stu Dornan emerged as the winner in a three-way primary. John Fredrickson, a mental health professional and Democrat, took second place. The contest is shaping up to be one of the top-spending legislative races of the year.

The two are vying for a seat that has been held by Republican Sen. John McCollister, who is term-limited. Republicans have the edge in voter registrations, but the margin is not large.

In southwest Sarpy Countys District 36, Republican Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue led Democrat Angie Lauritsen of Gretna by 3 points in the primary. Lauritsen is a small-business owner.

Holdcroft is a military retiree and aerospace engineer who previously ran against Sen. Carol Blood for the Legislature. Redistricting put him in a new district, where Republican voters outnumber Democrats 2 to 1. The district, which before redistricting was located in central Nebraska, has been represented by Sen. Matt Williams, a Republican who is term-limited.

Neilan said the outcomes of those competitive races will be determined in part by who turns out to vote Nov. 8. Republicans dominated during the primaries, having been drawn to the polls by a hotly contested gubernatorial race.

This fall, there are fewer races to bring out voters. The gubernatorial campaign has been relatively low-key, and there is no presidential election or U.S. Senate seat at issue.

Two ballot measures, one to raise the minimum wage and another to require photographic identification for voting, could each draw some voters. However, Neilan said neither appears to be driving voter turnout the way that sponsors had hoped.

As for legislative contests, he said the outcomes will be determined by tried-and-true legislative campaign methods.

These races are going to come down to who did the greatest and most targeted door-to-door campaign, he said.
The latest campaign finance reports contain both good and bad news for State Sen. Carol Blood, the Democratic nominee for Nebraska governor.

The good: Her fundraising surged in the months following the May 10 primary, with more money flowing in during a four-month span than was raised since the start of her campaign in 2021.

The bad: Republican nominee Jim Pillen brought in more than four times the amount Blood raised during the same period.

The numbers reflect a reality in the gubernatorial race that has held true since the start. In short, the Republican camp has a lot more cash to work with.

Blood, a state lawmaker from Bellevue, reported just under $262,000 in contributions between June 15 and Oct. 4. Before that reporting period, she had raised nearly $189,000 in cash for her gubernatorial campaign, which launched in September 2021. In total, Blood has raised roughly $451,000 in cash.

The jump in fundraising translated to increased spending during the reporting period, with Blood shelling out nearly $229,000. She ended the period with just under $75,000 cash on hand.

Pillen, a hog producer from Columbus who serves on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, reported $1.16 million in cash contributions during the period ending Oct. 4. That brings his campaign total, excluding in-kind contributions, to $10.5 million.

He spent nearly $931,000 during the reporting period, and ended it with a little over $606,000 cash on hand. That is roughly eight times the amount of money Bloods campaign has heading into the final month before the Nov. 8 election.

Pillen is favored in the race for governor, which a Democrat hasnt won in more than 20 years. Republicans are the dominant party in the state, with nearly half of all voters registered as Republicans compared to 28% registered as Democrats.

Much of Pillens spending came during the GOP primary when he was up against Charles W. Herbster, a deep-pocketed businessman and vocal supporter for former President Donald Trump, and State Sen. Brett Lindstrom. Pillen had the backing of Gov. Pete Ricketts, who contributed to a third-party group that ran ads critical of Herbster and Lindstrom.

In the latest reporting period, Pillen received plenty of financial support from businesses and political action committees. Some of those contributions came in big chunks, including a $100,000 contribution from Kearney-based KAAPA Ethanol Holdings LLC and $50,000 from pork processor Smithfield.

Blood received far fewer contributions from PACs and businesses, with a total of nearly $20,000 coming in from those groups during the reporting period. Her largest such contribution was $5,000 from the Ironworkers Local Union 21.

Expenditures also reflected dramatic differences between the campaigns.

Most of Bloods biggest expenses during the reporting period went to individuals for phone calls and canvassing. She also spent a little over $18,000 for printing and $17,500 with Utah-based Agility Digital for digital advertising. The latest report did not note any spending on television advertisements.

Pillen, meanwhile, spent more than $262,000 with Axiom Strategies advertising arm for TV ads. He also spent roughly $65,000 with WPA Intelligence, a national data and analytics firm involved in Republican politics.
Bloomington- Normal

Galleries, museums

Some cultural institutions are open or making plans to reopen under current COVID restrictions. Check with each facility for indoor, online or outdoor programming. Open facilities have face covering, distancing and other guidelines in effect; see websites or call for details.

Angel Ambrose Fine Art Studio; 101 W. Monroe St. Suite 201, Bloomington; Open First Fridays 5-8 p.m. and by appointment; 309-825-4655; angelambrose.com.

David Davis Mansion; 1000 Monroe Drive, Bloomington; open for tours, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; groups of 10 or less; $10 per person; $100 minimum; daviddavismansion.org; 309-828-1084.

Eaton Studio Gallery; 411 N. Center St., Bloomington; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays; 5-8 p.m. First Fridays, or by appointment or ring bell; eatonstudiogallery.com; 309-828-1575.

Illinois Art Station; 101 E. Vernon Ave., Normal; Gallery open Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; illinoisartstation.org; 309-386-1019.

Inside Out: Accessible Art Gallery & Cooperative; 200 W. Monroe St., Bloomington; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; by appointment Sunday-Tuesday; and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. First Friday; insideoutartcoop.org; 309-838-2160.

Jan Brandt Gallery; Normandy Village, 1100 Beach St., Building 8, Normal; by appointment; janbrandtgallery.com; 309-287-4700.

Joann Goetzinger Studio and Gallery; 313 N. Main St. Suite A, Bloomington; open first Fridays 5-8 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m., also by appointment; masks and social distancing required; 309-826-1193.

Main Gallery 404; 404 N. Main St., Bloomington; 12-5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturdays; By chance or appointment at 309-590-6779.

McLean County Arts Center; 601 N. East St., Bloomington; open; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, 12-4 p.m. Saturday; masks and social distancing required; mcac.org; 309-829-0011.

McLean County Museum of History; 200 N. Main St., Bloomington; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; closed Sundays, until further notice; reservations at education@mchistory.org or 309-827-0428; mchistory.org; 309-827-0428.

Merwin and Wakeley Galleries; Illinois Wesleyan University; Bloomington; open; 12-4 p.m., Monday through Friday; 7-9 p.m., Tuesday evening; 1-4 p.m., Saturday through Sunday; iwu.edu/art/galleries; 309-556-3391.

Prairie Aviation Museum; 2929 E. Empire St., Bloomington; opens April 2; hours 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; prairieaviationmuseum.org; 309-663-7632.

University Galleries of Illinois State University, Normal; open; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday; 309-438-5487; galleries.illinoisstate.edu/about/visit/.

Central Illinois

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield; advance reservation required; adults $15, seniors $12, under 5 free; presidentlincoln.illinois.gov; 217-558-8844.

Art Center at Greater Livingston County Arts Council; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; noon-4 p.m. Sunday; 209 W. Madison St., Pontiac; pcartcenter.com; 815-419-2472.

Contemporary Art Center of Peoria; Riverfront Arts Center, 305 S.W. Water St., Peoria; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; peoriacac.org; 309-674-6822.

Dickson Mounds Museum; 10956 N. Dickson Mounds Road, Lewistown; open, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; free; illinoisstatemuseum.org; 309-547-3721.

Illinois State Museum; 502 S. Spring St., Springfield; open, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Monday-Friday, free; illinoisstatemuseum.org; 217-782-7386.

Lincoln Heritage Museum; Lincoln Center at Lincoln College, 300 Keokuk St., Lincoln; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 1-4 p.m. Saturday, closed Sundays, Mondays and on Lincoln College breaks; $4-7; museum.lincolncollege.edu; 217-735-7399.

Peoria Art Guild; 203 Harrison St., Peoria; open; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday or by appointment; peoriaartguild.org; 309-637-2787.

Peoria Riverfront Museum; downtown riverfront Peoria; open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday and Friday; 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; and closed Sunday; adults $11, seniors, students $10, ages 3-17 $9; peoriariverfrontmuseum.org; 309-686-7000.

Simpkins Military History Museum; 605 E. Cole St., Heyworth; Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 1-5 p.m.; Free admission (donations accepted); Private tours, call first; 309-319-3413; Open House, 1-5 p.m., March 19, marking 63 years of collecting military items.

Time Gallery; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Saturday; Closed Sunday; Clock Tower Place Building, 201 Clock Tower Drive, East Peoria; 309-467-2331.

U of I Krannert Art Museum; 500 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign; open; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Thursdays until 8 p.m. when classes are in session; closed Sunday and Monday; kam.illinois.edu; 217-333-1861.

Exhibits

Andy Warhol: Endangered Species; Owens Gallery; through Dec. 11; Mars; Experience Gallery; through Spring 2023; American Revolutionaries: Art & Distribution; Gallery 1; through Spring 2023; Archibald Motleys Bronzeville at Night; Owens Gallery, through March 2023; Peoria Riverfront Museum.

Stories of Survival; Object. Image. Memory.; through Jan. 22, 2023; Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

2022 Honoring the Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans; through Nov. 12; Simpkins Military History Museum.

Climate Change in Your Back Yard; first floor Hot Science Gallery; through April 22, 2023; Illinois State Museum.

Mentor and Student; Brandt Gallery; Alfonzo Gosalbez Berenguer; Armstrong Gallery; WOMEN WHO PAINTED; Paula McCarty; Dolan Gallery; all through Oct. 21; McLean County Arts Center.

Midwest; group exhibit; through Nov. 4; Lincoln Arts Institute.

When All Things Could Speak; Sarah Edmands Martin; Merwin Gallery; In the Foothills of the Endless Mountain, Vol. 2; Lisa Lofegren; Wakelegy Gallery; both Oct. 17-Dec.11.
The purpose of the McLean County Museum of History is to collect and safeguard the stories of this community. Some of these stories are contained in objects and on paper, but others are written on our walls. Before the downtown Bloomington building became a museum it was a courthouse with a life of its own. This is a story from that former life, an investigation into a 90-year-old gash in a bronze doorframe and Caleb Smith, the escaping convict who dodged the bullet that made it.

At 2:10 p.m. on Oct. 20, 1931, inside what was then the McLean County Courthouse, Smith made his last stand. Minutes earlier, the 26-year-old Peorian had been found guilty of burglary and larceny, receiving the somewhat oxymoronic sentence of one year to life.

Smith, however, eyed a different future for himself  one he was very literally willing to chase after.

Taking advantage of an unguarded moment (he) broke away, The Pantagraph reported later that day.

From the second-floor rotunda, Smith dashed down the steps and out the west exit of the courthouse as Deputy Sheriff Johnson Claggett fired his gun.

Claggetts first shot missed Smith entirely but left that gnarly mark. His second shot shattered the glass windowpane and tore through Smiths right hand.

Remarkably, Smith continued to flee, making it as far as the corner of Center and Jefferson streets (where Maguires Bar & Grill is today) when James Novacek, a bank patrolman, finally stopped him.

The Pantagraph reported that Novacek just happened to be passing along Center Street, heard the shots, saw the fleeing prisoner, and gave chase.

Bad luck for Smith, who was then marched to the county jail, then a couple of blocks away at the corner of Madison and Monroe streets.

After arriving at the jail, Smiths bullet wound was dressed.

Though it was not considered serious, a Pantagraph reporter couldnt help but notice how the trail of blood spots, which were often only a foot apart, marked Smiths path from his place of capture, along the stone walk up to the county jail, up the steps and through the outer office, (all the way) to the cell where Dr. Ball treated the recaptured man.

The blood trail has long since faded, but the bullet hole in the west doorframe remains.

The fifth child of British immigrants Jennie S. Brownlee and George Albert Smith, Caleb Arthur Smith was born in Spring Valley, Illinois, on Feb. 20, 1905. Few details of his early life could be found  only the darkest moments of Smiths story seem to have been recorded. I

n fact, even his earliest appearance in the newspaper archives resulted from a stroke of bad luck, when Smith was in a car accident on June 10, 1930. Two days later, The Pantagraph reported that Smith had been admitted to St. Josephs Hospital for treatment of the injuries suffered in the accident.

The timing is crucial because just four nights after his accident, the fateful break-in occurred.

Around 9 p.m. on June 14, 1930, Elmer Keys, a Normal real estate broker and coal dealer, returned home to find it had been burglarized. Although Keys said his bedroom was ransacked, nothing was stolen from him.

Instead, approximately $40 worth of jewelry (roughly $700 today) was lifted from Bernice and Elizabeth Gregory, a mother and daughter who roomed with Keys. The relationship between the Gregorys and Elmer Keys is still unclear as is their relationship to Caleb Smith.

How did he know about them or their jewelry? Was the crime personal or coincidental? Moreover, how did the police identify Smith as a person of interest in the first place?

The case against Smith and William Lane, his alleged accomplice, is far from compelling. The Pantagraph simply recorded that Capt. Giles E. Ostrom, Sergeant L.T. Phillips and Detective J.N. Bishop of the police department identified confessions to the theft alleged to have been made by the defendants.

Whatever the circumstances of these confessions were, no clear explanation was ever reported.

The lack of hard evidence is striking considering the relative strength of the defendants alibies. During the trial, Calebs mother Jennie testified that her son was at home the night of the break-in, still confined to his bed, recovering from the car accident.

Moreover, multiple witnesses also testified that Lane was at his home in Peoria on the night of the burglary. But the jury wasnt persuaded, and after an all-night (deliberation) session, both men were found guilty.

Smiths sentence of one year to life was meant to be a formality. Ordinarily on good behavior Smith would have been entitled to petition for parole at the end of 11 months, The Pantagraph reported.

Its not clear if Smith ever permanently made it out of the prison system. What is clear is that he never stopped trying.

Fifteen years later and nearly 2,000 miles away, Smith was arraigned in yet another courthouse, this time in San Bernardino, California. Facing charges for the illegal possession of a firearm and for yet another escape attempt, he attempted for a third time to take matters into his own hands.

Smith broke away from the officer (escorting him and fled through the north entrance (of) the building.

As with the Bloomington breakaway, Smith didnt make it far, ultimately falling (v)ictim of a flying tackle by Deputy Sheriff Hugh Didelow, according to The San Bernardino County Sun. A few months later, the paper reported that Smith was remanded to San Quentin Penitentiary, but after that, the newspaper trail runs cold.

So many questions about Smiths life, story and trials may never be answered, but the literal bullet hole remains. It serves as a reminder of Smiths attempt at freedom and of the gaping hole in his story.

If you would like to learn more interesting stories of the people of McLean County and perhaps see the bullet hole yourself, be sure to visit the museum, Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.
FLICK LITE: Our latest listings, as offered by the readers and your own resident Lite Boy...

Funniest way yet to get anniversary congrats

Dave and Sharon Blunk, of Danvers, just had their 60th wedding anniversary.

For their 50th, they celebrated with their two kids, Jay Blunk and Julie Blunk Penn, and six grandchildren, who gave them as a gift a trip to Europe.

For their 60th, the Blunks demanded nothing. No parties. No open house.

Well, Im at least putting a notice in the paper with your picture, announced Julie.

Just dont make it boring! instructed Dave.

Julie didnt.

An adventurous, lighthearted couple in their 80s, the first paragraph of their anniversary story in last Sundays Pantagraph read they celebrated by skydiving with their six grandchildren.

Friends began calling to congratulate and, umm, ask them about the skydiving.

It wasnt a fib.

They had earlier skydived with the grandkids  on a computerized simulator.

Julie just didnt add that.

Result: Perhaps more calls, comments and emails than even during their 50th!

Newest example of the times

In September, the St. Louis Cardinals had an Albert Pujols Bobblehead Night giveaway, in honor of their 42-year-old star and his 700th career home run. Thats when at least one fan asked how much the bobbleheads would one day be selling for on eBay.

Didnt take long.

Already appearing online: Those free Albert bobbleheads, a month later, listed for up to $299.99.

Latest greatest obituary line

From the notice of Bill Clesson, 76, of Bloomington: Originally, Bill wanted to be a doctor, but his application to medical school was rejected because his penmanship was legible.

Top Typo

In an area notice of road closings in Bloomington-Normal, recently included was a street in Normal being temporarily closed for sewer cleaning:

Bowels Street.

Umm, thats Bowles Street.

Best Name Club

 Rhett Butler. He is a State Farm agent, yes, in Georgia even.

 Richard Vague. Author of A Brief History of Doom.

 Holly Cross. Shes a teacher at Bloomington Central Catholic High, in an area of numerous schools indeed named Holy Cross.

Newest acclaimed town nickname

When a cougar was spotted recently in the McLean County town of Hudson and it even made news on Chicago TV, reader Scott Stuart wondered...

...So is Hudson now to be known as Cougar Town?...

Most telltale road sign

Along one Twin City street recently was a BUMP sign that looked as if it might have also been victimized by it, too.

Newest answer to our prayers

As one Twin Citian puts it: I called my prescription pharmacy this morning, was put in the queue to speak to a human and got a message I've been waiting for 60 years to hear: 'To opt OUT of on-hold music, press *star.*'"

Latest store name to get you to look twice

Family Beer & Liquor.

Its in East Dubuque.

(Additional note: Back in the 1940s, National Liquors in Bloomington ran a series of ads in this very newspaper, advertising beer as a drink good for your entire Bloomington family.)

Newest current events query

In the now famous parking lot along Clinton Street in Bloomington, next to the popular pub Schooners, where an interactive, ever-changing fleet of battery-powered vehicles for children have been parked in a parking spot and not moved the entire summer (Bloomington police one day even snapped a photo when they found a child-sized police cruiser parked there), to the amusement of passersby and the subject of front-page stories in this newspaper, coverage by TV stations and countless social media posts, a reader of this space now pops a logical question: What happens when snow flies and the lot needs clearing?

Hey, wait a minute! Does anyone have a battery-powered snowplow and salt truck for kids, too?

More Fun Places To Visit, If Only For Their Names

(As offered by the readers)

 Tick Bite, North Carolina

 Rough & Ready, California

 Pumpkin Center, Louisiana

 Wewahitchca, Florida

 Smackass Gap, amid the mountains in North Carolina

As life goes full circle...

Remember when young and you counted partial birthdays, too? Like, Im 3.

When Fred P. Vogel, formerly of El Paso, recently passed, he listed his age and partial age and for good reason  he was proudly here for a while.

Or, as read his obituary, Fred lived to age 102.75.

Got an item for Lite? Send to: bflick@pantagraph.com, or the Bill Flick page on Facebook.

Our October board of contributors: Cherilyn Sytar, Rob Schroeder, Karen Hanson, Sammie Carson, Rev. Joe Culpepper and Van Baker, Bloomington; Kerry Kidwell, Heyworth; Marc Lebovitz, Bob Bradley and Roger Hughes, Normal; Scott Stuart, Towanda; Jon Guidry, Dacula, Georgia; James King, Hudson.
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced its decision to veer into preventive healthcare with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).



The Authority has taken a stance to invest in the prevention of illnesses as against the focus on the payment of healthcare costs which have been the convention of Ghanas National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) since its inception almost 20 years ago.



The MoU details that a total number of 3,000 communities in the Asante Akyem Agogo district will benefit from free health screening to be undertaken by medical students, Health Care Professionals and the Academia from KNUST.



The exercise is aimed at generating empirical findings on diabetes and hypertension cases in the catchment area. This data will then form the basis for the NHIS resolve to veer into preventive healthcare.



Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony at the NHIA head office in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Okoe Boye indicated that Preventive healthcare is a cost-effective means of warding off illnesses and averting future complications that may arise.



Reacting to the reason behind the focus on diabetes and hypertension cases, Dr Okoe Boye stated that over 60% of adult deaths are related to these two ailments thus, investing in them will not only be beneficial to the Authority but also increase the longevity of adult life in the country.



He further indicated that to improve the health-seeking behaviour of persons living in rural areas and to provide full insurance cover for every Ghanaian, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will go a step further to register persons in the earmarked communities unto the Scheme.



Pro-Vice-Chancellor of KNUST and leader of the delegation, Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo stipulated that the selection of the Asante Akyem Agogo district was a result of the recording of high cases of non-communicable diseases during preliminary health screening and research within the district.



He added that this partnership which will be extended nationwide has come in time to safeguard the healthcare needs of these indigenes, connect them to qualified medical practitioners and also provide them with Health Insurance coverage from the NHIS.



He reiterated that the partnership with the NHIS forms an integral part of the Universitys objective to bridge the gap between Services, Research, and Academia.



He pledged KNUSTs readiness to provide the Authority with evidence-based data that will inform the NHIAs roadmap towards full absorption of preventive healthcare on the Scheme.



Present at the signing of the MoU from the NHIA was the Director of Research, Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation (RPME) Dr Francis Asenso Boadi, Acting Director of Administration Mr Raymond Avinu, Acting Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs Vida Adutwumwaa Boateng and a team from the Corporate Affairs Directorate.



Witnessing the signing of the document from the KNUST was Professor Daniel Ansong, Dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry and Professor Christian Agyare, Provost College of Health Sciences and a Board Member of the NHIA.

Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah has toured an ongoing 23-kilometer Dome-Kitase road project being undertaken by First Sky Construction Limited.



Speaking to the media during the tour, the Minister, who was highly impressed about the progress of work, said just under two months of work, and with the level of world-class equipmentand human resource mobilization I have seen today, First Sky Construction Ltd is comparable to any world-class construction firm in the world.



He emphasized that from his briefings with technical engineers from the Ministry, the feedback is that the construction is according to specifications.



Although the 23-kilometer Dome-Kitase road project is expected to be completed in twenty-four months, First Sky Construction Limited, the construction firm undertaking the project, has assured it will be completed within fourteen months.



According to Eric Seddy Kutortse, Chairman of the company, it will work assiduously day and night without compromising the quality and integrity of the project to facilitate human and vehicular movement.



This project has 24 months duration, we are one and half months into the 24 months. Our assurance is that with the pace at which we are going, we are sure that we will deliver this project within 14 months, within 14 months we will have it done, Mr. Kutortse told the Minister during the inspection.



Hon. Kwasi Amoako-Attah signed a contract with First Sky Limited, a local construction company in Accra, for the rehabilitation of the Dome-Kitase road.



The $35-million project will start from the Dome Roundabout in the Greater Accra Region and end at Kitase near Peduase in the Eastern Region.



According to a notice shared on the official Facebook page of the Ministry on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, the exercise is expected to start in August 2022 and is scheduled for completion in 24 months.



The project starts from the Dome Roundabout in the Greater Accra Region and ends at Kitase in the Eastern Region. The Project, estimated to cost $35 million is being funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and the Government of Ghana, the Ministry announced.



The Road will serve as an alternative route to Peduase and Akuapem enclave and one of the prestigious Universities in the country, the Ashesi University, it added.



Barely two months after works began, Mr. Kutortse reveals the company has completed 97 percent of all land clearing while filling to formation is 15 percent complete, adding the excavation and cut to formation is also 16 percent complete.



He added that scarification and formation were 16% complete, 3% of 600*600mm U-drains had been constructed with 41 percent of pipe culvert also constructed.



What we are doing currently is that, we are improving the vertical alignment of the road by cutting to formation and we have almost 250,000 cutting to be done and if that is completed the project will be almost 30 percent and per our programme, by the end of this month we will cut the entire road to formation, he said.



He added; Currently, we have also started the construction of U-drain, weve started also the culvert, we have only about eight culverts, we have constructed two already.



Other officials who joined in the project tour included Mr. Stephen Jalulah, Deputy Minister of Roads; Dr. Abass Awolu, Chief Director of the Ministry; Mr. Christian Nti, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Highways Authority (GHA); Mr. Roosevelt Otu, Director, Department of Feeder Roads and other Directors of the GHA as well as officials of the Urban Roads.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Henceforth, any Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive in whose jurisdiction acts of environmental degradation are recorded will be sanctioned, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has warned.



Noting that Ghana was deteriorating into the worst state of environmental destruction, Dr Kokofu said the time to crack the whip on environmental offenders is now.



Citing the recent floods and filths that engulfed some parts of the country, he stressed that stringent measures would be taken to punish offenders, irrespective of their position in government in accordance with the law.



Mr Kokofu who was speaking at a stakeholder engagement with Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MMDAs) in Accra yesterday said it was the responsibility of state institutions to rather fish out persons guilty of committing environmental offences instead of looking on for the deterioration to continue.



He stated that the local government Act 2016 (Act936) placed a huge responsibility on the MMDAs to be responsible for the development, improvement and management of human settlement and the environment in the districts.



Explaining he said, section four of the Act also mandated the district assemblies to take the steps and measures that were necessary and expedient to execute approved development plans for their various districts.



Touching on the construction of edifices on waterways, the CEO stated that in the event of floods caused by the presence of such buildings, vulnerable people suffered alone when demolition exercises are carried out leaving authorities at the district assemblies who issued such permits to go scot free.



This, he said, was unfair, stressing that all persons responsible for playing roles which ended up resulting in any form of disaster must be made to face the law.



Mr Kokofu urged authorities of all district assemblies across the country to take environmental issues seriously by ensuring they went strictly according to the laws governing their operations.



We must remind ourselves of our statutory roles to ensure that the environment in which we live is protected and preserved in order to sustain it, he stressed.







Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The national campaign to halt illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) is unprecedented as most well-meaning Ghanaians have thrown weight behind the initiative, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said on Sunday.



Everybody is talking about it and that connotes the magnitude of the problem. The Governments agenda is to involve all identifiable groups in dealing with the issue head-on, he said.



President Akufo-Addo, who paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, rallied the citizenry to give their all to make the anti-galamsey crusade successful.



The President is on a five-day working visit to the Ashanti Region to inspect and inaugurate development projects.



Projects billed for inspection include the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternal and Childrens Block, Kejetia/Central Market Phase Two, Obuasi Trauma and Accident Hospital, and Boankra Inland Port projects.



The rest are the Anwiankwanta-Obuasi and Santasi-Apire Road, Oforikrom, Nsuta and Trede Agenda 111 projects, as well as a sod-cutting ceremony for work to begin on the Suame Interchange.



President Akufo-Addo is also expected to inaugurate the Toase Magistrates Court, residential accommodation for the Appeals Court judges, the ECG KATH 33/11 kv Primary sub-Station, and Nsuta Maize Processing Factory, which had been completed under the One District, One Factory programme.



On infrastructural projects executed in the region over the last six years, the President cited the construction and rehabilitation of about 400 kilometres of asphalted roads, as well as over 30 hospital projects meant to make life comfortable for the people.



The President said the Government had worked assiduously to impact positively on the living conditions of the people and was determined to improve upon it.



Otumfuo Osei Tutu, welcomed the President to the region and lauded him for regular visiting to inspect ongoing development projects.



That, he said, was necessary to ensure the successful completion of those projects.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Christian Council of Ghana has said the leadership of the Christian Ecumenical Bodies in Ghana will on Monday present a petition to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the menace of illegal mining and its devastating effects on the environment.



The petition is to compel the government to swiftly intervene to end the destruction of Ghanas forest reserves and water bodies through the activities of illegal miners.



The Christian body has said it is deeply concerned about the devastation that illegal mining (galamsey) has caused the country, and the negative health and economic effect it will have on the country's future.



Already, on Friday, they paid a working visit to some galamsey sites in the Eastern Region to see at first hand how the menace was affecting the environment.



Ahead of the presentation of the petition on Monday, October 17, 2022, the Christian leaders would address a press conference at the Assemblies of God Church Head Office at Osu in Accra, to remind Ghanaians of their mandate to keep the environment and be responsible stewards.



We wish to remind Ghanaians of our mandate to keep the environment and be responsible stewards of same, the General Secretary of the Christian Council, Rev Dr Cyril Fayose has indicated.



They have therefore called on natural resources, civil society, political parties, security agencies, and traditional leaders to be part of the programme



It is our hope and prayer that Ghanaians will stand up against galamsey and preserve our environment from further destruction, they added.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Students at St. Stanislaus Catholic School in East Chicago had a virtual learning day Friday as authorities investigated allegations that a fifth-grade teacher had a kill list for students, staff members and herself. (Christin Nance Lazerus / Post-Tribune)

An East Chicago Catholic school closed its doors Friday and held a virtual learning day as authorities began investigating allegations that a fifth-grade teacher had a kill list for students, staff members and herself.

The teacher, Angelica C. Carrasquillo, 25, of Griffith, was charged with intimidation, a Level 6 felony, on Friday.

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On Wednesday at 12:45 p.m., East Chicago Police Chief Jose Rivera said a fifth-grade student at St. Stanislaus Catholic School, 4830 Indianapolis Boulevard, told a counselor about the threats and her list of names on it. Police were called at 4:45 p.m., he said.

The East Chicago Police Department was not made aware of the situation until 4 hours later after the teacher was allowed to leave, Rivera said in an email. Once Officers were notified they completed a report and notified the Criminal Investigation Division.

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Rivera said school officials escorted the teacher to the principals office when the teacher admitted to making the comments and saying she had a kill list. The probable cause affidavit states that Carrasquillo spoke of killing herself, students and staff.

During the conversation, the teacher named a specific student on her list, but did not provide the list. The Principal then advised the teacher to leave and not return to school pending an investigation, Rivera said in the email.

On Wednesday afternoon, police say a fifth-grade student at East Chicago's St. Stanislaus Catholic School, 4830 Indianapolis Boulevard, told a counselor about a teacher's threats and a kill list she had for students, staff members and herself. The teacher, Angelica C. Carrasquillo, 25, of Griffith, was charged with intimidation, a Level 6 felony, on Friday. (Christin Nance Lazerus / Post-Tribune)

School principal Angelica Foy interviewed Carrasquillo along with two other staff members and Carrasquillo admitted to having struggles with her mental health, citing the kids not listening and trauma she experienced in high school, court records state. Carrasquillo only named one specific student on the kill list, but she never showed a list to school officials, records state.

When Carrasquillo was interviewed, she stated that if she had a car she would be able to fit two dead bodies in the trunk, the affidavit states.

When she advised Carrasquillo to leave the building, Foy advised her that this would likely result in her termination, records state.

Rivera said police obtained an emergency detention order from the Lake County Prosecutors office Thursday and she was taken into custody.

When they learned of the threats from the student, officials at St. Stanislaus said, in a statement, the teacher was placed under supervision and had no further contact with students.

The statement said:

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After students were safely dismissed at the end of the school day, the teacher was escorted off campus and the East Chicago police department was notified at approximately 4:45 p.m. When asked, the police assured the principal that the facility was safe and that they could proceed normally with all scheduled learning and school events for the next school day.

The statement said students would have access to a school counselor, if needed. It said the school was working with police and the Diocese of Garys Office of Schools to make sure students have a safe environment.

We thank God for the family culture of St. Stanislaus that provides students with an environment where they feel safe sharing concerns and questions with teachers and staff. We thank God for guidance while the situation unfolded on Wednesday, bringing truth to light in a way that protected all involved. We thank God for the beautiful community of St. Stanislaus parish who join us in praying for the St. Stanislaus school family, the statement said.

The incident came to light after parents began complaining to Chicago television stations, which reported it on Thursday.

An initial Thursday email to parents from the school said there was misinformation surrounding the incident.

The email said the teacher was immediately removed from the classroom and escorted out of the building after students were dismissed for the day. The email said police assured the school it was safe to proceed with normal activities. It also listed a phone number for the national suicide hotline.

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It couldnt be determined if Carrasquillo held a state teachers license.

The Diocese of Gary issued a statement saying it was cooperating, along with St. Stanislaus School, with local authorities in the investigation.

The Catholic Schools Office is also reviewing what transpired during that afternoon. We are deeply saddened by this event. School safety is a paramount concern of our schools. Due to the ongoing police investigation, we are not able to provide further details at this time and ask the community to join us in praying for healing and resolution.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter at the Post-Tribune.
A policeman has been arrested for the murder of two women, aged 18 and 24, in Durban, South Africa.



The incident took place in Mandela Park, KwaNyuswa, west of Durban, in the early hours of Friday morning, October 14, 2022.



The 18-year-old victim, identified as Njabulo Enhle Majozi, is said to be the suspect's girlfriend.



It is alleged that the cop shot the other woman first and Enhle tried to run away. He allegedly shot her outside then dragged her back into the house to create a fake crime scene.



The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson, Lizzy Suping, who confirmed the incident said a preliminary investigation is under way and the cop was arrested.



She said more details would be shared once all the facts were established.



Shawn Herbst from Netcare 91 said paramedics responded to reports of a shooting incident in the Mandela Park area just after 1am.



"Reports indicated that two people had been shot. When medics arrived on scene they were taken to a house where they found two adult females that had both been shot in the head. Sadly, none of them showed any signs of life and both were declared dead on scene by paramedics, he said.



Provincial police spokesperson, Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said a case of murder was reported at Hillcrest SAPS.



"The suspect was detained by IPID, she said.



The suspect will appear at Pinetown Magistrates court on 17th October, 2022, for bail hearing.



It was furthered gathered that the police officer was in a relationship with both women.









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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has urged Parliaments to pass climate-friendly legislations to help efforts to reduce climate impact, especially on vulnerable nations.



He said as Parliaments, it was incumbent on members to pass effective legislations and develop policies to meet the real needs of their constituents against climate impact.



As lawmakers, we must ensure that adequate resources are allocated for the implementation of key policies and decisions to avoid the creation of white elephants in our respective statute books, he said.



Mr Bagbin made the call when he addressed the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Global Parliamentary Group (CPG) annual dialogue on the sidelines of the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) ongoing assembly in Kigali on Tuesday.



The passing of key climate change legislation, the Speaker said, must not be a box-checking exercise but one intended to serve the interest of the people by ensuring proper funding mechanisms.



We can have a lot of ideas but ideas without funding are mere hallucinations. It is imperative that we pass evidence-based legislations and develop such policies that speak to the real needs of our constituents as that is one sure way of obtaining funding for our ideas, he said.



The CVF GPG, a non-treaty organisation set up in 2009, is focused on climate change policy in countries that are at the frontlines of climate emergency and is under the presidency of Dr Emmanuel Marfo, MP for Oforikrom and the Chairperson of the Environment, Science and Technology Committee of Parliament.



The environment today, Mr Bagbin said, was threatened by climate change, depletion of fossil fuels and natural resources undermined growth potential and posed existential issues for countries the world over.



In this regard, he urged Parliaments to consider efforts to mobilise other key actors to create more awareness of climate impacts; a consideration he said would enhance the readiness for all key players to act in a concerted manner to confront todays climate change demands.



In unity, as we are told, lies strength; we can achieve a lot more together than if we leave national institutions, state and global actors to operate in silos, he said.



According to the Speaker, CVF member states were more impacted as a result of their inefficient adaptive capacities that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing geopolitical crises which had further pushed our vulnerable communities into deeper impoverishment.



The Chairperson of the Committee on Land, Agriculture, Livestock and Environment of the Rwanda Parliament, Marie-Alice UweraKayumba, said her country had highlighted the devastating impact of climate change on vulnerable nations, including Rwanda.



Therefore, she encouraged legislators to leverage on the diverse tools available to them to lead our societies onto the path of climate prosperity.



Both adaptation and mitigation strategies to combat impact of climate change called for our legislative support and our policies and functions must serve as a reliable foundation for serving the rights and demands of our countries various stakeholders, added.







Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh









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While the country is struggling to deal with the canker of galamsey (to wit illegal mining), the Chief Executive Officer of Marrer Ghana Limited and Susatgad Boat Industries, Mr. Novihoho Afaglo, has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to crack the whip by arresting his own party executives found to be involved in illegal mining activities.



According to him, unless government officials, party faithful and chiefs in mining areas involved in the illegality are apprehended, the indigenes will also not stop galamsey activities.



Unless your own officials and chiefs from mining communities stop the illegal activities, the inculpable people with no employment who see galamsey as the only source of employment will continue to mine illegally, he cautioned.



Mr. Afaglo said among reasons why loads of Ghanaians were engaged in illegal mining included the lack of jobs, especially for the youth, the current economic hardships the country has been plunged into, and the fact that families have to be fed.



He said the fight against illicit mining can only be won if the government sets aside political powers and influence, edify the individuals that are fascinated with mining with the dos and donts in the business.



The CEO of Marrer Ghana Limited and Susatgad Boat Industries said the galamsey situation in Ghana was a real case of Chinese being brought into the country by their sponsors (in this case by officials in government) and bigwigs in the New Patriotic Party.



"Inasmuch as unemployment was widespread in the country, it was still not an excuse to engage in galamsey, knowing how it negatively affects the country. Greed must not overtake our conscience as a people to act right."



"...Our leaders must act, our chiefs must act fast, and our military must act faster. The least talk about Aisha Huang (aka Galamsey Queen mother), the better for us because her case just exposes how weak our politicians are to fall cheaply into sex-tapes blackmails, he stated.



Mr. Afaglo said Ghana may soon have to import drinking water according to the Ghana Water Company Limited if an end was not put to galamsey.



He said when the worst transpires, these party apparatchiks seize the pits from the original owners and relocate it themselves by sacking the inculpable people, depriving them of their source of employment.



Against this backdrop, Mr. Afaglo urged the security agencies to be honest with the citizens and do the needful by apprehending both the government and the party officials who are indulging in the galamsey menace.

Source: Peacefmonline









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The Ministry of Finance has denied publications trending on social media of audiotapes and mainstream media speculating about 94% discount on Tier 2 pension investments in government securities.



Aside from the speculations other publications encourage a switch from securities to forex as a store of value.



However, setting the records straight, the Ministry in a statement urged the public to disregard the fake news trending.



The statement said These publications and social media advisories are without merit and are designed to undermine confidence in Ghanas financial sector. Indeed, they rather contribute to pressures on the currency and undermine investor confidence.



Governments engagements with the IMF, both in Accra and in Washington D.C., on a Programme to restore macro-economic stability, are progressing steadily.



The Post-Covid Economic Growth Programme is designed to bring growth, stability, and relief to our country



We, therefore, encourage all Ghanaians to disregard these publications, which are in no way reflective of the progress of work being done with the IMF. For the avoidance of doubt, it must be recalled that the Government of Ghana since 2017, has always protected investors interests in the financial sector the statement noted.



Government will continue with this objective and ensure that investors best interests are upheld at all times the statement added.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Researchers in the UArizona Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology simulated the conditions hypothetical lifeforms would have encountered on Mars 4 billion years ago, when liquid water was likely present in abundance on the red planet. Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser

If there ever was life on Marsand that's a huge "if"conditions during the planet's infancy most likely would have supported it, according to a study led by University of Arizona researchers.

Dry and extremely cold, with a tenuous atmosphere, today's Mars is extremely unlikely to sustain any form of life at the surface. But 4 billion years ago, Earth's smaller, red neighbor may have been much more hospitable, according to the study, which is published in Nature Astronomy.

Most Mars experts agree that the planet started out with an atmosphere that was much denser than it is today. Rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen, it would have likely created a temperate climate that allowed water to flow and, possibly, microbial life to thrive, according to Regis Ferriere, a professor in the UArizona Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and one of two senior authors on the paper.

The authors are not arguing that life existed on early Mars, but if it did, Ferriere said, "our study shows that underground, early Mars would very likely have been habitable to methanogenic microbes."

Such microbes, which make a living by converting chemical energy from their environment and releasing methane as a waste product, are known to exist in extreme habitats on Earth, such as hydrothermal vents along fissures in the ocean floor. There, they support entire ecosystems adapted to crushing water pressures, near-freezing temperatures and total darkness.

The research team tested a hypothetical scenario of an emerging Martian ecosystem by using state-of-the-art models of Mars' crust, atmosphere and climate, coupled with an ecological model of a community of Earthlike microbes metabolizing carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

On Earth, most hydrogen is tied up in water and not frequently encountered on its own, other than in isolated environments such as hydrothermal vents. Its abundance in the Martian atmosphere, however, could have provided an ample supply of energy for methanogenic microbes about 4 billion years ago, at a time when conditions would have been more conducive to life, the authors suggest. Early Mars would have been very different from what it is today, Ferriere said, trending toward warm and wet rather than cold and dry, thanks to large concentrations of hydrogen and carbon dioxideboth strong greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.

"We think Mars may have been a little cooler than Earth at the time, but not nearly as cold as it is now, with average temperatures hovering most likely above the freezing point of water," he said. "While current Mars has been described as an ice cube covered in dust, we imagine early Mars as a rocky planet with a porous crust, soaked in liquid water that likely formed lakes and rivers, perhaps even seas or oceans."

That water would have been extremely salty, he added, according to spectroscopic measurements of rocks exposed on the Martian surface.

To simulate the conditions early lifeforms would have encountered on Mars, the researchers applied models that predict the temperatures at the surface and in the crust for a given atmospheric composition. They then combined those data with an ecosystem model that they developed to predict whether biological populations would have been able to survive in their local environment and how they would have affected it over time.

The study revealed that while ancient Martian life may have initially prospered, it would have rendered the planet's surface covered in ice and uninhabitable, under the influence of hydrogen consumed from and methane released into the atmosphere. Credit: Boris Sauterey and Regis Ferriere

"Once we had produced our model, we put it to work in the Martian crustfiguratively speaking," said the paper's first author, Boris Sauterey, a former postdoctoral fellow in Ferriere's group who is now a postdoctoral fellow at Sorbonne Universite in Paris. "This allowed us to evaluate how plausible a Martian underground biosphere would be. And if such a biosphere existed, how it would have modified the chemistry of the Martian crust, and how these processes in the crust would have affected the chemical composition of the atmosphere."

"Our goal was to make a model of the Martian crust with its mix of rock and salty water, let gases from the atmosphere diffuse into the ground, and see whether methanogens could live with that," said Ferriere, who holds a joint appointment at Paris Sciences & Lettres University in Paris. "And the answer is, generally speaking, yes, these microbes could have made a living in the planet's crust."

The researchers then set out to answer an intriguing question: If life thrived underground, how deep would one have had to go to find it? The Martian atmosphere would have provided the chemical energy that the organisms would have needed to thrive, Sauterey explainedin this case, hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

"The problem is that even on early Mars, it was still very cold on the surface, so microbes would have had to go deeper into the crust to find habitable temperatures," he said. "The question is how deep does the biology need to go to find the right compromise between temperature and availability of molecules from the atmosphere they needed to grow? We found that the microbial communities in our models would have been happiest in the upper few hundreds of meters."

By modifying their model to take into account how processes occurring above and below ground influence each other, they were able to predict the climatic feedback of the change in atmospheric composition caused by the biological activity of these microbes. In a surprising twist, the study revealed that while ancient Martian life may have initially prospered, its chemical feedback to the atmosphere would have kicked off a global cooling of the planet, ultimately rendering its surface uninhabitable and driving life deeper and deeper underground, and possibly to extinction.

"According to our results, Mars' atmosphere would have been completely changed by biological activity very rapidly, within a few tens or hundreds of thousands of years," Sauterey said. "By removing hydrogen from the atmosphere, microbes would have dramatically cooled down the planet's climate."

Early Mars' surface would soon have become glacial as a consequence of the biological activity. In other words, climate change driven by Martian life might have contributed to making the planet's surface uninhabitable very early on.

"The problem these microbes would have then faced is that Mars' atmosphere basically disappeared, completely thinned, so their energy source would have vanished and they would have had to find an alternate source of energy," Sauterey said. "In addition to that, the temperature would have dropped significantly, and they would have had to go much deeper into the crust. For the moment, it is very difficult to say how long Mars would have remained habitable."

Future Mars exploration missions may provide answers, but challenges will remain, according to the authors. For example, while they identified Hellas Planitia, an extensive plain carved out by an impact of a large comet or asteroid very early in the history of Mars, as a particularly promising site to scour for evidence of past life, the location's topography generates some of Mars' most violent dust storms, which could make the area too risky to be explored by an autonomous rover.

However, once humans begin to explore Mars, such sites could make it back onto the shortlist for future missions to the planet, Sauterey said. For now, the team focuses its research on modern Mars. NASA's Curiosity rover and the European Space Agency's Mars Express satellite have detected elevated levels of methane in the atmosphere, and while such spikes could result from processes other than microbial activity, they do allow for the intriguing possibility that lifeforms such as methanogens may have survived in isolated pockets on Mars, deep undergroundoases of alien life in an otherwise hostile world.

More information: Boris Sauterey et al, Early Mars habitability and global cooling by H2-based methanogens, Nature Astronomy (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-022-01786-w Journal information: Nature Astronomy
CAMBRIDGE  The Cambridge Central School Board of Education will go ahead with an appeal of the judges ruling upholding removal of the schools Indian mascot.

During Thursdays regular monthly meeting, board President Shay Price said that board members reviewed information about filing an appeal from the boards legal counsel. In an action that was apparently taken outside of a public meeting, four board members agreed to proceed with preparation of an appeal. One board member, whom Price did not identify, did not reply.

Board member Dillon Honyoust, a staunch supporter of the Indian, read a statement describing his familys Oneida and Onondaga heritage and the familys history in the Cambridge area. The Honyoust family has sent 22 children to Cambridge Central School.

Not one of them has ever felt any harm or offense from the Cambridge Indian symbol, Honyoust said.

His grandfather David Honyoust served a term as an Oneida Indian Nation war chief in the 1970s. In 2001, David Honyoust, now deceased, encouraged the school to update the Indian image from a Plains Indian man to an Eastern Woodlands man, a change that Dillon Honyoust called true progress.

David Honyoust told the board in 2001 that we would be offended if you were to remove the logo. This is part of our history, it depicts honor and courage, Dillon Honyoust said. Removing such a symbol, while fully knowing that that the local American Indians wish for it to remain, is an insult.

Under the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Great Law of Peace, decisions must be made by consensus, Honyoust said, and leaders must be honest and transparent. He faulted state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa, whom he called a downstate bureaucrat who happens to be in an appointed position, for overruling the elected school board and choosing sides in a matter that had no winners outside of a compromise.

Honyoust also criticized Acting Supreme Court Justice Sara McGinty for saying that the boards July 2021 vote to reinstate the Indian mascot relied on the urgings of David Honyoust. ... Honyoust, however, spoke only for himself.

The fact of the matter is that my grandfather David Honyoust was an appointed war chief of the Oneida Nation, Honyoust said. He wasnt speaking for himself, he was speaking for his family and grandchildren attending the school at the time, as well as the vast majority of the community.

However, earlier in his statement, Honyoust noted that when my grandfather was done fulfilling his role as chief, he moved back to Buskirk, suggesting that by 2001, the elder Honyoust no longer had an official position with the tribe.

According to the Oneida Indian Nations website, the Change the Mascot campaign, which advocates for the removal of Indian mascots from professional sports, is headed by an Oneida representative. The Onondaga Nation website states that the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs has long held the belief that (Indian) mascots are offensive. Onondaga opposition dates to at least 1970 when the council asked Syracuse University to discontinue its Saltine Warrior mascot.

District resident Michael Mugits, speaking during the second public comment period, said that he appreciated and respected Honyousts statement, but the board acted in secret. Your constituents are owed the right to know how you voted. I hope this is not something the board will do in the future.

In other school board matters:

School Superintendent Douglas Silvernell did not attend due to medical reasons, said District Clerk Kate Canini. Also missing Thursday were board members Caleb Breault and Neil Gifford.

Independent auditor Jeff Beecher, of Beecher & Bethel LLP, told the board that he found no problems and had no recommendations for the schools financial records and procedures. Theres not much better you can do than that, he said. The school has a fund balance of $4.8 million, Beecher said. Everything is under budget and you had a very good year, helped by federal COVID relief funding, he said.

The board appointed Michele Hogan to a four-year probationary term as school business administrator. Hogan replaces Anthony Cammarata, who moved on last month.

High school Principal Caroline Goss said she had misgivings at the beginning of the year about the high schools new no electronics during the school day policy. But with few exceptions, the kids are obeying it and the teachers are happy.
FORT ANN  A Suffolk County woman was sentenced to 1  to 3 years in state prison for attempting to bring drugs into Great Meadow Correctional Facility.

Jeanne M. Zoller, of Mastic, was arrested on Nov. 12 after state police said she tried to bring the drug Suboxone into the maximum-security state prison.

She had been charged with felony counts of introducing dangerous prison contraband and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Zoller pleaded guilty in Washington County Court to one count of promoting prison contraband and was sentenced on Oct. 6.
CAMBRIDGE  A firehouse isnt just a place to park trucks and store turnout gear, Cambridge Fire Chief Nash Alexander told the crowd at Saturday mornings dedication of the villages new firehouse.

I learned quite early that a firehouse is a special place, Alexander said, recalling his childhood as the son of a volunteer firefighter. When the Cambridge volunteers drove the trucks out of the old firehouse for the last time on Sept. 25, We left the building where generations had aspired to serve, a place of stories, laughter, and tears.

Nineteen years in the making, The new firehouse is a place of new beginnings, Alexander said. This is the future of the Cambridge Fire Department.

The previous firehouse was built as the village municipal building in 1951 but quickly proved inadequate as firetrucks became progressively larger. Discussions of a new firehouse began in earnest in 2003, speakers at the dedication said. In anticipation, firefighters put up $3,500 of their own money to buy the parcel on the east side of the village, across from the Cambridge Valley Rescue Squad and Cambridge Medical Center. Years of planning followed, with cost always an obstacle. The $3.7 million project was about to come before village residents for a vote in March 2020 when the pandemic struck and all in-person voting was suspended.

Voters gave their approval in September 2020.

Construction was slowed by pandemic-related delays in materials deliveries and labor availability. The interior was ready for the Fire Department to move in in September. More work on the outside will be done in the next few months, said Gerald Aiken, who supervised the construction. That includes placing the cast-iron eagle and bronze bell from the J.J. Gray Hose Company, the villages first fire company in 1866.

Alexander and other speakers thanked company members, the firehouse committee, village officials, C.T. Male and Associates for engineering and design, contractors and community members in and out of the village for their support.

You made this happen, said village of Cambridge Mayor Carman Bogle.

The history of the Cambridge Fire Department can only be matched by how much it has deepened the communitys commitment to serve, said state Assemblyman Jake Ashby, R-Castleton. State Sen. Daphne Jordan, R-Halfmoon, presented a proclamation from the state Senate, and Dan Baker, son of longtime department chaplain Rev. Paul Baker, brought a letter from his boss, state Fire Administrator James Cable. The Cambridge Valley Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons presented a bronze plaque. Members and apparatus from many of the areas other fire companies and departments were in attendance.

The climax of the dedication was the uncoupling of a bright green fire hose laid in front of the five truck bays, the firefighters version of a ribbon cutting. The bay doors were opened and the public could tour the truck bays, equipment rooms, kitchen, meeting/training area and offices. Unlike the old firehouse, the lot has plenty of parking for firefighters and trucks.

Our Fire Department and our fire equipment got the home they deserve, said local historian Ken Gottry.
BRIGANTINE  The city hosted a community-wide event Saturday to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Vincent S. Haneman Memorial Bridge that connects Brigantine to Atlantic City and beyond.

This is the perfect event to celebrate our city, said Kelsea Miller, 35, of Brigantine. It really brings the community together.

The event, titled Bridge Fest, kicked off at 9 a.m. with a fall farmers market in which over 50 vendors lined up in the parking lot in front of the Brigantine Community School.

Hundreds turned up for the market and had the opportunity to purchase a wide variety of items, including alcohol from local breweries, fresh seafood and homemade peanut butter. For those who like adding heat to their food, Hank Sauce of Sea Isle City had them covered, selling many flavors of their product.

I love putting hot sauce on everything, and I love supporting local businesses when I can, so this was the perfect thing for me to pick up here, said Jake Crane, 28, of Brigantine.

The market also allowed people to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables.

I came here to look for a couple of pumpkins because we are getting closer to that time of the year, and my kids always enjoy carving them, said Elena Santos, a mother of four from Atlantic City.

After the farmers market, the festivities shifted toward the Bridge Fest 5k Run/Walk. The event began at 3 p.m. at the Cove Restaurant, and participants followed a course through the south side of the city before finishing back at the restaurant.

Hundreds participated, and the top male and female finishers were each going to receive a trophy.

While the run/walk was a fun event for the whole family, it also brought in some avid runners.

Jessica Williams, of Egg Harbor Township, was at the farmers market in the morning and ran the race in the afternoon.

Im definitely excited to run in the race, Williams said. I run a lot of 5Ks, and Ive been getting quicker with each one that I do. So my goal for today is to just have fun and try to get to the finish line faster than I did in the race before.

Jerome Bishop, of Atlantic City, finished third in the last 5K he participated in and was hoping to do a couple of spots better in this one.

The last race I ran in, I felt like I gave it away because I set too fast of a pace at the beginning, Bishop said. So this time around Im going to try to save a little more energy for the end. But nevertheless, no matter where I end up, its a beautiful day out, and Im glad to be here to support the city of Brigantine.

The Bridge Crawl was set to begin after the conclusion of the race and serve as a finale for the festival. The crawl encouraged people to check out the islands restaurants, shops and other businesses. Several area businesses had Bridge Fest-themed specials to celebrate the occasion.
The Downbeach Express that connects Northfield to Margate will close its access to boaters for about three weeks after Thanksgiving.

Director of operations Dave Sonnie said Thursday the bridge will not open to boats beginning Nov. 28, the Monday after the holiday, and is projected to be closed until about Dec. 16. The bridge will undergo repairs as well as preventive maintenance to the bascule span, or the part of the bridge that opens and closes to allow boats to pass through.

Sonnies advice is simple: Get out or get in before that time.

For more information, email Sonnie at dsonnie@olehansen.com or Dave Godard at dgodard@olehansen.com.

The Margate bridge project is not the only one planned for the back bays in Atlantic County. The Absecon Boulevard bridge along Route 30 into Atlantic City, also a bascule span, is undergoing repairs that are blocking off access to boaters. Work is expected to run until mid-May, the New Jersey Department of Transportation said Friday.

Harvest Festival set for Oct. 26 in A.C.: Atlantic City will host a Harvest Festival on Oct. 26 at City Hall, officials said Thursday.

From 4 to 6 p.m., the family event will feature more than 70 tables of resources and information on a variety of topics.

There also will be music, candy and a costume contest, officials said in a news release.

Traffic advisories for Northfield, Ventnor, EHT: Atlantic County officials plan a set of traffic changes to county roads this week.

On Monday, lanes will shift on Tilton Road in Northfield between Route 9 and Infield Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for line striping, officials said.

In Ventnor, a detour will be in effect Wednesday at the intersection of Ventnor and Wyoming avenues from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Additionally, a week-long single-lane, alternating traffic pattern will be in place on Ocean Heights Avenue in Egg Harbor Township between English Creek Avenue and Somers Point-Mays Landing Road from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All traffic changes are weather permitting, officials said.

Drivers are advised to prepare for delays or use other routes for travel.

A list of traffic advisories is available online at aclink.org.

Slight uptick in NJ gas prices: Gas prices rose in New Jersey and ticked up across the nation as a whole amid increasing supply and falling demand.

AAA Mid-Atlantic said the average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey on Friday was $3.68, up 15 cents from the previous week. Drivers were paying $3.30 a gallon on average a year ago at this time.

The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.90, up one penny from the previous week. Drivers were paying $3.29 a gallon on average a year ago at this time.

Analysts say gas price increases are leveling off as more refineries come back online after maintenance and the switch to cheaper winter blends takes effect.
A juvenile female was taken into custody late Friday night after a shooting in which a male died in Union Township, according to a news release from the Porter County Sheriffs Department.

This is an isolated incident and there is no threat to public safety, said Sgt. Ben McFalls, public information officer for the sheriffs department.

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The Porter County Coroners Office is not yet able to release the identity of the deceased male until officials there get a positive identification from his family.

Deputies responded around 10:15 p.m. Friday to a call of shots fired in the area of the 600 West block of County Road 100 North in Union Township. The female suspect was located and taken into custody without incident a short time later, McFalls said.

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The investigation is ongoing and police are not releasing further details.

Please keep the family of the deceased subject in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time, McFalls said.
OCEAN CITY  Residents will get one last chance to voice their concerns over a controversial proposal to install power lines beneath the citys street and beach as part of a planned offshore wind farm.

A final public hearing, originally scheduled to take place in person Oct. 3, has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 14, and will now be held remotely.

The hearing is on whether the Ocean Wind 1 project will be able to run power lines from offshore wind turbines to the site of the former B.L. England power plant along the companys preferred route under the beach at 35th Street and across the city.

That route requires the approval of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities because it includes a little more than half an acre or property listed as protected under the states Green Acres program.

The meeting was originally set to take place at The Flanders Hotel, but coastal flooding on the barrier island brought by the remnants of Hurricane Ian meant it was delayed. Both wind power proponents and project critics had planned to attend the hearing.

For most projects, the city would have a say, but in 2021, a state bill moved that decision to the Board of Public Utilities, which at the time sponsors said was a move aimed at preventing Ocean City from delaying the process.

On Sept. 28, the Board of Public Utilities found that the easements across Ocean City were reasonably necessary for the project. That vote was unanimous.

While some members of the Ocean City Council have been critical of the offshore wind farm, the city has been careful in its response. The city has questioned the route for the power lines in public hearings on the issue and sought more details on alternative routes to be made public. That included the estimated costs of other options.

Cape May County government is in a similar situation, with the Board of Public Utilities set to decide whether the same power line can continue along county land on its way to the former power plant.

On Thursday, county officials released a letter from the states Division of Rate Counsel, an independent agency charged with representing consumer interests in several areas, including rates for electricity.

The Oct. 12 statement, from Brian Lipman, the director of the division, argues there is not enough information on the record for the BPU to make a decision.

The board has taken a unique and unprecedented procedural approach to this case, which has resulted in limited opportunities for stakeholders to provide input to the Board as Ocean Wind embarks on its venture to install 1,100 (megawatts) of offshore wind, the statement reads.

The project developer did not provide projected costs of alternative routes for the power transmission lines, the statement reads.

The primary issue is whether the proposed route for the power lines is reasonably necessary, the Division of Rate Counsel statement reads.

Asking questions about the route should not be confused with taking a position in opposition to the entire project, the statement reads.

Likewise, voicing concerns regarding the process should not be mistaken for a position that is anti-offshore wind energy, it reads. To the contrary, advocating for a thorough and robust process is in the public interest because it aids in the development of a complete record, which benefits the Boards decision-making and stakeholder interests alike.

The statement was provided by Cape May County government, in an email with little context.

Attached please find the comments that the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel filed yesterday with the Board of Public Utilities in response to Ocean Wind, LLCs petition to take certain decision-making authority from the Cape May County Board of Commissioners in connection with the Ocean Wind 1 offshore wind project, the Thursday email reads. As of late Friday afternoon, there was no response to a request for more details about why the county was releasing the letter.

The Ocean Wind request to the BPU also seeks an order superseding any local approval from county government for permits needed from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The only issue before the BPU, the Division of Rate Counsel argues, is whether the preferred route for the power cables is reasonably necessary.

The existence of global warming and its effects on future generations are not part of this proceeding. Whether or where to site the Projects wind turbines are not part of this proceeding. Whether continued reliance on fossil fuels is detrimental to the publics health is not part of this proceeding, the statement reads. We agree that addressing the global challenge of climate change is important. However, the Governor, the Board, and the Legislature have all developed policies, and continue to develop policies addressing climate change and New Jerseys role in regional and national efforts. One of those policies concerns the development of offshore wind. Nonetheless, a referendum on that policy is not presently before the board.

The Danish energy company rsted owns 75% of Ocean Wind, with PSE&G holding a 25% share. The proposal is to build almost 100 wind turbines about 15 miles off the coast, with more on the way as part of Ocean Wind 2 and other offshore wind projects.

Gov. Phil Murphy has sought to massively increase renewable energy use, describing it as an important tool to reduce carbon emissions and curb climate change. He recently set a new goal for offshore power calling for 11,000 megawatts to be generated by offshore wind by 2040.

Those who want to attend the rescheduled hearing can go to https://bit.ly/ocw1-ga-pub-hearing or https://zoom.us/join and enter Webinar ID: 845 6140 0881; Passcode: 407304. A dial-in option will be available, as well. If using one-tap mobile: +16469313860,,84561400881# or for telephone, 646-931-3860 or toll free at 888-788-0099; Webinar ID: 845 6140 0881; Passcode: 407304.
A Davenport man on parole, who later wrote to a Scott County District Judge saying the thought of prison is terrifying and that he wanted to become someone beneficial to this world, was arrested Thursday by Davenport Police for allegedly possessing a firearm and selling ecstasy and marijuana.

Kenneth Josiah Krana, 21, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute more than 5 grams of methylenedioxymethamphetamine, known as MDMA, or more commonly by its street name, ecstasy.

The charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years.

Krana also is charged with one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, and two counts of violating Iowas drug tax stamp law. Each of those charges is a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Officer Cory Hughes, at 12:30 p.m. Thursday officers made a search of Kranas home in the 1100 block of Judson Avenue.

Officers seized 53 ecstasy pills weighing 8.35 grams and several individually wrapped packages of marijuana ready for sale totaling 130 grams.

Officers also seized a .40-caliber handgun.

During a first appearance hearing Friday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Jay Sommers scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for Oct. 21. Sommers also set Kranas bond at $25,000, cash only.

Kranna was being held Saturday night in the Scott County Jail on the $25,000 cash-only bond on the drug charges and without bond on a charge of parole violation.

According to Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records, Krana was released from prison and placed on parole on Oct. 1, 2021.

On March 20, 2019, Krana had pleaded guilty in Scott County District Court to a charge of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a Class C felony, and two counts of assault while displaying a weapon, each an aggravated misdemeanor, in connection with a shots-fired incident on Oct. 15, 2018, near the Sugar Shack, 1939 W. 4th St., Davenport.

During a hearing May 2, 2019, in district court, District Judge Stuart Werling sentenced Krana to a term of five years on supervised probation.

While that case was proceeding, Davenport Police arrested Krana on Dec. 11, 2018, on a charge of first-degree theft in connection with the September 2018 theft of a 2015 GMC Acadia.

Then on July 3, 2019, Davenport Police arrested Krana on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The arrest was part of an investigation into a June 10, 2019, shooting incident.

During a hearing in district court on Sept. 27, 2019, Krana pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to the theft charge related to the stolen Acadia.

He also was charged with violating his probation in the case involving the shots-fired incident at the Sugar Shack.

Before his sentencing on Nov. 14, 2019, Krana had written a letter to Judge Joel Barrows in which he stated that he apologized for the crimes he committed and that spending time in his cell at the Scott County Jail is, a truly traumatizing experience.

Krana said: I know I can do better and be better than this. I dont want to be labeled a criminal because that is not what I really am.

I feel like my entire life is falling apart from in here, and all I can do is watch it slip away from me, he wrote. The time I have spent in the county jail has made me realize I have to turn my life around now and that this is the end of the line. I believe in myself. I know that I can prove I am not a failure.

If given your trust today I will not fail you or the ones I love, Krana wrote.

Barrows sentenced Krana to 10 years on the intimidation charge and two years each on two charges of assault while displaying a weapon, as well as a concurrent five-year sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm and a concurrent 10-year term for the theft of the Acadia.

When he was released on parole Oct. 1, 2021, he was to have been on parole until July 11, 2024.

According to Scott County District Court electronic records, during his time on parole Krana quit one job and was fired from another. As part of his parole he was to complete cognitive behavioral training and a substance-abuse evaluation and complete all recommended treatment programs. He missed those classes on 16 occasions dating back to Feb. 8, 2022.
One person died and two suffered injuries Saturday in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 52 at the Sabula-Savanna Bridge in Jackson County, Iowa.

The crash occurred at 8:34 p.m. Saturday, according to the Iowa State Patrol, which is investigating the crash.

According to the crash report, a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Gregg Thomas OBryant, 61, of Sabula, was traveling west on U.S. 52 when the truck veered to the right and struck a guardrail.

The truck then over-corrected, which caused it to go into the path of a 2010 Ford F150 driven by John W. Ritchie, 63, of Savanna, Illinois, causing a collision.

OBryant was killed in the crash.

Ritchie and his passenger, Beth A. Ritchie, 60, were injured and taken to MercyOne Clinton Medical Center, Clinton. Their conditions were not available Sunday.

The Iowa State Patrol was assisted at the scene by Sabula Police, Preston Police, Jackson County Sheriffs Department, Sabula Fire and Ambulance, Carroll County, Illinois, Sheriffs Department, Savanna Police and Savanna Ambulance.

The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.
The Scott County Attorneys Office is attempting to seize one of the boats involved in a double-fatal crash on the Mississippi River at LeClaire, but the forfeiture is being contested.

The vessel, a 35-foot, triple-engine Triton, collided with a 19-foot boat on Aug. 16, 2020. The collision killed the two occupants of the smaller boat  Craig Verbeke, 61, and his fiance, Anita Pinc, 52, both of Moline.

As a result of the collision, James Thiel Sr., 46, Pleasant Valley, was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two felonies and two misdemeanors. A jury convicted him in April on the misdemeanor charges.

The county attorneys office is pursuing forfeiture proceedings against the Triton, which was seized by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, after the crash, according to the forfeiture complaint.

The alleged conduct listed as the reasons for the forfeiture attempt are:

Property which was illegally possessed.

Property which was acquired as or from the proceeds of a criminal offense or series of offenses.

Property which was used or intended to be used to facilitate the commission of a criminal offense or to avoid detection or apprehension of a person committing a criminal offense.

Should the forfeiture occur, any resulting funds would be divided between the Iowa Department of Justice, the agency that seized the property (DNR), and the county attorney's office, Rob Cusack, an assistant county attorney, said in an email. Forfeiture proceeds must be used to enhance the enforcement of criminal law.

Unfortunately, Iowa law does not allow for forfeiture proceeds to be applied to restitution, Cusack wrote, referring to victims' compensation.

The forfeiture complaint lists Thiel and Thiel Truck Center as the owners and Thiel as the person in possession or control of the boat.

Thiel was not the operator of the boat the day of the collision; a minor was, according to authorities cited in previous reporting. Thiel was accused of contributing unintentionally to the fatal crash by allowing the operation of the boat at a high rate of speed in a high-traffic area.

Leon Spies, Thiels attorney, has challenged the forfeiture on behalf of his client, asking that it be dismissed and the boat returned. His answer to the forfeiture complaint states that Thiel Truck Center, of which James Thiel is president, is the boats registered owner.

Thiel Truck Center, Inc., did not know and could not reasonably have known of the conduct allegedly giving rise to forfeiture, or that that conduct was likely to occur, or acted reasonably to prevent the conduct giving rise to forfeiture, Spies argues in his filing.

Spies also states that the forfeiture of the Triton would constitute an excessive fine under the U.S. and the Iowa constitutions.

In addition, the value of the subject property is grossly disproportionate to the severity of the misdemeanor offense for which James Thiel, Sr., was convicted, Spies states in his response to the forfeiture complaint.

Spies' other arguments include:

The boat was not illegally possessed.

It was not acquired with the proceeds of criminal activity.

It was also not used or intended to be used to facilitate a crime or to help someone committing a crime avoid discovery or capture.

The states complaint does not identify the specific part of the Iowa Code through which the boat is subject to seizure.

The forfeiture case is still pending, according to court records.

Thiel was sentenced in August to 365 days in the Scott County Jail on each of the counts, according to previous reporting. The terms were concurrent to each other, and all but 90 days were suspended. Thiel also received credit for time served.

He has appealed his conviction, according to court records, and was free on a $10,000 appeal bond as of Friday.
JACKSON, Miss.  Plummeting water levels in the lower Mississippi River are projected to drop even further in the weeks ahead, a projection shows, dampening the region's economic activity and potentially threatening jobs in one of the country's poorest states.

In Vicksburg, on the Mississippi river's east bank near the Louisiana line, the water is approaching its lowest level since 2012. The river's level near that Mississippi city on Thursday was 4.3 feet, and it is projected to drop to 3 feet by Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Falling water levels have disrupted industrial shipping and tourism in the area and are on pace to keep dropping.

"Right now, the latest forecast is going to take us down on Nov. 8 down to 2 feet at Vicksburg and it could drop a lower than that," Marty Pope, a hydrologist at the National Weather Service Office in Jackson, told the Vicksburg Post.

A dearth of rainfall in recent weeks has left the Mississippi River approaching record low levels in some areas across several states. Nearly all of the Mississippi River basin, from Minnesota through Louisiana, has seen below-normal rainfall since late August. The low levels have caused barges to get stuck in mud and sand, disrupting river travel for shippers, recreational boaters and passengers on a cruise line.

The lower portion of a Vicksburg bridge, normally submerged in the river, has been exposed to sunlight in recent days. The American Heritage, a paddlewheeler cruise ship, navigated the river with caution.

Companies that transport industrial products along the river in barges offer a window into the regionwide economic impacts of the low water levels. Companies are loading their barges with less cargo to traverse the river safely.

Pablo Diaz, president of the Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce, said the Port of Vicksburg has already seen a steep decline in tonnage shipped through the port.

"It's definitely lower, and by a long way," Diaz said. "It's a cascade effect. Everybody that is having issues north of here who might be sending products through Vicksburg, that (traffic) has slowed down a lot."

North of Vicksburg, agricultural products remained stalled in the ports along the river, Diaz said. At least 19 companies rely on the Port of Vicksburg and together they support about 4,000 jobs in the region.

"Things were going really well on the industrial side before the water problem," Diaz said. "This is going to be a really big problem if it doesn't turn around soon. Many jobs depend on our industrial users in this region."

The Mississippi River has seen water levels fluctuate year to year in the past. In 2011, the river flooded and caused $2.8 billion in damage. A drought brought the water levels to dangerous lows in 2012.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been dredging the Mississippi at several spots to keep river traffic flowing.
Think carefully who you vote for in November. Did you know Illinois is fast becoming the epicenter for abortions in the Midwest? Our good Governor JP and his cohorts with the approval of our so-called Catholic president are saying come to Illinois for your abortion. Big corporations such as Amazon, Microsoft and even Walt Disney are paying for Abortion Travel for their employees. Did you know over 63 million babies have been killed since 1973 when abortion was legalized? A whole generation has been lost. Thats pretty sad for America. No longer is there any question on when life begins. Life is just not sacred anymore.

New Planned Parenthood Clinics are popping up all over on the borders of Missouri & Wisconsin. The latest is their announcement of a mobile abortion unit that will travel the southern portion of Illinois to expand the killing of unborn babies at the expense of womens health and safety. Folks, abortion is not reproductive health care. Contrary to public opinion, most women have always had the right to decide when, if and how many children they want to have. In this day and age with all the birth control methods available very few unwanted pregnancies should occur. When they do, choose adoption nor abortion. Lets promote our local pro-life clinics such as Pregnancy Resources and The Womens Choice Center for health care not Planned Parenthood. Please vote and think carefully who vote for.
MISSION  After her mother died when Rosalie Whirlwind Soldier was just four years old, she was put into a Native American boarding school in South Dakota and told her native Lakota language was devil's speak.

She recalls being locked in a basement at St. Francis Indian Mission School for weeks as punishment for breaking the schools strict rules. Her long braids were shorn in a deliberate effort to stamp out her cultural identify. And when she broke her leg in an accident, Whirlwind Soldier said she received shoddy care leaving her with pain and a limp that still hobbles her decades later.

I thought there was no God, just torture and hatred, Whirlwind Soldier testified during a Saturday event on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation led by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, as the agency confronts the bitter legacy of a boarding school system that operated in the U.S. for more than a century.

Now 78 and still living on the reservation, Whirlwind Soldier said she was airing her horrific experiences in hopes of finally getting past them.

The only thing they didn't do was put us in (an oven) and gas us," she said, comparing the treatment of Native Americans in the U.S. in the 19th and 20th centuries to the Jewish Holocaust during World War II.

But I let it go," she later added. I'm going to make it."

Saturday's event was the third in Haaland's yearlong Road to Healing initiative for victims of abuse at government-backed boarding schools, after previous stops in Oklahoma and Michigan.

Starting with the Indian Civilization Act of 1819, the U.S. enacted laws and policies to establish and support the schools. The stated goal was to civilize Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, but that was often carried out through abusive practices. Religious and private institutions that ran many of the schools received federal funding and were willing partners.

Most closed their doors long ago and none still exist to strip students of their identities. But some, including St. Francis, still function as schools  albeit with drastically different missions that celebrate the cultural backgrounds of their Native students.

Former St. Francis student Ruby Left Hand Bull Sanchez traveled hundreds of miles from Denver to attend Saturday's meeting. She cried as she recalled almost being killed as a child when a nun stuffed lye soap down her throat in response to Sanchez praying in her native language.

I want the world to know, she said.

Accompanying Haaland was Wizipan Garriott, a Rosebud Sioux member and principal deputy assistant secretary for Indian affairs. Garriott described how boarding schools were part of a long history of injustices against his people that began with the widespread extermination of their main food source  bison, also known as buffalo.

First they took our buffalo. Then our land was taken, then our children, and then our traditional form of religion, spiritual practices, he said. Its important to remember that we Lakota and other Indigenous people are still here. We can go through anything.

The first volume of an investigative report released by the Interior Department in May identified more than 400 boarding schools that the federal government supported beginning in the late 19th century and continuing well into the 1960s. It also found at least 500 children died at some of the schools, though that number is expected to increase dramatically as research continues.

The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition says it's tallied about 100 more schools not on the government list that were run by groups such as churches.

They all had the same missions, the same goals: Kill the Indian, save the man, said Lacey Kinnart, who works for the Minnesota-based coalition. For Native American children, Kinnart said the intention was to assimilate them and steal everything Indian out of them except their blood, make them despise who they are, their culture, and forget their language.

South Dakota had 31 of the schools including two on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation  St. Francis and the Rosebud Agency Boarding and Day School.

The Rosebud Agency school, in Mission, operated through at least 1951 on a site now home to Sinte Gleska University, where Saturdays meeting happened.

All that remains of the boarding school is a gutted-out building that used to house the dining hall, according to tribal members. When the building caught fire about five years ago, former student Patti Romero, 73, said she and others were on hand to cheer its destruction.

No more worms in the chili, said Romero, who attended the school from ages 6 to 15 and said the food was sometimes infested.

A second report is pending in the investigation into the schools launched by Haaland, herself a Laguna Pueblo from New Mexico and the first Native American cabinet secretary. It will cover burial sites, the schools impact on Indigenous communities and also try to account for federal funds spent on the troubled program.

Congress is considering a bill to create a boarding school truth and healing commission," similar to one established in Canada in 2008. It would have a broader scope than the Interior Departments investigation into federally run boarding schools and subpoena power, if passed.
Plein air painters from across the country set up their easels along the banks of the Bitterroot River in Hamilton on Friday morning for the first day of a weekend-long workshop hosted by local artist Turner Vinson.

Vinson developed a following on his YouTube channel over the pandemic and now has over 21,000 subscribers. This is his third year hosting the Hamilton workshop which brought a group of about 20 artists from as far as Atlanta and Boston to take in the views of the Bitterroot Valley.

I had been dreaming of coming to Montana my whole life, said 55-year-old Matthew Johnson, of Chicago.

Johnson took up painting in 2020 and developed a strong interest in oils. He went online to learn more and found Vinsons videos on YouTube. This is his second year coming to the workshop. A Kung Fu teacher by trade, Johnson lives in an art studio with a gallery front back home in Chicago.

It's all about fundamentals, and you have to be paying attention to detail, Johnson said. "It's very meditative, like martial arts, so it kind of gets you out of everything else. In Chinese philosophy they believe that if you're doing a lot of yang activity, which is hard, you know, something like martial art, then you should be doing a yin activity to balance out your nature. So something more masculine, something more feminine. So this is definitely more yin to all of the yang in my daily life.

Beverely Phaneuf, of Belchertown, in western Massachusetts, spent her life working as an educator. She flew in Thursday with her daughter who traveled from Atlanta to attend the workshop.

Its countryside (is) similar, with mountains and rivers, Phaneuf said describing her home in Massachusetts. But our mountains are rounded and our rivers don't flow quite like this. It's beautiful, she said from the banks of the Bitterroot on Friday. I lost my husband 10 years ago, this was my way to see the world. So I've traveled and painted in Europe  Italy and France.

Phaneuf, like many attending the workshop, also found Vinsons painting videos on YouTube. We sat around this morning and talked about where everybody's coming from, she said. "They're from all over the country. I think there's two people that are in the area, so to speak, and several have come back ... He's getting quite a lot of national recognition."

Turner teaches classes locally in the Bitterroot Valley and displays his work at Art Focus in Hamilton. He also has a studio on Main Street in downtown Hamilton but most people find him on YouTube.

Its an amazing place to paint, Vinson said. So I get to do this. I teach a couple of workshops a year and then I paint. Its what I do for a living and that is not a bad place to do it  I mean, it's easy to paint because there's so many beautiful spots to paint here.

The group plans on making stops at Lake Como, the Lost Horse area, Main Street Bridge in Hamilton and Woodside Cutoff.

Joe Guerra, originally from the Boston area, made the trek to Hamilton from Charlotte, North Carolina, after discovering Vinson online.

I went to school for geography and my job is building mobile applications he said. This is a hobby, and it's a nice balance. I have the organized structured software development day job, and then this is the creative, messy hobby.

Guerra said the opportunity for the in-person class with Vinson after watching him on YouTube for years was what drew him to the Bitterroot. Hes traveled to Europe and other places across the U.S. for workshops but says this is his favorite because its in Hamilton. Its in Montana.

What's nice about coming here, because this is of course not a big city, Guerra said. There's so much beautiful scenery with the fall colors, the mountains. It's nice to be able to learn painting and capture it.
You are here: Arts

The Confucius institute in Ljubljana on Saturday showcased Chinese culture at a charity event held in the capital of Slovenia.



Visitors had the chance to taste Chinese tea, experience Chinese calligraphy, and put on Hanfu, traditional Chinese clothing, to take photos at the event, which aims at raising fund for Slovenian children in need.

Teachers from the institute also performed cucurbit flute and guitar duet and Tai Chi.

Lu Tingyao, Chinese director of the institute, told Xinhua that the institute participated in the event to show the charm of China to foreign people and to show welcome to anybody who is interested in Chinese culture.
A two-day art sale featuring dozens of works from more than 80 artists will be held Oct. 22-23 with proceeds going to humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

The sale will be held at Grace Baptist Church, 4200 Dover Road, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Grace Baptist already had a relationship with a church in Poland that is helping Ukrainian refugees. All of the funds raised from the sale will go directly to the Polish church to help Ukrainians in need.
As the long CSX coal train eased past Main Street Station on its way to the piers in Newport News, people inside the venue kept peeling off from the crowd milling down Row 100 of the Craft + Design show to wonder at Nicario Jimenezs retablos dioramas.

In particular, they gaped at the 3-foot-wide centerpiece, with scores of 2-inch-high, brightly painted figures hitching rides on a Peruvian freight train or running alongside it or splashing in a river.

Jimenez is carrying on a centuries-old tradition of Andean region traveling shrines  boxes filled with tiny figures arranged to tell a story that from the 1500s through the 1800s Spanish priests carried from mountain hamlet to mountain hamlet.

His father and grandfather taught him the art of sculpting those little figurines from a mix of boiled potato and gypsum.

A few steps down Row 100, the Craft + Design shows featured artist, dollmaker Sarah Djarnie-Brown, had to tell an eager shopper that, alas, she couldnt make her a dress of the same textured blue and purple fabric that she had sewn into a gown for her doll Annalise.

It was just a 4-by-4 swatch, she said.

Her journey into the fashion business took years, and only after stints working at hotels and in accounting, and then as a go-fer  maybe theyd say design a back pocket  and then designing handbags and accessories, she realized something discouraging about the business.

I dont like designing for people. ... It was all about budget, about what would sell, she said. I wanted to create something of mine.

And to make something that could delight her twin nieces, creating a tradition for them.

Her dolls may start with a fairly standard stuffed linen body, but as she embroiders colorful eyes and mouths, and works  wetting and baking  bits of wool to make their hair and considers the collection of fabric swatches, the vision of what each unique one will be begins to come clear.

Eventually, so does a story  Annalise, for instance, studied fashion in Italy, while next to her, Khari, in a bright blue two-piece outfit, arrived from Mozambique to Long Island City, not all that far from Djarnie-Browns home in Brooklyn.

Eric Silva may have traveled the farthest for the Craft + Design show, coming from Whittier, Calif., to make his first visit to Richmond with his delicate jewelry confections of brass and colored stone and carved antler.

Not too many steps from Silvas booth, Trefany Dix told visitors how she uses a glassmaking technique 4,000 years old to make brightly colored patterns on some of her vases by pulling bundles of colored glass into long rods, called canes, and then cutting them into pieces.

Have you ever seen hard candy made? she asked. Its like that.

She and her partner, Bengt Hokanson, also create delicately colored glassware with layers of clear and colored glass, blowing them into bubbles and then spinning those until they make 2-foot, thin translucent bowls.

Techniques like hers or Jimenezs come from long traditions, but like Amy Smith with her hand loom on an island in Maine, theyve been adapted to make contemporary works of art.

Smith, for instance, takes subtly dyed threads made of eucalyptus tree fibers, as thin as what youd use to sew on a button, to make scarves that seem to shimmer with dozens of colors and that, held up to the light, look like an elaborately patterned net.

Lots of negative space, too, she said. Very comfortable to wear even in the summer.

In a way, negative space is part of Shirley Gromens art with her ceramics. She glazes her white porcelain vases with a black glassy coating, then carves the black away to make images of kingfishers, striped bass, crabs dancing in underwater grasses and oyster-catchers.

Gromen said she grew up on the Chesapeake Bay.

I do lots of spotted sandpipers, she said. I do all my favorites.

The Craft + Design show this year, its 58th, was held about a month earlier than its traditional weekend before Thanksgiving weekend, but it still aims to be the event that kicks off the holiday shopping season in Richmond.

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond decided to move the show up to mid-October to beat the cold weather and the COVID-19 and flu season that comes as temperatures drop.

VisArts also hopes doing so will make it easier for visitors who travel and want to avoid the Thanksgiving travel rush.

This year, more than 150 artists from all over the nation took part, with works in ceramics, glass, wood, precious metals and fiber.

It was the first in-person Craft + Design show since the onset of the pandemic.

Its been really wonderful. They hosted a dinner for all of us, Smith said. When you live at the end of a dirt road on an island in Maine, going to a gala is pretty special.
The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program of Montgomery County & Radford will host a Walk-A-Thon on Friday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon on the track at the Christiansburg Recreation Center, to benefit the 15th Annual Supplies for Seniors program. Brad Epperley, director of the Rec Center, will lead the first lap of our Walk-A-Thon at 10:15 a.m.

A minimum pre-registration fee of $5 is required. Forms can be completed at the RSVP office, located at 210 S. Pepper St., Suite D, in Christiansburg, or at the Rec Center the day of the event.

An AmeriCorps Seniors T-shirt will be available to those who register in advance, and the Rec Center will provide lunch for all participants. Rest stations, snacks and water will be available.

Registered walkers will request sponsorship for laps walked from their friends, family and neighbors. You can walk whatever length of time or distance you wish. (One lap around the track equals 1/8 mile.)

Walkers are highly encouraged to form a team with family, your church group, a civic group or friends. Since the event is being held close to Halloween, walkers are welcome to dress in a costume!

Participants will be in the running for the following prizes:

A $100 BP gas card (donated by Remon Yassa) for the most laps walked by an individual;

A $50 gift card for the largest amount raised by an individual;

A $25 gift card for the best costume (judges will be provided by the Rec Center); and

AmeriCorps Seniors Travel Mugs for the largest team.

This year we are offering a way for sponsors to pay electronically using our Mightycause fundraiser campaign page. Cash and checks made out to RSVP will also be accepted. If you are unable to join us for the Walk-A-Thon, please consider sponsoring an RSVP volunteer using our online payment system. (You can donate at https://www.givelocalnrv.org/story/S4swalk-A-Thon.)

All proceeds will go to purchase basic household and personal care items such as toiletries, detergent, word search puzzles, etc. for approximately 200 homebound seniors and veterans. RSVP volunteers and local police will distribute supplies to clients of the NRV Agency on Aging, Radford Fairlawn Daily Bread, and the Virginia Veteran and Family Support Project.

Please bring all payments, including the receipt for electronic payments, to registration the day of the event.

Bring donations of supplies to the RSVP office, the Christiansburg Recreation Center or The Village Center at Warm Hearth Village by Nov. 30.

Christiansburg Parks & Recreation, AARP and Carilion NRV Medical Center are co-sponsoring our Walk-A-Thon.

All are welcome to join us for this fun event! Please call the RSVP office at 540-382-5775 or email rsvp@montgomerycountyva.gov for more information on how to sign up for this event!

- Submitted by Mandy W. Hayes
RADFORD  Four of the six candidates running for city council have previously spent time in the courts, some of whom addressed issues that included bankruptcy filings and a variety of assault charges.

The Roanoke Times found the legal battles through searches that included reviews of both local and federal court records.

Candidates for Radford City Council this year are incumbent Jessie Foster, Seth Gillespie, Kellie Banks Artrip, Bob Davis Jr., Janiele Hamden and Chad McClanahan. Current Councilwoman Naomi Huntington initially planned to seek re-election but changed her decision last month.

Mayor David Horton is also up for re-election in a separate, unopposed race.

Gillespie, who has an accounting background and is the owner of the Christiansburg-based Gates Flowers and Gifts, battled a string of charges in the late 2000s and early 2010s, some of which included assault.

In May of 2013, Gillespie was charged with misdemeanor petit larceny for less than $200, misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor destruction of property with intent and a felony entering a house to commit assault and battery. Each of those charges were later abandoned via nolle prosequi, according to Radford General District Court records.

The incidents police said occurred in the 2013 case included the stealing of a Samsung cell phone valued at less than $200 and the destruction, defacing or damaging of an apartment wall, according to information found in arrest warrants for each of the charges.

Gillespie was arrested in December of 2012 and faced a charge of misdemeanor reckless driving in Radford General District Court. He was later found guilty and sentenced to 30 days. The entire sentence was suspended, but he was placed in supervised probation for 12 months.

Gillespie was also charged with a felony malicious wounding some years earlier. The charge, stemming from an October 2006 arrest, was later amended in Montgomery County Circuit Court to a misdemeanor assault and battery. Found guilty, he was sentenced to 12 months in jail, with all but one of the months suspended. He was, however, ordered to serve 12 months of unsupervised probation.

Gillespie, who already has some experience with local governance due to his service on the Radford Planning Commission, was forthcoming about his past.

I was a young, very young, man and made some bad decisions, he said in a recent interview. Its in no shape or form a reflection of who I am today.

Gillespie said his trials and tribulations have made him a better man. He pointed to his graduation from Radford University, his work in accounting and eventual business ownership as signs of his progression.

It was a setback, a learning experience, a regretful one. It was a lesson learned, he said. My life is better off for it.

Regarding the 2006 charge specifically, Gillespie reiterated that he was a young man who made mistakes.

I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I own up to that responsibility, he said. Ive never shied away from them.

Davis, who works at Kollmorgen, filed for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies in 2010 and 2012, respectively. He also filed for Chapter 7 in 1989, which was noted in the 2010 filing and shown in a search of records in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia.

Davis in 2010 listed a total of $253,807 in assets and $271,510 in liabilities, according to that years filing, which he filed with his wife.

Chapter 7 is designed for debtors in financial difficulty who do not have the ability to pay their existing debts, whereas Chapter 13 is for individuals with regular income who would like to pay all or part of their debts in installments over a period of time, according to descriptions of each filing in the bankruptcy court records.

Davis said the 2010 Chapter 7 filing was due to the Great Recession of the late 2000s, which resulted in him losing his job. He said he worked for Northlake Foods Inc., which was a franchisee of Waffle House restaurants and had itself filed for bankruptcy in 2008. He said the company ended up going out of business.

My wife and I had to make the daunting decision to file, Davis wrote in an email.

The Chapter 13 filing was due to Davis co-signing for a family member who was unable to pay back a loan, he said.

McClanahan, whom The Roanoke Times has failed to reach despite multiple attempts, was charged in 2003 with felony embezzlement, according to Montgomery County Circuit Court records.

McClanahans case was ultimately dismissed, but he was given 12 months of supervised probation. The court ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service and complete the probation through New River Community Corrections. He was also ordered to make no return to any Target store.

McClanahan for his case plead nolo contendere, which is when a defendant doesnt accept or deny the charges but agrees to accept punishment. He voluntarily waived trial by jury, according to court records.

Hamden, who works in integrative health care for addiction treatment and is a city planning commission member, was some years ago at the center of a timesheet case when she was a guidance counselor at McHarg Elementary School.

The issue initially led Commonwealths Attorney Chris Rehak to seek prosecution against Hamden, but he later decided in June 2019 to abandon pursuing the charges, according to documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

Hamden then filed a federal suit in 2020 against several people  including Radford schools Superintendent Rob Graham and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Ellen Denny  alleging malicious prosecution and violation of due process.

The court earlier this year granted a summary judgment in favor of the defendants in Hamdens suit, but she said she is in the process of appealing the decision.

Essentially, we have a moral obligation to challenge unjust movement by leadership figures in our communities, regardless of who they are and what the outcome may be, especially when those figures serve as primary authoritarians in education for our children, Hamden told The Roanoke Times last month.
A Radford man pleaded guilty Wednesday to the sexual assaults of two men as they slept after parties.

Michael Joseph Trujillo, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual battery, a felony, and to another charge that was amended from aggravated sexual battery to misdemeanor sexual battery, Montgomery County Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt wrote in an email after a hearing in the countys circuit court.

On the felony charge, Trujillo was sentenced to 10 years in prison; on the misdemeanor, Judge Robert Turk imposed a 12-month jail term. The entire period of incarceration will be suspended after Trujillo serves six months, the judge said.

Additionally, Trujillo was fined $1,000, ordered to have no contact with the two victims, and must register as a sex offender. He will be supervised by the probation office for five years after his release.

According to a summary of the prosecutions evidence presented by Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Chris Obenshain, Trujillo assaulted one of the men in the aftermath of a Sept. 5, 2020, bachelor party. The man stayed the night after a party in the 400 block of Christiansburgs Montgomery Street, as did Trujillo. Both men slept in the living room, the victim told investigators.

Investigators found a video on Trujillos phone that showed a person opening the pants of the sleeping man and groping him.

The victim is passed out while these events are taking place, the evidence summary said.

While the 2020 incident was under investigation, a second man told officers that in December 2015, he had a similar experience with Trujillo at a party in Montgomery County.

The second man said that he went to a party and spent the night, and woke up to find Trujillo reaching into his pants and attempting to perform oral sex on him. Trujillo stopped when the man stretched as if he was waking up, the evidence summary said.

Last year, news accounts of the investigation highlighted Trujillos nearly decade-long employment with Montgomery County schools, which ended in May 2021. Pettitt wrote in an email Wednesday that his offenses were not connected to his work with the schools.
The Town of Blacksburg has been awarded the 2022 Virginia Municipal League Innovation Award in the Community Health category, for its role in the development of Aging in Place Planning Resources. VML recognizes eight local governments annually for innovative problem-solving, excellence in management, citizen participation and improved services to citizens. This year, VML received nearly 80 entries.

Being able to participate in the development of a practical guide that can help make a difference in how people plan their future was meaningful to everyone involved, said Director of Planning and Building Anne McClung. The title says it all: Your Home, Your Community, Your Choice.

The Aging in Community Leadership Team brought together local government staff with community advocates, regional planners, aging experts, health and social service agencies, nonprofits and the philanthropic sector to create resources accessible to everyone.

An important element of that work was to create both a process and a culture to encourage more residents to pre-plan for their later years so they can remain safe, independent, and maintain a high quality of life as they age.

These resources are also valuable to individuals navigating changes with their aging parents.

Five senior staff from the Town of Blacksburg served on the AiC Team and took the lead in developing the suite of Aging in Place planning resources (including a workbook) and facilitated workshops that enabled group discussion and collaborative learning. The workbook provides detailed user-friendly information across five topical areas: housing, transportation, health and wellness, personal finance, and connection and growth. Detailed checklists are included with each chapter to help users assess how prepared they are to age in place over time.

Particularly commendable is how Blacksburg sought to build, not only resources, but a culture of supporting older adults holistically within its professional staff and partner institutions through the Train the Trainer series, said the VML award judges.

The mayor, members of town council, and staff accepted the award at the VML Annual Conference in Richmond on Oct. 3.

VML is a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan association of city, town and county governments established in 1905 to improve and assist local governments through legislative advocacy, research, education and other services.

- Submitted by Brittany Furrow
Voters will reshape Roanokes city council next month as they select at least two new faces from a large and politically diverse group of candidates.

Whether one will be a Republican  for the first time since 2004  is a question generating debate.

Although party labels do not appear on the ballot, which will settle a regular and a special election, Republicans like their chances and see themselves making inroads over the issue of gun violence.

Charlie Nave, chairman of the Roanoke City Republican Committee, said the election of a Republican on Nov. 8 could totally happen. It will require persuading some voters who have never voted Republican to cross over to the GOP, he said.

GOP candidate Nick Hagen said he would love to see victory for each of four Republican contenders  a sweep  but predicted at least one will win. Voting concludes Nov. 8.

The Republican slate includes Hagen, Dalton Baugess, Maynard Keller and Peg McGuire.

This is a good year for it. I think people are tired of the same old, same old, said Hagen, a lawyer making his first run for elected office.

Ralph Smith, 80, now of Botetourt County was the last Republican to serve on the Roanoke council with one mayoral term from 2000 to 2004. He said that its time for change, saying thats especially true in light of Roanoke crime concerns.

Police have reported 52 shootings in the city so far this year, compared to 56 at this time last year. The latest number exceeds pre-pandemic levels.

Whos there now hasnt succeeded. Its only gotten worse, Smith said. Hopefully there will be enough people in Roanoke that decide lets try something different.

Five Democrats and two independents serve on the seven-member council. Two of the Democrats, Joe Cobb and Vivian Sanchez-Jones, will need voter approval to continue. Cobb seeks election to a second term, while Sanchez-Jones, appointed in 2020, seeks her first full term. And Peter Volosin, making his second run for the Roanoke council, is also running as a Democrat.

But two other factors make this years race dynamic. Council member Bill Bestpitch, a former Democrat now an independent, chose not to seek reelection, placing his seat up for grabs in the general election, along with those of Cobb and Sanchez-Jones. The ballot lists nine people  three Republicans, three Democrats and three independents  and voters will pick three.

The independents are former Democrat and former city Mayor David Bowers, Jamaal Jackson and Preston Tyler.

In addition, voters will decide a special election to pick a permanent successor for former Councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr., who forfeited his seat after convictions for embezzlement and obtaining money by false pretenses. That race has attracted two contenders, the Republican McGuire and Democrat Luke Priddy.

Four new people could join council, but two seats are certain to change hands.

Roanoke, which is 62% white and 28% Black, has traditionally favored Democrats, not unusual when it comes to urban versus rural areas in Virginia, or elsewhere.

And while influential Republicans served on council in years past  the late Noel C. Taylor, one of Roanokes most revered leaders included  no member of the party has served for two decades. During Smiths mayoral term, he served most of that as the lone Republican after Republican Bill Carder, who was elected at the same time, became an independent during his term. In addition, Carder resigned before completing his term.

And, while multiple Republicans have run for the Roanoke council since then, including in 2020, voters have picked Democrats and independents over every GOP candidate who tried to follow in Smiths shoes.

Demographically, the councils trending more inclusive. Voters installed the councils first Black majority, in 2020, and seated its first openly gay member, in 2018. As of this spring, four council members are women, a milestone reached with the appointment of Anita Price to succeed Jeffrey.

Also this year, Republicans Keller and McGuire, who ran unsuccessfully in 2020, are back. McGuire has resumed her bid to serve on council after winning 11 of 20 precincts in 2020. She finished fourth after the three winners of that years election.

I believe we have the best shot weve had in a long time to get some Republicans elected. Because of such a wide field, I cant guarantee anything. I know that our message has resonated, she said.

Keller, who came in seventh in 2020, agreed. The things that we stand for are mainstream, I believe, and people like that. People are pretty mainstream. People like better schools, lower taxes, lower crime, he said.

Keller said he has taken the pulse of voters outside the election office on Kimball Avenue, now open for early voting. He joined the first dozen people to vote early when early voting began Sept. 23 and has campaigned there every morning since when the office was open, he said.

When youre not an incumbent and people have to know who you are, showing up is half of all success, he said.

McGuires returned to her 2020 campaign strategy, with expanded door-knocking. We are visiting a lot of the places we normally didnt hit before, she said, describing a previous focus on households identified by campaign intelligence as Republican. They skipped homes believed likely to vote Democratic.

This time, she said she has knocked on doors of hard Democrats in such neighborhoods as Melrose-Rugby and Lincoln Terrace. McGuire, a marketing professional, said she and Bauguess talked for 15 to 30 minutes with six different people Friday.

Baugess, who is making his first run for elected office, also knocked on doors alone Wednesday in Northwest Roanoke, where the brunt of gun violence has occurred, with a pledge to address crime. At a home on Forest Park Boulevard, resident Cynthia Jones told him that she heard a gunshot the day gunfire killed a teen-age boy on Palm Avenue Northwest, just around the corner. The incident, one of three fatal shootings in the neighborhood in recent memory, left 15-year-old Demarion D. Sanders dead Sept. 3.

Jones pledged her vote to Baugess, a veteran public safety officer and current logistics officer for the Salem Fire Department who plans to retire next year if elected.

All I want is the violence to stop, because its crazy, Jones said in an interview after talking with the candidate.

Party label is unimportant, Jones said. It matters more than she senses a candidates commitment to do what they pledge to do, she said.

Bestpitch said he hasnt followed the campaigns enough to gauge the Republicans chances but described party label as less important than agenda.

Whats really important is not just who can get elected or not elected. Whats important is do the new members of city council want to continue to working to keep things moving in the direction that Roanoke has been moving in for the last several years, he said, citing support of the health and medicine industry and investments in quality of life amenities such as parks and libraries, or do they want to come in and really upset the apple cart?

Roanoke Forward, a political action committee backing the Republican contenders, has called for change.

It paid for a newspaper advertisement that named the Republican candidates and was titled, ROANOKE IS OFF THE RAILS with the tagline, Help us clean up this mess!

Another PAC, the Business Leadership Fund, has endorsed three Republicans  Baugess, Keller and McGuire  plus independent candidate Bowers. Each received $4,000.

The fund does not consider party when making endorsements, chairman Larry Jackson said. It picks those candidates who demonstrate a grasp of key issues and capacity to provide solutions.

We would rather there not be a D, an I or an R beside anyones name. Their stance on issues is what matters, Jackson said.

Theres little evidence suggesting city politics wont be partisan at least to some extent in the future.

I have an ambition to flip this city, said Nave, the local Republican chair for the past four years. I think its going to take 20 years and were in year four.

Nave said he has identified five or six people he plans to urge to run for mayor in 2024.
Roanoke City Public Schools Chief Academic Officer Archie Freeman knows off the top of his head the number of students in his district for whom English is not their first language: 1,906, about 15% of the student body.

Thats just one of the factors behind the districts academic staff not treating the school systems recent Standards of Learning results like a four-alarm fire. However, as Freeman put it, that does not mean as if the school system is proceeding like everything is fine and no problems exist. Weve got work to do.

To recap, the Virginia Department of Education in August released statistics showing pass rates for SOL tests statewide.

The results shown for the Roanoke school division are definitely attention-grabbing, but not reassuring. In all five categories  reading, writing, history and social sciences, mathematics and science  the divisions students 2021-22 pass rates scored below the state average, and in a set of tables published in this newspaper that allows comparison among 12 school divisions in the Roanoke and New River valleys, Roanokes passing scores were the lowest in all five categories.

Roanokes new rates had mixed results when compared to its own 2020-21 pass rates. More students passed the science and mathematics tests, but the pass rates for reading, writing and history worsened.

No one in the Roanoke school system is claiming that they want to settle for the current results. Reading and writing and math are the key things we must work on, Freeman said.

During the COVID-19 school shutdowns, chronic absenteeism surged, which did not help.

Roanoke school officials point out, though, that these SOL scores are not the only way to measure progress  and they dont capture nuances unique to the citys schools.

By the numbers, were the most diverse school division in the state, said Julie Drewry, the districts executive director of accountability and assessment.

The state education department website displays SOL pass rates based on federal accountability calculations, Drewry said, a relatively simple measure derived by dividing the number of test passers by the number of test takers, with certain groups of students eliminated from the calculations. However, Virginia SOL standards allow more options for students to pass the SOLs or earn the equivalent than that federal calculation considers.

State regulations allow alternatives

For example, Virginia takes into account the growth of the individual student, even if the student technically doesnt earn a passing score. As Drewry explained, They have set up this metric that says, if you did this in the fall, and you do this in the spring, i.e., if the student scores higher in the spring than they did in the fall, even if you dont pass, youve still shown growth, so were going to count you in the pass rate as a positive.

Theres another test, the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) for English Language Learners, that applies to the 1,906 students that Freeman referenced for whom English is not a first language.

If students who are English learners dont pass the SOL, but they show growth on the WIDA then theyre counted in the positives as part of our pass rate, Drewry said. So we get those as well, where those kids would be failures under the federal accountability calculation. Virginia also gives us a certain number of semesters for a student being in the country that if they dont show growth on the WIDA, and they dont pass the SOL, they can still be excluded from the accreditation assessment.

Once these elements are factored in, the district numbers in reading and math improve, as shown in the 20212022 Student Achievement Report released last month. The state website logs 55% passing the SOL reading test and 48% passing the SOL math test, while the schools adjusted assessments, which are presented broken down by grade level, average to 76% in reading and 75% in math from third through eight grade and 83% for high school end of course evaluations in both subjects.

The diversity of the student population in Roanoke means that all of these state-approved alternative testing and scoring methods come into play in the schools assessments.

All Roanoke schools accredited

If you look at Roanoke City, we are in the top 20 in population size, Drewry said. The Roanoke city district also ranks in the commonwealths top 20 for the number of students who are homeless, for the number of students receiving free and reduced lunch, for the number of English language learners and the for number of students in special education programs. In Virginia, were the only division that hits all of those thats in the top 20 in size, she said.

Given these differences, a comparison of Roanokes school system to that of Roanoke County, with its less diverse population and higher median household income, or to those of their immediate rural neighbors, will not constitute an apples to apples comparison. Roanoke most closely resembles other urban districts in the state.

Freeman referred to an Oct. 5 story in the Lynchburg News & Advance that made this apples-to-apples comparison. That story by reporter Bryson Gordon examined why only half of the schools in the Lynchburg city system received full accreditation for the 2022-23 school year.

Gordon wrote, Examples of other city school divisions in Virginia and their percentages of schools receiving full accreditation for the 2022-23 school year are as follows: Danville City Public Schools, 20%; Charlottesville City Public Schools, 66%; Newport News City Public Schools, 61%; Richmond City Public Schools, 36%; Roanoke City Public Schools, 96%, according to VDOE data.

The remaining 4% refers to Hurt Park Elementary, which is accredited but with conditions, meaning some indicators measured by the state are still below standards.

In that particular match up, we dont look as bad, Freeman said.

Theres a lot of work has to be done, for certain, but there are also achievements to celebrate.
The 132nd session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, opened online on Saturday with a record number of products on display and offering a longer service time.

More than 35,000 domestic and overseas companies are participating in the event, which is approximately 10,000 more than that of the previous session, and they have submitted over 3.06 million exhibits, said Xu Bing, spokesperson of the fair.

Of the products on display, more than 130,000 feature smart capabilities and over 500,000 are green, low-carbon commodities.

Organizers plan to hold more than 70 global trade promotion activities, and 200 activities for new product releases.

Starting from this session, the Canton Fair will extend the service time of its online platform, with the availability of most functions, from the previous 10 days to five months.




This story was originally published by CalMatters. You can read more of their coverage of California state government on CalMatters.org.
HARTSVILLE  South Carolina Governors School for Science and Mathematics was host to the Hartsville Rotary Club on Oct. 11.

School President Daniel Dorsel said school representatives have been visiting Rotary Clubs around the state to inform them about the school.

During a dinner meeting, several students shared some of their experiences at the school. Students included Johnathan Harris, Iyanu Dosunmu and Evie Cunningham, all seniors.

Harris thanked club members for sharing their community with GSSM students who come from all over the state to participate in the residential high school for 11th and 12th grade students.

This is our home away from home, Harris said.

Harris said he has met a lot of people who have inspired him at GSSM. He said school was cool in his hometown, but it wasnt challenging him. He said he did what he needed to do to get by.

Harris said he decided he wasnt going to grow, staying comfortable where he was and so he applied to the Governors School.

I decided I wanted to do better, Harris said. Every single teacher we have here is passionate about what they do. They want us to be as passionate.

Harris said he has been offered many opportunities to grow at GSSM.

Dosunmu talked about the research and leadership opportunities made available to GSSM students. She is a school ambassador and is involved in community service. She said the school encourages its students to become actively involved in the community and schools clubs and activities.

Before coming to GSSM, she said she struggled and had to study every night. At GSSM, Dosunmu said she has learned to be a more independent self. And that has happened two years earlier than it does for most students who dont attend the residential school. She said GSSM has given her the opportunity to grow.

Cunningham is student council president.

She said it was a big jump to come to GSSM from her high school in Irmo. She said she has made great friends at GSSM and developed bonds that she will carry throughout her life.

Cunningham talked about the many activities she has participated in at GSSM, including sports, cheering and student council. She also discussed her summer research project at the University of South Carolina.

Rotarians were offered a tour of the school at the conclusion of the meeting.
FLORENCE, S.C.  The South Carolina Conference of the American Association of University Professors met on the Francis Marion University campus last week week to discuss matters important to higher education. The representatives from universities and colleges throughout the state also presented two awards.

University President Fred Carter was the recipient of the inaugural AAUP-SC Lifetime Achievement in Shared Governance award.

The award honored Carters work with shared governance over the course of his career at FMU and with other academic and governmental institutions. Shared governance involves the collaboration of faculty, staff, trustees, and administration in the decision-making processes and operation of higher education institutions.

The conference also decided that the award itself would bear Carters name in perpetuity.

Dr. Carter has been a steadfast champion of academic freedom and shared governance for many years in many different positions in and around academia in South Carolina, said Shawn R. Smolen-Morton, state conference president of South Carolinas AAUP and professor of English at Francis Marion. From his time working in state government, to his 23 years as president of Francis Marion University, Dr. Carter has championed shared governance and enacted it, strengthening our institutions of higher education and working with faculty to make a safe and rich environment for academic freedom.

I am humbled by this honor, Carter said. Of course, the people who have truly earned this recognition are the faculty and trustees across South Carolina who work so hard to make higher education effective, accessible, and affordable. Now I am a little partial, but I do believe that the faculty and trustees at Francis Marion may be a good model for how this process works well.

Faculty from USC-Aiken were also recognized during Saturdays event. The group received the Economic Status and Faculty Welfare Award for highlighting the complexities associated with faculty receiving contingency, rather than permanent appointments.

The AAUP is a national association of faculty and other academic professionals with members and chapters at colleges and universities across the country. The nonprofit organization has a mission of shaping American higher education standards and procedures to maintain quality education and academic freedom.
Women are a critical part of farm and ranch operations in South Carolina and to help move this industry into the future, the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service is holding its first-ever South Carolina Women in Agriculture Conference.

This inaugural conference is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5. Registration fees are $50 for just Friday and $100 for just Saturday. The fee for both Friday and Saturday is $150. The Clemson University student rate is $45 for Saturday only. Deadline to register is Oct. 31. To register, go to https://bit.ly/2022_WomenInAgConference.

Charley Maxwell, Clemson Extension agribusiness agent and conference coordinator, said the conference will focus on connecting women in agriculture across the state.

All women who are involved in South Carolina agriculture are encouraged to attend this conference, Maxwell said. We will have educational information available, as well as information about resources they can use to help them in their operations.

Activities get underway with farm tours at 1 p.m. Friday. The tours will start at the T. Ed Garrison Arena, 1101 W. Queen St. in Pendleton, and will include visits to Clemson Universitys LaMaster Dairy Center, Student Organic Farm and Agricultural Service Laboratory. Transportation will be provided.

On Saturday, the conference runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Clemson University Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business building, 225 Walter T. Cox Blvd. in Clemson. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. The Lunch keynote speaker will be Marilyn Easter of Eastglen Jerseys in Laurens.

A variety of educational sessions and presentations from Clemson Cooperative Extension professionals and South Carolina producers will be held Saturday. Topics include farm income tax basics, agriwellness, financing options, hydroponics, forestry, agritourism, youth agriculture education and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Participants also will learn about the Clemson Extension Food2Market Program for Entrepreneurs, as well as other agriculture programs. Schedule listing of topics and speakers is available at https://bit.ly/2022_SCWAgN_Schedule.

For more information about the conference, including hotel information and more, go to https://www.clemson.edu/extension/scwgn/conference.html.

Women play an important role in South Carolina agriculture, comprising more than 14% of the states total producers. They are taking a more active role in day-to-day agriculture and farming operations. Data from the 2017 Census of Agriculture for South Carolina indicates between 2012 and 2017 alone, South Carolina saw a 27.8% increase in female producers and a 56.9% increase in females as principal producers on farms.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Economic development is the only way to change an area or region of South Carolina, South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette said Saturday.

Evette spoke to Florence County residents at Saturdays Florence County Republican Party political stump in Florence.

Democrats, she said, want the public to believe money solves every problem.

President Joe Biden and Democratic Party governor candidate Joe Cunningham want to print money and give everyone enough money to become dependent on the government, Evette said.

We see what that has done  high gas prices. I dont know about you but my grocery store bill has doubled, she said.

People also are worried about paying their gas and electric bills this winter, she said.

In two short years, we went from energy independent to energy dependent, she said, adding the nations we depend on for oil hate the United States.

Economic development comes in all sizes from small businesses to big industrial facilities, she said.

She pointed to the Buc-ees that opened its first travel center in South Carolina in Florence in May.

The founder of Buc-ees is a marketing genius because as a mom you can go into Buc-ees and its really hard to say no to something your child wants. They have everything from socks to T-shirts to hair bows to blankets to whatever you can think of. Buc-ees is an amazing place in Florence. Everybody will see it.

Buc-ees is bringing a lot of development to the outparcels in the area, she said. As it starts to grow and hotels and businesses arrive and thrive, it will bring jobs and big change to Florence.

Evette also pointed to Francis Marion Universitys Dr. John G. Rae III Freshwater Ecology Center, which also is in the area.

Its a big resource for university, high school and middle school students, she said.

South Carolina students need to be involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses.

We need to make sure that we are bringing all the jobs that have left the U.S. back to the U.S., Evette said.

Evette also discussed K-12 education, school choice, charter schools and vouchers.

Competition, she said, is good for all schools. It drives schools to improve.

Parents should be responsible for deciding how their children are educated, where they attend school and what the students learn in the classroom, Evette said.

Here in South Carolina, the public schools that do the best are the public schools that are in the areas where there is a lot of competition where you have faith-based schools, charter schools, she said. Because as I know in business, competition is good for everyone. Competition raises the bar.

Republicans want to continue to raise the bar. Students will be competing with other students in the U.S. as well as those around the world, she said.

The more we lower the bar, the worse it is for our children,  she said.

She also encouraged the public to be involved with local schools, attend school board meetings and help students succeed in school.

Evette also answered audience questions on a variety of topics.

Florence District 1 City Council candidate Joey McMillan and probate judge candidate Jesse Cartrette also asked those gathered at the stump for their support as the Nov. 8 election nears.
 Notable comments on drug sentencing policies from rival Senate candidates in Pennsylvania | Main | Half dozen GVRs provide only "excitement" for CJ fans in latest SCOTUS order list 

Walter Palvo continues to provide terrific coverage of difficulties in the implementation of the First Step Act's earned time credits, and this latest piece in Forbes is titled "Bureau Of Prisons Failure To Communicate First Step Act." Here are excerpts from this lengthy piece that merits a full read:

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is under new leadership but it is still suffering from decades of mismanagement. BOP Director Colette Peters began work on August 2nd of this year ... [and] testified on September 29, 2022 in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.... Senator Dick Durbin was frustrated in Peters testimony stating that the full effects of FSA had not been implemented nearly 4 years after it being signed into law. Peters assured the Senators that an auto-calculator was completed in August 2022 that provided FSA credits to prisoners which had the effect of reducing many sentences. However, that auto-calculator was not in place at the time of the hearing, or at least it was not communicated to prisoners or the public.

According to dozens of prisoners I interviewed for this piece, calculations were not communicated to them nor reflected on BOP.gov, which tracks release dates for federal prisoners. Anticipating this computer programs rollout that would reduce many prisoner release dates, prisoners and their families eagerly awaited the news of when they would be going home. As the weeks passed after after August, prisoners still had no news. It was not until the week of October 3rd that FSA credits started to be applied. As one prisoner told me, I was expecting a year of credits and I got 4 months. I have no idea what happened.

What happened is that the calculator still has errors in it. Prisoners who were transferred to a halfway house after receiving an interim calculation of their sentence, were called in and told they would be returning to prison after the new calculation took away their year....

Prisoners have worked for years to take programming that the FSA law stated would earn them credits. Now, as implemented, those credits are fewer than many thought and they still do not have answers. They also have no realistic remedy to correct it in a timely manner. Millions of dollars will now be spent on litigation that will last years while prisoners who should be released stay in prison.
DES MOINES  One element of Justin Glisans job as state climatologist is to help state government officials and Iowans be prepared for severe weather events.

But very little could have prepared Glisan for all that has transpired during his first four years.

When Glisan was hired to his dream job in 2018, the state was experiencing historic droughts and rains  sometimes simultaneously, in different parts of the state.

The following year brought a bomb cyclone and historic, devastating flooding in southwest Iowa.

Then, in 2020, came the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a destructive derecho that caused $11 billion in damage across the Midwest.

And in 2022, Iowans  especially farmers  are coping with a third consecutive year of drought conditions.

A state climatologists job is rarely dull, but Glisans brief tenure has been remarkably eventful.

And yet when asked what, if anything, has surprised Glisan since taking the job, he does not mention those historic weather events. Instead, he talks about how each day is different.

Coming in with the science behind the position, I knew that aspect of it. But there are so many different things that I do on a day-to-day basis, no one day is the same as the last. And thats what makes this job so interesting, said Glisan, who recently turned 40. But also it really drives my passion for weather and climate, but also the people that we serve.

The state climatologist compiles and processes Iowa climate data for current and future weather data research needs, according to a description on the state agriculture departments website. The climatologist compiles the weekly weather summary for the state crop progress and condition report, and the monthly state weather summary.

The Iowa state climatologist position is housed in the state agriculture department, while most state climatologists, Glisan said, are housed by a state university. Glisan said he enjoys this because it enables him to better interact with Iowans, especially farmers whose livelihoods are dependent upon dealing with weather.

Im able to actually interact with farmers and agricultural stakeholders and various groups across the state in a different way than my academic colleagues can, Glisan said. Thats been the most fulfilling aspect of this job, is actually getting out, doing field tours, looking at the crops, looking at drought conditions, getting my feet on the ground.

Im a climate modeler by training. Getting out into the field gives you a whole new perspective, versus what you see in the models and the forecasts.

The ongoing drought conditions around Iowa are foremost to Glisans work these days. He said the current drought actually started in 2020, and while conditions have improved slightly at times, currently only 15 percent of the state is not experiencing some degree of drought conditions, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. More than 30 percent of the state, mostly in northwest and southeast Iowa, is in severe

or extreme drought conditions, according to the latest report.

Droughts a different beast. Its a slow moving disaster. You dont snap your finger and drought occurs. It takes several months, if not years for a wide-scale, devastating drought to form, Glisan said. Were in the third year of this drought, which started in 2020. Weve seen good improvement over a time period. 

My concern is the subsoil moisture profiles. We need rainfall before the ground freezes to get at least some water in the tank. Looking overall, over the last three years, to really extinguish these drought conditions across the state were going to need several months, if not a year or more of above-average rainfall and precipitation and snowpack to really put a chip in these deficits.

That, in part, is why Glisan is working with other state agencies on a state drought plan, which he said will help guide state policy and help the government react to severe drought conditions.

The state drought plan is being developed in conjunction with the state Department of Natural Resources, emergency management department, the governors office, and the federal agriculture department and National Weather Service, Glisan said.

Because were in a drought right now, but the expectation is to have droughts in the future. And these droughts could be worse, if we look at the trends, Glisan said. So having a state drought plan in place, that allows us to have a better monitoring network, but also developing triggers in case a location or a county or a specific part of the state gets into dire straits  we can help our producers, we can help our farmers in terms of things that will help mitigate stress that theyre seeing in terms of crops, but also livestock.

With Iowas somewhat unique geography of being bordered by two major waterways, the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, Glisan

said future flooding is a

100 percent certainty.

So working on that climate assessment, coupled with our drought needs, gives us a better idea of the trends that we should expect in the future, he said.
Landmark congress to draw blueprint for China

Xinhua) 08:05, October 16, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) will open its 20th national congress on Sunday, an event of momentous significance to China's epic journey toward modernity.

The congress will envision the two stages toward building a great modern socialist country in all respects and set out strategic tasks and major measures for the next five years, Sun Yeli, spokesperson for the congress, said Saturday.

"We have the confidence, resolve and capability to meet new goals and create greater miracles on the way forward," Sun told a press conference.

A new CPC Central Committee and a new CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection will be elected at the congress. The CPC Constitution will be amended.

More than 2,000 delegates will attend the congress, representing more than 96 million CPC members.

Journalists attend a press conference held by Sun Yeli, spokesperson for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

The Party has established Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and defined the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

This reflects the common will of the Party, the armed forces, and Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and is of decisive significance for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and for driving forward the historic process of national rejuvenation.

In the modernization drive, China is following its own path under the leadership of the CPC, which celebrated its centenary last year.

The country has applied a new development philosophy featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development.

China's model offers an inspiration to nations who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence.

Delegates from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China arrive in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The congress comes at a time when the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, and a new phase of uncertainty and transformation.

Amid headwinds, China remains an important anchor of stability and driving force of global economic growth.

"The Chinese economy has strong resilience, great potential and robust vitality, and the fundamentals for its long-term positive growth remain unchanged," Sun said.

China has implemented the new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other.

Fostering the new development paradigm will generate lasting momentum for the long-term development of the Chinese economy as well as the steady recovery of the world economy, Sun said.

"China will unswervingly advance opening-up to cover more fields in a broader scope and at a greater depth," the spokesperson said.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become a well-received international public good and an important platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Over the past nine years, China has signed BRI cooperation documents with over 140 countries and more than 30 international organizations, Sun said.

Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2022 shows the reporter workspace of the press center for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era since the Party's 18th national congress in 2012.

In many ways, the past decade has been an unusual and extraordinary journey for China, the world's second-largest economy and most populous country.

China's GDP expanded by an average annual rate of 6.6 percent between 2013 and 2021, compared to 3.7 percent growth in developing economies and just 2.6 percent of global growth.

China had secured a complete victory in its fight against poverty, lifting close to 100 million people out of poverty in eight years.

"This had never been achieved in the Chinese history and it is a miracle in the human history as well," Sun said.

In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, China has managed to protect the health and safety of the people to the greatest extent possible and achieved the best results in the world in coordinating economic development with the COVID-19 response.

China's measures to tackle the COVID-19 epidemic are the most cost-effective and have worked the best for the country, Sun said.

Today, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process, but as Xi has often cautioned, it will be no easy task.

Addressing a study session of provincial and ministerial-level officials in late July, Xi said that achieving national rejuvenation will be no walk in the park, and it will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there.

Xi called for resolve to undertake a great struggle with many new contemporary features, and readiness to work even harder toward the goal of national rejuvenation.

An editorial to be published by the People's Daily on Sunday says the congress will make plans and arrangements for the cause of the Party and the country from a strategic and overall perspective, and guide the entire nation to break new grounds for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

On the new journey, we will be able to keep firmly in our own hands the destiny of the country's development and progress as long as we stay committed to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promote national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization, the editorial says.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Du Mingming)
You are here: Business

China's auto exports surged 55.5 percent year on year to top 2.11 million units in the first nine months of the year, industry data shows.

Over 1.69 million passenger cars were exported during the period, up 60.1 percent from the same period last year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

The country's commercial vehicle exports rose 39.2 percent year on year to 422,000 units in the same period, the association said.

New-energy vehicles have become a bright spot in China's auto exports, with 389,000 units exported in the January-September period, skyrocketing more than 100 percent over the year prior.

In September alone, China's auto exports soared 73.9 percent year on year to 301,000 units, the data shows.




Last weekend I attended the 55th year reunion of my graduating class at the college in Minnesota from which I graduated. It was held in conjunction with the colleges homecoming activities.

There were only 31 of us from our class who were there. The others had either passed on or found traveling to Minnesota more than they could handle. Time takes its toll.

But for the 31 of us who were there, it was a wonderful experience. It was a time to reminisce and talk about experiences that we shared. It was good to be there.

This weekend has been homecoming at Augustana College, where I am in my 49th year as a member of the faculty. I greatly enjoy seeing former students who return to their alma mater to share in homecoming festivities. Some of my former students are now parents of students in classes I am teaching. That makes it extra special.

Homecoming, of course, involves far more than returning to a school that one once attended. It occurs in many different shapes and forms.

A few weeks down the road, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving break. Many students will be returning home for Thanksgiving. That will be a very special time for them and their families.

Because my family lived a thousand miles away from the college I attended, I was not able to go home for Thanksgiving. However, I was able to go home for Christmas break. After a long train ride that lasted nearly a full day, I would at long last arrive at the train station in Whitefish, Montana, where my parents were waiting for me.

It was a 40-mile drive to get from the train station to the farm on which I grew up. When I could see Three Eagles (a series of three adjacent mountain peaks) I knew I was almost home. When I finally arrived home, my parents and I would sit around the kitchen table (the most used place in farmhouses), enjoying a bowl of maple nut ice cream and talking until the early hours of the morning. It was good to be home.

Those in the military know what it is like to return from a deployment once the mission has been completed. In the Navy (the branch of the service in which I served), once the ship starts heading for home, those aboard the ship think nonstop about getting back home and little else.

The return trip for one mission I was on was particularly memorable. It was a three-month mission which involved crossing the Atlantic and conducting operations north of the Arctic Circle during the time of the year when there is 24 hours of daylight each day.

Three months was a long time to be gone, but the day finally came when our mission was completed, and the captain of the ship received orders to begin the 10-day transit back to our home port.

Unfortunately, it ended up taking more than 10 days to cross the Atlantic. Hurricane Ginger decided to make life difficult for us.

When riding out a hurricane, you want to be as far as possible away from anything that might make crunching noises by coming in contact with the hull. We hurriedly put in port in Bermuda to top off our fuel tanks. We didnt tie up at a quay. Instead, a fuel barge pulled up alongside us and as quickly as possible topped off our fuel tanks. We then headed out to the open sea again.

When riding out a hurricane, you forget about where you were planning to go and instead take a course that is 35 degrees into the waves. That reduces the risk of capsizing. Even then we were taking green water over the bow and rolling in excess of 45 degrees. Fortunately, we didnt capsize. The full fuel tanks provided enough ballast to bring the ship upright again on its way to heeling over on the other side.

After three days of our heading in the general direction of Africa, Hurricane Ginger released us from her grasp, and we were able to get back on course. Seeing land as we approached our home port was one of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had.

Whether going to a class reunion at a school one attended or returning from a journey halfway around the world, coming home is always very special, even if it is only for a visit.

This column has been updated since published on Oct. 16.
The news couldnt have come at a better time.

Bomgaars last week announced the aquistion of 73 Orscheln Farm and Home stores, making the Sioux City-based company the second largest farm and ranch retailer in the country.

A surprise to many, the announcement was in keeping with Roger and Jane Bomgaars low-key approach to doing business. They make big moves. But they do so quietly. Those moves, in turn, mean big business for Siouxland.

Like Sen. Chuck Grassley, the two like to annually visit their stores just to see how business is going. That approach means they can pivot when the marketplace changes. Already, the two are planning to visit the 73 new locations to welcome their new employees as part of their regular spring travels. The full Grassley? Soon, politicians interested in making an impact with the business community will talk about the full Bomgaars, getting into the trenches and seeing what ticks.

While the change likely wont result in an influx of new jobs for Siouxlanders, it will solidify the region as a great place for retailers to land. Others could realize the benefits of locating here and use it as a great base to spread across the country. The Bomgaars people certainly have.

Whats interesting about this story is the way the Bomgaars stores reinforce communities. Theyre providing the goods many smaller communities need but cant find anywhere close by. Theyre not running mom-and-pop stores out of business, but augmenting them in way that says your community matters.

While weve seen big box stores come and go (based on their Fortune 500 fortunes), the Bomgaars stores are a consistent presence wherever they land. They have the things you need (when you need them) and theyre not gunning to expand into lines that would end a local grocery store, for example.

Plus, Bomgaars stores have an old-school approach to doing business. They dont just talk about helpful employees. They actually have them.

Even better, Roger and Jane have a team that could ensure a bright future for decades to come. Their son, Aaron, is a top executive with the family business. They saw an opportunity and worked more than a year trying to make it happen.

Bomgaars CEO Torrey Wingert said the family was determined to complete the acquisition and were willing to take the time and money to see it through.

That means shoppers in Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio will soon know the name Bomgaars and what it represents.

Thankfully, weve been on board for decades.
If you spend any time among parents, at least in bougier circles, youll know that protecting your kids from environmental toxins is a passion bordering on obsession. Lengthy discussions ensue about which brand of BPA-free plastic water bottles to use, how to find crib mattresses that dont off-gas volatile organic compounds, or whether its worth getting a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Now, some parents are starting to worry about their gas stoves.

A third of American homessome 46 millionhave gas stoves. People in the U.S. are indoors and at home about 70 percent of their time. This means gas stove emissions could add up to a serious pediatric public health issue. Ive been working on cooking-related pollution for quite a few years now, said Stephanie Holm, co-director of the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit at the University of California, San Francisco. And I always say to folks that its one of the most underappreciated exposures that our kids have.

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Gas stoves are a major source of indoor air pollution, releasing a toxic potpourri of inhalable particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and methane. Some of these chemicals are cause for environmental concernmethane, for one, is a potent greenhouse gas. But headlines have also raised health concerns: Gas stoves may worsen asthma in children and can release numerous carcinogens (though in low concentrations), even when turned off.

Its understandable that parents might be tempted to rip these appliances out of the walls immediatelythere are a ton of reasons to lightly fear them. I have my own particular worry to add to the mix. As a neuroscientist living in an old, unventilated apartment with a 4-year-old, I cant help but wonder: How does cooking my kid a quesadilla affect his brain? And, since I cant simply replace my stove, what can be done to mitigate its general ill effects on our health?

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Neuroscience research suggests several ways that air pollution in general could damage the developing brain. In the womb, particulates inhaled by the mother can cross the placental barrier. The kind of particulates liberated during cooking can be covered in toxic substances and heavy metals that can accumulate in fetal tissue. The developing brain hasnt learned to dispose of these metals yet, leaving it particularly vulnerable to damage.

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After birth, contaminated air enters childrens bodies via their lungs, and from there, toxins can cross the blood-brain barrier to trigger inflammatory and oxidative stress responses. Certain pollutants may be shuttled from the nose directly into the brain, bypassing the blood-brain barrier entirely. Brain-imaging studies find pathological abnormalities in children exposed to significant air pollution, including thinning of the cortex, disorganized connectivity, and unusual sizes for certain brain areas.

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But do these scary-sounding biological processes translate into real-world issues with brain health when it comes to pollutants from gas stoves? It seems only two studies empirically weigh in on this question, both conducted by the same group in Spain. In one study, the group found that the presence of a gas cooker in the home was associated with a very, very small drop in scores on a cognitive development test administered to 1-year-old infants (think a few points out of 100; nowhere near enough to put your typical kid in cognitive delay territory). But this study didnt measure air quality in homes directly, so its unclear if the score drops were simply because people who cook with gas stoves are systematically different from people who cook with electric stoves.

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Another study by the same group is more conclusive. In this study, field workers went to 500 homes with newborns and directly measured indoor nitrogen dioxide concentrations for three months. (Nitrogen dioxidea major pollutant of trafficis only released by gas stoves, not other cooking devices.) Then, four years later, they tested the childrens mental functioning and attention-hyperactivity behaviors. Kids who lived in homes with gas stoves experienced levels of nitrogen dioxide triple to those who came from homes with electric stoves. Kids from homes with gas stoves fared marginally worse on cognitive tasks (again, a point or two out of a 100-point scale). But the higher the nitrogen dioxide levels, the worse the children didsuggesting the small effect is truly due to toxins released by the stove. Children in homes with gas stoves also had a slightly higher risk of developing some ADHD symptoms. The researchers controlled for all sorts of confounding factors such as social class, location, and outdoor nitrogen dioxide levels, making these results convincing.

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But these are only two studies, and the cognitive and behavioral effects were really small. To put it in perspective, having smokers in the household, or lead in pipes, would be far more damaging. Yu Ni, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Washington, recently published one of the largest, most-rigorous studies of outdoor air pollution in the U.S. Her group found that outdoor air pollution was associated with cognitive and behavioral problems, but Ni said that the magnitude of the changes were relatively small. Lifestyle behaviors or genetic factors probably have a much larger impact on specific groups of people, Ni said.

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So what are parents to do with this information? As a scientist, Im reluctant to make a major decision like ripping out an appliance based on two studies, even if the more robust evidence from outdoor air pollution strongly suggests the indoor harm to developing brains is real. Im more compelled by the studies linking gas stoves to asthma and respiratory problems, but even this literature isnt a slam dunk.

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Another issue is its difficult to separate the effects of gas stoves specifically to cooking more generally. Holm recalled baking cookies with her daughter with an indoor air quality monitor on hand, and she was shocked to find that With just one batch of a dozen cookies, we managed to get our indoor particulate matter levels up into the same range that you would see from wildfire smoke. Very unhealthy levels. The kicker: Holm has an electric oven. In other words, cooking, regardless of heat sources, is a combustion process that releases chemicals and particulate matter, all contained in a small space. Yes, gas stoves likely make air quality even worse because they release additional chemicals, but its not clear how much more that pollution exacerbates whats already a pretty small effect on brains. If youre inclined to ruminate over whether your gas stove is going to hobble your childs chances at Harvard, maybe just spend that energy reading a book to your kid instead.

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In some areas, the fretting over the health impacts of gas stoves may become moot. Several cities, including New York City, are banning installation of gas heaters and appliances in all new buildings in the name of environmental sustainability. Gas stoves release the powerful greenhouse gas methane, even when turned off. But gas bans are really part of a broader push for cities to replace fossil fuel infrastructure with cleaner electric grids. Because many of the highly publicized reports about the health impacts of stoves are put out by climate advocacy groups and allied think tanks, some are suspicious that the health risks to individuals are being exaggerated as a scare tactic to get people to switch appliances for climate reasons. Maybe so, but you could view a switch as a win-win: An electric stove reduces a small brain risk and a small environmental emission all in one go. On a population-wide level, the shift to electric appliances could be meaningful for both public health and climate change.

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Even though cooking may only pose a marginal risk to your childs brain, its still worth taking some simple steps to make a small risk smaller, particularly if you or someone living with you is pregnant. Only a third of people with exhaust hoods say they regularly use them. It might be easy to think that hoods are just there to remove strong odors, or to flip on when food is burning. But exhaust hoods are meant to help with all toxins: In the studies above on household pollution, the more people reported using an exhaust hood, the lower the levels of household nitrogen dioxide. Holm thinks an education campaign could go a long way. A lot of times people think, Oh, you know, sure if Im burning bacon, I turn [the exhaust hood] on. But other times Im cooking, I dont need it. And thats not true. You really should be using it every time you cook. Her group has just released a video tutorial about best practices in ventilation while cooking.

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For those, like me, who dont have an exhaust hood and cant install one, you can pick up a $25 box fan facing out a nearby window to pull the fumes out. I tried this out. To see if the ventilation was working, I picked up an air quality monitor and tested cooking with and without the fan: With the fan running, pollutants in the kitchen didnt reach stratospheric levels, and the air cleared in 20 minutes or so. Without the fan, the airborne pollutants lingered for over an hour. I also added air purifiers in other rooms just to generally clean the air, but they have the bonus of filtering out residual particles from the stovetop. Not everyone can afford air purifiers, but a box fan is within most peoples reach. At minimum, you can utilize a tried-and-true (and free) air quality improvement tactic: just open the window.
Radhakrishnan Chidambaram Founder

There is no doubt the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the way both individuals & organizations operate. However, one significant takeaway the pandemic offered was the customers becoming more health conscious. As a result, not just today's youth, but elderly population is driven healthy eating habits, thus driving the growth for organic food products. The India organic food market which was worth $849.5 million in 2020, is expected to be worth $2601 million by 2026, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.5 percent during the forecast period. Additionally, the government is also encouraging organic farming through various schemes such as Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), thus further fuelling the organic foods market.18 Herbs Organics is a Madurai based company that is renowned in the Indian organic foods industry for its thorough R&D, and manufacturing a diverse variety of organic products. Headed by Radhakrishnan Chidambaram, Founder, 18 Herbs Organics, the company is well positioned in the market through its natural, healthy and sustainable product offerings"All our products are ecofriendly and sustainable by design. We choose our herbs from either our own organic farms or certified organic farms that are under our strict supervision. We're on a mission to do our best to make this planet healthier &
Jabcon Consultants has established itself as the major service provider for architectural consultancy, urban planning, interior design, landscape planning & design, real estate, project structure, and Government procurement & bid process management

Jabcon Consultants also offer interior design services through which they help clients with the right colors, textiles, and finishes that can tie a space together, create a specific moodand serve as characters in the story of a particular space. "Besides, we support our clients to identify the appropriate locations for their upcoming future projects in Residential, Commercial & Industrial Locations, upgradation of the existing Equipments and the Plant & Machinery in the existing units being acquired, identification of lease and rental properties, analysis of best use of the existing assets as well as Opportunity investigations, adds Mustufa.Through its project structure execution and management services, Jabcon focusses on planning, implementation, communication, risk analysis and management and quality management for its clients.Lastly, the company is eagerly engaged in specialized services such as Bid Process Management Services which are related to all the formalities and rules followed in the bidding process. To manage bidding process in the corporate, one needs professional support by the expert who is familiar in this domain. Jabcon provides these services at market competent rates.Over the past few years, Jabcon has handled key projects in Naya Raipur city Chhattisgarh of the government sector such as NTPC-WRII Office, Naya Raipur, and IIIT master plan and infra design services. Other than this, the company is involved as a local architect for the first Reserve Bank of India office currently being constructed from last 6 years along with principal architect Ratan J Batliboi Consultants. Other than this it is handling key industrial projects like Twilco industries planning design services along with service centre for Maruti Suzuki including all the statutory approval and supervision in building works.Jabcon Consultants has established itself as the major service provider for architectural consultancy, urban planning, interior design, landscape planning and design, real estate, project structure, and Government procurement and bid process management. It has also offered its services to international clients like Nippen Seki in Japan. Nippen had come to Jabcon for a feasibility study of model economic township, Haryana jhajjar. Based on the key report provided by Jabcon, Nippen was able to build their own plant.In the future, the company hopes to expand its services of valuation to the banking sectors for regular loaning works. It will continually work toward its vision of developing urban infra projects with sustain ability. "By leveraging the latest technology, we will continue to be the leading service provider of Architects, Project Management, Interiors, Vastu, Valuation and Urban Planning from Raipur",Concludes Mustufa.
https://sputniknews.com/20221016/all-nord-stream-gas-volumes-can-be-redirected-via-turkish-hub-gazprom-says-1101899938.html

All Nord Stream Gas Volumes Could Be Redirected Via Turkish Hub, Gazprom Says

All Nord Stream Gas Volumes Could Be Redirected Via Turkish Hub, Gazprom Says

Nord Stream 1 and 2, twin pipeline networks capable of pumping up to 110 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas to Germany via the bottom of the Baltic... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T11:45+0000

2022-10-16T11:45+0000

2022-10-16T16:07+0000

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It will be possible to redirect gas volumes ordinarily delivered by Nord Stream via a hub in Turkey if the necessary infrastructure is created, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller has indicated."You know, nothing's impossible," Miller said in an interview with Russian television on Sunday, when asked about whether the supplies Russia ordinarily delivers via Nord Stream can be redirected via Turkey-based infrastructure. "We're talking about those volumes which we have lost thanks to the acts of international terrorism against the Nord Stream pipelines, so these can be significant volumes," he said.South Stream began construction in 2012, but was canceled in 2014 thanks to European sanctions and bureaucratic restrictions put in place in Brussels. The $20 billion, 2,380 km long pipeline network would have had the capacity to carry up to 63 billion cubic meters per year via the Black Sea to Bulgaria, which would have become a hub for deliveries to Greece, Italy, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Austria. Gazprom partnered with Italy's Eni, France's EDF, Germany's Wintershall, and Serbia's Naftna Industrija Srbije and Srbijagas on the project.South Stream was eventually replaced by TurkStream (formerly Turkish Stream), an 11.5 billion euro pipeline capable of pumping up to 31.5 billion cubic meters per year (cm3/yr) worth of Russian gas to Turkey - which became a mini-hub for deliveries further west when the project was completed in 2020.The cancellation of South Stream robbed Bulgaria of hundreds of millions of dollars in annual transit revenues.Russian President Vladimir Putin brought up the idea of turning Turkey into Europe's largest gas hub on Wednesday, and said Moscow would be ready to develop the idea if the EU showed interest - pending the lack of any artificial "price caps" on Russian energy by Brussels. Speaking to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, Putin said the construction of a second pipeline network across the Black Sea using a hub in Turkey could help bring down "exorbitant" gas prices and return stability to the market.Turkish officials indicated that the gas hub idea is "technically possible," and Erdogan said Friday that he had instructed the country's Ministry of Energy and natural resources to carry out a joint study with its Russian counterparts on the matter.Talk of an expanded Turkish hub for Russian gas deliveries to Europe comes against the background of last month's sabotage attacks against Nord Stream - twin pipeline networks able to pump natural gas from Russia to northeastern Germany via the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream 1 was completed in 2011, and pumped cheap Russian gas to Central Europe for more than a decade before shutting down in late August thanks to Western sanctions affecting its ability to engage in the maintenance of its compressor stations. Nord Stream 2 was finished in late 2021, but was frozen indefinitely in February by the German government after Russia recognized the Donbass republics as sovereign states before kicking off its military operation in Ukraine.Yamal-Europe, a major overland pipeline which can ordinarily send up to 33 billion cm3/yr to Europe, was shut down this summer after Polish authorities turned it on in reverse flow, while the Soyuz, a pipeline running through Ukraine with a 26.1 billion cm3/yr capacity, has also experienced a fall in flows thanks to the security crisis in that country.The shortfall of Russian energy comes as European countries brace for unprecedented energy shortages caused by rising prices, artificially-imposed cuts in Russian supplies, a plethora "green energy" regulations against traditional hydrocarbons, and a lack of capacity among other energy producers to replace the lost Russian exports.

https://sputniknews.com/20221013/putin-arrives-in-astana-to-attend-cica-russia-central-asia-summits-1101789538.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221014/german-drone-finds-26-foot-gash-in-nord-stream-1-that-could-only-be-caused-by-explosion---report-1101859261.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221016/erdogan-says-rescue-mission-completed-at-coal-mine-blast-site-in-northern-turkey-1101892151.html

Erdogan Says Rescue Mission Completed at Coal Mine Blast Site in Northern Turkey

Erdogan Says Rescue Mission Completed at Coal Mine Blast Site in Northern Turkey

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the rescue mission was completed at the explosion at a mine in northern Turkey, media... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T06:30+0000

2022-10-16T06:30+0000

2022-10-16T06:30+0000

world

recep tayyip erdogan

turkey

mine

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The explosion occurred on Friday evening at a mine in the province of Bartin in northern Turkey.The death toll in the explosion reached 41, Erdogan was quoted as saying on by Turkish news agency Anadolu. Earlier, it was reported that 28 people died as a result of the blast.The president also added that the rescue operation was completed; a total of 11 injured workers are now undergoing treatment in hospitals. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that five wounded miners are in critical condition.Law enforcement officers were investigating the explosion site, preliminary findings suggest that the cause of the blast was an explosive mixture of flammable gases in mine, Erdogan said.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221016/friends-of-king-charles-iii-urge-boycott-of-the-crown-1101895725.html

Friends of King Charles III Urge Boycott of The Crown

Friends of King Charles III Urge Boycott of The Crown

In a contentious episode of the new season of the Netflix drama, The Crown, due to be released on November 9, King Charles III, the Prince of Wales at the... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T10:03+0000

2022-10-16T10:03+0000

2022-10-16T10:03+0000

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king charles iii

hms prince of wales

sir john major

queen elizabeth ii

netflix

europe

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Royal drama The Crown has been accused of fabricating a "hurtful" smear against King Charles III, the Mail on Sunday reported.An episode of the upcoming fifth season has been denounced as "malicious nonsense" by sources close to the monarch, with calls for a boycott of the Netflix TV series.Due to be released on November 9, the episode, titled "Queen Victoria Syndrome," is set in 1991. The King, who was Charles, Prince of Wales at the time, is played by Dominic West. He is shown cutting short a holiday with Princess Diana and his sons, William and Harry, to return to London in reaction to a newspaper poll showing support for Queen Elizabeth II's abdication among 47 percent of the monarch's subjects. Summoning then-Prime Minister John Major, played by Jonny Lee Miller, to a private meeting, Charles hints that the monarchy should follow the lead of the Conservative Party. A year earlier, Margaret Thatcher had been ousted in favor of the younger Major. The storyline is supposedly based on a poll from 1990, which, in effect, showed 47 percent saying the Queen - then 65 - should hand over the Throne "at some stage" in the future. According to The Crowns writers, Prince Charles feared his mother was repeating Queen Victorias mistakes by refusing to stand aside for a younger heir.Charles is depicted as saying, in reference to his great-great grandfather Edward VII, the son of Queen Victoria:At this point in the scene, when Major asks what Charles is implying, the Prince responds:"I am saying what a pity it was, what a waste that his voice, his presence, his vision, wasnt incorporated earlier. It would have been so good for everybody."The on-screen Prince Charles then tells John Major to join the Queen at an upcoming ball at Balmoral to judge for himself "whether this institution that we all care about so deeply is in safe hands."Friends of King Charles III, who ascended the British throne after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, have called his portrayal as a disloyal schemer false, unfair and deeply wounding.All the dialogue is completely made up, one source stated.Sir John Major, who was Prime Minister between 1990 and 1997 and was close to the royal family, told the Mail on Sunday through his spokesperson that the episode was a barrel load of malicious nonsense.It was added that Major did not cooperate in any way with The Crown, and had never been approached by them "to fact check any script material in this or any other series.""The Crown is full of nonsense, but this is nonsense on stilts," broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, a friend of King Charles III, was cited as saying. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith added: Last year, politicians and royal experts voiced support for a Mail on Sunday campaign to demand that Netflix place a disclaimer on The Crown amid growing criticism over the distortion of facts in the series. However, the streaming giant has so far refused to add any such message.

https://sputniknews.com/20220930/will-king-charles-iii-follow-danish-queen-in-stripping-minor-royals-titles-1101376824.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221011/coronation-of-king-charles-iii-will-take-place-on-may-6-2023-palace-1101735627.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221016/george-floyd-didnt-die-of-hypoxia-claims-kanye-west-1101894716.html

George Floyd Didn't Die of Hypoxia, Claims Kanye West

George Floyd Didn't Die of Hypoxia, Claims Kanye West

George Floyd, a native of Houston, Texas, died in May 2020 after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nine minutes during an arrest... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T10:46+0000

2022-10-16T10:46+0000

2022-10-16T10:46+0000

george floyd

kanye west

viral

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Rap legend and fashion designer Kanye West has claimed while speaking on the Drink Champs podcast that George Floyd did not die of asphyxiation.According to West, Floyd died because of fentanyl and the police officer's knee wasnt even on his neck".Earlier it was reported that Floyd suffered from chronic pain and struggled with addiction to opiate-based painkillers.On 25 May 2020, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes as the latter was handcuffed and lying on his stomach. During the arrest, another officer, Alexander Kueng, knelt on Floyd's back and a third, Tou Thao, warned bystanders not to get too close. The incident was captured on video and went viral, sparking protests - and riots - throughout the United States and abroad.Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder last year and sentenced to 22-and-a-half years on the state charge. Kueng, Thao and another officer, Thomas Lane, were convicted in the US federal court in February of violating Floyd's civil rights. Kueng received a three-year prison sentence, Thao a three-and-a-half year prison sentence, and Lane was sentenced to two-and-a-half years.

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There is a risk of geopolitical fragmentation, as geopolitics turn into geo-economics with negative impacts, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Friday.

"Emerging markets and developing countries have stressed that for them, it is paramount that they have the opportunity to drive growth and employment on the basis of a more integrated global economy," Georgieva said at a press conference during the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in response to a question from Xinhua.

That was also a message coming from small advanced economies, Georgieva noted, referring to the meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), the policy advisory committee of the IMF Board of Governors.

"The predominant mood in the room was we cannot possibly allow fragmentation to happen because everybody would be poorer, but it would be devastating for low-income and, for emerging markets and developing economies," said the IMF chief.

Georgieva said that a simulation showed that for advanced economies, global economic fragmentation would mean a loss of 2 percent of output, while for emerging markets and developing economies, it could be 10 to 15 percent.

Nadia Calvino, Spain's first vice president and minister for economy and digitalization, who is the chair of the IMFC, also highlighted the risk of fragmentation.

In the Chair's Statement of the 46th Meeting of the IMFC, Calvino said the global economy is subject to increased fragmentation risks and the IMFC reiterates its call for greater international cooperation to prevent fragmentation and safeguard global economic integration.

Looking back, Georgieva noted that an integrated economy led to the tripling of the world economy in the last decades, in which emerging markets and developing economies quadrupled, and advanced economies doubled.

"So if we want to have a secure future, we do need to retain that efficiency that comes from an integrated economy," said Georgieva.
https://sputniknews.com/20221016/ghislaine-maxwell-feels-bad-for-dear-friend-prince-andrew-in-prison-interviews--1101901366.html

Ghislaine Maxwell 'Feels Bad' for 'Dear Friend' Prince Andrew in Prison Interviews

Ghislaine Maxwell 'Feels Bad' for 'Dear Friend' Prince Andrew in Prison Interviews

Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty on 29 December 2021, of recruiting underage girls to be sexually abused by the late billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T13:23+0000

2022-10-16T13:23+0000

2022-10-16T13:23+0000

americas

us

ghislaine maxwell

jeffrey epstein

prince andrew

bill clinton

sex trafficking ring

virginia roberts giuffre

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Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted for conspiring with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein to groom and sexually abuse underage girls, says she understands why Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton can no longer consider me as a friend, British weekly newspaper the Mail on Sunday reported.The former British socialite who is now serving 20 years at a jail in Florida's state capital Tallahassee, gave her first two interviews since being found guilty of sex trafficking to CBS and Paramount Plus. Maxwell, 60, reportedly gave one of the interviews in person at Brooklyns Metropolitan Detention Centre in June and the next one remotely from where she is now being held.The daughter of the late publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell was described as being aware why Prince Andrews lawyers downplayed their friendship, saying:Maxwell, who had known the Duke of York since her days as a student at Oxford University in the Eighties, is cited as adding:Maxwell reportedly branded as "fake" the notorious photograph showing Prince Andrew with his hand around the waist of a then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts, now Giuffre, who accused him of sexually assaulting her while she was under age (in certain jurisdictions) and being trafficked by the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Said to have been taken at Maxwells London home (where the age of consent is 16) in March 2001, it shows Epsteins former girlfriend standing in the background.This photo is not real, she purportedly said in the interview, backing the disgraced royals earlier claim that it had been doctored.Giuffre sued Prince Andrew for sex abuse. However, the royal, who never admitted guilt, reached an out-of-court settlement with her in February.Cancelled FriendsMaxwell also reportedly reminisced in the interviews about her close friendships with former US Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.The relationship with Clinton, who traveled to Epstein's private island at least 26 times on the 'Lolita Express' - the late convicted sex trafficker's private jet - was also a special friendship, which continued over the years, said Maxwell.As for former President Trump, Maxwell applauded him for daring to wish her well after her arrest.Maxwell complained friends were cancelled just for knowing her.Hundreds of public figures, ranging from Hollywood actors and musicians to high-profile politicians, are known to have associated with Epstein, including, Bill Gates, former Senator John Glenn, and former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.When speaking from the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where she bemoaned the "harsh isolation", and lack of food and clean water, Maxwell is also said to have revealed that a fellow inmate had planned to kill her while she slept. Accordingly, after being moved to Tallahassee jail, the 60-year-old felt more safe.As for her association with the greatest regret of my life," pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, found dead in his cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, she lamented how it had transformed her into a wicked witch character.And obviously, if I could go back today, I would avoid meeting him, and I would make different choices, Maxwell said.

https://sputniknews.com/20221006/potential-ghislaine-maxwell-revelations-may-spell-more-problems-for-prince-andrew-lawyer-argues-1101578321.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221016/japan-australia-may-update-declaration-on-security-cooperation-1101906180.html

Japan, Australia May Update Declaration on Security Cooperation

Japan, Australia May Update Declaration on Security Cooperation

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese may announce the signing of a new declaration on... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T17:06+0000

2022-10-16T17:06+0000

2022-10-16T17:06+0000

world

australia & oceania

japan

security

fumio kishida

anthony albanese

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Kishida will hold talks with Albanese on October 22 in the Australian city of Perth, the news agency reported, adding that after the meeting, the parties may announce the new agreement. The document will highlight the importance of a "free and open Indo-Pacific." Other details regarding the content of the declaration are not specified.According to the news agency, the new declaration on security cooperation should replace the document signed in 2007 by then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister John Howard.The security pact provided for a significant strengthening of ties between the two countries in the field of defense, in particular, through joint training of Japanese and Australian military personnel in emergency situations and during peacekeeping operations. It also boosted the cooperation between the parties in the fight against terrorism and in the field of intelligence.Top officials from Japan and Australia are also expected to discuss energy cooperation, in particular, gas supplies, since Australia is one of the key exporters of gas for Japan, the report added.In May, Kishida and Albanese had already discussed the declaration in light of China's increasing presence in the region over the past 15 years, the news agency reported.

https://sputniknews.com/20221012/ex-aussie-pm-calls-quad-piece-of-strategic-nonsense-warns-against-efforts-to-ring-fence-china-1101752022.html

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Air Raid Warnings Issued in Several Ukrainian Regions

Air raid alerts were issued in the Ukrainian regions of Poltava, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Cherkasy shortly after midnight, according to regional authorities.

Ukrainian media reported overnight that air raid warnings were also declared in the Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

In Mykolaiv, a fire has reportedly erupted at industrial infrastructure facilities.

Explosions were reported in various parts of Ukraine late on Sunday night, including the cities of Mykolaiv and Odesa. In Mykolaiv, a fire erupted at a fuel storage site after the blasts, according to Ukrainian media reports.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that Russian forces targeted Ukrainian energy facilities and military command hubs using high-precision missiles earlier in the day.

Precision strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure have been carried out throughout the week.

On Saturday, Ukrainian power operator Ukrenergo said that the energy infrastructure of the Kiev region was damaged as a result of a morning missile attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Russia's Security Council on Monday that Russia had carried out retaliatory strikes using precision-guided weapons against Ukrainian infrastructure, in response to the crimes committed by Kiev against the Russian civilian infrastructure. Putin condemned the bombing of the Kerch Strait Bridge, also known as the Crimean Bridge, that took place on October 8, saying that such a terror act cannot be left without retaliation.
https://sputniknews.com/20221016/netanyahu-laughs-when-asked-if-israel-would-retaliate-against-kanye-west-1101902607.html

Netanyahu Laughs When Asked if Israel Would Retaliate Against Kanye West

Netanyahu Laughs When Asked if Israel Would Retaliate Against Kanye West

US rapper Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, has been stoking one controversy after another. First, at Paris Fashion Week, where he debuted a T-shirt for his... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T14:41+0000

2022-10-16T14:41+0000

2022-10-16T14:44+0000

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bill maher

benjamin netanyahu

kanye west

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viral

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Bill Maher and his guest Benjamin Netanyahu prompted some enthusiastic applause from the audience on October 14, as the comedian asked if Israel would retaliate against Kanye West for his recent "anti-Semitic" Twitter rant.As the former Israeli prime minister, indicted on corruption charges which he denies, appeared on HBOs Real Time on Friday night, Maher asked him:Laughing in response, Netanyahu, beaming in from Tel Aviv, said:He added that it was old stuff that shouldnt have any place in civilized discourse.According to Netanyahu, that was the reason why the Jewish state was established:So the Jewish people would have defense against these absurdities, and sometimes theyre coupled with violence. We dont let that happen again, he said.Earlier, Kanye "Ye" West had one of his tweets taken down by the social media platform on the same day that Meta* confirmed his Instagram* account had been restricted for violating the platforms policies.In the tweet, posted on October 8, the 45-year-old rapper and fashion mogul wrote that he was going to go death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE. This was an apparent reference to the United States military defense readiness condition, known as DEFCON. There are five levels that indicate the intensity of a national security threat, with 5 being the lowest, and 1 the highest.The rapper went on to defend his anti-Semitic tweet by claiming that he could not be against Jews because he is black.Earlier, the musician had his Instagram account restricted after he posted a message - which has since been deleted - about an alleged exchange between him and Sean "Diddy" Combs, in which users lambasted the rapper for using language that seemed anti-Semitic.Still earlier, the billionaire musician triggered backlash in the wake of a controversial show during Paris Fashion Week. Kanye West showcased an Yeezy T-shirt with the slogan "White Lives Matter." The Anti-Defamation League denounced the phrase, which reframes the Black Lives Matter phrase, as a hate statement.*Meta (Facebook, Instagram) is banned in Russia as an extremist organization.

https://sputniknews.com/20221009/kanye-wests-death-con-3-on-jewish-people-tweet-taken-down-1101649794.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221007/kanye-west-explains-his-white-lives-matter-t-shirt-says-hes-pro-life-in-fox-interview--1101623474.html

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us, israel, bill maher, benjamin netanyahu, kanye west, anti-semitic, middle east
https://sputniknews.com/20221016/ny-college-slammed-for-segregated-antiracism-program-for-faculty--staff-1101897986.html

NY College Slammed for Segregated 'Antiracism' Program For Faculty & Staff

NY College Slammed for Segregated 'Antiracism' Program For Faculty & Staff

Tufts University in Massachusetts recently raised eyebrows after it reportedly announced a diversity event aimed at understanding a cross-cultural dialogue... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T11:36+0000

2022-10-16T11:36+0000

2022-10-16T11:36+0000

americas

us

segregation

diversity

racist

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Ithaca College in New York has been slammed for segregating staff by "racial affinity groups," having them meet on different days throughout a specific year-long course.The "Antiracism Institute" is an optional weekly event taking place at the college during the 2022-2023 academic year. Faculty and staff members are given the option to attend Monday sessions for "faculty and staff who identify as people of color" or Thursday sessions for "faculty and staff who identify as white," according to Fox News Digital.The Antiracism Institute, implemented by the college's Center for Faculty Excellence, will "focus on the development of communities who will support one another in learning and action," its website states, which is currently open only to those associated with the school. The meetings will be tailored to help attendees learn about recognizing, responding to, and redressing racial inequities in the first semester.In the second semester the curriculum will focus on cultivating and sustaining communities," the website is cited as saying.Firstly, the university asked employees to record their race in an official school database. However, in a follow-up letter to staff, cited by the outlet, the school said that they "want to have a more complete understanding of our current demographic profiles." This was allegedly needed for the purpose of becoming "a more diverse and inclusive institution."The staff were asked to "make the entries that most closely reflect your racial and ethnic identity." Applicants to the program were requested to "write a statement of interest that describes how participation in the Antiracism Institute will contribute to your personal and professional development."Many on social media called the policy antithetical to defeating racism. Others lamented what they saw as a "return to the 1950-ies".The report echoes similar woke moves made by other US educational institutions. Tufts University recently came under fire after launching two sessions: Radical Healing and Unpacking Whiteness, set to separate black and ethnic minority staff from white colleagues.According to the institutions diversity and inclusion department, Radical Healing is a session designed to create an important, safe space for BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) staff and faculty at Tufts.Unpacking Whiteness is for those hoping to find community and support in learning and understanding how to practice anti-racism in their daily lives.Despite aiming to understand a "cross-cultural dialogue," Massachusetts university split up the two sessions - set to start on October 17 - based on the race of attendees.

https://sputniknews.com/20220317/ill-fight-you-btch-woke-yale-law-students-trigger-fracas-at-bipartisan-free-speech-event-1093959798.html

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us, segregation, diversity, racist
https://sputniknews.com/20221016/protestors-who-threw-cans-of-soup-at-van-gogh-painting-appear-in-court--1101888695.html

Protestors Who Threw Cans of Soup at Van Gogh Painting Appear in Court

Protestors Who Threw Cans of Soup at Van Gogh Painting Appear in Court

The Just Stop Oil protestors threw cans of soup at an 1888 Vincent van Gogh painting at the National Gallery in London, but the Sunflowers painting was left... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T02:34+0000

2022-10-16T02:34+0000

2022-11-15T14:20+0000

viral

protest

public protest

united kingdom

vincent van gogh

oil

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Two young protestors appeared in court on Saturday after throwing two tin cans of tomato soup at a painting by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. The two protestors were wearing Just Stop Oil t-shirts and then glued their hands to the wall beneath the soup-stained artwork. The young women were unglued from the wall and arrested by police.Anna Holland, 20, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, of Clapham, south London were made to appear in front of the Westminster magistrates court on Saturday for charges of criminal damages. No damage occurred to the $80.99 million iconic work of art, however, the frame reportedly sustained damage during the staged protest. The protestors pleaded not guilty to the charges.The protest on Friday was the 14th day of the grassroots groups continuous disruption which is expected to last for more than a month. Just Stop Oil, according to their website, is a coalition of groups working together to ensure that the government commits to ending all new licenses and consents for the exploration, development, and production of fossil fuels in the [United Kingdom]. The protests are in response to the United Kingdom's decision to reverse a 2019 fracking ban. Lora Johnson, 38, of Reydon, Suffolk, also appeared in court on Saturday after being charged with criminal damage to the New Scotland Yard sign which she, and others, covered in yellow paint.At least 28 arrests have been made in connection to the Just Stop Oil demonstrations on Friday, according to the Metropolitan police. Police arrested another 26 protestors on Saturday who had blocked a major road in east London with some protestors holding banners and others actually gluing themselves to the road. Police arrested 26 of these persons on suspicion of willfully obstructing a highway.The disruptions have angered some, with one angry motorist actually throwing a can of soda at one demonstrator, and another motorist appearing to threaten the blockade with running them over.The latest demonstrations by Just Stop Oil, which first launched in February of 2022 and held a month of protests in April, have been spurred on by the new Prime Minister Liz Truss and her Conservative governments decisions to do away with a 2019 ban on fracking in England. The government has instead plowed ahead with the decision to allow oil and gas operations in the North Sea through the first drilling licenses seen by the country in almost three years.

https://sputniknews.com/20221014/watch-eco-activists-deface-van-goghs-sunflowers-with-tomato-soup-in-london-1101843348.html

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protest, public protest, united kingdom, vincent van gogh, oil
https://sputniknews.com/20221016/putin-will-not-attend-cop-27-because-no-breakthroughs-expected-russian-envoy-1101893673.html

Putin Will Not Attend COP 27 Because No Breakthroughs Expected: Russian Envoy

Putin Will Not Attend COP 27 Because No Breakthroughs Expected: Russian Envoy

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the 2022 Climate Change Conference (COP27) next month because no breakthroughs are expected... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T07:01+0000

2022-10-16T07:01+0000

2022-10-16T07:01+0000

russia

russia

climate change

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Edelgeriyev recalled that the last time the Russian president attended the UN climate conference was in 2015. According to him, it was timed to coincide with the high-profile event of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, "a significant event in the international climate process over the past ten years or even more."Russia's approach to the issue of global warming has not changed.On October 6, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian leader will not fly to Egypt in November 6-18 for the UN climate change conference.The Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015 following the 21st Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris. With 193 signatories to date, it marks the first global effort in history to coordinate fight against climate change.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221016/student-loan-forgiveness-site-launches-in-beta-1101888930.html

Student Loan Forgiveness Site Launches in Beta

Student Loan Forgiveness Site Launches in Beta

In August, the Biden administration announced a program allowing student loans to be forgiven up to $10,000 or $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. The... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T03:06+0000

2022-10-16T03:06+0000

2022-10-16T03:06+0000

americas

us

student loans

student loan relief act

biden administration

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The Department of Education has opened up the application process for student loan forgiveness, launching the website in a beta period on Friday evening. Borrowers can submit their applications, but they will not be processed until the website launches officially later this month.While borrowers will not have their applications processed, they will receive a confirmation email.To qualify, borrowers must have had their loans through the federal government. Those who had their loans guaranteed by the government but held by a private company are no longer eligible after President Biden limited the program in hopes of ensuring that it survives legal challenges. Those who applied to have their consolidated into federal loans before that announcement, September 29, will still be eligible to have them forgiven.The program is facing several lawsuits from conservatives and Republicans. On Wednesday, a preliminary injunction was filed, asking a judge to halt the loan forgiveness program. If the judge rules in favor of the injunction, it may delay the program until a judge issues a final judgment in the case.The Department of Education hopes to have applications processed by January when the student loan payment pause is set to expire. If they fail to do that either because of the lawsuits or unforeseen problems, then the Biden administration may have to pause payments again.The website is launching in beta to allow the Department of Education to monitor its performance and use before it launches in full. When Healthcare.gov launched in 2013 as part of the Affordable Care Act, it infamously ran into a myriad of issues, frustrating users and becoming a headache for the Obama administration.In October when the lawsuits were filed, higher education and legal expert Mark Kantrowitz told CNBC that borrowers should apply as soon as possible. Even if Republican attempts to block the program are successful, either temporarily or permanently, borrowers may still have their loans forgiven if they are approved before a court intervenes.The website is expected to launch in full later this month. It is available at https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application.

https://sputniknews.com/20220926/bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-order-to-cost-400bln-congressional-budget-office-says-1101247945.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221016/suspect-in-connection-to-serial-killer-crimes-arrested-in-california-stockton-police-say-1101887412.html

Suspect in Connection to Serial Killer Crimes Arrested in California, Stockton Police Say

Suspect in Connection to Serial Killer Crimes Arrested in California, Stockton Police Say

Californias Central Valley was left unnerved after five people were killed in Stockton, California. The victims were men between the ages of 21 and 54, five... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T00:28+0000

2022-10-16T00:28+0000

2022-10-16T00:28+0000

americas

california

california

serial killer

serial killer

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Stockton police say they have made an arrest in connection to six murders in California. On Saturday, Stockton police chief Stanley McFadden, city manager Harry Black and Mayor Kevin Lincoln announced in a joint press conference that they had arrested 43-year-old Wesley Brownlee at around 2 a.m. on Saturday morning."Our surveillance team followed this person while he was driving. We watched his patterns and determined early this morning he was on a mission to kill. He was out hunting," McFadden said.Beginning in April of last year, victims were attacked either late at night or early in the morning in dimly-lit areas while they were alone. A year after the first fatal shooting in Oakland, five more killings occurred in Stockton between July 8 and September 27. The killings occurred in a radius of just a few square miles, police said.Serial killers are identified as such by the Federal Bureau of Investigation if they fall under one of two categories: they either kill based on their victims common characteristic(s), or---such is the case of the killer in Stockton---they stalk a specific location."This is a person that lurks in the shadows," the chief added. "Our victims are being caught by surprise." Earlier this month, authorities said they believed the California serial killer was on a mission.McFadden said Brownlee was wearing dark clothing, had a mask around his neck, and was armed with a firearm at the time of his arrest. The only survivor of the serial killer suspect said her attempted murderer had on black clothes and a black face mask and said nothing when he shot her multiple times.

https://sputniknews.com/20221013/chicago-tenant-charged-with-murdering-landlord-hiding-remains-in-freezer-1101828805.html

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california, california, serial killer, serial killer
https://sputniknews.com/20221016/two-indian-teens-go-missing-for-56-days-near-china-border-1101894312.html

Two Indian Teens Go Missing for 56 Days Near China Border

Two Indian Teens Go Missing for 56 Days Near China Border

Local police officers and villagers suspect that two youths who have been missing for over a month in India's Arunachal Pradesh after going deep into the... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T09:58+0000

2022-10-16T09:58+0000

2022-10-16T09:58+0000

india

missing

missing person

missing

missing

china

border

border

border crossings

youth

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A case of two missing Indian boys, who are believed to have gone trekking in deep mountainous jungles near the border with China to collect wild medicinal herbs, has sparked panic in the village, with calls being made for a high-level investigation.The incident took place on August 19, when two youths, identified as Bateilum Tikro and Bayingso Manyu, went to the Chaglagam area in Arunachal Pradesh state, which is close to the international border.The Anjaw district's superintendent of police (SP), SP Rike Kamsi, told local media that they had alerted the Indian Army, Special Investigation Branch (SIB), and other agencies, who are now carrying out a search operation. Kamsi said that the families had been searching for them for over a month, but couldn't trace them. This is not the first such case. Last year, a 19-year-old boy, Miram Taron of the Upper Siang district, accidentally walked into Chinese territory. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) caught and allegedly harassed him before returning him to the Indian Army after 10 days. While there was no response from the Chinese Army on the allegations, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, said they had taken up the matter with the Chinese side.In September 2020, five boys from Arunachal Pradesh state's Upper Subansiri district, who worked as military porters, were caught by the Chinese Army after they lost their way and crossed the border. The incident sparked a major diplomatic row between India and China, until the boys were returned by the Chinese military after 10 days.

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missing, missing person, missing, missing, china, border, border, border crossings, youth
China's economic transformation from a largely rural society to a predominantly prosperous one has been faster than any other in the world thanks to national efforts to eradicate extreme poverty, according to Rana Mitter, professor of the History and Politics of Modern China at the University of Oxford.

"People who live in cities tend to have higher incomes than people who live in the countryside. Not always though, and it depends on how you define those terms. But overall, the fact remains that because more of China's population now lives in cities, there is the capacity to increase their per capita income," Mitter said.

He noted that better investment in the countryside unleashed major changes, including the move away from small individual plots to larger agribusiness developments.

The contribution of greater agricultural productivity to poverty reduction resulted in increased farmer incomes and freed up surplus labor for other sectors and urban areas, according to a report from the World Bank.

This allowed households to diversify their sources of income and to take advantage of better-paid nonagricultural labor opportunities, both locally and as migrant workers.

China's industrialization played a key role in its growth and poverty reduction.

Figures show that between 1978 and 2020, industrial added value increased at an average annual real rate of 10.3 percent.

New industries such as e-commerce have also helped pull people out of extreme poverty, as China has become the largest e-commerce market in the world by combining technology and consumerism.

"China is one of the most innovative countries in terms of technology, along with the United States, Israel, South Korea and the United Kingdom," Mitter said.

What this transformation has achieved, he noted, is the creation of a variety of opportunities and efficiencies leading to new forms of employment and economic prospects, while also driving up individual incomes.

The Oxford professor pointed to market-oriented reforms as another driver of economic opportunities.

"China has been quite distinctive, but also successful in terms of being able to create markets in a whole variety of areas that have increased the capacity of the economy as a whole to grow," he said. "The last 20 years or so, China's place as a supplier in global supply chains has been a really important part of its overall growth and development. And it's done that because of its placement in the global market as a whole."

Wang Yi, associate professor in Marketing and Tourism at Nottingham University Business School China, said: "Absolute poverty has been eliminated, which has contributed significantly to global poverty reduction. China has been quite successful in the past decade in poverty alleviation. The government is not just tackling the income problem, but is also focused on the well-being and the living environment."

Wang also cited financial subsidies provided by the government for poverty reduction.

"Nearly 20 million poor have received subsidies and special hardship assistance. Other than that, the government has encouraged entrepreneurs to set up in rural areas to various extents, and has supported rural entrepreneurship," she said.

"These efforts worked in China because government policy ensures efficient implementation at the rural level. In the meantime, it creates flexibility at the local level to grab opportunities and develop further."
https://sputniknews.com/20221016/uk-home-secretary-seeks-to-extend-police-powers-1101899353.html

UK Home Secretary Seeks to Extend Police Powers

UK Home Secretary Seeks to Extend Police Powers

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman is determined to extend the powers of the police when it comes to dealing with "disruptive" climate... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-16T11:25+0000

2022-10-16T11:25+0000

2022-10-16T11:25+0000

world

europe

uk

suella braverman

police powers

climate

extinction rebellion (xr)

protests

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Braverman intends to submit a Public Order bill, which provides for the expansion of police powers and more serious penalties for protesters if the protests threaten or cause "serious disruption or a serious adverse impact on public safety."The UK Home Secretary believes that protesters should not hold the public "to ransom.""Preventing our emergency services from reaching those who desperately need them is indefensible, hideously selfish and in no way in the public interest... This serious and dangerous disruption, let alone the vandalism, is not a freedom of expression, nor a human right. It must stop," Braverman said.According to the Home Office, the proposed legislation, to be submitted to parliament next week, will protect the access to essential goods and services as well as to key infrastructure. In addition, this bill provides for an introduction of criminal liability for interference in the operation of facilities such as oil refineries, airports, railways and printing presses. Such an offense will entail a penalty of up to 12 months in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. The bill also includes the introduction of criminal liability for other offenses common among eco-activists' manner of protesting.In recent months, activists of the Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion movements that advocate for the cessation of oil and gas production organized various protests that led to traffic disruptions in central London. On Thursday, Just Stop Oil campaigners blocked a busy roundabout in the Central London district of Southwark and reportedly prevented an ambulance from passing. On Friday, activists of the same group splashed tomato soup over Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers painting at the National Gallery in London to demand that the government halt new projects on oil and gas extraction. Since October 1, the police have arrested more than 350 activists.

https://sputniknews.com/20220902/extinction-rebellion-protesters-glue-themselves-to-speakers-chair-in-empty-parliament-1100314580.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221014/watch-eco-activists-deface-van-goghs-sunflowers-with-tomato-soup-in-london-1101843348.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221016/washington-admits-to-aggressive-meddling-in-iran-as-tehran-recalls-1953-coup-1101906653.html

Washington Admits to Aggressive Meddling in Iran as Tehran Recalls 1953 Coup

Washington Admits to Aggressive Meddling in Iran as Tehran Recalls 1953 Coup

On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned Western countries that the Islamic Republic is not a land of color or velvet coup detats,... 16.10.2022, Sputnik International

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The United States is taking aggressive steps to support Iranians taking part in protests which have engulfed multiple Iranian cities, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has admitted.These steps have also included meeting with "activists" operating outside Iran to hear their ideas about what Washington could do to support the protesters, according to the official.Last month, the US Treasury slapped Iran with a new round of sanctions, while easing some earlier-imposed technology-related restrictions to try to improve rioters access to the Internet.Sullivans comments followed off-the-cuff remarks by President Joe Biden on Saturday in which he expressed his enormous respect for the protesters marching in the streets against the oppressive Iranian government.I mean, I have to admit, I was surprised  not by the response; I was surprised by the courage of people and women taking the street  taking off their head scarf. I mean, its really been amazing. Its really been amazing. But theyre -theyre not  theyre not a good group, in the government, Biden said at a White House press gaggle.Separately on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani blasted the US president over his remarks, accusing him of interfering in Irans internal affairs for the umpteenth timeby supporting the riots in the country.For his part, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Hossein Salami accused the Western enemy of opening a new area of cultural, political and security invasion of the Islamic Republic, targeting the nations schools.The riots are a path that has come from strategic think tanks in America and England which has spread to our classrooms, Salami said. Americans start by having the headscarf removed and continue until the point where our lifestyles become like those of Westerners, the commander added.On Friday, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned the West to butt out of Irans affairs, and emphasized that peaceful demands for change have nothing to do with riots, assassinations, arson, and terrorist operations which Iran has faced over the past month.Scores of people have been killed and thousands have been injured amid a month's worth of protests that began on September 16 after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who fell into a coma and died in hospital several days after being detained by Irans morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly.News quickly spread among protesters that the young woman had been beaten into a coma by police. However, CCTV security footage released by authorities appeared to show that Amini did not face any physical abuse while in custody. A probe conducted for Irans parliament concluded that the young woman was not subjected to any bodily harm, and questioned the effectiveness of the emergency treatment she received immediately after collapsing. Last week, Irans Legal Medical Organization said that Aminis death was caused by cerebral hypoxia which resulted in hypotension and multiple organ failure.Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have accused the US and Israel of engineering the riots that subsequently engulfed the country, which have led to injuries and deaths not only among protesters, but also police and security forces personnel.US media have made no secret of Washingtons role in fomenting the unrest. Last month, Iranian-American Voice of America Persia and Radio Farda journalist Masih Alinejad boasted that she was leading the revolution in Iran online, and expressed confidence that the Iranian regime will be brought down by women.Investigations by independent media including The Grayzone have detailed the unprecedented level of suspected social media bot activity surrounding the protests.

https://sputniknews.com/20221014/irans-president-slams-foreign-powers-interference-in-west-asia-1101839381.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221016/tehran-prison-fire-kills-at-least-4-injures-61-1101903688.html

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Ilya Tsukanov

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The 2022 Alberta Sires Stakes season wrapped up on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 15) at Century Downs with four $75,000 Super Finals plus $15,000 consolations for the province's pacing stars.

With a big sweeping three-wide move approaching the final turn, two-year-old filly Cora Cora Cora took aim from the backfield on the leading favourite Promise Kept and tracked her down to win the afternoon's first Super Final for trainer/driver Jamie Gray.

Promise Kept (Brandon Campbell) got the first call off the gate with Cenalta Token (Dave Kelly) leaving from post six and dropping into the two-hole through a :28 opening quarter. Meanwhile, G Ts Skyla (Philip Giesbrecht) was parked from the start and rolling wide to the top. She took over command as they headed towards the backstretch and led the way past the half in :57.2.

Promise Kept retook command as they raced by three-quarters in 1:25.4 but Gray had Cora Cora Cora airborne down the backstretch from eighth and she swept by when they turned for home en route to victory by a widening 3-1/2 lengths, equalling her 1:56.3 lifetime mark. Promise Kept settled for second with Caviar N Crackers (Mike Hennessy) recovering from a mid-race miscue and closing from the back for third.



"I was a little concerned with Mike's filly [Caviar N Crackers] because she got steppy the first time around and he kind of hung on the outside," said Gray of his trip. "I thought I'd make my three-wide around him in the turn there, which was imposisble to do, so I waited and waited and Mike kind of slid over a little bit and the rest is history. This mare can really close."

Cora Cora Cora paid $7.30 to win as the 5-2 second choice.

The talented but green filly rewarded Gray's patience with the biggest win of her career.

"Her and I need a break from each other," laughed Gray, who co-owns with his partners in the Brightstar Stable of Sturgeon County, Alta. "A very nice filly but we've had to work with her brain. She can leave a quarter in 26 seconds but then she's out of control so we took our chances and if we get there, we get there, and today she got there."

The Captive Audience-Carlota Blue Chip filly, who won the ASHA Filly Pace this summer, now has two wins to go along with four other top three finishes from eight starts for nearly $90,000 in earnings. She was bred by Gigi Van Ostrand of Okotoks, Alta. and purchased by her connections for $33,000 at the 2021 ASHA Yearling Sale.

Two-year-old filly Shes A Tinker ($8.40) and catch-driver Mike Hennessy went first-up from the backfield at the half and caught runaway leader Beach Myst (Kelly Hoerdt) at the top of the stretch on her way to winning the consolation in a new lifetime mark of 1:57.3. Launching from the backfield, Beep Bop A Lula (Dave Kelly) recovered from a miscue when threatening for the lead in the final turn and nabbed the runner-up honours while Beach Myst settled for third. Tyson Jacoby trains the lightly-raced winner, a daughter of Vertical Horizon R B Ethel Mertz who is now two-for-five in her career for owner Tammy Murschell of Airdrie, Alta.

Virtual Horizon delivered as the 4-5 favourite in the Super Final for two-year-old colts and geldings.

The Dickens (J.F. Gagne) established the lead off the gate from post five over Tin Can Timmy (Dave Kelly) with outsider Reach Out (Nathan Sobey) advancing to the top after being parked through the first turn. After a quarter in :27.4, The Dickens moved back out for the retake and it was a two-horse breakway to the next turn.

The Dickens led the way over Reach Out -- those two well in front -- to the half in :57.1 before Tin Can Timmy blew by down the backstretch and opened up a quick three-length lead by three-quarters in 1:25.4. Meanwhile, Virtual Horizon followed his move after watching the early action in fourth.

Down the stretch, Virtual Horizon pulled ahead and held off the late-closing Ponder No Longer (Phil Giesbrecht) to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55, knocking a full second off his lifetime mark. Imyourhuckleberry (Jamie Gray) got up for third over Tin Can Timmy.



"There were fast fractions and two of them broke away, and I knew he'd catch them," commented Brandon Campbell's father Sanford, who works with the winner. "When he made front, he was tough. He wasn't letting a horse by him."

Sent postward as the 4-5 favourite off a win in his Alberta Shooting Star leg last time out on Oct. 1, Virtual Horizon paid $3.90 to win.

Virtual Horizon, also a winner of the Century Casinos Pace this summer, now has three victories and two thirds from six starts and earnings totalling $86,338 for his Calgary, Alta. connections, Jodi Loftus, George Rogers and Raymond Henry. Bred by Bill Andrew of Calgary, the Vertical Horizon-Saucy B colt was a $21,000 yearling purchase at the ASHA Sale.

With even-money pacesetter Artician (Kelly Hoerdt) rolling off stride at the top of the stretch in the two-year-old colt consolation, the race was left wide open with the Custard The Dragon-Grinandchaseit gelding General Custard closing quickest of all from the outer flow to pull off a 17-1 upset and a maiden-breaking victory in 1:57.4 with Jamie Gray catch-driving for trainer Dave Kelly. HF Pans Shadow (Phil Giesbrecht) won the photo for place over One Major Hottie (Brandon Campbell) and the winner's stablemate, Panda Beer (Dave Kelly). Owned by the Pick 6 Stable of Strathmore, Alta., General Custard produced a $36 win payout in his third career start.

Star three-year-old filly Divine Art defended her divisional Super Final title with a blowout victory for trainer/driver Nathan Sobey.

The outside post eight was no problem for Divine Art with early speed lacking and Sobey gunned the 3-5 favourite to the front. Once they seized the lead, the race was over. After soft opening fractions of :29.3 and :58, Divine Art took off from her competition, widening by 10 lengths to three-quarters in 1:25.2 and pouring it on through the stretch to score by more in 1:55. Jamaica Move (Brandon Campbell) and Goodbye Ceia Later (J.F. Gagne) were the best of the rest, finishing 11 lengths in arrears.



"I said to the owners, who were worried about the eight-hole again, at some point in this race we're going to make the front," said Sobey in a post-race interview. "Being that early, as soon as we hit the quarter, I knew the race was over.

"She trains harder than that so I was pretty pumped [with the opening half fractions]. That's a good group of three-year-old fillies, she's just the best one right now. When you have fractions like that, it makes life a lot easier."

The Outrageous Art-Keystone Divine filly, who swept the Diamond and Marquis events during the regular Alberta Sires Stakes season, earned her ninth consecutive victory. She returned $3.20 to her backers.

Is she the best three-year-old filly in Western Canada?

"We'll see come the Filly Pace, that's going to be the real test -- mile track racing, big difference," said Sobey. "I've gotta get her driving a little straigher. Maybe if there are some horses that can go with her, push her, she might get a little more competative."

Divine Art now has 10 wins from 13 starts and $181,607 earned through her sophomore campaign for owners Robert Jones of Stony Plain, Alta., co-breeder Diane Bertrand of Lake Country, B.C., and John Hind of Calgary, Alta. The win was her 13th lifetime and boosted her bankroll to $242,127 through 19 career starts.

An accident ocurred at the top of the stretch involving Proud Of My Roots (Dave Kelly) and Chaste Forever (Kelly Hoerdt). Officials from Century Downs reported that the former filly and her driver, who fell during the incident, walked off the track under their own power.

In the consolation, the Kelly Crump-trained three-year-old filly Salary ($3.60) delivered as the 4-5 favourite, leading all the way in 1:55.2 with Logan Gillis along for the ride. The Mystician-Warrawee Rap filly notched her seventh win from 17 starts in her debut season for owner Shelley Hastey of Crossfield, Alta. Two Fingers Gold (Philip Giesbrecht) edged out pocket-sitter Cozey Up (Brandon Campbell) in a photo for place.

The Glamour Boys closed out the Alberta Sires Stakes season with 3-5 favourite Ernesto Delacruz fighting off 2-1 second choice Vegas Gambler to win the Super Final in a sizzling 1:52.4 mile -- just three-fifths of a second off the track record for three-year-old colts and geldings.

Trainer/driver J.F. Gagne fired his popular homebred off the gate from the inside post and set fractions of :27.4 and :56.4 before Vegas Gambler (Phil Giesbrecht) launched first-over from third to apply pressure through three-quarters in 1:24.1. The favourites faced off turning for home, with Ernesto Delacruz persevering over Vegas Gambler by three-quarters of a length in a career-best clocking. Matts A Mystician (Nathan Sobey) won a show photo over Sharkas Lil Lad (Dave Kelly).



A $2 win ticket on Ernesto Delacruz returned $3.40.

Gagne owns and bred the Vertical Horizon-Camifasolasi Do gelding with Peter Van Seggelen of Heritage Point, Alta. A nine-time winner from 20 starts in his breakout season, Ernesto Delacruz has amassed $164,838 in purses.

In the consolation, Lorne Duffield's homebred colt Wine Thirty ($3.90) left from post six for early position and made his winning move at the quarter pole, sweeping from third to first then drawing away in the final turn to deliver as the 4-5 favourite in 1:55.1. The father-son, trainer-driver team of Mike and Rod Hennessy campaign the Vertical Horizon-Marilyn Merlot colt, who was unraced as a two-year-old and now has six wins from 22 starts. You Can Have Itall (Jamie Gray) closed off the cover of Grampian Road (Brandon Campbell) to defeat that foe in the race for place.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
Prohibitive 1-9 favourite Righteous Resolve, Canadas fastest trotting two-year-old of 2022, once again showed her class in taking her division's $225,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Super Final on Saturday night (Oct. 15) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Scott Zeron and Cardio Muscle made the front early, launching from the outside post to circle Its Your Choice and James MacDonald before the first turn. Mass Hysteria and Trevor Henry left from post nine and followed from third, just ahead of the star filly Righteous Resolve, who Paul MacDonell settled in nicely from post three. Cardio Muscle led to the :27.2 opening quarter, but had no answer when the first-over Righteous Resolve came calling and smoothly sailed past to lead the way to the :56.3 half.

Louis-Philippe Roy sent Shiny New Penny first to tip on the turn for home, emerging from sixth and flushing out Mass Hysteria from fourth. But MacDonells filly was never headed as she reached three-quarters in 1:26 and continued with confidence down the stretch. Mass Hysteria left the loose pocket to chase the favourite in second as Its Your Choice and Shiny New Penny battled behind her for third. At the wire, Righteous Resolve finished 2-1/2 lengths ahead of Mass Hysteria in a 1:54.4 mile. Its Your Choice finished third ahead of Shiny New Penny.

In the winner's circle, MacDonell said Righteous Resolve ranked highly among the best young trotters hes driven.

I mean, shes so professional in everything she does and she makes my job real easy, so shes way up there in the top echelon of trotting fillies, for sure, said MacDonell. My job is just to keep her out of trouble and make sure we have a clear path and no nonsense, and that's what I try to do  try to keep her quiet and just let her do the rest, and she does it.

Leading 2022 OSS trainer John Bax reflected on his stables seasonal success.

Were real proud of the year we got," said Bax. "A lot of horses have made good money and thats hard to do. I mean, a lot of years, you're lucky to get one, so we're pretty blessed this year.

He said that the fillys owners decision to bypass the Mohawk Million was a testament to the owners like Roy [Maxwell], who are looking after what's best for the horse Hopefully for their sake and our sake, it pays out in the long run.

Righteous Resolve (Resolve-Motown Muscle) is owned by Bet Max Stables Inc. of Casco, Mich. and Benenati Inc. of Clinton Township, Mich. She now has $536,224 in earnings, $290,675 of which have come in the OSS.

Before leaving the packed winner's circle, Roy Maxwell  a partner in Bet Max Stable  described the experience of owning the filly phenom, who has been defeated just once in nine starts.

Its unbelievable. You don't expect something like this to come along, but when it comes around, you sure enjoy it," said Maxwell. "What a lady, what a night."

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Ontario Racing)
A seven-race card brought the curtain down on an era of New Brunswick harness racing in Saint John on Sunday (Oct. 16) at Exhibition Park Raceway.

The afternoons feature, the $32,640 N.B. Breeders Final for pacing freshmen, went to front-stepping Nannie Bernice in a 1:59 blowout. Driver John Davidson Jr. protected position with the daughter of Artspeak to a :29.1 first quarter with Brookdale Seb the closest pursuer following interference at the start of the race. Gradually, Nannie Bernice widened her advantage on Brookdale Seb through a :58.4 half and to three-quarters in 1:29. She owned four lengths on Brookdale Seb coming for home and stretched farther clear to cross the beam ahead by 7-1/2 lengths. Brookdale Seb settled for second withy Jedi Jim finishing third another 31 lengths behind.



Nannie Bernice, a homebred for trainer Janice Hubbard, collected her sixth victory from eight tries to push her earnings to $26,483. She paid $2.90 to win.

Brumby bested his peers earlier in the card to win the $8,640 Peter & Jeanne Gray Memorial. The three-year-old gelded son of Pang Shui kept his rivals behind through a clip of :29.4, 1:00 and 1:29.4 to stop the clock in 1:59.1, finishing 4-3/4 lengths clear of Big Time Brawler in second. Theodore J Down rounded the field, beaten another 22 lengths.

Jamie Smith trains Brumby for owner Five Guys Horses N Lies. He won his fifth race from 28 starts and has now banked $52,917. David Dowling drove the $2.10 winner.

Dowling returned later to take the debutante co-feature, the $8,640 Malcolm Lawson Memorial, with Mermaid Magic. The Tom Weatherbie-trained daughter of Big Jim applied similar speed tactics to control her competition, setting a tempo of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:30. KCs Starlite mounted a first-over bid into the final turn but levelled off in the straight to leave Mermaid Magic on her own. Mermaid Magic stopped the clock in 2:00 to beat Elm Grove Quest by 1-1/2 lengths while KCs Starlite settled for third.

David Kennedy and F. Ian Smith own Mermaid Magic, a four-time winner from 23 starts and earner of $30,501. She paid $4.50 to win.

Driver Todd Trites and trainer George Rennison took the last race at Exhibition Park Raceway, the $2,500 Ingham Palmer Memorial, with American Risk in 1:57.2. The six-year-old American Ideal gelding raced third while Woodmere Ideal Art carved fractions of :28.3 and :57.3 on the lead. Trites then launched American Risk off the pegs and dug into Woodmere Ideal Art through the final turn before striding clear by 2-1/2 lengths to the finish. Woodmere Ideal Art settled for second and pocket-sitter Blood Money finished third.

American Risk races for owner Risky Bizz Group. He won his 25th race from 85 starts, pushed his bankroll to $96,862 and paid $2.90 to win.

The full broadcast of Exhibition Park Raceway's final card is available below:

To view Sundays harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results  Exhibition Park Raceway.
A former Culpeper County voter registrar is opening up about her recent indictment in Prince William County for alleged misconduct in the 2020 election, and defending herself.

Michele White, Prince Williams elections director from 2015 to 2021, said in a phone interview Friday with the Culpeper Star-Exponent that she is not sure what is going on, referencing ambiguous charges against her.

She called the indictment very politically motivated.

On Sept. 7, a Prince William County grand jury handed down the two-count felony and one-count misdemeanor action against White, who spent 11 years in the Culpeper County voting office before moving on to the higher-paying position in Prince William.

White said she was shocked to be indicted.

Its been a real jolt to me, a real shock to the system, she said. Ive needed time to get my life back into some sort of day-to-day order.

In a statement, White defended herself against the indictments.

I showed up for the voting public election after election, in Prince William County, planning for a very robust early voting program and voter information program for the Prince William County voters. Presidential 2020 was my 5th Presidential election, White stated. I assisted many voters and candidates during my 17 years in elections in both Prince William and Culpeper Counties.

White, 51, of Occoquan, has moved on since resigning her post last year. She is working in graphic design, where she started when she moved to Culpeper from Charlottesville in the early 2000s to raise a family.

She said Friday that she doesnt have the money for legal fees to fight the charges of willful neglect of duty as an election officer, corrupt conduct as an election officer and giving a false statement on a required form.

The offense date for the first two charges is Aug. 1, 2020. The offense date for the false-statement charge is Nov. 3, 2020, Election Day when Donald Trump lost, a fact that the former president and many others still deny.

White has set up a gofundme.com page to cover her anticipated attorneys fees in the case$20,000 for retainer and $20,000 for trial. She said Friday she expected the case would go to trial, and that she will fight the charges.

Her lack of ability to retain an attorney has delayed proceedings in Prince William Circuit Court. A status date is set for Oct. 21, by which time White hopes to have hired a lawyer, if she can raise the first $20,000.

Since my indictment, individual acts of kindness, words and prayers have encouraged me to summon the strength to defend myself and defend the electoral process I have faithfully served here in Virginia, she said in a statement on Gofundme. I cannot fight this alone and need financial support to defend myself against this attack. Donations to the Go Fund Me in any amount will help and I thank you.

The link to donate is gofundme.com/f/michele-white-legal-defense. About $1,400 had been given as of Saturday.

If there are remaining funds after litigation, these funds will be kept intact for the defense of other Directors of Election, White said in her statement. Unfortunately, I believe there will be other similar cases to follow.

In her interview, she said she is seeking as much help as possible to defend against charges of which she said she is still very unclear.

The former, two-county voter registrar provided a timeline of events as part of her statement, starting with her Sept. 7 indictment:

Sept. 9: Two days later, the VA Attorney Generals Office announced the Election Integrity Unit.

Oct. 5: The Virginia Governors administration loses voter registrations

Oct. 7: Current director of elections in Prince William County, VA, Eric Olsen, who replaced Michele White, announces his resignationsays hes quitting amid a dispute with local GOP, White said in her statement.

Two days after Whites indictment, the Republican Party of Virginia lauded Attorney General Jason Miyares for creating his Election Integrity Unit, and mentioned the former registrar in its Sept. 9 news release.

Just this week, we saw the need for stronger protections for our elections system when a former top Prince William County election official was indicted on fraud charges related to the 2020 election, the Virginia GOP stated. By prosecuting this individual, Attorney General Miyares is sending a strong message to election officials throughout the state to follow the law, because our election process must be held to a high standard.

White said in her statement that this was not the first time Prince William County Republicans tried to use her tenure to suit their political agenda.

White referenced a 2016 news article, Prince William Electoral Board Chair Under Investigation, saying that issue was how the county Electoral Board chose to welcome her as Prince Williams elections director.

In closing, White thanked people for their consideration in defending election officials who are simply doing the job faithfully for the voting public.

The former election official said she is very happy to be back at her design career.

I would really like this to go away, White said of her Prince William case.

On Friday, the Culpeper Star-Exponent asked the Virginia attorney generals office for more details on the case, the specific nature of the charges against White, and if Miyares will help prosecute White.

A spokeswoman declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
In its efforts to hire Mark Taylor as superintendent, the Spotsylvania County School Board took the unusual step of engaging officials from the state Department of Education in their process.

Leadership at the Virginia Department of Education, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, communicated with Spotsylvania School Board members throughout the hiring process. [Education Department senior adviser Jon Russell, a former Culpeper town councilman and former chair of the Culpeper County Republican Committee, acted as a liaison between DOE leaders and School Board members.]

Such involvement is uncommon, according to a recent former state secretary of education, the director of the Virginia Association of School Boards, and three former Spotsylvania School Board members.

The school systems previous superintendent, Scott Baker, was fired without cause during a closed session at a Jan. 10 School Board meeting.

Taylor will begin his appointment as superintendent Nov. 1. With an annual base salary of $245,000, he will be the second-highest-paid school division leader in the greater Fredericksburg region. While Taylor has served in administrative government roles, he has no prior education leadership experience.

The boards 43 decision to hire Taylor, who served as Spotsylvania County administrator from 201519 before taking the same position in Greene County, has caused contention on the School Board and among residents. Over the past several months, parents have expressed concerns over the selection process, Taylors lack of experience in education and his personal ties to the school board chairman.

Critics of Taylors selection also have pointed to controversial social media posts made to a profile appearing to belong to Taylor. Members of the Virginia Board of Education referred to these posts, which one member described as racially and socially insensitive, when discussing whether Taylor would be granted a superintendents license.

The board ultimately voted 62 in favor of licensure, though several who voted to grant Taylor the license agreed that the posts, if legitimate, would have disqualified him from a leadership position if they had been doing the hiring.

Taylor suggested during an interview with ABC7 last month that the social media posts were the result of his profile being hacked.

Last week, two county residents, Jeffrey Glazer and Christina Ramos, filed a petition in Spotsylvania Circuit Court requesting a temporary and permanent injunction against the hiring of Mark Taylor. The petitioners are requesting a judicial review of the School Boards decision.

Emails obtained by The Free LanceStar from the state Department of Education through requests under the Freedom of Information Act show a senior adviser to Balow and Elizabeth Schultz, assistant superintendent of public instruction, were early points of contact for School Board members. That adviser, Jon Russell, is now the Spotsylvania school divisions manager of executive communications.

Atif Qarni, former Virginia secretary of education, said it is rare for [the] State Board of Education or VDOE to get involved in the hiring of a local superintendent.

The involvement usually happens when a school division has had a history of failing to meet State Standards of Accreditation, and VDOE gets involved to work out a memorandum of understanding with the local division to intervene in specific matters, Qarni wrote in an email to The Free LanceStar. This could possibly include selection of a superintendent; however, this usually would be written out in the MOU and agreed upon by both sides.

School Board member Lisa Phelps emailed Schultz on Jan. 24, soon after Schultz was appointed to her position at the VDOE by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, requesting a meeting.

Phelps contacted Schultz again May 4, informing her that the School Board would request an extension to the 120-day time frame that Virginia Code provides for a school board to fill a superintendent vacancy. Phelps also referred to an upcoming conference that both would attend.

Schultz replied to Phelps the same day, thanking her for the opportunity to touch base on Spotsylvania County Superintendent search and saying, It will be a pleasure to meet you at the Education Summit.

She also forwarded Phelpss email to Balow, Russell, and Balows Chief of Staff Dicky Shanor.

Later in May, VDOE Chief Policy Analyst Rebecca Askew passed along to Russell a request from Twigg for a meeting with Balow, to discuss hiring, ratios and standards of learning, according to her email, which she copied to Twigg at his personal AOL email address. Twigg later followed up on that request for a meeting in another email to Russell.

Russell scheduled the meeting with Balow via Zoom on May 31.

School Board member Dawn Shelley, who served as board chair prior to Twigg, said she never requested a meeting with the state superintendent during her term as chair.

I would not think it appropriate. There are over 130 school boards in Virginia. I wouldnt think the State Superintendent would have time for that, Shelley wrote in an email to The Free LanceStar.

Two other former Spotsylvania School Board chairs, Baron Braswell and Erin Grampp, also said they never requested meetings with the state superintendent and could not think of a reason why they would.

In April, the School Board hired GR Recruiting to conduct the search for a new division superintendent.

On May 16, the School Board held a special meeting with consultant Sandi Gero to finalize the requirements and profile for the new superintendent. At that meeting, board members argued against requiring that the successful candidate have experience in public education.

Gero told the board she didnt expect to receive any applications from non-educators.

On May 20, School Board attorney Brad King sent Twigg an email citing section 8VAC20-390-10 of Virginia Administrative Code, which states the requirements for being placed on the states list of eligible superintendent candidates.

According to the code, one of the qualifications applicants must meet to be placed on the list is, at least five years of satisfactory and full-time experience in administration or supervision, or both, in public schools.

Here is the state regulation we just discussed, King wrote to Twigg. As you see, this confirms what the state STATUTE says: that the superintendents must come from the list of eligible candidates maintained by the State Board of Education. The qualifications and routes for getting on that list are included in this regulation.

King later resigned from his position as the boards attorney.

On June 7, Twigg forwarded Kings email with the citation from 8VAC20-390-10 to Russell, along with a different section of the Administrative Code.

According to that section, 8VAC20-23-630, individuals may be candidates for a superintendents license if they have a masters degree or equivalent, a minimum of three years of successful experience in a senior leadership position and a recommendation from a Virginia school board interested in employing the individual.

Twigg asked Russell in the June 7 email for any help to write a summary or that tweeks [sic] state requirements.

In a document attached to the June 7 email, either Twigg or Russell annotated the quoted code section with the following: A Virginia School Board can choose a Superintendent who is an experienced leader from outside the world of public education. The School Boards right to choose an outsider as their Superintendent is found in Option IV in the regulation relating to the licensure of a Superintendent. Mr. Russell notes that the recommendation called for ... would be in the form of a letter signed by the local School Board Chairman. Thats all there is to it.

GR Recruiting accepted applications for the superintendent position through mid-June, and the School Board held two rounds of interviews of the top candidates at the end of June and in early July.

The School Board held a special meeting to discuss the final two candidates for superintendent July 8, but held no public vote to recommend either one.

The next morning, Twigg sent Russell an email with a confidential letter attached recommending Taylor for the position.

On July 10, a Sunday, Russell forwarded the email and attached letter to Balow, writing, Jillian if you have a chance please review this attachment. I will try to reach you tonight.

Russell sent Twiggs letter to the VDOEs director of licensure, Maggie Clemmons, on July 11, and asked her to add Taylor to the list of candidates for licensure by the Board of Education.

On July 26, Russell forwarded an email chain between Taylor and Clemmons to Shanor.

Chief of Staff Shanor, please meet Spotsy School Board Chairman Twigg & Mark Taylor, Russell wrote. I have been working hard to get Mark through the endzone to be approved as superintendent by the Board of Education at their next meeting.

On Aug. 4, Twigg wrote to Shanor, thanking him for your letter earlier this week that validates Mark Taylor has completed his requirements and for sharing the news that your team walked down the hall and put [Taylors] name in the stack of several superintendents that will [via package] be approved at the school boards August meeting on the 17th....

Twigg asked Shanor to tell him if he should expect anything to delay the Board of Educations approval of Taylors licensure.

As you know, we are anxious to get started with our new superintendent, and we want no setbacks, he wrote.

Shanor replied that it should be a consent agenda item so no concerns.

The Board of Education did pull Taylors name from the list of candidates for licensure Aug. 17 after it became evident that the Spotsylvania School Board had not voted in public to recommend him.

Board of Education members at the Sept. 15 meeting said they were satisfied that this procedural error had been remedied and approved Taylors licensure by a 62 vote.

Hiring a superintendent is one of the duties assigned to local school boards by Virginia Code, said Gina Patterson, executive director of the Virginia School Board Association, which has facilitated superintendent searches for many school divisions.

Patterson said the state Department of Education typically has little involvement in the process beyond granting licensure.
State troopers arrested a New York woman Thursday after they discovered more than 100 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in the Nebraska Panhandle.

A trooper stopped the SUV, a Mazda CX9, around 10:15 a.m. MDT near Sunol, Nebraska, because the driver was speeding, according to a press release from the Nebraska State Patrol.

The trooper initiated a search after suspecting criminal activity and found about 103 pounds of marijuana concealed in luggage in the rear of the SUV, according to the press release.

The driver, a 48-year-old resident of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested on suspicion of possessing more than 1 pound of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute. She was taken to the Cheyenne County Jail, according to the patrol.
You are here: China

The presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its first meeting on Saturday afternoon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi Jinping attended the meeting and delivered an important speech.

Presided over by Wang Huning, secretary-general of the congress, the meeting approved a list of 46 members of the standing committee of the presidium including Xi.

Subsequently, Xi presided over the meeting, which proceeded with other items on the agenda. Ding Xuexiang, Chen Xi, Guo Shengkun and Huang Kunming were approved as deputy secretaries-general of the congress.

A report on the examination of delegates' qualifications by the delegate credentials committee was adopted at the meeting.

According to the report, qualifications of 2,296 elected delegates to the congress were confirmed valid after examination.

The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed great importance on the election of delegates, the report noted.

All primary-level Party organizations and up to 99.5 percent of more than 96 million Party members took part in the electoral process, it said.

The delegates are outstanding representatives of CPC members, representing a broad spectrum of Party members.

The report said the CPC Central Committee has invited 83 special delegates who enjoy equal rights as elected delegates.

A draft of the electoral methods of the 20th CPC National Congress was approved at the meeting. It will be deliberated by delegations.

The meeting also approved matters related to participants who will attend the congress in a non-voting capacity and invited guests.

It was decided at the meeting that the congress will run from Oct. 16 to 22.
In the rapidly shifting Ukraine war, the growing failure of Russian President Vladimir Putins ground game is causing him to seek asymmetrical responses. Most visibly, he is turning to what is essentially a terror-bombing campaign against the civilian population of Ukraine.

Much like the V2 blitzes Nazi Germany directed against British cities in World War II, these missile attacks will accomplish very little tactically. Instead, they will heighten the already enormous anger and resolve of the Ukrainians and likely cause U.S. and European supporters to accelerate arms deliveries. These may include some weapons previously held back to avoid escalation between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

I led a major air campaign over Libya in 2011, Operation Unified Protector. The mission, assigned to NATO by the United Nations Security Council, was to create a no-fly zone to keep the dictator Moammar Gadhafi from using his air and ground firepower to massacre his political opponents. We launched over 25,000 air sorties, dropped nearly 10,000 precision-guided weapons, and closed the skies over Libya.

But ultimately, to depose the Gadhafi regime, the rebels had to create an effective ground force, which they eventually did. What I observed is that air power  even massive air superiority  cannot ultimately take and hold ground. Putin will discover the same thing.

The Russian leader fired yet another army commander (this one lasted seven weeks) and installed a new chief for his special military operation. That leader, Gen. Sergei Surovikin, is dual-hatted as the senior leader of the Russian air force. Surovikin is also an accused war criminal who led indiscriminate bombing campaigns in Syria and Chechnya. His ascension to the top post in Ukraine, truly a poisoned chalice, indicates that the bombing campaign will be prolonged.

Yet it is unlikely to significantly change the facts on the ground, and will deplete the Kremlins dwindling supply of artillery, particularly smart weapons to use against Ukrainian logistics networks  something the Russians failed to do effectively thus far.

The West needs to put more capability in the hands of the Ukrainians. Some of the systems under consideration include:

MiG-29 Soviet-era fighters, now in the Polish air force. These could be given to the Ukrainians immediately, as their pilots already fly them very capably. In exchange, the U.S. would provide the Poles with American F-16s.

F-16s. Early models of the Fighting Falcon are relatively simple to fly, and very lethal in both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. The U.S. would need to train a cadre of Ukrainian pilots, probably at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

Surface-to-air defensive missile systems. These would likely be the Patriot, which can cover a wide area and is relatively easy to train to operate, and Iron Dome (developed jointly with Israel) for the defense of population centers and critical infrastructure.

More sophisticated electronic jamming systems.

Enhanced offensive cyber capabilities, to go after Russian intelligence and targeting operations.

So, what happens when the bombing campaign proves ineffective? Putin has other asymmetrical cards to play, including cyberattacks on Western targets. Several key U.S. airports had their websites hacked this week  the customer-facing portions, not actual command-and-control or radar systems. Pro-Russian hackers claimed responsibility. The question is whether this was a warning shot or the best the Russians could muster.

Putin would likely direct cyberattacks at soft targets like consumer supply chains  recall the meatpacking and fuel pipeline ransomware hacks of last year. U.S. and allied hard targets  military command and control, financial systems, critical infrastructure like electric, water, gas and transportation grids  are better defended. An attack any of those vital systems would invite a significant counterstrike by U.S. Cyber Command, something that worries the Kremlin considerably.

Worst case: Putin could use a tactical nuclear weapon, either to shock the Ukrainians into surrender, or to simply destroy an even bigger swath of targets. While its not inconceivable, I would place a tactical nuke in the 10%-15% range of probability. This desperate move would immediately shift world opinion against Russia, and put enormous pressure on China and India to abandon their neutrality.

Most likely, however, Putin will continue his strategy of massive bombing through the winter, even as his stockpile of precision weapons dwindles to nothing. His best hope is that the Europeans will crack under high energy prices and cold homes, the demoralized Ukrainians will sue for peace, and the U.S. will get caught up in fractious domestic politics.

Dont count on it. The bet Putin is placing on air power, like so many other aspects of his strategic analysis, is a bad one. Missiles and planes are seldom decisive over a determined foe on the ground, a lesson the Kremlin will learn soon enough.
NASA James Webb Space Telescope captures this stunning image of the rare Wolf-Rayet 140.

This striking image taken by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope may puzzle and dazzle many. It depicts the rare Wolf-Rayet 140 (WR 140), a double star system, or a binary star system, which is around 5000 light-years from Earth. This Wolf-Rayet star is one in 600 found so far. And these mysterious rings around the star are dust shells that extend outwards over an enormous area of 10 trillion km! To keep it simple, it can be understood as being 70000 times the distance between Earth and our Sun. This stunning image has been captured by the most powerful James Webb Space Telescope.

NASA shared this breathtaking image while explaining that Just as growth rings record the history of a tree, these rings contain more than a century's worth of stellar history. Every eight years, the two stars in this image are brought together by their orbits  creating colliding streams of gas that, with the right conditions, form a new ring of dust. And while solving the mystery of these dusty stars, the James Webb Space Telescope reveals 15 of the 17 rings seen in the image for the first time!

NASA further says that these growth rings are incredibly short-lived, generating powerful winds that push huge amounts of gas into space. NASA scientists believe that around half of the original mass of the Wolf-Rayet star may have been already shed in the process. Another amazing fact is that many other Wolf-Rayet systems also form dust, but it is the WR 140 which is known to make rings.

The space agency also revealed what this image which depicts. It is seen as a bright dot at the center of star-filled black space. The bright dot is actually 2 stars meeting, as their orbits bring them together every 8 years. The stellar pair are surrounded by 17 orange-pink rings of gas and dust that resemble tree trunk rings.

Tech behind this stunning picture!

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has observed WR 140 with its mid-infrared instrument (MIRI). It is specifically designed to observe cooler objects in space such as these spectacular dust rings. It also showed the best evidence yet that Wolf-Rayet stars can produce carbon-rich dust molecules. And surprisingly, these carbon molecules can survive even in the hostile environment surrounding these stars.

This discovery will also help scientists understand how Wolf-Rayet stars potentially supply materials for star and planet formation, which may have played a role in creating our own solar system.
Xi Jinping said on Sunday that the Communist Party of China (CPC) will implement its overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, and unswervingly advance the cause of national reunification.

"Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, a matter that must be resolved by the Chinese," said Xi at the opening session of the 20th CPC National Congress.

"We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary. This is directed solely at interference by outside forces and the few separatists seeking 'Taiwan independence' and their separatist activities; it is by no means targeted at our Taiwan compatriots," he said.

Xi said that the wheels of history are rolling on toward China's reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. "Complete reunification of our country must be realized, and it can, without doubt, be realized!"

"We have always shown respect and care for our Taiwan compatriots and worked to deliver benefits to them. We will continue to promote economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Strait," Xi said.

"We will encourage people on both sides of the Strait to work together to promote Chinese culture and forge closer bonds," he said.
LINCOLN  University of NebraskaLincoln researchers have identified specific sorghum genes and traits  including seed color  that contribute to a healthy gut microbiome, the ecosystem of microorganisms living in the GI tract.

This groundbreaking discovery paves the way for identifying additional traits in sorghum and other crops that have the potential to improve human health, as well as for the emergence of new crop varieties developed with microbiome health in mind.

The Nebraska Food for Health research project focused on sorghum seed traits, and its findings, Genetic analysis of seed traits in sorghum bicolor that affect the human gut microbiome, were recently published in the journal Nature Communications. The lead investigator was Qinnan Yang, a postdoctoral researcher with the Department of Food Science and Technology. Other Husker scientists contributing to the project were Andrew K. Benson, the papers corresponding author, and co-authors Mallory Van Haute, Nate Korth, Scott E. Sattler, John Toy, Devin J. Rose and James C. Schnable.

Among their findings, the researchers identified segments on nine sorghum chromosomes where genetic variations produce a significant effect on the microbiomes fermentation activity. The scientists ultimately found an important connection linking sorghum seed color, tannin presence in sorghum seed and effects on microbiome organisms: Sorghum varieties with functional Tan1 and Tan2 genes had dark-colored seeds and stimulated the growth of a set of microbiome organisms including Faecalibacterium, Roseburia and Christensennella.

Identifying seed traits that encourage microbiome growth of these bacteria is medically significant because they are associated with a major health benefit: reduced susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease, as well as certain metabolic diseases.

Light-colored seeds failed to encourage such microbe production, the Husker research showed.

Now that weve shown plant genes can control changes in the human gut microbiome, we can use our approach to screen hundreds or thousands of samples of different crops, Yang said. That makes it possible for plant breeding programs to harness natural genetic variation in crops to breed new crop varieties that improve human health by promoting beneficial bacteria in the human gut.

For this project, Food for Health Center researchers used a multi-stage laboratory-based technique that duplicates the human bodys digestive and gastrointestinal activity by milling select sorghum samples and placing the powder in test tubes for processing and analysis. The scientists faced a major hurdle up front, because existing equipment for such study is large-scale and lacks the ability to process a high volume of samples in expedited fashion.

In this instance, Food for Health Center scientists needed to screen nearly 300 different sorghum lines in timely fashion.

After extensive discussion and collaboration, including with industry, Food for Health Center researchers solved the problem by developing a miniaturized, automated methodology they call automated in vitro microbiome screening (AiMS). At present, Nebraskas Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the only academic institution in the world using this innovative technology for seed-trait/microbiome analysis.

The Nature Communications paper is the first of several academic papers the IANR scientists are preparing from their AiMS-enabled studies.

These steps forward are a fulfillment of the vision that has powered the Food for Health Center from its beginning, starting with a set of preliminary papers Benson, director of the Food for Health Center and the Food for Health Presidential Chair in the Department of Food Science and Technology, and Robert Hutkins, a fellow professor of food science and technology, drew up in 2006-07.

The concept for the AiMS methodology was nothing more than a pipe dream six years ago. Now, its turned into reality, said Benson, director of the Food for Health Center and the Food for Health Presidential Chair in the Department of Food Science and Technology.

The AiMS methodology stands out for its versatility. Using it, Husker scientists can screen a large set of genetic material for only a small set of human subjects, or they can screen a large population of human subjects for a small set of genetic traits. They can study microbiome activity of healthy human participants but also that of participants with health challenges. They can study the gut metabolism of humans but also that of food animals. And the seed trait studies can analyze the microbiome effects from any food crop.

Its really a powerful technology, Benson said. The skys the limit on this.
Grand Islands own Koponi Vanilla has found a location and has begun manufacturing its unique product: bourbon vanilla born of beans from the Comoro Islands, off the coast of Mozambique.

Koponi Vanilla is located at 611 Willow St.

Founder and CEO Fouad Mhadji, originally from The Comoros, provides the vanilla to breweries, coffee shops and bakeries, among others, and to households.

The Independent reported in January that Mhadji was bringing the product to Grand Island with the support of Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation.

Then, Mhadji only had the vanilla beans and some samples of the product to introduce to the Nebraska market.

Mhadji got the place from Grand Island entrepreneur Jack Henry for nearly free, at an on-paper cost of $1 per year as a formality

When he heard we wanted to start making the vanilla and we dont have any space and he heard our story, Henry said, I can give him a building today, said Mhadji.

The entry, once brown, has been repainted brightly and is adorned with the companys black and green K logo.

I did the job myself, because I dont have the money to pay anybody, he said. We just try to do this so at least people can come in and talk to us and we talk to them, and they know more about the vanilla and how we do things.

The entry leads to a lounge, which displays Koponis products: an extract and the bean itself.

It also hosts Mhadjis workspace, as offices arent ready yet, which features a desk of his own craft in the shape of his home island.

Its just reminding people were coming from way far from here, and well be here for a long, long time, generation to generation, he said.

Nestled in the warehouse space is a production room for extraction and series of filtrations, a process which takes 2,000 hours overall, Mhadji explained.

Its not big-big-big, but its enough as we wanted to start and we have to start somewhere and go from there, he said.

In the adjoining space, Mhadji bottles and labels the finished product.

It is shelved, ready for shipping to anybody who has any use of vanilla, either from home or for their businesses.

Mhadji expected it to take three or four years to reach this point, working multiple jobs and operating on a tight budget to realize his dream.

He called the manufacturing space a blessing.

We had nothing. We just had an idea. We had a sample of product. Just within six months, were able to say we have a production line, he said. It doesnt matter how much were producing. We have a production line. Were having products out. We went through all the inspections and requirements for a manufacturing company. Its a blessing to say, we got to where were supposed to be.

An expansion is already being planned because of rising demand from people who have tried the product and appreciate that Koponi is Nebraskas own vanilla manufacturer.

For me its important to know that we have something here, because its local, as any local business. The most important thing for a local business is to have their community support, he said.

From that support comes trust.

The money is good, because thats how we can keep going and growing, but the trust and support people give is more important because thats one thing everyone will look at, he said.

While it is possible he will one day go national, for this year his focus is exclusively on growing in Nebraska, Mhadji asserted.

People in California, theyre going say, have you tried this vanilla from Koponi? Its from where? Nebraska! Theyre not going to say its in Washington, he said. Every time people talk about this outside, theyll be talking about Nebraska.

He added, As a Nebraskan, I would feel proud to hear somebody say, This product is coming from Nebraska.

Still, Koponi is limited in its capacity and that is reflected in Mhadjis aims.

There are 844,000-plus households in Nebraska. We cant supply that. Thats impossible. Even if every household needs one bottle, we dont have that much, he said. As for now, until next Christmas, well be able to actually supply to 10% of those households, which is 84,000 bottles.

This does not include supplying to businesses, he added.
With weather that felt like the first real day of autumn, Paris Harley-Davidson played host to Toys For Tots for the 18th annual Paris Harley-Davidson Toys For Tots Chili Cook-off. Attendees shed their jackets as the morning breezes chill subsided and gave way to a beautiful day. A crowd of more than 1,000 showed up throughout the day to enjoy the festivities, food and philanthropy.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 61F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
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COLUMBIA  South Carolina farmers and food processors who want to pursue organic certification may qualify for reimbursement through a grant administered by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency.

Organic certification can help farmers and food producers expand to new markets and find new customers, and this grant offers some assistance to do that, S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said.

The Organic Certification Cost Share Program will reimburse producers and handlers of agricultural products up to 50% of the operations total allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500 per certification scope: crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling (i.e., processing).

In addition, two farm credit associations are supplementing the cost-share funding available under the grant. AgSouth Farm Credit, ACA and ArborOne Farm Credit, ACA have offered to supplement the Organic Certification Cost Share Program for South Carolina producers with an additional reimbursement of 25% of certification costs up to a maximum of $250 per certification scope.

The deadline to apply for reimbursement for the current year is Dec. 19, 2022.

SCDA also has five other cost-share reimbursement programs available as projects of the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. These programs are designed to offset the costs of operating a farm business, including installing cold storage, implementing value-added packaging, marketing at trade shows, and costs associated with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Produce Safety Rule audits.

To apply for reimbursement programs through SCDA, visit agriculture.sc.gov/grants.
CHURDAN, Iowa -- In the 1970s when George Naylor said he wanted to grow organic crops, the idea didn't go over well.

Back then organic crops were an oddity, destined for health food stores or maybe a few farmers markets.

"I told my dad I wanted to be an organic farmer and he goes, 'Ha, ha, ha,'" Naylor said, noting it wasn't until 2014 that he could embrace his dream and begin transitioning from standard to organic crops.

But over the decades, something unexpected happened  demand for organics started increasing so fast that it began outstripping the supply produced in the U.S.

Now a new challenge has emerged: It's not getting consumers to pay the higher prices, it's convincing enough farmers to get past their organic reluctance and start taking advantage of the revenue pouring in.

Instead of growing to meet the demand, the number of farmers converting to organic is actually dropping. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture committed up to $300 million to recruit and help more farmers make the switch.

"It feels good," said Chris Schreiner, executive director of the organic-certifying organization Oregon Tilth, referring to the government help. "It's a milestone in the arc of this work."

Schreiner, who has worked at the Oregon-based organization since 1998, said expanding technical training is important given the vast differences in farming land conventionally and organically. Schreiner noted that one farmer told him that converting a conventional farmer was like asking "a foot doctor to become a heart surgeon."

The key difference is the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides as well as genetically modified seeds. Most conventional farms rely on those practices but they are banned at organic farms. Instead, organic farmers must control weeds and pests with techniques such as rotating different crops and planting cover crops that squeeze out weeds and add nutrients to the soil.

Crops can only be deemed organic if they are grown on land that hasn't been treated with synthetic substances for three years. During that period, farmers can grow crops, but they won't get the extra premium that accompanies organic crops.

According to the USDA, the number of conventional farms newly transitioning to organic production dropped by about 70% from 2008 to 2019. Organic comprises about 6% of overall food sales, but only 1% of the country's farmland is in organic production, with foreign producers making up the gap.

In the U.S, "There are so many barriers to farmers making that leap to organic," said Megan DeBates, vice president of government affairs for the Organic Trade Association.

While farmers seem hesitant, U.S. consumers aren't. Annual sales of organic products have roughly doubled in the past decade and now top $63 billion, according to the Organic Trade Association. Sales are projected to climb up to 5.5% this year.

That growth is clear to anyone pushing a cart in an average supermarket, past bins of organic apples and bananas, through dairy and egg sections and along shelves brimming with organic beef and chicken.

The new USDA effort would include $100 million toward helping farmers learn new techniques for growing organic crops; $75 million for farmers who meet new conservation practice standards; $25 million to expand crop insurance options and reduce costs; and $100 million to aid organic supply chains and develop markets for organics.

Nick Andrews, an Oregon State University extension agent who works with organic farmers, called the USDA effort a "game changer." It should be especially attractive to farmers with small parcels of land because the added value of organic crops makes it possible to make significant money off even 25 to 100 acre (10 to 40 hectare) farms  much smaller than the commercial operations that provide most of the country's produce.

"I've seen organic farmers keep families in business who otherwise would go out of business," Andrews said.

Noah Wendt, who in the past few years has transitioned 1,500 acres (607 hectares) of land in central Iowa to organic, noted the shift has been "rocky" at times for him and his farming partner, Caleb Akin.

But he and Akin recently bought a grain elevator east of Des Moines to use solely for organic crops, the kind of project the USDA program can assist. They hope the elevator will not only be a nearby spot to store grain but provide a one-stop shop to learn about growing and marketing organic crops.

Seeing all the organic activity is gratifying for George and Patti Naylor, who farm near the tiny central Iowa community of Churdan. But they say they still value most the simple benefits of their choice, such as evenings spent watching hundreds of rare monarch butterflies that flock to their herbicide-free farm.

As Patti Naylor put it, "It really helps to believe in what you're doing."
A Moncks Corner man is serving a probation sentence after pleading guilty to first-offense third-degree burglary.

Brandon Tyler Driggers, 26, of 104 Hickory Hill Road, entered his guilty plea during a recent term of court before Circuit Judge Roger M. Young Sr. at the Orangeburg County Courthouse.

Young sentenced Driggers to prison for five years, suspended to two years of probation.

Young gave him credit for having already served 125 days at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.

He also ordered Driggers to successfully complete an inpatient treatment program and stipulated that his probation term may end early once he finishes.

Prosecutors dismissed Driggers charge of petit larceny valued at $2,000 or less.

In other recent guilty pleas:

 Julius Leonard Foster II, 48, of 901 Corona Drive, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to hit-and-run resulting in property damage.

Young sentenced him to prison for one year, suspended to one year of probation.

He gave Foster credit for having already served 82 days in jail and ordered him to undergo a substance abuse assessment.

Young ordered Foster to complete substance abuse counseling if necessary.

 Patrick Davon Govan, 43, of 147 Lowman Street, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to unlawful carrying of a pistol.

Young sentenced him to two days in jail and gave him credit for time served.

Prosecutors dismissed Govans charge of first-offense distribution of methamphetamine or cocaine base.

 Kamari Sayvon Johnson, 23, of 4015 Evan Lane, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to pointing and presenting a firearm at a person.

Young sentenced him to 30 days in jail and gave him credit for having already spent 345 days there.

Prosecutors dismissed Johnsons charge of unlawful carrying of a pistol.

 Kevon Morgan Johnson, 30, of 223 Crossover Road, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-offense possession with intent to distribute a scheduled drug, except flunitrazepam.

Johnson was originally charged with first-offense possession with intent to distribute a scheduled drug, but pleaded guilty to first-offense possession with intent to distribute a scheduled drug, except flunitrazepam instead.

Young sentenced him to three years in prison, suspended to one year of probation.

He gave Johnson credit for having already served two days in jail and ordered him to undergo random drug/alcohol testing.

Prosecutors dismissed his charges of having an open container of beer or wine, first-offense driving under suspension license not suspended for DUI and failure to return drivers license after suspension.

 Aerron Jamar Mays, 29, of 118 Toledo Scale Road, Florence, pleaded guilty to habitual traffic offender.

Young sentenced him to prison for two years, suspended to probation for six months.

 ITaun Mood, 20, of 901 Corona Drive, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-offense third-degree burglary.

Young sentenced him under the Youthful Offender Act not to exceed five years, suspended to one year of probation.

Mood was originally charged with first-degree burglary, but pleaded guilty to first-offense third-degree burglary instead.
The Orangeburg County School District is piloting a virtual instruction program that allows underserved high school students to take advanced-placement courses that were not available due to the lack of AP-endorsed teachers at some schools.

The district has begun the National Math & Science Initiative (NMSI) program this semester, enabling qualifying students to take an AP course in English Language and Composition, Dr. Terry Fludd, OCSD director of school improvement and innovation, said during the Tuesday monthly meeting of the OCSD Board of Trustees.

A student from Bethune-Bowman, one from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School and one from North Middle/High School are participating in the first cohort of the pilot program.

The program, which is fully funded by NMSI, is currently offered at all the district's high schools with the district expecting to provide additional courses in math, science and English language arts in coming years, Fludd said.

Students who complete the program can receive college credits and monetary incentives, and teachers who successfully teach the course can also receive monetary incentives, according to Fludd.

The program also provides teachers and district leaders fully funded support and professional development, Fludd said.

The program is touted by NMSI as strengthening student transcripts and competitiveness.

In preparation for expanding the program, Fludd said the district's middle school teachers have been trained to lay the foundation for the course to be taken in the high schools.

Fludd said students were identified through coursework and interviews. Parental involvement has also been a part of the process.

Trustee Mary Ulmer requested the board receive a status update on the program at the end of the school year.

Since its formal launch in 2007, NMSI has worked with school systems to identify practices and policies that block students from accessing advanced education. NMSI helps schools increase diversity in advanced courses while maintaining and growing student achievement in those classes, according to the program's website.

More recently, NMSI has expanded its work to collaborate with community groups and local, state and federal officials to help break down racism and implicit bias in education.

In other matters, trustees voted 5-2 to accept changes to the 2022-23 school year calendar.

The changes include designating Oct. 25 as parent/teacher conference day and making Jan. 2 a teacher workday with students returning from the winter break on Jan. 3.

Graduation would be held May 26, 2023 and May 27, 2023.

District officials say the calendar was presented to the satisfaction of the district's calendar committee and others responsible for putting the calendar together.

Trustee Dr. Sylvia Bruce-Stephens recommended teachers come back on Jan. 3 and students Jan. 4 so teachers are given the New Year's holiday.

"That is not fair," Bruce-Stephens said. "They need the holiday. It is only fair."

Dr. William O'Quinn questioned why graduation is a week before the final day of school and was told that it was not uncommon in school districts where seniors who graduate do not have to attend the last four days of school.

O'Quinn and Bruce-Stephens voted against the calendar. Trustee Mary Ulmer abstained, noting the board did not make a motion to address Bruce-Stephens' request.

Also, it was reported the district's general fund budget expenditures exceeded its revenues by about $4.9 million for the month of September.

Assistant Superintendent For Finance Gail Sanders said the district is in line with its cash flow compared to previous years and that the deficit it not unusual because the district has not started receiving revenues from property taxes.

Revenues from taxes typically begin to flow into the district around November, December and January.

The school has been operating using funds from its Tax Anticipation Note previously approved by trustees, Sanders said.

The district regularly uses TAN to help fund district operations until revenues start to come in from property taxes.

Bruce-Stephens said "that looks bad," referring to the monthly loss.

"What I need to know is what line item is out of kilter," Bruce-Stephens said. "Some line item has to be out of kilter."

Sanders said she would look the information up for Bruce-Stephens.

In other business:

The district recognized school principals in light of October being National Principals Month. The principals were recognized with a round of applause.

The district is recognizing a different school principal each day of the month on its Facebook and Twitter pages.

National Principals Month is a collaboration between the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA), the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

The district named Cope Area Career Center cosmetology teacher Derrell Jenkins the Rookie Teacher of the Month for September.

Jenkins also operates Salon Amore in Orangeburg.

The district named Robert E. Howard Middle School social studies teacher Eriresha Terry-Lewis as the district's Employee of the Month for September.

Dr. Erica Taylor was introduced as the district's new assistant superintendent for communications, business and community partnerships. Taylor assumed the position Oct. 4.

Before joining CCSD, Taylor served at South Carolina State University from 2002-12. She most recently served in the Charleston County School District as the district's chief of staff.

Taylor replaces Merry Glenne Piccolino, who is now serving in the Aiken County School District.

Trustees went into closed session to discuss personnel recommendations, contractual matters and legal matters.

The November school board meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at district headquarters at 102 Founders Court. The meeting, which is normally scheduled the second Tuesday of the month, will be held on the third Tuesday in November due to Election Day.
Rowan Universitys Center for Neurodiversity celebrated its first year of operations Oct. 7 with an open house in Laurel Hall, tours of the facility and information about services that students, faculty and staff can find there.

The center, in Laurel 111-120, opened last October with a wide range of services for people who often have one or more neurological conditions like Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Dyslexia or Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Experts say such conditions are simply differences in how the human brain works, not disabilities.

Built under the umbrella of Rowans Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), the Center for Neurodiversity provides programming, events and professional development through a strengths-based lens with a focus on education and social justice.

When we think about diversity we often think about traditional markers, but ever since our division founded in 2019 weve also focused on invisible diversity, said Dr. Monika Williams Shealey, senior vice president for DEI. This facility focuses on research, education and programming and serves as a cultural center.

Ultimately, she said, the center was founded as one more way Rowan seeks to be inclusive.

Simply put, this center allows you to be you, she said.

Rowan President Ali Houshmand last year said the centers goal, along with all of the programming created to complement it, is to support neurodiverse students in college and ready them for careers after they graduate.

Speaking during the open house, Provost Tony Lowman said the Neurodiversity Center and its associated programs have come a long way in fulfilling Houshmands goal.

Were supporting students and preparing them for success, Lowman said.

The center is a central hub featuring programming and support, a climate-controlled sensory-friendly room for study and relaxation, educational materials, a conference room and staff offices.

Led by Dr. Amy Accardo in its first year, the Center for 2022-23 is led by co-directors John Woodruff and Chiara Latimer.

Woodruff said more than 170 Rowan students identify on the autism spectrum and those students, plus many more, will benefit from the Centers offerings. They include a student Neurodiversity Club as well as a neurodiversity affinity group for faculty and staff who wish to support neurodiverse students.

Sevan Fuscellaro, a senior biology major from Washington Township who identifies as autistic, said the Neurodiversity Center, with its support, programs and quiet space, is something of an oasis on a busy campus.

Its quiet and not overwhelming, she said. Its reassuring that its here.
Theres still at least 30 racial covenants in Laramie County.

Neighborhood covenants set rules for how homeowners can use their properties. That could include what color you can paint your house, whether or not you can operate a business on the premises and so on.

Homeowners associations say the covenants are necessary to protect home values in the neighborhoods, and keep it enjoyable for its residents.

But neighborhoods for decades used racial covenants to exclude Black people and other people of color.

That, by extension, hindered their ability to build wealth and good credit.

While theyre no longer lawful, its not unusual to find racial covenants in old neighborhood documents.

Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County wants to raise awareness about the racial covenants still on the books in Cheyenne and across the state, and to encourage their removal.

Its hosting a town hall on the topic at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the David R. Romero Community Center. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Special projects coordinator Dan Dorsch said hes discovered roughly 35 instances of racial covenants in Laramie County while looking through neighborhood records.

Take a 1926 deed for Cheyennes Moore Haven Heights subdivision:

This lot is sold with the express covenant that it not be sold to anyone of the N***o Race, nor anyone not of the Caucasian Race, the document reads.

Racial covenants became popular following the U.S. Supreme Courts 1917 ruling deeming city segregation ordinances illegal.

In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the covenants unenforceable. Then, in 1968, the Federal Fair Housing Act made them illegal altogether.

That didnt require neighborhoods with existing racial covenants to amend their language, though. Thats why some still have them 50-plus years later.

People buying homes in those neighborhood still have to read them when they sit down to sign their deeds.

In 2021, the Wyoming Legislature passed a law making it easier to remove the covenants.

To amend neighborhood rules, one would ordinarily have to collect signatures from a certain number of households in the subdivision.

But under the new law, if a neighborhood has a covenant thats unenforceable or unconstitutional, any property owner, attorney, title insurance company or title insurance agent can approach the county clerks office to change it.

The legislation was sponsored by Shelly Duncan, R-Lingle, a real estate agent.

I actually had some clients sitting at the table with me and they had to read through the racist covenants that literally said, people of color had to enter from the rear of the home, she told lawmakers in 2021.

Bill to remove racist covenants passes second reading in Wyoming House Many real estate contracts still contain discriminatory text barring people of color from owning or occupying houses. The Supreme Court ruled the covenants unenforceable in 1948, but the exclusionary language remains.

Some people worry that removing racial covenants is erasing history, Dorsch said at a state Habitat for Humanity conference last month.

And thats not true, he said. These will always be on file. Its just the new version without the covenant or without the language.

In some places, the easiest way to find covenants is at the county clerks office. To find out how many racial covenants are in your area, youd have to go leaf through them in person.

But theres also ways to find them online. First American Title has uploaded covenants for 17 Wyoming counties on its website. Thats how Dorsch identified the 30-some racial covenants in Laramie County.

The website also includes scans of covenants for Albany, Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Fremont, Goshen, Johnson, Natrona, Niobrara, Park, Platte, Sublette, Sweetwater, Uinta and Weston counties.
Bumping legislator pay is never a popular topic. Few Wyomingites want to spend more on government, especially a part of government that might frustrate them. Moreover, times are tough, and its hard to convince the public to spend money on politicians when they may be only scraping by themselves.

But in the case of Wyoming, raising lawmaker pay isnt about doing something that helps legislators. Its really about producing a more representative government.

Consider this: Wyomings Legislature doesnt look a whole lot like Wyomings population. Its older, for one. Its disproportionately male. Its also got fewer members of the middle class. There are plenty of ranchers and retirees, but not so many teachers, police officers or hospital workers.

Thats due, in part, to pay. Wyoming lawmakers earn $150 a day during the session and at interim meetings. Per diem  the amount lawmakers get to pay for lodging, food and gas  is only $109 a day, which makes it difficult for a lawmaker to simply break even if he or she must stay in Cheyenne for six weeks at a time during the session. Plus, lawmakers dont get health care benefits.

That economic reality limits who can serve. A lawyer can put his or her practice on hold for a few months and will earn enough the rest of the year to pay the bills during the session. But what about a nurse with a family? The $109 per diem is not going to cover a hotel room in Cheyenne, three meals, gas and child care back in the city where she lives. And the $150 is likely not going to match a days pay. And so government service is out of reach.

The result? The composition of the Wyoming Legislature doesnt match the states demographics. Which means there are fewer politicians who understand firsthand what life is like for many Wyomingites. Lawmakers have only a matter of weeks each year to work. They have to prioritize some issues over others. If middle-class Wyomingites are underrepresented in the Legislature, it stands to reason that their concerns are underrepresented as well.

Its also important to recognize that women are grossly underrepresented in the Legislature. Thats not a coincidence. Poor pay and other compensation is a barrier to serving for many would-be female politicians.

Recently, a panel of lawmakers proposed boosting legislator pay for the first time since 2005. The plan includes a salary increase to $230 a day and a per diem increase to $155 a day. The committee has also proposed letting lawmakers opt into the states health insurance plan.

Its time to put those proposals into action. Its been nearly 20 years since the last legislator pay hike, which means the statehouse is more than overdue. All the while, its gotten harder economically for middle-class Wyomingites to serve. As long as the issue goes unresolved, it will only become more difficult to elect a Legislature that truly looks like the state it governs. This isnt about what benefits 93 lawmakers. Its really about what benefits all of us.
The festive Christmas season is upon us, coupled with the excitement of the World Cup tournament! Its only fitting that we look into another common digestive issue that can often put a damper on our ability to enjoy life.

If this topic captured your attention, then you must be all too familiar with the fiery discomfort in your stomach that rises to your chest after youve had a meal. Youve tasted that sourness or bitterness at the back of your mouth, or have had that burning wave that hits your throat and turns your voice hoarse.
Surviving the terror of the pipeline which claimed the lives of four of his colleagues was one battle Christopher Boodram fought.

Struggling to survive outside in a world filled with financial pain and mental anguish is another.

Boodram, the lone diving survivor, has issued an appeal for Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd to assist him and the families of the deceased divers.

In an interview with the Sunday Express last Friday, Boodram said his family is facing immense financial hardship, as he has not been able to work since the diving tragedy on February 25.
There could be no doubt that the post-pandemic situation is fraught with many problems ranging from concerns for health, education, economy and personal situations.

Among these that may be prioritised according to our individual cares come the national concerns. Even then debate will range over which should be our priorities.

My view is that the greatest and most enduring problem will be our loss of effective teaching-learning time over well nigh two years.
Following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the countrys morality police for not wearing her hijab correctly, Iran exploded into political protest.

Are you looking to understand these events deeper? Here are four book recommendations brought to you by your friends at Pima County Public Library.
Wit, Wisdom and Strength, are the words engraved on Rose Silvers tombstone in a Tucson cemetery. That saying aptly describes the petite woman who became the first female attorney for Pima County, and the woman who dared to defend the notorious criminal, John Dillinger  and win her case.

Rose Sosnowsky was born in Austria on June 10, 1908. Just a few years later, her parents immigrated to the U.S., leaving their daughter in the care of her maternal grandmother. Rose did not see her parents again until she was 10 years old.

Yet she was far from idle during those formative years.

Roses grandmother took her to Paris, Russia, Turkey and England. At every destination, Rose went to school. By the time she was reunited with her parents in Detroit, she understood Hebrew, French, Russian and English. Not bad for a 10-year-old.

Roses father insisted his daughter obtain the best education possible and expected Rose to achieve the highest grades. He encouraged her to go to law school since that required a 4-year degree as opposed to a 2-year teaching program.

By this time, Rose had met her future husband, James J. Silver, although it would be several years before they married. She enrolled in the University of Detroit while James entered medical school. But when James became ill with tuberculosis, he was advised to go west for his health. Rose bundled him up and arrived in Tucson in August 1927.

James health improved rapidly, and the following year, the couple married. Over the years, they had 5 children.

Rose expected to continue her law education at the newly formed University of Arizona School of Law. But when she applied, one of the professors informed her, We dont want women in the law school. She was admitted because of her excellent grades, the only woman in her class.

Finally, in about her third year at school, one of her professors lauded her performance. You think just like a man, he said, never realizing how demoralizing the comment was.

As a professional woman, Rose claimed, you have to be twice as good and twice as prepared.

Passing the bar in 1931, Rose quickly realized no one would hire a female attorney. As one reporter admitted, women lawyers were about as much in demand as day-old tacos.

One law firm that refused to hire her said it would have to put you somewhere in a back room where the public wouldnt see you. The public isnt going to stand for a woman lawyer.

She rented space in a building next to a criminal attorney and took any case that walked through the door. Most of her clients were bootleggers who had been caught running stills. The men readily admitted to having stills, but Rose argued the police had entered the defendants homes without warrants. The cases were almost always dismissed.

Roses claim to fame occurred when John Dillinger sought her help after his arrest in Tucson for the murder of an Ohio couple.

Dillinger had $20,000 on him at the time, and an insurance company claimed the money belonged to them from a bank robbery Dillinger had perpetrated. Rose won the case arguing there was no proof where the money came from.

Grateful for her help, Dillinger paid her fee and gave her his new car since he would not be needing it where he was going.

I would take the children and their friends around in that car, Rose said in a 1984 interview. And pretty soon the upholstery got dirty with mustard and ketchup and whatever you buy for children at the hamburger stands. She sent the car to an upholsterer to replace the stained seats.

One day, the upholsterer called Rose and told her she had better come and look at what he had found in the car. When she got there, she discovered the whole back was taken out . . . and it was loaded with all kinds of machine guns and stuff.

Turning over the ill-gotten loot to the Treasury Department, Rose claimed agents followed her around for the next five years. They thought maybe I was a moll of Dillingers.

James Silver also turned to the law, and the couple eventually opened their own firm.

With five youngsters of her own, Rose would advocate for anyone who wanted to help ill children. A man who wanted to start a private school for asthmatic children had found a big house that was perfect for his project, but he was told zoning regulations prohibited him from operating a business in a residential neighborhood.

It took extensive research but Rose finally discovered that the house at one time had been used as a boarding house. Arguing the zoning restriction had already been violated, Rose pleaded with the judge, Make a landmark decision to keep families together, to help cure sick children and you have the power to do it.

Rose, once again, won her case.

In 1962, Rose was appointed to the staff of the Pima County Attorneys Office and in 1969 she became the first female Pima County attorney, serving until 1972.

Appointed legal adviser to the Pima County Board of Supervisors in 1973, Rose was offered a salary that was $7,000 less than her male predecessor.

Rose was a popular and avid speaker and readily addressed students along with organizations such as the Urban League, YWCA and the National Organization for Women. She donated her time and voice to recording audiotapes for the blind.

John Silver died in 1975. Rose continued to work as her children set off on their own. She once told a reporter that she never took more than 10 days off from work to have each of her children and when she was so pregnant she couldnt walk up the stairs anymore, the judges held court in the patio. She was named Tucsons Mother of the Year in 1960.

Rose died December 12, 1994. For some reason, Rose once said, my father thought I could move mountains, and he made me move them.
BARTLESVILLE,OK, OCT. 5 - Charlie Pilkington has been named the new market president of Regent Bank in Bartlesville.

Pilkington has 30 years experience in banking and business, and has been with Regent Bank for the past five years, focusing on loans and fostering deposit management banking relationships.

Our top core value at Regent Bank is Show you Care, and Bartlesville and its nonprofit community is the perfect match of our core values and the people we serve, Pilkington said. Im excited for the opportunity to lead such a caring bank and to assist our many customers here.

Born in Tulsa and raised in Sand Springs, Pilkington has been married for 25 years to his wife Sarita, and the two have four children and five rescue dogs. Pilkington serves on the executive board of the Bartlesville Salvation Army, the Veterans Connect Organization, and Rotary. He is an advocate for Bartlesville Chamber, and he leads the Bartlesville Referral Network.

Pilkington served for five years in the U.S. Air Force, flying with an air crew on more than 300 sorties through the Berlin air corridors in East Germany. During the Gulf War, Pilkington provided support for air rescue missions in Northern Iraq as part of Operation Desert Storm.

Regent Bank is a Member FDIC & Equal Housing Lender.

To submit an announcement in Business People, which highlights new hires and promotions, call the Tulsa World Advertising Department at 918-581-8510.
Sterlin Harjo, the Seminole/Muscogee filmmaker behind the revolutionary TV series Reservation Dogs, will present the next University of Tulsa Presidential Lecture at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Reynolds Center, 3208 E. Eighth St., on the University of Tulsa campus.

The lecture is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a question-and-answer session. The Presidential Lecture Series is sponsored by the Darcy OBrien Endowed Chair.

Harjo, who is also a founding member of the Indigenous comedy troupe, the 1491s, has created and directed five feature films. His first, Four Sheets to the Wind, premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2007 and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. His feature documentary, This May Be the Last Time, premiered at Sundance in 2014. Each of his films are set in Oklahoma and address contemporary Indigenous experiences.

Harjo and Academy Award winner Taika Waititi created the acclaimed TV series Reservation Dogs, which follows the everyday lives of four young Indigenous people living in small-town Oklahoma. The series  the first to feature an almost entirely Indigenous cast and creative team  has earned a prestigious Peabody Award. The show recently completed its second season, and a third is in production.

In a recent interview with the Tulsa World, Harjo said, All of my work up until Reservation Dogs, I had hoped people would see them and they were usually showing at film festivals. I had two documentary shows that played locally only or online. So you never know whats going to happen, but I think thats good.

I think I went into (Reservation Dogs) with no expectations and I just tried to make the best show I could, Harjo said. Obviously, its validating and its super cool that so many people like the show. We hit the right note, you know? We hit the right note at the right time with the right people.

Harjo has several projects in the works, include a series called Poster Girls that is in development with FX. Paramount+ recently acquired his series Yellowbird and LeBron James company, SpringHill, is producing Rezball, a series Harjo co-wrote.

For more information, see utulsa.edu/pls.

Daddy Long Legs

Jerusha Abbott has earned the unfortunate title of Oldest Orphan in the John Grier Home  along with the responsibility of making all the preparations for the monthly meetings on the homes trustees. But after one such meeting, she is handed a letter. One anonymous trustee will pay for her college education on the condition that she write him regular letters describing what goes on in her life.

So begins Daddy Long Legs, a musical based on the classic 1912 novel by Jean Webster that in turn has inspired at least three films, the most famous being the 1955 version that starred Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron.

This musical by Paul Gordon and John Caird had its Oklahoma debut in November 2019, in a production that starred Margaret Stall as Jerusha, and Samuel Briggs as Jervis Pendleton, the young man who becomes something of a rival for Jerushas affections with the unknown man she calls Daddy Long Legs.

Stall and Briggs are reviving this show for a two-weekend run at the Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 21-22 and 28-29, 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 and 30.

Tickets are $30. 918-596-7111, tulsapac.com.

Hellerween short play festival

Heller Theatre Companys annual Heller Shorts production, featuring original short plays by local playwrights, will take a turn for the spooky this year, as the company presents Hellerween: Stories to Scare You Shortless, 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 21-23, at ahha Tulsa, 101 E. Archer St.

The evening will feature six short plays that will be staged throughout the facilitys The Experience exhibit. This years offerings are Adams Apple by Daniel Hitzman; Appalachia by Aedan James; Bleeding Edge by Bailey James; Carlito by Susan Apker; The Doners by Carlyn Flint; and Options Include Insanity by Andrew Smith.

Tickets are $20. hellertheatreco.com.

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About Aug. 1, 1882, a team of mules pulled a heavy wagon of construction supplies across the prairie to a campsite just north of what is now Whittier Square.

Surveyors had already staked out a path for the new Frisco railroad, running southwest toward the Arkansas River. And now a construction crew set to work grading the soil and laying railroad ties.

Chief engineer J.E. Thomes chose the spot for a side track, intending to locate the new town of Tulsa there. And if the work hadnt been interrupted, todays Lewis Avenue would have been Main Street, and the whole map of the city would look entirely different.

Thomes wanted the town to sit more or less due north of the Perryman Ranch, a massive cattle operation that stretched across more than 100 square miles, covering most of what became midtown, south Tulsa and Broken Arrow. The main reason for extending the railroad from Vinita was to pick up cattle, saving the Perrymans the trouble of driving herds all the way to Coffeyville, Kansas.

The ranch had opened its own post office in 1879 with mail arriving once a week on horseback from Muskogee. Deliveries came and went from George Perrymans house, a veritable palace by territorial standards with six rooms, multiple chimneys and a wraparound porch.

The house stood along a well-worn horse path near what is now 34th Street and roughly halfway between Peoria and Lewis avenues, a spot Perryman apparently chose for its proximity to a natural ford across the Arkansas River, letting him run cattle on both sides of the water.

As members of the Muscogee tribe, the Perrymans named their post office Tulsa, adapted from a Muscogee word for old town and probably a reference to the original Muscogee settlement that began near the famous Council Oak tree more than 40 years earlier.

More than 450 people from the Lochapoka clan arrived on the sandy banks of the Arkansas in 1836 at the end of the infamous Trail of Tears.

Gathering under the branches of a tall oak tree on the crest of a nearby hill, they marked their arrival with a solemn ceremony that deposited ashes they had brought with them from their ancestral homeland in Alabama.

At least a few Muscogee families still lived along the river near the tree when the railroad arrived in 1882. And both the Perryman post office and the Council Oak, which still stands near 18th Street and Cheyenne Avenue, can claim to be the spot where Tulsa began.

But Whittier Square would have been the middle of downtown if not for a merchant named H.C. Hall.

Selling goods out of a tent, H.C. and his brother J.M. Hall followed railroad construction crews from Vinita and wanted to be the first to open a store in Tulsa. The railroad engineer, however, had chosen a spot inside the Cherokee Nation, which had laws against white men engaging in business on the reservation.

H.C. persuaded Thomes to move the town site further west into the Muscogee Nation, which had friendlier laws for white businessmen. And the place the Hall brothers chose to build a general store became the corner of First and Main streets, making it another spot that can claim to be where Tulsa began.

The truth, of course, is that the city wouldnt be the same without all three locations.

Video: 50 things were loving about Tulsa in 2022.
Rep. Liz Cheney touched on what she called a key lesson from the Capitol attack investigation in her opening statement for the Jan. 6 Select Committees last hearing.

Cheney asked why Americans would assume the Constitution and institutions  U.S. democracy in general  would be invulnerable and not falter if assaulted again.

Our institutions only hold when men and women of good faith make them hold, regardless of the political cost, Cheney, R-Wyoming, said Friday. We have no guarantee that these men and women will be in place next time.

A month before the mid-term general elections, her statement and question are front and center as some Republicans in or campaigning for statewide offices that oversee elections still outright deny or cast doubt on Joe Bidens 2020 presidential election win.

Federal election security officials under former President Donald Trump announced that the election Biden won was the most secure in American history, with no evidence any voting system was compromised. Courts consistently have turned away baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud.

But Trumps so-called Big Lie that the election was rigged or stolen has resonated among his supporters, and many candidates seek to tap into Trumps base.

A Lee Enterprises review of its west region found four candidates for secretary of state offices who openly have denied or cast doubt on Joe Bidens victory  Republican Jim Marchant in Nevada; Republican Mark Finchem in Arizona; Republican Chuck Gray in Wyoming; and Independent Charles Tuttle in North Dakota.

Additionally, Wyomings interim secretary of state, Karl Allred, has said he would support Gray.

Some other candidates and officeholders have been coy about their thoughts or position on the 2020 election.

The Guardian in January reported that a group of Republicans running to serve as chief election officials in key swing states formed a coalition to share unfounded election fraud conspiracy theories and ideas to reshape election systems in ways that could overturn legitimate results in the next presidential race.

Jim Marchant  running for secretary of state in Nevada  leads the coalition. Marchant as recently as this month told Trump supporters at a rally that he and his coalition of secretary of state candidates will "fix the whole country" if elected and that Trump will be president again in 2024, according to the Guardian.

Mark Finchem, who attended the Jan. 6 riot, is campaigning for secretary of state in Arizona and is a prominent member of that "America First Secretary of State Coalition."

Finchem has suggested he wouldn't certify the vote if Biden won Arizona in 2024, according to an Arizona Daily Star story.

Some experts are unsure what might happen if election deniers gain more control overseeing state elections, but they dont see furor provoked by Trump subsiding soon.

Bruce Schulman is a U.S. historian at Boston University who says the risk to democratic institutions and traditions must be taken seriously.

However, Schulman noted, many Republican politicians arent true believers of election conspiracy theories. He referenced Sen. Ted Cruz as an example of someone embracing election denialism for political reasons.

The big question is what happens when push comes to shove, when those people who are not true believers, will either have to stand up for democratic practices or join the authoritarian bandwagon, Schulman said. I'm not sure what will happen.

Joseph Uscinski, a University of Miami professor who researches conspiracy theories, elections and politics, said its common for some voters to believe they were cheated after their chosen candidate loses.

Uscinski said whats different about the 2020 election is that the majority of Republicans now hold that belief because of the echo chamber cultivated by Trump, his allies in Congress and conservative media outlets.

With that said, its not clear to me that these high numbers are going to remain permanently, but I think theyre going to be with us for a while, Uscinski said.

Lisa Bryant, a California State-Fresno professor who is an expert in voter confidence and election administration, said she sometimes is told she is too optimistic.

While skeptical of politicians, Bryant said her optimistic view is that good policies and procedures will win the day if and when election deniers achieve oversight of elections because statewide elections are run so well and securely.

She thinks politicians who tout that the election was stolen are inflicting the most damage in state Legislatures, where  unlike state election offices  election codes and rules can be changed to make it tougher to vote.

We dont know yet what could happen if people got into really powerful positions as the state senior election official  like secretary of state  but we can see whats happening when theyre in state Legislatures, Bryant said. We can see in many places it has been made a little bit more difficult for people to be able to cast ballots.

Candidate quality issue

Uscinski said people believe conspiracy theories largely for the same reasons they believe anything else  a persons beliefs tend to be a reflection of who one is and how they view the world.

So those who still view the 2020 election as fraudulent likely wont change their view, Uscinski said, especially with the consistent reinforcement by conservative elites.

He said the Republican Party should take stronger control over who it allows to run in its primaries under the GOP banner.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in August acknowledged that Republicans have a candidate quality issue.

Some people should not be allowed to run under the party banner if theyre engaging in a bunch of wild-eyed nonsense, Uscinski said. I mean there are other people in Georgia who could run for Marjorie Taylor Greenes seat.

Trump reshaped the Republican partys structure. Uscinski said theres now a generation of politicians emboldened by Trump who are changing their tunes to match his.

He built a base for himself that is less about traditional Republicanism and conservatism and much more about antagonisms toward the political establishment as a whole, Uscinski said. And oftentimes those antagonisms are expressed as conspiracy theories.

GOP confidence drops more

Bryant, who is a part of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, said there is some level of a winner effect on voter confidence after an election.

Voter confidence  how confident a person feels that ballots are counted as intended  always goes up among people who voted for a winner and down in those who chose the loser, Bryant said.

But the difference is that traditionally Democrats lose only a little confidence while Republican confidence goes down more, she said.

Bryant said what would boost confidence but largely goes under-reported or unnoticed is how IT departments and election offices are keenly aware of the evolving election landscape and are updating to handle it.

She worries about local election officials  essentially civic-minded volunteers from the community  being forced to bear the brunt of conspiracy theorist harassment. Bryant noted that election administrators in a county clerks office in a small Texas county resigned because of threats.

My hope, as always, is even if people who are election deniers get elected into office  that once there they will see that the majority of people running the elections are just bureaucrats, Bryant said. They are friends and neighbors  people they go to church with or bowling with or whatever  and that they are just following procedures.

They are not people sitting in offices with grand schemes to try to change election results.

Parallels, precedents in US history

Schulman, who contributes his U.S. history insights to some national news outlets, said there are no cases historically that specifically resemble Trumps efforts.

But Schulman noted that there are many pertinent parallels and precedents.

He pointed to a lengthy history of voter suppression, intimidation and violence surrounding elections and its relation to the countrys history of racial discrimination and white supremacy.

He said that most notoriously in the late 19th and early 20th century South, white people used a variety of sinister means  legal and extralegal  to deny non-whites the right to vote.

Some part  I cant say how much  of the explanation for how people believe claims of widespread fraud despite the lack of evidence is that fraud designates who voted, not how they voted, Schulman said.

In the early 1860s, Schulman emphasized that eleven states not only rejected Abraham Lincons election to president but seceded from the U.S. and launched a civil war rather than accept the result of an election they found unwelcome.

Schulman said there have been numerous close and contested elections in which supporters of the losing candidate saw the outcome as fraudulent or corrupt.

The most famous case, he explained, is the 1824 election in which none of the candidates received a majority in the Electoral College and the decision went to the House of Representatives.

Candidate Henry Clay gave his support to John Quincy Adams, who defeated the biggest vote-getter  Andrew Jackson  and Clay became Adams secretary of state.

The apparent deal, denounced as the Corrupt Bargain by Jackson supporters, led to widespread Jacksonian complaints about the legitimacy of the result and Adams subsequent presidency, Schulman said.

Here are brief views into some states from journalists  Joshua Wolfson, Sam Wilson, Nathan Thompson, Mychel Matthews, Jack Dura, Dave Bundy, Corey Jones and Hayley Day  in Lee Enterprises' west region:

Wyoming

In Wyoming, the secretary of state is the No. 2 elected official.

Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan departed office in September for a judgeship in his hometown, choosing that over seeking re-election this year.

Buchanan, a Republican, sought to push back against claims that election integrity was an issue in Wyoming. He traveled around the state to give presentations to groups about why Wyoming elections are safe and secure.

State Rep. Chuck Gray won the Republican nomination in August for secretary of state and is running unopposed in the general election. Gray has called Bidens election fraudulent and illegitimate on Twitter.

Grays platform focuses on voter fraud and banning ballot drop boxes, even though voter fraud is extremely rare in Wyoming. He briefly ran for U.S. House against Liz Cheney, and made a point of visiting the Arizona recount.

The interim secretary of state  Karl Allred  was appointed in October. Allred is a member of the Wyoming Republican State Central Committee, and he said he would support Gray.

Allred hasnt said that Wyomings existing elections are secure. But within days of taking office, he asked county clerks to remove absentee ballot drop boxes even while acknowledging there have been no reported issues with them.

The final decision on whether to do so remains in the hands of the seven clerks in counties that provide ballot drop boxes.

Montana

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, a Republican, was elected to her current term in 2020. She will be up for reelection in 2024.

Her predecessor, Corey Stapleton, was the most prominent elected GOP official in Montana to acknowledge Trump's loss shortly after the 2020 election was called.

But Jacobsen has never publicly addressed the 2020 election conspiracy theories, other than to say Montanas elections are secure and to note that the states tabulating machines dont connect to the internet.

She has aggressively lobbied for legislation similar to Republican-backed legislation elsewhere in the country to improve election integrity and security. Opponents have said the measures, including tighter voter ID requirements and earlier registration deadlines, limit access to voting.

The only official comment from her office on broader conspiracy theories related to the 2020 election came from her chief legal counsel during a trial in August.

Austin James acknowledged giving testimony in a deposition, under oath as Jacobsen's representative, in which he referred to those pushing those claims as "wingnuts" and described efforts to eliminate tabulators from the state as crazy.

South Dakota

Monae Johnson is a Republican candidate campaigning for secretary of state in South Dakota on election integrity.

Johnson hasnt agreed to interview requests from the Rapid City Journal.

In a July media release posted on her campaign website, Johnson said she understands the challenges in the coming months as the radical left continues its assault on election integrity  despite the fact that its Trump and his Republican supporters who question or deny the 2020 presidential election results.

She referenced South Dakotas elections as fair, transparent and secure.

Her Democrat opponent, Tom Cool, acknowledges on his campaign website that there is no evidence of widespread manipulation of the election process in the last election.

Local media are the chief source of information for voters and we need to ensure that the media are fully informed on the election process and that they have open access to election officials and results, Cool says on his website.

Idaho

In Idaho, the attorney generals race has drawn attention.

Lawrence Wasden, the states longest-serving attorney general, was beaten in the Republican primary by former U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador.

Wasden had declined to join Texas lawsuit against Georgia and other states that contested the 2020 presidential election, which rankled elected Republicans in Idaho. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Texas suit.

Throughout the campaign, Labrador said that as attorney general he would be aggressive in actions taken against the federal government and against big government overreach. Labrador said he would have joined lawsuits over the 2020 presidential election.

Democrat candidate Tom Arkoosh has said he accepts the results of the 2020 presidential election. Arkoosh is touting support from dozens of Republicans  many are former office holders  who are concerned Labrador will politicize the AGs Office.

North Dakota

Independent Charles Tuttle, vying to be North Dakotas secretary of state, is a Trump supporter who has said Trump won the 2020 election.

The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation in August searched his Minot home and seized 15 time cards in connection with an investigation into fraud allegations related to signature collection for a ballot measure for term limits on North Dakota lawmakers and the governor. No arrests resulted from the warranted search.

Secretary of state candidates Jeffrey Powell, a Democrat, and Michael Howe, a Republican, discussed election administration during a candidate forum in May.

Howe said he is comfortable with our election process the way it is but that he is willing to make improvements if it would become easier to vote and harder to cheat.

Powell said North Dakota has a secure voting system and that he doesnt have major changes from a procedural viewpoint.

North Dakota is a Republican-controlled state, with no Democrats holding statewide office.

Nebraska

Republican incumbent Bob Evnen is running unopposed for secretary of state.

In the May primary, Evnen defeated Bob Borer, a Trump supporter who campaigned heavily on election integrity as a member of the "America First Secretary of States Candidates" coalition.

Evnen and Gov. Pete Ricketts each have maintained that Nebraskas elections are safe and that Biden is president.

However, Ricketts is advocating for Initiative 432, which is a ballot measure to enact voter identification requirements.

Oklahoma

Oklahomas chief state election official is the secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board, which is a position appointed by the leader of the Senate  a Republican.

Secretary Paul Ziriax in a letter to the State Legislature after the 2020 presidential election wrote that Oklahomas elections are free, fair, safe and secure.

In response to concerns after the Cyber Symposium hosted by Trump supporter and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Ziriax probed data purporting to show evidence that cyber intruders electronically manipulated Oklahomas election.

Ziriax said an initial review showed the data did not appear to be credible and that a subsequent investigation by the state found the allegations to be entirely without merit.

Unfortunately, several Oklahomans have seen or read misinformation like that provided at the Cyber Symposium and on The Big Lie website and have demanded a so-called forensic audit of Oklahomas 2020 General Election  something that is neither justified by the evidence nor authorized under the laws enacted by the Legislature, Ziriax wrote.

Washington state

There is no official Republican candidate in Washington states secretary of state race.

Democrat incumbent Steve Hobbs was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee in November 2021 when the previous secretary of state accepted a federal position in the President Joe Biden administration.

His opponent, nonpartisan candidate Julie Anderson, is the auditor in Pierce County.
School choice: Oklahoma Speaker of the House Charles McCall, R-Atoka, who refused to bring a controversial school voucher bill to the floor last year, may have signaled continued opposition this week by talking up the effects of the states new open transfer laws.

Oklahomas open transfer law is what parental choice done right looks like, McCall said. We are now one of the best states in the country for parental choice that works, thanks to open transfer.

According to a press release, nearly 11,000 transfer requests have been made since the law changed last year. More than 8,400 of those were approved.

The law requires interdistrict transfers be accepted as long as the receiving district has room and the transferring students behavioral and attendance records meet certain standards.

A separate law modified the state funding mechanism to more accurately reflect enrollment changes.

In less than a year, Oklahoma is already seeing big success with open transfer, said McCall. Open transfer is equitably benefiting families in all parts of the state, regardless of geography or income level, without harming public school budgets.

Another push for vouchers, or scholarships as proponents prefer, is expected next session, particularly if Gov. Kevin Stitt and his candidate for state superintendent of public instruction, Ryan Walters, win their Nov. 8 general elections.

Campaigns and elections: The Tulsa Press Club is holding a watch party for Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. televised debate between Stitt and Democrat Joy Hofmeister.

The debate is presented by Oklahoma Citys KWTV and NonDoc, and is being held at the Will Rogers Theater in Oklahoma City. It is expected to be the only live public debate between Stitt and Hofmeister before the Nov. 8 general election.

Watch party reservations are recommended, and reserved tables with beverage packages are available. Contact becki@tulsapressclub.org.

Democratic state superintendent candidate Jena Nelson will speak at the Press Club at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

The Oklahoma Medical Association, which has often been at odds with Stitt, endorsed Hofmeister through its political action committee.

Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma endorsed Republican state House of Representatives candidates Brad Banks (HD 70) and Paul Hassink (HD 79).

While some polling indicates the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe is tightening, it also shows Republican nominee Markwayne Mullin leading by 8-10 percentage points entering the last few weeks of the campaign. Mullin has not only avoided appearing with Democrat Kendra Horn and the other two candidates in the race, Libertarian Robert Murphy and independent Ray Woods, but hes avoided most state media as well. He did spend some time in the Tulsa County Republican Party booth at the Tulsa State Fair and made an appearance on former South Carolina Congressman Trey Gowdys Fox News Radio program.

Mullins advertising campaign seems to mostly feature him and his family.

Horn, meanwhile, is trying to convince voters that Mullin is a self-dealing multi-millionaire with little interest in everyday Oklahomans.

The other U.S. Senate race is even more low-key. Incumbent James Lankford has a huge financial and name recognition advantage over Democrat Madison Horn, not to mention over Libertarian Kenneth Blevins and independent Michael L. Delaney, and seems to have a comfortable lead in the polls, too.

Former Kansas U.S. Sen. and Gov. Sam Brownback endorsed Lankford.

Dark times: The dark money machine is cranking again.

Unidentified sources of all stripes have already spent millions of dollars on Oklahoma primary and runoff elections, and now they are back at it as the general election approaches.

Stitt, who has been in the dark money crosshairs for more than a year, is the target of at least two mail pieces and one TV ad launched in the past weeks.

The TV ad is attributed to the Oklahoma Project, an apparently home-grown dark money organization that has been zinging Stitt since early 2021.

The mail pieces, which focus on Stitts education agenda, and particularly his support of using taxpayers money for private school tuition, say they are paid for by Leadership Action Fund Inc. at the Wilmington, Delaware, address of the Corporation Trust Center. The Corporation Trust Center is reportedly a one-story building that serves as the mailing address for more than 285,000 businesses worldwide.

On the other side of the dark money fight over school vouchers, mail pieces attacking state Rep. Melissa Provenzano and other opponents of such proposals have begun hitting mailboxes.

Who is behind the dark money campaigns wont be known for more than a week at least, or quite possibly ever.

Independent and electioneering expenditures for the general election dont have to be reported until the 14 days prior to an election, and those made prior to the 14 days dont have to be reported until Oct. 31  a confusing arrangement, to say the least.

Even then, the true source of the funds is often hidden behind private corporations and non-profit entities; in some cases, the expenditures arent reported at all.

We, too: Oklahoma Attorney General John OConnor added Oklahoma to a couple more lawsuits filed by Republican attorneys general, including the long-running case of an Oregon bakery fined $135,000 because it refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.

That 2013 case, Klein v. Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, is now before the U.S. Supreme Court, where it is being argued on First Amendment grounds.

The government should protect religious freedom, not threaten it, OConnor said in announcing Oklahoma would be joining 16 other attorneys general in an amicus brief. Every Oklahoman and American has the right to express their First Amendment rights without fear.

OConnor also announced he has added Oklahoma to a list of states objecting to a Transportation Department program to track and regulate greenhouse gas.

We will not stand for this, which is why I am leading a coalition urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to decline to adopt Bidens unlawful proposed mandate, OConnor said in a press release.

Meetings and events: The Republican Womens Club South Tulsa United will meet at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Jenks City Hall, 211 N. Elm St., Jenks.

The Tulsa Area Republican Assembly will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Golden Corral, 9711 E. 71st St.

Oklahoma Observer publisher Arnold Hamilton and Corporation Commission nominee Warigia Bowman will be featured at the Creek County Democratic Party meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at La Margarita, 1215 New Sapulpa Road, Sapulpa.

Union School Board member Joey Reyes will speak to the Tulsa County Democratic Party meeting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27, at Baxters Interurban, 717 S. Houston Ave.

Bottom lines: Besides shifting Office of Management and Enterprises Services director Steven Harpe to Corrections director last week, Stitt appointed Oklahoma City energy executives John Laws as secretary of budget, the statewide chief financial officer, and John Suter as chief operating officer and interim OMES director.  Five Oklahoma communities have been awarded almost $1.2 million in Emergency Rural Health Care Grants by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole and 5th District Congresswoman Stephanie Bice are among those scheduled to speak Thursday at the Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute Symposium in Norman.  State Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds, who lost his June primary amid a deluge of dark money ads, ripped Stitt for vetoing American Rescue Plan funds for emergency management and improvements to the OETA system, which acts as the states emergency broadcast network.

Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World
Tulsa has shown to be a compassionate and progressive city, often collaboratively finding solutions to tough problems. Never has that been more needed than in addressing homelessness.

It takes an entire city, with investments of time, money and other resources from all sectors including the local government.

Thats one of the lessons Tulsa civic, business and government leaders brought back from Denver recently from the 13th Tulsa Regional Chambers Intercity Visit program.

The city of Denvers first allocation from general funds to address homelessness was in 2013 with $3 million for affordable housing, as reported by Kevin Canfield.

It has become part of the citys annual commitment, with $190 million spent on homeless-related programs this year and expected to grow to $254 million next fiscal year. Denver has two dedicated quarter-cent sales taxes for this purpose.

Tulsa isnt as big as Denver, in population or number of people experiencing homelessness. But the number of homeless people in Tulsa has stepped up.

The amount of people living on Tulsas streets has increased 40% since last year and those staying in shelters has risen 2%, according to counts held earlier this year.

Getting at the root is a complicated mix of offering enough affordable housing, eviction prevention, mental health and substance abuse services, job placement programs and court diversion options.

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum noted this complexity on the visit.

I have heard so many people throughout the trip talking about homelessness in Tulsa and what can be done. And the concern for me is that I will hear one group of folks, maybe from the business community, talking about how to address the issues that impact them, and I will hear folks from municipal government talking about how to fix the issues that impact them, folks from the nonprofit community talking about how to fix the issues that impact them.

The big takeaway for me  is there is not one thing that can be done to fix homelessness. It has to be a large, collaborative effort communitywide.

Traditionally, serving people who are homeless has been left to the nonprofit and faith communities. Municipal governments often serve as pass-throughs to distribute federal or state grants to those groups.

That is no longer enough.

Tulsa has a housing plan with goals and pathways to prevent and address homelessness and involves all areas of the city. No plan can get off the ground without means and dedication to get there.

People who are homeless arent just the ones seen on the streets or holding signs at intersections. The majority are hidden.

A Tulsa World summer intern project documented Tulsans who are homeless: a toddler now experiencing emotional and developmental setbacks, a family living in roach-infested housing for shelter, former foster kids couch hopping and a young artist with a mental health disorder from a childhood trauma.

Even more Tulsans are on the verge of losing their housing. This is an economic and moral responsibility.

Bynum says this will be a priority for the city and we thank him for this focus. We hope other leaders arriving from Denver hold the same enthusiasm.

Tulsa has done great things in the past and can do so right now.

Featured video:
Mai Wedding, a major wedding photography service provider in Da Nang, central Vietnam, suddenly shut down earlier this week, worrying many couples as their important days are approaching.

Many couples who have signed contracts and paid tens of millions of dong (VND10 million = US$414) for wedding photo packages are now worried about losing their money following the sudden closure of Mai Wedding.

Those whose wedding days are just around the corner have to promptly seek other studios to make sure they have the best wedding photos and outfits on the big day.

Ut, a customer of Mai Wedding, said she had signed a contract and made advance payment for a package including photoshoots before the wedding and during her wedding reception.

Despite not having much money to spare, Ut and her husband had decided to spend big for their wedding day and chose a famous and high-quality service such as Mai Wedding.

The couple had their pre-wedding photoshoot two days ago but have not received any images so far.

They managed to contact an employee of Mai Wedding but she could not provide any assistance.

Ut said she is looking for another service for her pre-wedding and wedding reception photoshoots as her wedding day is only half a month away.

Similarly, Thuy Vi said she had paid Mai Wedding VND15 million ($621) out of VND23 million ($953) for her wedding photography service package.

Vi has contacted Mai Wedding but no solutions have been negotiated.

In their posts on the official Facebook page of Mai Wedding on Thursday, several employees extended their apologies to customers, adding that they were also the victims for not getting paid for one and a half months.

They made every effort to retrieve the original image files for customers who had had their photoshoots prior to October 10 and send them to hundreds of customers.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters tried to contact the phone numbers of Mai Weddings stores, but no one picked up.

A police official in Hai Chau District in central Da Nang City said the police unit has not received any reports about the case from relevant parties.

Mai Wedding is the largest wedding photography service in Da Nang, with multiple branches and stores in other central provinces such as Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri, and Quang Binh.

The services of Mai Wedding are considered high-end and often very costly.

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Vietnam's VinFast said on Saturday it would recall 730 of its model VF e34 electric cars (EVs), which are available only on the domestic market, to make checks and replace their side crash sensors.

VinFast, which began operations in 2019, is a unit of Vietnam's biggest conglomerate Vingroup and has sold 2,208 EVs in total since its launch late last year.

"The side crash sensor of the airbag system equipped with the VF e34 model is likely to encounter an incompatibility error with the airbag controller... and therefore may send an incorrect signal to the controller," VinFast said in a statement.

The company said it has not recorded any breakdowns or complaints from customers about the sensor errors.

VinFast, which ceased gasoline-powered car production in August, is gearing up to expand in the U.S. market, where it hopes to compete with legacy automakers and deliver its first batch of 5,000 all-electric sport utility vehicles in November.

The company has registered almost 65,000 reservations globally, and it expects to sell 750,000 EVs per year by 2026, starting with the VF8 and VF9 all-electric SUVs.

In March, VinFast said it would build a production plant in North Carolina with an initial projected capacity of 150,000 EVs a year. It tapped banks in July to raise least $4 billion in funding for the project.
Astronomers have observed the brightest flash of light ever seen, from an event that occurred 2.4 billion light years from Earth and was likely triggered by the formation of a black hole.

The burst of gamma-rays -- the most intense form of electromagnetic radiation -- was first detected by orbiting telescopes on October 9, and its afterglow is still being watched by scientists across the world.

Astrophysicist Brendan O'Connor told AFP that gamma-ray bursts that last hundreds of seconds, as occurred on Sunday, are thought to be caused by dying massive stars, greater than 30 times bigger than our Sun.

The star explodes in a supernova, collapses into a black hole, then matter forms in a disk around the black hole, falls inside, and is spewed out in a jet of energy that travels at 99.99 percent the speed of light.

The flash released photons carrying a record 18 teraelectronvolts of energy -- that's 18 with 12 zeros behind it -- and it has impacted long wave radio communications in Earth's ionosphere.

"It's really breaking records, both in the amount of photons, and the energy of the photons that are reaching us," said O'Connor, who used infrared instruments on the Gemini South telescope in Chile to take fresh observations early Friday.

"Something this bright, this nearby, is really a once-in-a-century event," he added.

"Gamma-ray bursts in general release the same amount of energy that our Sun produces over its entire lifetime in the span of a few seconds -- and this event is the brightest gamma ray burst."

The gamma-ray burst, known as GRB 221009A, was first spotted by telescopes including NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, and Wind spacecraft on Sunday morning Eastern time.

1.9 billion-year-old movie

It originated from the direction of the constellation Sagitta, and traveled an estimated 1.9 billion years to reach Earth -- less than the current distance of its starting point, because the universe is expanding.

Observing the event now is like watching a 1.9 billion-year-old recording of those events unfold before us, giving astronomers a rare opportunity to glean new insights into things like black hole formation.

"That's what makes this sort of science so addictive -- you get this adrenaline rush when these things happen," said O'Connor, who is affiliated with the University of Maryland and George Washington University.

He added that though the initial burst may have been visible to lucky amateur astronomers, it has since faded out of their view.

Over the coming weeks, he and others will continue watching for the signatures of supernovas at optical and infrared wavelengths, to confirm that their hypothesis about the origins of the flash are correct, and that the event conforms to known physics.

Unfortunately, while the initial burst may have been visible to amateur astronomers, it has since faded

Supernova explosions are also predicted to be responsible for producing heavy elements -- such as gold, platinum, uranium -- and astronomers will also be on the hunt for their signatures.

Astrophysicists have written in the past that the sheer power of gamma-ray bursts could cause extinction level events here on Earth.

But O'Connor pointed out that because the jets of energy are very tightly focused, and aren't likely to arise in our galaxy, this scenario is not something we should worry much about.
After a near two-year "Microbiome" mission around the world, scientists said on Saturday they had gathered thousands of samples of marine micro-organisms in a bid to better understand ocean plankton and pollution.

The survey was carried out from the 33-year-old Tara research schooner, which returned to her home port of Lorient on France's western coast at the weekend.

From Chile to Africa, via the Amazon and the Antarctic, nearly 25,000 samples were collected over the 70,000-kilometre (43,000-mile) route.

"All this data will be analysed," Tara Ocean Foundation director Romain Trouble told a press conference.

"Within 18 months to two years we will start to have the first discoveries from the mission," he said.

At the base of the food chain, micro-organisms were the "invisible people of the sea", accounting for two-thirds of marine biomass, said Trouble.

"They capture atmospheric CO2 (carbon dioxide) and supply half of the oxygen we breathe."

Trouble said the mission sought to find out how it all works.

"How do all these marine viruses, bacteria, micro-algue manage to interact to produce oxygen?"

"And how will that change tomorrow with climate change and pollution?"

The Tara team paid particular attention to the impact on the oceans of the River Amazon, which has a water flow rate of 200 million litres (53 million gallons) per second.

They wanted to test a theory that deforestation and the spread of agriculture has increased nitrate fertiliser discharge, leading to an abundance of toxic algae along river banks and coasts, particularly in the Caribbean.

The 22-month odyssey also sought to trace the sources of plastic pollution at river mouths, to understand distribution and the types of material involved.

The mission was Tara's 12th global journey and involved 42 research institutions around the world.

Next spring, Tara sets off to research chemical pollution off European coasts.
Here are todays leading news stories in Vietnam:

Politics

-- Singapores President Halimah Yacob and her husband will pay a state visit to Vietnam from October 16 to 20 at the invitation of Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Society

-- Storm Nesat was located north of the Philippines Luzon Island on Sunday morning and is expected to enter the East Vietnam Sea around Sunday evening, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting reported.

-- One worker was killed and three others unaccounted for after a titanium mine collapsed in south-central Binh Thuan Province on Saturday night.

-- One person was killed and more than 4,000 houses were submerged by torrential rains in central Quang Nam Province, local authorities confirmed on Saturday evening.

-- An enhanced cold front is forecast to start affecting northern Vietnam on Sunday, causing temperatures to drop to about 17-20 degrees Celsius in the Red River Delta and 14-17 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas.

-- Police in northern Bac Kan Province confirmed on Saturday they had arrested six men aged 23 to 31 for being involved in the case where a 15-year-old girl was impregnated.

-- Officers in Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City have launched an investigation into the deaths of a 50-year-old man and his 46-year-old wife at their house on Saturday.

Business

-- Vietnam shipped some US$2.64 billion worth of rice abroad in the first nine months of 2022, up 9.3 percent year on year, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the General Statistics Office as saying.

Lifestyle

-- Lam Thu Hong, a 27-year-old representative from Vietnam, was named the fourth runner-up of Miss Globe 2022 during the competitions finale in Albania on Saturday.

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A part of the Nam Suoi Nhum titanium mine in Binh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam, abruptly collapsed on Saturday, leaving one worker dead and three others missing, local authorities reported the same day.

The deadly collapse occurred at the mine in the provinces Ham Thuan Nam District on Saturday afternoon, burying four workers, who were working at the waste dump, under thousands of cubic meters of sand.

An urgent search for the victim was launched immediately using excavators and other specialized equipment and rescuers found one corpse on Saturday evening.

Duong Van An, secretary of the provincial Party Committee, and Phan Van Dang, vice-chairman of the Binh Thuan administration, came to the scene to direct rescue operations, according to the Vietnam Government Portal.

Rescuers have continued their efforts to retrieve the three other victims but they reported on Sunday morning that they had yet to find them.

According to a report of local police, the dead worker was Bui Quang Tr., 36, hailing from northern Phu Tho Province, and the missing include Nguyen Van Tr., Huynh Tan Ph. and Nguyen Van N., who are all Binh Thuan residents.

The site where the accident occurred has been planned to be handed over to a project to build a coastal road, local authorities said.

The 515.5ha mine has been operated by Tan Quang Cuong Trading Co. Ltd., a local firm, since 2015 as per a permit granted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) for a mining period of 23 years.

The Binh Thuan administration on Sunday morning issued an urgent dispatch urging the company to mobilize all means available to continue searching for the missing workers and directing agencies concerned, including police, to provide the firm with necessary assistance.

The local government also directed the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment to cooperate with other bodies in requesting the investors of all local mines to strictly comply with mining safety regulations, avoiding similar incidents.

Six years ago, the MNRE suspended the operation of the mine for three months after one of its pits tumbled down, pushing a large volume of sand and mud down to the residential areas and roads nearby.

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A man residing in Thu Duc City, a district-level unit in Ho Chi Minh City, handed over a clouded monitor, while a woman in Binh Thanh District handed in a long-tailed macaque to the municipal forest protection unit. Both are rare and endangered forest animals.

The Ho Chi Minh City forest protection division confirmed on Saturday that it received the clouded monitor from 35-year-old Ngo Thanh Tuong, residing in Thu Duc City.

Tuong said that his mother-in-law saw on Friday a long animal crawling in her house in Ward 5, Tan Binh District.

Being afraid of the animal, she called Tuong to inform him of it.

Tuong came to the house and saw the animal which looked like a monitor lizard in the houses corner. He later used a basket to catch it.

After a quick search on the Internet, Tuong found that the animal is a rare and endangered clouded monitor, so he contacted the Ho Chi Minh City forest protection division to hand over the animal.

I do not know where the clouded monitor was from. I handed it over to the municipal forest protection division so that it will be looked after before being released back to nature, Tuong said.

According to Ho Chi Minh City forest protection officers, the animal is a female clouded monitor and its scientific name is Varanus nebulosus.

It weighs about one kilogram and is classified in Group IB, the list of endangered species of forest animals that are strictly prohibited from exploitation and use for commercial purposes.

The long-tailed macaque that the Ho Chi Minh City forest protection division received from Tran Thi Lan in Binh Thanh District.

On October 15, the Ho Chi Minh City forest protection division also received a long-tailed macaque from Tran Thi Lan in Binh Thanh District.

The long-tailed macaque, weighing some six kilograms, has the scientific name Macaca fascicularis.

It belongs to Group IIB, which includes forest animals that are not yet threatened with extinction but are in danger if not strictly managed.

Lan said she had raised the female long-tailed macaque, also known as crab-eating macaque, for nearly seven years.

Since early last year, the primate has become ferocious. It bit her three times while she was taking care of, bathing, and feeding it.

Most recently, she was scratched and bitten on Friday while she taking two small bowls out of the macaques cage.

Being concerned that the long-tailed macaque may bite her again and do harm to her family members, Lan handed over it to the forest protection unit.

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Tropical Storm Nesat, located off the Philippines, is forecast to enter the East Vietnam Sea on Sunday, becoming the sixth storm to hit Vietnam this year.

Storm Nesat was situated 90 kilometers north of the Philippines Luzon Island as of 7:00 am on Sunday, packing winds of 75-88km per hour and gusts up to 117km an hour, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting reported.

The storm is expected to travel northwest in the next 24 hours and enter the East Vietnam Sea around Sunday evening.

As of 1:00 am on Monday, it will be located above the northern part of the East Vietnam Sea, with wind speed increasing to 89-102km per hour and gusts up to 133km an hour.

The storm will head west and will be situated about 460 kilometers northeast of Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago by 1:00 am on Tuesday.

The average wind speed will further increase to between 118 and 133km per hour.

Nesat will continue traveling toward the Vietnamese mainland before weakening.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that Storm Nesat was unleashing winds of 89-102km an hour as of 4:00 am on Sunday.

The Japanese agency also forecast that the storms maximum wind speed after entering the East Vietnam Sea will be 118-133km per hour.

The storm will then downgrade as it closes in on Vietnams mainland.

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Doctors at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi said on Friday thay they had successfully saved a foreigner who had been diagnosed with malignant malaria, a rare disease that has practically been eradicated in Vietnam, after a field trip.

The 64-year-old Belgian male patient has a number of underlying conditions, including heart failure caused by a myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, and an extremely unusual blood type: Rh negative.

He is an agricultural professor who has traveled to several countries and made significant contributions to agricultural studies in Vietnam.

According to the patients medical history, he showed symtomps of high fever and diarrhea after returning to Vietnam on September 17 from a business trip to Ivory Coast to implement a series of cashew nut projects.

The patient was then brought to a hospital in Hanoi, where he was discovered to have a very low platelet count and intermittent cardiac arrhythmias.

He was transported to the intensive care unit at Bach Mai Hospital due to his complicated condition and multiple underlying disorders.

Nguyen Ba Cuong, doctor at the intensive care unit at Bach Mai who was in charge of treating the patient, stated that the Belgian was admitted to the hospital in critical condition, with a low platelet count, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and acute heart failure.

After two days of intensive care and no improvement in the patient's condition, doctors decided to adopt the most advanced technique in intensive care which is extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or outside-the-body life support.

Doctors at Bach Mai Hospitals intensive care unit saw that the disease's progression did not resemble that of dengue hemorrhagic fever, so they consulted their colleagues from different departments in the hospital.

The patient was then diagnosed with malignant malaria complications and multi-organ failure as a result of the consultants' evaluation.

He was then administered antimalarial medications, received a blood transfusion, and had ECMO maintained.

After eight days of receiving ECMO and around 20 liters of Rh negative blood type, the patient's health steadily improved.

He was removed from ECMO on October 4 and his mechanical ventilation was stopped on October 9.

After four weeks of treatment, the patient had successfully recovered from the life-threatening condition, while his symptoms were steadily improving.

The patient was transported to another hospital on Thursday and will be treated there until he is healthy enough to return to Belgium.

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This week marks the 100th birthday of BBC.

Founded on 18 October 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company Ltd. its very first radio transmission would soon follow on November 14. The BBC Television Service officially launched in 1936.

In Australia BBC 100 will be celebrated with a week of content across BBC First, BBC Earth and UKTV all week.

There will be a special BBC 100 VOD collection featured on Foxtel, bringing hundreds of hours of audience favourites across BBC First, UKTV, BBC Earth and CBeebies together in one place. Titles include Time, Guilt, Baptiste, Shetland, Unforgotten, Silent Witness, Call the Midwife and Inside No 9 which will sit alongside documentaries from Louis Theroux, Simon Reeve, natural history shows, plus Would I Lie To You? and Qi, Absolutely Fabulous, The Graham Norton Show, Hey Duggee, Charlie and Lola and Andys Adventures and many more.

James Stirling, the Executive Editor of BBC 100 celebrations tells TV Tonight the Centenary is celebrated right across 2022 in the UK, having kicked with a a major Education initiative and followed by Glastonbury, and Platinum Jubilee events.

We started the year with a very clear education initiative. Obviously, the mantra of the BBC is inform, educate, entertain. Thats something thats been with us since like Inception and underpins the organisation to this day. I think well forever do so, he said.

Were incredibly proud of our history. But actually, for our Centenary, we wanted to think about the here and now, and the future. Where were going as an organisation, the role that we play in the UK and globally in 2022, rather than just being too nostalgic all the time.

In the UK viewers will see a special focus from 22nd to 28th of October.

Theres Jodie Whitakers last outing in Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing, its hard to convey how big that is. The show is 20 years old, it still has mammoth audiences in the UK. So we will certainly have a bespoke program that recognises our Centenary in October, but in the way that recognises and celebrates new talent. So its framing our history through a contemporary lens, how can we bring stories from the past to life with new talent? he continued.

Top Gear is another program that we will nod to in the Centenary, and Horrible Histories has made a bespoke history of the BBC. Their fairly flippant tone will poke fun at our own expense

Theres great natural history programs as well. Weve already played Green Planet in the UK this year and we will have Frozen Planet II as well. So I suppose we are tapping into the genres that we are famous for.

Unexpectedly 2022 also included the Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, but audiences for milestone events are a reminder of the power of the broadcaster.

In 2023 BBC is host broadcaster for the Eurovision Song Contest, to be held in Liverpool on behalf of 2022 winners, Ukraine.

Everyone would really wish that Ukraine as winners could host that. But we know that wont happen. Certainly the BBC is very well poised to be able to produce a show like that and the UK has the infrastructure to make a show like that, Stirling observed.

Eurovision is our biggest single music program of the year. It has a gigantic audience, as Im sure it does, globally. Were pretty proud to be associated with that.

Amongst recent changes for the public broadcaster were the return of BBC3 to linear broadcasting, after it was relegated to online only in 2016.

BBC Three, our youth orientated channel is 16 to 24 did have around five years where it played on digital platform, rather than a linear one. But its now back on linear but obviously has a strong digital presence as well. Shows like Killing Eve, Fleabag, and I May Destroy You were doing so well it came back for linear broadcast as well, he explained.

What weve said about the Digital First strategy is that at an unspecified time in the future, some of our smaller channels in terms of audience reach may live in a digital platform rather than a linear and I think thats all part of the transition from linear to digital, which we know its gonna take a long time because linear audiences are still incredibly strong.

But you only have to look at moments like the Queens Jubilee and Glastonbury to to see the huge audience figures that congregate around those live moments. I think as as time progresses, we will definitely pursue a Digital First strategy that helps us to really set set the next phase up at the BBC in terms of consumption.

Stirling also offers some advice to ABC having just celebrated its 90th anniversary and it looks to 100.

Weve got a close connection with ABC, and have been talking to him about what weve been doing. I would say now having run this myself for two years, its never too early to start thinking about your Centenary!
Company also provides registration link for upcoming Investor Day on October 25

TEL AVIV, Israel, October 14, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ICL (NYSE: ICL) (TASE: ICL), a leading global specialty minerals company, today announced it plans to release third quarter 2022 results prior to the opening of the TASE market on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.

On that day, Raviv Zoller, president and CEO of ICL, and Aviram Lahav, CFO of ICL, will host a conference call to discuss results, provide a general business update and answer questions at 8:30 a.m. New York time (1:30 p.m. London and 3:30 p.m. Tel Aviv).

Analysts are invited to pre-register for the call, in advance, at https://investors.icl-group.com/reports-news-and-events/#events. Employees, the media and the public are also invited to join the call online. A replay of the call will be available online within approximately 24 hours of the live event.

In advance of third quarter earnings, the company will be hosting an Investor Day on Tuesday, October 25. At that event, ICL will provide an overview of its updated targets and highlight its commitment to long-term growth of specialties products, however, the company will not provide a third quarter update. To register for the Investor Day event, please visit https://www.icl-investorday.com/.

###

About ICL

ICL Group is a leading global specialty minerals company, which creates impactful solutions for humanity's sustainability challenges in the global food, agriculture and industrial markets. ICL leverages its unique bromine, potash and phosphate resources, its passionate team of talented employees, and its strong focus on R&D and technological innovation, to drive growth across its end markets. ICL shares are dually listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NYSE and TASE: ICL). The company employs more than 12,000 people worldwide, and its 2021 revenues totaled approximately $7 billion.

For more information, visit ICL's website at www.icl-group.com.

Story continues

To access ICL's interactive ESG report, please click here.

You can also learn more about ICL on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Forward Looking Statements

This announcement contains statements that constitute forwardlooking statements, many of which can be identified by the use of forwardlooking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "should," "plan," "intend," "estimate" and "potential," among others.

Forward-looking statements appear in this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the companys intent, belief or current expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on managements beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to: estimates, forecasts and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, business and financial prospects, financial multiples and accretion estimates, future trends, plans, strategies, positioning, objectives and expectations, general economic, market and business conditions, supply chain and logistics disruptions, energy storage and electric vehicle growth, the potential for new COVID-19 variants, global unrest and conflict, governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities, including changes in government policy, changes in environmental, tax and other laws or regulations and the interpretation thereof. As a result of the foregoing, readers should not place undue reliance on the forwardlooking statements contained in this press release concerning the timing of the transaction, or other more specific risks and uncertainties facing ICL, such as those set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of its Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on February 23, 2022, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in its Current Reports on Form 6-K and other filings ICL makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

Forward-looking statements refer only to the date they are made, and the company does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments or to publicly release any revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221013006076/en/

Contacts

Investor and Press Contact  Global

Peggy Reilly Tharp

VP, Global Investor Relations

+1-314-983-7665

Peggy.ReillyTharp@icl-group.com

Investor and Press Contact - Israel

Adi Bajayo

ICL Spokesperson

+972-3-6844459

Adi.Bajayo@icl-group.com
Broken windows and doors, security guards' room set on fire, computer equipment burnt or looted, this is what the French Institute looked like after the protesters' attack on 12 October 2022 in Burkina Faso.

The French Institute, a major cultural hub in Ouagadougou was attacked after the coup in early October, that ousted Burkina Faso's Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, who had seized power only in January 2022.

Employees and artists of the French Institute in Ouagadougou react to the destruction of the cultural complex.

Artist Kantala laments the destruction, saying that the arson will "set us back a bit". "People don't know, but the French Institute welcomes more Burkinabe artists than foreign artists [...] it's for Burkina so let's not confuse politics and culture" he adds.
Liz Truss has repeatedly tried to blame global factors on the UK's economic turmoil since last month's mini-budget. (PA)

Lenders now view the UK economy as comparable to Greece and Italy thanks to Liz Trusss turmoil, a former Bank of England leader has said.

Former deputy governor Sir Charles Bean said the UK is no longer on a par with stronger economies such as the US and Germany.

Sir Charles cited Truss and Kwasi Kwartengs disastrous growth plan, announced in the mini-budget 23 days ago, which caused major economic turmoil amid market concerns about the impact of the unfunded 43bn tax giveaway on public finances.

Since the mini-budget, Truss has repeatedly claimed global factors such as the Ukraine crisis are ultimately to blame for the UKs economic chaos.

Sir Charles, though, dismissed this on Skys Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.

Frankly I think its disingenuous to say its all a global phenomenon, he said. Its not.

Watch: Timeline: Liz Trusss turbulent time as prime minister

He made clear there is certainly a global element, with the general level of interest rates up 3% since the beginning of the year.

But he continued: Three-quarters of that, two-thirds maybe, is the world and what's happening in the Ukraine - but the rest of it is a UK-specific phenomenon and its particularly developed since the mini-budget, so its clearly driven by that in my view.

Basically weve moved from looking not too dissimilar from the US or Germany as a proposition to lend to, to looking more like Italy and Greece.

Liz Truss is under massive pressure after just 40 days in office. (PA)

With her government in crisis, Truss sacked Kwarteng on Friday, appointing Jeremy Hunt as his successor - the UKs fourth different chancellor in four months.

Then, in a series of interviews on Saturday, Hunt effectively trashed the policies that brought Truss to power last month.

He is now putting together a new fiscal plan - effectively a full budget - for 31 October in an attempt to restore some order to Trusss administration.

Read more: Jeremy Hunt refuses to say Liz Truss is a 'confident leader' who 'has a grip on country'

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But Sir Charles warned: Its not simply just a case of changing the identity of the chancellor its actually the contents and how the numbers add up.

The crucial thing will be whatever is published in a couple of weeks time is coherent and the markets see there is a viable and plausible plan for making everything fit together.

On Sunday, Hunt warned of difficult decisions and fresh efficiency savings for all departments, but declined to get into specifics about potential new cuts or what promises could be axed in a bid to save money.
HCM CITY  The route connecting a Nang and Tokyo has resumed and is ready to welcome people and tourists, Vietjet announced on Monday.

With return flights daily, people and tourists can now fly between the most liveable city in Viet Nam - a Nang and Tokyo - the most bustling city in Japan with interesting tourist, shopping and discoveries destinations. Vietjet promises to offer people and tourists opportunities to experience happy, safe and convenient flights during the year-end holiday season.

With just over four flying hours along with a reasonable cost from VN684,000 (excluding taxes and fees) per flight, Vietjet is the only Vietnamese airline that flies directly from a Nang to Tokyo, providing more options to fly to Tokyo and Japan in general besides familiar destinations including Narita airport, Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagoya.

Tickets on a Nang-Tokyo routes are available for sale at Vietjets official channels on the website www.vietjetair.com, Vietjet Air mobile app and the official booking offices and agents domestically and internationally, according to Vietjet.

Especially, when booking and paying through Vietjet SkyClub, passengers can enjoy free payment fees or apply for the Fly first - Pay later programme, the airline said.

Besides the Japan routes, Vietjet has also opened many routes transporting people and tourists between Viet Nam and leading attractive destinations in the region including India, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia (Bali) and Malaysia and soon in Europe and Australia.  VNS
HCM CITY  Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exporters need to further enhance deep processing and diversify their export markets to avoid risks when major export markets face difficulties, the Asia-Africa Market Department said.

o Quoc Hung, the departments deputy director general, said Viet Nams fruit and vegetable exports were worth US$3.5 billion last year, accounting for less than 1.4 per cent of the worlds total fruit import revenue.

We export to more than 60 markets but mainly focus on a number of large markets such as China, EU and Northeast Asia, he told a press conference in HCM City last week to introduce HortEx Vietnam 2023, an International Exhibition & Conference for Horticultural and Floricultural Production and Processing Technology.

With China tightening inspection under its Zero COVID policy, Viet Nams fruit exports to that market had reduced to account for 56 per cent of total exports in the first eight months of the year compared to 70-80 per cent before COVID, he said.

Businesses had sought to promote exports to other markets but not enough to offset the drop from the Chinese market, he said.

ang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Viet Nam Fruit Vegetable Association, said Viet Nams fruit and vegetable exports in the first nine months of the year dropped by 11 per cent year-on-year to about $2.45 billion, with exports to China down by 35 per cent.

In the context of a sharp decline in the countrys largest export market, local fruit and vegetable exporters had promoted exports to markets that the country has free trade agreements with and had witnessed a significant increase in exports in these markets, including those that require high standards such as the US, EU and Japan, he said.

I think this is a good sign for fruit and vegetable enterprises in particular and domestic agricultural companies in general to further improve productivity and product quality to diversify export markets instead of relying too much on a few large markets, Nguyen said.

He said HortEx Vietnam 2023, the largest professional exhibition for the horticultural and floricultural sector, would be a good opportunity for local businesses to meet international buyers to seek new export opportunities.

Ingrid Korving, agricultural counsellor at the Netherlands Embassy in Ha Noi, said each year, the EU imported about $120 billion of horticultural products, accounting for 40 per cent of global imports. Exports from Viet Nam to this market accounted for roughly 4 per cent of EU needs.

The Netherlands, being the gateway to Europe, is now the biggest market of Viet Nam products to EU (for domestic consumption and further export to other European countries). Therefore, we can see, there is a lot of potential for Viet Nam in this market, by upgrading the level of production and processing to meet the demands and requirements of this market, she said.

HortEx Vietnam

After more than three years of absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HortEx Vietnam will return to HCM City from March 1 to 3, 2023.

The fifth edition of the exhibition is expected to attract 250 exhibitors from 30 countries and about 7,000 trade visitors.

The exhibition will also feature many activities such as a series of specialised seminars, an export forum, business matching and VIP buyer programmes, and others.

According to the organisers, the exhibition aims to create a meeting place for Vietnamese and international businesses and experts in the horticulture and floriculture industry, where suppliers and buyers can meet, exchange information and seek business opportunities.

Held by the Minh Vi Exhibition and Advertisement Services Co., Ltd, and the Netherlands Nova Exhibitions B.V., the exhibition will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre.  VNS
HA NOI  Singapores President Halimah Yacob and her husband will pay a State visit to Viet Nam from October 16-20 at the invitation of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

This is the first State visit of a foreign head of state to Viet Nam since the 13th National Party Congress and the first foreign visit of the Singaporean President since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It takes place in the context that the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the two countries strategic partnership in 2023.

The visit is expected to contribute to strengthening political trust and promoting multi-faceted cooperation between the two nations, especially in politics-diplomacy, defence-security, economy, investment, labour and technology. It will also look to connect the two economies on a digital platform.

Over the years, the Viet Nam-Singapore strategic partnership has developed fruitfully. Amid complicated developments of COVID-19, the two sides still maintained all-level delegation exchanges and contacts.

Besides high political trust, economic cooperation continues to be considered a bright spot in the two countries' relations. As soon as the pandemic was basically under control, Viet Nam and Singapore lifted travel restrictions and resumed commercial flights in March 2022. Two-way trade reached US$6.9 billion in the first nine months of this year, up 16 per cent over the same period last year.

Singapore remains ASEAN's largest investor in Viet Nam, ranking 2nd out of 139 countries and territories investing in the country. As of August 20, Singaporean investors had 2,974 valid projects with a total registered capital of US$69.9 billion, accounting for 16.3 per cent of total investment capital poured into Viet Nam.

Meanwhile, by July 2022, Viet Nam had 136 valid investment projects worth over $538 million in Singapore. The projects focus on areas such as science and technology, wholesale and retail, car and motorbike repair, information and communications, and manufacturing and processing industry.

The two sides have closely cooperated in pandemic prevention and control. Singapore was one of the first ASEAN countries to provide medical equipment and supplies to Viet Nam, with 122,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, the Vietnamese community in Singapore numbers about 13,000, including about 7,000 students; more than 1,000 postgraduates and intellectuals, over 2,500 brides, and 2,500 workers.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung, the visit aims to deepen the strategic partnership signed by the two countries more than 9 years ago and at the same time concretise the results of bilateral cooperation in recent years.

During the visit, the two countries will sign an agreement on promoting cooperation in renewable energy.

Within the framework of the visit, Singapore President Halimah Yacob will pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Ha Noi, hold talks with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and pay courtesy calls to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

She will receive the Secretary of the Ha Noi Party Committee, and visit the Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Park 1 (VSIP1) and work with leaders in the northern province of Bac Ninh.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday chaired a dialogue on the promotion of gender equality and the role of women in socio-economic development.

The hybrid event, held on the threshold of the Vietnamese Women's Day (October 20), drew leaders of central agencies and representatives of 62 cities and provinces nationwide, as well as more than 5,000 outstanding women from across the country.

PM Chinh extended congratulations to women and girls across the nation for Vietnamese Women's Day.

He said that over all historical periods, women always played a special role in and made great contributions to national construction, defence and development.

The Party and State always paid great attention to ensuring gender equality and promoting women's progress with many policies related to training, caring for women's health and supporting them in employment and startup, he said.

With these policies, Viet Nam had created a favourable environment and conditions for women to affirm their role and position and make more contributions to families, community and the entire society, said the Government leader.

However, he underscored that there was still much to do to make life better for women, and give them more chances to devote to society and country, ensuring that no one is left behind.

He noted that since the beginning of this year, he had meetings and dialogues with people of all strata inside and outside the country to seek practical measures to deal with their current and future difficulties.

He said he hoped through this dialogue, participants would find solutions to realise gender equality goals and promote women's progress.

At the event, he answered many questions raised by delegates regarding women and economic development; women and social welfare and gender equality issues; and women and the future generations.

He also clarified matters related to the support for womens start-ups and measures to help their products join "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) Programme, as well as the legal corridor to minimise usury and speed up sustainable poverty reduction, the encouragement of women to engage in scientific research activities, and the protection of women and girls in cyberspace, the building of safe environment for children, among others.

He directed ministries, sectors and localities to settle particular issues to ensure the progress of women in all fields, and back the women's union at all levels to operate effectively.

He suggested the organisation of more dialogues with women at all levels to deal with relevant issues in the decentralisation principle.

According to President of the Vietnamese Women's Union Ha Thi Nga, women are taking 30.26 per cent of total seats at the 15th National Assembly.

The ratio of wage earners is 48.3 per cent, while 26.5 per cent of total enterprises of the country are led by women, bringing Viet Nam to the ninth position among 58 countries reviewed at the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs 2020 in terms of the number of women in leadership roles and labour force participation, and the second among Southeast Asian nations.

PM Chinh presented awards to 10 outstanding women who showed excellent performance in implementing the Governments projects on encouraging and supporting women in engaging in a number of social issues related to women in the 2017-2027 period, and assisting women's startups in the 2017-2025 period. VNS
Paul Kennedy

The phrase service with a smile originated from the 1961 book of the same name by P.G. Wodehouse.

This comic novel chronicles the lives, and love lives, of Englands elite who backstab and scheme in a desperate bid to get their hands on a prize-winning pig.

If youve not read it, you should. Its a hoot.

Today, the books title is synonymous with best practice in the working environment, particularly in the service industry.

Sadly, service with a smile isnt something that can often be said about dining experiences at some restaurants in Ha Noi.

Now, Im not talking about the side of the road local joints operated by women with beaming grins delighted at your presence, Im on about some of the so-called higher-end establishments where servers seem as pleased to see you as a visit from the tax man.

A smile goes a hell of a long way in making a dining experience that little bit more pleasant. I understand tipping isnt necessarily mandatory in Viet Nam, but a smile shouldnt cost you a penny.

Thats why my recent trip to Mediterraneo Italian restaurant, a stones throw from Sword Lake, was extra special.

From the moment I arrived, until the bill was paid, I was warmly welcomed, and served, by one of, if not the, nicest server Ive ever encountered.

Her name is Ha.

She was fun, knowledgeable, attentive, and best of all, had a smile the size of Sword Lake.

The food itself was fantastic, but to be honest, if Ha would have served me a bowl of lukewarm gruel it wouldnt have mattered. She was that good.

I opted for olive all ascolana to start, stuffed olives coated in breadcrumbs (VN180,000). Delicious, no other word for it.

Sadly, I decided to share the antipasto with my guest, big mistake. They were simply too good to share and I made a mental note for my next visit.

For main I decided to go outside of the box. Instead of a pasta dish I thought Id try something different, and I was glad I did.

Filetto di branzino lardato - seabass served with clams (VN410,000).

Having been a tad disappointed at my decision to share our starter, I was glad this bad boy was for me, and me alone.

The seabass was cooked to perfection. Flaky texture that melted in my mouth. Perfect.

Im not one who normally goes for shellfish, but I was glad I did. The clams were bursting with flavour and the perfect partner for the seabass.

Boy there was a lot of it, but there was no way I was returning my plate in any other state than empty.

My guest for the evening picked an old favourite, risotto ai porcini, mushroom risotto (VN310,000). Its easy to say that you cant go wrong with risotto, but speaking from personal experience, Ive tried to make this dish myself, and believe me, it can go wrong.

Thankfully, the chef at Mediterraneo is clearly an awful lot better than me. It was creamy, without going OTT, and with just enough bite on the rice.

As for the restaurant itself, if youve not visited, you should. Its location is clearly geared towards the many tourists visiting the capital city, but for such a quality establishment in a prime location, it has a distinctly relaxed feel to it.

We were seated upstairs, close to the shuttered doors that led to a balcony. As the early evening weather was just right, the doors were open, letting in just enough of a cool breeze.

So as far as Italian restaurants go, Mediterraneo is up there with the best of them in Ha Noi. But what puts this place on top of the pile, is the service, and in particular Ha, making Mediterraneo s-miles better than the rest.

Nha hang Mediterraneo

Address: 23 Nha Tho St, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi

Comment: Good service with a beaming smile
Hanoi  Eighteen couples tied the knot in an October 15 mass wedding held in new lifestyle practices on pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi.

Eighteen couples tie the knot in an October 15 mass wedding in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

The event was co-organised by the Hanoi chapters of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Youth Federation to mark the 68th anniversary of the Hanoi Liberation Day (October 10, 1954  2022).

It also aimed to raise public awareness of the new lifestyle wedding practices which promote simple, cost-saving wedding ceremonies that preserve traditional values.

The couples offered incense and a set of two traditional Vietnamese sweet cakes  Banh Com and Banh Phu The  that are 130kg in total weight at King Ly Thai To Monument and Ba Kieu Temple as a gesture to honour the countrys traditional cuisine.

Banh Com is a sweet cake made of green sticky rice and green beans and Banh Phu The, meaning conjugal cake, symbolises the loyalty of a husband and wife and is normally served at weddings. Produced by Bao Minh Confectionary JSC, the set were recognised as the largest of their kind in Vietnam.
The measures would apply for projects that have still to make progress 12 months after the issue of investment certificates, according to Decision 33/2022 on the regulation on management of industrial clusters in Hanoi effective from October 14, 2022.

An industrial cluster in Hanoi. The city has solutions to promote further development of industrial clusters in the future.  Photo baocongthuong.vn

This decision includes regulations on the establishment and adjustment of industrial cluster development plans; and building and expanding the industrial clusters.

It also contains regulations on carrying out projects on building technical infrastructure of industrial clusters.

The decision also has regulations for State management offices relating to the operation of industrial clusters in the city, including cooperation and responsibilities between the offices and authorities of districts in Hanoi to improve the efficiency of industrial cluster management.

Those aim at ensuring consistency and creating favourable conditions for investors in investing in production and business in the industrial clusters.

According to the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, the State agency managing industrial clusters in Hanoi, there are 70 industrial clusters operating in the city, attracting about 3,900 households and enterprises to invest in production and business activities.

In the 2018-2020 period, Hanoi decided to establish 43 new industrial clusters, meeting demand for the development of industrial sectors.

However, the city has so far started construction on just seven industrial clusters due to many difficulties. They include Dai Thang and Phu Tuc projects in Phu Xuyen district; Di Nau project in Thach That district; Thang Loi and the second stage of Tien Phong projects in Thuong Tin district; the second stage of Dan Phuong project in Dan Phuong district; and Vong Xuyen project in Phuc Tho district.

The progress of building the industrial clusters in Hanoi is still very slow compared to the plan due to overlapping regulations, procedures and permits, according to the department.

Especially, the procedures on getting the Prime Minister's approval on changing the purpose of land use still takes time, affecting site clearance and issuance of construction permits.

About 20 industrial clusters must get permission on changing the purpose of land use from agriculturial land to industrial land, while only three of them have so far received approval.

In addition, the site clearance work is still slow, not meeting the building schedule. At present, 16 industrial clusters are not yet eligible for site clearance, and some have less than 50 per cent of site clearance completed.

In the future, localities will continue to review existing industrial clusters and remove those no longer suitable for development, and renovate operating ones.

The department will continue to closely coordinate with relevant departments, sectors and authorities of districts to remove difficulties in building technical infrastructure at the industrial clusters.

It also promotes the development of more large-scale industrial parks and clusters in an environmentally-friendly manner, and high-tech industrial production such as microchips and electronic equipment for export.

According to the Hanoi Industrial Cluster Development Plan by 2030, the city will have 159 industrial clusters with a total area of more than 3,200 hectares.

Hanoi to inspect violations of plots and ground sales Hanoi authorities have requested the Department of Natural Resources and Environment strictly handle the bulldozing of hills and mountains and levelling of ponds, rivers and streams to sell land.
China's modernization drive and its global inspiration

Xinhua) 08:17, October 16, 2022

Aerial photo taken on May 18, 2022 shows a high-speed train pulling out of the Shanghai Railway Station in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Li He)

The success of the CPC "comes from a constant adaptation of the party to the needs of the people and to the reality of the world at large," said Jean Christophe Iseux von Pfetten, president of the Institute for East-West Strategic Studies in Britain.

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- In its unprecedented stride toward modernization, China has worked the twin miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability.

While these achievements have amazed the global community, they have also made real differences to a world battling against headwinds from an unprecedented pandemic, flare-ups of regional conflicts and global economic stagnation. Observers worldwide believe that the Chinese path to modernization, especially its guiding philosophies, is inspiring other nations to seek their own development paths and the world to pursue a shared brighter future.

Aerial photo taken on Jan. 30, 2022 shows a relocation site for poverty alleviation in Kaili, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST

Modernizing a country home to 1.4 billion people is a profound event in human history. Global observers have attributed China's success to the people-centered philosophy of the Communist Party of China (CPC). This is well illustrated by China's massive poverty alleviation campaign.

China announced in 2021 that the country had lifted the final 98.99 million impoverished rural residents living under the current poverty line out of poverty, and removed all 832 impoverished counties and 128,000 villages from the poverty list.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres once commented that China's great achievements in poverty reduction constitute "the biggest contribution for dramatical reduction of poverty."

"China has a good experience in dealing with poverty," said Collen Vixen Kelapile, president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

"It's something that we need to congratulate the (Chinese) leadership for delivering for the Chinese people and hope that all of us can learn from that achievement," he said.

And over the past four decades, people's lives in China have been dramatically improved. A primarily agricultural country about 70 years ago, China now boasts the world's most extensive social welfare system, the largest high-speed railway network and cutting-edge technologies in many sectors.

The success of the CPC "comes from a constant adaptation of the party to the needs of the people and to the reality of the world at large," said Jean Christophe Iseux von Pfetten, president of the Institute for East-West Strategic Studies in Britain.

The CPC is "a party of people," Pfetten said. "And the party evolves and moves with the evolution of the people."

A worker welds solar power components at a workshop of the Jinko Solar (Yiwu) Co., Ltd. in Yiwu City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

A COMPREHENSIVE MODERNIZATION

China has been pursuing modernization in a comprehensive way. It has coordinated material and cultural-ethical progress, promoted economic, political, cultural, social and ecological development, and adhered to a new development philosophy that highlights innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing.

When illustrating the features of China's modernization, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that the country's modernization benefits a large population. It features common prosperity, coordinated material and cultural-ethical progress, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development.

China's modernization pursues prosperity for all. In this aspect, east China's Zhejiang Province has become an exemplar as the region is building a demonstration zone for common prosperity by launching pairing-up arrangement between the developed coastal areas and the underdeveloped mountainous areas so as to bridge the gap between rural and urban regions.

"Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." China's modernization drive also places high emphasis on seeking harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. The country has cut its carbon emission intensity by 34.4 percent over the past 10 years, and pledged to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

Noting "environmental protection has been integrated into all of the country's socio-economic development plans," Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center, said, "with strong economic strength, advanced technological capability and high responsibility, China has played a leading role in combating global climate change."

Photo taken on Aug. 16, 2022 shows the scene of Yongdingmen (Gate of Perpetual Peace) in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT

Peaceful development has also distinguished China's modernization from that of the West. In contrast with Western colonialists who resorted to wars, and aggressions in the late 19th century, China has marched toward modernization through relentless hard work, and blazed a trail of win-win cooperation on the world stage.

By following the path of peaceful development, China has grown into a global economic powerhouse, contributing to a steady eastward shifting of the world's center of economic gravity.

"With peace, a country enjoys prosperity, just as with rain, the land can flourish," Xi quoted a proverb in Uzbekistan when addressing the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in September.

Christopher Mutsvangwa, an official of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party, said what is valuable is that China's economic growth during the past four decades is accompanied by its adherence to a peaceful development path, which is different from the rise of a new major country in the past that was always characterized by warfare.

In the eyes of Martin Jacques, a British scholar, instead of advocating the jungle law of nation-states, where the writ of the strongest reigns supreme, "China propounds new forms of global collaboration," as exemplified by the Belt and Road Initiative and the idea of a community with a shared future for mankind, as the way of the future.

A staff member checks vials of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine on an automated packaging line of Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

A SHARED FUTURE

On its path toward modernization, China has also been sharing its development opportunities with the rest of the world, upholding true multilateralism and striving for a more fair and equitable global governance system, which offers Chinese solutions to pressing challenges facing humanity. That is because Beijing fully understands that China will do well only when the world does well, and vice versa.

From initiating the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank to taking the lead in implementing the UN sustainable development agenda, China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods.

Making the Chinese vaccines a global public good is a good example of China's efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind. China has provided more than 2.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations.

Vinnie Molina, national president of the Communist Party of Australia, said China's development is in line with the interests of the world and that the CPC is committed to promoting peace, cooperation, mutual respect and development for a shared future.

He also commended China for providing COVID vaccines to the world. "Millions of people could benefit out of the Chinese biotechnology."

The Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), proposed by Xi, have further added to China's efforts to contribute to world peace and shared prosperity.

The GDI and the GSI are crucial to building a more just and equitable global governance system, said Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh. "The two initiatives are also key to reinforcing multilateralism, international cooperation and solidarity in order to address global challenges and concerns," he said.

"More than just achieving modernization, China is actually overcoming the mistakes and consequences of the Western type of modernization. That means China is offering an example to the whole world," wrote Boris Tadic, former president of Serbia, in a recent opinion piece.

China's success serves the interests of the whole world and the CPC has offered the world a different model, which could be an option for developing countries, said former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Du Mingming)
 Flash

The Death toll in an underground coal mine explosion in northern Turkiye rose to 41, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday in the Bartin province, where the blast took place a day earlier.

The explosion occurred 300 meters below ground at 6:15 p.m. local time (1515 GMT) on Friday at the Amasra Hard Coal Enterprise, trapping 110 workers, 58 of whom later managed to get out on their own, and 11 others were injured and hospitalized, state and local officials said.

Arriving at the scene in the town of Amasra, Erdogan vowed to "exert our best effort" to put the history of mining accidents to an end.

He told reporters that administrative and judicial authorities will investigate the incident to reveal what caused the explosion and who, if anyone, is responsible.

Preliminary findings indicated that the blast was likely caused by firedamp, said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez.

In 2014, as many as 301 people died in Turkiye's worst mine disaster in a fire inside a coal mine in Soma town of western Manisa province.
The programme provides students with cultural and historical tourism products and services in Hoan Kiem district. It enables students to enjoy exciting and creative experiences while digging into the citys history, newswire The Hanoi Times reported.

Students visit House of Heritage No.87 Ma May Street in the Old Quarter, Hanoi. (Photo: hanoitimes.vn)

The tourism model is expected to promote the Old Quarter and the French architecture area, improve the quality of comprehensive education, and equip students with knowledge about history, culture, and preservation of the citys precious traditional values and heritage.

Tours include visiting and learning about Hanoi culture at the Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Centre, Heritage House No.87 Ma May, and Kim Ngan Communal House on Hang Bac Street.

This programme, launched on the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the citys Liberation Day (October 10, 1954  October 10, 2022), is aimed to promote Hanois typical cultural values among domestic and international visitors, according to Tran Thi Thuy Lan, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Old Quarter.

This model is part of efforts to diversify the citys exploration tours and promote love for Hanoi, significantly contributing to preserving the citys traditional values and heritage.

Hanoi, the UNESCO-recognised City for Peace, has been listed among the worlds best destinations for different categories, including one of the worlds best 25 tourist destinations for food enthusiasts voted by Tripadvisor readers; one of the worlds greatest places in 2021 by US-based TIME magazine; the top prize for Asias Leading City Break Destination by the World Travel Awards 2022; among the worlds 12 best places to go in fall by CNN.

For visitors, Hanoi, Vietnams vibrant capital, has it all and locals readily welcome visitors to discover the city for themselves, according to CNN. Hanoi is a world of wonder and intrigue.

In the first three quarters this year, the city welcomed nearly 14 million visitors, including more than 766,000 foreign tourists, representing an on-year rise of four times in the number of arrivals. Tourism brought 39.7 trillion VND (1.66 billion USD) in revenue to the city during the nine months, a 4.7-fold increase over the same period last year.

Experts suggests solutions to develop farm produce, rural tourism in Mekong Delta Training on free trade agreements are among the measures suggested for the development of the farm produce market and rural tourism in the Mekong Delta.

CNN continues promoting Hanoi to global audience? Robert Bradley, CNN senior vice president, wishes that cooperation between CNN and Hanoi will be resumed to promote Hanoi's image and culture to the world.
Hanoi  Vietnam has been doing its utmost to fight Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in an attempt to lift the European Commission (EC)s yellow card warning against its seafood exports and avoid a red card which could lead to a trade ban.

Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA)

Removing the yellow card is a very urgent task, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh told a meeting of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing last month, given that officials from the EC are scheduled to visit Vietnam at the end of October to check measures against IUU fishing, along with fishery infrastructure.

Thanh requested the establishment of inter-disciplinary task forces at national and provincial levels to stop violations of IUU fishing rules.

Local coast guards, border guards, fishery surveillance forces and police must increase patrols and inspections at sea and fishing ports while awareness campaigns must be intensified for fishermen to better understand the risks and negative impacts of IUU fishing, he added.

According to Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries Tran Dinh Luan, vessel monitoring systems have been installed on 95.27percent of Vietnamese fishing ships. Drones are now used as surveillance tools to combat illegal fishing and authorities keep records of high-risk fishing vessels that are likely to encroach foreign waters.

Vietnam adopted the Law on Fishery in 2017, setting solutions to sustainably develop the sector and act on the ECs recommendations against IUU fishing. In mid-September, the country approved a national plan against IUU fishing, which aims to put an end to IUU fishing by 2025.

Data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) shows that Vietnams aquatic exports hit 8.5 billion USD in the first nine months of 2022, a surge of 38percent from the same period last year. The best performers included shrimp (nearly 3.4 billion USD) and tra fish (nearly 2 billion USD).

The EU has remained in Vietnams top three importers over years, purchasing more than 1 billion USD worth of aquatic products during the January-September period, a year-on-year rise of 41percent.
Hanoi - Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup sold in almost all street corners in Vietnam, finds itself at the 34th place in a list of 100 most popular dishes in the world as complied by international food magazine TasteAtlas.

TasteAtlas magazine described Pho as one of the most beloved Vietnamese dishes in the western hemisphere due to its complex, unique flavors, and elegant simplicity.(Photo: Vietnam Plus)

The magazine described Pho as one of the most beloved Vietnamese dishes in the western hemisphere due to its complex, unique flavors, and elegant simplicity.

The soup is traditionally served with chicken or beef broth where the bones simmer lazily for at least three hours until the broth is perfect, it said, adding that the addition of herbs and spices accentuates the flavors, and the chewy rice noodles, juicy beef slices, and crunchy sprouts elevate the dish to another level.

Pho is also among three Vietnamese dishes  along with Banh mi and iced coffee named in the CNNs list of 50 of the best street foods in Asia which it calls just a small sampling of the regions wonderful food traditions.

What the pho? Vietnam streetfood cocktails make a splash HANOI: With his daring pho cocktail inspired by Vietnam's signature beef noodle soup, Hanoi's leading hipster bartender Pham Tien Tiep is hoping to elevate the drinking scene in a city better known for its raucous outdoor beer dens.

Pho restaurants reopen after social distancing Many Pho restaurants in Hanoi reopened to serve diners after social distancing measures have been relaxed nationwide.
McLennan County passed a milestone in its fight against COVID-19 last week, recording its 901st death due to the disease.

Since arriving in the county in spring 2020, COVID-19 has killed more county residents than the 1953 Waco tornado, the 1993 Branch Davidian fire, World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War, and the 2015 West fertilizer explosion all combined. In comparison, the 1918 flu pandemic is estimated to have killed more than 300 people and as many as 500 people in McLennan County.

The reporting of 900th COVID-19 death, however, passed with scarcely a ripple in news coverage or social media. The county reported the 901st death Friday.

The marker arrived in a county where the share of eligible people who have received their first course of a COVID-19 vaccine has remained stalled at less than 55%, lower than the statewide share of 63%; where residents have been slow in getting the latest bivalent booster tweaked for the omicron variant; and where public measures such as masking and social distancing are fading.

That is a concern for health authorities, who fear a fresh wave of cases expected this fall or winter may catch many county residents with their guard lowered. At the same time, vaccinations, improved treatment and medications have significantly lowered the pace of deaths and hospitalizations from peaks in 2020 and 2021.

In a Waco-McLennan County Health District report presented this past week, the districts senior epidemiologist, Vaidehi Shah, said hospitalizations and deaths are trending downward from late summer. The country reported five deaths from COVID-19 in September and three so far in October, down from 17 in August and five in July. The seven-day average of hospitalizations and cases both had fallen since August. As of Friday, Waco-area hospitals reported nine COVID-19 patients, none on a ventilator.

While the summer saw an uptick in cases and hospitalizations, it was far from the heights of the three major surges the county has experienced since March 2020: the first, which peaked roughly in January 2021 with 181 hospitalized on Jan. 12; a second with the delta variant, peaking with 216 hospitalizations on Sept. 15, 2021; and the third with the omicron variant, with 191 hospitalizations on Jan. 24, 2022, according to health district data at covidwaco.com.

In contrast, the COVID-19 increase seen this summer saw fewer than 50 hospitalizations at any one time.

In the omicron surge, there was a high number of cases, but our deaths were half of the delta surge, Shah said. That was because of the vaccinations.

Not only are hospitalizations down, but patients stays are generally shorter, said Dr. Marc Elieson, medical director, inpatient medicine for Baylor Scott & White Health. Many COVID-19 patients are treated for dehydration or weakness rather than the severe breathing problems that would lead them to ventilators. It is a far cry from the early COVID-19 surges that threatened to overwhelm hospital staff, space and available ventilators.

COVID-19 deaths have changed over time, too. The great majority of the people now dying from the disease are in their 80s or 90s, Elieson said.

They dont have the reserves to fight off the virus, he said.

Waco Family Medicine and its clinics continue to see a slow, but small trickle of patients with COVID-19. Those cases are less severe than those earlier in the pandemic, but Associate Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ben Wilson is careful in saying what that may mean.

Were in an awkward transition phase with the pandemic where the core fatality rate of COVID is beginning to approximate seasonal flu, but doesnt appear to be there yet, Wilson said. The CDC as well as other academic entities are wisely not willing to say this is the end of the pandemic until the severity of COVID drops.

Nationally, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data puts COVID-19 as the third leading cause of death in the United States in 2020 and 2021. A public CDC database on Underlying Causes of Death shows that in 2020, the latest year for which data is available, heart disease was the leading cause of death in McLennan County, followed by cancer, then COVID-19.

Elieson said that while COVID-19 likely was one of the leading causes of death in McLennan County in 2021, it has fallen this year, though he estimated it is still likely among the top 10.

Health officials are encouraged about the arrival of the latest COVID-19 vaccine, a bivalent vaccine that strengthens the bodys immune response to the original variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 as well as its latest omicron variant. The CDC recently approved the booster for people 5 and older.

What is not encouraging is the local lackluster response to getting that booster. The health districts nursing division manager, Cindy Murphey, said this past week that vaccinations are up with the release of the latest booster, and many people are getting their shots through school district vaccination clinics. Two weeks ago, 1,327 people were vaccinated, one of the highest numbers since February. In contrast, however, the county reported more than 2,000 vaccinations per week for all but two weeks last year, with a high of 12,325 in the second week of April. Wilson, with Waco Family Medicine, said there is still not a high demand for vaccinations among the general public, which he attributes in part to people being desensitized to the need.

Shah said COVID fatigue is a concern.

Weve been trying to do our messaging a different way, but the best we can do is give the same message, she said.

That message has remained consistent for more than a year: Get vaccinated. Watch exposure and contact with people more vulnerable to the virus, such as the elderly and immunocompromised. Resume masking and social distancing when COVID-19 cases begin to rise in the community.

Determining COVID-19 levels in a community has become trickier with the widespread availability and use of over-the-counter testing kits for home use. Those results are not reported to health authorities as lab-conducted testing is. Shah said on balance, however, widespread use of the at-home tests is good because the people who test positive often self-quarantine quickly, reducing the chance of transmitting the virus to others.

Rising COVID-19 cases in Europe is a cloud on the horizon, although the increase does not seem to suggest a new variant in circulation. In the past, COVID-19 case trends in Europe usually preceded those seen in the United States by a month or more except for this summers bump in cases where there was a two-month lag, Wilson said.

Almost certainly, its going to happen this winter. The question is, will it come in the next few weeks? he said. COVID is more unpredictable now than it used to be.

The advice to the public is familiar: Get vaccinated to lower chances of a serious case leading to the hospital or even death. People who have not had a COVID-19 vaccination will need to start with the initial shots by Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson rather than a booster. Both the original vaccines and the booster are available at the health district, both Baylor Scott & White Health and Ascension Providence health care systems, and area pharmacies.

Elieson said people who come down with COVID-19 also can contact their physician to prescribe medications such as Paxlovid that can shorten the time symptoms are experienced and reduce their severity.

The health district does not require appointments for the vaccinations, although they are recommended. Its office is at 225 W. Waco Drive with hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Its the first and best line of defense, Shah said of vaccination.
Lake Waco is at its second-lowest level since it was expanded in 2003, sitting at just 58.1% full Saturday.

With little relief in the forecast, water authorities continue to wrestle with widespread effects of a yearlong drought and look toward the possibility they will have to tighten water-use restrictions soon.

Lake Waco sat at 451.17 feet above sea level Saturday, about 11 feet below normal. The lake has been dropping close to a foot per month, 0.04 feet per day, since mid-September last year. The lakes main tributary, the North Bosque River, is flowing at less than a five-hundredth of its typical rate some 15 miles upstream.

From above, land is visible dividing Lake Waco from the rivers and streams that fill it.

Small pools appear cut off from the shrunken reservoir that supplies drinking water to Waco and surrounding communities.

Unless conditions change, the city of Waco and its water customers are likely to see city water restrictions bumped from Stage 2 to Stage 3 in the next month or two, limiting outdoor watering to one day per week among other measures. Stage 2 restrictions have been in place since July.

The current drought started late last fall, said Nelun Fernando, manager of the water availability program for the Texas Water Development Board. In November, areas that drain into the Bosque upstream of Lake Waco began to display moderate drought conditions, the first drought category of the U.S. Drought Monitors six categories ranging from no drought to exceptional drought. By the middle of August, the entire region adjacent to the Bosque was in exceptional drought status.

This past week, almost all of McLennan County and much of the Bosque watershed was in extreme drought, one step down from exceptional. Rain in August and September brought short-lived relief, as only 21.4% of the county was in extreme drought on Oct. 4.

Fernando said Erath County, where the North Bosque forms, has seen high temperatures this year, setting the record for the hottest nine months on record for the county. She also said December 2021 was the hottest December ever for Texas.

A Texas Tribune article from January says the states average temperature in December was 59 degrees, about 12 degrees warmer than average and the hottest since 1889.

Dan Huckaby, a Fort Worth-based meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said Waco is setting records of its own, as Wednesday set the record for latest 100-degree day in a calendar year. It broke the previous record, Oct. 4, 1983, by eight days.

October is not only abnormally hot but also dry, Sunday marking 39 consecutive days without rainfall, even though October is normally Wacos wettest month, Huckaby said.

Waco has only had 11.81 inches of precipitation for the year so far, 16 inches below normal. The city has had just 12.46 inches since October 2021, Huckaby said.

Normally for an entire calendar year were looking at 36.40, so thats a really extraordinary deficit, Huckaby said.

The National Weather Service predicts it will take more than 15 inches of rain to end the drought in McLennan County. Huckaby said the issue will not be fixed with one or two rain events. He said even if Waco has average precipitation for the next few months it still would not be enough.

Plus, it is not just rain over Waco that is needed to replenish the lake. It will take rain over the Bosque watershed in general to feed Lake Waco, city Utilities Director Lisa Tyer said.

When it rains in Waco thats great, but it doesnt put a whole lot of water in the lake, Tyer said.

She said 70% of the lakes water comes from the North Bosque, and rain is needed in the Stephenville area, far upstream from the lake, to get water moving toward Lake Waco. If there is no water moving in the river, there is no water moving into the lake.

On Saturday the North Bosque River at Valley Mills was flowing at 0.43 cubic feet per second, the volume of about half a beach ball flowing by, Brazos River Authority spokesperson Judi Pierce said. The average discharge for the same location historically is 233 cubic feet per second.

Water quality in the lake also is affected by the hot, stagnant conditions. Fernando, the manager at the Water Development Board, said the warm temperature is conducive for algal blooms, and it is possible the mineral concentration would be higher since there is less water in the lake.

The city draws water for treatment at an inlet near the dam, the deepest part of the lake, because the sediment and nutrients in the water that affect quality have largely settled to the bottom by that point.

Tyer said the lake level is still high enough to use the two highest-level floodgates that control the flow of water at the dam, but as the level drops the city would have to open lower gates. She said the city has a plan for preserving the quality of the water.

There is the potential we will see changes in taste and odor and we would have to increase the amount of chemicals used to treat that water, she said. The quality of the water will be different, not necessarily worse or better.

Tyer said given the environmental disadvantage the weather has brought and the sinking lake level, it is very likely Waco will enter Stage 3 of its drought contingency plan when the lake level hits 449 feet in the next 30 to 60 days.

The new Stage 3 restrictions would reduce watering to one day a week, and any variances that have been granted under Stage 2 restrictions, which started in July, would come to an end, Tyer said. She said she will have a better timeline in three weeks, and she is hoping that as Waco gets cooler weather, the city will return to lower water use levels.

She said although restrictions are causing people to use less, conservation is the best option and the city council is actively discussing solutions.

She said the city recently approved the purchase of water rights for 2,100 acre-feet in the Brazos River basin. Brazos water rights are a hot commodity these days as every drop of the Brazos is already accounted for, Tyer said.

The Bosque is not the only Brazos tributary that is exceptionally dry this year.

Aaron Abel, water services manager for the Brazos River Authority, said the current drought began early in September 2021 for his system. The Bosque is one of the Brazos seven primary tributaries, meeting the larger river a few miles downstream of Lake Waco, but the Brazos River Authority does not hold water rights in Lake Waco.

The Brazos River System still has 74% of its water supply left and is under stage 1 drought watch which calls for 5% voluntary use reduction and awareness measures among customers.

However, Lake Proctor, a reservoir on the Leon River in Comanche County that holds Brazos River Authority supply, is facing similar challenges to Lake Waco, sitting at 44.6% full and 8.64 feet below normal. Abel said the lake is under the Brazos River Authoritys Stage 2 Drought Warning Condition, and will move to a Stage 3 Drought Emergency Condition, in the next few days. The Stage 3 conditions under the authoritys Drought Contingency Plan could include mandatory restrictions aimed at reducing consumption by 20% among customers, including the cities of Comanche and De Leon.
Marlin City Manager, Desert Storm veteran, former police chief and former educator Cedric Davis, 55, is the Democratic candidate for state representative in newly drawn Texas House District 13 in the Nov. 8 general election. The district wraps around McLennan County but includes East Waco, eastern McLennan County south of West, Baylor University and parts of South Waco. The district includes all of Bosque, Hill, Limestone, Falls, Freestone and Leon counties. Davis, an inner-city Dallas native who became city manager of Marlin in May 2019, lists among accomplishments serving as the first African American mayor of Balch Springs, a community southeast of Dallas. In 2018, he became the first African American candidate of a major political party to finish among the top three primary finishers in a nine-way Texas governors race. In this interview with Waco Tribune-Herald Editor Steve Boggs and veteran journalist Bill Whitaker, he discusses continuing furor over racial injustice as a former law enforcement officer; controversy over critical race theory, even as the theory defies easy definition; the growing problem of voter suppression that snagged some local voters during the March 2022 primary election; and the troubling recourse to violence and threats amid political and economic disagreements in American society.

Question: Your resume states youve served as a soldier in Operation Desert Storm, as a law enforcement officer, as a FEMA emergency preparedness official and as a teacher. Youre now city manager of Marlin, a city of some 5,600 residents southeast of Waco in Falls County. This resume should give you a good idea of what works and what doesnt in governance, including the chain of command in a functioning democracy. Putting those experiences together, what epiphany or insight has all this left you?

Cedric Davis: My epiphany is we stopped talking and communicating with each other. Weve become so tribalized we cant have a common-sense conversation without fighting. If we are all Americans in this great melting pot, we have to get back to communicating. Your neighbor and you, back in the day, spoke to each other. Yall mightve even switched sugar or something. Today, if your neighbor is a Republican and youre a Democrat, you barely speak. I need to lead and set an example. I need to be able to negotiate and legislate and reach across the aisle because, first, as a legislator youre just one vote, so youre going to have to pursue collaboration and pick the things most important to your constituents. Those are the things you battle for at all costs. You negotiate, negotiate, negotiate.

Q: Youve been in law enforcement. Whats the solution in terms of the racial injustice that caused so many people to erupt in summer 2020 after a long line of situations in which Blacks died at the hands of police officers under questionable circumstances? What is the message that earnest law enforcement officers and perhaps even communities of color must grasp if were to reverse this trend? Maybe thats an unfair question, given that our state leaders havent addressed it so far.

Davis: No, Ive been asked that before by Black Lives Matter, but thats a long story. Ill kind of give you what I gave them. They asked whether I was African American or Black. My answer: Well, Im going to give you a couple of answers and you tell me. Im a Black man who has to tell his son to put his hands on the steering wheel, even though his father has four stars on his collar. And its Yes, sir, no, sir, yes, maam, no, maam. Ive told him, I can always get you out of jail, but I cant retrieve a bullet. Im a Black man who sits in a seat of power, so my own culture sometimes looks at me like Im an Uncle Tom, even though Im a very fair person and they dont know me because Im in a position (of authority). As I told them, Im also a Black man who can get out and protest against the unjust things. So, I told them, you tell me: What am I? And they said, Oh, gee, youre the real thing! And I said, Im going to tell you young brothers something: You guys, in so many instances when you go out and protest, people dont listen because you can always protest but its all how you approach it. Get someone in your group, some individual who can withstand background checks, and have them get savvy in the political arena and have them fight your battles. Its enough for you to get on buses in droves and vote. Put your person into office who is going to stand up for those values youre fighting for.

Q: Youve indicated the issue of voter suppression ranks foremost with you. I followed in detail the crafting and revising of state election laws in 2021. What specific aspect of the new laws most concerns you?

Davis: Theyve made it even harder for our senior citizens to vote. They did things like removing drop boxes for ballots in Harris County. The way I look at it is, if were a system of democracy and everybodys supposed to participate in this great experiment were having, why are we making it harder? Perfect example: A kid goes to college, the kid gets a student ID while going to college to get an education. Of course, he may not have a drivers license. But that college ID says who he is. Yet the state of Texas says you cant use that college ID to vote, even if they put a place to vote on the college campus. Yet everyone on campus knows who he is and hes even got an ID to prove who he is. Now he can take his concealed handgun and go vote somewhere else. [NOTE: This is a reference to a state law that allows one to use a Texas handgun license but not a college student ID to vote. And as of 2021, anyone age 21 or older no longer needs a handgun permit to carry a handgun in public in Texas.] I mean, its like: Cmon now, thats really petty and picky. To me, youre stopping democracy that way. And elderly folks who cant get out and vote like the rest of us but can still vote through the mail  now theyve got to go through extra steps and some of them are 80 or 90 years old. Thats an undue burden when you heap these extra restrictions on them. Texas has just made it difficult for certain people and that has to change because not everyone is participating in democracy if youre stopping them from voting.

Q: To a degree, youre seeing the result of the 2013 Supreme Court ruling that mauled the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which previously required at least some level of federal pre-clearance for changes in election law or election protocols in states with racially discriminatory pasts, including Texas. As a Black citizen who fought for this country abroad as a soldier and helped secure the peace at home as a law enforcement officer, what do you make of all this? I mean, in the 1990s, I thought Texas and the United States were making a lot of progress toward racial equity.

Davis: I think its all about not really accepting changes. If you notice, a lot of older people are in these seats of power and theyre stuck in the past. Theyre fearful that (in electing a person of color) something will be taken from them. And thats not true. Most of us are trying to make a peaceful living and be happy in our lives. Were not trying to take something from someone. Thats the biggest fear. I tell everybody this: Most politicians in Texas are going to give you three things: guns, abortion (bans) and defending the Mexico-Texas border so the Mexicans dont come over and take over Texas. And that was proven when I went to a joint-party meet-and-greet in Mexia. I was the only (Black man) there. And those same three things came up. Now, when I got up there, my platform  I try to stick to six (messaging points). I dont want to go to, say, 20 because thats where you lose people in the messaging. I keep telling the party, We cant have 20 to 25 campaign points, weve got to narrow it to six, because then people will listen to you. But at that meet-and-greet, it was abortion, abortion, and theyre going to take your guns, theyre going to take your guns and theyre going to take your jobs. Well, no, a lot of the people coming over here (as immigrants) are working in fields and construction and all those things most Americans dont do or dont want to do. Americans will do it but they dont want to do it. My take is if (immigrants) do it legal and get the necessary documents to come to this country, welcome them because theres plenty of jobs Americans simply dont want to do.

Q: You came to my attention during the colossal failure of the state-run power grid during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. Given the state of Texas clearly failed to tightly regulate its own power grid enough to winterize elements of it sufficiently, how did the state do in terms of aiding your constituents in Marlin during the weeklong freeze? [NOTE: The city of Marlin water system was damaged by a power outage that took out a compressor, leaving residents without water. Officials also discovered a 20-foot crack in a main pipe leading from the water plant.]

Davis: Theyd get an F from me. All week they werent there. We in Marlin didnt get any help. There were people across the country who helped us, but we didnt get any help from the state of Texas till almost two and a half weeks later.

Q: But in fairness, did you try to contact anybody with the state, including the governors office?

Davis: We left plenty of messages. We called our state representatives office. Of course, we didnt get any response. Our mayor reached out to the governors office. We didnt get any help. Like I say, about two, two and a half weeks later, we did and then they said they would send a shipment of water, some MRE (meals ready to eat), stuff like that, but by that time we had already made it past the crisis and were wheeling and dealing. I love this one story: When our water plant went down, we needed water. And the post office wasnt serving, no FedEx, no nothing. And so someone up in Lewisville, some Joe Blow, just volunteered to meet us halfway with (parts for water plant repairs). So me and my chief, we jumped in his F-150 and we were sliding all over (icy roads). I said, Dude, slow down! And he was like, Man, this is four-wheel drive! And, well, Im from the city so I aint used to all this stuff and this is country and he was getting into that four-wheel and sliding right up I-35. So we met up with this gentleman. We tried to give him some money but he wouldnt take it. He would not take anything from us. He said, I just want to see that water plant running again. I just saw yall (through the news media) and I felt compelled to help. [NOTE: Police Chief James Hommel and Davis also purchased cases of water for Marlin residents during the road trip.] And after that we had people from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Utah, all over, helping out. And we had so much food, water, clothes, baby formula, that we gave to the other small towns.

Q: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made assurances the electric grid will now hold in extreme weather, and it seemed to do so during one of the most searing summers this past July and August. Are you confident in the grids reliability?

Davis: Uh, it didnt go down as bad as it did during the ice storm, but weve had outages.

Q: You described yourself as a guy from the city living in the country. Political scientists tell us the polarizing differences between Americans are as much about rural versus urban as Republican versus Democrat. What do rural folks not understand or appreciate about city folks  and what dont city folks get and appreciate about rural folks? Youve seen both sides.

Davis: In urban, everything is readily available. And you expect it to be there because you got billions and billions of dollars to ensure the infrastructure and everything else works. In rural settings, you dont have all the infrastructure. You even have food deserts. If Im in Dallas, I can go to any corner and get what I want. In Marlin I cant do that, I have to drive to Waco to get something major I want  and even when I get to Waco, sometimes what I want is not here.

Q: But dont rural folks understand that? Havent many of them made the conscious decision that they like the elbow room and simpler way of life? Why then hold it against city folk? In the rural stretches, you escape all the traffic and hassle.

Davis: Yes, but there are still amenities rural folks want such as water and streets without potholes. And theyd like to have a job thats close. They still want great parks and sprinkle pads and pools for their kids. So some of those things that people like about the urban places, rural people want that too, but you dont see all those things because of the cost. Thats one reason Im running because they are somewhat neglected down in Austin (by state government). They really are. But everyone else looks to the needs of the urban areas first. Like I say, people in rural communities want some of those same amenities.

Q: Tell us a little about new Texas House District 13, which you hope to represent. Are you dealing with two different worlds or a lot of common priorities?

Davis: A lot of commonality. East Waco needs good homes, good housing, affordable housing. But so do the rest of the surrounding counties. They need affordable housing because the housing in their communities is dilapidated. And theres no resources to replace them and put new houses in. And theres not a lot of income out in the rural areas, just as theres not a lot of income in East Waco. Decent affordable housing  thats where theres a commonality with rural because everyone wants good housing. And there are other things like water and fixing streets.

Q: Is that something the Texas Legislature should be more focused on?

Davis: I think so. Look at these community block grants. The state sends this money to the county, but the county does mostly county roads and bridges. They dont do inner-city streets. The fixing of inner-city streets relies on your (property) tax rate, so if youre in a poor community, (the revenue from) your tax rate isnt very big, so you cannot fix streets. Marlin streets have been that way about 46 years. I think the last project from what Ive been told was 1996 when they did like 16 streets. Well, thats a long time. Now theyve patched here and there, but the last major street project (was then). We just passed a $2.4 million bond for the streets here, but $2.4 million is not a lot of money for such a thing.

Q: We published a story that said COVID-19 vaccination rates in Marlin and Falls County were so low that people from elsewhere were coming from all over Texas to Marlin to get them.

Davis: Well, we were short on vaccinations initially. We were pretty limited to start (in early 2021) and every time you had a station set up to give vaccinations, they ran out. I dont know what they told you, but I can only tell you what I went through.

Q: Well, what do you think the vaccination rate wound up being in Marlin?

Davis: Strictly in Marlin? I dont know. Some people said they wouldnt ever take it.

Q: You think about 50 percent?

Davis: I dont believe we did. Many people were like, I dont know (about getting vaccinated), in 10 years Ill get the jigs and jags or whatever. It was just crazy such as, Oh, you dont know what the government is putting into your arm, it might have microchips! I heard it all.

Q: The news media this summer watched a years worth of work and taxpayer expense by educators and historians on revising state social studies curriculum shot down over parental concerns over such things as critical race theory. Yet neither of the two so-called critical race theory bills passed by the Texas Legislature in 2021 mentions critical race theory. What is critical race theory?

Davis: Critical race theory is something that college students have when theyre taking philosophy and things like that. The question is: What is your theory on race? And they give a set of ideas. Critical race theory is nothing real, it is basically what a person thinks when theyre taking a college course.

Q: Well, OK.

Davis: Well, its true, thats what it is!

Q: Well, I would 

Davis: Now, in the last two years its been weaponized. Thats just me. Critical race theory being taught at the college level in your philosophy classes is just a way to engage the class in what they think about the history (of racism), so in the last couple of years its been weaponized, Oh, theyre teaching your kids this and, oh, its going to offend this race of people. Its history, it happened, so why are you weaponizing history? Thats what critical race theory is.

Q: I understand its the study of systemic racism. It argues that racism is not necessarily prevalent because of someone like me and prejudicial views I might have, its actually baked into our laws and ordinances and traditions and norms so racism is more institutionalized than impulse. And thats what I would suggest  and, yes, here I am a white guy arguing with a Black man about this. So set me straight!

Davis: You are correct that it is institutionalized in American history. Its still institutionalized. Its still about trying to put a new spin or a pretty bow on the worst thing that happened in history when, to me, the important question is: How can we prevent this from happening in the future? How can we make relationships better? How can we make our institutions better? History is your blueprint to the future.

Q: Whats the most interesting encounter youve had with a constituent on the campaign trail?

Davis: Believe it or not, since Ive been in Marlin and Central Texas, Ive been threatened to be lynched five times. One was on TV. It was during a town-hall meeting because we were going to bring in a small rocketship company to Marlin and some people in the county didnt want it. [NOTE: This is a reference to discussions in summer 2021 for an X-Bow Systems Inc. rocket-testing site in remote Falls County.] Some words were exchanged and some guy says, Well, we need to get a rope for you. He said they needed to get a rope, you communist, and then he told the owner of the company, who was from San Francisco, We know youre one of those sweet boys from the way you part your hair. This was all on TV, all on camera. Believe me, we called the FBI and theres a file on both me and the mayor (concerning threats) if something happens. But some people asked me, With all that going on, do you feel safe? Why do you put yourself out there knowing youre at risk? And I said, Because I love you. They looked at me like I was crazy.

Q: What other reasons prompted individuals to threaten you? OK, one was about bringing in a new industry, the way McGregor did with great success and pride in SpaceX.
Dear Amy: My husband and I have a wonderful, stable, and loving relationship. We welcomed a new baby this year.

Neither set of our parents live in our state (on the West Coast), and its hard not to have a helpful village nearby.

We have a great group of friends, but lately Ive felt unsettled.

Ive lived in our city for more than seven years, and the crime rate has increased over the last few years, making me feel unsafe.

Our city has become trashed, and it feels like a skeleton of what it used to be.

I would like to move to be closer to my parents and try a different city and a new adventure.

My husband is opposed to moving because he loves our current city and our friends here. The thought of leaving makes him sad.

We are at a crossroads because Im unhappy if we stay, and he could be unhappy if we go.

Separating isnt an option, were too in love to live apart.

We plan to visit my parents over the holidays to vet out if a move is something wed like to do, but what if we both dont want to?

Its a major thing to compromise on.

What do you suggest?

Should I stay or should I go?

 Torn

Dear Torn: Do you remember the wording of the traditional wedding vow?

Marriage is not only about celebrating the better. It occasionally means tolerating the worse until both parties can agree on what is best for the family.

Compromise doesnt always result in both parties being equally happy at the same time. Compromise sometimes involves one party saying, Ill do this for now, and well agree to weight the scale in my favor next time.

Some of this will be dependent on your jobs and employment options, but telecommuting has opened up possibilities for some families to choose where to live.

Your idea to explore location options together is a great one  and exactly what you should be doing.

You should both commit to communicating about this, and decide to keep an open mind while you search for a balance.

Dear Amy: I live in an apartment complex in Denver, in a very pleasant and fun neighborhood populated by young professionals. I don't like to complain about noise. I live in the city, after all!

But there's a hound dog somewhere within a couple of blocks who barks and moans off and on, all day long.

It sounds like it is so sad, and maybe needs to be taken outside? I actually don't even know where the dog is located because it is really loud and yet could be far away.

I guess there isn't much I can do unless I know which apartment it's in.

If I do locate it, should I buzz up and ask if there's anything I can do to help?

I don't want to get myself tied up in walking this dog every day, but what should I do? Do I need to just suck it up?

 B in Big D

Dear B: This poor dog is using its voice, and you must also use yours.

If you are able to figure out which building the dog is in, you should contact that buildings manager. (Other neighbors have no doubt done the same.) You should not buzz up and offer to walk this dog, under any circumstances.

After that, dial 311.

This is from the City of Denvers government page (denvergov.org):

DAP [Denver Animal Protection] will not take an anonymous barking dog complaint, which means that you must leave your contact information with a 311 agent. The agent will then route your call to DAP, which will send a warning or courtesy notice to the dog owner advising them of the complaint. This letter details the barking dog ordinance and gives the owner an opportunity to fix the issue.

Dear Amy: I recently moved to a part of the country that is very white and very Baptist.

I am fine with people's involvement with their churches, but how do I answer the common question around here about which church I belong to?

I am not especially religious, and I grew up in the Jewish faith.

 Not Sure

Dear Not Sure: There are definitely regions of the country where, Whats your church is a common getting to know you question.

Im not especially religious, and I grew up in the Jewish faith works well. It also has the advantage of being true.
PITTSBURGH  When she participates in fall meetings with parents of college-bound seniors, Clairton, Pennsylvania, high school counselor Maureen Shaw has come to expect a disconnect on the subject of standardized tests.

Specifically, it's over the option students have today not to take them.

"It's different than when they went to school and everyone took the SAT," Shaw said. "It's foreign to a lot of them."

But might those students unwittingly be shutting doors on themselves by not taking the exam?

Indeed, three-quarters of bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities  more than 1,700 of them  will not require ACT or SAT scores from recent high school graduates seeking to enroll in fall of 2023, according to a survey reported in July by FairTest, a group long critical of standardized testing in college admissions.

For parents and students, the challenge may be to capitalize on the latitude they now have while making sure they do not overlook the possibility that their short list of campuses includes those that still mandate the test.

"Don't assume," said Kellie Laurenzi, associate vice president for enrollment management at Robert Morris University, which has a test-optional policy.

"Students should look at their colleges to see if its policies are different than test optional. Some may still require it," she said. "A blanket test-optional policy may not apply to all majors."

It's worth checking to see if certain scholarships or honors programs require the tests, experts say. Depending on the student, and how strong a test-taker that person is, taking the exam and choosing to submit scores as part of an application could strengthen their case for admission.

"Use it if it helps you," Shaw said of the test. "Don't use it if it doesn't.'"

During the last three decades, the share of colleges requiring standardized tests already had diminished amid complaints that exams disadvantage low-income and minority students, as well as disagreements over how well the tests actually predict campus success.

Then, in 2020, the pandemic hit, creating a whole new dynamic.

That year, as instruction went remote and families struggled with health and financial effects of COVID-19, colleges suddenly had a harder time predicting who would show up to enroll and how many of that group could take the exam, given lockdowns and canceled testing dates.

The number of schools with test-optional policies ballooned  from 1,070 just before the pandemic to over 1,700 for the 2023 admissions cycle. Many began as experiments that some campuses opted to extend. It remains unclear how many will revert to requiring the exams, and some schools have recently opted to make their optional policies permanent.

The University of Pittsburgh extended its optional policy through fall 2023.

Provost Ann Cudd has cited both the pandemic and a desire to recruit students "whose diverse talents and potential for leadership may not be well measured by standardized tests."

The test optional policy for admissions applies to all programs on Pitt's five campuses, said Kellie Kane, associate vice provost for enrollment and executive director for admissions.

"It's a personal choice," she said. "It will not be used against them if they choose not to submit a score. You will be equally considered. We're completely test optional."

Meanwhile, the debate continues over the usefulness of those tests  and whether other methods to judge college readiness are any better.

The College Board said there are reasons to take the exam, and that most students  83% when surveyed  want at least the option to use them.

In the class of 2020, nearly 1.7 million U.S. students had SAT scores that confirmed or exceeded their high school GPA, said Priscilla Rodriguez, College Board senior vice president of college readiness assessments.

"That means that their SAT scores were a point of strength on their college applications. Among those students, more than 300,000 were from small towns and rural communities; 600,000 were first-generation college goers; and 700,000 were Native, Black or Latino," she said in a statement.

Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology generated news by announcing that it was reinstating the SAT requirement.

"Our research has shown that, in most cases, we cannot reliably predict students will do well at MIT unless we consider standardized test results alongside grades, coursework, and other factors," said Stuart Schmill, MIT's dean of admissions and student financial services. "These findings are statistically robust and stable over time, and hold when you control for socioeconomic factors and look across demographic groups."

A standardized test requirement also is being reinstated at Georgetown University, some university systems in the South, among them Florida and Georgia, plus some small religious oriented colleges for institution-specific or ideological reasons, FairTest officials said.

Others are going in the opposite direction, extending or even making their optional test policies permanent.

The University of Connecticut is extending its test-optional pilot through at least fall 2026.

Public universities in Iowa are making their optional test policies permanent. The board of regents governing those schools noted in a report that others in the Big 10 and Big 12 had done the same and laid out why Iowa was joining them.

"Analysis showed that while standardized tests do provide some additional information on student preparation, they are not strong predictors of student success outside of first year college grades," its report stated. "The likelihood of graduating in four years was fairly consistent based on GPA, irrespective of the ACT score level."
WATERLOO  Jurors are trying to decide if a former school bus driver was justified when he shot his mothers husband five times with a shotgun outside a Waterloo convenience store in May 2016.

Attorneys for Daytrell Pendleton, 33, on Friday said he was in fear of Andrew Spates Jr. following a string of run-ins after his mother alleged she was assaulted and threatened by Spates, her husband of about three years.

Defense attorney Nichole Watt said days and weeks before the shooting the mothers car had been shot while she was driving, Spates had attempted to start a fight when Pendleton was stopped at a red light, and a brick had been hurled through the window of her home at 3 a.m.

Hes thinking, Whats going to happen next? When will it stop? How will it stop? Watt said. How many times does this guy have to run?

She said Pendleton and his mother had called the police about the earlier incidents, and she had obtained a civil restraining order to keep Spates away.

Theres no charges against him. Theres no stopping him, Watt said.

The situation boiled over hours after the brick came through window May 12, 2016. Pendleton and Spates saw each other at a frontage road next to the Kwik Star on Franklin Street around 6:25 a.m. Spates apparently grabbed a metal pipe and walked toward Pendleton.

Spates testified he was going finish what we started a few weeks before.

Pendleton reached inside his pickup, pulled out a pump action shotgun and started firing. Spates dropped the pipe in the street, fled to his vehicle and started driving off.

An off-duty sheriffs deputy detained Pendleton at the scene, and Spates was critically injured with wounds to his abdomen and hands. He ended up losing a finger to amputation.

During trial, the defense offered character witnesses to testify that Pendleton was a normally peaceful person, a calm bus driver who was being eyed for a para-educator position at an elementary school.

A police detective even testified for the defense that Spates had a reputation for violence. He had been shot in the face by a patrol officer in 2004 when he allegedly rushed at police with a kitchen utensil during a domestic abuse call.

On the stand, Pendleton said the convenience store encounter was a chance meeting before heading into work that morning.

He said he fired once when Spates approached him with the pipe and continued shooting after Spates dropped the pipe because it appeared he was reaching for something in his vehicle that Pendleton suspected was a gun.

The state argued that Pendleton wasnt acting out of fear when he began shooting. He was acting out of anger because of what his mother had suffered.

Daytrell Pendleton wanted revenge. He wanted to settle the score, and he wanted to vindicate his mother, Assistant County Attorney Erich Priebe said. That was the plan. To find a way to murder this guy and get away with it.  When the defendant thought he had a plausible excuse, he sprang into action.

Priebe said Pendleton wanted and expected the confrontation outside the store to happen. The state played video showing that Pendleton remained outside the store for about 20 minutes after making his purchase, allegedly waiting for to Spates to arrive.

Priebe said text messages sent in the weeks  and even minutes  before the shooting showed Pendletons intentions.

Text messages sent to relatives stated got to kill this mf and wish this (N word) would get outta line be a murda.

His personal and most candid thoughts were clear. He was going to kill, Priebe said.

Priebe argued that self-defense didnt apply to the shooting because Pendleton had continued the incident by firing his shotgun even after Spates had retreated to his vehicle, and because Pendleton could have simply driven away when Spates approached with the pipe (the incident occurred before Iowas stand-your-ground law was in place).

He also argued Pendleton used unreasonable force. He said Pendleton didnt stop shooting because Spates drove off, he stopped because he ran out of ammunition.

Pendleton is charged with attempted murder. Jurors also have the option of finding for a lesser charge or acquitting him outright. Deliberations began Friday morning following about a week of testimony.
 Flash

Dutch Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia has moved from her student flat in Amsterdam to the royal palace for security reasons, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima told Dutch media during their state visit to Sweden on Thursday.

"That has enormous consequences for her life. That means she doesn't live in Amsterdam and can't really go outside," Queen Maxima said.

King Willem-Alexander described the situation with his daughter as "very difficult." "I'm really proud of her for keeping it all up, to be honest," Queen Maxima said.

The 18-year-old crown princess moved to a student flat in Amsterdam to live and study last summer. Last month newspaper De Telegraaf reported that security measures surrounding the princess had been significantly increased. She and Prime Minister Mark Rutte allegedly appeared in organized crime communications, which may indicate plans for an attack or kidnapping.

The police and the public prosecution service made no further statements about the matter, but after the statements of the king and queen it is clear that the threat is serious and that it has a serious impact on the life of the princess.

"I can assure you that everyone is doing their utmost to ensure Amalia is safe," Justice and Security Minister Dilan Yesilgoz said in a statement. "I can't say anything about specific threats or specific security measures, but I guarantee that our security services are working hard day and night to ensure her safety."
It will be held in Meeting Room A at the Waterloo Public Library. All constituents and citizens are welcome to ask questions, voice concerns and learn more about what city government is doing.
WATERLOO  A bundle of proposed traffic changes are coming before the City Council Monday.

Most of the changes concern the area around Veterans Memorial Hall downtown on Courbat Court. The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

First, the 2020 Traffic Code must be amended with the street name change from Cedar Street to Courbat Court. The road was dedicated in 2021, named after WWII veteran and longtime veterans advocate Marcia Courbat.

One ordinance on the agenda could prohibit parking at all times on the northeast side of Cedar Street, from West Second to West Fourth Streets. The other spot where parking would be prohibited is the northeast and southwest sides of Courbat Court, except for Memorial Hall parking.

Another ordinance could add two parking spaces specifically for veterans at Memorial Hall.

At the Waterloo Convention Center, a newly constructed area along Commercial Street could be designated as a loading zone. This would restrict long-term parking.

In another part of Waterloo, speed limits may be increased. After a speed study conducted by the citys traffic department, officials recommend increasing the speed limit on Bishop Avenue from 25 to 30 mph beginning between the streets 1200 block and the intersection with Independence Avenue. The city is also looking to install two 25 mph speed bumps in the 300 and 700 blocks of Bishop Avenue.

Other business before the council includes:

Two public hearings to approve a contract for the sidewalk repair assessment program and purchase a track skid loader. Recommended bids are for Midwest Concrete of Peosta to do the repair work in the amount of $576,893 and to purchase the skid loader from Black Hawk Equipment of Waterloo for $82,444.

Approval of a professional services agreement to submit an Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Cleanup Grant that would cover costs for abating asbestos in four former Rath Packing buildings. The city previously entered into a development agreement with Crystal Distribution to purchase the buildings for demolition to allow the company to expand its operations.
STOCKTON, Calif. (AP)  A man suspected of killing six men and wounding a woman in a series of shootings in Northern California was arrested before dawn Saturday as he drove through the streets of Stockton, armed with a handgun and possibly searching for another victim, police said.

Investigators began watching the suspect after receiving tips and stopped him in a car at about 2 a.m. in the Central Valley city, where five of the shootings took place, Police Chief Stanley McFadden said at a news conference.

Wesley Brownlee, 43, of Stockton, was dressed in black, had a mask around his neck, had a gun and "was out hunting," McFadden said.

"We are sure we stopped another killing," he added.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Brownlee had an attorney to speak on his behalf. He was expected to be arraigned Tuesday on murder charges.

A police photo showed the black-and-gray weapon allegedly carried by the suspect. It appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun containing some nonmetallic materials.

Police had been searching for a man clad in black who was caught on video at several of the crime scenes in Stockton, where five men were ambushed and shot to death between July 8 and Sept. 27. Four were walking, and one was in a parked car.

Police believe the same person was responsible for killing a man 70 miles away in Oakland in April 2021 and wounding a homeless woman in Stockton a week later.

Investigators have said ballistics tests and video evidence linked the crimes.

At the press conference, a moment of silence was held for the victims.

Juan Vasquez Serrano, 39, was killed in Oakland on April 10, 2021, and Natasha LaTour, 46, was shot in Stockton on April 16 of that year but survived. The five men killed in Stockton this year were Paul Yaw, 35, who died July 8; Salvador Debudey Jr., 43, who died Aug. 11; Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21, who died Aug. 30; Juan Cruz, 52, who died Sept. 21; and Lawrence Lopez Sr., 54, who died Sept. 27.

Police said Brownlee has a criminal history and is believed to have also lived in several cities near Stockton, but they did not give further details.

Authorities said they received hundreds of tips after announcing the manhunt, and one of them led investigators to find and watch the place where Brownlee was living.

"Based on tips coming into the department and Stockton Crime Stoppers, we were able to zero in on a possible suspect," McFadden said. "Our surveillance team followed this person while he was driving. We watched his patterns and determined early this morning, he was on a mission to kill."

McFadden added that Brownlee was detained after engaging in what appeared to be threatening behavior, including going to parks and dark places, stopping and looking around before driving on.

Investigators were still trying to identify a motive for the attacks. Police said some victims were homeless, but not all. None were beaten or robbed, and the woman who survived said her attacker didn't say anything.

The police chief thanked various local, state and federal agencies that took part in the investigation, including the FBI, U.S. Marshals and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Local investigators had also worked with police in Chicago to determine whether the killings might be linked to two 2018 murders in that city's Rogers Park neighborhood. Authorities said videos of suspects showed a man in black with a distinctive walk.

However, Chicago police said Friday that there didn't appear to be any link.
Navigator CO2 Ventures will not get access to several properties to conduct land surveys before the ground freezes this year, according to court records.

The company  which seeks to build a carbon dioxide pipeline across the entire state  sued four sets of northern Iowa landowners in August, claiming they have prevented its agents from doing the surveys.

Those surveys are meant to help Navigator determine the path of the proposed pipeline. The company has sought expedited court help because it says a delay of the surveys will impede its progress to its economic detriment. The company had argued that it needs to evaluate the land this month, otherwise those surveys might need to wait until the spring thaw.

Some of that survey work might require sampling the soil.

Navigator has sought temporary injunctions against the landowners to permit the work, but a judge recently ruled against one of the requests in Woodbury County because it would have effectively ended the need for further litigation. The landowners are arguing that a state law that grants pipeline companies access to their lands is unconstitutional, and they have sought their own injunctions to bar Navigator from conducting the surveys.

If granted a temporary injunction, the judge reasoned, Navigator would have its survey completed, and the landowners arguments would be moot.

In a recent court filing in one of the cases, Navigator said it has reached an agreement with the landowners that would expedite the trials for the lawsuits but delay any decisions about the injunctions until next year.

The first case would be set for trial in January or February, with the other three to follow shortly thereafter, court records show. One of the trials has previously been set for April.

There are also three pending lawsuits that pertain to another companys plans to build a similar pipeline in western and northern Iowa. Summit Carbon Solutions seeks similar injunctions to conduct the surveys. A hearing for a temporary injunction in one of the cases is set for Oct. 24.

Summits need for surveys is more pressing. It filed its application for a hazardous liquid pipeline permit in February and has suggested that state regulators hold a final hearing on the matter in March 2023.

Navigator has not yet filed its permit application, although it will be able to apply next week. The companies must wait 30 days to seek a permit after holding information meetings in counties that are affected by their proposed projects.

A third pipeline company, Wolf Carbon Solutions, recently requested to redo its meetings because some of the potentially affected landowners in eastern Iowa said they didnt get notice of the first round of meetings. The new meetings are expected to be scheduled for December.
CEDAR RAPIDS  Kelly Garcia said the state has learned from missteps made during the transition to private management of the states $7 billion Medicaid program and pledged that those hard lessons are being applied as the state once again brings on a new private partner.

Obviously, through some of the pain points experienced with the managed care rollout and onboarding MCOs (managed care organizations) in the state, we have a number of lessons learned that we have taken, Garcia said Thursday during The Gazettes Iowa Ideas conference.

We built it into the (request for proposals), and we built into our timeline to ensure that claims processing was ready to go.  A lot of lessons learned to not have repeat failures. ... We have a really deep plan. It is very intense.

The state recently contracted with California-based Molina Healthcare to become the third managed care organization for the states roughly 800,000 Medicaid recipients.

In previous transitions between Medicaid managed care organizations, some Iowans complained of confusion and frustration.

Merger

During a one-hour session for the virtual conference, Garcia also discussed the combining of multiple state agencies into the new Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and the closure of the state-operated facility for Iowans with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Glenwood.

Garcia said Gov. Kim Reynolds asked her to evaluate whether the state should merge the former public health and human services departments, but that it was ultimately her recommendation.

She gave me the space to give her that independent analysis, Garcia said. And, ultimately, it was my very strong recommendation to her that we do.

Garcia said one consideration was the myriad agencies involvement in services in mental health care, substance abuse, maternal health care and Medicaid.

What I found were some significant gaps in that strategy. In fact, in some areas, lack of strategy, Garcia said. And thats not me saying that we didnt have really great team members working on these very important topic areas. But what we lacked was a real integrated approach to thinking about how we serve Iowans kind of in totality.

The former Department of Human Services, which includes Iowas Medicaid program, had a nearly $10 billion budget and employed 4,233 in the most recent state budget year, according to state records.

The former Department of Public Health budget was nearly $800 million with 525 people.

Garcia said throughout the transition she has been in contact with staff, boards under the former structure and stakeholders.

Thats what success looks like for me  is really engaging, bringing the people who do the work and who we partner with to do the work to the table to help craft an organizational structure that allows us to drive home on really solving these big subject matter areas, while really getting down to the kind of brass tacks of improvement. And you have to do both.

Glenwood

Garcia said her staff is working closely with the families of residents of the Glenwood Resource Center as plans are made for when the facility closes in 2024. She said the decision to close the facility, which faced scrutiny from federal regulators, was not reached lightly.

That announcement did not come easily at all, she said. We did our absolute best effort to reshape what were doing at Glenwood.

Garcia said because most states have closed state-run facilities like Glenwood, she was already considering plans for a similar transition.

Most states have closed their state-run facilities or reshaped them tremendously. And were one of the last states to do that really intensive work. So I already had plans underway to kind of reshape it, Garcia said. But, ultimately, we really are struggling with providing the level of medical care out at that facility that we need to, and so I couldnt in good faith look at the guardians or the clients or my own team members in the eye and say, We can do this. We just cant. And so we are on a path.

Garcia said nearly 30 community-based providers have talked to the state about housing Glenwood residents.
An American reality is the dramatic division over societal standards and governing style. Compromise is increasingly rare. Politicians have chosen up sides and usually consider everything done by the opposition as wrong and even nonsense. We hear shouts of lock em up!

Early progressives couldnt abide the Constitutions goal of limited federal government and natural rights. Progressives objected to the Founders original principles, most notably that inalienable human rights come from our creator. Rather, progressives declared that these rights were conferred by society and its government.

Today, the government of our Founders is in a struggle for political dominance with the modern progressive movement. The Founders, having recognized the flaw in human nature and human passions, installed checks and balances between government branches. Progressives perceived these limitations on government as barriers to essential programs. They believed that governmental power should never be limited except for what is unwise or futile.

President Woodrow Wilson insisted that mankind had advanced and matured relative to these flaws. He assured the public modern humans would unselfishly support the greater good. Because of that, progressives believed the Constitution hadnt kept up with changes of conditions, necessitating a new constitution for some or a living, breathing Constitution for others.

President Calvin Coolidge opposed Wilsons insistence on virtually unlimited government power. He expressed these words in defense of the Constitution: [Wilsons] reasoning cannot be applied to this great charter. If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. ... If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people.

President Franklin Roosevelt faithfully carried the progressive torch by proclaiming a new bill of rights. He wanted government to guarantee things such as earnings, recreation, and so on  an ambitious program of wealth transfer. Much to FDRs chagrin, his programs were often declared to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

The siren song coming from early progressives was mesmerizing for some. However, the results would often disappoint because human nature hasnt changed. Automatic allegiance to the greater good wont prevail in any human endeavor if left unchecked.

Quoting from Ronald Reagans farewell presidential address: We the People tell the government what to do, it doesnt tell us. ... Man is not free unless government is limited ... as government expands, liberty contracts.

The bitter conflicts of today arent just a passing spat. It isnt a mere conflict of style. The competing movements arent variations of a single governing philosophy. They represent very different ideologies.

If we set aside the divisive personalities, raw emotions, and even the issues of the day, we lay bare the cause of most modern political battles. Professor Larry Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, describes this as two powerful movements set against each other, as they have been for more than a century.

I remain an energized supporter of our constitutional form of government. The founding principles not only make sense, but they are also comforting. The peoples self-governance is an ideal I still hold dear. And any support for unlimited governmental power results in foolish governance.

My preferences may seem idealistic, but the alternative has an impetuous quality with little appeal. I agree with Arnn that truth has a way of finding daylight, so Im confident a rational showing of these competing philosophies will move us in the right direction. A winner will emerge.
During fierce hostilities, it is very important to use your rare free minutes in direct dialogue with the people liberated from the fascist yoke. Dear BROTHER, Rustam Aguev, head of the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the Kurchaloevsky district, guided by this very principle, devoted his free time to a conversation with civilians who, by chance, ended up not far from the place of deployment of the fighters.



Looking at the face of this elderly man, one can clearly see how tired he was of the oppression of the nationalists. Like all his close relatives, friends, numerous acquaintances, he hoped with all his heart that sooner or later deliverers would come, drive out the proliferation of fascist evil spirits and restore historical justice. And it happened. Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers with surgical precision cut out and cut out a vile fascist tumor from the face of the earth.

Kadyrov

WtR
The Kiev regime has been convicted of using chemical weapons, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

On July 31, the Russian military in the Zaporozhye region were taken to a military hospital with signs of poisoning.

As a result of the examination, a toxic substance, botulinum toxin type B, was found in the body of military personnel.

The Russian Federation will send to the OPCW all evidence with the results of all analyses on the fact of chemical terrorism sanctioned by the Zelensky regime.

An additional investigation is also being conducted into the poisoning by military toxic substances of the head of the CAA of the Kherson region Saldo.

Subscribe to @Sputnik

WtR
Loewe takes its perfume pop-up shop to Japan By



Eva Gracia Morales Translated by

Roberta HERRERA Published

Oct 16, 2022

Perfumes, the fragrance division of the Spanish brand owned by the French luxury group , has opened the doors of its first pop-up shop in Japan.







Loewe Perfumes takes its pop-up shop to Japan - Loewe - LinkedIn



The pop-up store is located in the Hankyo department store in Osaka's Umeda district and carries the brand's full range of fragrances as well as its line of home fragrances.



The ephemeral space will remain open until Nov. 21, as reported by the firm through its LinkedIn page.

Loewe Perfumes, which offers fragrances such as Loewe Solo and Loewe Aura, is distributed through the multi-brand channel and the division's dedicated online shop. It also has a mono-brand shop in Nanjing (China), which will open in January 2022, as stated on its website.



The Spanish luxury house Loewe, which recently reopened the doors of its Soho shop in New York, as well as a pop-up store in Tokyo and another in London, is currently enjoying a period of growth, increasing its sales by 38% in 2021 to 456 million euros.
Weather Alert

...Cold Temperatures, Winds, and Snow Return This Week... After a quiet holiday weekend, a few storms are on track to bring back colder temperatures, periods of windy conditions, and the potential for snow in the Sierra and western Nevada the week ahead. A quick-hitting storm will pass through the region Monday afternoon and evening with gusty winds, colder temperatures, and chances for snow. Highest snow potential will be for the Warner mountains, Surprise Valley and northern Washoe County (60% chance of 2-4 inches) with lesser potential as the storm slides southward across the Interstate 80 corridor (50% chance of a dusting). Snow is anticipated after the Monday evening commute, but could bring localized slick roads overnight and into the Tuesday morning commute. Winds will be more impactful than the snow with this early week storm. Widespread valley wind gusts 35 to 45 mph are forecast with Sierra crest winds gusting 80+ mph. Plan on recreational impacts for backcountry activities and for area lakes as well as turbulence for aviators on Monday. Later in the week simulations are honing in on a couple of potentially more impactful storms. These stronger storms would pack more of a wind and snow punch if they track into the Sierra and western Nevada.
Since day one in Congress, I have advocated for the courageous men and women in law enforcement, who have been under relentless attack during the so-called defund the police movement.

Dangerous and divisive rhetoric about police has led to a historic spike in crime across our country and is attributed to billions of dollars in property damages, theft, injuries and deaths across many of our major cities. Law enforcement agencies across the country are facing some of the toughest working conditions and are in dire need of support from law-abiding Americans and their leaders in Congress, more than ever.

As I have traveled outside of major metropolitan areas and across our vast rural landscape in Southern New Mexico, I have met with rural first responders and hosted several roundtables to gain a better understanding of how we can work together to address the unique challenges they face on a daily basis. New Mexico is geographically diverse, and first responders in rural areas encounter unique challenges, including personnel shortages, lack of mental health resources, equipment shortages and other factors.

It was about time that Congress took action to address these issues head on. I proudly supported the Invest to Protect Act of 2022, a bipartisan bill that passed the House Sept. 22 and is now in the Senate that establishes a new grant for law enforcement agencies that employ fewer than 200 officers to provide training, body cameras and access to mental health resources to local law enforcement officers and improve recruitment and retention efforts. Nearly every police department in New Mexicos Second District would be eligible to apply for these grant funds once the program is established.

This bill would also remove regulatory barriers for applicants and allows for grants to go toward de-escalation training, lethal and non-lethal resources, evidence-based safety training, and retention bonuses for local police departments. This comprehensive legislation also gives law enforcement the ability to respond to substance abuse and mental distress calls successfully. In addition, the Invest to Protect Act provides the vital training to respond to people with disabilities and victims of human trafficking  a tragically necessary resource in our country today.

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight & Reform, I especially value the ability of the federal government to conduct oversight-related actions. This bill would require the DOJ Inspector General to audit and investigate any potential misuse of grant funding from local police departments.

Unfortunately, anti-police sentiments and rising crime across America have led to law enforcement resignations and hesitation from good citizens to enter the important field of public safety. I firmly believe this bill will help to address some of our nations grave law enforcement shortages.

This bipartisan bill is an important step forward to achieving a safer America. If Washington politicians are interested in addressing our nationwide crime crisis, they should stop voting to defund police department budgets, establishing and advocating for large scale bail-funds to bail out violent offenders, or pretending that sending unarmed social workers to de-escalate dangerous situations is a viable solution. It is no coincidence law enforcement officials and police departments are experiencing low morale and retention across their departments.

Much work remains to reverse the soft-on-crime, pro-criminal policies implemented at the federal, state and local levels that have led to unprecedented crime and violence. But we can start by standing with the men and women of law enforcement and giving them the tools they need to keep our communities safe.
Abortion is on the ballot this November. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and taking away the constitutional right to abortion, Americas governors and state legislatures have more power to ensure their constituents have the freedom to control their own bodies. As leaders of two of the largest reproductive rights organizations in the nation, we urge you to vote to protect abortion access in New Mexico by reelecting Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and electing reproductive freedom champions at every level of government.

In some states, governors have already taken actions to ban or limit the right to abortion. In Florida and Arizona, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Gov. Doug Ducey signed 15-week abortion bans. The governor of Indiana signed a total ban, while the governor of Oklahomas ban only left exceptions for rape and incest that have been reported to law enforcement. Gov. Glenn Youngkin continues to push for a ban in Virginia, while Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts trigger law criminalizes doctors who provide abortion care with life in prison.

The result? We estimate that half the country could move to ban abortion, leaving 40 million people  almost half of all women of reproductive age  with little power to make their own decisions about their bodies, lives and futures.

But other governors have been proactive in protecting  and expanding  access to abortion. Lujan Grisham saw the threat to abortion rights and successfully urged the state Legislature to repeal an abortion ban that was on the books before Roe  preventing abortion from becoming illegal in New Mexico. In repealing the law, the governor declared anyone who seeks to violate bodily integrity, or to criminalize womanhood, is in the business of dehumanization. New Mexico is not in that business  not any more. Our state statutes now reflect this inviolable recognition of humanity and dignity. Thanks to her bold action, New Mexicans maintain the right to make their own health care decisions.

Yet Lujan Grisham understands its not enough to simply ensure the legality of abortion. Thats why she has worked to expand access to abortion care, including by signing an executive order protecting New Mexico patients and doctors from other states extremist anti-abortion bans, and directing $10 million in funding for a new clinic in Las Cruces.

However, the fate of that investment  and of abortion rights in New Mexico  is contingent on the outcome of the Nov. 8 gubernatorial election. Make no mistake about it: Abortion rights are on the line.

The contrast between Lujan Grisham and her opponent couldnt be clearer. The governors challenger, Mark Ronchetti, has made it clear he plans to ban abortion in New Mexico. Ronchetti has introduced multiple plans to criminalize the procedure, first maintaining he opposes abortion at all stages, then supporting a 15-week ban and now hawking a constitutional amendment to accomplish the same end.

Ronchetti has campaigned with the extremist anti-abortion governors DeSantis, Ducey and Youngkin, who have led the attack on women and abortion rights. Hes made it plain exactly which type of governor he would be.

Gov. Lujan Grisham is the only chance New Mexicans  and all people who rely on abortion access in New Mexico  have to safeguard their right to the safe and legal reproductive health care they deserve.
Today, the Journal begins its endorsements for the Nov. 8 general election with our recommendations for Congress. For more information including candidate Q&As, district maps, and news stories and endorsements as they are published, go to the Journal Election Guide at abqjournal.com.

Congressional District 1

Democratic incumbent, Melanie A. Stansbury

Stansbury, while only in her second year in Congress, is mastering the legislative art of bringing home the bacon.

On her first day in office on June 14, 2021  after handily winning a special election on June 1, 2021  Stansbury was given just five hours to compile a list of community-funded projects to be included in a House appropriations bill. She got to work right away, securing over $10 million that included $5.25 million for the Moriarty Fire Station and $1 million for Albuquerques Trauma Recovery Center.

Sixteen months later, she hasnt slowed down delivering for her district. She recently secured more than $18 million in community projects in a House appropriations bill that includes $1.5 million for the first dedicated facility for homeless youth in Albuquerque and $300,000 for the first all-veteran transitional housing campus in New Mexico. These are tangible projects that will enhance public safety, boost mental health availability, address homelessness and help veterans.

A water-resources professional, Stansbury is quickly becoming a champion in Congress on water and hunger issues. Shes sponsored three water-related bills that have passed the House  including one providing $50 million for clean drinking water infrastructure projects in central New Mexico  and secured $875,000 in a House budget bill for the East Mountain Food Pantry to expand its services through a purpose-built facility.

Another Stansbury bill that passed the House, the Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act, was rolled into the broader CHIPS Act and signed into law. Her bill boosts the STEM economy by channeling research and innovation funding to higher education institutions and private-sector partners.

Not bad for a freshman, whos also strongly committed to bringing home resources to fight crime, drug addiction and homelessness while tackling climate change and advocating for immigration reform, which she notes passed the House and is parked in the Senate.

As a state lawmaker for two years in the Senate and a staffer with White House Office of Management and Budget, Stansbury has shown an ability to work the legislative process for her district. Through her hard work on Capitol Hill she has earned a new full term.

Stansbury faces Republican Michelle Garcia Holmes to represent the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District that includes most of Albuquerque and extends all the way to northern Roswell. Balancing the interests of the Metro and more conservative areas in Chaves, Lincoln and Otero counties will be a challenge, but Stansbury has shown a willingness and ability to work across the aisle to get things done for New Mexico.

Congressional District 2

Democrat Gabe Vasquez

For voters in the 2nd Congressional District who are partisan loyalists, the race between Republican incumbent Yvette Herrell and Democratic challenger Gabe Vasquez is an easy call. For us moderates, unfortunately, there is no clear pick. Whoever wins is likely to be either well left or well right of center.

Ultimately, we give a nod to Vasquez for several reasons.

Herrell has tied herself closely with former President Trump; Vasquez has made, and tried to cover up, extremist statements on social media about race, policing, fossil fuels and immigration. Recently, both have tried to soften their extreme positions.

For Herrell, one of her first actions in Congress was to object to certifying the Electoral College results in Arizona and Pennsylvania. Later, she voted against the creation of a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. Asked a simple yes/no question in a Journal questionnaire about whether she believed Trumps claim that he was the legitimate winner, Herrell said Joe Biden is our president. But there are concerns about election integrity that still need to be addressed. For Vasquez, he is now saying how incredibly important the oil and gas industry is to New Mexico after deleting tweets that oppose fracking and support the Green New Deal.

Yet Vasquezs actions have spoken louder than words. Though dark-money ads have made him out to be a defund the police extremist, he consistently voted to increase the budget of police in Las Cruces, where he served on the City Council from 2018-21. He also seems determined to bring more economic empowerment to the district, and has valuable experience with the business community as the former executive director of the Las Cruces Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

His primary goals in Congress include strengthening the middle class and prioritizing workers and small businesses. New Mexicos southern congressional district  which after redistricting now reaches up to include a chunk of metro Albuquerque  needs an advocate for immigration reform. Vasquez  a native Spanish speaker and first-generation American who has lived on both sides of the border  brings a needed perspective to the issue.

We hope that, if elected, he lives up to his more recent, moderate stances.

Meanwhile, we have a hard time getting past Herrells votes, including against the CHIPS And Science Act, a must-have for the nation and New Mexico.

Her staff explained she voted against the bill because  the Democrat majority tied the CHIPS and Science Act to a massive tax hike and spending spree. 

Such are the tough choices of members of Congress. While Herrells concerns for fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and reining in the national debt are valid, New Mexico needed her support on the bill critical to rebuilding our domestic computer chip production.

She also let New Mexicans down when she voted against a $2.5 billion appropriation to cover wildfire recovery costs in northern New Mexico.

New Mexico needs problem solvers who can negotiate and find common ground. Herrell has too often simply voted no to earn our endorsement.

Congressional District 3

Democratic incumbent, Teresa Leger Fernandez

The Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire was personally painful for Leger Fernandez, a 17th generation New Mexican who describes her genealogy as a little bit of everything.

Being a native of Las Vegas, N.M., its little surprise she has become a leading force in Congress on holding the federal government responsible for starting the most destructive wildfire recorded in New Mexico.

Its clear talking to Leger Fernandez that shes still angry about the U.S. Forest Service conducting a prescribed burn during high winds in April, leading to the Hermits Peak Fire, and the agency abandoning a burn pile several miles west that erupted into the Calf Canyon Fire. The merged fires ultimately scorched an area more than twice the size of Chicago and forced 15,500 New Mexico households to evacuate.

I will hold the federal government accountable when they have done wrong, not just get angry about it, but get results, she told the Journal Editorial Board.

Leger Fernandez has delivered those results, leading the states congressional delegation in efforts to secure funding to help northern New Mexicans recover. She and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan sponsored legislation that resulted in $2.5 billion of federal funds that will cover insured and uninsured property loss, lost wages, reforestation costs, business interruption loss, insurance deductibles, new flood insurance needed for area residents and other financial impacts.

Traditionally, FEMA doesnt fully reimburse people after natural disasters, and specifically targeted funding bill is rare in Congress. So this was a feat.

Leger Fernandez says securing an additional $2.9 billion in wildfire recovery funds is a priority if elected.

Leger Fernandez is also a leading voice in Congress for Indigenous peoples. Shes the chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States and as a private attorney for 30 years she worked with Native American tribes and organizations on a whole range of issues including economic development, financing, building health clinics, protecting sacred sites and voting rights.

Shes also prioritized making sure every New Mexican finally has access to clean drinking water, helping secure $190 million for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project as well as $160 million for the Eastern N.M. Rural Water System Pipeline for residents in Clovis, Portales, Cannon Air Force Base, Texico and Elida. She has also been a steadfast advocate to help those affected by PFAS contamination and for ensuring health care access for our veterans.

Leger Fernandez, whos also strongly committed to tackling climate change, is a good fit for the diverse 3rd Congressional District that now stretches from Farmington to northern Hobbs after its redrawing. She faces Republican Alexis Martinez Johnson.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
A candidate in Albuquerques 2021 mayoral race was arrested on DWI charges Tuesday night at the Sunport parking garage.

Edward Eddy Aragon Jr., 47, is charged with aggravated DWI, according to court documents.

Aragon, a conservative radio host known locally as The Rock of Talk, declined to comment Saturday.

Thomas Clear, Aragons attorney, also declined to comment.

Last November, Aragon finished third in a mayoral race against incumbent Tim Keller and Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales. Aragon, who had never held elected office, branded himself as an alternative to career politicians and someone who could tackle issues such as crime and homelessness with a new approach. Aragon captured 18% of the vote. Keller and Gonzales received 56% and 26%, respectively.

On Tuesday night, police were called to the airport about a possible drunken driver, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Officers arrived around 8:20 p.m. to the parking garage, where a security guard reported a driver going in and out of multiple booths.

The complaint said officers pulled over the vehicle and the driver, Aragon, had bloodshot eyes, a strong odor of alcohol coming from his facial area and slurred speech. Aragon reportedly told police he had a glass of wine to drink earlier in the night. He was given field sobriety tests and, according to police, performed poorly on all three of the tests. Police said Aragon took a breath test and blew twice the presumed level of intoxication.
An Albuquerque man and teen were arrested Friday after police say they found the pair with five rifles, five pistols, 400 fentanyl pills and more than $11,000 cash.

Rebecca Atkins of the Albuquerque Police Department said Richard Baca, who just turned 17, and 28-year-old Andres Armijo are facing drug trafficking charges.

Armijo is also facing a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for allegedly selling drugs alongside Baca.

Atkins said the pair had sold drugs twice to undercover officers.

Court records show Armijo and Baca are alleged to have sold drugs to undercover officers in mid-June but no other instances are documented. Its unclear when the second alleged sale happened or why police didnt execute search warrants or arrest the pair until Friday.

Albuquerque police spokespeople did not respond to questions on the case.

Court records show Armijos criminal history includes arrests on larceny, drug and gun possession and domestic violence charges. Most recently, in 2020, Cibola County deputies arrested Armijo after allegedly finding him in a rental car with three guns and 17 pounds of pot.

The case was dismissed, according to court records, due to search and seizure issues related to valid medical marijuana cards on Armijo and his passengers.

Atkins said the Gun Violence Street Team locked onto Armijo and Baca after finding the pair selling fentanyl via Facebook. She said officers bought fentanyl from Baca twice, including at his home in Southwest Albuquerque.

Atkins said police arrested Armijo and Baca and executed search warrants in the case on Friday  seizing five rifles, five pistols, 400 fentanyl pills, more than 2,500 rounds of ammunition and $11,800 in cash.

Detectives first saw fentanyl pills being advertised over social media on June 10, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Detectives arranged to buy drugs from Baca, who used the Facebook profile Menacefrm Thablockk.

In the following days detectives surveilled Baca and Armijo as they worked for a local mobile detailing service around town. Police said on June 14, undercover detectives bought 100 fentanyl pills from Baca and another man, later identified as Armijo, at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Southeast Albuquerque.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Homelessness is routinely cited as one of Albuquerque residents top concerns.

As one city councilor noted earlier this year, everyone seems to want a fix, even if they have entirely different motivations or perspectives.

Theyre constantly saying we need to do something about homelessness; whether its because they have empathy or sympathy for the homeless or the unhoused, or whether its (that) theyre frustrated and fed up with homelessness and the unhoused population trespassing or loitering or camping overnight, Councilor Brook Bassan said at a public meeting in May.

That quest for solutions begets seemingly endless discussion and debate over policy and budget.

Indeed, the city of Albuquerque is spending about $34.1 million this year alone on homeless services, according to the Department of Family and Community Services. That includes shelter operations, meals, transportation, workforce development and even dental care. That doesnt include the roughly $23 million in state and local funding the city has for rental assistance vouchers.

But sometimes lost in those public discussions and debates are the people most affected by them. The Journal recently interviewed a few people who have used city-funded services as they try to exit homelessness.

The journey to stability

Every once in a while, Stephen Providenti dives into the news website comment pool, compelled by what other readers have written about homelessness.

Those who have never experienced it tend to assume it only affects individuals grappling with substance abuse, mental illness, dangerous relationships or who are somehow bad people.

When I explained what happened to me, I actually would get some decent, Oh, youre the example of what can happen, but youre not the norm,' said Providenti, who became homeless during the pandemic. But I dont like that judgment because, though there are some bad apples, I happen to see a lot of (homeless) people that just got hit by circumstances.

Providenti, 52, and his two young nephews, Marcus and Marcelino, now have fairly typical accommodations, sharing a two-bedroom apartment in the Northeast Heights. There are bicycles by the front door, a guinea pig named Buddy in the boys bedroom, Uno cards on the coffee table and a crockpot  perfect for Providentis beef stroganoff  in the kitchen.

Marcus, 11, said his favorite part is living next to so many other kids, while 8-year-old Marcelino  who literally climbs the apartment walls  particularly enjoys the nearby park and is keeping close tabs on the repair status of the complexs nonworking swimming pool.

But it was a long, hard journey to such stability.

The trouble started in late 2020.

The three were sharing a rented house with Providentis sister and her family when the landlord said he planned to sell the property. Providenti suddenly found himself searching for a new place in the middle of a pandemic.

Unable to find a better alternative, Providenti  legally blind and raising the boys on a disability income because their parents are unable to care for them  moved the trio to an extended stay hotel in February 2021. He paid over $500 a week for the room, and was also spending down his food stamps at rapid speed. With only a microwave and small refrigerator, he could not prepare substantial meals that would last for days, relying instead on higher-cost, packaged alternatives.

Youre buying Hot Pockets and burritos and Lunchables; that stuff adds up, and when it started coming to the end of the month, I was using cash to supplement our food, he said.

A few months like that consumed nearly all of Providentis savings, and he still had not found a new rental. The three moved in temporarily with a friend in Rio Rancho, where the two boys had spots inside but where Providenti slept in a backyard tent.

After about two months, a Title I coordinator from the boys school alerted Providenti to a spot in a hotel that the city of Albuquerque began renting early in the pandemic to give homeless families an alternative to the city-owned congregate shelter on the far West Side. They headed that way, living in the hotel for about eight months.

Despite the close quarters, the boys handled the situation like champs, Providenti said.

They were frustrated, of course; they bickered and fought at times, but we did a lot of walking around in the mesa and around the neighborhood (to get out), he said.

The family ultimately qualified for a rental assistance voucher but had difficulty putting it to use. The voucher  funded by the state but administered by Bernalillo County  had to be extended so they had more time to find a spot and ensure Providenti completed the legal process of becoming the boys guardian. They finally secured their current unit in a large Northeast Heights apartment complex in April.

The voucher is good until next spring, at which point Providenti said he hopes he no longer needs it. A former hotel maintenance engineer driven out of the workforce because of an eye condition that damaged his vision, Providenti is trying to generate some new income via blogging.

He said he is hoping to get his nephews into counseling, but that they have weathered the hardships surprisingly well.

Theyre my heroes, for sure, he said.

But he knows what he and the boys experienced is not unique, having seen many other families over the past year and a half enduring similar challenges. Homelessness, he said, carries an unfortunate and unfair stigma.

It hurts me to think that my boys would ever be embarrassed by it, he said.

Accepting help

Patricia always told people she was going to beat the streets, beat her cancer and get home to Texas.

For the first time in years, it all actually feels possible.

The 50-year-old worked with a city-contracted homeless services provider to move into a hotel and is now on track to resume needed medical treatment that she previously struggled to obtain because she lived on the streets. She has a rental assistance voucher available if she wants permanent housing in Albuquerque, though ABQ StreetConnect says it could also aid her in returning to her home state of Texas.

Homeless for the last four years, Patricia said she decided she was finally ready to accept help when it was offered.

Whether it be mental health or physical health, a lot of us just dont know how to talk to people about what we need. Im so used to taking care of myself that pride itself kept me down from being able to talk to get help, the petite and soft-spoken Patricia said in a recent interview. I always want to take care of myself, and you cant always take care of yourself.

Just a few months ago, Patricia was among dozens of people sleeping in tents at Coronado Park north of Downtown. She repeatedly eschewed outside help to remain in the encampment, because she could not fathom leaving her then-boyfriend. She said he was violent, but he also provided some sense of protection and had been her partner for years.

I came here with him, and he has taken care of me in ways, Patricia said.

The pair met in East Texas, having linked up after Patricia lost her husband to cancer. Even there, life was somewhat tumultuous; Patricia had difficulty coping with her husbands death, ultimately quitting her job at Popeyes because she was struggling to make it to work on time or missing shifts altogether.

She said she did have housing  she rented space from a friend  but had been mistaken for homeless on the streets of Longview. She said someone ultimately gave her and her partner tickets from Longview, Texas, to Albuquerque.

Rather than have you homeless in the city, they will give you a bus ticket out of town, she said.

The duo arrived in New Mexico in 2018, fearful and unsure what to do next.

Patricia said shes been homeless ever since, staying a few times at Joy Junction, briefly at the citys West Side shelter and  while recovering from some breast cancer treatment  sleeping temporarily in a hotel.

Mostly, though, she has lived in Coronado Park, where she believed the sense of community ultimately outweighed the horrors. She said she wasnt built for the sometimes savage environment, but learned to adapt for survival.

I wasnt used to it. Im a nice person so people will come up and take advantage of that  but I was safe in danger, if that makes sense at all. Its how you feel out here. You know danger could be lurking around the corner, but youre safe, she said.

But that was not always the case; she said a stranger once forced her into the shadows of a Downtown-area street and raped her.

When the city shut down Coronado Park in August, Patricia finally decided to accept help. She is trying to sever ties with her boyfriend, willing herself to steer clear. She said she even called police on him for the first time after he forced his way into her hotel room.

She is scared, she said, but wanted to tell her story because she said it is many others story, too.

Im not the only one out here going through what Im going through. Im sure theres other women trapped in what they feel is all they have, she said.

Though relieved to now have a sink, a shower and microwave, Patricia said returning to what she calls a normal living has been jarring. Upon moving into the hotel, she used blankets to create a makeshift bed on the floor. Thats where she felt most comfortable sleeping for the first few nights.

It is hard to get used to a (regular) bed after being outside that long, she said.

Ideally, she will return to Texas, where she still has family.

She said she thinks the general public often misunderstands homelessness.

A lot of us are just lost, she said.  A lot of people think that were just trashy people. A lot of us have families that care that we get lost from. The way our lives went, yes, it feels like a dead end. But not only that, were lost.

Contemplating a new future

Sean Eskeli can in conversation effortlessly recite 1970s folk song lyrics and describe in vivid detail where he was 28 years ago when marital conflict sidelined him during the birth of his daughter.

What Eskeli cannot remember is the last time he had a stable living situation.

Now 60, he said he has been homeless since age 19, even if it did not always feel that way.

He spent much of his life moving around the country, stitching together nights on friends couches and working to keep money in his pocket. For a while, that meant building custom furniture in central Nebraska.

It never occurred to me that I didnt have an address or a home. I was just bumbling around the country, building (stuff), and running restaurants, fixing restaurants and doing whatever the hell I wanted to do, Eskeli said while speaking to a Journal reporter inside a local homeless services providers office.

Sipping coffee with his cane propped up on a nearby bookshelf and his hat and glasses on a table in front of him, Eskeli recalls how his situation grew considerably more precarious around 2009 when he said the Great Recession caused furniture orders to dry up. It was not until then  when he sold off his tools, ran out of money, and realized his belongings amounted to a backpack and change of clothes  that reality set in.

Eskeli has come to and left Albuquerque multiple times and, court records show, had multiple run-ins with the law. In this, his fourth stint in Albuquerque, he had been sleeping in a tent in the middle of the large, unsanctioned encampment at Coronado Park. He considered it preferable to shelters, where he felt stifled and judged.

Though he acknowledges a history of alcoholism and drug issues, he resents when people assume that is the sole cause of homelessness.

Get inside the individual. Theyre not just down and out because of drugs and alcohol.  (Stuff) happened. Mom got killed, dad beat the crap out of mom. Right? The factory shut down. My business went sour on me, Eskeli said. Each individual has a reason.

After years of instability and living on high-alert, Eskeli caught what seemed like a break nearly two months ago. As Albuquerque city officials prepared to shutter Coronado Park, outreach workers crisscrossed the park. An ABQ StreetConnect navigator approached Eskeli in his tent.

He knew me by name, knew me by reputation, picked me up and said, Dude, youre about dead, and he was correct, Eskeli recalls. And he said, Its your turn. Lets take care of you.'

ABQ StreetConnect, one of the citys contractors, has rented Eskeli a hotel room and is helping him apply for Social Security benefits. The organization says he is on track for a housing voucher, meaning he could soon move into an apartment.

But it all has felt like a mixed blessing. Eskeli said he feels a sense of responsibility to the rest of the Coronado Park residents, having served as what he called the sites godfather and Obi-Wan Kenobi  describing himself as a community leader who acted as a middleman between park residents and the outreach workers, police and other first responders who often visited the site.

He struggled settling into the hotel room at first. He wakes up anxious every morning, running through a checklist of worries, including how long the room is paid for and whether he can afford food. He gets food stamps and, he said, a small pension from a past job.

Asked to contemplate his life once he gets an apartment, Eskeli said he would either be watching TV  tuning into something brilliant not stupid  or listening to music. He wants to write a book and get back into cooking.

I think if you came by, youd find me cooking.  Because even when I was (working construction), when I went home, I cooked and it took me away from the whole world, he said. And its a passion, a glory and a wonder.
Rome wasnt built in a day, and the same can be said about the ongoing efforts to improve the public education system in New Mexico.

But according to a prominent think tank based out of Santa Fe, getting the state on the right path can be broken down into a 10-point plan released last weekend.

Without a road map, its easy to get lost. And frankly, thats where we are, Think New Mexico Executive Director Fred Nathan said. So our approach with this report was to create a road map with concrete strategies.

Among the 30 legislative proposals contained in the over-50-page plan are recommendations to break up large school districts and keep class sizes small, improve teacher preparation and training, and require that students go to school for more hours every year.

They figure on several funding sources to back their proposals. Those include over $130 million in funds for extended learning time programs expected to go unspent this fiscal year and over $84 million that would come from a constitutional amendment that New Mexicans will vote on in November.

The plan, Nathan said, is something the think tank expects will take several years to get done.

Many of the proposals have been discussed recently by state lawmakers, or have been the topic of debates for years.

One of those recommendations is that New Mexico should require students to spend more time in classrooms, a strategy that state officials have also touted as a way to improve the outcomes of students.

Lawmakers should increase the minimum instructional time for all students to 1,170 total hours, the think tank said in its report, which would amount to elementary, middle and high school students all having the same 6 hours of school per day.

Currently, first through sixth graders are required to go to school for 5 hours per day, and seventh through 12th graders go for six.

Legislative committee leaders have also suggested increasing the base instructional time of schools to lawmakers.

Those recommendations have been met with a range of responses  some skeptical, but some seemingly frustrated that extended learning time has not just been pushed through.

Weve heard time and time again in this committee how extended learning time is scientifically proven to help catch up kids with education, Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview, said at a recent Legislative Finance Committee meeting. But the Legislature is unwilling to mandate that, PED evidently is unwilling to mandate that  sometimes I wonder why we talk about things if were not willing to take action.

That said, school districts across the state have had difficulty garnering the buy-in they need from their communities to implement more learning time, and fewer and fewer students have participated in those programs since 2021.

A proposal to have Albuquerque Public Schools students districtwide spend more time in class, for example, was turned down by the districts board, which opted instead to continue the districts policy of allowing schools to opt into the programs.

For this year, 29 of 88 elementary schools did so, and no middle or high schools did.

Starting teachers in New Mexico are being paid more and they should also be better prepared, the think tank argues.

Starting teachers who saw their base salaries grow to $50,000 this year, for example, should all be able to go through residency programs before they ever get in front of students. Those programs pair student teachers with experienced ones for a year so they can get in-classroom experience while also receiving compensation.

In years past, residency programs saw about $2 million from grants. This year, their funding grew to $15.5 million, though analysts note that those dollars as of right now are non-recurring.

But even after the preparation they get before they start their careers, teachers should continue receiving at least 10 days of quality professional development to hone their skills in the classroom, Think New Mexico said.

We want to see evidence-based professional development and an actual minimum requirement for participating in it, Think New Mexico Associate Director Kristina Fisher said.

Professional development is not mandated by the state, Public Education Department spokeswoman Carly Bowling said in a written statement, aside from professional development for staff in extended learning time programs and literacy training for elementary teachers. Other than that, professional development requirements are decided at a local level, she added.

Under extended learning time programs, teachers must participate in at least 80 hours of professional development per year. A bit under 11,000 of the states certified instructional staff reported doing that professional development last school year.

Smaller class sizes  and, at that, smaller districts  should also be implemented, the think tank argued, because both have the potential to benefit students.

Unfortunately, I think we got off track during the Industrial Revolution, where it became all about economies of scale, and the factory model, and bigger is always better,' Nathan said. But when it comes to schools, it turns out that kids have emotions and feelings, and they dont want to feel like theyre on a conveyor belt.

Specifically, lawmakers should consider breaking up APS into several smaller districts, Think New Mexico said.

Similar proposals have been brought up at least twice in the last two decades, including in 2017, when a bill that would have limited school district sizes to 40,000 students failed.

The problem with that idea, said Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, is that Albuquerque is very geographically divided and thus difficult to fairly break up APS.

The problem is, how do you divide the district so that you have an equitable distribution of students? So you havent put all the high poverty, minority students in one district, and the more wealthy students, with all of their benefits, into one district? That is the problem, she said.

And class sizes should also be kept as small as possible, Think New Mexico said.

Currently, kindergarten classes cant have more than 20 students. For first through third grade classes, teachers cant have more than an average of 22 students, then 24 students for fourth through sixth grade classes, 27 for seventh through eighth grade classes and 30 for high school classes.

Think New Mexico argues that those limits can be bypassed through class size waivers. Over the most recent full semester, the PED issued 71 such waivers  all to Las Cruces Public Schools, Bowling said.

Stewart argued that New Mexico already tries to accomplish the small learning environment similar to whats called for in the Think New Mexico report, including in APS. That especially happens in community schools, she said, which strive to build up school communities in areas particularly impacted by poverty.

We try very hard to have the school feel like and act like a community, she said.
KYIV, Ukraine  Pro-Kremlin officials on Sunday blamed Ukraine for a rocket attack that struck the mayors office in Donetsk, a city controlled by the separatists, while Ukrainian officials said Russian rocket strikes hit a town across from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, among other targets.

The attacks came as Russias war in Ukraine nears the eight-month mark. Kyiv also reported holding the line in continued fierce fighting around Bakhmut, where Russian forces have claimed some gains amid a seven-week Ukrainian counteroffensive that has led Russian troops to retreat in some other areas.

On the front line, the key hotspots in Donbas are (neighboring towns) Soledar and Bakhmut, where extremely heavy fighting continues, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address Sunday.

Those towns and Donetsk are in the industrialized Donbas region, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Kyiv since 2014. The Donetsk region is among four that were illegally annexed by Russia last month.

Zelenskyy accused Russia of including convicts with long sentences for serious crimes in its front-line troops in return for pay and amnesty  something Western intelligence officials have also asserted.

The municipal mayors building in Donetsk was seriously damaged by the rocket attack. Plumes of smoke swirled around the building, which had rows of blown-out windows and a partially collapsed ceiling. Cars nearby were burned out. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Kyiv didnt claim responsibility or comment on the attack.

Kremlin-backed separatist authorities have accused Ukraine of numerous strikes on infrastructure and residential targets in the occupied regions using U.S.-supplied long-range HIMARS rockets.

Last week, the Kremlin launched what is believed to be its largest coordinated air and missile raids yet on Ukraines infrastructure. The wide-ranging attacks included the use of self-destructing explosive drones from Iran, and killed dozens of people.

Zelenskyys office said Moscow was shelling towns and villages along the front line in the east Sunday, and that active hostilities continued in the southern Kherson region.

The rockets at Nikopol, across from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, damaged power lines, gas pipelines, and a raft of civilian businesses and residential buildings, Ukrainian officials said. Russia and Ukraine have for months accused each other of firing at and around the nuclear plant, which is Europes largest. Its run by its pre-occupation Ukrainian staff under Russian oversight.

The region of Zaporizhzhia also was illegally annexed by Russia last month, despite the fact that some 20% of it remains under Ukrainian military control.

Meanwhile, in western Russia along the border with Ukraine, officials said air defenses shot down a minimum of 16 Ukrainian missiles in the Belgorod region, Ria Novosti reported. Russian authorities in border regions have accused Kyiv of frequently firing at their territory, and say civilians have been wounded. Ukraine hasnt claimed responsibility or commented on the alleged attacks.

Russia has used Belgorod as a staging ground for shelling and missile attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Meanwhile, Russia opened an investigation into a shooting in that region Saturday in which two men from a former Soviet republic who were training at a military firing range killed 11 and wounded 15 during target practice, before being slain themselves. The Russian Defense Ministry called the incident a terrorist attack.

Other developments:

 France, seeking to puncture perceptions that it has lagged in supporting Ukraine, confirmed its pledging air-defense missiles and stepped-up military training to Ukraine. Up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers will be embedded with military units in France, rotating through for several weeks of combat training, specialized training in logistics and other needs, and training on equipment supplied by France, the French defense minister, Sebastien Lecornu, said in an interview published in Le Parisien.

 The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank in Washington, accused Moscow late Saturday of conducting massive, forced deportations of Ukrainians, which it said likely amount to ethnic cleansing.

It referenced statements made this week by Russian authorities that claimed that several thousand children from a southern region occupied by Moscow had been placed in rest homes and childrens camps amid the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The original remarks by Russias deputy prime minister, Marat Khusnullin, were reported by RIA Novosti on Friday.

Russian authorities have previously admitted to placing children from Russian-held areas of Ukraine, who they said were orphans, for adoption with Russian families, in a potential breach of an international treaty on genocide prevention.

 The Ukrainian military accused pro-Kremlin fighters of evicting civilians in occupied territories to house officers in their homes, an act it described as a violation of international humanitarian law. It said the evictions were happening in Rubizhne, in the eastern Luhansk region. It didnt provide evidence for its claim.

 A Russian commander wanted for his role in the downing of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine in 2014 has been deployed to the front, according to social media posts by pro-Kremlin commentators. Posts by Maksim Fomin and others said Igor Girkin, also known as Strelkov, has been given responsibility for an unspecified Russian front-line unit.

Girkin has been on an international wanted list over his alleged involvement in the downing of Kuala Lumpur-bound flight MH17, which killed 298 people. He remains the most high-profile suspect in a related murder trial in a Dutch court, with a verdict expected Nov. 17.

Recently, Girkins social media posts have lashed out at Moscows battlefield failures. Ukraines defense intelligence agency said Sunday it would offer a $100,000 reward to anyone who captures him.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Urban air pollution contributes to health risks, especially in low-income neighborhoods. In response, some churches in St. Louis are installing air quality sensors on their property. The churches, working with groups like AirWatch St. Louis and St. Louiss Washington University, are sharing data in an effort to produce a better-informed advocacy and ultimately motivate legislative change.

Why is air pollution often worse in poorer neighborhoods? There are various reasons.

It is tempting to attribute the problem to moral failures like dehumanization and discrimination. But ordinary economic incentives also play a role, and we ignore them at our peril.

Non-discriminatory Reasons for Poor-area Pollution Problems

To keep their costs low, businesses naturally look to locate their factories, which cover large plots of land, in areas where land is cheap. Once they have done so, the adverse side effects of industrial sites -- like unsightly buildings and equipment, noise, rail and truck traffic, odors, and the risk of hazardous emissions -- tend to keep the property values low in the immediate area.

Housing in the vicinity consequently tends to be less expensive, attracting lower-income residents and contributing to a clustering effect: pollution-prone industries and low-cost housing in a mutually reinforcing, if uneasy, proximity.

The geography of employment is relevant here, too. If the industry needs large numbers of lower-skilled workers, those employees understandably will want to live near their places of employment, leading to the mill town phenomenon that developed in the early years of the Industrial Revolution.

Not surprisingly, pollution-related health problems are likely to be more common in such neighborhoods, and not only because of emissions from nearby factories. Housing in low-income areas is less likely to have been refurbished to remove lead paint or asbestos, and it may be nearer busy highways or other sources of vehicle emissions.

You might naturally think, Well, then why not improve the housing -- remove the lead paint and asbestos, install doors and windows that better block out traffic noise, and improve indoor air quality? That of course can be done, but the costs will be passed on to the residents -- making the housing too expensive for those most in need of affordable housing. Then, rising property values may cause industries to relocate, leaving the locals unemployed, or vacant housing may lead owners to allow housing to deteriorate, or both, exacerbating the original problems and adding new ones.

The Importance of Institutions

The disparities in environmental quality that have led to calls for environmental justice from these churches are really a consequence of differences in income. Reducing poverty and near-poverty is a multifaceted problem, but changes in institutions are typically central to lasting improvement.

In this context, institutions are the social norms, rules, and systems that structure our behaviors, and the organizations that help formalize and channel human interactions. Among the most important of these institutions is property. Recognizing and protecting the property rights of those in low-income communities will yield benefits not only in health, but also in other dimensions of life.

But the consequences of the legislative changes the St. Louis congregations are pursuing could be disappointing.

A 2021 ProPublica article on industrial air pollution in majority-black communities described the frustration in a West Virginia community as EPA and state regulatory authorities repeatedly failed to respond adequately. Regulations with promising-sounding names, like the Community Right to Know Act, were unsatisfactory and often influenced -- in their content or enforcement -- by various interest groups.

T hough ProPublica did not mention it, a serious knowledge problem also afflicts regulatory agencies: How do these agencies know the appropriate limit on any pollutant? The limit they choose could be too high or too low, as some of the most important information needed to set the limit is out of reach of the regulator.

How can a regulator know the costs of a factorys emissions, when the various physical effects on each individual and the personal impact of discomfort and injury are impossible to weigh meaningfully against the value to society of having the goods and services a firm produces? An individuals consent to accept a health risk can provide useful information, but the regulator doesnt obtain consent from everyone who runs the risk of exposure.

And in any case, a regulation that designates an acceptable quantity of emissions fails to guarantee protection of property rights -- either the rights of a firm to use the air in ways that do not harm those downwind, or the rights of downwinders to enjoy undiminished air quality.

A Non-regulatory Option

Rather than pursue the same agency-based, regulatory strategies for preventing and resolving environmental harms, community organizations like the one in St. Louis could begin advocating for meaningful court-based solutions. Instead of relying on regulatory agencies to set pollution thresholds and then enforce them, a revitalized common-law approach using nuisance and tort rules could better protect individuals and their communities.

As Roger Meiners and Bruce Yandle have argued, the common law provides harsh penalties against firms that disregard the rights of citizens by exposing them to harms. Indeed, when real harm is inflicted, citizens get far better relief through common-law suits than they do from appeals to the Environmental Protection Agency.

By recognizing individuals rights not to have their air quality damaged without their consent, we are acknowledging another dimension of their property, and empowering them to pursue relief without waiting on a distant, poorly informed, and cumbersome bureaucracy. And when firms see courts vigorously protecting these property rights on behalf of injured plaintiffs, we can expect the prospect of expensive court awards or injunctions to induce them to improve factory safety and emissions control.

The concerns of low-income communities should not be dismissed or sidelined. Taking air quality away from another person without consent is a form of theft -- a violation of a persons property rights -- and churches are right to address this moral failing.

But justice deserves better than a regulatory bureaucracy. Churches wishing to support low-income communities need to begin thinking outside the regulatory box and call on the courts as an avenue toward justice.

Timothy Terrell is T. B. Stackhouse Professor of Economics at Wofford College and a Contributing Writer for the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation.

Image: Rawpixel.com
The New York Post reports, "Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors called on would-be activists to 'step up boldly and courageously to end the imperialist project thats called Israel'" BLM apologists cannot argue that she is not representing the organization because (1) she is wearing a BLM shirt in the video and (2) the video identifies her as a BLM co-founder. This can therefore be construed, in the absence of formal repudiation by the organization, as BLM's official position.

To this Temple University Professor Marc Lamont Hill added, " They dont want to just nation-build, but they want to world-make, and so Black Lives Matter, very explicitly is talking about the dismantling of the Zionist project, dismantling of the settler-colonialist project, and very explicitly embracing BDS on those grounds."

Denial of Israel's right to exist, and support for BDS, both of which BLM has done at its highest levels, is anti-Semitic and the Republican National Committee needs to jump on this the way any self-respecting dog goes after a particularly appetizing treat.

BLM's Cullors Endorsed a Convicted PFLP Terrorist and a Convicted Cop Killer

Here is Patrisse Cullors's Facebook page (available as of October 14 2022) where she says, emphasis is mine,

"will have the first Los Angeles report back from our #DDPalestine trip! Come out and sit with us while we talk about our trip, BDS, and the fight to keep Rasmea Odeh from being deported! #FreePalestine."

Patrisse Cullors

Photo credit: The Laura Flanders Show CC BY 3.0 license

DD apparently stands for Dream Defenders, about which the Anti-Defamation League has to say plenty, and none of it is good.

"Dream Defenders previously promoted the [Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine] in its 2014 'Blacked Out History' campaign, which presented the PFLP alongside other 'revolutionary organizations from around the world.'"

Who is Rasmea Odeh? U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reports,

"Odeh had been convicted overseas for her participation in two 1969 terrorist bombings in Israel, and for having been a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States. Specifically, she was convicted of placing two bombs at a supermarket that killed two individuals and of planting a bomb at the British Consulate in Jerusalem."

The Volokh Conspiracy adds, "Two botany students were killed Dozens were injured, including an Auschwitz survivor and a U.N. attache." With regard to the Auschwitz survivor, Odeh apparently felt that Hitler didn't finish the job and she would just have to stand in for him.

This, folks, is what we find crawling around under the rock labeled "Black Lives Matter." It's no different than a racist or anti-Semite standing behind, for example, church shooter Dylann Roof, vehicular assailant James Field, (alleged until proven guilty) Payton Gendron who is charged with shooting up a Black supermarket in Buffalo, (alleged until proven guilty) Tree of Life synagogue shooter Robert Bowers, or Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. Rasmea Odeh is just another terrorist bomber like McVeigh, who got a well-deserved lethal injection, and the Unabomber who is doing life without paroleand BLM as represented by Patrisse Cullors objected to her deportation.

The Canary Mission adds, "As of June 2020, Cullors had expressed support for domestic terrorist Assata Shakur [Joanne Chesimard] at least 14 times on social media. Shakur, when she was a member of the Black Liberation Army (BLA), was convicted of killing a New Jersey State trooper and wounding another in 1973." Nor is Cullors alone in promoting this convicted cop killer; this BLM mural from Palo Alto includes Shakur's image.

Here is Cullors again, on Facebook. "Today, May 2nd is the anniversary of Assata Shakur's capture and the murder of Zayd Shakur." Zayd Shakur was killed in the shootout he and his accomplices initiated, and that took the life of the New Jersey State Trooper. BLM's position appears to be that it's open season on what BLM calls "pigs," and with no bag limit as shown by BLM's similar depiction of the shooting of would-be cop killer Hakim Littleton as murder. If you watch the video of the demonstration, by the way, you can hear (starting at minus 24:00) a loudmouthed demonstrator calling a Black police officer the N word.

Republicans, Pay Attention

There is compelling proof, from BLM's own web pages along with social media posts and interviews by Patrisse Cullors that the organization tried to influence the 2020 election while soliciting 501(c)(3) tax exempt donations. The Democratic Party associated itself with BLM despite BLM's tax exempt status and linked to the movement on the DNC web site. The DNC however took down its Web page "Black Lives Matter Organizing Resources" some time this summer, perhaps because the Donkey realizes this ship is going down quickly and he doesn't want to be on board when it goes under. This vanished DNC page, incidentally, linked to this Black Lives Matter CARRD page which connected in turn to "Help Palestine People by Signing Petitions and Donating" which includes a link to the BDS movement. This put the BDS movement a mere three clicks away, via BLM, from the DNC's official web site.

The RNC still has a couple of weeks to use this issue, while centrist Democrats need to distance themselves from BLM as rapidly as possible. Corporations that have supported BLM also need to pull their support now that its unsavory nature is becoming public knowledge. So do Hardin-Simmons University and Cornell University's Law School, both of which seem to have backed the wrong horse big time.

Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history, and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. He or she is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter.
Konnech is an election software company which provides Poll Chief software for election worker management. It is used in a number of counties, including DeKalb in Georgia, Washoe County, Nevada; Fairfax County, Virginia; Detroit, Michigan; Los Angeles County, California; Prince William County, Virginia; Johnson County, Kansas; and Allen County, Indiana.

True the Vote, which seeks to ensure election integrity, investigated the company and was sued by it, alleging unauthorized access and distribution of material gotten through such access. It claimed in its complaint that All of Konnechs U.S. customer data is secured and stored exclusively on protected computers located within the United States. Upon its allegations it received an immediate temporary restraining order.

Based on this litigation the New York Times reported:

From the N.Y. Times Monday: At an invitation-only conference in August at a secret location southeast of Phoenix, a group of election deniers unspooled a new conspiracy theory about the 2020 presidential outcome. Using threadbare evidence, or none at all, the group suggested that a small American election software company, Konnech, had secret ties to the Chinese Communist Party and had given the Chinese government backdoor access to personal data about two million poll workers in the United States, according to online accounts from several people at the conference. In the ensuing weeks, the conspiracy theory grew as it shot around the internet. To believers, the claims showed how China had gained near complete control of America's elections. Some shared LinkedIn pages for Konnech employees who have Chinese backgrounds and sent threatening emails to the company and its chief executive, who was born in China. Unlike other election technology companies targeted by election deniers, Konnech, a company based in Michigan with 21 employees in the United States and six in Australia, has nothing to do with collecting, counting or reporting ballots in American elections. Instead, it helps clients like Los Angeles County and Allen County, Ind., with basic election logistics, such as scheduling poll workers. Konnech said none of the accusations were true. It said that all the data for its American customers were stored on servers in the United States and that it had no ties to the Chinese government.

Unfortunately, the companys assertion was called into question the next day when the Los Angeles district attorney charged Eugene Yu, the CEO of Konnech, with stealing the personal identifying information of poll workers and storing them on servers in the Peoples Republic of China.

But the story doesnt end there. If you wonder why the information on poll workers might be of interest to the Chinese government, the answer seems to have been answered in the warrant for Yus arrest.

On or about August18,2022, Luis Nabergoi, project manager for Konnech's contract with the County of Los Angeles, confirmed via the messaging app DingTalk that any employee for Chinese contractors working on Poll Chief software had super administration privileges for all Poll Chief clients. Mr. Nabergoi described the situation as ahuge security issue.

My understanding is that a super administrator has complete access to all objects, folders, role templates, and groups in the system.

RedState, which considers the Chinese contractors intelligence agents, explains why this is so serious:

Its more than just a huge security issue. Even if nothing nefarious has been done with that access, a possibility which requires the suspension of disbelief, this revelation validates every concern that has been expressed in the security of our elections since, well, long before 2020. But we know it was happening through August, 2022, at a minimum. And while the City of Minneapolis initially defended its contract with Konnech, saying there was no information that the personal identifying information of their poll workers was compromised, officials might want to revisit that statement in light of the above. In addition, one function PollChief software provides is management of election workers and voting

locations (including Vote Centers, drop boxes and check-in centers), meaning that election officials can use the software to assign employees to retrieve ballots from drop boxes and deliver them to the elections office, and uses GPS and location data from the app on the employees phone to determine which employee is located closest to the drop box and continues to track their location for chain-of-custody purposes. However, as some have pointed out, its certainly possible that this app could be repurposed for ballot harvesting and delivery purposes.

After the arrest, the New York Times reported that, contrary to the sworn allegations in its earlier complaint against True the Vote, the firm knew the data had been sent to China. The paper also admitted that the Los Angeles district attorneys investigation had been initiated upon a tip from Greg Phillips after a conference hosted by Catherine Engelbrecht, the founder of True the Vote.

Indeed, the entire NYT original frame of True the Vote as a pack of conspiracy theorists seems to have been a fact-free narrative, doesnt it? Theres a great deal more to the Yu story yet to make the press. KanekoaTheGreat has been studying this for years:

While doing that research, another independent journalist discovered an archived version of Eugene Yus Chinese companys website, "yu-lian.cn, where Yu praised the vision of the former Chinese President, who he called Comrade Jiang Zemin. On that same website, Yu boasted about his success with Election Management Solutions Detroit and U.S. Overseas Voters, as he wrote in Chinese: In line with the principle of "political tasks first and economic benefits of enterprises second," our company has perfected and formed the whole set of election management theory and software tools in line with China's national conditions. We hope to ride on the spring breeze of political reform and provide you with election consulting services and election campaign management in line with China's national conditions based on our democratic election campaigns with Chinese characteristics.

Yu registered a number of Chinese websites to his Konnech email address. Jinghua notes a predecessor company -- Konnech -- established in 2005, served more than 20 government customers in North America, including Washington, D.C."

It seems the FBI knew about this and did nothing. Kanekoa reports that True the Vote brought this to the attention of the FBIs Washington, D.C. office but that office covered up this national security issue rather than investigating why Chinese nationals are programming U.S. election software.

If True the Vote's claim is true, its another black mark against an agency which already had garnered more than enough of them to warrant its dissolution.
What is the meaning of life? What is our purpose? Why are we here? Daunting questions whose answers have been sought since mankind's birth. Although we mortals will continue to debate the nature of our existence for as long as we exist, I know this: we are not here to scream at each other for not wearing three layers of masks or to force each other to submit to experimental medical injections just because some very powerful people say we must.

We are not here to lock people up in jail because they have the temerity to worship God together. We are not here to board up small businesses because family owners desperate to remain financially afloat choose to operate in defiance of politicians exercising unjust, arbitrary, and completely capricious powers that they do not legally possess. We are not here to shun those who refuse forced injections of foreign substances, to lock our doors when they are near, to disinvite them from family gatherings, or to vilify them as "unclean" and "unworthy" of life. We are not here to silence those who have different opinions by censoring their words and prejudiciously labeling their arguments as "misinformation." This is not the purpose of our existence.

Yet it is entirely too clear that for a large number of Westerners, this kind of COVID authoritarianism has been tantalizingly appealing. After governments declared a public health crisis nearly three years ago, far too many people were willing to turn life upside-down. Schools closed their doors to students. Churches closed their doors to the faithful. Shoppers fought for toilet paper and cans of soup. Politicians and bureaucrats suspended constitutional rights in the name of "emergency." Without actually witnessing people dropping dead in the street or suffering through any medical symptoms, Westerners turned on each other quickly, and the worst impulses in humanity came springing to life.

Chaos during perceived crisis is nothing new. When humans are confronted with danger, only ten to twenty percent are capable of remaining calm and behaving rationally. The rest have a tendency either to be somewhat paralyzed with fear or to react in such a way as to become a danger to themselves and others. Politicians, whose entire profession is predicated on the cynical manipulation of human populations, know all too well how to rile people up and exploit their natural weaknesses for maximum advantage.

What was different with COVID, however, was how quickly it transformed mundane human behaviors. Out of nowhere, someone suggested that individuals remain six feet apart, and without any scientific rationale to back the premise, the new "rule" took over society. Separation marks were painted on store floors; municipal administrators policed outside lines with yardsticks; people became hysterical if they perceived the slightest penetration of their six-foot radial space.

The same thing happened with personal masking. First, health professionals declared ordinary cloth masks useless; then general masking was recommended; then citizens were encouraged to double- and triple-mask with no end in sight. It did not matter that no medical studies existed to demonstrate any benefits from universal masking. It did not matter that most people were reusing dirty, pathogenic-infested masks for months on end. It did not matter that mask use should have been a personal bodily choice, just as it has always been a personal choice of the mask-obsessed to venture forth into society. All of a sudden, multiple-masked individuals went flipping nuts if they encountered another human not respecting the severity of the arbitrary masking rules  even if that person was jogging far from other humans or sitting in a vehicle completely alone.

Of course, the enduring mantra during this unnatural social experiment has been that we must follow the science wherever it takes us, even if that "science" takes us in completely contradictory directions from one week to the next. New COVID rules were promulgated with great frequency, and those most committed to "saving" the world from its destruction dedicated themselves to these rules like one does with a solemn personal calling. The loudest rule-enforcers among us embraced COVID authoritarianism with an intense, quasi-religious zealotry.

If anyone needed a wakeup call as to how morally confused and spiritually lost Westerners have become, three years of COVID-1984 insanity have encapsulated our problems clearly. For decades, a post-modern, anti-Christian, anti-Western malignant cancer has spread throughout society, eating away at life and joy and fomenting putrid, destructive obsessions with meaningless "multiculturalism," self-hating anti-nationalism, synthetic globalism, and a Big Government devotion ideologically akin to communism's pathological ethos. Citizens have been forced to abandon their culture, way of life, religious identity, and family allegiances while enduring government conditioning meant to deprive them of their individuality and program them to submit to the "greater good"  regardless of what politicians define that "good" to be.

This era of institutionalized Marxist-socialism has left Westerners a shell of their former selves  spiritually and morally weakened, personally confused, despondently searching for meaning, and desperately seeking salvation in all the wrong places. For so many lost and troubled souls in the West, COVID-1984 has provided a missing purpose to otherwise hollow lives, and unscrupulous politicians have been only too happy to welcome old communist congregants and newly converted disciples to Big Government's irreligious cause. COVID mania has reflected a stark truth that Westerners today crave some sort of tangible meaning in their lives during a period of history in which political leaders have constructed an increasingly meaningless world.

Still, these COVID trials have revealed something else. During perhaps the most intense, unethical, and cruelly psychological pressure campaign ever inflicted by rights-denying governments (and their herd-mentality, just-following-orders, COVID-compliant, inane ruleenforcing, thuggish citizen majorities), a stubborn minority refused to obey. There were those who questioned the "science" and said, "This doesn't make sense." There were those who looked at the easily discoverable small lethality rates and asked, "Why are we closing everything down for this?" There were those who watched government health bureaucrats and medical doctors rush through the global rollout of experimental treatments largely devoid of supporting scientific data, respect for safety protocols, routine study of control groups, or basic ethical considerations and said, "You will not inject me with something against my will, especially when you have given the pharmaceutical companies pushing the injections complete legal immunity in their pursuit of profits." Even in the face of abusive government mandates, social stigmatization, and gross disrespect for human rights, a firm few said, "No!"

French general Christian Blanchon published a letter last month praising those courageous enough to resist the global COVID pressure campaign as "superheroes" who "embody the best of humanity." "They did what others could not do; they were the tree that withstood the hurricane of insults, discrimination, and social exclusion." Commending them as true warriors, the general concludes that "these are the soldiers that any army of light wishes to have in its ranks."

The general is correct. It is also true that those who have demonstrated courage will inspire others to act courageously in the future. More people today see clearly the Machiavellian manipulations of Western governments these last few years, and more people who ran with the herd in 2020 will now push back against its movements in the future. More people understand that COVID compliance does not lead to spiritual salvation. More people comprehend that governments do evil things and that following political orders serves no higher calling.

Pursuing virtue and truth does provide meaning, and both are often found on the same path to an Almighty God. As for the mortal world, we are not here to blindly or meekly comply. We do find great purpose, though, when we choose to fight for what's right.

Image: qimono via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Olivia Murrays excellent blog on the latest buzzword in the lefts propaganda quiver, stochastic terrorism, had me scrambling to find an academic publication on the web that explained this term. After a few attempts, up came an article titled Stochastic Terrorism by Molly Amman and J. Reid Meloy, published in the October 2021 issue of Perspectives on Terrorism, available in PDF form here.

The end of the article contained impressive info on the authors:

Molly Amman, JD, is an attorney and retired FBI profiler specializing in behavioral threat assessment and management. She is engaged in private practice and currently serves as the national certification chair for the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. Ms. Amman most recently coauthored chapters on law and on public figure attacks in the International Handbook of Threat Assessment, 2nd edition (Oxford: OUP, 2021). J. Reid Meloy, PhD, is a board-certified forensic psychologist and clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. He is also a faculty member of the San Diego Psychoanalytic Center. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and has been a consultant to the FBI for the past two decades. His most recent coedited book is the International Handbook of Threat Assessment, 2nd edition (Oxford: OUP, 2021). Dr Meloy derives income from the marketing and sales of the TRAP-18 through license to Multihealth Systems, Inc.

As is usual in academic journals, the article began with an abstract.

Stochastic terrorism has been bandied about in recent public discourse. However, it has received little scholarly attention, particularly in understanding its mechanics and the deeper psychological context in which it might flourish. The history and phenomenology of the term are elaborated upon, and its psychological meaning is explored through the application of linguistic pragmatics, the psychoanalysis of large group regressionwhat we term poliregressionand terrorism risk assessment. The January 6 Capitol siege and other historical events are used as illustrations.

I was all set to have a look at how the authors explain stochastic terrorism, psychological context, history and phenomenology, linguistic pragmatics and poliregression until, way at the end of the final sentence, I ran into the phrase January 6 Capitol siege.

Say what? When I get stuck on page one of an article, I usually assume the rest of it is of questionable value, no matter its credentials, and just stop reading. I decided instead to look up historical examples of sieges in Wikipedia to see if what happened on Jan. 6, 2021 compares by any stretch of the imagination with historical sieges.

First, however, I looked up siege in the dictionary:

Siege: A military blockade of a city or fortified place to compel it to surrender.

Evidently the authors, who are highly educated people, didnt bother to check the dictionary before referring to the January 6 incident as a siege. There was no military blockade on that day; demonstrators were not armed; they did not storm the ramparts, they were let in by the police, who were armed and killed one of the demonstrators, Ashli Babbitt. The demonstrators had no interest in compelling members of Congress to surrender. Do what to them after they surrendered? Confiscate their parking passes?

On the other hand, it could be that Amman & Meloy simply didnt think they were obliged to follow the ordinary meaning of a term as defined in the dictionary. There are people who think language is fluid and can be used as one sees fit. Humpty Dumpty told us that when I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean  neither more nor less. There are also people who think our Constitution is a living document, in which can be found rights the Framers never even imagined.

To get a sense how utterly absurd it was to refer to J6 as a siege, all we have to do is go through the incredibly long wiki list of historical sieges. The oldest one mentioned is the Siege of Aratta in Sumeria (2,600 BC) and the most recent one is the Siege of Mariupol in Ukraine (2022). All were horrific events that often killed more civilians than soldiers. The 872-day Siege of Leningrad during WWII is considered the most gruesome in history. The German commander Wilhelm von Leeb got off easy.

Amman & Meloy use the phrase Capitol siege three more times in the article. The term siege, however, is not applied to any other event. For example, we are not told that what happened in Waco, Texas during February 28 and April 19, 1993 was a siege. Rather, the text informs that David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidians, established himself as such a divine entity, ultimately resulting in the deaths of 75 men, women, and children. Wiki makes it clear that federal authorities laid siege to a compound in Waco. The 11-day Ruby Ridge siege in 1992 is not mentioned in the Amman & Meloy article at all. Mentioning real sieges would have spoiled the narrative that J6 was a siege.

Come on, Arnold, youre barking up the wrong tree. Obviously, the authors werent using the term siege literally in reference to J6. They meant that J6 was an assault on democracy in a metaphorical sense rather than the sense defined in the dictionary. This is simply false. The four occurrences of the phrase Capitol siege are none of them metaphorical and no connection whatever is made in the article between J6 and democracy.

Finally, Ashli Babbitt did not get a mention. Had the article done so, its authors would have had to explain the circumstances of her death, including the fact that Babbitt was unarmed and did nothing to threaten the officer who killed her. Those were inconvenient facts that would also have spoiled the narrative of the article. Scholarship these days aint what it used to be.

A frequent contributor, Arnold Cusmariu is the author of Logic for Kids, forthcoming from Jenny Stanford Publishing.

Image: Mustafa-trit20, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0
As a nation, we recently celebrated Columbus Day, excuse me, Indigenous Peoples Day; after all, who could ever palate memorializing a menace like Christopher Columbus into civic recognition?

I mean, colonizers are the lowest of the low, the true scourge of humanity, right? Isnt that what were taught? After all, viewing geopolitical affairs from over 500 years ago through the modern lens is completely unbiased and objective. How dare an explorer set sail, land on foreign shores, and spread Judeo-Christian culture from Europe to the Americas. Multiculturalism  an ideology spawned by intellectually-bankrupt academics  would say that no culture is better or worse than another; ergo, Columbus culture, one based on the value of the individual and inherent human rights, was no better than the Indigenous Peoples culture, which saw the ritual sacrifice of children at temple consecrations.

Colonialism is an evil for the ages.

Enter stage left, the Democrats.

If you recall, Obama was plagued by bad press which highlighted his murderous foreign policy, aptly named abortion imperialism.

In 2010,The American Spectator published an expose by Daniel Allott:

The Obama administration has made abortion promotion a centerpiece of its diplomatic agenda. Testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in April 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced, We are now an administration that will protect the rights of women, including their rights to reproductive health care. The centerpiece of the Obama foreign policy, she continued, would be the Global Health Initiative, which commits the U.S. to spending $63 billion over six years on, among other things, abortion. Obamas abortion imperialism may have its greatest impact in Kenya, where the administration has spent millions to promote ratification of a national constitution that would radically liberalize the countrys abortion laws. Abortion is illegal in Kenya except to save the life of the mother. This reflects the views of most Kenyans [particularly women], who are religious and socially conservative.

According to Allott, the language in the legal document had the fingerprints of western abortion rights groups all over it despite the fact the people of Kenya did not support such an agenda. A massive lobbying group known as the Center for Reproductive Rights even appealed to Clinton to send a message to Kenya expressing support for the Draft Constitution and opposing any amendments to eliminate abortion language

Turns out, Obamas legacy lives on in his creepy comrades. Two days ago, Daniel Horowitz reported that the U.S. government and Western oligarchs are seeking to keep Africa in the dark and are using climate imperialism to do so. Per Horowitz:

[T]he Biden administration is trying to impose the next emergency fiat on African countries by preventing them from developing their lands and using their energy resources to power their people.

What does Biden and his troupe of clowns have to do with African lands, African energy resources, and African people? If self-interested elites attempting to turn foreign people into footstools doesnt fit the definition of colonialism in action, then I dont know what does.

So heres what happened: This summer, the Democratic Republic of Congo put land up for auction, land which could be used to procure natural resources. Then, Biden sent in Mr. Jetset Climate Czar himself, who implored Congos prime minister to back down on the auction of some of those lands  because who do those Africans think they are trying to modernize their countries without abortion hegemony? But then, it all came to a grinding halt, when nationalist Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba flatly declined the request stating Nobody can put pressure on us  no convention in the world, not even the Paris Agreement, forbids a country from emitting CO2 for development reasons[.]

Also to be considered in the context: Despite enormous pressure from globalist bureaucrats and institutions, Horowitz noted that over the past few years, Africa largely rejected the mRNA vaccination agenda  turns out the people may not be as easily subjugated as the political elites of the West were hoping!

Heres a real opportunity for those bleeding-heart college kids with enlightened minds to show the world just how much they care about ethnic injustices, but alas, silence.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required.
There is nothing unusual about today's floods, fires, droughts, homelessness, and hunger  they have always been part of the human story. But satellite technology allows us to track them better, and our worldwide media revel in disaster reporting, bringing tearfully tragic scenes into every living room, every night.

Population growth means that more people are affected by weather extremes, but there is no evidence that floods and droughts are getting worse.

Written flood records go back to biblical times, and geological records go back for epochs. Every floodplain today is a testament to previous floods. The width of today's floodplains and the depth of their alluvial soils show that there have been really huge floods in times past  and almost every society has stories of great floods.

Droughts (and the starvation they often cause) are also written into our history of famines, wars, and migrations. They are also recorded in massive deposits of barren, wind-blown sandstone and loess. Much of Earth's surface was smothered by desert sands or vast ice sheets in times past.

El Nino droughts have been recognized as far back as 1525, but the famines of 187778 changed history in China and India, where people starved; granaries were looted; dynasties fell; cannibalism became common; and people ate roots, bark and carrion.

The first Europeans to explore Australia recorded smoke from hundreds of small bushfires and noted the beautiful grasslands and open forests created by earlier fires. Observant ones also noted with awe the nests of flood rubbish caught high up in big gum trees.

The 18121820 El Nino droughts caused wars and migrations in Africa, and the 1844/46 El Nino drought changed the history of Australia. Gregory Blaxland found a way across the Blue Mountains to discover the vast inland grasslands, while Charles Sturt suffered incredible hardships looking for "the Inland Sea" in central Australia during a drought.

Australia was later scarred by the Federation drought and the Millennium drought.

The 1852 flood in the Murrumbidgee River swept away the town of Gundagai, and the 1893 Bremer River Flood destroyed the Victoria Bridge and the Indooroopilly Bridge. At least 60 people were killed when a flash flood destroyed the township of Clermont in 1916. That whole town was relocated.

Twenty twenty-two is a La Nina year, so we can expect big floods in Australia. These massive weather cycles are possibly generated by pools of warm oceanic water (driven by sub-sea volcanism). When the warm pools are in the western Pacific, they generate floods for Australia and droughts in the Americas. When they are near Peru, Australia can expect droughts. Similar weather cycles operate in the Indian Ocean.

The best practical way to cope with the future floods and droughts is to build more dams, or raise dam walls. But Australia is not doing this  ALP/Green governments are ensuring even worse outcomes by damaging food and electricity production with ever more Net Zero nonsense and increasing rain runoff with more pavements, roads, and solar panels  and they have wasted billions on Flannery desalination plants.

Governments should also stop protecting people from the inevitable results of their own choices on where to locate their homes and businesses. Every site faces some risk, whether from flood, drought, cyclone, hurricane, bushfire, earthquake, volcano, or tidal wave. Owners are best placed to assess these risks and must accept the cost of their choices.

This year's Australian floods show that very many people have chosen to live on flood plains near picturesque creeks and rivers  many of our towns and cities are located there. In those areas, councils should paint flood marks on power poles, and sellers should be obliged to reveal what they know about the flood history of that property. And councils must not approve new developments that increase flood risks for others.

But floodplain-dwellers and their insurers (not taxpayers) should bear the costs of occasional floods or droughts. If you like the river views and fertile alluvial soils, you must accept the full cost and inconvenience of the occasional flood.

The natural weather cycles between floods and famines will continue. Every generation leaves a legacy for its descendants  our ancestors bequeathed us stored water and productive farmland. Today's green religion demonizes dams and farmers, so our descendants will suffer more than we suffer now. Pinched bellies are worse than wet feet.

Prudent people would build more dams to moderate the La Nina floods and to provide insurance against the inevitable El Nino droughts. This generation is not building dams  in fact, right now, officials are releasing stored water from dams. They will be cursed by some future generation.

Viv and Judy Forbes have spent a lifetime coping with floods and droughts on several pastoral properties in Queensland and Northern Territory.

More Reading:

Ross Couper-Johnston, 2000,

El Nino  the Weather Phenomenon that Changed the World

Coronet Books, Hodder & Stoughton, London.

Many Fatalities in 1916 Clermont flood:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-19/ceremonies-mark-100-years-since-fatal-1916-clermont-floods/7767592

Global Warming? Under Sea Volcanoes - the Axial Seamount - Thousands more like it:

https://saltbushclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/axial-sea-mount.pdf

Professor Wyss Yim, Autumn 2013, Imperial Engineer:

Climatic impacts of the October 2011 to March 2012 El Hierro submarine volcanic eruption.

More failed Forecasts:

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/blogs/andrew-bolt/tim-flannerys-latest-prediction-blown-away/news-story/c5837775b57d24ee731f9e67b8b7a017

Image via Pexels.
It began with NBC News Reporter Dasha Burns doing an in-person interview with Pennsylvania Senate Democrat candidate John Fetterman.

Fetterman suffered a stroke in May, causing his health to become a major issue in the Senate race.

Burns revealed that Fetterman has "lingering auditory processing issues due to his stroke." Hence a monitor was set up before him so he could read a transcript of her questions. She also revealed he has problems with his speech.

Burns also said that once the closed captioning was on, Fetterman was able to answer all questions during her 25-minute interview.

This wasnt a political hitjob but factual reporting.

But since these inconvenient facts could harm the electoral prospects of a Democrat, Burns received considerable backlash from various Democrat proxies in the mainstream media.

They branded Burns reporting ableist.

Attributing bigotry is a favorite ploy of Democrats to silence those who state inconvenient facts.

Fettermans wife Gisele also pushed the ableist spin.

Truly appalling. Have these journalists never heard of the ADA? Close to 15% of the US population identify as hard of hearing and may need accommodations. Really curious to learn how they feel about wheelchairs and glasses   Gisele Barreto Fetterman (@giselefetterman) October 12, 2022

She said Burns should face "consequences" for her reporting.

The vagueness leaves many open questions

Was she suggesting that Burns should be sacked or reprimanded by NBC News?

Was she implicitly calling for violence against Burns?

LISTEN: Gisele Fetterman says NBC reporter @DashaBurns should face "consequences" for exposing her husband's inability to make "small talk" without a computer. pic.twitter.com/STQB8YDmjK  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 14, 2022

Recently, Rolling Stone magazine did a lengthy and very fawning profile of Gisele Fetterman titled "John Fetterman Had a Stroke. Gisele Fetterman Became a Political Star."

What did Gisele do to deserve such fawning?

She is an activist and former illegal immigrant from Brazil, but above all is married to a Democrat.

Among the blandishments lavished on Gisele, was that she became the de facto candidate after her husband had a stroke four days before the primary contest.

The author of the piece, Kara Voght, tweeted her article with a caption about Gisele being the de facto candidate for her husband and a political star.

Voght probably expected unending praise from the Democrat echo chamber. She had fawned over a former illegal immigrant and a woman of color, the demographic groups that the Democrats claim to adore.

Alas for her, she had erred.

Lackeys often do that; in their urge to gratify their masters they engage in exceeding flattery causing unintended harm to the object of their sycophancy.

Voght ended up tacitly conceding was that John Fetterman seriously indisposed hence his wife was the face of the primary campaign, implying that he still may be unfit.

This revelation was must undesired by Democrats at this juncture of the tightly contested Senate race.

Before she suffered backlash like Dasha Burns, Voght dutifully deleted her tweet claiming she was imprecise with her choice of words regarding Giseles role.

I deleted a previous tweet sharing this story in which, in hindsight, I was imprecise with my word choices and what I intended to convey about Giseles role.  Kara Voght (@karavoght) October 15, 2022

Voguts new tweet claimed that Gisele was a key surrogate for her husband

I wrote about @giselefetterman and her evolution from reluctant political spouse, to key surrogate for her husband as he recovered from a stroke, to a political force unto herself:https://t.co/pI1x7OHrnx  Kara Voght (@karavoght) October 15, 2022

The article continues to feature de facto candidate the very words Voght claimed were imprecise. But that could change.

Let's screen-shot that as well before they do. pic.twitter.com/ajA29njjds  Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) October 15, 2022

Voght received an endorsement from the subject of her piece.

  Gisele Barreto Fetterman (@giselefetterman) October 15, 2022

It is almost like a client giving their PR agent a pat on her back.

Rolling Stone isnt the only new outlet that altered its messaging to suit Fetterman

The foremost Democrat mouthpiece, the New York Times, carried a piece by David M. Perry, a disabled parent of a disabled child, in defense of Fetterman

However, the piece underwent a headline change, focusing on the media furor rather than Fetterman's disability

Perry mentions President Franklin Roosevelt, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and Representative Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina for their use of wheelchairs

Perry claims that Ronald Reagan may have been unable to perform his duties as president owing to Alzheimers, long before his second term expired.

Perry also focuses on the mental health issues of politicians to show how attitudes toward them have changed.

There is mention of a cover of Fact Magazine from 1964 that read, 1,189 Psychiatrists Say Goldwater Is Psychologically Unfit to Be President! with one calling him a dangerous lunatic.

Perry cites Thomas Eagleton being kicked off the Democratic ticket as vice president in 1972 when it was revealed that he had been hospitalized for depression.

Perry also slams Dasha Burns for her ableism.

The piece attempts to make the case that attitudes toward physical disabilities are evolving. However, when it comes to invisible disabilities, and in particular ones that involve communication or mental function, stigma is trickier to debunk and dispel.

To sum it up: Perry is claiming that Fetterman is disabled and must be allowed to function like any other individual with disabilities.

Now for some facts.

John Fetterman is suffering the aftereffects of a stroke.

In the case of persons with disabilities, the impairments are specific and known.

However, Fetterman tried to conceal his stroke. He is hesitant to release his medical records. Hence voters are unaware of the extent of his impairments and his prospects of recovery.

As senator, he would have to read and comprehend volumes of documents to decide his vote. Voters are unclear if he is physically and mentally fit for the job.

Fetterman relentlessly dodged debate requests from Dr. Oz. Which proves all is not well. Fetterman finally agreed to debate Oz on October 25. Will Fetterman fulfill this commitment?

Fetterman had a double-digit lead over Dr. Oz in the summer; however that lead has melted into thin air. RealClearPolitics polling average has Fetterman leading Oz by only 3.4 percentage points; that figure was 3.7 just a couple of days ago.

The momentum is with Oz, which explains why Democrat proxies in the media are so focused on this race.

The Democrats are immensely fond of the likes of Fetterman. He will be their ideal rubber-stamp elected official who will push their far-left agenda literally without any thought. Since there are no recall facilities, he will be in the Senate for at least six years. He will be what Biden is in the White House.

The focus on his health could be beneficial to Fetterman. It distracts from his personal and political record perhaps even making him a sympathetic figure.

So here are details about his record.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that well into his 40s, Fettermans main source of income came from his parents. Fettermans only paying work was $150 a month as mayor of the small town of Braddock. After his tenure ended, in 2013, he moved to an industrial-style loft he purchased from his sister for $1 after she paid $70,000 for it six years earlier.

Fetterman is also an advocate for Black Lives Matter and defunding the police, despite his campaign website removing all mentions.

Fetterman called for reversing Pennsylvanias law that mandates life-without-parole sentences for second-degree murder. Fetterman was the lone member of the Board of Prisons that voted to free a man serving a life sentence for murder after pleading guilty to killing an 18-year-old for drug money.

Fetterman is a proponent of open borders and Planned Parenthood that supports late-term abortion.

In other words, he is just another far-left Democrat.

The fact that he suffers from unknown impairments makes his situation worse.

It is time for the GOP to invest more in this race.

Hopefully, voters will choose wisely.

Photo credit: Twitter video screengrab
Legal proceedings have been initiated against a number of institutions in Northern Ireland alleging that Lord Mountbatten abused a boy at a notorious Belfast childrens home in the 1970s.

Arthur Smyth, a former resident of the Kincora home, has waived his anonymity to make the allegations against the earl, a great uncle of the King.

Lord Mountbatten was killed along with three others when the IRA detonated a bomb on his boat in Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, in 1979.

Mr Smyths solicitor, Kevin Winters of KRW Law, said the civil action alleging negligence and breach of duty of care was being taken against several state bodies.

Earl Mountbatten was killed by the IRA in 1979 (PA)

He said he had filed a summons which would be issued in the High Court in Belfast on Tuesday.

Mr Winters said: Central to the case are our clients allegations of abuse by the late Lord Louis Mountbatten.

Understandably many abuse survivors for reasons of obvious sensitivity choose to remain anonymous. Arthurs decision to reveal his identity must be set against this backdrop.

It is borne out of anger at systemic state cover-up on abuse at these institutions.

Belfast solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW Law said he had instigated the civil proceedings (Liam McBurney/PA)

He alleges to have been abused twice as an 11-year-old by the deceased royal.

Its the first time that someone has stepped forward to take allegations against Lord Mountbatten into a court.

That decision hasnt been taken lightly.

He understands only too well that it will be a deeply unpopular case with many people coming as it does within weeks of the passing of the Queen.

The Kincora home opened on Belfasts Upper Newtownards Road, close to Stormonts Parliament Buildings, in May 1958, and closed in October 1980 after a sex abuse scandal.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry found that 39 boys were abused at Kincora and in 1981 three men were jailed for abusing 11 boys.

However, it found no evidence that security agencies were complicit in the abuse.

A recent report by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (Poni) Marie Anderson said that complaints from some former residents about the failure of police to investigate allegations of sexual abuse at Kincora were legitimate and justified.

Mr Winters said: The recent Poni report into Kincora despite a welcome finding on police investigative failures only scratches the surface of what really went on.
The Labour Party is looking to capitalise on the Government crisis with a series of new adverts as it gears up for the next general election.

In four scathing posters, seen by the PA news agency, Labour attacks the Conservatives for damaging the UKs standing on the world stage, hiking mortgages and crashing the economy.

It comes after a disastrous week for Prime Minister Liz Truss, whose authority has been left severely damaged by her decision to sack chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and U-turn on planned tax cuts.

The Government is accused of leaving Britains reputation in tatters (PA)

The new posters, first reported by the Sun, have been drawn up by Labours advertising agency Lucky Generals.

One accuses the Government of leaving Britains reputation in tatters alongside a picture of a shredded Union Jack.

Another has the slogan: Your mortgage is going through the roof incorporated into an image of a massive hole in a roof.

Another poster drawn up by Lucky Generals (PA)

A third poster shows Ms Truss and the new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt dressed up as clowns, alongside the message: Send off the clowns.

The Prime Minister and Mr Kwartengs heads have also been photoshopped onto dummies in a fourth poster, which says: These dummies have crashed the economy.

A Labour source told the PA news agency: As the old saying goes, if you dont laugh, you cry.

The fact the Tories have crashed the economy is deadly serious.

Just look at the way the Tories have pushed up mortgage rates.

Labour is set to attack the Government with a new series of posters (PA)

We love these ideas from Lucky Generals that show only Labour can be trusted with the economy these days.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been taking advantage of the political chaos in recent weeks as the party looks to defeat the Tories in the next general election, likely to be in December 2024.

Earlier on Friday, Sir Keir tweeted: The Tories no longer have a mandate from the British people.

After 12 years of stagnation, excuses are all they have left. The change this country needs is a Labour government.
A senior Conservative MP has said it is very difficult to say whether Liz Truss should continue as Prime Minister.

Alicia Kearns, who recently became the chairwoman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, also said the Governments problems are linked to policy and not just communication, warning dogmatism scares people.

The critical remarks come as another senior Conservative MP, Robert Halfon, said he wants an apology and a fundamental reset.

Mr Halfon, chairman of the Commons Education Committee, declined to deny that MPs are considering installing a new leader.

Of course, colleagues are unhappy with what is going on, he told Sky News.

Were all talking to see what can be done about it.

I worry that, over the past few weeks, the Government has looked like libertarian jihadists and treated the whole country as kind of laboratory mice on which to carry out ultra, ultra free market experiments. And this is not where the country is.

Theres been one horror story after another.

Tory MP Robert Halfon said a reset is needed (House of Commons/PA)

Mr Halfon said he is not calling on Ms Truss to go, but told Times Radio the Government needs a reset pretty soon, adding: I cant give you hours or days.

Ms Kearns, also speaking to Times Radio, said: Do I think the Government has a fundamental communications problem? Yes, I do.

But I think it comes ultimately from the policy decisions they make. In a time of crisis, the public wants to see pragmatism. They want to see fiscal responsibility, and they want to see compassion. And dogmatism scares people.

There is nothing wrong with some of the tax cuts they want to bring in, but if you dont bring the country with you, and you dont bring the markets with you, then you wont have their support.

Asked if Ms Truss could or should survive in Number 10, Ms Kearns said: Ultimately it is a very difficult one because I think, you know, weve had the questions around our moral competency. Weve now got questions around our fiscal competency.

Matt Hancock said a Cabinet reshuffled is required (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA)

I dont want further questions around even our ability to continue to govern as a party and our ability to stay united. Its an incredibly difficult one, and ultimately I need to listen to colleagues and speak to colleagues over coming days.

But do we need a fundamental reset? Without question.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock said the Prime Minister needs to reshuffle her Cabinet.

Speaking to the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg about the prospect of a leadership contest, Mr Hancock said: I dont think were there yet, but he added she needs to do three things: deliver an economically-credible plan, reshuffle her Cabinet, and restore trust.

She needs to bring the broad Conservative Party in her Government. She needs a reshuffle, he said.
Coexisting for Craig? Paige DeSorbo revealed where she and Naomie Olindo stand after Southern Charm season 8 drama.

Read article

I actually am happy when I get asked questions about her because I think shes great, DeSorbo, 29, exclusively told Us Weekly when speaking about Olindo, 30, on Saturday, October 15, at BravoCon 2022.

The Summer House star has been dating Olindos ex-boyfriend Craig Conover since late 2021. The France native, for her part, split from the Pillow Talk author, 33, in 2017 after three years together. (The exes confirmed during the June premiere of Southern Charm that they briefly hooked up in summer 2021 during a Las Vegas getaway.)

Cindy Ord/Bravo

I think we had, like, a little tiff or conversation when were filming, DeSorbo recalled, seemingly referring to the September 1 episode of the Charleston-based series when the stylist called Olindo out for acting like she still had feelings toward Conover. Like, obviously were filming a show. You want the real juicy drama.

When crossing paths at BravoCon, however, the New York native told Us they were totally fine.

She was actually the first person I saw when I walked into BravoCon, DeSorbo explained, saying they gave each other big hugs.

Read article

The Giggly Squad podcast cohost added: We both told each other [that] we looked gorgeous. And I wish her the best and I think she feels the same.

DeSorbo concluded, Were very chill with each other.

While Olindo may be on good terms with the Winter House star, she isnt exactly pleased that Conover spilled the beans about her new man earlier this month.

Cindy Ord/Bravo

Shes been dating someone for six months, the Sewing Down South founder exclusively told Us on Wednesday, October 12, of his former flame. She has her own life and I have mine.

Upon learning what Conover said, Olindo exclusively told Us how thrown off she was that he exposed her new relationship  even if he didnt name drop.

I know, what the hell? the LAbeye founder said of the Delaware natives actions while attending BravoCon on Friday, October 14. I was about to text him, like, Dont do that.

Read article

Olindo teased that she cant give out any more information on her new man, but confessed, I am [happy].

When it comes to DeSorbos current relationship with Conover, the Amazon Live host exclusively told Us that she is very pleased with how far they have come since they started casually dating more than one year ago.

I think the first year of your relationship is just, everythings so new and so fresh. And especially, to live, like, in this world that we live in and be able to experience BravoCon with each other, it makes it that much sweeter, the influencer said on Saturday.

Courtesy of Paige DeSorbo/Instagram

DeSorbo also joked that like her Summer House costars Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke, who got engaged in August, she and Conover recently took their romance to the next level.

I gave him some room and a closet, she revealed. That was my version of being engaged.  My spring coats are, you know, at a place [where] theyre confused about it. But he was very, very happy. I mean, I thought he was gonna cry at [one] moment. He was like, I cant believe you did this for me. And I was like, Stop. Dont make it a thing!

Winter House airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
All in the family! Teresa Giudices new husband, Luis Louie Ruelas revealed why he called Joe Giudice before marrying the Real Housewives of New Jersey star this summer.

Read article

I spoke to Joe, actually, [on] the day of the wedding, Luis, 47, exclusively told Us Weekly on Saturday, October 15, while attending BravoCon 2022 with his wife, 50. Called him to let him know that, you know, Im committed to his daughters and committed to Teresa.

The businessman recalled telling the 50-year-old Bravo star, You and I have a bond to be able to talk about anything that goes on with the kids. You know, [like], Im here. So, were really good.

Cindy Ord/Bravo

Teresa echoed her husbands sentiments explaining that during a recent visit to the Bahamas, she and Luis had dinner with Joe before picking up one of her girls. The former spouses, who split in December 2019 after 20 years of marriage, share four daughters: Gia, 21, Gabriella, 18, Milania, 16, and Audriana, 13.

I was, like, so nervous. But you know, we had the best night, the Turning the Tables author told Us on Saturday. It made the children so happy.

Read article

Luis and Teresa tied the knot in August after two years of dating. While the New Jersey natives ex-husband was not in attendance, Luis told Us that Joe gave the newlyweds a gift by being so supportive of their union.

The gift is peace, and the gift is what he gives the girls every day. Because honestly, you know, thats truly a guy thats making lemonade outta lemons, the Digital Media Solutions cofounder said of Joe, who was deported to Italy in fall 2019 after serving three years in prison for fraud. Because, like, hes not with his daughters, but hes so connected to his [girls].

Courtesy of Joe Giudice/Instagram

Luis continued: I hear the kids walk around the house saying, I just spoke to dad. You know, so theres really a connection there. The only thing thats not there is theyre not face to face, but theyre [there] in spirit and heart and love.

Teresa, for her part, gushed over her relationship with Luis, telling Us, We just went on a year [of] living together and its just  our blended families are amazing, Thank God. Like its all worked.

Read article

The Standing Strong authors eldest daughter, Gia, agreed with both Luis and her mom while attending her first BravoCon.

[Luis is] amazing. Were literally, like, such a big happy family, Gia exclusively told Us on Friday, October 14, in New York City. Were all so happy. Living together has been great.

The reality star noted that while she is now at college, she can see how good Luis is for her mom when she comes home.

He has so much respect for my family. He treats my sisters like were his own, and my fathers also so appreciative of that, Gia added.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
Runaway inflation and rising interest rates are driving economic turmoil worldwide. In this tough environment, Microsoft (MSFT) CEO Satya Nadella contends cloud technology can help companies "do more" with fewer resources than they once had.

Overall, we definitely see constraints in the macro environment that are leading to customers, and everyone essentially, asking the question of How do we drive productivity? Nadella said during an interview for Yahoo Finances All Markets Summit, which will air on Monday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. When we think about software and technology, this is, in some sense, showtime for enabling any company to do more with less."

Cloud computing, which gives companies remote access to hardware and services through the internet, has been on the rise for years. Microsoft controls 21% of the global cloud market, putting it behind only Amazon's (AMZN) 39% market share, but ahead of Google and its 7% market share.

In 2019, Microsofts Intelligent Cloud business generated $38.9 billion of the companys $125.8 billion in total revenue  or about 30%. The global pandemic supercharged the need for companies to deploy cloud platforms so they could operate without interruption. As a result, in 2021, Microsofts cloud revenue made up $60.1 billion of the companys $168.1 billion in total revenue  nearly 36%.

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella speaks to Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley.

Cloud Migrations were super critical during the pandemic, even for resilience, Nadella said. And now, if youre not on the cost frontier of the cloud, then youre falling behind on productivity. If youre not on the efficiency frontier of cloud native applications, youre falling behind on productivity. If youre not able to use the hybrid work infrastructure to bring everybody to be able to participate collaboratively in the organization, youre falling behind.

'Software is ultimately the biggest deflationary force businesses can use'

As companies look for ways to cut back, Nadella says the cloud could help them save cash. That would also help Microsofts bottom line if they turn to Nadella's company for those services.

By signing up for cloud versions of software like Office, companies can save on spending large sums on individual software licenses for each employee. And by using Microsofts infrastructure-as-a-service offerings, companies can eliminate the need for their own on-premise hardware.

All of the macroeconomic headwinds that all of us face  none of us are immune  the tailwind we at least as a company have is our ability to deliver these solutions. Software is ultimately the biggest deflationary force businesses can use, he explained.

Europe in particular stands to gain from the cloud, Nadella said. European countries are looking for ways to save on infrastructure as they contend with an energy crisis driven by the war in Ukraine.

If you move to the cloud, by definition, you have the most efficient use of the scarce energy resource, he explained. Second, let's take a manufacturing plant. If you create a digital twin of a manufacturing plant, one of the benefits is you can make it more power efficient, because you can do the simulation to do the power draw that's most efficient. In fact, you can reduce waste as well. So overall, things of that nature, I think are going to drive up productivity.

Microsoft isnt immune to the economic forces hitting its clients, which include chemical company Dow Inc. and Twitter. Nadella says the company is using its own products to improve overall efficiency.

We are applying it ourselves inside. How can we be more efficient in whether it's in our people operations or in our R&D, or whether it's in our finance or our supply chain?" Nadella said. "So I think you will see ustake our own solutions and deploy them as efficiently as possible to drive productivity and leveraging operating expense and capital efficiency, capital efficiencies.

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A Charles Manson disciple who killed a man with a fork and scribbled messages in his blood was denied parole by California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday.

A parole board had recommended 74-year-old Patricia Krenwinkel for release in May, but Newsom had the final say.

Beyond the brutal murders she committed, she played a leadership role in the cult, and an enforcer of Mr. Mansons tyranny, Newsom said. She forced the other women in the cult to obey Mr. Manson, and prevented them from escaping when they tried to leave.

In this file photo taken Aug. 20, 1970, Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel, center, is seen walking to court with Susan Atkins, left, and Leslie Van Houten, to appear for her role in the 1969 cult killings of seven people in Los Angeles.



In this file photo taken Aug. 20, 1970, Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel, center, is seen walking to court with Susan Atkins, left, and Leslie Van Houten, to appear for her role in the 1969 cult killings of seven people in Los Angeles. (George Brich / AP /)

Krenwinkel was part of the Manson family killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six other people in 1969. She was initially sentenced to death, but her sentence was changed to life in prison when California briefly outlawed the death penalty in 1972.

Before Mays hearing, Krenwinkel was denied parole 14 times, most recently in 2017. Newsom said Friday she was still a danger to society despite her age.

Ms. Krenwinkel fully accepted Mr. Mansons racist, apocalyptical ideologies, Newsom said. Ms. Krenwinkel was not only a victim of Mr. Mansons abuse. She was also a significant contributor to the violence and tragedy that became the Manson familys legacy.

Patricia Krenwinkel listens to the ruling denying her parole, at a hearing at the California Institution for Women in Corona, Calif., in January 2011.



Patricia Krenwinkel listens to the ruling denying her parole, at a hearing at the California Institution for Women in Corona, Calif., in January 2011. (Reed Saxon/)

The gruesome Manson killings shook all of California in 1969. Krenwinkel became notorious for stabbing Leno LaBianca with a fork and writing Helter Skelter, Rise and Death to Pigs on the wall with his blood.

Descendants of Manson family victims also opposed Krenwinkels release. Newsom has previously denied parole to other Manson family killers.

Krenwinkel is the longest-serving female prisoner in California. Charles Manson died in prison in 2017.

With News Wire Services
BEIJING (AP)  Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Sunday called for faster military development and announced no change in policies that have strained relations with Washington and tightened the ruling Communist Party's control over society and the economy.

Chinas most influential figure in decades spoke as the party opened a congress that was closely watched by companies, governments and the Chinese public for signs of its economic and political direction. It comes amid a painful economic slump and tension with Washington and Asian neighbors over trade, technology and security.

The congress will install leaders for the next five years. Xi, 69, is expected to break with tradition and award himself a third five-year term as the party's general secretary, entrenching his vision of reasserting its dominance in the economy, society and culture following four decades of market-style liberalization.

Xi called for accelerating military and technology development to propel the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in a televised speech of one hour and 45 minutes to some 2,000 delegates in the cavernous Great Hall of the People.

The partys military wing, the Peoples Liberation Army, needs to safeguard Chinas dignity and core interests, Xi said, referring to a list of territorial claims and other issues over which Beijing says it is ready to go to war. China has the world's second-largest defense budget after the United States and is trying to extend its reach by developing ballistic missiles, aircraft carriers and overseas outposts.

We will work faster to modernize military theory, personnel and weapons, Xi said in the speech, which was punctuated by brief bursts of applause from the masked delegates. We will enhance the militarys strategic capabilities.

Xi cited his government's severe zero COVID strategy, which has shut down major cities and disrupted travel and business, as a success. He gave no indication of a possible change despite public frustration with its rising cost.

The congress will name a party Standing Committee, the ruling inner circle of power. Economic officials arent due to be named until Chinas ceremonial legislature meets next year. But the party lineup, due to be revealed after the congress ends Saturday, will indicate who is likely to succeed Premier Li Keqiang as the top economic official and take other posts.

Xi is widely expected to promote allies who share his ambition for state-led development. Analysts are watching whether a slump that saw economic growth fall to below half of the official 5.5% annual target might force him to compromise and promote supporters of market-style reform and entrepreneurs who generate wealth and jobs.

Xi on Sunday gave no indication whether he would pursue a third term as leader or when he might step down.

During his decade in power, Xi's government has pursued an increasingly assertive foreign policy while tightening control at home on information and dissent.

Beijing is feuding with Japan, India and Southeast Asian governments over conflicting claims to the South China and East China Seas and a section of the Himalayas. The United States, Japan, Australia and India formed a strategic group dubbed the Quad in response.

The party has increased the dominance of state-owned industry and poured money into strategic initiatives aimed at nurturing Chinese creators of renewable energy, electric car, computer chip, aerospace and other technologies.

Its tactics have prompted complaints Beijing improperly protects and subsidizes its fledgling creators and led then-President Donald Trump to hike tariffs on Chinese imports in 2019, setting off a trade war that jolted the global economy.

Trump's successor, Joe Biden, has kept those penalties in place and this month increased restrictions on Chinese access to U.S. chip technology.

The party has tightened control over private sector leaders including e-commerce giant Alibaba Group by launching anti-monopoly, data security and other crackdowns. Under political pressure, they are diverting billions of dollars into chip development and other party initiatives. Their share prices on foreign exchanges have plunged due to uncertainty about their future.

The party has stepped up censorship of media and the internet, increased public surveillance and tightened control over private life through its social credit initiative that tracks individuals and punishes infractions ranging from fraud to littering.

Last week, banners criticizing Xi and zero COVID were hung from a pedestrian bridge over a major Beijing thoroughfare in a rare protest. Photos of the event were deleted from social media and the popular WeChat message service shut down accounts that forwarded them.

On Sunday, Xi said the party will step up technology development and ensure security of its food sources and industrial supply chains.

Xi said the party would build self-reliance and strength in technology by improving Chinas education system and attracting foreign experts. He said Beijing will launch major national projects with long-term importance but gave no details.

The president appeared to double down on technology self-reliance and zero COVID at a time when other countries are easing travel restrictions and rely on more free-flowing supply chains, said Willy Lam, a politics specialist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Xi was joined on stage by party leaders including his predecessor as general secretary, Hu Jintao, former Premier Wen Jiabao and Song Ping, a 105-year-old party veteran who sponsored Xi's early career. There was no sign of 96-year-old former President Jiang Zemin, who was party leader until 2002.

The presence of previous leaders shows Xi faces no serious opposition in the top party ranks, said Lam.

Xi is making it very clear he intends to hold on to power for as long as his health allows him to, he said.

Xi made no mention of Russias invasion of Ukraine, which Beijing refuses to criticize. Ahead of the February attack, Xi issued a joint statement with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying they had a no limits friendship.

Xi defended a crackdown aimed at crushing a pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, saying the party helped the former British colony enter a new stage in which it has restored order and is set to thrive.

Xi's government also faces criticism over complaints about mass detentions and other abuses against mostly Muslim ethnic minority groups and the jailing of government critics.

Amnesty International warned Sunday that extending Xis time in power will be a disaster for human rights. In addition to conditions within China, it pointed to Beijings efforts to redefine the very meaning of human rights in the United Nations.

Xis government poses a threat to rights not just at home, but globally, the groups deputy regional director, Hana Young, said in a statement.

Xi said Beijing refuses to renounce the possible use of force against Taiwan, the self-ruled island democracy the Communist Party claims as part of its territory. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.

Beijing has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwanese by flying fighter jets and bombers near the island. That campaign intensified after Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the House of Representatives in August became the highest-ranked U.S. official to visit Taiwan in a quarter-century.

Unification of the two sides will be achieved, Xi said.

Beijing needs to prevent interference by outside forces, he said, a reference to foreign politicians the ruling party says are encouraging Taiwan to make its de facto independence permanent, a step the mainland says would lead to war.

We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification, Xi said. But we will never promise to renounce the use of force. And we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary.

The Taiwanese Cabinets Mainland Affairs Council responded by saying the islands 23 million people had the right to determine their own future and would not accept Beijings unilateral demands. China has frozen all contacts with the island since President Tsai Ing-wen's election to her first term in 2016.

We firmly call on the Chinese Communist authorities to abandon the imposition of a political framework and the use of military force and coercion, the council said in a statement.

The ruling party elite agreed in the 1990s to limit the general secretary to two five-year terms in an effort to prevent a repeat of power struggles from earlier decades. That leader also becomes chairman of the commission that controls the PLA, and holds the ceremonial title of national president.

Xi made his intentions clear in 2018 when he had a two-term limit on the presidency removed from Chinas constitution. Officials said that allowed Xi to stay if needed to carry out reforms.

The party is widely expected to amend its charter this week to raise Xi's status as leader after adding his personal ideology, Xi Jinping Thought, in a 2017 amendment. The vague ideology emphasizes reviving the party's leadership role in a throwback to what Xi regards as its golden age following the 1949 revolution.

The spokesperson for the congress, Sun Yeli, said Saturday the changes would meet new requirements for advancing the partys development" but gave no details.
Hundreds from the Oaxacan community, along with prominent leaders from indigenous communities across California, finish their March for Justice for a rally at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles Saturday. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

As hundreds of protesters marched through downtown Los Angeles to City Hall on Saturday afternoon, they made sure everyone knew they were Oaxacan and proud.

Their signs boasted pueblos like San Bartolome Zoogocho, Santa Maria Xochixtepec and Santiago Zoochila. Brass bands played 'sones' and 'jarabes,' representing the music tied to their identity. Their chants rang out through the streets: Se ve, se siente, Oaxaca esta presente. You see it, you feel it, Oaxaca is present.

Among those in the crowd was Blanca Ruiz, 23, who referred to herself as a Koreatown Chaparrita, a nod to her neighborhood and short stature.

Ruizs family is from Oaxaca and the young woman works with Oaxacan youth.

Any hurtful words, this cures it, Ruiz said, as she looked around at her fellow Oaxaquenos. This heals my heart.

The hurtful words she was referring to came from a leaked audio recording in which some City Council members disparaged Black and Indigenous people, among others, in starkly racist terms.

In the audio recording of a conversation that took place in October 2021, former L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez refers to Oaxacans as little short dark people  a racist stereotype often used to demean Indigenous communities.

I dont know what village they came [from], how they got here, but boy theyre ugly, Martinez said. She added, Tan feos  so ugly.

Martinez is heard making the racist remarks while talking with fellow Councilmembers Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo and labor leader Ron Herrera about how the citys council district boundaries should be redrawn.

Martinez resigned this week, in the wake of the scandal, but Indigenous community leaders say its not enough. They are calling for the resignations of Cedillo and De Leon and a public apology from Martinez.

Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Oaxacan communities outside of Mexico. One expert estimated that there are as many as 200,000 Zapotecs  the largest Indigenous group from Oaxaca  living in Los Angeles County. As early as the 1940s, Oaxacan immigrants came to the U.S. in search of better wages and jobs, working in agriculture through an established bracero program of seasonal migrant workers. Oaxaca is one of Mexicos poorest states, but the people have deeply influenced U.S. culture and food and shaped Los Angeles over the years.

Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo, or Indigenous Communities in Leadership, and prominent leaders from Indigenous communities across California gathered Saturday to demonstrate and demand resignations.

Odilia Romero, director and co-founder of CIELO, said people came from all over the state, from farmworkers to construction workers, because Indigenous people are essential to the economy of this city, of this state and of this country.

She said its important for those officials involved to step down.

They cannot continue representing the highest population of Indigenous people's district, when you think and talk about them in such a despicable way, Romero said.

Hundreds of people, spanning all racial and ethnic groups, joined them at Trade Tech College to march the three miles to City Hall.

Among those in the crowd was Erika Aquino, 37, who came with her four children and her mother, an immigrant from Hidalgo Yalalag, a village in Oaxaca.

In Mexican culture theres always been colorism, Aquino said. Myself, as a brown person, I have always felt and seen how our own kind sometimes favor someone of lighter skin. Its always been an issue and I think more hurtful when it comes from someone you know is your own.

Aquinos mother, Emma Diego, 63, said she came because she was angry.

We voted, as Democrats, to put people into office who will guide us, who will be our leaders. Thats how I saw Cedillo, she said. But we were wrong. He said Indigenous people and immigrants mattered to him. He voiced that, but his heart didnt believe it.

I came here so they can resign. We  Democrats, Latinos  put them in  just like we put them in, we can force them out.

As she marched, Lizbeth Bautista, 34, carried a sign that read Proudly Indigenous in Zapotec, Chontal, Mixtec, English and Spanish.

Bautistas maternal grandfather came to California through the bracero program. He went back and forth between the U.S. and their town of Santiago Laxopa in Oaxaca. Bautista was born in the Oaxacan town, but moved to California when she was 3 years old.

When she heard the recording, she flashed back to what she heard growing up. As a child attending school in the U.S., she recalls fellow Mexicans derogatorily referring to her as a Oaxaquita, or Little Oaxacan.

Weve always been made to feel that way by our own paisanos, Mexicans, the Pico-Union resident said. Theres a lot of colorism and a lot of issues within our community that need to be addressed. I see this as an opportunity.

She added: I think we need to acknowledge our Black brothers and sisters that fought so hard to get the civil liberties that we enjoy as minority groups, as Oaxaquenos. Every single minority in this country is enjoying the liberties we enjoy because of their work.

There were references to the leaked tape on signs scattered throughout the crowd. One woman held a sign that read, Los racistas tan feos. The racists so ugly. And another that read, Were short, dark, but beautiful.

Others simply wrote You must resign. Another sign said Fuera Racistas with an x through the photos of Cedillo and De Leon.

Evelyn Mireles, 34, said she came out because shes first generation American and Ive seen how much my parents have worked and dedicated their lives to the American dream.

She said Martinez offended not only her parents, who are from Oaxaca, but also her son who is a year old.

Mireles said she was not surprised to see the turnout Saturday.

It validates how proud we are as Oaxaquenos, she said. That were here.

Once they reached City Hall, the crowd shouted, Fuera! when Cedillo and De Leons names were said. Out!

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Issa Rae attends the 74th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in September. (Richard Shotwell / Invision / Associated Press)

Embattled actor Ezra Miller is still making moves in Hollywood, despite the many troubling allegations against them  and "Insecure" creator Issa Rae is not a fan.

In an Elle story published Thursday, the Emmy-nominated actor weighed in on the industry's treatment of the "Flash" star.

"Im gonna be real, the stuff thats happening with Ezra Miller is, to me, a microcosm of Hollywood," she said. "Theres this person whos a repeat offender, whos been behaving atrociously, and as opposed to shutting them down and shutting the production down, theres an effort to save the movie and them."

While she did not refer to the film by name, the "Rap S" creator was likely alluding to Warner Bros. Discovery's "The Flash." Miller is set to appear in the title role.

In recent years, Miller has been at the center of multiple controversies. The actor, known for roles in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise, was seen grabbing and choking a fan in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 2020 and was arrested twice in Hawaii earlier this year.

In June, Miller also faced a protective order after they were accused of psychologically manipulating, physically intimidating and endangering the safety and welfare of an 18-year-old in North Dakota. Most recently, they were charged with felony burglary in Stamford, Vt., in August.

But despite the claims, Warner Bros. Discovery has proceeded with its upcoming DC film. Days after the company scrapped its $90-million "Batgirl" movie, its chief executive, David Zaslav, confirmed that "The Flash" was still on.

We have seen The Flash, Black Adam and Shazam 2. We think they are terrific, and we think we can make them even better, Zaslav said during the media companys second-quarter earnings call.

Weeks after Zaslav's comment, Miller said in a statement to Variety that they apologize for their behavior and that they are seeking treatment for their mental health issues. Later in August, Miller reportedly met with Warner Bros. bosses to discuss the upcoming film, which is set to premiere in June 2023.

TheWrap reported last week that Miller had gone back to the "Flash" set to do more filming.

Meanwhile, Rae said Miller and "The Flash" are "a clear example of the lengths that Hollywood will go to to save itself and to protect offenders."

"So, dont do that, and women may be able to thrive. They wont have to live in fear of keeping silent because itll ruin their careers," she added. "Its just a constant pattern of abuse thatll only persist if Hollywood continues to insist on being this way.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Wesley Brownlee, a 43-year-old resident of Stockton, was arrested Saturday as the prime suspect in a string of shooting deaths that left six people dead in Northern California.

Police announced Brownlees arrest after weeks of intense focus over the slayings, which were connected through ballistics evidence.

Heres what we know about the serial killing suspect.

Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden speaks during a news conference at the Stockton Police Department headquarters in Stockton, Calif., on the arrest of suspect Wesley Brownlee in the Stockton serial killings on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Behind McFadden is a booking photo of Brownlee.

Who is Wesley Brownlee?

Brownlee is 43 and a longtime resident of Stockton, according to public records and the Stockton Police Department.

Brownlee was arrested during a traffic stop Saturday morning near Panella Park at Village Green Drive and Winslow Way. That area is close to a home where Brownlee lived between 1999 and 2007. This was also within 2 miles of the five fatal incidents in Stockton.

According to public records, an apartment near Knickerbocker Drive and Tam OShanter Drive was Wesley Brownlees last known address. It is within several feet of one of the killings, that of Jonathan Rodriguez on Aug. 30, the only person shot inside a vehicle.

What is Brownlees criminal history?

Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said that Brownlee has a criminal record. A search of San Joaquin County court files shows that Brownlee was involved in at least four cases.

Brownlee was involved in a DUI in 2009. Online records from the San Joaquin Court were not available for the Stockton-area case.

Brownlee was involved in a felony case in 2017. Online records from the San Joaquin Court were not available for the Stockton-area case.

Brownlee was involved in a traffic infraction case in January 2021. Online records from the San Joaquin Court showed he was ordered to pay a fine of $327.

Brownlee was involved in a traffic infraction case in June 2022. Online records from the San Joaquin Court showed that case was proceeding and expected to return to a hearing on Dec. 20.

Online public records show Brownlee was involved in a traffic citation in Arizona in 2019 for failure to stop at a port of entry. Records from Bowie Justice Court in Cochise County show Brownlee pleaded guilty.

Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden speaks during a news conference at the Stockton Police Department headquarters about the arrest of suspect Wesley Brownlee in a series of killings in Stockton, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Pictured behind McFadden are Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, left, San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Veber Salazar and Stockton city manager Harry Black. (Clifford Oto/The Record via AP)

How is Brownlee connected to the killings?

Police have not given many details, but ballistics tests are said to link the killings to the same weapon.

The tests interconnect the six fatal shootings and the shooting of a homeless Stockton woman who was nearly killed more than a year ago, according to McFadden.

There was a 448-day break between killings of the second and third victims, but the gaps between victims became shorter thereafter: 34 days, 19 days, 22 days, then just six days.

We have no reason why the pistol went dormant for so long, McFadden said, adding that, initially, there wasnt a clear pattern to the shootings although there is a certain complexion that Brownlee was targeting.

Is Brownlee connected to Chicago shootings?

No, according to police. Earlier this month, police told media outlets that they were working with multiple agencies to track down a suspect in the crimes. That work included collaboration with police in Chicago, who are investigating a similar pattern of killings there.

However, on Friday, police confirmed they did not believe there were any connections between the Stockton killings and several homicides in Illinois, which are believed to have been perpetrated by the so-called Duck Walk Killer.

According to CBS Sacramento, working with its sister station in Chicago, the suspects had similar gaits and appearance.

We did our due diligence reaching out to Chicago PD based off the videos we have seen of their suspect. At this time though, we do not have anything linking the two investigations, Stockton Police Department spokesman Officer Joseph Silva told Fox 40.

Who are the serial killers victims?

The San Joaquin County Office of the Medical Examiner identified the Stockton victims. Four of them were walking while one was killed while sitting in a car.

Paul Yaw, 35: Died July 8 when he was gunned down on the 5600 block of Kermit Lane around 12:30 a.m.

Salvador Debudey Jr., 43: Died Aug. 11 after being shot on the 4900 block of West Lane, just before 10 p.m.

Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21: Died Aug. 30 after he was shot on the 800 block of East Hammer Lane. He was discovered by residents in the complex just before 7 a.m.

Juan Cruz, 52: Died Sept. 21 after being gunned down in his car in an apartment complex on the 4400 block of Manchester Avenue about 4:30 a.m.

Lawrence Lopez Sr., 54: Died Sept. 27 after being shot on the 900 block of Porter Avenue about 2 a.m.

The first killing, however, targeted Juan Vasquez Serrano, 39, in Oakland about 4:15 a.m. on April 10, 2021. Brownlees connections to Oakland remain unknown.

Another victim is believed to be Natasha LaTour, a woman who was shot 10 times near the train tracks at Park and North Union streets on the night of April 16, 2021. She described the unprovoked attack to the 209 Times earlier this month.

The Bees Darrell Smith and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cross-cultural coalitions have ruled Los Angeles politics for decades, helping elect both Black and Latino politicians to top leadership roles in the huge racially and ethnically diverse city.

But a shocking recording of racist comments by the City Council president has laid bare the tensions over political power that have been quietly simmering between the Latino and Black communities.

Nury Martinez, the first Latina elected president of the Los Angeles City Council, resigned from her leadership role last week, then from the council altogether, after a leaked recording surfaced of her making racist remarks and other coarse comments in discussion with other Hispanic leaders.

Martinez said in the recorded conversation, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, that white Councilmember Mike Bonin handled his young Black son as if he were an accessory, and described the son as behaving parece changuito," or like a monkey. She also made denigrating comments about other groups, including Indigenous Mexicans from the southern state of Oaxaca, who she termed feos, or ugly.

The recording, released anonymously a year after it was made, stunned and hurt many in the Black community, which makes up a little less than 9% of the city's roughly four million residents. Concerns inside that group, which has long counted on council seats and other city posts in heavily African American neighborhoods, have been growing in recent years as the Latino share of the population has swollen to nearly half and Hispanic politicians have started assuming more high-ranking roles.

Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., the executive publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel, a Black-run newspaper, wrote afterward of the cancerous divisiveness that has been secretly harming our progress.

To discover that these conversations are a part of the dialogue of the very people entrusted to lead the city of Los Angeles and to realize that there is a plot amongst them to minimize the voice and political power of the Black community makes it even more reprehensible, Bakewell added.

Los Angeles is no stranger to racial and ethnic tension.

The Watts riots left 34 dead in 1965 after violence broke out following the arrest of an African American man pulled over for drunken driving.

The videotaped beating of Black motorist Rodney King by white Los Angeles police officers in 1991 following a high-speed chase sparked an international furor.

Riots erupted across the city the following year when three of the officers were acquitted on excessive force charges and the jury failed to reach a verdict on the fourth. The rioting lasted six days and killed 63 people, underscoring racial tensions in the city, especially between the Black community and Korean Americans, whose businesses were often targeted.

But Los Angeles also has a history of cooperation among racial and ethnic groups going back to the 1930s, said Manuel Pastor, a professor of sociology and American studies and ethnicity at the University of Southern California.

He said diverse groups, by working together, helped elect Black Mayor Tom Bradley, who served two decades ending in 1993, and Hispanic Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2005.

The kind of sentiments expressed in that conversation do exist in the Latino community more broadly, Pastor said of the racist comments on the recording. But he said most Hispanics in the city reject that way of thinking.

Pastor called for a moment of reflection, saying theres an interesting opportunity here for the Latino community to examine anti-Blackness and colorism, in the Latino community.

The now-infamous conversation about frustrations over redistricting maps produced by a city commission was recorded in October 2021. The others present were Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera.

Martinez referred to Bonin, who is gay, as a little bitch" and De Leon called Bonin the councils fourth Black member.

Mike Bonin wont f-ing ever say peep about Latinos. Hell never say a f-ing word about us, said De Leon.

It is unclear who recorded the exchange.

For the Rev. Eddie Anderson, the Black senior pastor of the McCarty Memorial Christian Church in Los Angeles, the horrific statements by the highest officials in local government were just part of a plan to dilute the Black vote and power in our community."

There was a real plan of Black erasure, of people who have been here a long time building this city, Anderson said.

The pastor, among those who sat last year on the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission that helped draw the map, noted the recorded conversation was just weeks before final approval.

He said much of the quibbling over redistricting centered on a district that includes parts of south Los Angeles, Koreatown and Baldwin Hills and which elected Tom Bradley, the grandson of a slave, to the council before he was mayor.

Latino leaders around the U.S. denounced the recorded remarks and called for Martinez and the others to resign.

At a time when our nation is grappling with a recent rise in hate speech and hate crimes, these comments have deepened the pain that our communities have endured, said Sen. Alex Padilla, who earlier served as the councils youngest president.

Clarissa Martinez, vice president of the Latino Vote Initiative for UnidosUS, a leading national civil rights organization, said: our community was deeply offended by the racist and dehumanizing comments made by those four Los Angeles elected and appointed officials."

Their being Latino is particularly painful because our community understands what its like to be subjected to mistreatment and attempts to diminish our voice, she added. But she insisted, We know we are building on something much stronger than the backward behavior of these four people because our communities have a strong trajectory of working together.

Tanya Kateri Hernandez, professor at Fordham University School of Law, said the idea that people of color are always united ignores colonialism and racial baggage from many different places and generations.

The issue of anti-Blackness in Latino communities in the U.S. and globally is much broader than this one instance, extending to Afro Latinos, Africans and West Indians, said Hernandez, who wrote the book Racial Innocence: Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality.

The Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission alluded to squabbling among various groups when it submitted its final map a year ago.

It wasnt our job to protect elected officials, their jobs, or their political futures," commission chairman Fred Ali said in a statement. We hope the Council conducts its deliberations with the same amount of transparency and commitment to equity that this Commission did.

___

Anita Snow reported from Phoenix. AP writer Deepti Hajela contributed from New York.
FILE - The emblem for the Russian Defense Ministry is displayed at the ministry building in Moscow, Russia on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. On Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, the ministry said two men fired at troops at a Russian military firing range near Ukraine, killing 11 and wounding 15 others, before getting killed. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

MOSCOW (AP)  Two men fired at soldiers on a Russian military firing range near Ukraine on Saturday, killing 11 and wounding 15 before being slain themselves, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said in a statement that the shooting took place in the Belgorod region in southwestern Russia that borders Ukraine. It said two men from an unnamed former Soviet republic fired on volunteer soldiers during target practice and were killed by return fire.

The ministry called the incident a terrorist attack.

The shooting comes amid a hasty mobilization ordered by President Vladimir Putin to beef up Russian forces in Ukraine  a move that triggered protests and caused hundreds of thousands to flee Russia.

Putin said Friday that over 220,000 reservists already had been called up as part of an effort to recruit 300,000. He promised the mobilization would be wrapped up in two weeks.

The mobilization was troubled from the start, with authorities issuing confusing signals about who should be called up for service in a country where almost all men under age 65 are listed as reservists.

Even though the Russian leader declared that only people who had recently served in the military would be subject to the call-up, activists and rights groups reported military conscription offices rounding up people without any army experience  some of whom were also unfit for service for medical reasons.

Some of the freshly called-up reservists posted videos of themselves being forced to sleep on the floor or even outside and given rusty weapons before being sent to the front lines.

Russian media reports said some of those who were mobilized were sent to combat without receiving proper training and were quickly killed.

Authorities have acknowledged the mobilization was often poorly organized and promised to improve the situation.
Almost 200 disadvantaged and seriously-ill children have taken off on a charity-funded dream holiday to Florida.

For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, youngsters from across the UK are being taken on the trip of a lifetime, organised by Dreamflight.

Before boarding a specially chartered British Airways flight at Heathrow Airport on Sunday, they were greeted with music played by a marching band, as well as dogs from the Metropolitan Police.

The 192 children, who have been picked to join the 10-day holiday in Orlando having battled serious illness, disability or trauma, cheered and stroked the dogs as they arrived.

For many, the highlight of the trip, for which the charity has raised 1 million, will be swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove.

Children leave a hangar event at Heathrow Airport as part of the Dreamflight charity trip (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Safa Thagia, 14, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, said: Im really excited for the whole experience, theres going to be a lot of great activities and memories Ill have for my whole life.

I cant wait to be swimming with dolphins, its a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Ashton Owen, 12, from Trefechan, South Wales, said: I really cant wait now, I just want to get there and have fun.

I want to hug a dolphin  that will be unbelievable and something I wont forget.

Harvey Walker, 15, from Poole, Dorset, who had been on the list for the trip that got cancelled last year, said: Im a bit nervous, but also excited  its my first trip without my parents.

The children will visit a host of attractions, including SeaWorld, Disney World and Universal Studios.

Airport staff were on hand to greet the children as they arrived at Heathrow (Andrew Matthews/PA)

For many, it will be the first time abroad without their families.

Paralympic gold medal swimmer and Dreamflight patron Liz Johnson, who went on the trip as an 11-year-old in 1997, said: A lot of these young people spend their whole life being the odd one out, whereas here, theres a lot of authentic inclusion.

Their differences are normalised and theyve got the best group of volunteers looking after them, so they can just feel empowered to find themselves.

Lisa Bishop, fundraising manager at Dreamflight, said: As this is the first trip since the pandemic, its absolutely huge  weve got some children who were nominated in 2019.

We have raised 1 million for this years holiday.

More than 6,000 children from across the country have been involved in Dreamflight holidays since the first one in 1987.

Police officers wore decorative helmets to escort buses carrying the children to the airport (Andrew Matthews/PA)

This is the 34th trip put on by the charity.

Patricia Pearce, who founded Dreamflight, said: It was quite funny yesterday when we were all getting together.

It was quite an emotional day because we havent done this in three years and to be back together is very special.

Director of flight operations at British Airways, Captain Al Bridger, said: Its an absolute privilege for us to be involved  weve missed this through Covid.

To be back again is wonderful.
Hes a force for good.

Star Wars actor Mark Hamill feels honored to be the first ambassador of Ukraines Army of Drones, part of a fundraising initiative by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to aid his countrys fight against Russia.

When they contacted me, first I was sort of in a state of shock. Im not used to being contacted by world leaders, Hamill told the Daily News.

We talked to the people in his administration, and then we did a Zoom with President Zelenskyy [on Sept. 29]. And how are you going to say no? I mean, come on. Im in the escapism business. I do TV and movies and cartoon voices. Im the epitome of a non-essential worker, so I felt this great sense of responsibility. Ive got to do this.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, speaking with Mark Hamill in Zoom meeting.



Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, speaking with Mark Hamill in Zoom meeting.

Hamills job is to represent Ukraines program for obtaining, repairing and replacing the drones used by the countrys armed forces to patrol borders and protect civilians. Through the fundraiser, Ukraine has received hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles valued at more than $50 million so far.

Army of Drones is part of the larger UNITED24 fundraising platform launched by Zelenskyy in May, less than three months after Russia invaded Ukraine. People from more than 100 countries have already donated more than $180 million to support the Ukrainian efforts.

Everyone expected Ukraine to just roll over and not challenge the Russian invasion, but to see them as a country come together, its been truly inspirational, Hamill said. To see them and President Zelenskyy react so heroically, its a David vs. Goliath scenario.

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The California-born Hamill, 71, is known for his portrayal of the heroic Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars movies, which he believes inspired Ukraines interest in him becoming an ambassador.

Zelenskyy likened Star Wars to his countrys real-world conflict with Russia during his conversation with Hamill, the actor said.

He mentioned the Evil Empire, referring to Russia, Hamill said. Its not surprising. Star Wars was envisioned by George Lucas as a fairy tale for kids. He wanted to tell a story of good vs. evil, where good is clearly defined, evil is clearly defined. Its so corny to modern, cynical points of view that he had to put it in a galaxy far, far away. He had to make sure that, in context, it would be accepted rather than laughed at.

Mark Hamill poses for a portrait in Los Angeles in December 2017.



Mark Hamill poses for a portrait in Los Angeles in December 2017. (Jordan Strauss/)

It had a worldwide impact that I certainly didnt expect, Hamill said. I thought it would be popular, but I didnt know how popular, and I didnt know the longevity of it. ... Its also personal to people and so highly relatable, so Im sure thats what put me on their radar screen.

Ukraine also enlisted Barbra Streisand, Liev Schreiber and the alternative band Imagine Dragons as ambassadors in its efforts to raise money for medical aid.

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Hamill, whose initial conversation with Zelenskyy lasted about 15 to 20 minutes, says the presidents background as an actor helped them connect even further as they discussed Army of Drones.

He encourages people to donate whatever they can, including actual drones.

Anything we can do to help is my motto, Hamill said. A lot of times, you watch these things going on in your life, and you feel so helpless that you cant have any say or any impact on whats going on. This is not only an honor to be asked, but a chance to make even a tiny, tiny contribution towards their survival.

Donations to Army of Drones can be made at u24.gov.ua/dronation.
Nicola Sturgeon has said independence was essential to build an economy that works for everyone as she prepares to lay out her plans for a separate Scotland  but her political opponents have warned splitting the UK was gambling with peoples livelihoods.

At Bute House on Monday, the First Minister will present the third independence paper, which will outline economic and currency plans for an independent Scotland.

Ahead of the speech, Ms Sturgeon said the country had an abundance of skilled people, innovative businesses, and natural resources, but warned: Scotlands economy is one of the best performing in the UK  however, the UK economy, particularly post-Brexit, is now lagging behind many EU and international comparators.

The UK economic model is demonstrably failing and increasingly holding Scotland back. Independence is now essential to build an economy that works for everyone.

Nicola Sturgeon will present the third paper in the he Building A New Scotland series (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The paper, the latest release in the Building a New Scotland series, is expected to provide detail on moving toward a fairer, greener independent economy to help people live happy, healthy, fulfilling lives.

Topics such as currency and fiscal policy, border arrangements and the proposed Building a New Scotland Fund  which aims to deliver investment of 20 billion in the first decade of independence  will feature in the document.

But Nicola Sturgeons political rivals blasted the plans.

Daniel Johnson, Scottish Labours finance spokesman, said that the SNP need to drop the spin and come clean with people about the catastrophic reality of their economic plans.

Scottish Labour MSP Daniel Johnson (Lesley Martin/PA)

Despite wasting 15 years in government peddling the same old agenda, they still cant answer even the most basic questions, the MSP for Edinburgh Southern said.

They are gambling peoples livelihoods based on fantasy economics and wishful thinking.

Liz Smith, the Scottish Conservatives finance spokesman, said the SNP had never been able to make a convincing economic case for independence, and this paper doesnt change that.

Nationalists are consistently unable to address the big questions that the public want answered about independence  on currency, on pensions and about how a hard border would impact our trade with the rest of the UK, the MSP said.

Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith (Fraser Bremner/PA)

Nicola Sturgeon has already admitted that the answers to some of these key questions would not be provided before the public was asked to vote.

That is a ridiculous situation which would have serious implications for jobs, wages, savings and investment.

And Willie Rennie, of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said that the SNP were looking at the Conservative partys economic chaos and saying, we want some more of that.

This paper is not a solution to any of Scotlands problems. Its an indulgent distraction, he said.

The Scottish Government seem to have an utterly shambolic idea of whats best for our economy.

They have spent their time in government bungling industrial interventions and striking dodgy deals, while our skills and educational sectors have slipped down the international rankings.

The paper is expected to set out proposals including re-joining the European Union for access to the Single Market, a redesigned energy market that will provide secure and reliable low-cost energy, and greater workplace security with an end to age discrimination in minimum wage setting.

It will also outline a migration policy which is designed to boost the countrys working population.

Its publication on Monday comes after the UK Supreme Court heard arguments over a prospective independence referendum Bill last week, after being asked to consider if the Bills passage would be in the powers of the Scottish Parliament.

If the court finds Holyrood can legislate for another vote, Nicola Sturgeon has said she wants to hold another vote in October next year.

Ms Sturgeon said: The paper we are publishing today will help people make a clear, informed choice about independence and how we can forge a path towards becoming a fairer, greener, wealthier country.

But a UK Government spokesman said that this is simply not the time to be talking about another independence referendum.

People in Scotland want their governments to be focussed on the issues that matter to them  growing our economy, ensuring our energy security, tackling the cost of living and supporting our friends in Ukraine against Russian aggression, the spokesman said.
A California man suspected of six cold-blooded slayings was arrested early Saturday morning while he was out hunting for another victim, cops said.

Wesley Brownlee, 43, was identified by police as the serial killer who fatally shot five people in Stockton and one person in Oakland.

Gun used by Wesley Brownlee, 43, was identified by police as the serial killer who fatally shot five people in Stockton and one person in Oakland.



Gun used by Wesley Brownlee, 43, was identified by police as the serial killer who fatally shot five people in Stockton and one person in Oakland.

Brownlee was arrested around 2 a.m. Saturday. Police said several of his victims were killed around that time of day.

We watched his patterns and determined early this morning, he was on a mission to kill, Stockton police chief Stanley McFadden said. He was out hunting.

Wesley Brownlee, 43, was identified by police as the serial killer who fatally shot five people in Stockton and one person in Oakland.



Wesley Brownlee, 43, was identified by police as the serial killer who fatally shot five people in Stockton and one person in Oakland.

The five Stockton killings occurred between July 8 and Sept. 27. Police said on Sept. 30 that they were looking for a serial killer. Following that announcement, cops got hundreds of tips on potential leads.

Investigators also tied Brownlee to a fatal shooting in April 2021 in Oakland, about 60 miles west. Hes also accused of attempting to kill a woman in Stockton that same month.

None of the victims were beaten or robbed, and the woman who survived said her attacker didnt even speak while trying to kill her.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has launched an attack on Sinn Fein, accusing his political opponents of trying to shut down debate and avoid accountability.

Mr Martin said Sinn Fein had built its entire existence on honouring a campaign of violence but now attacks and sues anyone who claims that they supported particular actions within that campaign.

In response, a Sinn Fein spokesperson described it as bizarre, fantasy attack and said the Taoiseach would be better off spending his final weeks in office dealing with the cost-of living crisis.

Mr Martin was speaking as he addressed his partys annual commemoration of Wolfe Tone in Co Kildare.

Referring to Sinn Fein, he said: Anyone who sincerely believes in a republican vision for our country should be appalled by the growing attempt to intimidate and shut down debate by one party which refuses to accept the basic accountability accepted by everyone else.

There is something deeply wrong with a party which has built its entire existence on honouring a campaign of violence but now attacks and sues anyone who claims that they supported particular actions within that campaign.

The Taoiseach also accused Sinn Fein of aggressive management of the media.

This is many things  but democratic republicanism is not one of them.

Micheal Martin speaking at the annual Fianna Fail commemoration of Wolfe Tone in Bodenstown, Co. Kildare (Niall Carson/PA)

A Sinn Fein spokesperson responded: Instead of bizarre, fantasy attacks, the Taoiseach would be better off focusing his attention on the spiralling cost of living crisis, a housing crisis that is worsening by the day, chronic health waiting lists, and the climate emergency.

That would be a better use of his remaining weeks in office.

During his address in Kildare, the Taoiseach also said opportunities to tackle sectarianism and disadvantage have not been taken since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Mr Martin said a key objective of the negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement was to remove the causes of conflict, to overcome the legacy of history, and to heal the divisions which have resulted.

He said: The sad reality is that nearly a quarter of a century later, far too little has been done.

Too much time has been wasted.

Too few have been willing to undertake the basic work of questioning themselves and finding ways to build a shared respect across historic barriers.

Opportunities to tackle disadvantage and to tackle sectarianism have not been taken, and remain unfulfilled.

There has been a lot of talk about unity and reconciliation but very little work done to actually build the bridges which make it happen.

One of the great failings of the last 25 years is that very little work was done about doing the hard work of studying the differences, similarities and opportunities in practical but fundamental areas.

Theres been no shortage of people willing to make grand claims about services, but it is remarkable how little has been done to actually quantify what the current situation is on both sides of the border.

Thats why we are already publishing the most detailed ever research on health services, trade, childcare, education and other vital areas between north and south.

To give a very practical example, research on education is showing huge disparities in early school leaving as well as differences in access and approaches to supporting both achievement and inclusion.

This is giving us a blueprint for the future  a blueprint for action which benefits all on our island.

The Taoiseach went on to say the Irish people remain among the strongest supporters of Ukraine.

He added: I am proud of how the Irish people have said with such loud clarity that we support Ukraine, that we support their European future, and that Russia must be held to account for a conflict which it alone is responsible for.

The welcome which has been given to people fleeing this terrible conflict is a moment which we should always be proud of, even though it does create many pressures on key resources.
BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping on Sunday underscored the essential requirements of Chinese modernization at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The essential requirements are upholding the leadership of the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics, pursuing high-quality development, developing whole-process people's democracy, enriching the people's cultural lives, achieving common prosperity for all, promoting harmony between humanity and nature, building a human community with a shared future, and creating a new form of human advancement, Xi said. 
Russia has sharply curtailed natural gas shipments to Europe in retaliation for sanctions that the West put in place after Ukraine invasion

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks during her interaction with a group of Indian-overseas scholars and students from various US universities in Washington DC, USA (PTI)

Washington: Given the global energy crisis, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that coal is going to be back again as gas has become unaffordable. Sitharaman, who attended the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, said the western world has seen countries moving to coal.

The Western world has seen countries moving to coal. Austria has already said, and today they are going back to coal, Sitharaman told a group of reporters from India during an interaction on Saturday. Russia has sharply curtailed natural gas shipments to Europe in retaliation for sanctions that the West put in place after its invasion of Ukraine.

In late April, Russia cut off gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland after they refused Moscow's demand to pay for the deliveries in rubles, Russia's currency.

Also, apart from that many countries in the West are moving away from coal to generate electricity as it contributes to climate change and air pollution.

Responding to a question on her remarks earlier, the finance minister referred to another news item about an old thermal power plant in the United Kingdom being refurbished to generate electricity.

The matter of fact, it is now reviving itself as a thermal unit. So, it's not just India, many countries have gone back. And coal is now going to be back again, because I think gas cannot be afforded. Or it is not available as much as you want, Sitharaman said.

And Europe, of course, has made a conscious decision that they can't get any more gas from Russia, and they have to look for other sources. It's not just us (India), Sitharaman said.
Prime minister bats for use of regional languages in legal system

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the inaugural session of All India Conference of Law Ministers and Secretaries, via video conferencing, in New Delhi, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. (PTI Photo)

Kevadia (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said delay in getting justice is one of the major challenges faced by the people of the country and a sensitive judicial system is essential for a capable nation and a harmonious society.

Since obscurity of law creates complexity, new laws should be written in a lucid manner and in regional languages to bring in "ease of justice" so that even the poor can easily understand them, he said, noting that legal language should not become a hurdle for citizens.

The PM was virtually addressing the inaugural session of the All India Conference of Law Ministers and Law Secretaries at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, near the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. Mr Modi also said that in the last eight years, his government has scrapped more than 1,500 old, obsolete and irrelevant laws, many of which continued from the time of British rule.

"Delay in getting justice is one of the major challenges being faced by the people of our country. But our judiciary is seriously working towards resolving this issue. In this 'amrit kaal', we will have to work together to tackle this," the Prime Minister said.



He noted that systems like alternative dispute resolution and Lok Adalats have helped reduce the burden on the courts and the poor get justice easily.

Stressing the use of regional languages in the legal system, Mr Modi said that they have to play a big role.

"Obscurity of law creates complexity. If law is comprehensible to the common man, it will have a different impact," he said.

He mentioned that in some countries, when a law is framed, it is decided in two ways -- one is by giving a detailed explanation of its legal terms using technical terminology and the other is by writing it in the regional language so that the common man can understand it.

"Therefore, while framing a law, our focus should be such that even the poor can understand the new law," he said.

He pointed out that some countries have the provision of deciding during the framing of a law as to how long it will remain effective.

"So in a way, the age and the expiry date of a law are determined when it is being framed. When that (stipulated) date comes, the same law is reviewed in new circumstances. In India, too, we will have to go ahead with the same spirit," Mr Modi said.

The Prime Minister mentioned that he has been raising the issue of the use of local languages in the legal system before the judiciary.

"The country is making many big efforts in this direction. We will need the support of logistics and infrastructure for the legal language not to become a hurdle for citizens and for every state to work in this direction. Similarly, there is a need to create a legal academic system in the mother tongue for the youth," he said.

He suggested that work needs to be done to make law courses in the mother tongue, for laws to be written in simple language, and for digital libraries of important cases from the high courts and the Supreme Court to be made available in the local language.

He emphasised that this will help increase the knowledge of law among common people and reduce the fear of heavy legal terminologies.



He further noted that to remove the legal hurdles lying in the way of innovation and ease of living, more than 32,000 compliances have been reduced for the convenience of people.

He also talked about the issue of speedy trials for undertrials and said the state governments should do their best for this.

"Sensitive justice system is an essential condition for a capable nation and a harmonious society. Which is why I raised the issue of undertrials in the meeting of chief justices of high courts," he said.

Mr Modi added that the three pillars of the Constitution -- judiciary, legislative and executive -- need to work in tandem.
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The General Atomics-made machine has been around since 2001. It has been specifically designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, but it has more than enough offensive capabilities to deal significant damage to enemy forces.Since its arrival in this world, the fleet of Reapers has surpassed 2 million flight hours. That happened back in March this year, and who knows how many more hours have been completed since.The Reaper uses a Honeywell turboprop engine. It can stay in the air for 27 hours (34 hours for the extended range variant) at a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet (15 km) and can shoot anything from pictures of enemy locations and assets to Hellfire missiles.Through the nature of their work, these drones do not really operate in public. Most of the missions they perform are secret, and so are, in many cases, the locations from where they operate.You can see one of these drones as the main image of this piece, recently made public by the U.S. Air Force (USAF). It shows a Reaper flight line at an undisclosed location at the beginning of August, looking like a herald of doom for anyone who dares oppose it.This particular drone is deployed with the 361 Expeditionary Attack Squadron, which flies it in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the global effort meant to fight terrorist organization Daesh in Iraq and Syria.The U.S. is the main user of the weapon. There are about 200 of them currently in service, also serving the needs of the UK, Italy, France and Spain, and there was even talk earlier this year theyll be sent to Ukraine.
EV

The user who voiced their opinion on Reddit claims to have intentionally avoided posting on a Tesla forum page for fear of backlash from other Tesla owners. The user also says that, on those particular subreddits (forums), some Tesla fanboys simply dont take well to criticism regarding the subject, regardless of whether a person is bringing up their arguments in an unbiased manner or if theyre supposedly justified in doing so.Then theowner talks about why they chose a Tesla in the first place, as opposed to any other EV available on the market. Even though this person thought that the outer design felt a bit too different for their particular taste, in their opinion, the technology of a Tesla still seemed more advanced than what its competitors had to offer.After purchasing it, for a while, the owner enjoyed driving it. But over time, that pleasure incrementally subsided, due to personal preference for the overall aesthetic design of the car, along with some manufacturing decisions made by Tesla.However, their perception of Teslas kinks and quirks werent the determining factors for why they felt ashamed of owning one. Apparently, Elon Musk is the reason for that.They said that Elon s public views on certain issues have become so polarizing that, when they meet up with people and start chatting about the car itself, theres no way of dodging a discussion regarding the companys CEO's thoughts and commentaries.The most interesting thing the user confessed is that some people who dont share Elons views automatically correlate having a Tesla with seeing eye-to-eye with Elon. The self-proclaimed rant ends there.However, the star of that post isnt even the issue of being somewhat discriminated against for just owning a Tesla. It's another comment that got over 1,400 upvotes.It says, I own a Hyundai so luckily I'm only involved with child labor. This is, of course, a shot taken at Hyundai, referring to that time when they were accused of having underaged workers at their SMART factory in Luverne, Alabama.
Xi Jinping delivers an important speech at the first meeting of the presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its first meeting at the Great Hall of the People on the afternoon of October 15.

Xi Jinping was present and delivered an important speech.

Presided over by the congress' secretary-general Wang Huning, the meeting approved a list of the presidium's 46 members on the Standing Committee including Comrade Xi Jinping.

Xi then presided over the meeting for the following agenda. Ding Xuexiang, Chen Xi, Guo Shengkun, and Huang Kunming were approved through vote by a show of hands as deputy secretaries-general of the congress.

Also approved at the meeting was a report on the examination of delegates' qualifications by the delegate credentials committee of the 20th CPC National Congress.

According to the report, 2,296 delegates were elected from electoral units across the country, and the list had been published with the approval of the CPC Central Committee. After examination, qualifications of 2,296 delegates were confirmed valid, and they will attend the congress.

The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core attaches great importance to the election of delegates to the 20th CPC National Congress, according to the report. Since November last year, under the strong leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee, all electoral units have adhered to the Party Constitution as their fundamental principle, upheld the Party's nature and purpose, enhanced the Party's leadership throughout the whole process of the election, and fully embodied intra-party democracy. They have set strict criteria for candidates, exercised rigorous and meticulous procedures, seriously enforced electoral discipline, and done a solid job in all election-related work.

All electoral units have adhered to an electoral method that is from the bottom to the top, combining the top echelon and grassroots, through repeated deliberation and been elected level by level. They have taken into full account the views of grassroots Party organizations, delegates to Party congresses at all levels, and Party members, the report said. The election procedure has enlisted the participation of all primary-level Party organizations and about 99.5 percent of the total Party members.

Among the strict criteria set for candidates, political integrity weighs the most, and related reviews were carefully conducted. All candidates were subject to the mechanisms of Four Musts (A candidate's archive must be reviewed, personal information examined, opinion from discipline inspection and supervision departments heard, and details of reported misconduct investigated.) and Two Signs (Both secretary of the unit's Party committee or Party leading group and secretary of its Party commission for discipline inspection or director of its discipline inspection and supervision group must sign a conclusive observation to confirm that the candidate is honest and self-disciplined). Unqualified candidates were then removed in accordance with the results of public opinions and reviews. Preliminary nominees were elected at the plenary or enlarged sessions of the electoral units' Party committees or Party leading groups. Uncontested election, authorized by the CPC Central Committee, was undertaken in Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. While in other places, competitive election was adopted to select delegates to the 20th CPC National Congress by nominating over 15 percent more candidates, which conformed to the requirement of the CPC Central Committee. The work on the election of delegates was publicized through various reports of major central media outlets.

The delegates elected are in general qualified for the requirements set by the CPC Central Committee, according to the report. They are outstanding Party members with strong ideological and political consciousness, and have good conduct, strong capability in discussing political affairs, and good performance on their duties. The delegates are from all walks of life and different localities, and their proportions in composition are in line with the requirements of the CPC Central Committee, and they are highly representative.

In light of the practice of the 19th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee invited 83 special delegates to attend the 20th congress and they would enjoy equal rights as elected delegates, according to the report.

A draft electoral method of the 20th CPC National Congress was approved at the meeting and handed over to each delegation for deliberation.

Issues concerning non-voting participants and guests to attend the congress were also passed at the meeting. The Party Central Committee has decided to invite some leading Party officials and a group of non-CPC figures as non-voting participants to attend the congress. Such participants, totaling 354, include members and alternate members of the 19th CPC Central Committee who are not delegates to the 20th National Congress, non-delegate members of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, as well as former members of the Central Advisory Commission who are neither delegates nor specially invited delegates, among others. Also, there are 154 people who will attend the opening and closing sessions of the congress as guests. They include incumbent and former vice chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) who are not CPC members, incumbent and former non-CPC vice chairpersons of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), vice chairpersons of the central committees of the other political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of personages without party affiliation and those of religious circles, as well as non-CPC personages and religious figures who serve as NPC Standing Committee members or Standing Committee members of the CPPCC National Committee.

The meeting also adopted the schedule of the 20th CPC National Congress, according to which, the congress will open on the morning of October 16 and conclude on the morning of October 22. 

The presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) holds its first meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. Xi Jinping attended the meeting and delivered an important speech. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) holds its first meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2022. Xi Jinping attended the meeting and delivered an important speech. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
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